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HEALTH HINTS
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Elder Care: Part IV
Making A Wise Decision
“And Solomon said
unto God . . . Give me now wisdom and knowledge . . .”
(Chronicles II,
1:8-10)
In
this series of articles, we are presenting some general information about aging
and care of the elder members of our families. The focus for this presentation
is a variety of ideas which might be helpful to you.
The primary guideline for elder care is minimizing change.
Change for the elderly is expensive in terms of life’s energy.
So maintaining your elderly relatives in their present home or residence
as long as possible may be a wise choice.
Alternatives to Nursing Homes.
Before leaping to the nursing home decision, there
are several possibilities you can explore.
By contacting the local Senior Citizens Center, one can learn of the
services available in the community.
For example, homemaker and chore services can provide household care and
grocery shopping. Meals on Wheels
can solve a nutritional concern.
There are specialized social services to assist aged and disabled individuals in
self care. Most nursing care is now being provided in the home, so it may be
very practical to keep your Mom or Dad at home.
Personal care and special procedures such as catheterization (emptying
the bladder by inserting a tube), enemas, dressings, etc. can be provided in the
home by home health Registered Nurses.
Most special equipment, such as bedpans to hospital beds, is available
through health care supply stores.
As the care of an elderly parent tends to fall on one member of the
family, respite care provides some welcome time off for the care giver.
Respite care is similar to the “Afternoon out for Mom” program which
relieves the new mother of continuous baby care.
Resident and Family Rights.
No matter what type of residence is ultimately
selected for your elderly relative, most homes for the elderly provide a
statement of rights for the resident.
This is particularly true of the nursing home, adult day care centers,
etc. Expect to have this
information made available to you and your family, to read it carefully, and
verify that the directives are being followed.
Financial Arrangements.
Nursing home care costs about $40,000 a year on
average. Medicare covers up to 100 days of nursing home care if it follows an
illness or injury which requires hospitalization.
Medicare pays in full the first 20 days, and partially for the next 80.
Medicaid covers about half the costs if poverty guidelines for income and
assets are met. Perhaps encouraging
your parents to consult a financial advisor to review all assets and liabilities
and become aware of choices, options, and limitations may be some very helpful
steps.
Care
of Clothing and Personal Articles.
Some financial
arrangements provide a basic rate which includes personal laundry services.
This usually means the resident’s clothing is dumped into a big laundry
hamper and sent to the laundry en mass.
So, forget about pretty, delicate clothing.
Colorful sweat suits and loose fitting, no-iron dresses are appropriate.
All clothing needs to be marked with the owner’s name.
Expect to see your mother’s lap robe on someone else’s lap--like
kindergarten all over again--as things get mixed up and passed around.
Jewelry and valuable items need to be kept safe at home or in a bank box.
Sources of Additional Information.
You are not alone.
Many families have traveled this road before you, and some have shared
about their experiences in books and videos.
For example, one good book is: Nancy Wexler, M.A., MFCC.
(1996). Mama Can’t
Remember Anymore. Gerontology
Associates,
By Bonnie Battey, Ph.D., R.N. Originally published (1996-97) in the newsletter
of Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, Front Royal, Virginia and peer
reviewed by the Health and Wellness Committee members: Robin Nida, R.N.*; Jean
White, BSN, R.N.*; Alfred L.“Chip”
White, Esq.; Pastor Robert Jones; & Bonnie Duldt Ph.D., R.N.*, Chair.
(*Volunteer Parish Nurses); also S. Preston Childress, Jr., M.D.
Updated, 8/2007 in consultation with certified nurse
gerontologist, Mary Ann Slaughter, MA RN,C CPHRM.
© 2007, Bonnie Weaver Battey.
