Should Your Loved One Continue Living At Home?
- Date: 2008-07-29 - Word Count: 525
Share This!
Rebecca and her husband live 500 miles away from her 82-year-old mother, who is suffering from early signs of Alzheimer's Disease and chronic arthritis. She worries about her safety, but upon questioning her mother, the answer is always the same: "Everything is fine. Stop worrying."
Then one day, while at work, Rebecca received a phone call from a hospital social worker. Her mother fell down the stairs, broke her hip and was hospitalized. Rebecca's mother insisted it could happen to anyone, and that she was perfectly safe at home and able to take care of herself.
It's a common scenario, says Pamela Braun, MSW, LCSW, CPF, of Geriatric Assessment, Management & Solutions. When questioned about their situation and needs, an elderly person may mask the truth from family members says often the adult children find out what's truly going on from a third party - such as the hospital or a neighbor.
Home represents familiar comforts, self-sufficiency and privacy. That's why the prospect of moving out, into a relative's home, or an assisted living facility, is one of the most difficult decisions a person must make in their lifetime. Often, rational decisions take a back seat to an emotional choice.
In situations like this, the difficult task of determining whether the elderly person can safely remain at home, must be addressed. A care manager is a professional who specializes in assisting older people and their families with long-term care arrangements and can conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the elderly person is physically and mentally able to continue living safely at home.
Braun says letting the elderly person remain at home is the "least invasive intervention" and can be successful. "When people move out the home, it's usually when Plan A - remaining at home - didn't work. Try the least restrictive approach first."
To determine if an elderly person can safely continue living at home, take a good look at the present housing situation, financial resources, health status and medical needs. Braun says some topics of the assessment should include:
Medication
- Are medications expired? Are they spread out in different rooms, with no apparent structure or routine?
Meal preparation
- Can they cook for themselves? Are they able to safely operate appliances? - Do they remember to turn appliances off when finished cooking?
Safety
- Is the home equipped with grab bars, emergency response systems and other tools to ensure safety? Do they have a plan in place to contact help in case of an emergency?
Personal hygiene
- Can they bathe themselves, groom adequately and launder clothes?
Transportation
- Are they driving? Should they be driving? Do they have alternate means of transportation?
Socialization
- Are they isolated from others most of the time? Do they have friends? Are they going to church? Are they depressed? Are there signs of alcohol abuse?
Home management
- Are they paying their bills on time? Are there stacks of papers and unpaid bills laying around? Is the house in general disarray? Is the house relatively clean?
Having been involved in many of these assessments, Braun says, "It's a delicate situation - it's a role reversal between adult child and parent, and it typically is not welcomed by the elderly person."
Then one day, while at work, Rebecca received a phone call from a hospital social worker. Her mother fell down the stairs, broke her hip and was hospitalized. Rebecca's mother insisted it could happen to anyone, and that she was perfectly safe at home and able to take care of herself.
It's a common scenario, says Pamela Braun, MSW, LCSW, CPF, of Geriatric Assessment, Management & Solutions. When questioned about their situation and needs, an elderly person may mask the truth from family members says often the adult children find out what's truly going on from a third party - such as the hospital or a neighbor.
Home represents familiar comforts, self-sufficiency and privacy. That's why the prospect of moving out, into a relative's home, or an assisted living facility, is one of the most difficult decisions a person must make in their lifetime. Often, rational decisions take a back seat to an emotional choice.
In situations like this, the difficult task of determining whether the elderly person can safely remain at home, must be addressed. A care manager is a professional who specializes in assisting older people and their families with long-term care arrangements and can conduct a thorough assessment to determine if the elderly person is physically and mentally able to continue living safely at home.
Braun says letting the elderly person remain at home is the "least invasive intervention" and can be successful. "When people move out the home, it's usually when Plan A - remaining at home - didn't work. Try the least restrictive approach first."
To determine if an elderly person can safely continue living at home, take a good look at the present housing situation, financial resources, health status and medical needs. Braun says some topics of the assessment should include:
Medication
- Are medications expired? Are they spread out in different rooms, with no apparent structure or routine?
Meal preparation
- Can they cook for themselves? Are they able to safely operate appliances? - Do they remember to turn appliances off when finished cooking?
Safety
- Is the home equipped with grab bars, emergency response systems and other tools to ensure safety? Do they have a plan in place to contact help in case of an emergency?
Personal hygiene
- Can they bathe themselves, groom adequately and launder clothes?
Transportation
- Are they driving? Should they be driving? Do they have alternate means of transportation?
Socialization
- Are they isolated from others most of the time? Do they have friends? Are they going to church? Are they depressed? Are there signs of alcohol abuse?
Home management
- Are they paying their bills on time? Are there stacks of papers and unpaid bills laying around? Is the house in general disarray? Is the house relatively clean?
Having been involved in many of these assessments, Braun says, "It's a delicate situation - it's a role reversal between adult child and parent, and it typically is not welcomed by the elderly person."
Related Tags: c
For more articles on caring for aging parents, visit www.agingcare.com. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Facts About Walk In Baths
Walk in baths are different from a regular bath because it has a door that seals. It is designed for - Staying Active In Old Age
Growing older shouldn't mean growing inactive - even in old age it is very important to remain as ac - Emergency Alert Devices For Seniors At Home
Isn't it remarkable to see that today, seniors are healthier, more active, increasingly independent, - Retirement Communities Catered For Seniors With Alzheimers
Retirement planning is an investment and should be done by everyone when they reach a particular sta - Elderly Care Jobs
These days there are many families struggling to cope with raising a family whilst working in demand - Healthy Tips For Senior Citizens
When you get older things you used to enjoy becomes more difficult in many ways. Increasing aches an - Legal Guardianship Entails Great Responsibility
If you are requesting legal guardianship over an individual, you need to understand that being a gua - Happy Retirement Living
Most people think that planning your retirement can be done overnight. Unfortunately, this is far fr - The Retirement Planning Checklist
When it comes to planning your retirement, there really is no definite time when you should start wo - Easy Steps To Choosing A Retirement Community
Planning your retirement years is something that you do not just do overnight. There are several fac
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Beware of Illegal Medicaid Plans!
You may have received one of those postcards promising in breathless prose how you can "save your ho - Medicaid Estate Recovery
You've met with your elder law attorney, you've come up with a plan of action, time has gone by, and - Remembering More - How To Recall Memories
We make memories through our senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) and it's through those same - Medicaid Estate Recovery: What to Do?
Merely qualifying for Medicaid is not enough if upon your death your family will have to pay back th - Nursing Home Survey Issued---2006
The annual MetLife Mature Market survey for 2006 was just issued. Here are some of the key findings: - Medicaid Estate Recovery: Exceptions
It's not enough to qualify for Medicaid unless you also plan for the possibility of "estate recovery - Reverse Mortgages and Medicaid
Many seniors are pitched the benefits of a "reverse mortgage" as a way to "unlock" the equity in the - Elder Abuse: What It Is & How to Prevent It
I'm sure you have heard the tragic story of Brooke Astor, the multimillionaire New York socialite wh - Life Insurance and Medicaid Eligibility
In order to qualify for Medicaid coverage of your nursing home stay, your assets cannot exceed $2,00 - Who Pays for My Home After I'm On Medicaid?
The home is one of the biggest assets you are allowed to own and still qualify for Medicaid coverage