Comments for Care For Life

Comment on Discussion on radio show Senior Focus Radio Show by Karen

Karen — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 20:46:38 +0000

The radio show was so helpful. Hope you will come on again with eldercare ideas. Thanks, Karen

Comment on five things cause older adults to fail at home part 1 by Karen

Karen — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:37:23 +0000

I just want to thank Care For Life for the many ideas I have gotten for caregiving since I started reading your blog. It gives me new things to think about that I wouldn’t know to try otherwise with my mom who has dementia. Many thanks, Karen, Mt Pleasant SC

Comment on Caregiver Tips For Holiday by Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:29:44 +0000

What can I do to help my mother with “the blues” this time of year?

Comment on Caregiver Tips For Holiday by Eileen

Eileen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:41:53 +0000

Thanks for the tips. It is hard to know what to do at the holidays. I am going to try to encourage more participation by my mother this year. I find she likes her favorite foods at the holidays more than everyday fare.

Comment on Elizabeth Spencer for First Responder Healthcare Hero 2009 by Sheryl

Sheryl — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:59:30 +0000

Oh my goodness… Thank you …..you guys are too good to me….
Elisabeth

Comment on When Elder Care Problems Escalate, You Can Hire an Expert by Sheryl

Sheryl — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:15:33 +0000

A Geriatric Care Manager is the key to an accurate assessment of your elderly loved one’s needs and the help that will enable them to remain at home and age in place. At Care For Life, the nurses on staff do the initial assessment and follow-up monitoring of caregivers who are trained in homecare. A Geriatric Care Management approach helps families stay on track in their caregiving day to day through frequent communications with the Nurse Care Managers.

Comment on Alzheimer families and the holidays: Tips to enjoy the season from www.alz.org by Suzzie

Suzzie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:06:55 +0000

How can Care For Life help make our holidays less stressful so that we may can better experience the joy of the season?

Comment on 1st Annual Low Country Independent Living & Mobility by Sheryl

Sheryl — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:15:35 +0000

The first annual Independent LIving and Mobility Expo held in the CAre For Life Plaza in West Ashley was a great success. There were 15 different exhibitors/vendors who offered information on everything from rehabilitation, electric wheelchairs and scooters, van conversions, geriatric care management and adult homecare, electronic monitoring for home safety, independent living in a residence setting, long term care insurance agents, and financial planners. It was awesome!

Comment on Know someone who needs safe, dignified transportation resource in Charleston, SC area by Sheryl

Sheryl — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:39:58 +0000

Telephone number for ITN, a member of the SC AGing in Place Coalition: Jim Ledbetter: 843-860-3983 for more information on how to sign up. Dignified Transportation by volunteers in their clean, late model vehicles.

Comment on Home Care Assistance is making news in senior care by Sheryl

Sheryl — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:03:37 +0000

When you are considering a move to assisted living there are several points for families to consider:
•Start the conversation about options for parents’ with them and siblings long before a move is necessitated by medical condition or cognitive impairment. Decide:
•Will parent be able to live on her own with assistance by family or paid caregiver?
•What adaptations are recommended in the parent’s home in order for them to remain there? Or,
•Can the parent live with an adult child? Personalities are huge consideration.
•Is a residential community the best option?
Next,
•Have a family meeting (adult children with or without parents) with a Geriatric Nurse Care Manager to explore the above three options. Work together to create a flexible, written plan for aged parents’ holistic well-being.
•Moving is a stressor on all ages, but even more so for an aged parent who has lived in the same house for decades. Be kind and considerate, but assertive, if needed, to do best thing for parents.
•A deep and very real fear of loss of control of own life is a tremendous obstacle to moving to new environment
The Search begins:
•Tour several facilities, take notes and do comparisons. Try to visualize your parent or yourself in the residence
•Be mindful of proximity to your home or work so that seeing your parent is made easier
• Trust your senses, feelings and your initial reaction to what you see, hear and smell
•Discuss whether your cognitive parent will be placed with persons with dementia. It is best not to comingle the two groups.
•Visit facilities during lunch to see how residents interact with staff and others. Also, is the food fresh and the right temperature?
•Does there seem to be adequate staffing?
•Is the kitchen clean and pantry well-stocked?
•Does the overall atmosphere seem pleasant? Cleanliness is essential!
•Are patients “parked” at nursing stations or in front of televisions with little or no interaction?
•Are pets allowed? Sometimes keeping a pet helps aged person adjust more quickly!
•Do residents appear to be clean, groomed and odor-free?
•Does the staff treat each other with respect?
•Meet the clinical director (not just the marketing person) and ask questions
•Make sure you understand levels of care available and what determines when your parent moves from one level of care to another (and the difference in cost!)
•What occurs in a medical emergency? Will you be the first to be called after 9-1-1?
•Talk to residents. Engage them about the care they receive and the activities they enjoy (or not).
•Ask for references—other families with parents there. They can get permission to give names.
•Ask to take home information on admission criteria and house rules
•Take the time to review materials and ask questions
Use your professional Geriatric Nurse Care Manager’s expertise
•Work with your Geriatric Nurse Care Manager every step of the process for her professional and practical input. She will know available facilities and will help you assess which residential community will best meet your parents’ needs as well as desires for a certain lifestyle as they age.