Life is what happens while we’re making other plans. And, when it does, more often than not, it happens in triplicate, and we need help in several different areas.
What and who to call to help us act swiftly and wisely?
A group of diverse elder-care professionals has formed an advocacy alliance of caring, ethical and dependable experts to help people navigate the stormy waters of aging and the healthcare services maze.
The Shoreline Eldercare Alliance consists of more than a dozen members with expertise in long-term care, money management, location and sale of homes, home health care, senior housing options, stress management, etc.
One of the group’s main goals is to educate the public about elder-care issues and the various services available that can help ease the way. A major advantage of the alliance is that each member of the group, including myself, is familiar with the scope of services of the other members, so with one call, a seamless schedule of a variety of services, appropriate to the individual’s need and affordability, can be discussed and arranged.
Typically, as people age, they start out needing only one or two minor services, perhaps help with grocery shopping or with balancing the checkbook. Often, these can be provided by a family member. However, as time passes, additional help is often required, which the family is often hard pressed to provide.
Very often, one member of SEA, a geriatric-care specialist, for example, might be the first contact with a senior. A home assessment and care plan can be put into place. Minimal services might be needed to lessen stress, create support, and encourage more independence. Months might go by before additional services are called into play.
Florence Wald, the beloved nurse who started Hospice, was a client of Bernadette DiGiulian, a founding SEA member and a geriatric-care specialist. As time progressed, DiGiulian searched out additional resources for Wald, who wished to remain in her own home. One of her final outings, in which she took great pride, was to cast her vote at election time.
Other clients decide that they would prefer the sociability and comfort offered by a retirement community. They could receive help in visiting various communities and deciding on the one most suited to their needs.
A financial planner might help them review their long-term assets, a retirement adviser could be enlisted to help in selecting the personal belongings to take and in the eventual sale of their homes.
Stress management and spiritual care might be offered if a senior was also dealing with the recent loss of a loved one.
Although a multitude of services can be provided at once, all of the SEA experts agree that planning in advance is the best possible scenario. According to SEA members, there are three critical mistakes made in elder care. They are:
1. Going it alone
2. Crisis planning vs. pre-planning
3. Resistance to assistance
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