Ask hard questions of assisted-living facilities

Is an assisted-living community a wise choice?
The answer is a resounding "yes," depending on the health and needs of the individual and the careful selection of a well-run community.

However, recently, after watching a "Frontline" program entitled, "Life and Death in Assisted Living" on public television, I was left with the impression that I wouldn't consider it for my worst enemy; let alone a loved one.

The PBS program presented a very one-sided picture; but in fairness to them, it did dramatize a real and growing problem as our population ages and requires more complex care. (Currently, assisted-living communities are home to more than 750,000 Americans).

PBS reporters looked at regulatory records from Texas, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio and Florida. They found that one of the very largest companies, Emeritus, which has grown dramatically in recent years, had been cited for numerous violations. Inspectors in each state, have, since 2007, cited Emeritus for keeping seniors with aggressive dementia as well as wheelchair-bound residents who couldn't move. Residents with these types of problems are not appropriate for assisted-living situations.

Assisted living is designed to help those who need some help in order to continue to live independently; it cannot accommodate those who need nursing home care. Yet Emeritus was found to have a policy of "Keep the Back Door Shut," tracking any move-outs and penalizing any of their communities who "lost" residents.

Most shocking of all, was the case of a California resident, Joan Boice who due to advanced mental illness was unable to communicate to her family that she was in great pain from pressure ulcers in many parts of her body that were not being treated. After just a few months, Joan died, and the family sued and won a large settlement.

In Texas, Mabel Austin who suffered from Alzheimer's, wandered out from her room and froze to death. At another Emeritus Assisted Living in Iowa, it took 12 hours to call an ambulance after an 84-year-old fell; while in Pennsylvania, an 86-year-old woman died when she became locked in a bathroom for 36 hours before anyone noticed she was missing.

While these incidents may be the exception, that fact is of little solace to the families who lost loved ones through oversight and neglect. How can families be sure they have made a good choice for a loved one? First, it is important to know that while nursing homes are federally regulated, in assisted living, regulations vary widely from state to state; with not even an agreed-upon definition of assisted living.

I spoke with David Vail of Guilford, an outstanding consultant to the industry. Vail, along with the attorney, Martha Meng, was responsible for writing some very strict state laws, here in Connecticut. Dave told me that the very large, publicly traded companies such as Emeritus, are under pressure to hit financial goals and that often, size is not an indicator of quality.

While there is a website, Nursing Home Compare, where consumers can check on nursing homes, there is no truly independent source for assisted living. For 15 years, I have been helping seniors choose and then move into assisted-living and continuing-care communities, and I have often remained in touch with both the senior and their families over a long period of time.

In all those years, I have heard complaints about the food, the lack of storage space, or a missing laundry item, but I have not heard of one case of abuse or neglect. In fact, most residents praise the helpful staff, enjoy the many activities and new friends they have made and remark, "Why did I wait so long to move?"

If assisted living may be a future choice for you or a family member, this is what I suggest:

1. Find out what regulations are in place in that state.

2. Check state authorities to see if inspection reports are posted on line.

3. Do your homework. Ask the hard questions.

4. Visit the facility several times at different times of day.

5. Find out the longevity of the staff, their training and ratio of staff to resident.

6. Talk to residents.

7. Send for AARP's checklist for visiting assisted-living communities.

8. Check with an elder-law attorney before signing an admissions agreement.

For residents with dementia, know how the facility manages their care and safety. Understand what level of care is needed and how that may change with age. Assisted-living facilities often have limited medical staffs so for some seniors, a nursing home is the better option.

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St., Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

I'm reading: Ask hard questions of assisted-living facilities

Even at this late summer date, bargain vacations can be found

Oops!
Where did the time go? Summer is already at the halfway mark and perhaps you haven't had time to make any vacation plans. Even if you have spent weekends at the beach or visiting friends, all of us need and deserve a real change of pace; some time away from our normal routines.

The good news is that there are some bargains to be had for procrastinators and those of us who just didn't get around to making vacation plans. But, if you want to save money, you need to keep an open mind as to where to go, and you also need to be flexible and ready to grab a good last-minute deal.

There are many enticing websites for travel bargains, so set your budget before "surfing." Last-minute cruises can offer big savings, but remember to look for cruises leaving from New York; Bayonne, N.J.; or Boston; otherwise, you have to add on the cost of flying to the departure city.

If you don't need a ship with all the latest bells and whistles, an older ship with fewer amenities can offer better prices.

Popular destinations like Alaska, the Caribbean or the Mediterranean are the ones most likely to have last-minute openings. In addition to websites like Cruise Bargains and Vacations to Go, call one or two local travel agents, and let them know you would be interested in last-minute cancellations. Be forewarned, however, about so-called "free vacation offers." These are often scams ... if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Before signing anything, check it out, and always read the fine print. Cruises or foreign travel not in the budget? If you can't afford Paris, close-by Quebec has a similar ambience.

Porter Airlines flights from New York on weekdays are about $420. You can book hotel rooms on LastMinute.com, although you won't know the hotel till after you have booked, but the site does show you the neighborhood and the star rating. Another money-saving tip is to book on a Tuesday or Wednesday when you will get the best rates, and avoid, if possible, traveling on a Friday or Sunday.

If like me, you love to travel (Val always kidded me that I was the only woman who could get excited about a trip to Secacus, N.J.) then you have been using at least one credit card that accumulates miles as a reward. If you haven't, start now. You can compare credit cards at creditcards.com/reward or flyer.com. Some cards have no yearly fees; others offer a few perks like a free checked bag or priority boarding.

Remember to leave a copy of your itinerary with a family member and to take all needed medications and an extra pair of eyeglasses with you. I asked Sandra Mango, an experienced travel consultant with WorldTek (1-800-243-1723) for some current best buys in travel. She advises that the more flexibility you have on dates, the better value you can find.

Maine, New Hampshire and small New England towns often have specials that include some meals. Myrtle Beach, S.C., is great for families as there are loads of activities for the children, and at certain times of the year, an overnight in New York City at a premium hotel can be had for as little as $150. In fact, Sandy is booking now at some low rates for overnights during the Christmas holidays.

"Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us." -- Maya Angelou

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St., Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

I'm reading: Even at this late summer date, bargain vacations can be found

Alas, the joy of discovering a new author seems to be lost

The brutally hot weather we experienced this past week was a reminder as to why I only half-kiddingly used to remark to Val, "If you retire to Florida, you go alone." I ventured out for work or personal needs only when absolutely necessary and still came back to air-conditioned bliss, completely exhausted. One of the few bright spots was that the wonderful New Haven Symphony Orchestra switched its free concert from the New Haven Green to the cool and comfortable Shubert Theater.
Additionally, folks at the Guilford Art Center had luckily extended the Craft Expo this year to include Sunday; the only day at all bearable under those tents. Normally, the more leisurely pace of summer is an ideal time to find a shady spot and while away the time with a good read. But one of the best places to find a new book or an undiscovered author, is in serious financial trouble. Barnes & Noble, where the art of browsing was made even more pleasant by its in-house Starbucks and extensive magazine selection, may go the way of Borders.

E-book sales are doing well, but you have to know what you want to order. For me, the exciting feature of bookstores, both the large chains and the special independent ones with their dusty, hidden away areas, is the opportunity to discover what you didn't know you were looking for.

Even libraries with their coded "sections" are not as conducive to browsing. Whole new worlds can suddenly open when by chance, you randomly pick up a book, and it demands to be read further. The same is certainly true when you discover a new author. Without the opportunity to browse, we also limit our ability to discover a new, talented writer.

A perfect example of the power of an established name is the recent book, "The Cuckoo's Calling" written under the name of Robert Galbraith by the wildly popular J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame. Before the true author was revealed, the book, which received favorable reviews, had modest sales; but once it became known that it was penned by Rowling, it hit No. 1 on Amazon's best-seller list, and bookstores completely sold out.

While the immediacy of the Internet can telegraph our likes and dislikes to a wide audience, we seem to be losing the art of discovery and selection; whether it is in searching out a new book, perfume, movie or, indeed, most anything.

We prefer to have some famous, recognizable name attached to a product rather than look and decide for ourselves. Perhaps this lack of time or interest to browse and thus to discover, is not so important in areas like clothing, home furnishings, cosmetics, etc. But in areas which relate to ideas, such as movies, television and most especially books, when we narrow our world to the well known and famous, we miss out not only on the chance to discover a new talent; most important we have missed the unique chance of self-discovery.

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St. Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

I'm reading: Alas, the joy of discovering a new author seems to be lost

Pardon me while I dash off a note to Whirlpool

In the many books I have read about "making the sale" and "pleasing the customer," they have all stressed that it is the extras that make a difference. The follow up to make sure that everything was satisfactory, the extra-special service and the unexpected small, free extras. All these make a satisfied customer who will recommend your service or product to others.
Some neighborhood firms still do this. Joe's Paint Center and Floor Store in Branford, where I purchased carpeting and Hunter Douglas shades for my new home office, not only returned a second time without charge to switch the shades to a different window where the lever was easier to operate, they sent me a hand-written thank you for my business. They will have me as a repeat customer.

However, many large manufacturers seem to me to be neglecting the care and feeding of their future business. For my newly installed kitchen, I chose all Whirlpool appliances, reasoning that they had a good reputation and by choosing one manufacturer, it simplified the process, and I was assured the styling and stainless steel color would all match. The total expenditure for all the appliances was a substantial amount.

My refrigerator-freezer is spacious with a well-lit interior and deep-door shelves to hold large bottles. Once I learned how to use the ice maker so the ice went into the glass and not all over me or the floor, I was indeed pleased. However, where was the plastic egg crate and the butter dish of yesterday? No longer are these nice "extras" supplied.

My electric range came with all sorts of dire warnings about how to use safely as well as instructions on how to bake and broil, but no broiler pan. This is now an "optional extra," which I must purchase. How, pray tell, can you use a broiler without a broiler pan? How can this possibly be considered an "option"?

The microwave is large and has a tray that can revolve or not as you choose. However, the directions were so complex, I burned the corn on the cob.

At least all the appliances came with printed instructions. Too often nowadays, manufacturers only supply instructions on a computer disc; impossible to follow if your computer is in another room, away from your misbehaving appliance. And what of those unfortunates without a computer?

My kitchen installer, Kevin Sweeney, ( a model of helpfulness and efficiency) had informed me that one little screw was missing from the bottom pull-out drawer of the oven. Receipt in hand, I put in a call to Whirlpool. When calling any manufacturer's help line, it is best to have a short novel in hand while you are put on hold. They all seem to be experiencing "unusual heavy volume" forcing you to listen to loud, jazzy music or commercials for their other products.

Strange, but if you call to order something new, you rarely have to wait. When finally connected, I was told that my sales slip information was not sufficient; I would need the serial number imprinted on a small silver disc inside the pull-out drawer. Bending down and squinting with phone in hand, I realized that it would require a yoga master with 20/20 vision to read that serial number. Reluctantly, I shall have to wait until someone young and super flexible visits to replace the screw.

My Mom always told me that if you were going to complain, do it where it will do some good, so I intend to write a letter or forward this column to an executive at Whirlpool. I will let you know the results, if any, at some future date.

Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 49 Rose St. Apt. 510, Branford, 06405.

I'm reading: Pardon me while I dash off a note to Whirlpool