Pamela D. Wilson - The Care Navigator

Visiting a loved one in a nursing home is like gardening. We plant our seeds and then watch them grow with anticipation and then days and weeks pass and weeds have filled the garden. Our loved ones are planted in the nursing home and at first we visit frequently and then visiting becomes more of a job than a pleasure and eventually we dislike visiting even infrequently. Know that loved ones in nursing homes feel trapped and lonely. Some have no way out. If you’re experiencing this yourself or with a loved one, you have options for different types of care outside of the nursing home environment. Contact me and I’ll help.

There comes a point when an older adult should give up the car keys and stop driving especially if there has been a diagnosis of memory loss. Next to teenagers, older adults are the second most likely to have an automobile accident. This is mainly due to medical conditions, the use of medications that cause confusion, reduced physical ability and reaction time, and memory loss resulting in getting lost or mistaking the gas pedal for the brake and causing an automobile accident. The personal and financial costs are great — as the other individual involved in the accident may seek financial compensation which can quickly dissolve retirement savings.

Patient advocates from all over the U.S. are joining in Washington D.C. to attend educational sessions and prepare for discussions with state senators and representatives. The National Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization supporting a variety of issues including the elimination of pre-existing conditions and access to health care for All Americans. I am the Colorado State Policy liaison and have organized a Patient Advocate Day in July in Denver, more information coming soon.

Many banks lack the legal staffing to understand powers of attorney, guardianship or conservatorship accounts and do not have time to educate employees at branch locations. Trust banks generally specialize in this type of account, so before the need arises and assuming you are the power of attorney, close an old bank account and open a new bank account with a trust bank who understands your needs today and in the future.

Dealing with Medicare, social security and other government agencies can be problematic especially when we are older, have less patience and lack the ability to navigate phone trees and computer systems. The U.S. mail system has instituted a change of address system online but unless you have an email address it won’t work for you. The paper forms are now kept behind the desk to motivate users to complete this information online. This is only the beginning of incorporating the online world into our lives, leaving behind those without computers or email addresses.

Having an advocate involved often smoothes the way in conversations with parents who resist the idea of help or resist the idea of relocating to an assisted living. Moving is not easy especially at an advanced age and many are fearful and anxious of the unknown. At our age it’s an adventure, at the age of our parents it’s a monumental task they would do just about anything to avoid.

Preparing for the long term needs of a family member diagnosed with dementia can be stressful; however those who plan ahead have a better outlook on the situation and are able to cope better throughout the process. Sharing responsibility with other family members if possible balances the duty of the situation so it does not reside on the shoulders of a single caregiver. And there are many things that can be decided early on in the diagnosis to avoid a later crises situation. Download the checklist at www.parentingyourparentsradio.com

Many individuals with dementia have difficulty accepting the diagnosis especially when their memory loss has advanced. Sometimes an evaluation by a psychiatrist or a mental health specialist can provide insight into the degree of cognitive impairment that exists and give a foundation for discussion with the individual diagnosed with dementia. Often family members dread the diagnosis as much as the individual involved, because the situation now becomes more real, there is no cure, and long term care plans must be made, or at least the need for such acknowledged.

Many caregivers are unable to attend formal support groups. The internet offers the flexibility of time, place and some anonymity allowing caregivers to express their feelings without the threat of baring their souls to individuals in similar situations. Visit www. Parentingyourparentsradio.com and sign up to join others in a similar caregiving situation — we’re building our network of listeners and members who have access to free tip sheets, articles and past on air broadcasts.

The older adult population living alone has the greatest likelihood of “falling through the cracks” without access to assistance when health fails. Many are placed in nursing homes for short term rehab and never leave because they do not know how to arrange for care, especially if they have no family to assist. The same relates to older adults living in the community who do not have access to advocates or trusted individuals who can advise and help them. The Care Navigator specializes in serving both of these populations and will ensure that no one ever feels “stuck” whether at a nursing home or in a private home. There are many options to ensure that a life is well lived.