As a geriatric care manager, I have been working with a family for the last few months. They are both in their late 80’s and they have been "aging in place" in their original home. They have made it clear to their family that they will only stay in this home till they die. They did live in an assisted living for "respite care" for two months this winter. They hated it there and demanded to return to their home after this trial period.
Lately, they have been falling a lot and taking several trips to the emergency room. The care manager and their daughter, living here in New Jersey, have tried to coordinate their medical care. They are reluctant to let anyone help them make their medical appointments or assist them with their medications. They remain stubborn and resistant to our help.
Recently, after a bad fall, the wife broke her hand and needed a brace. She has in home physical therapy for her walking. She had major balance issues and is very weak. She has been sent by her doctor to see a neurologist and is being treated by an orthopedist for her broken hand. Her memory is declining and she is weaker in recent months. The couple has multiple medical appointments each week. Her family has been worried about her. Her husband finally agreed to get some part time help from one of our certified home health aides from Garden State ElderCare.
We have now set up an aide to go and assist the wife 7 days per week. They will arrive around 8:30am and stay until 1pm. The husband is only asking for the help each morning for his wife, but insists that he will continue to handle everything else himself. The aide will assist with personal care such as bathing, dressing, and medication reminders each morning. She will also help the couple with their laundry, light housekeeping, meal preparation for breakfast and lunch, and other relevant chores daily.
With this new plan in place the couple can live in a less stressful environment and hopefully not seem as tired as they were before the help began. One of their main complaints was that the falling began, due to being “tired”.
We will continue to work with this family and their older parents to age in place safely with appropriate care. The geriatric care manager will continue to visit with the family and coordinate the care plan each month. We continue to communicate and discuss concerns with all of the family members. To get more information about care manager, please visit our website - http://www.gsecare.com/
Lately, they have been falling a lot and taking several trips to the emergency room. The care manager and their daughter, living here in New Jersey, have tried to coordinate their medical care. They are reluctant to let anyone help them make their medical appointments or assist them with their medications. They remain stubborn and resistant to our help.
Recently, after a bad fall, the wife broke her hand and needed a brace. She has in home physical therapy for her walking. She had major balance issues and is very weak. She has been sent by her doctor to see a neurologist and is being treated by an orthopedist for her broken hand. Her memory is declining and she is weaker in recent months. The couple has multiple medical appointments each week. Her family has been worried about her. Her husband finally agreed to get some part time help from one of our certified home health aides from Garden State ElderCare.
We have now set up an aide to go and assist the wife 7 days per week. They will arrive around 8:30am and stay until 1pm. The husband is only asking for the help each morning for his wife, but insists that he will continue to handle everything else himself. The aide will assist with personal care such as bathing, dressing, and medication reminders each morning. She will also help the couple with their laundry, light housekeeping, meal preparation for breakfast and lunch, and other relevant chores daily.
With this new plan in place the couple can live in a less stressful environment and hopefully not seem as tired as they were before the help began. One of their main complaints was that the falling began, due to being “tired”.
We will continue to work with this family and their older parents to age in place safely with appropriate care. The geriatric care manager will continue to visit with the family and coordinate the care plan each month. We continue to communicate and discuss concerns with all of the family members. To get more information about care manager, please visit our website - http://www.gsecare.com/
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