Dear Kate,
I recently visited an elderly friend over the holidays and
was worried about her. I found that, unlike in the past, she
seemed more unsteady on her feet and I saw that her arm was
bruised. The house seemed more cluttered and disorganized to
the point where she had trouble finding things she needed,
like some medicine and doctor’s appointment cards. Her
daughters live out of state and really try to watch over her
but are too far away. Sometimes they call on me to check in.
I feel this is getting too much for me to handle and wonder
what I should do?
LS, Duxbury
Dear LS,
I get this question all the time. Your friend is fortunate
to have you nearby but I understand that the responsibility
can get a bit overwhelming as people age and they seem to
need more than you can provide.
There are several options available for you to suggest to
your friend’s daughters. First have them contact the ASAP –
Aging Service Access Point – for your community and explain
the situation to their Intake and Referral Department. To
find out which ASAP serves their community call 800.AGE-INFO
(243-4636). The ASAP’s can provide direct services to elders
as well as referrals to appropriate private help.
Next, the local Council’s on Aging are a tremendous resource
for community based services such as meals on wheels,
medical transportation and social activities.
Through their Outreach Workers they can often provide some
assessment and resource referrals.
Lastly one can retain the services of a Professional
Geriatric Care Manager. These are highly trained individuals
specializing in elder life issues. These professionals can
provide a comprehensive assessment of needs, locate and
manage services through qualified providers and be the
professional “eyes and ears” for out-of-area family members.
Be sure when bringing in anyone privately that they are
members of The National Association of Geriatric Care
Managers. You can find them at
www.caremanager.org. |
