Show #334 Airing Sunday, 3/26/06
Remember Clarence, George Bailey's Guardian Angel in "It's A Wonderful Life?" No doubt we could all use a guardian angel, especially as we age. You might not win an Oscar for the role, but you can be a guardian angel for a loved one. Here to explain how you can earn your wings is Kaeth Brown, marketing director of Arden Courts of Bath.
Question: Being an advocate for a loved one is so vital as they are aging. You've made a list of three areas on which you should focus. First is Health and Safety.
Answer: At Arden Courts, I work with families facing Alzheimer's disease or dementia who want to do what's best for their spouse or parent. One of those areas is in health and safety.
It's so important to TALK to your loved one. For example, do you know the name of your mom's primary care physician? Do you know what medication your dad takes? We have had people move into Arden Courts and their family learns that they are seeing three different doctors and picking up prescriptions at different pharmacies, so no one has been aware of the medication interactions.
As we age, our visual and hearing acuity diminish. Go through the house with your parents and remove obstacles such as throw rugs. Install grab bars and higher toilet seats.
Many people move into Arden Courts because they wander and don't take medications correctly. A wife told me her husband had taken three days of medication in one day because he wasn't oriented to the date.
What parents may consider spying, I consider vigilance. Check their medicine cabinets. Open the fridge. One man discovered that while his dad had food in the house, most of it was long past the expiration date.
Question: The next area includes Legal Issues.
Answer: For you or someone to be able to help them in a time of need, they need a financial durable power of attorney and a health durable power of attorney. And when talking about legal preparations, ask if they have a will, or a trust? If they have these documents, do they still do what they want?
Question: Then Financial Issues.
Answer: Are the bills being paid, and can the loved one discern between a bill and a scam? One of our residents was sending in checks for everything that arrived in the mail, including solicitations from dozens of organizations, because she thought they were bills she owed.
Does your parent have a long-term care policy?
Is she watching and managing her finances, or is she just letting her accounts sit, perhaps in inappropriate investments?
Question: If things don't seem to be going well, where can you turn for support?
Answer: It's important to get help from experts in all of the categories we've discussed. I often refer families to the Alzheimer's Association if they are concerned a loved one might have dementia. I also recommend a gerontological assessment. Go to an attorney that specializes in elder law.
It helps to have objective, professional information so you know what your parent needs. For example, it's best to have someone objective evaluate safety issues about keeping a parent at home vs. assisted living.
Question: What if your loved one is already in assisted living or a nursing home? How can you advocate for them there?
Answer: When your parent moves to an assisted living or a nursing home, your advocacy continues. The Ohio Revised Code (Title 37) addresses resident's rights in residential facilities. An assisted living should give you copies of the code and other documents.
At Arden Courts, we provide our company's statement of rights for the resident, grievance procedures, privacy act, and a list of advocate agencies. This list includes the Ohio Commission on Aging, the Ohio Long Term Care Ombudsman, and others. On move-in day, each family is provided names and emergency phone numbers for our executive director and nurse.
When it comes to being a guardian angel, you don't have to "wing it." If you'd like a list of residents' rights and a list of helpful agencies, give Arden Courts a call. Also, Arden Courts will be hosting a free seminar on how to be a guardian Angel called "Being an advocate for your loved one." For more information, call the number.
