Creative Case Manager logoCare Manager new territory

Sister in Chicago Serving Elders and Others

  • geriatric care management blog headerCreative Case Management Blog Serving the greater Chicago Metroplitan area and Central Illinois

Geriatric Care Management Blog

By Charlotte Bishop on 12/20/2010 1:34 PM
In my last posting, I talked about how a caregiver can facilitate an older adult’s decision around when it is time to surrender driving their own car.  As I said in that blog, it is important as a caregiver to help facilitate the older adult’s decision about something like driving a car versus retiring a car rather than make the decision for them.  It is no less true of decisions on living at home versus moving to a senior residential community. 

Let me help you with some of what I have learned in talking with hundreds of older adults who have wrestled with this decision. Let me start by saying that yes, it is in part a decision based on financial means.  Even selling one’s home and the financial windfall that sale can represent may not provide enough funds for a couple or individual to move into a senior residential community – especially some of those that feature resort-like amenities in the Sun Belt or elsewhere.

Research among individuals who are “age-qualified” to reside in a senior residential facility offers some amazingly consistent findings.  First, only about one in twenty to one in ten individuals with enough income and assets actually want to live in a community of seniors.  What attracts these few to senior communities is fairly consistent. 

...

Recent Comments

re:
love it! very interesting topics, I hope the incoming comments and suggestion are equally positive. Thanks for sharing information that is actually helpful.

allinfouneed
www.tulleeho.org
Re: A Radio Talk with Aging Info Radio
I have read this post. Really it is so nice.
Re: A Radio Talk with Aging Info Radio
I heard all the answers. I did not know those answers. Thanks for providing answers.
Re: Four Tips for the Accidental Caregiver
Great article Charlotte - I am always heartened at how neighbors and acquaintances will step forward to assist a senior in need. Sometimes it is because the senior has outlived their family members - sometimes there are other reasons. In any event, these situations are really unique, and they require some planning to handle thoughtfully. A geriatric care manager can be a really important piece of that puzzle. You have provided some really good suggestions in this article. Keep up the good work.
I would really love to guest post on your blog.`
This kind of post is very rare.. its so hard to seek a post like this. very informative and the contents are very Obvious and Concise .I will look more of your post
Re: Two More Ways to Make Elders' Homes Safer
Nice article Charlotte - really solid suggestions. I just can't figure out why I'm accumulating so much stuff already!
Re: Caregiving to Older Workers
Nice article Charlotte. This is really becoming an important issue.
Re: Four Steps for "The Talk" About Giving Up the Car Keys
This is the conversation I have been dreading for the longest time. My dream was to have a driver in place before this actually happened, but at this point I don't know. My mom has never been the best of drivers to begin with, but still manages to function well enough and as of this writing is still fully functional. Whether that lasts another week, a year or a few years is out of my control, but when it happens, I will have to deal with it just as you suggested. I expect it to be a huge fight and really would not have it any other way.

My biggest fear really isn't for my mom's safety as it it for everyone else's. My grandfather drove until he was in his 80's and one day drove his car through his next door neighbor's living room. Obviously, that was it. (I have every intention of getting the keys from her before it gets to that point.)

Here is another thing to consider: My mom's car is bought and paid for, so my thinking is that when the time comes, there should be enough sale value left on it to pay for a driver for a certain amount of time. I have no idea what that costs, but this article lit the fire and I intend to find out.

Keep these posts coming, I am sure I am not much different than a lot of your readers in that even though I know I shouldn't, when it comes to my mom, I would like to live in a state of denial as long as possible. It gets harder and harder as she slowly watches her friends die around her and starts to question her own mortality.

Re: Alzheimer's Related Medical Conditions
This is the information that I've been looking for. I'm really glad that you posted it. Thanks for sharing this one!
re:
I’m impressed. Very informative and trustworthy blog does exactly what it sets out to do. I’ll bookmark your weblog for future use.

Joseph
www.joeydavila.com
Your online Library