When it comes to leaving your home and residing in a retirement home most people would rather stay at home. However, today's retirement homes, or Continuing Care and Assisted Living Facilities may not be what you think. In fact, many are like 5 star hotels. The assisted living facilities offer full service amenities such as laundry, housekeeping, transportation, onsite dining, and entertainment. The best part is that many of these services are all inclusive. Many seniors value their freedom, but for reasons beyond their control they can no longer care for themselves. Therefore, simple household chores like cooking, cleaning and…
The assisted living care model is between your home and the nursing homes and has come into prominence in the past 20 years, and will continue to grow as the Baby Boomers head into the retirement years. However, even for families who have had those conversations, making the transition from home to an assisted living can be challenging. Assisted living provides an opportunity for older Americans to enjoy the comforts of a home-like setting, plenty of activities and socialization, along with the help they might need — from bathing and dressing to housecleaning and medication reminders. Yet, many are so…
A disaster may vary by size and intensity, tornado, hurricane, or earthquake. However, the direct effect to a senior (due to evacuations, loss of care and home) is detrimental on their quality of life. Evacuations effect and disrupt their daily activities. Assisted living, long-term care facilities and caregivers have clients who may be immobile, require medical equipment, medications and nursing care. There is jtress does not magnify the issues already being dealt with by both patient and caregiver. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations identified evacuations and multiple transfers as a major problem for seniors i.e. wildfires in…
Downsizing from your home to an assisted living facility has its advantages, socialization, meals prepared, no maintenance, and no snow removal. However, stress and grief can result from “giving up the family home,” a loss of independence or even a perceived loss of prestige. Consequently, tough decisions have to made on downsizing. Removing clutter is easy. But letting go of sentimental possessions, the task is daunting. Therefore, plan and review how much living space and storage space your apartment has. Here are some suggestions to help you or a loved one begin the process: • Measure the furniture, especially large…
Baby boomers are seeking out communities with culture, activities and events and turning to college towns, urban environments and smaller towns with vibrant downtowns in lieu of continuing care retirement communities (“CCRC”) The research to date indicates that boomers desire to stay involved and participate in life during their retirement years. Consequently, CCRC’s should change their approach and what programs they offer to Boomers rather than the Depression Era and the GI generation. The boomer generation wants to live among other generations they don't necessarily want to be segregated. However, this country is not prepared to manage the existing generation…
Being responsible for an elderly loved one can mean adopting a rather rigid schedule and lifestyle, especially if you are the primary caregiver. How, then, do you travel? It can be a logistical nightmare, whether the travel is elective or necessary. Regardless, understanding some of the challenges and workarounds in advance can make the travel more manageable. The New Old Age blog at The New York Times recently offered some food for thought on this important subject. The big question is whether your elderly parent is traveling with you. If the travel involves you alone for business or pleasure, then…
Hospice care can provide a great benefit to many families and their dying loved ones, and Medicare has been generally praised for its support through reimbursements to providers over the past 28 years. However, according to a recent article by Kaiser Health News and The New York Times, there is growing concern now about misuse of the program by for-profit hospice providers. Hospice care is intended to provide dying patients with palliative care in their own homes, or in a hospice facility or nursing home. But, as hospice has moved into the mainstream, concerns about excessive costs and misuse have…
The idea of Assisted Living is tremendously appealing – an older individual receiving necessary care and services in a home-like environment, while retaining choice and autonomy. Most Assisted Living facilities are licensed to care for residents only up to a particular need of care. A generic multi-level system might designate three levels: low, moderate and high. When a resident has low care needs, the resident may reside at any type of Assisted Living facility. When the resident's care needs reach the moderate level, the resident is allowed to reside only at a facility licensed for moderate or high care needs. …
Click for a few of the stories uncovered during The Miami Herald’s yearlong investigation into Florida’s assisted living facilities. Thousands of documents revealed a nearly hidden world of questionable deaths, abuse, and cases of neglect towards the elderly and mentally ill. Their project, “Neglected To Death,” chronicled years of caregiver malpractice, unsuitable living conditions, and exposed Florida’s state regulators’ failure to monitor and enforce the laws protecting some of society’s most vulnerable residents. The Miami Herald and WLRN uncovered 70 questionable deaths within the last decade alone. While Florida supposedly holds some of the strictest elder-abuse laws in the nation,…
As we and our loved ones age, we put a lot of effort (and resources) into making sure a hospital bed is available when needed. New research shows that while that hospital bed may sometimes be necessary, getting up and out of it as quickly as possible is key to recovery. As it turns out, the hospital bed is a huge contributor to old-age infirmity, as studies prove that bed-rest and immobility slow healing and stunt recuperation. A recent New York Times column, “The New Old Age” covered the results of a study conducted by University of Texas physician, Dr….
Frederick, MD 
301-663-9230
