| Life is what happens
while we’re making other plans. And, when it does,
more often than not, it happens in triplicate, and we need
help in several different areas.
What and who to call to help us act swiftly and wisely?
A group of diverse elder-care professionals has formed
an advocacy alliance of caring, ethical and dependable experts
to help people navigate the stormy waters of aging and the
healthcare services maze.
The Shoreline Eldercare Alliance consists of more than
a dozen members with expertise in long-term care, money
management, location and sale of homes, home health care,
senior housing options, stress management, etc.
One of the group’s main goals is to educate the public
about elder-care issues and the various services available
that can help ease the way. A major advantage of the alliance
is that each member of the group, including myself, is familiar
with the scope of services of the other members, so with
one call, a seamless schedule of a variety of services,
appropriate to the individual’s need and affordability,
can be discussed and arranged.
Typically, as people age, they start out needing only one
or two minor services, perhaps help with grocery shopping
or with balancing the checkbook. Often, these can be provided
by a family member. However, as time passes, additional
help is often required, which the family is often hard pressed
to provide.
Very often, one member of SEA, a geriatric-care specialist,
for example, might be the first contact with a senior. A
home assessment and care plan can be put into place. Minimal
services might be needed to lessen stress, create support,
and encourage more independence. Months might go by before
additional services are called into play.
Florence Wald, the beloved nurse who started Hospice, was
a client of Bernadette DiGiulian, a founding SEA member
and a geriatric-care specialist. As time progressed, DiGiulian
searched out additional resources for Wald, who wished to
remain in her own home. One of her final outings, in which
she took great pride, was to cast her vote at election time.
Other clients decide that they would prefer the sociability
and comfort offered by a retirement community. They could
receive help in visiting various communities and deciding
on the one most suited to their needs.
A financial planner might help them review their long-term
assets, a retirement adviser could be enlisted to help in
selecting the personal belongings to take and in the eventual
sale of their homes.
Stress management and spiritual care might be offered if
a senior was also dealing with the recent loss of a loved
one.
Although a multitude of services can be provided at once,
all of the SEA experts agree that planning in advance is
the best possible scenario. According to SEA members, there
are three critical mistakes made in elder care. They are:
1. Going it alone
2. Crisis planning vs. pre-planning
3. Resistance to assistance
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
