Older Persons Action Group

By SUSAN COX, MSW

Editor’s note: Susan Cox, MSW, is a senior who resides in an Anchorage assisted living home. Alaska Long Term Care Ombudsman Diana Weber has asked Susan to write the column for a few months, because Susan understands what seniors need when they can no longer take care of themselves.

In my fifties I was the primary caregiver to my parents until their deaths at ages 81 and 88. My chosen profession as a social worker led me to become a long term care administrator for many years. When I came to Alaska I was the administrator of a community health center. But at 62, I found myself actively working one day, a critical care hospital patient the next, and an assisted living resident within a week.  Hopefully, some of the experiences I had and the lessons I learned will benefit others.

Are you planning for your parents’ or your own future care needs?  If you think “I’m too young to worry about this,” or “That will never happen to me,” remember that your health—or your parents’– can change in the blink of an eye. It happens to people every day. The “new smart” is to devote time to planning ahead. What should you consider in your planning? Over the next three months, I will cover some of the areas that need thoughtful consideration.

Many adult children talk about moving parents in with them. Think about this realistically. Are there other family members to consider? Some dementia patients do not cope well with children, noise or a hectic lifestyle. If your parent is a wanderer, can you lock off the garage or other areas of the house so he or she does not get into a dangerous situation? Is your kitchen safe and accessible for a frail or confused senior? Are there rugs, pets, broken steps or other environmental hazards that might cause your parent to fall?

The layout of your home is something else to consider. Your parent may need adaptive equipment such as a bedside commode, handrails in the bathroom, a shower chair or bench, a handheld showerhead or hospital bed. Can your home accommodate equipment? Who will purchase and install the equipment your parent needs? Will wheelchair ramps need to be built inside or outside? Are your halls and doorways wide enough for a wheelchair to maneuver? Even if you have a first floor bedroom and bathroom for your parent to use, there may come a time when you or another caregiver will need to sleep on the same floor to ensure safety. Is there a suitable place for a caregiver to sleep, close enough to hear if your parent gets up in the night?

Figuring out how much assistance an aging parent needs is a major part of doing a good job as a caretaker. You will need to consider what your parent can safely and reasonably do independently. Make sure you check this out yourself rather than just taking a parent’s word for it. Asking the medical provider to help you assess a senior’s needs for assistance is a good idea, too. The areas you want to consider include bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and walking. Providers refer to these as “activities of daily living.” Your medical provider’s assessment of an elderly parent’s needs may also be helpful in securing payment from the insurance company, if your family is so lucky as to have that resource.

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