Perhaps you’ve been through something similar with a parent or loved one? The following situation recently came to my attention.
Martha’s dad had a long-term position with an international company, working in eleven countries around the world, always taking his family along. Imagine how hard it was on Martha and her siblings to be enrolled in all these different schools and trying to learn to fit in with the local customs. Now – in her early 50’s and living in England she just had a phone conversation with her mom, who told her that the Assisted Living facility in Oregon, (one her parents had just moved into a couple of month ago from Florida), had given her mother notice to find a more secure living situation for her dad, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He had been an avid tennis player all his life and still enjoyed a fast game. Being on the move all his life he decided he wanted to go back to Florida. Being an avid walker, he took off from the facility, found a travel agency 2 miles away on a busy 4-laned street and managed to purchase a ticket and from there he hailed a cab to take him to the Airport. Without a travel bag, an expired driver’s license and not being able to answer questions directly at security he was handed him over to security. Discovering he was not a terrorist, they continued some careful questioning only to discover he had “escaped” from an assisted living facility. He was promptly returned to their care.
Martha’s mom then hired a personal care provider to take him on walks and keep an eye on him. She knew that this was only a short term solution. He would always try to take off – whenever he could.
Martha – who had always been the “doer” went on the internet to find out who could help her in Oregon. She “googled” “senior care in Oregon” and pulled up a website called The Senior Care Guide. She sent an e-mail and asked for help, copying her sister who travels between New York and Seattle, and her brother who lives in Oregon. After a couple more e-mails, a meeting between a care consultant from a senior placement and referral agency Care Service Options, Inc. was set up at the Assisted Living facility with her mom and her sister from Seattle. The care consultant was also able to meet their dad in the apartment. With his friendly and engaging personality he was initially able to cover for his memory lapses and confusion. As the conversation continued he become more agitated and abruptly decided to have no part of this discussion and walked out the door, where his care provider had been asked to wait to accompany him for another long walk. There was no question that he needed a more secure environment quickly.
Within the next couple of days the family toured several Alzheimer’s communities in the area. The family selected what they felt was the community where their dad would thrive. Under the watchful eye of a young male care-taker he would be taken on regular walks around the neighborhood and on trips on the facility’s bus to the mountains and beaches. Martha’s dad is now doing well in his new secure environment. The quick action on the part of the entire family, as well as enlisting the assistance of an experienced care coordinator and placement agency can help them all relax knowing that their father is secure.
Have you had an similar experience with an agency or senior care transition? Let us hear your of your situations or concerns. We welcome your submitions regarding senior care.