Mrs. O’s niece called ElderCare Solutions from out of state. They had worked with another agency, but didn’t have a “fit” with the care manager. She contacted ElderCare Solutions at the suggestion of the social worker in her geriatrician’s office. She described her aunt, a widow, as fiercely independent and proud. Mrs. O denied having any problems despite significant short term memory deficits. ElderCare Solutions agreed to meet with Mrs. O. to make an assessment and establish a rapport.
When we met her, she was living at home alone, with a caregiver who visited for a few hours a day. We discovered that past caregivers had “borrowed” large sums of money from her. It also became clear that the current caregiver hired to attend to her was not coming at the assigned hours, although she was being billed for the time.
Because of her lack of insight and the lack of oversight, she was at risk medically and financially. She was cordial but leery. She had “no problems’ we could help her with, but she did agree to a second visit.
Over the course of a few weeks, ElderCare Solutions developed a trusting relationship with her and her long distance family. Despite her initial resistance and insistence that she had no needs, we were able to get her to consider a live-in caregiver to oversee her care and the household. She participated in interviews of “the help” and ultimately chose a caregiver that stayed with her for 6 years.
We guided Mrs. O and her caregiver through the early rough days of adjustment in their relationship and saw it blossom in to one of mutual regard and devotion. We helped her and her family worked through her resistance and anger to give up driving. ElderCare Solutions secured and oversaw her medical care. As she declined and was less able to initiate activities and interests, we found Adult Day Care where she broadened her social contacts, both giving to and receiving from others.
Mrs. O had a wonderful zest for life and a will to live, which we fully encouraged. When her failing heart could no longer sustain her, we arranged for hospice care. She died at home, with her devoted caregiver at her side. Through our long term involvement with Mrs. O, overseeing and coordinating all aspects of her care, she was able to live her last years well and as she choose. As importantly; she was able to die well and as she choose, in her home.