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by Mark
Lamendola For employees who are currently caring for an aging family member, or believe that they
may soon have this responsibility, safe and comfortable care is a primary concern.
Relocating families need to realistically evaluate the care that their elder will require,
as well as this person's financial resources. If elders are able to live
independently, a few safeguards can ease anxiety and avert a crisis. Family members should
arrange for a personal emergency response system that will send a distress signal to a
reliable friend or family member, and/or have someone routinely check on their relative.
A few other issues to consider are whether relatives can drive safely, the amount of
friends from whom they can obtain help and significant physical challenges that they
experience.
Ask for references from people
such as doctors, patients or family members who are familiar with the provider's quality
of service and visit several facilities before selecting one. Consider joining a support
group with families in similar situations.
Legal, financial and long term planning for elders is necessary. If you will be living a
long distance from your relative, you will need to plan for possible emergency travel to
care for this person, as well as make plans for your own family during your absence, i.e.,
car pool, shopping and day care.
See also Joy Loverde's elder care checklist (sidebar) for additional considerations.
Help for aging family members is available from sources within your community. Look in the
special sections of your telephone book for "Human Service Agencies."
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"Moving Elders with You: An Elder Care
Checklist"
By Joy Loverde, elder care author and speaker.
Internet site: www.elderindustry.com
Important Lifestyle Considerations:
Will my elders' health insurance transfer to the area?
Will my elders be able to afford the new cost of living (housing, entertainment,
services)?
Does this location offer my elders plenty of social activity opportunities?
Is the climate suitable?
Do my elders have access to medical care, church, friends, barber/beauty shop, shopping?
Is this area too noisy? Too quiet?
Housing Considerations:
Is the prospective home high maintenance?
Are affordable and trusting home maintenance services available?
Is it safe for them to take a walk and sit outside?
Are pets allowed?
Is there wheelchair access in every room?
Undesirable Housing Traits:
Stairs that your elder will have to negotiate.
Building codes that will not allow outdoor ramps.
Community in-home health care services are not available.
Transportation services are not available.
The bathroom tub cannot be removed to install a shower.
These suggestions are from Joy Loverde's book, The Complete ElderCare Planner. Written
with the time-taxed reader in mind, the planner includes checklists, action plans, The
Documents Locator, record-keeping forms, questions to ask and more. Joy Loverde is a
professional speaker on eldercare-related topics. She can be reached at jloverde@elderindustry.com or (312) 642-3611.
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