Senior Life: When to think about assisted living
- Sally Kelly
When is it time to give up living at home alone? A national organization suggests that you look at yourself (or a friend or family member) in terms of these four things which are happening or changing in your life:
The first thing to look at is whether you are losing weight. Is it from a non-medical cause, because you are just too tired to go grocery shopping? Or are you no longer able to drive and are uncomfortable always having to “bum” a ride from someone else? And if you got to the store for groceries, are you too tired to cook, or have you recently burned yourself while trying to cook?
The second thing to look at is whether you are a fall risk. Have you had a change in your balance and mobility in recent months? What happens if you do fall; who is going to pick you up? Of course, you could get one of the medical alert buttons now available (some of our insurance companies even pay for them). But what if you break some part of your body when you fall like a hip or an arm?
Another thing to look at is your own mood or behavior… has it changed? Are you growling at family or friends? Do you feel helpless in your living situation but do not want to tell others about it? Could you care less about what is happening in your life, and especially could you care less about others?
The fourth and final guideline is what does the inside or outside of your home look like? Can you no longer keep it reasonably clean? Have you become a hoarder? Does your home smell, or honestly do you smell because you no longer bathe regularly or even care if you do?
These are hard things to look at, especially if you are looking at yourself. But it is better that you make these decisions on your own (honestly) rather than having someone else come into your home and tell you what is going to happen to your life.
Portage County has a number of home health agencies available to you to take care of yourself and your home, their advertisements are everywhere.
Or you can make a call to the Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging (1-800-421-7277). They have many well-trained staff who can help you make this decision, as well as help you find staff to help you remain safely at home. They will know the costs involved, and how you might qualify for various subsidies.
Do not wait to be told, or worse yet do not wait until you pass away at home, alone! Regardless of our age and physical well-being, we still have a LIFE to be lived, we can still contribute to someone else’s life. We are important.
With this concern in mind, I recently received some information which might help veterans decide whether to give up their home or ask for help.
I received an email from Melissa Novello telling me about the Veteran Directed Care program, which is available to qualified veterans. It seems to be similar to the new program called PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) that Ohio is offering to seniors who may need care services similar to those offered in an assisted living facility or even in a long-term care facility.
I am told the VDC program gives veterans of all ages the opportunity to receive Home and Community Based Services. These Medicaid-funded programs can provide assistance with bathing and dressing as well as preparing meals, which could enable an individual to remain in their own home. The program is geared toward veterans who are isolated or their caregiver who is unable to give the care that is needed.
The program is designed so that the veteran is given a budget for services that is managed by the veteran himself or the veteran’s representative. With the help of a counselor, a veteran can hire their own workers to meet their daily needs so that they can remain living in their own home and in their community.
There does seem to be some qualifications for the program, but if you are a veteran or are caring for a veteran, it would be worth calling Veterans Services at 330-297-3545 to see if you qualify. Veterans Services is located in the Portage County Administration Building at 466 S. Chestnut St. in Ravenna.
Contact Sally Kelly with your senior news at 330-687-9501 or sentrip65@yahoo.com.
Sally Kelly