Monday, July 30, 2007

Financial Advisors and Older Clients

An article in today's National Post ( http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/advisor/story.html?id=01f385e9-2fc7-4dab-85db-1b0c21ecda92&p=2) was about financial advisors needing to be aware of their clients cognitive abilities their family and support situations, and the dynamics of relationships.

This is one very good reason why financial advisors need to make use of Geriatric Care Managers. We are the people who do the monitoring of these situations. It is our mandate to go into people's home, get to know their families and situations, and be their advocates. We are able to be part of a team with financial advisors that will help to insure the best service possible.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Considerations when moving a parent into your home

Here is a letter, with details changed, that I received from someone through an Ask the Expert site I am involved with. I think the issues are relevant for many people:

Dear Peter,

We were wondering if you could suggest a few websites, books or ideas on activities in the home. About three months ago, we moved my mother into our home, she is 88 ,fairly good shape. Now that she is with us she seems to be board, which I can understand. My husband is at work, I work part time.When I am home, I try to keep her involved, my two daughters are out most days with their activities. Mum is mobile, but not enough to always include her in outings.

Here is my question. Can you recommend books, websites etc. that we may read or view that can suggest crafts, projects, ideas for us to engage her in during the day? She reads the newspaper and any magazines thoroughly and enjoys gardening and cooking, but can do this in limited time frames.

Your advice would be appreciated

Sincerely,

---

Dear ----,

Here is what strikes me immediately. Perhaps you need to take a look at the circumstances under which you brought her into your home, her understanding and yours of what that would look like. Ask yourself what you are expecting out of yourself and your family for and from her, maybe even write it down, and then ask yourself if you are being realistic. You say that now she is bored. What was she doing before? Did she have a house to look after somewhat and now feels like a guest? It sounds like there is some guilt behind what you are writing about, maybe for leaving her alone or for not being there for her as much as she would like or you would like, or maybe for taking her out of her home. Is this true, and if it is, does it come from you, or from her? Have you asked her if she is bored or what she is feeling? She may also be having a grief reaction for the loss of her own home and independence of living on her own. If she reads newspapers and magazines from cover to cover, enjoys gardening and cooking, than she is most likely in a position to participate, or take the lead, in figuring out what to do with her time and energy. If she is passively waiting for you to entertain her, then she is responsible for her boredom to some extent. Anyway, with all of these together, you can see where I am coming from.

A couple things you could do:

1. Hire a companion or even someone, a student perhaps, from a recreation or therapeutic recreation programme to come spend some time with her.
2. Depending on her ability and interests, arrange for her to be brought to a senior's centre for recreation
3. For activities or books, I would contact a local nursing home or assisted living residence and talk to the recreation directors, that is their skill area. Again, you could talk to someone at a therapeutic recreation programme.Those are the things that I would do.



.

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Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Seniorizing: Canada'a Seniors

So, all of these stats just published today about where the old people are in Canada. A few stories about the vitality of older people. One or two instances of finding love and older people.

The implications are enormous, of course. Businesses will have to start developing more marketing, services, and orientations to dealing with older people. Policies for older people in the workplace. Services and job security and benefits.Transporation services and care for people at home.

But hopefully, what also will arise is a new kind of societal respect for older people, what they have to offer, what they have accomplished, and the diversity of abilities and lifestyles. Maybe just the wave that is coming, or is already upon us, will restore the place of "Elders" in our society, which somehow has fallen faster and further than our breasts and tushes.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Eldercare Planning

I have recently had several clients ask me to consult with them around planning for the future of their parents or spouse. Generally, they have not been in crisis, but are stressed, and can see that the need to act will come sooner rather than later.

One common factor for all of them has been that they have not included planning for themselves. They have not looked at how they will handle the stress, and how they will decide when they have reached their limits. They have not thought about what they will be willing to do, and where they will say they cannot do more.

We often hear about the need for "Care for the Caregiver." This often comes up when people's stress levels begin to rise. Before you get to that stage, where you need "care for the caregiver," do some planning about yourself.

It is essential that people start to think about this. It is like the other side of eldercare planning, but equally important. Part of the problem is that people don't think about what will be called for. Sometimes it is that they don't want to know what's coming, and sometimes they know, but don't want to think about it, because of the pain and grief this entails.

Here is why you need to think about it: It will help you be a better caregiver, and help spur you to find the resources you need to keep on doing this so that you do not burn out.

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