Helping families find care for loved ones
Peter Silin has seen it all in his 30 years in geriatric care. He talks about what he has learned
By Karen Gram, Vancouver Sun
Published: Sunday January 9, 2010
In his 30 years in geriatric care, Peter Silin has seen his share of horror stories. Still vivid is the story about the woman with moderate dementia in a $6,000-a-month private facility. Because she stopped eating, staff assumed she was ready to die and decided to withdraw food supplements and medication to let nature take its course.
Silin, author of the newly updated Nursing Homes and Assisted Living, the family's guide to making decisions and getting good care, persuaded staff to to keep her off the psychiatric meds he thought were inappropriately prescribed and try pain medication instead. He also brought in his own staff to feed and walk her. Five months later she had gained seven pounds, she ate on her own and walked almost independently. While she still has dementia, she is responsive and alert.
"If I hadn't been there and asking those questions and watching what is going on they would have let her die," he says, noting that his book gives family members a little of his expertise in the hope that they too can prevent such tragedies
First written 10 years ago to help people choose appropriate care, and learn how to advocate for their loved ones, Silin updated the book for the second edition to include more on assisted living, which has greatly expanded in the last decade. He also added sections on death and dying and how to finance care. He says he wants to offer a sort of education to people thrown into a difficult situation with no training.
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