Baby Boomers and Aging Parents Assisted by New Health Service
Aging baby boomers, caught by the pressures of having to care for elderly parents and faced with a strained and increasingly unresponsive health care system, now have a resource that meets their needs.
Diamond Geriatrics is in the vanguard of a new profession responding to the situation of families and older people in crisis due to eldercare issues. The B.C. based company provides concrete answers through inclusive Geriatric Care Management services.
Beginning with with an in depth assessment, they develop and implement health care management plans. This can include dealing with a crisis, such as a broken hip or stroke, or helping a family work through whether an aging and failing loved one can remain at home, or must consider placement in a facility. Diamond Geriatrics will assist families with the hiring of any services required, selection of any supporting medical equipment, and even selection and placement in the appropriate asssited living residence or care facility. The company will monitor seniors on an ongoing basis, either in their own home or in seniors housing, watching for inevitable changes in physical or mental capabilities and suggesting corresponding changes in care.
While individuals within the health care system have always provided elements of this service, Diamond Geriatrics is the only company in B.C. dedicated to counselling, assessment, care and placement services to elderly and their families. These services are starting to come to the attention of businesses which have known for some time that our aging population will place a real strain on our workforce. The professions in particular, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and dentists, have started to realize the potential financial impact of losing key members of their staff for long periods of compassionate leave to care for failing parents. A company like Diamond Geriatrics can make a significant difference in this risk factor. They are in fact already in discussions with a major provincial benefits provider to look at adding these services to company benefits programs.
Diamond Geriatrics President Peter Silin has spent over twenty-seven years in the health care system, observing the challenges of eldercare on older people and their family members. "Nothing is more stressful than dealing with the health decline of someone we love. Yet few people understand how to gauge what's best for the loved one. It can be terrifying and time-consuming to try to make those decision; confusion, guilt and worry usually result. Our clients gain the peace of mind that they are making the best possible decisions and that their loved ones are truly getting the most appropriate level of care. They can spend their time with those loved ones, instead of moving around from health care provider to nursing home, trying to figure out what's needed, and what's best."
For further comment on this or other issues concerning eldercare and caregiving, please contact Peter Silin, MSW, RSW of Diamond Geriatrics. 604-874-7764
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Re: Carol James calls on BC government to take over operation of Victoria area nursing home.
Why does elder abuse and neglect occur in care facilities?
Elder abuse and neglect occurs for several reasons. Where staffing levels are inadequate, there is increased risk, both because of too high a workload, and also because staff then feel overburdened and burned out. Neglect especially is the result of inadequate staff levels.
Management is a key to preventing elder abuse. Care needs to take precedence over profit. Management needs to commit to developing and carrying out a philosophy of care.
Complex care facilities (nursing homes) generally receive global budgets, so they may spend their funds as they wish. This allows staffing levels to vary. They do not have to put money into care or other services such as Social Work or physiotherapy which help to ensure high quality of care. Staffing levels can vary to the point where resident safety is not insured.
Abuse can also happen when frail or cognitively impaired residents are unable or fear retribution from staff if they do.The more impaired a resident is, the greater need they have of an advocate.
Signs of Abuse or Neglect
- Unexplained bruises and sores
- Change in behaviour
- Fear of caregivers
- Crying, apathy, or withdrawal
- Dehydration, malnutrition
- Dirty or soiled clothes and sheets
- Internal bleeding
- Broken glasses, teeth, hearing aids
How to prevent elder abuse?
1. Families and caregiver should be aware of care and visit at different times. Ask about staff levels and compare similar facilities. Do not be afraid to intervene. Call licensing or the Public Guardian and Trustee if issues are not resolved.
2. BC Government needs to insure that adequate money is spent on care and not profit.
3. Government needs to implement recommendations of the Premiers' task force.
4. We need a Seniors Ombudsman's office for the province who can review decisions and policies of the health authorities.
5. Care facilities need to adequately support their staff with training and adequate care levels. There has to be adequate staff to do their job in such a way that it insures the dignity and health of residents.
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Seniors need some TLC, too
Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, March 28, 2008
Squeezed by needs of aging parents and growing children, today's sandwich generation is starting to outsource management of elder care.
Whether it's getting grandma to the doctor, planning a downsizing move, hiring in help or making sure medications are on track, many people either lack the expertise or the availability to do tasks once considered the domain of the extended family.
Click here to read the full article in PDF format.
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