Long Term Care placement requires forward thinking

In this weekends paper, there was an article regarding Jean and Gord Vigars who live in St. Thomas, ON. Due to declining health Jean was moving to a Long Term Care facility however, there was only one available bed in the system, which meant that Gord, would being living alone for the first time in nearly 70 years. The question is, why can't they move into the same facility together??

The reason is that, although the Community Care Access Care system gives priority to couples during placement, this couple would have needed to put their names on a waiting list years ago to ensure that they could go where they wanted, together.

Until changes are made to the way that placements are assigned, I tell my clients that if you want to stay together, or even if you are alone and want to live at a specific long term care facility, you need to ask your Community Care Access placement co-ordinators how long the wait times are, to get into the home of your choosing and act now.

Geriatric Floor - Graceful way to age

Anyone who has had an elderly person ill recently knows that being sick and elderly can be a very difficult combination. My friends and clients know, all to well, my concerns with the way our elderly are treated in many hospitals. I am pleased to compliment Scarborough Grace Hospital on their use of a Geriatric Ward to care for our chronically ill, aging population. On the floor, there are both volunteers and extra staff who ensure that, not only the physical needs of the patients are cared for, but basic aspects of daily living, too, are covered. There is always lots of people around to help and their courteous and friendly manner relieves tension for people at a very stressful time. More hospitals, particularly with our aging population, need to consider a special ward with highly specialized care for the chronically, ill and aging patients. Now....if we could just fix the wait times in the emergency rooms for our seniors but that is another topic for another day. Hats off to Scarborough Grace!

Elders need caring family and advocates

On the weekend there was an article discussing that Scarborough's Craiglee Nursing Home is now being temporarily run by Extendicare after the original owners went into Receivership. This Long Term Care Home was sited with major violations in patient care including the discovery of worms in a patients wound. This is an appalling case of neglect but I want people to know that not all homes are created equal. Standards set by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care would not allow for this kind of neglect but standards only count when people running organizations are able and willing to meet or exceed the standard. This also speaks to the greater issue that our Elderly need family and advocates to oversee their care even when placed in a facility.

Seniors and $950 million for Toronto LRT

As the Government announces a $950 million infusion of cash to fuel the creation of a raised light rapid transit line (LRT) in Toronto, I hope that the increasing needs of seniors will be factored in.

Think about it, a large amount of our population is senior and increasing exponentially and simultaneously, as the scheduled completion date, for the first section, in 2013 approaches rapidly.

Will seniors, using walkers, scooters and wheelchairs be part of the design….not only the car design, but also the platform and the access to the middle street design?

With more and more seniors, either unable to drive or unwilling, this new system needs to address their physical abilities.

If done right, this new system could provide mobility for many into their 80's. Let's get this right and keep our senior population mobile, able and independent as long as possible.

H1N1 brings back SARS memories

Over the past few weeks, as people around the globe prepared for a possible H1N1 pandemic, my thoughts turned to SARS. Although my own Dad did not die of SARS, his demise was certainly hastened due in part to SARS.

Being unable to visit loved ones in the hospital due to contagious diseases, certainly puts even greater pressure on the health care system, to ensure that the people you love will be in good hands.

In my own situation, because I was not allowed to enter the hospital to visit my Dad, I was unable to ensure that he was eating. Once I did force my way in, I found out that he was not eating and, in fact, was unable to eat due to a sprained wrist and arthritis . This led to high levels of toxins from too much medication and not enough food.

As concerns for H1N1 continue to grow, I would recommend being vigilant with hand washing for any aging relatives that you may have. Should they need to go to the hospital, do not assume that you will be allowed to visit and, if you cannot visit, give thought as to how some of their basic aspects of daily living will be provided.

Covering your assets

Previously long term relationships with bank tellers and branch managers meant that, when a loved one died, your loss was met with concern and condolences. Changes to bank policies are tying the sympathetic hands of caring employees within these institutions.

Increasingly, the death of long time, as well as short term, bank customers, leads banks to freeze bank accounts, disallowing access to funds until a probated Will is produced, a process which can take months. Instead of accepting legitimate and valid Wills, many banks are requiring that the estate trustee be appointed first. Sadly, unknowing, grieving customers, expecting sympathy and understanding, are being met with red tape which, instead of assisting the grieving families, instead is tying up needed assets at a most critical time.

Here are 5 things you can do to aid your family in accessing your bank accounts when you pass away.

1) Educate yourself on the probate policies for each financial institution that you deal with.

2) Probate policies are inconsistent within the financial industry so it pays to shop around.

3) Ask for copies of these policies from banking personal to ensure that when policies are amended, you have copies of what you did agree to.

4) Ask key banking personal to explain what would happen to your accounts should you pass away and vocalize your expectations so that there are no surprises.

5) Where appropriate and after advisement from a lawyer and accountant, add a family members name to your accounts.

These assets belong to you and, although there are times when these policies have avoided potential problems for families, for the majority of the population, this is a case where the needs of the many are being negatively impacted by the few.

Hospital is no place to be when sick and senior

Growing up I always believed that a trip to the hospital meant that I would not only be cured of what ailed me but that my personal comfort, as well as my health, would be catered to. From my own experience with aging family members and that of the seniors that I work with, I know that this is not necessarily the case. Increases in the number of people using the system combined with the frailty of the people entering our hospitals, has led to minimum care being provided to each patient. If you are elderly or have an aging relative here are three things you need to know.
1) Personal care for an aging relative falls to the family. For example, most hospital staff will not shave patients meaning the family or privately sourced care givers are required to do this.

2) It falls to the family to monitor many of the basic functions such as eating and mood changes in their aging relatives.

3) Hospitals are not staffed adequately to assist patients to and from the bathroom meaning many seniors, unsteady on their feet or weak from illness, are placed in incontinent products to minimize risks of falling.

Should your loved one be deemed as unable to care for themselves and live independently, after they leave the hospital, long term care may be recommended by hospital staff. As a family member, caring for an aging parent or relative, here are three things you need to know.

a) Your loved one must be considered “bed ready” meaning ready for discharge from the hospital, prior to any applications being submitted for long term care.

b) Many hospital policies have been changes and now require that a family select a bed in a long term care facility, which has availability, as one of their facility choices even if they do not really want to go there.

c) Many hospitals are opting to charge patients who stay in their beds longer then the hospital deems warranted. This cost can range from $50 per day up to $700 per day.

So what can you do?

1) Ensure that aging relatives have a family member or advocate with them when they go to the hospital and ensure that this person is authorized to speak with medical staff re: care options.

2) Bring Powers of Attorney for Care to the hospital and add names to the hospital contact list that you want authorized to inquire about your care and make care choices should you be incapacitated.

2) Don't accept a bed at a long term care facility where you do not want to live. It is difficult to get moved once you are placed.

3) Look for a respite bed at a facility where you may want to stay versus a permanent placement.

4) Select an interim placement at a retirement home which provides a high level of assisted living.

Aging and illness

Dealing with illness in the family has a great impact on the entire family. The person who is ill is scared and in many cases may be facing serious illness for the first time in their life. Their loved ones, be it their spouse or their children, find themselves charting unknown territory with a whole host of unknown medical terms, treatment choices and very little time to make life altering decisions. Here are some helpful tips that may make the difference in the life of your loved one.

Illness can strike anyone at anytime. Elderly people, especially those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, may be putting themselves at greater risk by waiting too long to seek medical attention. If there is any major change in your health, do not wait to seek medical attention. Treatments, especially surgery, are higher risk procedures for seniors and people with a compromised immune system or other pre-existing conditions. For the medical team charged with a persons care, they will want to ensure that all tests and non-invasive treatment options are explored before moving to this higher, more risky level of treatment. These tests take time and, if the person is not in immediate danger, it may be several days before a final treatment decision is made. While these tests and decisions are being made, the ill person will be hospitalized. They may find themselves hospitalized for longer then expected due to the length of time required to stabilize them and get their body to be ready for surgery. Although the procedures for surgery have improved significantly, it is still a risk and no medical team wants the cure to put the person at greater risk.

Unforeseen complications arise from anesthetic, drug reactions and side effects from drugs. An additional risk may be caused by just being in a hospital environment where the exposure to germs and other viruses is increased. A body already stricken by illness can be further compromised.

Family members find themselves trying to manage their already hectic day-to-day schedules while now dealing with the added need to visit their family member in hospital. Hospital staff is stretched to the maximum and many families find that the only way to ensure that the comforts of their family member are met is to be there to do things themselves.

We know our own bodies and we know when something is not right. If you believe that something is seriously wrong, seek immediate care. The health care system is there to be used and the best gift you can give to your family members is to seek treatment and do not put it off thinking that you will get better on your own.