First I would like to outline the various types of living situations that are available Most of my information comes from the course book and I have tried to list the specific page numbers for each section.
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| Many care giving facilities have invested in Nintendo's Wii as a way to help residents be social and to gain exercise. From: Gabe Clogston at http://www.gabeclogston.com/?tag=nursing-home |
Assisted Living (p 467): AL facilities usually provide private apartments with the following features: small kitchen, full bathroom, and sometimes a bedroom, sitting room, and additional partial bath. The advantage I see in an AL is that the residents can still be on their own but have help when they need it. Note that even though a nursing home may have 108 beds, that does not mean that it has 108 rooms and often residents will share a room with another resident or have to pay more for a private room. Most AL facilities provide a common area where residents may eat their meals and partake in social gatherings with other residents. Interestingly the cost of an AL facility is comparable to that of a nursing home. This is largely due to the far that an AL facility has less professional medical and social employees. The good news though is that most AL's are smaller in size so the lack of an extensive staff may not need to be a concern.
The above video was found on YouTube. It was published in 2010 and is by SundayNeal. It is of a talent show at a nursing home. It is a great example of the social interactions that residents may be able to take advantage of--either by watching or like these three--participating!
Adult Foster Care or Adult Family Homes (pp 469-470): These are another option for elders who do not need constant care. This housing option is generally provided by someone in a private home who may or may not have a medical training background. However staff may help with housekeeping, help with ADL's, personal care, giving injections, medications and changing dressings--if they have been trained by a professional nurse in how to do so. A downside is that Medicare may not pay as much to a facility such as this as it would to a nursing home. However, they probably don't cost as much either.
Home Care and Aging in Place (pp 471-477): Nutritional programs, adult day care, and home health care are age in place care giving. Aging in place is the goal to allow elders to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Medicare does reimburse some costs associated with home health as long as the services are prescribed by a physician. Adult day cares allow residents to visit their facilities one or more times a week for varying time lengths per day. Adult day care may be a good option for a caregiver who has to work during the day but still wants to provide the main care for an aging parent or spouse. A great advantage of adult day care is the social interaction that may occur. With elders being able to wear necklaces that have buttons they may push if they fall to riding scooters to having someone trusting able to check on them each day, elders are being able to stay in their homes for longer periods of time.
The site that I found the following poem stated that it was found among the possessions of a lady who had passed away at a long term care facility. While I am not sure that is true, the poem is powerful nonetheless. Especially for someone such as myself entering the health care field.
Wherever an elder is cared for it is clear that they need at least one person who is willing to do so. It doesn't matter if that is a team at a nursing home facility, a couple at an Adult Foster home, or a son who uses adult day care to make ends meet...
The site that I found the following poem stated that it was found among the possessions of a lady who had passed away at a long term care facility. While I am not sure that is true, the poem is powerful nonetheless. Especially for someone such as myself entering the health care field.
An Old Lady's Poem: Anonymous
What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.....
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....
Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten ...with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old woman ...and nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years ....all too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
...Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!
What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.....
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....
Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten ...with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old woman ...and nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years ....all too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
...Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!
Wherever an elder is cared for it is clear that they need at least one person who is willing to do so. It doesn't matter if that is a team at a nursing home facility, a couple at an Adult Foster home, or a son who uses adult day care to make ends meet...
One person caring about another represents life's greatest value.
-- Jim Rohn
Go here to access a scholarly article about the future of long term care facilities by Richard L. Peck from the December 2011 issue of Long Term Living-For the Continuing Care Professional.
