'I've personally visited many long-term care facilities...Residents are lonely, feel abandoned, and like worthless burdens on society.'

Today, as we all know, the US is aging and our family structures no longer accommodate the caring of elderly parents or grandparents at home. 

With the inexorable increase in the number of elderly, both as a percentage of the population and in absolute numbers, and the rise in chronic diseases, researchers have hypothesized that Medicare and Medicaid will be bankrupt in a few years. One physician told me that if no cure if found for Alzheimer's, it alone could bankrupt the long-term care system.

There are approximately 200 long-term care facilities -- nursing homes, assisted living centers, etc.-- within about 25 miles of the nation's capitol.  I’ve personally visited many of them. One invariably finds many residents who are lonely, feel abandoned and have come to regard themselves as simply worthless burdens on society. As one psychologist has put it, “They need to shift their attention from themselves to the outside world.” 

I do not accept the inevitability of such a fate, and have a three part plan to attempt to improve the quality of life for seniors cocooned in such facilities. I outline the plan in my next blog.

Comments

[josh stafford]

Sometimes we take on responsibilities we are not yet ready for, that can turn into an emotional and physical burden in our lives. A friend of mine was in a similar situation. Her family physician told her about ResponseLINK Emergency Alert System. After researching it and calling the company, she purchased it for her mother. Since she was able to leave her mother for periods out of the day, and continue her own life, while knowing that if she was needed she would be contacted immediately she felt greater peace of mind. She was able to spend time for her self, her resentment seemed to diminish.

[sonyalee]

I agree with you, that there are sometimes other options to keep the elderly out of a nursing home. While placing the elderly in a skilled nursing facility is the first thing that pops into our minds for their utmost safety and care, we as caregivers are not always informed and aware that we have other options. Personal Emergency Alarms like ResponseLINK Emergency Alert is one of those options. They provide 24/7 emergency alerts, voice to voice response, meal and prescription reminders and they are more affordable than nursing facilities. Sometimes a little extra peace of mind is all it takes to keep the elderly in their own home or at home with family and out of nursing care. A lot of times the elderly is put in to nursing care too early in age, and can increase in bad health afterwards simply from depression and isolation. These systems are readily available and affordable, if more people were aware, there would be less unjust admittance to these facilities to early.