Keeping Seniors at Home; What it means to you.
In British Columbia the newest “mission” of the Health Authorities is to allow seniors to remain in their home for as long as possible with assistance coming to them as opposed to encouraging them to move out of their homes and into facilities with various levels of assistance.
While the concept is appealling, what in fact does it mean?Well, it likely means a number of things , including an admission of overcrowding, lack of ready beds, increased demands for beds and inability to handle the cost.
For the Senior and their family this becomes both an opportunity to extend the period of independance and a challenge to be prepared for the event. As a Senior or as a relative of a Senior here are some things to look at now;
1. Changes to the home(including putting in rails, lifts etc in the bathroom and the bedroom)
2.Consider downsizing to a home , apartment or condominium that is more “Senior Friendly” which would entail choosing a home with wide halls, easily accessible bathing facilities, elevators and no stairs.
3.Consider a “Seniors Residence” which offers meals, light housekeeping, shuttle service, medical alert buttons etc.
In addition, look at getting the legal and financial “ducks” in order;
1. Simplify your banking; use automatic debit, automatic bill payment etc.
2. Ensure you have an Enduring Power of Attorney in place and ready to be activated as needed.
3. Ensure you have a Representation Agreement for Health Care in place and activated as needed. If you are going to be living in your own home for a longer period of time, you will need an Advocate for your health care; someone to ensure you are getting the medical treatment you need, the at home assistance required etc. Don’ t allow yourself to be left shunted aside by the system.
4. Look at establishing a support network including dependable family members, a family physician(and hopefully someone who will do the odd house call)an accountant or bookkeeper who can do your income tax and come to your home as required, a lawyer you can call as required, someone who will do your shopping and someone who is willing to drive you to appointments.
Living at home with restricted mobility is not impossible . Just make sure you plan for it and are not desperatly trying to put all the pieces together at the last minute. In closing , remember that encouraging you to live at home is meaningless if the Health Authority fails you by offering inadequate home assistance.
