Last week, I spent a few days at the beach with my family and we did some deep sea fishing…it was a blast! Now I am back in the saddle and taking my favorite witty senior to a doctor’s appointment later this week. She ALWAYS comes up with something that makes me chuckle. In her honor, I submit to you the “funny” below. Look for installment two of the senior resources series next week: “The Role of a Care Manager.”
“Poor Old fool,” thought the well-dressed gentleman as he watched an old man fish in a puddle outside a pub. So he invited the old man inside for a drink. As they sipped their whiskeys, the gentleman thought he’d humor the old man and asked, “So how many have you caught today?”
The old man replied, “You’re the eighth.”
From A Prairie Home Companion
Senior Resources….
A very big part of what Caring Companions does is serve as a resource to our clients and their families. Sometimes, we are part of the solution. Many times, all we do is steer them in the right direction. Either way, we are happy to help.
It is no surprise many people don’t understand the resources available to help their loved ones. It is a pretty complicated landscape and one that is constantly evolving as the baby boomers age. Home health…care management…living facilities…occupational therapy…aging in place specialists…volunteer organizations…placement agencies…hospice. And the list goes on
Over the next few months, I am going to share with you the resources available to seniors and their families in what I call “the senior ecosystem.” I have a front-row seat to how this is evolving and I hope my observations help! I will also rope in some friends that are experts in specific areas…guest writers, if you will. As always, feel free to reach out to me if you ever want to discuss anything.
So where to start? How about occupational therapy? Installment number one courtesy of Andrew Sever who is president of EnABLE Home Solutions, LLC.
Happy reading!
The Senior Ecosystem: Occupational Therapy
Can mom stay at home or is it time to make a change? Ask an occupational therapist!
I asked my friend Andrew Sever to help us understand what an occupational therapist does and how they fit into the senior ecosystem. Andrew is an MS, OTR/L, CAPS, CEAC is a licensed occupational therapist and is President of EnABLE Home Solutions LLC. He is also a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist and a Certified Environmental Access Consultant. A mouthful! But a good one…he helps people every day recognize needs and find solutions to make sure they are safe and comfortable. So what exactly is an occupational therapist?
Andrews writes, “occupational therapists are trained to assess a person’s physical, cognitive, and psychological capabilities. First they utilize input from the client and their family to understand what specific activities (or occupations) are most important to an individual. They then evaluate the individual’s environment and identify any obstacles present that may hinder performance. Ultimately, the occupational therapist’s role is to provide solutions that allow a person with changing capabilities and needs to continue to participate in their activities (occupations) while remaining within their preferred environment.”
Every day, people facing the challenges of sudden health issues or everyday aging ask “can mom stay at home or is it time to make a change?” An occupational therapist is the BEST person to direct that question to. Sure, family and friends can provide a reliable support system, but they probably lack the professional knowledge to know what options are available. Certain vendors and builders experienced in working with clients in similar circumstances can be reassuring…but do they understand the intricacies of your situation? Occupational therapists are trained to recognize subtle, often overlooked details of a person’s situation and incorporate them into solutions that will help a person age in place.
So, if you find yourself asking “can mom stay at home or is it time to make a change?”, call Andrew…he can help!
EnABLE Home Solutions LLC
(770) 841-9089 (c)
(770) 938-2713 (f)
andrew@enablehomesolutions.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION! Please read…
In a season everything bunny, I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that according to The WikiAnswers® Community, bunny rabbits cannot really walk (like dogs or cats). They can move their front legs individually, but the back legs kick up in unison with each step. Just wanted to make sure that is clear to all.
Letting Go
I spend a good bit of time around people nearing the end of their lives. I volunteer at hospice now (no…it is not a depressing place…but I will save that for another post!) and I went through a hospice with my mom years ago. It had a significant impact and made me navigate how families handle the end of their life. I remember a conversation I had with a nurse/social worker at the hospice that focused on letting go and preparing for death. I had been showing little videos of my kids to mom. I wondered if that was helping or hurting the process…if the sharing was more for me?!
Years later, I went to visit a dear aunt going through home hospice. She was a very vibrant woman in life…had a passion for baseball (she loved the St. Louise Cardinals!), loved eating out a certainly enjoyed a good laugh. While I was there, I remember talking to her about what she was feeling. She said she was not afraid…but that many of the things she valued so much seemed so much less important. No baseball on the TV…no TV as I recall. No reading of the paper or wondering about the news. In hind sight, I think she too was letting go.
It is an interesting concept…a dying person needs vs. those of the family and loved ones. They do not always align. As a survivor, we tend to cling on to memories and try to maximize the time we have. While there is absolutely a place and time for reflection, there also seems to be a point where letting go is necessary. Like all things human, each case is different.
In my reading I came across the article below which is not long, but very accurately shares one scenario. It was on Aging.com and was written by a Blogger names Anna Keizer. I found it uplifting in a way…and made me pause to think that when we are faced with a loss, perhaps we need to leave consider going with the flow and not holding on too tight.
Seniors Like Hockey Too!
As a guy from Chicago and a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey club, I had to share this little video of coach “Q” taking the game to a group of seniors outside Chicago. Growing up, I made frequent trips to the Chicago Stadium to see the Blackhawks play; they are cherished memories. As a six-year-old, I sat on the glass for a Hawks-Montreal Canadiens game and Yvan Serge “The Roadrunner” Cournoyer tossed me a practice puck just before the game puck officially dropped. Sadly, I dropped the one he tossed to me and an “old guy” (everyone seems old when you are six!) nabbed it. To this day, I am a little damaged form that!
I love it when people go out of their way to uplift others and coach “Q” did just that…complete with Jim Cornelison singing the National Anthem, Pat Foley handling play-by-play and the signature air horn after each goal!
I know this has little to do with home care, but it was so good I had to share. Seniors…keep active…every little bit helps!
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- …
- 37
- Next Page »