What a Difference Training Makes
As difficult as the past few weeks have been, we are very lucky and blessed to have Mom in one of the best memory care facilities in the state, if not the nation. One of the first paragraphs on the facility's website: 'We believe residents are unique and caring individuals who never forget what it's like to love, to belong and to give. We create safe and fulfilling Alzheimer's and dementia care communities where individuals are respected not only for who they were, but for who they are. We feel privileged to be a part of their and your continued stories.'
The website goes on to state their promise that each resident will achieve Daily Moments of Success. Wow. I talked with Mom yesterday and she sounded so good. Not agitated. Not wanting to get off the phone. Not asking to go home. Talking about crocheting, food, telling me about her 'apartment'. I got off the phone and wept. So incredibly grateful to the staff - everyone of them sees themselves as a caregiver - even if their title is 'Executive Director' or 'Receptionist'. Mom sounded happy and said she is doing well. She sounded like herself. Not only is she safe, she is happy and with people who understand how the brain works in the midst of Alzheimer's and dementia.
We are very lucky. But where we have Mom is the exception, not the standard. And so Voyageur and I have committed ourselves to changing the landscape of caring for our elders. Between Mom's long-term care insurance, her investments and Dad's veteran's benefits, we should have enough money to keep Mom there the rest of her life. Medicare will not cover a dime of the facility - Mom does not have any 'physical ailment' and therefore not covered. Pretty ridiculous.
It is also pretty ridiculous that the majority of facilities with memory care units do not understand all of the nuances within the disease and how to handle a variety of behaviors. The majority of 'caregivers' for those with dementia or Alzheimer's do not receive speciality training. We are lucky. Many are not.
Voyageur and I were raised by two fierce advocates. Watch out Congress and state legislatures - you will be hearing from us.
Back at ya Voyageur.
The website goes on to state their promise that each resident will achieve Daily Moments of Success. Wow. I talked with Mom yesterday and she sounded so good. Not agitated. Not wanting to get off the phone. Not asking to go home. Talking about crocheting, food, telling me about her 'apartment'. I got off the phone and wept. So incredibly grateful to the staff - everyone of them sees themselves as a caregiver - even if their title is 'Executive Director' or 'Receptionist'. Mom sounded happy and said she is doing well. She sounded like herself. Not only is she safe, she is happy and with people who understand how the brain works in the midst of Alzheimer's and dementia.
We are very lucky. But where we have Mom is the exception, not the standard. And so Voyageur and I have committed ourselves to changing the landscape of caring for our elders. Between Mom's long-term care insurance, her investments and Dad's veteran's benefits, we should have enough money to keep Mom there the rest of her life. Medicare will not cover a dime of the facility - Mom does not have any 'physical ailment' and therefore not covered. Pretty ridiculous.
It is also pretty ridiculous that the majority of facilities with memory care units do not understand all of the nuances within the disease and how to handle a variety of behaviors. The majority of 'caregivers' for those with dementia or Alzheimer's do not receive speciality training. We are lucky. Many are not.
Voyageur and I were raised by two fierce advocates. Watch out Congress and state legislatures - you will be hearing from us.
Back at ya Voyageur.