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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2019)
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Of a certain age Seeking guidance to navigate aging By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief The adage that getting old isn9t for sissies is more than an amusing old saw. Good medical care, advanced technology and healthier lifestyles all make it possible to live longer and stay active deep into our senior years 4 but old age comes with some big challenges. A senior or a family car- ing for a senior will inevi- tably run up against a time when they need help. And it pays to be ready with a plan and a roadmap 4 before a crisis forces your hand. Bend Senior Care man- agement provides a range of services that help fami- lies navigate the challenges of dealing with medical and financial systems to maxi- mize quality of life and peace of mind in the sunset years. They offer everything from medical patient advocacy to assessment of financial pic- ture to life-enrichment activ- ity and socialization. <These people have done so much for our country,= said Jennifer Rogers, certi- fied care manager with Bend Senior Care Management. <People are living so much longer, and they9re falling through the cracks of the sys- tem. We are their advocates.= Rogers notes that it is much better to seek help when things are going rela- tively well. An aging care professional can do an assessment that covers medi- cal and psychological needs and evaluate such questions as whether they have a trust and advance directive and who has power of attorney. That said, Rogers knows that many times Bend Senior Care Management is going to get the call when things are dire. <It9s so stressful to plan in a crisis situation, but it does happen,= she said. <The majority of times we are planning in a crisis situation.= Caring for an older parent who may need to move into assisted living is challenging under any circumstances and nearly overwhelming if fam- ily members live a distance away. The goal for Rogers is to preserve the elder9s dignity in a situation where they may feel that so many things are being taken away from them. <We try our best to let that person live with as much autonomy as possible,= Rogers said. Rogers noted that Bend Senior Care Management recently helped a family in the Sisters area where there were issues with a home- care provider who was tak- ing financial advantage How do you know you need an aging life care professional? When caregiving for an aging family member becomes overwhelming, it may be time to contact an aging life care professional. You may need such assis- tance if the person you are caring for: " Has multiple medical or psychological issues. " Is unable to live safely in their current environment. " Is not pleased with current care providers and requires advocacy. " Is confused about their financial or legal situation. " Has limited or no fam- ily support. Or if your family: " Has just become involved with helping the individual and needs direc- tion about available services. " Is either <burned out= or confused about care solutions. " Has limited time and/ or expertise in dealing with the individual9s chronic-care needs and does not live close by. " Is at odds regarding care decisions. " Needs education and/ or direction in dealing with behaviors associated with dementia. Gypsy Wind Clothing Wrap yourself up in a custom-made shawl. One-size-fits-all options! Open Mon Mon.-Sat., -Sat 10 a a.m.-4 m -4 p p.m. m | Closed Sun Sun. 351 W. HOOD AVE., SISTERS of an elderly woman who lived alone locally. The rela- tive with power of attorney lived elsewhere and sought help from Bend Senior Care Management. Bend Senior Care Management notified author- ities to investigate the care- giver, activated a long-term care policy the family had in place and got the woman moved into assisted living. <About a month ago, we took her over to Eugene to the Hult Center to see the 8Wicked9 production,= Rogers recalled. Sadly, the woman fell and her health declined severely. Bend Senior Care Management coordinated hospice care and the woman recently died. However, Rogers takes comfort in the knowledge that her last days were much better than they had been or might otherwise have been. <She went out with such a better quality of life,= she said. <She was happy at the end.= Such are the rewards that come with what can be a very challenging field. <You have to have a con- nection with seniors,= Rogers said. <Some people are kid people and some are senior people.= For herself, Rogers loves interacting with a genera- tion of elders who contrib- uted mightily to their world 4 and she is proud to act as their advocate. Of a certain AGE Sue Stafford Columnist Solving the end-of-life puzzle I really enjoy doing jig- saw puzzles, studying the shapes, finding the ones with straight edges first, group- ing by color, and seeing the image slowly emerge as one piece locks into another. When I find that elusive piece that holds an entire section together, I experi- ence a small sense of accom- plishment, which keeps me going until the whole puzzle is complete. The biggest puzzle I know, and the one that most people don9t want to take out of the box, is the one about the end of life. Death is a puzzle every single one of us will face, but most people will put off talking about it as long as possible. We can choose to address the unavoidable when we have plenty of time and all our faculties. If not, we, and 21 especially our loved ones, will most likely face a cha- otic, stressful situation when our time is up. When death comes for me, he won9t wait until I9ve pulled together my exit strat- egy. I9ll be gone, and the cir- cumstances surrounding my death may not have been to my liking as far as where I met death 4 hospital, home, or somewhere else. The medical personnel may or may not have administered life-prolonging treatments that I did or did not want. I don9t want to be like the woman who, rather than leaving clear instructions and written documents, left a note for her family simply saying, <Sorry I left such a mess.= I don9t want that to be my last message to my loved ones. There is a plethora of helpful information out there, particularly since the advent of the Internet. Just go online and search <end of life.= There are enough web- sites and links related to the subject, it will seem like you just started a 5,000-piece puzzle that is round and all blue. Don9t give up. Help is available to assist getting your affairs in order. Before starting the process, take time to answer some impor- tant questions, the answers to which will help guide you in a number of decisions that will need to be made. What do I want the rest of my life to look like? What are my core values? Who am I as a person? What and See PUZZLE on page 23 Care Management Services for Aging Seniors A new and highly personalized approach to care planning and management for aging seniors and families who need help evaluating their care options, navigating the health care system, and aging with dignity. • Care Plan Development • Education and advocacy • Coordination & monitoring • Transition planning • Life enrichment Compassionate. Connected. Trusted. Serving g Central Oregon g since 2015 “Th is company is highly eff ective and trained in what they do. Call them, it will bring great resolve and peace to your situation.” Call today or visit our website to arrange a free and confi dential conversation! Jennifer Rogers Jeanne Merritt Managing Partner, CCM Managing Partner, LCSW BendSeniorCareManagement.com (541) 782-8381
