“I don’t know what’s happened to my mother. When I went to see her yesterday, she started screaming at me and accused me of stealing her jewelry. The past few days she’s so confused and angry, and she even tried to hit one of the patients. It’s just not like her and I’m afraid she’ll get kicked out of the facility.” I could hear how upset Janet was as she related her recent visit to the nursing home. Her mother, Betty, was 82 years old and had Alzheimer’s disease.
I explained to Janet about the symptoms that people might show in the middle stages of the disease, and added that I would make a visit myself to check out the situation. As a nurse with over 35 years of experience working with the elderly, I knew Betty’s behavior could be due to the advancing disease. But it was also possible that a medical problem such as urinary tract infection could cause her distressing behavior changes.
Turns out, I was right. After I met with Betty and talked with the nurses and her doctor, Betty was tested and had a UTI. Had it gone undiagnosed and untreated, it could have resulted in a serious infection. I kept an eye on Betty’s care and in a few days, she’d settled down, much to Janet’s relief.
Before I started Senior Transitions eighteen years ago, I became certified in case management. In a sense, I serve as a “professional family member” when I work with families and their elderly relatives. Navigating the healthcare system and aging services is no picnic, especially when families are new to caregiving or they live at a distance from their loved one. From locating the right home care to recommending housing options to assisting with entitlement programs, our team is there to find solutions. We’re the “boots on the ground,” doing the legwork, coordinating and monitoring services, and providing oversight.
We know the resources that are available, and we make referrals based solely on what the senior and the family need. Maybe it’s finding the best memory care facility in the area, helping the family plan for long-term care, educating the family on what to expect with dementia, or monitoring the senior’s care when there’s a health crisis. The list goes on. We work with families who are local and those who live out of state, or even out of the country.
Everyone’s situation is different; every family’s journey has twists and turns. We’re here to make life easier – to find answers that make the most sense for you – when you and your loved one are faced with the challenges of aging.
