Life is Changing...

Expert Contribution by Laura Flemming Collins, Garden Terrace Nursing Home

As a geriatric social worker and nursing home administrator I spend a significant amount of time meeting with families who are struggling with the maze of long-term health care options for their cherished family members.

Men and women who are doctors, lawyers, teachers, mothers, grandfathers are now in new roles. They need more help as they are struggling with physical and/or cognitive impairments.

Life is changing…

What I hear every day from caregivers helping a family member who needs more care, supervision, assistance, or medical management is, “My (mother, father, husband, wife, grandmother, grandfather) needs more help. We are noticing changes or, there was a fall, or there are significant memory discrepancies, so we need to find the right place for them.”

They wonder, what is our family’s next move? What steps do we need to take to ensure a family member’s safety, independence and happiness? How do I find a place that will give them dignity and respect their wishes?

Families often struggle with the variety of choices and types of care settings. They share with me, “I promised her we would never put her in a nursing home so we are considering a senior living community. It looks beautiful, it’s brand new; it even has a movie theater; she will have her own suite; she can go to different programs and meet other seniors…”

As I listen, I know that these are all valid points, but to adequately address the unique needs of every individual, the discussion needs to be taken a few steps further.

It’s important to understand that there is a difference between assisted living, long term care, memory care, skilled care and subacute care. This is when families need to truly educate themselves and seek professional support and guidance.

The most important piece of the puzzle is examining the big picture. What are the financial considerations? What is the person’s prognosis? If the diagnosis is dementia, the most common form being Alzheimer’s Disease, this is a progressive illness and the difficult reality is that things are going to become more and more complex and challenging. Tasks that a person can perform today will not necessarily be achievable in a few short months.

What can you do to find the right level of care and the right place for your family member now and then in 6 months from now, or a year from now. My best advice is to talk to one, or two, or three, professional social workers, nurses, care managers, and other families who have been through- all the way through- this difficult maze and not only a salesperson, a director of admissions or a local community blog. After living and working with my family at Garden Terrace for 47 years, I have a little different perspective.

Laura Flemming Collins graduated with a BA in geriatric psychology from Dickinson College, and has a MSW in geriatric social work from Columbia University School of Social Work. Laura is a Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator at Garden Terrace in Chatham, which her family has owned and operated since 1964. www.gtnh.org

The Flemming Family proudly celebrates 56 years of exceptional long-term care in our Chatham Home.

361 Main Street, Chatham, New Jersey 07928 | 973.635.0899 | www.gtnh.org