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Imagine this, you're 85 years old and live alone. You have no family or at least no family nearby. You fall and after a brief hospital stay are transferred to a nursing home for rehab. After 20 days the social worker at the nursing home tells you that you are on private pay services and can leave anytime, however the physician recommends that you do not return home. Even you realize you need care and should not return home. What now? You have no idea how to search for an appropriate assisted living or where to start. The thought of selling your home and sorting through your belongings is more than you can even imagine. You're scared that you will never leave the nursing home but don't know what to do and in the meantime you're paying $200 plus per day for care and are concerned about the effect on your finances.
This scenario occurs daily in thousands of nursing homes across the country to older adults who find themselves alone and without family or an advocate. What is the responsibility of the nursing home who knows this individual is able to receive care elsewhere at a lower daily rate? Is it a conflict of interest for them to recommend a professional Care Navigator who can assist the older adult in leaving their community -- because after all, this person represents private pay revenue and is filling a bed? And why spend time and effort on someone who is ready to leave whenever they can figure out how to do so? What is the right thing to do?
I recently moved a client from a nursing home that was in this exact situation. The client is now happily living in an assisted living community. I have worked with this nursing home before and am very familiar with the staff; however it was not the staff who recommended me to the client but another colleague who had knowledge of the situation. If I had not intervened this individual would have likely remained in the home and have had her savings drained. She had no family nearby who could assist and her friends were older than she and really didn't know what to do. One of the staff, as I was moving my client out said to me "if you take one you need to bring one back."
I frequently assist clients in choosing nursing homes for rehab or for long term placement, however this comment made me think that nursing homes are like the Eagle's song Hotel California with the words "you can check out but you can never leave." Is this what a life comes down to? A revenue stream for a nursing home that does not consider quality of life for someone at the end of their life? Have we really become so uninvolved that we don't care to recommend a professional who can help or at least provide options? And if we do does it place a kind hearted nursing home employee at risk of losing their job because the nursing home will lose a revenue stream? How difficult has it become to look at a situation without self-interest and do the right thing for an individual?
If you or your family member is in this situation, there is help and there is hope. I assist families on a regular basis in making plans for life after nursing homes whether it be returning home with assistance or considering a move to a care community. After an initial assessment, we are able to decide together to make and implement a plan that is in your best interest so you're not feeling held captive by the system.
Disclosure: I am retained by my clients and do not receive, accept or require referral fees from companies with whom I do business. This allows me to remain objective and work in the best interest of my clients NOT in the best interest of the services or companies I may recommend. The Care Navigator IS NOT a "free referral service" that requires financial or other compensation from companies or organizations they recommend. As a consumer it's important for you to ask and to know how an individual or company with whom you work is compensated to ensure that your best interests are represented.
Copyright 2011 Pamela D. Wilson, All Rights Reserved.
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