Preparing for Our Aging Parents

by Dan A. Baron, Baron Law LLC

Over 60% of Americans will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime. The type of care ranges from day-to-day assistance around the house to permanent care in a nursing home. With the growing need for care, there also have been an increasing number of organizations that provide in-home assistance, thus reducing the risk of a permanent nursing home concern. Whether you are planning for yourself or have thought about caring for your aging parents, the following is a list of approaches and organizations that reduce the likelihood of needing a nursing home. In parallel, these approaches may better the quality of life for our loved ones.

Patient Care Advocates – Five Star Clinical Solutions

Founded by Roberta Brofman, BSN, RN, CDP, MBA-HCM, a professional nurse highly regarded in the healthcare industry, Five Star Clinical Solutions assists those struggling to navigate the health system. Whether facing a medical crisis or the need to plan for future healthcare needs, finding appropriate medical care can be overwhelming and confusing. Five Star Clinical Solutions understands the complexities of healthcare to bridge the gap between patients, families and the expansive healthcare system.

I have personally engaged with Five Star on several occasions when working with families to assess the care necessary for aging clients living at home and/or identifying the care they need. In addition, I’ve referred Five Star to clients who need a healthcare power of attorney when none is present. Their experienced team can dramatically reduce frustration, complications, and delays in care – resulting in a better healthcare experience. Patient advocates bear the responsibility of coordinating and navigating the complexities and logistics of healthcare encounters. Roberta and her team are extremely knowledgeable and I highly recommend them. Contact Roberta L. Brofman at Roberta@fivestarclinical.com or 216-513-9622.

Aging in Place – Charis Homes

Aging in place is when a person lives and ages in their residence of choice, for as long as they are able. As we age, our bodies and capabilities change and it is important to consider and plan for these changes as they will have impacts on our residential needs. Glenna Wilson of Charis Homes builds custom homes that incorporate “universal design,” a term used to define aging in place for our aging loved ones.

Some examples of a universal home built by Charis Homes include: maintaining single-level floor plans, sloping the entry- way of a walkway, having a front door with a barrier-free threshold, widening doors to accommodate wheelchairs, low or no thresholds when entering the shower, little or no maintenance needed on the home, etc. Glenna is beyond passionate about helping the aging community and I highly recommend her. She can be reached at 330-833-4527, or info@charishomes.com.

Downsizing – Caring Transitions

Someone who has lived a full life can unintentionally accumulate a high volume of sentimental possessions. Caring Transitions offers a number of downsizing, relocation and estate sales services, however, their downsizing services have become an invaluable resource for our clients. Reducing the amount of clutter in one’s home can reduce the number of accidents. Caring Solutions can help with paper and document management, decluttering, donations, disbursements, liquidations and more. For additional information, contact Rachel O’Malley at 440-508-4957.

Interior Design – Rosalind Strickland Interior Design LLC

Rosalind Strickland, of Interior Design LLC customizes your home to reduce the risk of accidents that may make living in your home difficult and otherwise force you into a care facility. She has an over- whelming passion for helping seniors and those with special needs maintain their independence and quality of life. Rosalind focuses her attention to designing home safety solutions that help clients avoid these common accidents that often end up as the 60% statistic I mentioned earlier.

One of the reasons my clients choose Rosalind is because she’s a Certified Senior Home Safety Specialist, a certification that is rare amongst her peers. Her services en- compass large custom remodels to small details. Through executive-level experience in the healthcare industry, she orchestrates all aspects of your design project. She uses the latest trends to balance your vision and unique function. As Rosalind would say, “The optimal living experience connects environmental, physical, emotional, spiritual and material elements. It is my mission to provide comfort and safety.” For more information, please call Rosalind at 216-581-7233.

In Home Care – Right at Home

Rabbi Shalom Plotkin from Right at Home offers select professional caregivers who can help your loved ones reside at home and avoid the nursing home. Some of the services include helping your loved one get up and into their day, getting washed up, driving them wherever they want, cooking dinner, cleaning the house and supporting them with their activities of daily living. We have referred several clients to Right at Home and have heard nothing but positive feedback. What I personally think sets them apart from other in-home care companies is their personalized care plan. Instead of simply sending someone out like a carpet cleaning company to perform a task, Right at Home performs an initial assessment to create a personalized plan. Moreover, the initial assessment to create a personalized care plan is free. Finally, Right at Home is a preferred provider of the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, the Alzheimer’s Association and every long-term care insurance company. For more information, contact Shalom at 216-752-2222.

Final Remarks

No one ever wants to end up in a nursing home. As an elder law attorney, I’ve come to know, like and trust these named organizations who have reduced the need for a nursing home for many of our clients. It’s my hope that by sharing this information you and your loved ones will be able to avoid the nursing home as well.

For additional information or to contact us, please call 216-573-3723 or dan@baronlawcleveland.com.

Dan A. Baron, Baron Law LLC

Sponsored By

Baron Law LLC
Crowne Centre, Suite #600
5005 Rockside Road
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-573-3723
www.baronlawcleveland.com

Opinions and claims expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ScripType Publishing.