Comments on: Should We Force My Elderly Blind Aunt To Move To A Assisted Living, Or Retirement Home, Or Leave Her Be?

By: kay_24ca

kay_24ca — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

just talk to her about going to a assisted living and check it out let her see if that is what she wants. if not you need to get her home health care .or a live in care giver

By: caifor da ben dan

caifor da ben dan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

she needs to be either in a home or with her family…she needs help…

By: Travelle

Travelle — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

I think in the final analysis, the choice should be hers. She obviously is still able to take care of herself and it will be cruel to dislocate her from a place she has known all her life. When things become impossible, I have a feeling she herself would like to move to a home. Meanwhile, as others have suggested, couldn’t you think of a caregiver?

By: tanya

tanya — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

How would you like to be FORCED out of your home

By: shipwrec

shipwrec — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

My aunt had macular degeneration and lived alone until her 80th birthday. She had a studio apartment and a chore girl to come clean and was doing good. When mom called her on her 80th birthday she said good thing you called I am moving to a bed an breakfast. Her daughter had told her she was moving her to a place where they would give her a nice room and meals like a bed and breakfast. She seemed to like it there but when mom called the next time she had had a stroke and didn’t remember who she was.
My grandma lived alone until she was 96 but she wasn’t blind. Her house was dirty and she didn’t see the dirt but it wasn’t messy and no dirty dishes. She got really forgetful and her daughters wanted her to go to assisted living but she refused. She fell and broke her leg just before her 97th birthday so the hospital sent her to a nursing home then she was transfered to assisted living, she only lived 2 years after she broke her leg and never got home again.
If someone is in their right mind leave them alone.

By: Sunny Flower

Sunny Flower — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

Your aunt is lucky to have your care and concern. Unfortunately, as has already been said, the answer to this is not an easy one.
There are people who help seniors and families deal with these types of situations not far from where you live. If you want to talk to “real people”who are familiar with services that can help seniors and their caregivers–especially those who are in the “low-income” ranges– and who are good at listening and at cutting through red tape, I would highly recommend that you connect with your local Area Agency on Aging.
Area Agencies on Aging are one of the best kept secrets around for older Americans and their families who are seeking information and answers to questions like this one. There is an Area Agency on Aging not far from where you live, since this is a national network. The staff there will visit with you and guide you to information about services and options that might be available to you and your your aunt. They would know about what helps, supports and in-home service options are available where your aunt lives. They are very familiar with Medicare, Medicaid, housing options and other services in your state and community. If they don’t know the answer to a particular question–they will know the person who can provide the answer.
It is important to know that these organizations are not “selling” any particular product or service so the information you, your aunt and your family will recieve will be objective.
You can call toll-free 1-800-677-1116 to find how to contact the Area Agency serving you. When you call your local Area Agency on Aging, ask for the “Information and Assistance” or the person that provides “Help for Family Caregivers.” Then, when you visit with this person, explain your situation.
Since your aunt is alone, she is likely struggling with some form of depression or isolation. This problem affects lots of seniors and is usually not diagnosed. (Most people think it is “old age.” ) The point is that you want to help your aunt maintain her dignity and make sure she is truly involved in decisions. Knowing that you genuinely care about her health and safety is a great starting point.
Another thing to know is that Area Agencies on Aging have resources and support services that help older Americans’ caregivers. You might find lots of other helpful information by making this call.
If you do contact your local Area Agency on Aging and like the help that they give you, let your local county officials and your folks in Congress know, too. Area Agencies on Aging don’t have big budgets–their funding comes from the Older Americans Act and appropriations have not increased for years! Your voluntary financial contribution of any amount–which is absolutely not required to get the help you need to answer this question–would certainly be appreciated.
Hope this helps! Thanks for a great question and best wishes to you and your aunt!

By: manilama

manilama — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

Your Aunt clearly lives in a world of her own – alone by herself and removed from Society. It is your Aunt’s failing physical condition that worries you – considering that your Aunt has become accident-prone.
I share your concerns – as my late Mother was much like your Aunt. My Mother died at 84 yrs old – after 2 years of full dependency. Up to the age of 82, Mother lived a “Challenged Life” living alone in her own house by herself. Despite the genuine love between Mother and Children, “Generation Gap” was a reality we had to accept as a Fact-of-Life.
Given my experience of Mother and your present concerns of your Aunt, the challenge for us is to create a “New Environment” – like bringing together “Aunts” (with similar backgrounds) who might likely relate to one another by sharing the same “Home”.

By: Metal Discussions

Metal Discussions — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:24 +0000

Your aunt has rights.
Sorry to say, she can live how she wants even if it is what you describe.
The answer that gives her a choice, might be good.
If you can find someone who is Willing to live in and your aunt will agree to. She would be miserable in an institution.
If you can get an agency involved to either help her or deem her incompetent to care for herself and therefore a danger to herself, then you can make decisions for her.
My gut feeling is leave her be. Buy her a new stove.

By: † PRAY † - SFECU

† PRAY † - SFECU — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:23 +0000

I had this with my Mom and we gave her the choice to either have someone live with her or go to a retirement home..
We found a nice woman that took care of her until she died

By: Death Metal Music Videos

Death Metal Music Videos — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:25:23 +0000

Based on our experience, hiring a live-in caretaker is much cheaper, and she will be happier.
When our doctor recommended we put my mother in a home, we paid all the required fees, and visited frequently, and she still wasn’t cared for properly, plus the worst thing was when they raised the monthly payment for the third time during the first year, and told us we could either pay the extra (which we couldn’t afford) or they would throw her out.
That’s when I took her home with me, and cared for her for the last 5 years of her life.
P.S. when we talked to other people, we found out the home make a practice of quoting low-ball prices to get people moved in, and then raised the price over and over.