Aging Life Network

A medical emergency is never expected and is always disruptive. COVID has families more aware of the possibility. Whether your loved one lives near or far, is in their home or assisted living, taking steps to prepare for a 911 call and visit to an emergency room can make the difference between timely and safe treatment vs. serious consequences. Are you or your loved one prepared for an emergency? I will be talking with two guests who will share what you need to know to be prepared for an emergency response scenario; Rose Martinez manages an Emergency Response Team and Dr. Naomi Grossman is an emergency room physician as well as a critical care specialist. They will be discussing the kind of information most important to have available when medical personnel are assessing and treating your loved ones. For those living at a distance, we will discuss ways you can ensure that you are engaged in decisions as necessary. You will learn what treatment documents to have in the home & more.

When a loved one says those words, “I Don’t Need Help” or “I am Fine”, there is often something else going on. They may lack insight due to a real medical or cognitive problem or they may be in denial. Very often seniors fear that if they admit to needing help others will swoop in and take over their life - or worse yet, put them in a home! Many families fear imposing help on their loved one out of concern that the senior will become angry. However, if there is a real need for assistance, waiting too long to help can leave your loved one at risk for a life-ending medical event or serious financial exploitation. My guest, attorney Cristy Carbon-Gaul, and I will discuss least restrictive intervention strategies. Your host will share her suggestions that have worked over the years, and Cristy will discuss Powers of Attorney; how they may be used as tools for assistance and ways they are limited. We will also discuss Guardianships as a means of last resort.

The choice of whether to move your loved one into your home, or to move into their home is a significant one. In many instances a decision must be made quickly. Or what you believe will be temporary becomes permanent. Whether due to an acute change in health, the death of their spouse, or a reaction to the Covid spread in Assisted Living and Long Term Care Facilities; if you are caring for a loved one in your/their home, or considering doing so, you will want to join me as my guests and I discuss those legal, financial and care considerations you will want to address. Among other things we will highlight ways to pay for home care and some ways you can minimize family conflict.

The COVID-19 pandemic has many Americans concerned about the safety of those they love including children, friends and especially older family members. The CDC notes that among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults over age 65 being at highest risk. In fact 8 out of 10 deaths in the U.S. have been our elders. How do these facts impact the choices and care options families must continue to make following hospitalizations requiring placement in facilities, those living at home with paid caregivers or living currently in facilities? When can we visit our loved ones again...in the homes or at facilities?

Host, Nancy Oriola, will talk with Dr. Bruce Mann, Lena Ernst, PhD (owner of Retreat HealthCare) and Corey Nelson (senior placement specialist) about what families should know and consider to keep their older loved ones safe within their home, in facilities and in the community.