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HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Rather than the anticipated holiday cheer, many families will be greeted this season with past-due bills, unsafe conditions and a notable change in an older adult’s grooming habits.

By Sandy Bennett Published: December, 2005

Rather than the anticipated holiday cheer, many families will be greeted this season with past-due bills, unsafe conditions and a notable change in an older adult’s grooming habits. Rather than the anticipated holiday cheer, many families will be greeted this season with past-due bills, unsafe conditions and a notable change in an older adult’s grooming habits. The holidays mark a time when families often first realize that a loved one may be in need of help. This holds particularly true for adult children who do not live in close proximity to their parents or grandparents and thus only see them occasionally.

In fact, January is one of the busiest months of the year for elder care-related agencies, which often see an increased number of calls following Christmas, says Ruobing Li, Linkages site co-director at the Council on AgingOrange County.

“It’s after the holiday and people get a little window time, relax a little bit after the busy days of visiting. They have time to think,” she says. “Some of the people who call have already done some research and they already have some ideas. Others are totally blank, they don’t know what to do.”

Li’s first recommendation: “Don’t panic. There are lots of resources available.”

But where do families begin?

Nancy Herrmann, community and senior center administrator for the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center in Mission Viejo, recommends families first make a connection with the area Council on Aging or a local senior center. Both offer referrals and numerous services.

“All senior centers are playing a much, much bigger role in their city and areas of service because of the growing, aging population,” says Herrmann. Among the many programs at the Mission Viejo site are educational videos, workshops and free blood pressure screenings.

Secondly, she says to connect with a care manager or a case manager. Many senior centers, for example, have a care manager who can help family members determine the type of help their loved one needs from legal and financial assistance to food and shelter needs.

Case managers, on the other hand, actually go into the elderly adult’s home and perform an assessment. This service is available for free through the Council on Aging through its Linkages program. However, there is currently a 4- to 5-week wait time, according to Li.

“A lot of times we cannot go out right away,” she says. “We hope they can start doing something.”

In the meantime, families can obtain a number of referrals through the council, from organizations that deliver meals to ones that will drive your loved one to a doctor’s appointment. They also provide referrals for adult day care centers, caregiver support, in-home services and more.

For more information on the Council on AgingOrange County, including a senior center nearest you, visit www.coaoc.org or call 714.497.0107.

Sandy Bennett is associate editor.

INDICATORS THAT HELP MAY BE NEEDED

Has your family member:

1. Changed eating habits within the last year resulting in weight loss, have no appetite, or missed meals?

2. Neglected personal hygiene?

3. Neglected their home so it is not as clean or sanitary as you remember growing up?

4. Exhibited inappropriate behavior by being unusually loud or quiet, paranoid, agitated, making phone calls at all hours?

5. Changed relationship patterns such that friends and neighbors have expressed concerns?

6. Had physical problems such as burns or injury marks resulting from general weakness, forgetfulness, or possible misuse of alcohol or prescribed medications?

7. Decreased or stopped participating in activities that were previously important to them such as bridge or a book club, dining with friends, or attending religious services?

8. Exhibited forgetfulness resulting in unopened mail, piles of newspapers, not filling their prescriptions, or missed appointments?

9. Mishandled finances such as not paying bills, losing money, paying bills twice or more, or hiding money?

10. Made unusual purchases such as buying more than one magazine subscription of the same magazine, entered an unusual amount of contests, increased usage of purchasing from television advertisements?
Source: The Eldercare Locator (www.eldercare.gov)

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