Choosing The Right In Home Care Provider Checklist

Nursing Homes Not The Only Option

Paul is an 86 year old man who was in a nursing home and wanted to go home.  His only living relatives were cousins who lived in the South. When Paul was able to be discharged, his cousins were referred to Ivory House by the staff of the nursing home. A geriatric care manager went to the nursing home to meet Paul and complete a needs assessment.  She felt that Ivory House would be able to care for Paul in his own home.  In preparation for discharge, the care manager made arrangements for aides to care for Paul while he was still in the nursing home. This provided a period of adjustment for Paul to begin to know the individual aides who would care for him in his home.

Paul lived in a very large home three story stone home.  Inside were various antiques he had collected through the years.  When the care manager first entered the home she noticed the paintings, some with calligraphy, which hung on all the walls. She thought some well known artist had painted them.  Paul’s cousin told her that Paul had done all the paintings and calligraphy but, due to his poor eyesight, could no longer create such detailed art.

The care manager worked closely with the cousin who was Paul’s power of attorney in getting the home cleaned and ready for Paul. A bedroom was created in the former dining room, a hospital bed was ordered along with all the other supplies that were needed. Since Paul slept during the night, the care manager arranged for a live in aide who could also sleep at night. The care manager and cousin turned the sitting room into a room for the aide.

Paul had many chronic illnesses, which included: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, poor circulation in the legs, and osteoporosis.  His poor circulation and gait problems made walking impossible, so Paul used a wheelchair.  Prior to discharge from the nursing home, the care manager made arrangements for groceries to be delivered to Paul’s home and established a delivery system for both medications and medical supplies. Collaborating with the nursing home social worker, she arranged for physical and occupational therapy services in the home.  She also contacted a physician and podiatrist who were able to make home visits.   Through her resources at Ivory House, blood work and chest x-rays could were done at the home when needed.

When it was time for Paul to be discharged from the nursing home, he was determined to be incompetent.  His care manager arranged for an elder-law attorney to assist Paul in setting up a Power of Attorney to manage his financial and healthcare decisions.  Once discharged, Paul was very happy to be home. He immediately began listening to the radio and to his record collection. He loved classical music and would talk with his care manager about what was happening in the world.  After several months in his own environment, Paul’s health and mental state improved so much that his physician felt he was competent to manage his own affairs.

The care manager visited Paul weekly to assess his medications, medical supply needs and medical condition.  She reviewed Paul’s plan of care with him and the nursing aide.

Plumbing and heating problems with Paul’s home were handled by the care manager. Due to cost of heating the home, taxes and utilities it was decided that it would be more cost efficient for Paul to move to an apartment.  He agreed with this move and the care manager visited various apartments.  She found a lovely two bedroom apartment for Paul, which overlooked a rose garden. The care manager made all the arrangements for the move which included: deciding with the client what furniture and paintings he wanted to take to the apartment, cleaning the oriental rugs he was taking, arranging for the placement of his furniture and making arrangements for his paintings to be hung in the apartment. She assisted Paul’s power of attorney in the sale of his antiques, the cleaning of his home and getting it ready for the move.

During the years Ivory House cared for Paul he was never hospitalized. After several years, his power of attorney felt it was necessary to move Paul to an assisted living facility. The staff from Ivory House visited Paul often after his move.  They sent him cards and celebrated his 94^th birthday with a cake and gifts.  Approximately six months after his admission to the assisted living facility, Paul died.  Paul had a great life once he came home from the nursing home and he enjoyed being home with his belongings, both in his home and his apartment.

Activities for Seniors

Listed below are ideas for activities to do with Senior Citizens or encourage them to do on their own or in a group settings.  Engaging in activities such as these helps keep individuals active and social.  This goes a long way in keeping Seniors happy, healthy and enjoying life.

Sittercise – Encourage gross motor functions.  Sittercise includes having seniors while sitting  kicking legs, lifting legs, lifting hands above head and making circles with hands.  May adapt the hokey pokey to sittercise.

Devotional time – May read a passage from the Bible and sing  hymns.  Must be non-denominational.

Reminiscing Group – Seniors through reminiscenceing recalling memories review them and recapture the moments that went with them.  Seniors enjoy talking about the old days as it gives them a feeling of well-being and raises self-esteem.  Use Reminiscing Book and Magazine

Games - May be gross motor games where resident is moving arms/legs, i.e., basketball, cards, bingo, dominoes and checkers.

Baking Group – Seniors may assist in mixing ingredients, putting dough on cookie sheets, cake in cake pan, icing and decorating cookies, and icing and decorating cakes.  The purpose is not to have the cookies and cake perfect, but have seniors socialize, participate and enjoy the end product.

Reading Club – Consists of reading a short article and discussing it.  May also be looking through magazines and discussing what is in the magazine.  Try to help seniors apply, if appropriate what they read to their lives, i.e. Music boxes relate this to seniors like music boxes; cooking what did the seniors like to cook?  The newspaper can be used.

Current Events – Take an article from the newspaper, current magazine or news from television.  Encourage seniors to talk about the information.  If material is from newspaper or current magazine, may read highlights from article, then discuss.

All movies – Make comments throughout film as to what is happening as well as which stars are in movies.  Try to get residents to talk about what they liked about the films.

Documentary – May be on countries, sports, special events.

Oldies But Goodies – Maybe I love Lucy comedies, Jack Benny, ect…

Sing-A-Long- Play musical tape and help seniors to sing. You may want to repeat a song that that particularly enjoyed.

Creative Arts Group- This group involves the art project that are “free lance art” i.e.. clay, finger painting, paper mache and watercolors. Collages may be made from outdoor gathering and cloth ect…

Letter writing – Encourage seniors to write letters, notes to family members.  You may need to assist them in formulation of thoughts and what to write to family member. Suggest to senior that they tell the family member what they have been doing. ie. cartoonist came and did the presidents; we made cookies today and they were good; or arts and craft project.

Arts and crafts – This may be theme oriented based on what is happening during the month: St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and July 4^th. May start art and craft one day and finish the next.

Nature Group- This may be a walk, painting flowers or vegetables. May also be a film on nature or watching the Discovery Channel.

Musical Tapes- Have senior listen to quiet music. Let senior select the tape talk a little about the performer before or after the song or tape.

Word Puzzles / Number Games- Do encourage seniors to do word puzzle and number games.

Call Ivory House Health Services if you need assistance
Phone: 410-823-3153
Toll Free: 1-800-704-3536
www.ivoryhouse.net