In the ’80s or even the ’90s, if someone asked a person about long-term care, often they would respond that they don’t need help with lawn care. You read that right: lawn care. This is because the term “long-term care” was not yet in most people’s vocabulary. Today most people are aware of long-term care, […]
Hospice is Not a Death Sentence: What Happens When Someone Graduates from Hospice?
U.S. Army veteran, Iwao Nagata, was under hospice care for a year. At 94, he couldn’t remember conversations, his legs started getting weak, and he started falling frequently. Things went downhill fast for Iwao. He was frustrated, confused, and wasn’t eating. He became frail, constantly dizzy, couldn’t sit up, and lost his will. Fit all […]
Long-Term Care Planning Month — Can the Terms “Long-Term Care” and “Nursing Home Care” Be Used Synonymously?
Dear Oakley, I read somewhere that October is Long-Term Care (LTC) planning month. I heard that 70% of seniors will need long-term care in their lifetimes. I’m a little confused though. Is “long-term care” another way of saying “nursing home care?” Thanks for your clarification. Thanks! Elle T. Cee —- Dear Elle, You are correct. October […]
Aging Technology in Long-Term Care Facilities
Dear Oakley, The pandemic is hopefully over and things are getting back to normal. I remember how long-term care facilities were affected by the pandemic. Is there any new technology to help provide more protections for residents and support for staff? Thanks for your help! Norma Ull — Dear Norma, Now […]
After the Covid-19 Pandemic—How It Has Impacted Retirement
Jane and Steve were planning on retiring in five years. Now, a year after the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans have changed. When Steve’s business wasn’t doing well this past year, they couldn’t contribute to their retirement accounts, as they had every month in the past. A year of not being able to contribute and a […]
The One Promise You Can’t Always Keep
When couples fall in love and get married with vows including “in sickness and in health,” they often pledge many things to one another. Certain promises seem completely reasonable when you are young and healthy, but sometimes things change and a promise must be broken, especially when a loved one is ill. In the early […]
These Non-Traditional Senior Living Facilities Have Almost No Coronavirus Cases
On a recent afternoon, Ruth Deardorff, 97, sat by the orchids and other potted flowers that she had chosen to line the windowsill of her room. After decades of gardening and growing flowers in the yard of her suburban home, she finds comfort in having flowers in her room. Ruth feels safe and content in […]
How Nursing Homes are Planning for a Third Surge of COVID-19
When it comes to COVID-19, the news from around the country isn’t encouraging. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN, said he is concerned that the United States is facing “exponential growth” of COVID-19 cases. Doctors Believe that Personal Behaviors are Driving the Projections Up Some people in their fatigue from […]
Ten of the Most Common Myths About Long-term Care
Mark and his wife, Josephine, were discussing his mother, Alice, at dinner one night. Alice is in the early stages of dementia, but as her memory gets worse and she needs more assistance, the doctor said she will likely need long-term care services. Mark and Josephine don’t know much about long-term care and are under […]
Choosing a Nursing Home for a Loved One During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Q. My mother has dementia and seems to be declining rapidly. Her needs are becoming more than my father and I, and a nurse’s aide, can handle at home. We’ve decided the time has come to consider nursing home care. All of the news stories I have read about long-term care facilities during the coronavirus […]
Virginia Allocates $246 million to Help Long-term Care Facilities After COVID-19 Pandemic
At a retirement community in Springfield, the last scheduled event that Lea (88) attended was a Valentine’s Day dance in February. Since then, there have been no more potluck dinners, card games, special outings, or other social activities scheduled at Lea’s complex. And even as Virginia enters phase 3, it’s unclear to her when things […]
Should Nursing Homes Reopen to Visitors?
Q. My mother, Betty, is in a nursing home in Richmond. Although she has advanced dementia, I could tell that she always enjoyed our family’s visits. Her face always brightened when she saw me, my wife, and her grandchildren. She would smile when we looked through old photo albums, listened to her favorite songs, or […]
Is Driving Cessation a Risk Factor for Long-Term Care?
Olivia has always enjoyed driving. She loves the wind in her hair as she drives on Main Street with the top down on her convertible, a retirement present she bought for herself. She enjoys the independence she feels when she gets behind the wheel and can go where ever she wants, whenever she wants. Unfortunately, […]
What Can I Do to Help the DC Area First Responders and Healthcare Workers?
Q. My mother, Anna, is in a local nursing home and receives exemplary care from the nurses, doctors, and health aides there. I want to do something to give back to them and to others on the frontline in the DC Metro Area who are risking their lives to help others during the coronavirus pandemic. […]
Are They Moving Coronavirus Patients into Nursing Homes?
Q. My mother, Phyllis, is in a nursing home in Northern Virginia. I heard that across the country, they are moving coronavirus patients into nursing homes. I understand that my mom is quarantined to her room, but I still think that this a bad idea given that seniors (particularly nursing home patients) are among the […]
How to Assess if Your Senior Loved One Is Being Well Cared for in Assisted Living
Dear Oakley, My mother has been in assisted living for a few months. I don’t hear much about how she is doing and due to my hectic work schedule, I don’t visit as much as I would like. I am planning on going with the family this Saturday to see her. Are there any good […]
Bait and Switch: When You’re Not Getting the Care You Were Promised in Assisted Living
Q. When my friend, Vicki, was shopping around for assisted living facilities for her mother, one in particular stood out to her. The lovely marketing materials showed beautiful landscaping, rooms that resemble those at a classy Marriott hotel, and lively group activities. The facility boasted that they had 24/7 licensed nurses on-site and promised a […]
A Major Change to Therapy/Rehabilitation Coverage for Medicare Patients
Q. At age 62, my father, Paul, was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). He can’t walk, get out of bed, or breathe on his own (he’s on a ventilator). He can’t use the toilet, bathe, or dress himself, either. After a recent hospitalization and short-term stay in a nursing home for rehab, in-home therapists […]
How to Afford Assisted Living
Q. We are considering assisted living for my father in the not so distant future. He doesn’t quite need a nursing home yet, but he certainly needs more help than we can provide in the home. Although assisted living is not as expensive as nursing home care, it’s still quite expensive. I understand that she […]
Can You Still Live Alone if You Have Early-Stage Alzheimer’s?
When Kimberly was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she took it as a devastating blow. She experienced the gamut of emotions anyone would feel after such a shocking discovery about oneself, including shock, denial, and depression. It took Kimberly more than a year to accept what the doctor had said— that she does in fact […]
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