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Community Corner

Lois Nelson Speaks at Tribury Rotary Club

Lois Nelson, President of Always Best Care Western CT, spoke recently at a meeting of the Tribury Rotary Club.  Her topic, Caring For Yourself and Those You Love As They Age, was loaded with information for the generation who must care for aging parents even as they support their own children while they juggle their own families and careers.  Lois was quick to explain, “We may not always be the answer, but we take joy in helping people find and connect with the resources they need.”

“Among the many challenges this ’Sandwich Generation’ faces is the ever growing reality that at some point they will be required or expected to take on the task of dealing with an aging person in their family circle or perhaps a spouse who becomes disabled (temporarily or permanently) while they are still trying to come to grips and balance everything else in their own lives. Although everyone’s list is different, they are all similar in the fact that at the end of the day you find yourself not only feeling like a sandwich but more like the peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the back of the bus at the end of a long day -- totally squished!” said Lois.

Most people simply don’t know where to begin when it comes to the basics of aging. Always Best Care encourages everyone to start by making an honest list of the ‘problems’ or ‘challenges’ that need to be addressed. These may include things like decreased hygiene, not eating well or cooking, problems with eyesight and/or hearing, confusion and/or memory problems, unsafe driving, decreased socialization, depression, wandering or unsafe behavior patterns.

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Always Best Care of Western CT offers a variety of support options besides the typical ‘in-home care’.  They are able, at no cost to the client, to assist with identifying and touring Assisted Living Communities if staying home is no longer the best choice. They are also able to supplement the temporary needs of people while in a rehabilitation facility or an Assisted Living Community when they require more assistance than the regular staff can provide. 

“Let your mind and conscience be free to ‘Paint Your Magic Picture’.  Honestly describe what you feel would make things better for the problems you are seeing and the patterns you have identified.  Would having someone come in a couple hours a week to assist with some shopping, cooking, cleaning make things better?  Would having someone come in to assist with personal hygiene issues help? If so, what times of day and how many days per week would it take to address the needs?  Do you need help getting your loved one to and from doctor appointments to save you from taking time off from work?  Do they need help getting in and out of bed, up and down from wheelchairs?  Is ambulation supervision, using a cane or walker, needed?  Can your loved one shower safely or do they need bed baths? Is there a chronic and progressive diagnosis?  Dementia, Parkinsonism, MS, COPD will be present inevitable on-going changes.  What do you envision as the best answer for dealing with the progressive stages of such diagnoses?” continued Lois.

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The next step is to consider how and where to get help to address the important problems.  Always Best Care is ready and able to help provide the answers.  As Lois pointed out at the Tribury Rotary meeting, having an outline of items to address is the key to moving forward. This list must include housing options, professionals who focus on elderly needs, community resources and funding options.  It is also extremely important for those in ‘the Sandwich Generation’ to understand that besides caring for your elderly family member(s), you must put a game plan together from this outline for yourselves.

Always Best Care of Western CT, a non-medical in-home-care agency located in Southbury, prides itself on offering a ‘bigger picture’ philosophy.  Taking a ‘Geriatric Case Management Approach’ they have built their reputation by providing one of the highest levels of individualized and customized care in today’s market. 

Whether accompanying clients to the ER and being their support and advocate, escorting them to doctor appointments or on shopping trips, preparing meals , or providing one-on-one updates for long distance families, Always Best Care supports the bigger picture of client care.  Always Best Care also knows the importance of keeping families in the loop on care needs and other observations which require their involvement and are often the ‘go to’ agency for families who live long distances from their loved ones.

“If you, or anyone you know, is struggling with this daunting process,” stressed Mrs. Nelson, “Remember Always Best Care of Western CT is a local resource and a ‘safe’ phone call for help and support. Reliable help and direction can be found at www.AlwaysBestCareWesternCT.com.”

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