The Navigator
March 2021 Newsletter
|
|
Scott's Thoughts.
The Next Most Loving Thing
By, Options for Senior Living Founder, Scott Fischer
We often say to our clients that have committed to the long, hard road of caring for their loved one with dementia, that their gift of love to care for them will often lead them to a place of exhaustion and exposure to risk, so then the “Next most loving thing” to do is to do your homework to find the best and most appropriate placement for their loved one.
|
|
|
It takes incredible love, courage, and determination to care for a loved one with dementia and it takes equal amounts of love, dedication, and courage to let that loved one go to assisted living. The disease process is a long and drawn-out marathon and we are acutely aware that 60-65% of the time, the primary caregiver will precede their affected loved one due to the enormous stress the caregiver is under. They often have exacerbations of their own conditions because of the stress and lack of attention the caregivers tend to pay to their own healthcare needs. It’s critical that once we get called into a situation, we want the family to understand this fact and it’s important to move forward with looking into placement environments that will meet the care needs of the affected person.
There are two avenues to explore after we conduct our evaluation of the situation. As difficult as it is, right after we go through the progression of the disease process and evaluating the impact the disease has on the current condition of the affected person, we examine the available financial resources to be able to best discuss the applicable options. The first avenue, the assisted living centers, are larger communities that have specialty care and programs designed for those affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The second avenue would be the one of an assisted living home. There are benefits and potential drawbacks to both. Our staff is trained to discuss the differences with you to be sure that your loved one is ultimately placed in the best and most appropriate setting based on the priorities you set with us in our meetings before we escort you to tour and evaluate each home or community.
|
There is one more scenario worth mention that presents itself at times. That is when one of the two in a couple has the disease and they want to go to assisted living together. They have committed to each other that they wish to remain together no matter what. We have helped many, many couples achieve their desire and keep their promise to each other. We customize a scenario just for these special situations. The affected one can stay with his or her loved one if that is desired and we can address the emotions of fear and potential perception of abandonment directly. These are very hard and emotional decisions. Having an experienced guide can be such a help to you and your family.
We at Options for Senior Living have 18 years of experience and have helped over 3000 families walk through these very difficult times. Our staff carries a variety of certifications including the Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), the Certified Referral and Placement Specialist (CPRS), and the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) to distinguish us in our work. We take pride in the training and experience we have acquired over the years to best serve the families of our community. Each and every family is unique and we take the time necessary to get to know the details. This way we can offer our families the most comprehensive and caring approach in finding the right placement option for your family.
|
|
Event Registration.
Protect Yourself Series: Scam Awareness
Options for Senior Living, S4 Group Real Estate, Koelsch Senior Living, and Voice Against Fraud have come together to provide an educational
|
|
|
series with the goal of educating seniors and their families so that they can spot and avoid becoming a victim of fraud, scams, and exploitation.
Call Paige Gunn at (480) 285-9097 for an questions.
Brought to you by:
https://koelschseniorcommunities.com
https://s4grouprealestate.com
https://optionsforseniorliving.com
https://voiceagainstfraud.com
|
|
From The Board.
PASRS Updates from Tammy Luna, Board Member
2021 is starting with a lot of great energy. Our new board president, Tiffany Wright, has been an inspiration. As restrictions lift and more of our
|
|
|
|
world is returning to normal, PASRS continues to be at the forefront of advocating for the senior living placement and referral industry. Our work is so important to the community as we serve seniors and their families, our referral partners, and of course the senior living providers themselves.
I want to just highlight three areas that we will be focusing on and more information will be following throughout the coming months:
1. Our best practices have always been evolving and fluid. We are continually working on improving those and again this year we will be doing an intensive review to refine those practices as we seek to raise the professional bar for referral agents
2. As activity levels increase and re-engagement picks up, membership is more important than ever. I am the chair of the membership committee, so you will see more outreach in the coming months to pick up new memberships.
|
We are promoting our mission of excellence by asking our members to join us for another year and continue to be engaged.
3. This trade association was formed to evaluate the landscape of the industry and potentially direct legislation that would improve the industry, educate the public on the work we do, and advocate for families. We are looking at a legislative effort next year that would again raise the professional bar to protect consumers. We are just now starting the behind-the-scenes work and as this unfolds, more details will follow. This work will be coordinated with the NPRA and the national board of directors.
Since 2010, PASRS has been an integral part of our community. The Options team has invested greatly in establishing standards of practice. This has hugely impacted and helped the industry gain trust and respectability. We will continue to be leaders in our community by serving on the board and on various committees to support the organization.
|
|
Testimonial.
"Scott, Tammy, and the whole team are spectacular! I have worked with this agency for years and they are one of few that truly care about their clients AND the communities they work with. They are trustworthy, kind, and authentic. They really know the senior housing industry and are the beat resource for anyone trying to navigate the world of long term care."
~Jeanette Ellison, Executive Director, Olive Grove Assisted Living
|
|
|
Your Referral Is Our Biggest Compliment.
We wouldn't be able to make the impact we do without your trust and referrals. Thank you!
If you have a loved one, neighbor, friend or coworker in your life in need of assistance, please contact us at 602.845.1320. We are here to help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
