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Aging in Place—When Needs Change
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Comments (5)A few months back, I wrote a post on aging in place that focused on staying in one’s own home as long as possible. Aging in place isn’t limited to deed holders and renters—residents in retirement communities want to age in place as well. These are people who, like most of us, want to stay right where we are unless we decide an assisted living or skilled nursing facility can best meet our needs—needs that will most likely change over time. The question is: are retirement communities on the same page as their residents?
Eighty-eight-year-old Sally Herriot could answer that question. As a resident of Channing House, a continuing care retirement community in Palo Alto, California, she was content living in a comfortable one-bedroom apartment with round-the-clock assistance from caregivers she hired personally. Frequenting the opera and staying abreast of current events, she refused to let her limited mobility or waning eyesight compromise her quality of life. Unfortunately for Herriot, according to the continuing care contract she signed years ago when paying the facility’s $180,000 entrance fee, maintaining that lifestyle is not her choice—at least not when facility administrators and health care staff decide her care needs can best be met by a higher level of care.
According to a recent article in The San Francisco Chronicle, an AARP attorney has filed a lawsuit on Herriot’s behalf, fighting for her right to decide what’s best for her. In response to extensive media coverage, Channing House posted a response on their Web site regarding the legal proceedings. The statement expresses their legal right—and responsibility—to provide care and supervision to their residents in the milieu best suited to their individual health needs. Whether you think Herriot should not be forced to move, or whether you side with the nonprofit corporation, the reality remains: she won’t be leaving without a fight.
If you or a loved one is considering moving into a continuing care retirement community, it’s imperative that you clearly understand any contract you are asked to sign, and perhaps consult an elder law attorney first. Assisted living is not the only option for securing assistance with activities of daily living. First, there are adult day care centers, ideal for seniors who can still bathe and dress themselves but want to remain social and involved in their communities. In some cases, they may need rehabilitative services, readily available at adult day health care centers. For seniors who require greater assistance with the fundamentals of self-care—feeding, bladder management and personal hygiene, for example, a homecare worker can be hired without a physician’s recommendation to provide nonmedical care in a person’s home. (Read Transitioning From Home Into a Facility on when you might want to consider moving from home into a facility, and Homecare: The Differences Between Full-Service Agencies, Private Hire & Referral Agencies about the different ways of obtaining home care, with the pros and cons to each.)
If you decide to move into a senior community, you may want to consider a naturally occurring retirement community, or a NORC. As the name implies, a NORC is a community or neighborhood where residents remain for years, and age as neighbors. In some cases, an organization connected to the existing community develops a supportive services program to assist with aging in place; in other cases, residents form a board to arrange support and services the group can access. Services can include transportation, housekeeping, social activities, meals, case management, information and referral, and health screenings. In light of Sally Herriot’s predicament, perhaps more seniors will lean toward this contract-free option for living independently—with support when they decide it’s needed.
Decide for yourself—
Lori Deschene
Posted in: Aging in Place, Elder Law, Independent Living
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Wow this is so sad. Its interesting to think of it from the companys point of view because I instantly felt really bad for the woman but you can see where the companys coming from. I hope whatever happens the womans not unhappy with the outcome.
[…] There are many options for people who need assistance with activities of daily living—in-home care, adult day care, assisted living. While these options may appeal for different reasons, as a supporter of aging in place, I lean toward one of the first two. If you’re like most people, you probably want to stay in your own home as long as possible. Assistive technology makes that goal a lot less challenging. Since technology can be a little frightening (at least for me), I’ve decided to make this blog user-friendly by presenting the information piece by piece. […]
[…] Technology to Promote Aging In Place—a User Friendly Guide EMail This Article To A Friend March 6th, 2007 by Lori Deschene There are many options for people who need assistance withactivities of daily living—in-home care, adult day care, assisted living. While these options may appeal for different reasons, as a supporter of aging in place, I lean toward one of the first two. If you’re like most people, you probably want to stay in your own home as long as possible. Assistive technology makes that goal a lot less challenging. Since technology can be a little frightening (at least for me), I’ve decided to make this blog user-friendly by presenting the information piece by piece. […]
I have been to hell and back in the last ten years with our dealings with two long-term facilities; one in San Mateo and another in Belmont.
Is anyone interested in our story and what happened to my lovely, now deceased Mother?
Betrayal of vunerable elderly at its best!
Victor Gilbert
Hello Victor,
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had such a difficult time. If you’d like to share your story, by all means do. I’m sure others would appreciate your courage and candor.
Lori