It Takes a Village to Help a Senior, Too (Q&A)

Q: My neighbors are an elderly couple, and I'm growing increasingly Care Giving For Alzheimer Patients about them. The husband was recently brought Diagnosis Of Alzheimer the hospital for the second time. His last hospitalization was because he fell and his wife wasn't able to get him up. They have lived next door to me for Down How Alzheimer Affects The Mind Alzheimer years and I know Care Provider And The Alzheimer How Alzheimer Affects the Mind have any family nearby. Over the last few years I have noticed them both Care Giving For Alzheimer Patients frailer. I have brought meals to them, Care Giving For Alzheimer Patients I sense that they need more help than an occasional meal. In the past I have asked if there is anything they would like me to do - like grocery shopping, but they say, "No thank you." I don't want to be a pest, or disrespectful of their privacy, but I'm hoping I can encourage them to get some help. Do you have any suggestions on how to go about doing this without offending them?

A: Wanting to help someone who hasn't asked for help, but you know needs it, can pose quite a quandary. When thinking of how to approach this situation, or even whether to deal with the situation at all, here is something to keep Health and Alzheimer Disease mind.

For most elderly people, being able to remain in their home, in their community, to "age in place," is Economy And Alzheimer the desired choice. Yet our society has had a tendency to institutionalize the elderly once signs of being unable to manage independently begin to show, thus creating a fear in most elderly people that if they let it be known that they are having difficulty, they will have to move from their home.

Sometimes things like yard care, roof repairs, torn/frayed CNS And The Alzheimer plumbing repairs, lack of handrails/grab bars, electrical problems, lighting and the like, are more than these folks can handle, both physically and financially.

Yet research shows that strengthening the ties between the elderly and their community and creating programs in which a community watches out for its oldest residents helps to keep older adults healthy, safe, and better able to live out their lives in their home.

With the growing number of elderly in our communities comes an equally significant need, among the elderly who reside in their own homes, to have support from their community, and from their Developing Alzheimer Disease By creating social networks within our communities we can help older adults lead happy and healthy lives in their own residences.

Often a little help with simple daily tasks, such as offering a ride to the grocery store, or visiting a lonely senior, can mean the difference between an older person remaining in the community or having to move from their long-time home.

In regard to your neighbors, don't be afraid to express your concern to them and to let them know that you would like to help. If they aren't interested in accepting your assistance, provide them with the name and number of the local senior center where they can speak to a social worker who can help connect them with appropriate community resources.

If you believe that your neighbors are in danger of possible abuse, neglect, or exploitation, a call to Adult Protective Services may be appropriate. APS is responsible for investigating concerns relating to the well-being of adults who are elderly or have disabilities. Your local senior center can provide you with the number for your local Adult Protective Service, and help determine if such a call is appropriate.

Many communities have developed support systems to How Alzheimer Makes We Forget the older adults in their neighborhoods. You can find information on how to develop such a program, or ideas on how to assist your older adult neighbors, by doing an Internet search for "helping elderly neighbors." Or check out www.caringneighborhoods.org.

Jeannine Clark-Gananian is a private geriatric care manager with Clark Consulting & Associates. Clark Consulting serves the greater San Mateo County area (located in the San Alzheimer The Series Of Disorders bay area in Northern California). Visit http://www.clarkconsulting.net

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