Chapter 25

A lot of elder-care arrangements now are home care, aging in place, and NORCs since they are less costly and more individualized than nursing homes. One common form here in the United States is called assisted living. Assisted living is an arrangement that combines some of the privacy and independence of home life with some medical supervision of a nursing home. A patient who is in the residence of assisted living may have their own private room allowing pets and their own furnishings just like a traditional home. My grandmother is currently in this process. My grandmother was deciding to either go with a cottage which is independent living or go with an apartment where she would be closer to my grandfather when he got moved into memory support. She ended up choosing the cottage because she wanted a smoother transition since she has been used to living in large houses most of her life. Many assisted living facilities range from group homes of three or four elderly people to large apartment or townhouse. Usually, medical assistance is readily available just in case something would happen or the person needs daily supervision when taking a pill. They have doctors readily available and an ambulance is provided when necessary. The one where I live has assisted living and independent living. My grandmother loves her independence and not being awoken by others moving about. So the person she talked to about the cottage with definitely agreed that she should go with the cottage without exactly telling her. Since she has a bad back it would be better for her so she doesn't have to necessarily walk as far.

Many elders are abused in homes so sometimes making these kind of decisions. Elder abuse occurs when caregiving turns into resentment. We are all human but we should still treat our elderly with respect. I did a research assignment on elder abuse and it was so hard to see the mistreatment that they receive. It is terrible that people could treat such kind people with disrespect. Some provide excellent care but some people think that they are basically going there to die. The caregiver is exhausted from taking care of the care receiver and disagree often about schedules, menus, doctor visits and so on. I see it sometimes with my grandmother. She gets upset when my grandfather is staring off into no where while she is trying to talk to him. We have been trying to explain to her that it is the disease not him. She just doesn't understand that. She has been stuck in her ways for so long that she doesn't always see when she is doing something wrong. She feels like she has this large burden on her shoulders. My mom has been helping her by talking to my grandfather. She got help in there. She has someone sitting with him so she can get a break. She is stressed because of the decisions she has to make and she takes it out on him. I am looking forward to them moving up here because then they will be closer to us and we will be able to help. Reading in the book about late adulthood really opened my eyes to get some of an understanding what Alzheimer Disease is and how elder abuse and assisted living is described.