Helping
the Elderly With No Family Support
Problem:
Ms.
B., 97, and her sister, Mrs. S., 102, were living separately
in 2 bedroom apartments in the same community about two doors
away from each other. Neither sister had ever had children.
Ms. B. had given up driving about two years previously, so
they had to depend on a few remaining relatives and old friends
whenever they wanted to get out of the house, grocery shop,
visit a doctor, or visit with others.
Ms.
B. had difficulty hearing, and had a difficult time walking,
bending, and lifting. Since recovering from a back injury,
she had been using a walker and a cane but had recovered to
the point where she now used someone's arm to steady herself
for long distances or steps. She was also using a raised toilet
seat and shower chair as assistive devices. She had lost her
hearing aides. She regularly hired help for housecleaning.
She did the necessary research to find a senior independent
community for herself and her sister so that they could have
transportation, easy access to medical care, a safe place
in which to move about, organized activities, and a community
of new friends. She also knew that she would need assistance
packing, unpacking, and moving, and was interested in using
Moving Forward services to help in this area.
Mrs.
S. was still able to move, bend, and walk normally and continued
to care for all her personal needs independently. She was,
however, forgetful and often confused and unable to accept,
understand, or acknowledge any need for assistance. She did
not feel that her relationship with her sister was a close
one, but in reality, relied on her sister for many things.
She wanted to pack and unpack herself, and wanted to make
her own decisions about where and when to move. She refused
Moving Forward's offer to complete a floor plan or call in
a company to purchase unneeded items, and she had had some
bad experiences with moving companies in the past. Mrs. S.
was basically mistrustful of others and also lived on a limited
budget.
Solution:
Moving
Forward spoke with and visited both sisters to determine their
needs and offer appropriate services. Because Mrs. S. was
sure that she could make all her own arrangements and pack
herself, we proceeded to take care of Ms. B.'s move first.
We brought in a moving company that we trusted and who we
knew would work well with our client and coordinate with us.
Two Moving Forward employees were able to pack for Ms. B.
the day before her move. The day of the actual move, Moving
Forward set up all her furniture, unpacked everything except
pictures, and set up items in her new apartment the way she
wanted them. She was able to eat her noon meal at the new
facility along with her move coordinator for companionship,
made some new acquaintances right away, and was able to rest
and supervise the unpacking that afternoon.
Because
Mrs. S. found herself unable to do the things she had hoped,
she relented and allowed Moving Forward to complete the packing
that she had not been able to do on her own. Moving
Forward left information with both sisters and the facility
about additional services that could be used if Mrs. S. needed
more assistance. We were pleased to have made this very positive
move possible for these women, and to have enabled both of
them to maintain their independence and self-esteem in spite
of their very advanced age.
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