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« Surprise! | Main | Ask Dr. Bill »

October 26, 2007 |Permalink |Comments (6)

Endless Tales of Woe

Those who know me and my work know I'm an insufferable optimist and am whole-heartedly dedicated to reversing the most intractably pessimistic aspect of our culture -- how we feel about AGING.

But, even my cheerful demeanor blanches every morning when I open my Google-New-Alerts for the two most unfortunate words in the LTC lexicon -- "Nursing Home."

Here is a sample of today's news:

Man Dies Trying To Escape Nursing Home CHICAGO -- A 66-year-old man died after falling from a second-story window at a Northwest Side nursing home Wednesday morning.

Kiril Kirilov, who may have suffered from mental disabilities, attempted to exit Harmony Nursing and Rehabilitation Center from a second floor window via bedsheets he tied together, according to an Albany Park District police officer.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

But wait -- it gets worse:

Seniors Fear Losing Independence, Moving Into Nursing Home More Than DEATH

Senior citizens fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than death, according to a new research study, “Aging in Place in America,” commissioned by Clarity and The EAR Foundation.

Tragic, and painfully true. I will write more about this terrible reality soon. Click here to read the full study posted at MyHearingHealth.com.

However, there was one gem out of more than a dozen articles today on abuse, neglect and fraud:

'Home Again' will aid seniors who wish to move out of nursing home

TERRE HAUTE — A new program called “Home Again” will provide rental assistance to seniors on Medicaid who desire to move from a nursing home back into a more independent and affordable community setting.

If you're looking for another ray of hope, go to www.edenalt.org

Comments ( 6)

I saw the interview with you on Time Goes By today, so I came over here to see your blog. I've subscribed and look forward to following your thoughts on aging.

I saw an article in the Sunday paper about home-like community based alternatives to nursing homes, such as that article you mentioned. I find this idea a wonderful new step in the right direction.

Posted by Virginia DeBolt
October 29, 2007 9:02 AM

I've come by by way of TGB also, and I've subscribed, too. Thanks for your work, your blog, and your optimism. Hooray!

Posted by Kate
October 29, 2007 9:28 AM

I, too, found you through TGB. Thanks for offering a geriatrician's perspective. Do you have any opinions on senior Lifetime Care facilities? As a widowed, childless Chicagoan, I am signed up to move from my condo into The Clare at Water Tower, a senior highrise now being built in downtown Chicago. While I applaud the idea of stay-at-home help, those of us without families may want and need something different. It's expensive, but it seems like a good choice for me.

Seniorwriter of "Never too Late!"

Posted by Marlys Styne
October 29, 2007 11:53 AM

"I, too, found you through TGB.

Welcome to all the folks from TGB, so glad you stopped by. Ronni is a connector-- par excellence.

Thanks for offering a geriatrician's perspective. Do you have any opinions on senior Lifetime Care facilities? As a widowed, childless Chicagoan, I am signed up to move from my condo into The Clare at Water Tower, a senior highrise now being built in downtown Chicago. While I applaud the idea of stay-at-home help, those of us without families may want and need something different. It's expensive, but it seems like a good choice for me."

I think it is a good choice and I applaud your foresight. Too often people delay any decision until circumstances narrow the range of possibilities in an unpleasant way.

You are ahead of the curve--- please let us know how it works out, would love to read about your impressions after you move in.

Posted by Dr. Bill Thomas
October 29, 2007 5:54 PM

I think that the people in this country have lost sight of the fact that only the lucky ones get to be old. My 15 year-old son died in a drowning accident, and I'm married to a wonderful man who lost his first wife to an anurism at 50. They weren't so lucky. I'm 66 and my husband's 68, and people are constantly amazed at our ages.

The secret? We are happy, and we smile. And we don't think of age as a thing to be embarrased about. I announce my age often - I work in a fortune 100 company, and people are amazed at my age. I just want the American people to revere age, not shun it.

Cas

Posted by cassie-b
October 29, 2007 7:57 PM

The first step, believe it or not, toward older people being 'revered' in our society is for older people to think, speak and act as if they are WORTHY of being revered.

Your comment suggests that you are well on your way to that place.

Congratulations to you and your husband.

Posted by Dr. Bill Thomas
October 30, 2007 12:26 PM

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