| "I don't know what you are talking about," replied the | | | | teenage children. It is much the same issue. Check |
| Executive Director of a very posh Assisted Living | | | | their closets, drawers, refrigerators and beds to |
| Community I had just moved my clients into. I had | | | | make sure everything is in place and clean. Ask them |
| just listed the problems I saw with the care my | | | | some open ended questions: "If you could have |
| clients were getting. "We just had our town hall | | | | anything extra done for you, what would it be?" |
| meeting and all the residents said everything was | | | | Look for increasing dementia. One of the signs of |
| great." I am hearing this clueless response more and | | | | dementia is that the sufferer doesn't recognize that |
| more as the number of Greatest Generation seniors | | | | they have it. So what's the use of taking their word |
| continues to fill Assisted Living Communities. | | | | for anything? Pay attention, open your ears and eyes |
| Everything is not great, but they will tell you it is, and | | | | and play detective at every visit and phone call. |
| this is why. | | | | Notice everything and write down any changes or |
| Remember, that the Greatest Generation survived | | | | patterns you see that you might want to follow up |
| not only the Great Depression but fought in WWII | | | | on immediately or on the next visit. Don't assume |
| and literally saved the world. They came from a time | | | | that the Assisted Living Community is aware of your |
| when you learned to just "pull up your boot straps" | | | | parents situation. Refer back to paragraph one! |
| and get on with your life. No complaining allowed. And | | | | Don't get me wrong. Those is Senior Care are the |
| that's just what they did. That served them well, | | | | most kind and caring people in the world. I know |
| then. It isn't serving them now. Now, they are easy | | | | because I am one of them. I am proud to be a |
| prey for those who have figured out that they can | | | | senior care provider and truly honor those who have |
| neglect or even cheat seniors and have very little | | | | a desire to serve. Unfortunately, this industry also |
| chance of it ever being discovered. | | | | attracts those who do not love seniors but rather |
| By both nature and nurture, Seniors rarely complain. | | | | seek to have power over them. We've seen this is |
| In addition, by the time they have moved into | | | | the teaching profession and in other industries |
| Assisted Living (even posh ones), they are very old, | | | | surrounding children. Unfortunately, it is exists in the |
| frail and sick and feeling very vulnerable. They are | | | | senior world too. |
| afraid to complain for fear of retribution. Their | | | | The good news, bad news is this: Our generation |
| caregiver just might "accidentally" drop them in the | | | | won't be so easy. We know how to complain and will |
| tub later. One client confessed to me recently that | | | | willingly do so. Fair warning, Assisted Living |
| her next door neighbor was sleeping on a bare | | | | Communities: The boomers are coming and we're |
| mattress because she was afraid to complain that | | | | taking notes, taking numbers and will take no |
| her laundry hadn't been delivered in 2 weeks. | | | | prisoners. In the meantime, protect your beloved |
| So what can you do? First and foremost, don't take | | | | Greatest Generation. Your actions now will teach |
| "Everything is OK" for an answer. Trust,but verify - in | | | | your children how to take care of you later! |
| much the same way you would do with your | | | | |