Finding Senior Housing for Aging Parents

Linda Fodrini-Johnson — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:57:14 +0000

Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

Watch the video blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oltA6PVmEXo

Often families come to the conclusion that it’s a safety risk for their frail elder family member to stay at home yet 24/7 in-home care is not affordable. The question arises: What is best for Mom or Dad?

Remember to think of future needs as you make a decision for the needs of today. If your parent has a progressive illness, be certain that the retirement community you choose can meet the changing needs of your parent and know what the costs of that support might be.

It is helpful to have a skilled objective professional work with you and your family. I highly recommend that you hire someone who will be your advocate in assessing Mom. This will give you an environment that will enhance your senior family member’s life and give you all peace of mind.

This activity will usually be about 3 or 4 hours of professional geriatric care management time. And many care managers will arrange for you to get a discount on your first months rent – so in the end you wind up getting more back than you paid for in advice and direction. Be sure that the care manager you have hired is certified as a care manager and a member or part of a team that are members of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

A professional who does not receive a “kick back” for the referral is going to refer you to a home or community they are familiar with and help you look at all the variables before making this important decision.

Your Emotional Footprint

Linda Fodrini-Johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:52:56 +0000

Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

What will your “emotional” footprint be?

What do we leave behind when we leave this life? We hear lots of talk about our “footprints” when it comes to ecology and not wanting to be contributing to the negative consequences of the over use of resources.

When we delve into this notion of leaving a “footprint” we will often face our shadow as well as our dream of being a more positive individual. Exploring this thought in journal writing could be an introspective journey and offer a surprise that might open a new door in ones life.

Looking into our individual history we see our successes and our failures. Do you blame others for the not so successful choices you made or for the changes you didn’t make? Or, do you take full responsibility for each of life experiences – even if they were from an outside force not in your control?

How do we grow emotionally? How might we want to grow as an individual? Growing never stops – it actually happens till we take that last breath. The good news is we can have some control over how we judge our experiences and how we take those less than successful experiences and turn each one of them into a “learning experience”.

The challenge could be turning painful experiences into part of our positive footprint. Viewing this in the most existential way then every experience, even the death of a loved one, at some time can turn into a learning experience that can help us grow or support others in their journey. The risk is that we need to be brave to move forward and face the shadow in order to leave the “footprint” of our vision.

I would like my footprint to be one of bringing peace into all that I do. I realize I can’t please everyone because they have needs that I can’t fill – but I can always do my best and never take any action or reaction that would intentionally hurt another.

What will be your “emotional footprint” be? Start living that vision now – it could change your life!

Eldercare Services » Environment

Finding Senior Housing for Aging Parents

Your Emotional Footprint