By Rob Olmsted for the Wellness team
More on What Might be Next – The Lathrop Inn
Everyone hopes that they will be able to stay in their home for as long as possible, perhaps until “the end of the line.” Lathrop Care Coordination is here to help you track your planning and to counsel you when decisions need to be made. The decision may mean a change in setting to where the appropriate care is available, and the cost of that care is more appropriate. For townhome residents, that might mean a transition to the Lathrop Inn, where our Enhanced Independent program works to support safe and engaged independence. Lathrop residents in a townhome do have priority when space becomes available in the Inn, but it is important to be clear on how we assess the appropriateness of such a transition, and ideally, when that transition should be considered.
When a new resident comes to the Inn, it is expected that they are making a deliberate choice, they are not being “placed” by someone else, as is often common at an Assisted Living setting. The Inn is not that. It is assumed that the individual is able to make their own decisions, express their own needs, and can reach out for assistance and respond in an emergency. While the individual may be at a point where daily contact for support might be needed, they can function safely for most of the day and certainly through the night when support Services are not available. They can make plans for the day and follow through on those plans without more than a simple reminder. While care is available, it does have its limits, and it is important to have those limits in mind well before you are up against a decision. (The Wellness and Sales offices have a set of documents that can help you understand how care is provided)
When to consider such a move is well before you have to make a move. Just as when you came to your townhome, the idea is to have the capacity to make the adjustment and grow into the changes required. Generally speaking, people sit in their resistance, holding on at home with little bits of help until they (or their family) feel they have no choice. It may be that the Wellness team has been trying to encourage someone to come to the Inn when they see them struggling to manage alone or with an ineffective support program. The danger is that someone holds on too long and when they finally accept the need to move, they are no longer appropriate for the program as provided. While we want Lathrop residents to consider staying in the community as they age, and to see the Inn as part of our community continuum, we must to clear that such decisions are complicated and must be considered case by case. We encourage residents to meet with Erin or myself to explore what might be next and where might be best. The Inn could be that next step, but let’s stay in contact and make sure the time is right.
Click on the links below to read all of Rob and Jen’s articles
More on What Might be Next – The Lathrop Inn March 2024
Final Decisions – Funerary Planning My 2023
Getting Your Documents Together April 2023
Connecting with the Care Coordinator February 2023
Cannabis Conversation Follow-up March 2022
Better Balance for Fall – Jen Davis October 2021
Jen’s Fitness Tips and Tricks January 2020
An Abundance of Riches November 2019
Keeping the Wheel Spinning August 2019
Ask About Observation Status August 2019
More on the Value of Early Detection June 2019
Indeed my lord, tis so May 2019
Until My Time Comes April 2019
The Breath of Spring March 2019
1.When a Little Help Delays Needing a Lot February 2019
2. Hiring Caregivers – The Home Care Agency February 2019
3. Finding Care – Hiring Private Caregivers February 2019
4. Paying for the Care You Find March 2019
5. Finding Care – The Role of the Geriatric Care Manager March 2019
A Potent Practice January 2019
Finding the Care You Need Part 2 December 2018
Finding the Care You Need November 2018
Riding the Tide of Creation September 2018
Choosing to Look at How We’re Doing August 2018
Informing the Web of Care June 2018
Don’t Let Ticks Keep You Off The Trails June 2018
Riding the Wave of Coming and Going April 2018
Medical Marijuana- An Option Available in Massachusetts April 2018
Partnering for Purpose February 2018
Brain and Balance Building- Grace Useful but Not Required February 2018
Walking the Dog – Worth Every Step February 2018
Even If We Never Get to Carnegie Hall January 2018
(Staying) Standing Up to Winter January 2018
And The Season is Finally Here November 2017
A Few Shots Might Help (or Probably Couldn’t Hurt) October 2017
Wonder, Surprise and Delight October 2017
People are Talking, and That’s a Good thing – August 2017
Getting Right With Pain – August 2017
Harvard Health Letter reprint – Mindfulness July 2017
Gratitude is a Positive Choice June 2017
Cross Train the Brain April 2017
The Second Pillar of Prevention- Stress Management March 2017
Food as Medicine: The First Principle of Prevention March 2017
The Stories We Write and The Stories We Live February 2017
Neighbors Caring In Northampton January 2017
How Much Support Is Enough? January 2017
Seasonal Tidbits December 2016
Want To Make A Healthy Change? Start With the Right Goal December 2016
Living in the Rhythm of the Year December 2016
Fight Heartburn and GERD: Diet and Lifestyle Can Make a Difference (Part one of two) December 2016
Fight Heartburn and GERD: Diet and Lifestyle Can Make a Difference (Part two of two) December 2016
The Four Keys To Well-Being November 2016
Fitness Committee Working to Get You Moving October 2016
CPR-Responding in a Cardiac Emergency October 2016
Independent Musing October 2016
10 Easy Steps to Prevent Colds and Flu September 2016
Be Prepared For Stroke Response September 2016
Musings at the Edge of Things August 2016
Vitalize 360-A Powerful Tool in the Wellness Toolkit July 2016
Directing your Care- Hospice at the Roads End July 2016
Feeling Better is as Easy as ABC June 2016
Directing Your Care – Certified Home Care is the VNA June 2016
Directing Your Care – Time Spent in Rehab June 2016
Directing Your Care: Who is the Hospitalist? May 2016
Directing Your Care: Injured When Away From Home April 2016
New Partner on the Path: Lathrop’s Fitness Committee April 2016
Responding to an Emergency: Lathrop’s Safety Net March 2016
Foods that Fight Inflammation February 2016
Straight Talk On Depression February 2016
Reaching For Fitness January 2016
Pendant and Pull Cords – January 2016
Caregiver Support Group – January 2016
Mindfulness Basics -December 2015
Holding Light in Darkening Days – December 2015
Correct Walker Use – December 2015
Assistance for You Should the Time Come – November 2015
The Gift of Never-ending Work – October 2015
On Being Mortal – October 2015
Grief and Praise – Changing Aging October 2015
Cultivating Vitality, Yoga – September 2015
Staying Healthy in the Months Ahead – September 2015
Walking Promo – September 2015
Falls, the Game Changer – August 2015
More on Driving Safety – August 2015
Wellness Plan and Coordinating Care – July 2015
Tune ups, Maintenance and Possible Spare Parts – July 2015
Six Dimensions of Wellness – July 2015
Morning Edition Walking Piece – June 2015
MD Recommendations – June 2015
Informing the Web of Care – Advanced Directives -June 2015
The Web of Caring Part 1 – May 2015