By Dolores Sauca Lorusso
FOOD FOR THOUGHT. Fairing Way Director of Community Relations Wendy Wichroski said in her lunch-and-learn series, she compares assisted living to pizza because it is ‘fun, different, memorable, and gets people thinking outside the box…before it becomes a pizza, you must stretch the dough and we help stretch your dollars so they go farther. And just as you customize your pizza with toppings, you can do the same with amenities in your apartment at Fairing Way.’ [Dolores Lorusso photo]
Resources to Remember, a cooperative of independently operated local professionals representing a specific discipline within the senior care community, was born 14 years ago to provide professional guidance to seniors and their families as they navigate to chart the best individualized course for elder care.
Harrison Stebbins, emcee for the Ask the Experts (for the experts) event, held at Fairing Way in South Weymouth said, “Our goal has always been to get to know and learn from each other so we can better understand our industry as a whole and provide local, trusted referrals to our clients.”
Wendy Wichroski, founding member of Resources to Remember, along with Stebbins of Amazing Grace Private Home Care, and Ellen Connors of Shamrock/CMG Mortgage Services, said the light bulb went off for them when they were at a conference and realized many family caregivers were in “crisis mode” trying to identify next steps in caring for their aging loved one.
“You must be invited to become a member of Resources to Remember…we need to personally know and trust the service provider,” said Wichroski, highlighting that the group has more than 300 years of combined experience. Members of Resources to Remember “understand seniors have many questions, but are often nervous to ask them for fear of being, at best, bombarded by salespeople giving them the hard sell or, at worst, being taken advantage of.”
The idea behind Ask the Experts is to provide a space where seniors can ask local professionals questions about everything from estate planning to end-of-life services in a safe, informal, and non-sales environment.
Members said the goal of the group is to educate and inform seniors about the benefits and services available to them rather than promote their individual businesses.
The group of “invited” professionals recognizes every person’s journey through the aging process is unique to them, but they introduce services in the order a senior may traditionally need them.
For most seniors, the first thing they should do in preparing for life after retirement is get their affairs in order by making sure their estate is protected and their wishes are clear by implementing forms such as a health care proxy, power of attorney, and medical orders for life-sustaining treatment.
A healthy lifestyle, understanding your medications, as well as overall health services and installing any medical and home safety equipment you may need to live comfortably at home are key components of self-care for the aging.
Personal accounting and geriatric care management are areas where seniors seek services ranging from assistance managing finances and balancing their checkbook to coordinating doctor appointments and general health services.
Adult day health services may benefit a senior and their loved one if they cannot be left home alone while the primary caregiver is at work, to provide a break, or to offer them some additional stimulation and socialization during the day. However, home care services can offer seniors a little extra help with activities of daily living so they can stay at home safely.
Surveys have identified one of the biggest concerns for seniors when it comes to getting the care they need is how they can afford to pay for these services without selling their home? This is where the professional expertise of mortgage specialist can bring peace of mind.
Seniors are at a higher risk of injury from falls and, it is likely they will at some point experience a hospitalization or need rehabilitation. In the event of hospitalization, a senior may require the services of a rehabilitation hospital and upon departure may need the services of a visiting nurse for physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy.
An elder care adviser can provide guidance when it is time to start thinking about options outside of the family home, such as an independent living or memory-care facility that offer a community that can provide extra help focused on a senior’s individual needs.
Once you have found the community that is perfect for you, it is time to find a trusted real estate broker to sell your home and a move manger who can help prepare for the move because they understand it is not just moving stuff, but sorting through and packing a lifetime of memories.
Kim Chan, coordinator of Asian Outreach at Braintree Elder Affairs and resident at Fairing Way, said “it is a big transition leaving your house after 40 years…seniors need to find the right fit for their next move; there is not one perfect place but as long as it works for you it is perfect.”
Finally, when seniors are most vulnerable and nearing end of life, they may seek out hospice and palliative care to assist them in accessing as many services as possible to keep them out of the hospital and stay comfortable at home.
Upcoming Resources to Remember events are scheduled to be held at the Whipple Center in Weymouth on Tuesday, May 14, and at the Scituate Council on Aging on Friday, June 7. Visit resourcestoremember.com for more details about these events and all services offered.
