Case Studies

EXTENDED SERVICES

Elizabeth was in her eighties managing quite well on her own until the debilitation resulting from her treatment for liver cancer required her to seek help for various activities of daily living. Although she qualified to receive care in a nursing facility, she was determined to remain at home and in charge as long as possible. Her three children were supportive but their involvement was limited by their own jobs and families and by geography - located in Colorado, Maine and Virginia. Elizabeth's primary local support and trouble shooter was her long time trust officer at the bank. Elizabeth reached out to her trust officer for advice and he contacted ParentCareKY. Over the course of the next year and a half we arranged for and supervised in home care givers, coordinated her medical treatment for the cancer, accompanied her to her appointments and helped Elizabeth and her children interpret medical advice and make treatment decisions, and ultimately brought in hospice for her end of life care. During the last week of her life when Elizabeth required emergency hospitalization, we accompanied her, made certain that her decisions regarding her care were respected, notified her children and remained with her until they could fly to Lexington.

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

 Robert was in his mid seventies when he visited his financial planner,George, last March for what was to be a routine portfolio review meeting. Robert was not his normal upbeat self; he appeared despondent and unable to focus, not able to sleep and despaired of being able to continue caring for his mother who had advanced Alzheimer's. He had multiple physical complaints and told George that he had thought about just closing the garage and turning on the car the previous night. Luckily George had a long term relationship with Robert and recognized this as a serious cry for help. With Robert's permission George contacted ParentCareKY . We were able to arrange for an immediate assessment and subsequent admission for inpatient psychiatric services to treat his acute depression. We participated in the hospital care and discharge planning conferences as Robert had no family available. We coordinated his follow-up medical care, checked on Robert frequently after he was discharged home and managed his multiple medications. At his request we continue weekly contact and are working now on helping him to research congregate senior living communities where he will have ongoing support and much needed socialization.

GUARDIANSHIP

Susan was in her sixties. She had retired early from her job as a teacher in central KY as a result of early onset Alzheimer's. She closed her home, left her friends and relocated to a rural community in eastern KY where she moved into a small apartment with her frail elderly mother. Over the next year Susan's Alzheimer's rapidly advanced. Her mother did not understand the disease, and was not able to get her to take her medication, leave the house, see a doctor, eat a healthy diet or perform basic hygiene. Susan's increasingly frequent verbal and physical outbursts frightened and embarrassed her mother. Both women became withdrawn and socially isolated as a result. Susan's mother recognized that her own health was declining, worried about who would care for her daughter, and lacked the knowledge of any community resources. She made the decision to change her will to provide for Susan's care. On a rare trip out of the house to meet with an elder law attorney Susan's mother shared the details of what had become a chaotic and unsafe situation. After much discussion, the attorney recommended ParentCareKY and we became involved. With no other relatives available, we made the decision to file for guardianship. Once that was granted we were able to admit Susan to the hospital for a complete medical work-up. She was placed on appropriate medications and ultimately admitted to a nursing home in a nearby town with a specialized unit for dementia patients. We arranged for weekly transportation for her mother to visit Susan and both of them are pleased with the current situation. We continue to oversee Susan's plan of care, accompany her to medical appointments, and serve as a point of contact and information for her mother.