Exploring Helping Our Neighbors (and Even Ourselves...) on Northwest Corner Chatter and online forums
It's great to find help for a small issue in a pinch, rides or a place to buy something. But there are long term needs that our communities don't seem keen on recognizing or planning for.
That means a person who really may not need a nursing home can go there as a 'last resort' (without having other reasonable options mapped out and planned for by the community.)
It can be 2-3x more costly to have a person reside in a long-care facility than live in a more reasonable (adult housing) community setting, maybe with a family or others who are struggling to keep up with bills. There could be many win-win situations but we're not talking about those...and leaving many in peril as well as paying for many more people to live for years in institutional settings.
Why are we discussing these points, especially with creative sensible information such as living in one state for six months and a day then another (if so desired whether for warmer weather or better financial outcomes.)
NY may offer more support for people to remain in their homes with support without having to spend down almost all of their assets...and living in a place with public transportation and services may be a way to help more people remain independent.
We need a lot of advocacy for people in every state, but can also seek to have more of a level playing field... These are questions being raised, not answers being given... Hopefully we can form teams to explore more and prepare for hundreds and even thousands of elders and others in needs to have reasonable options and not leave it up to a big game of chance.
Most family and friend contacts may not have the time or ability to learn the ins and outs of what is needed, so all the more reason to have community care teams and guidance for people if they are able and willing to work with others (and again many just 'aren't' willing or may try and not really feel they can do what is required even by law. Thanks for thinking about these topics and realize there are Real People who are facing situations and do not have the needed support.
They have to have an advocate to make calls, find out information, make important short term decisions and more! Many thanks to all those who have done a lot to help others in the past and for considering learning more even on one's own but hopefully with a team mindset to get more done along these lines!
I can list more resources and ideas here. Please be in touch on my public FB page, Catherine Palmer Paton and have a sparkling day~
