We’ve contemplated the unthinkable… and we are implementing an action plan.
We’ve interviewed a long-term care facility. Elder care facility. No matter how you slice it, it boils down to a nursing home.
Just in case.
With this disease, once the person has progressed past the initial stages of dementia (http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp), you never know when s/he will snap… going from manageable to full-on psychotic break. If an unfortunate incident does happen, it is good to have a contingency plan in place. The best time to prepare for a crisis is before you become its victim.
When Dad was in the hospital with congestive heart failure, the social worker communicated that a post-hospital care plan that included close supervision needed to be put into place in time for his discharge. We had two days to scramble — this was new territory for us and there was much discovery work to be done. We had to quickly assess the information we were taking in, and determine which options were feasible and which would accommodate my father’s personality and needs. Additionally, we had to wrap our heads around the financial intricacies, assess agencies, prepare my father’s home and welcome strangers into all of our lives. At the time, we had thought this would just be his lifestyle change… we had no idea how significantly our lifestyles would also have to change.
Had we had the foresight to plan — had we not given deference to our overwhelming, individual needs to cling to denial — we would have had much of the research under our belts, and one or two home health agencies waiting in the offing. That experience was so unsettling that we decided to empower ourselves via proactivity.
So, no — we have not decided that we will make use of a facility… we hope never to have to resort to this option. But if that day comes — if the current protective infrastructure fails us — then we will be ready to flip the switch to Plan B.
Dad's Pal Al... 