I Don’t Know What to Do … Senior Living Cage Fight

Steve thank you for sharing so candidly the difficulties you are going through. I agree it is difficult being the "expert" and the sense of feeling helpless at the same time. Although we help many on this difficult road, it has a different view when it happens to you. Please don't consider this a weakness in your expertise, but as a strength that you have a community in healthcare that you can lean on during these times. The decisions are not easy, but you are not alone in this.

As an emergency room discharge planner Steve Moran, I deal with this extremely difficult situation all of the time. Someone from LinkedIn messaged me and I had to walk them through coordinating care for their father. Assisted living places are sending their sick residents to the ER and those facilities who don't have skilled units are not taking them back so they're stuck in the ER until the family has to scramble to find them a personal care or independent living unit to create a plan of care as if they were living on their own home (which they sold to afford the assisted living facility). I don't think people are ready for this type of crisis planning. I hope you are better and your step father is at a better place. Imagine if you were not available to do this? Who would volunteer to do this for your family? For you?

I hear what you are saying, I AM in the same situation! And tho I'd love a "how to do this" answer I also know in my honest heart and mind there is no 1 answer for any of us, maybe not a counselor, or a group to talk to, or a memory care facility (those are for us when we come to our wits end and feel we can't do this caringly anymore, not that that is a bad think it is reality!) the answers, if there are any, will differ in each situation. Probably the only common denominator we have is that we are dealing with a disease of the brain/mind that is like mixing colors, each time we could come up with a different result and different color no matter how many times we start or try again. Thanks to you Steve Moran for writing this so we know we aren't alone in hopes that will encourage us to keep trying. Cheers, Kay Kepley

Steve Moran always challenging to be on the other side of this journey! Remember to take care of yourself (oxygen mask) first! Prioritize the challenges, ask for help! Share your vulnerability! Make a decision. . keep your eyes wide open! Reach out to colleagues whenever needed! We are here!

Hi Steve, I've been there both personally and professionally. I have some thoughts to share that may help . Please email me if you have a little breathing room. Dwolfe.rn @gmail.com