Doris Inc. E-Book

Shirley Roberts

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 353

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Proven strategies for finding balance in your life and careerwhile maximizing the quality of life for an elderly person When Shirley Roberts' father passed away, her life and careerwere put on hold as the demands of caring for her elderly mother,Doris, began consuming more and more of her time and energy. Usingher business prowess, Shirley, with the help of her financialadvisor brother, developed Doris Inc. Using their business skills,they found ways to maintain their own lives and careers whileensuring that their mother received top-notch care. Much of theirsuccess has come from sound management practices and anoriginal financial forecasting tool tailored for elders. In thisheartfelt, beautifully written book, Shirley offers sage advice onhow to cope with the emotional roller coaster of eldercare, alongwith proven care and financial planning strategies andtools that have worked so well for her. * Features concrete lessons and proven strategies for handlingthe challenges of eldercare; making tough decisions, finding help,reducing stressful crises and planning for the high costs ofeldercare * Offers practical guidance to avoid sacrificing your own lifewhile providing the best care for your loved ones * Tips on confronting and planning for your own golden years toensure that you'll have a fulfilling life after retirement and thatthose who'll be caring for you won't be overly burdened

Leseprobe

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1: My Heart-Wrenching Caregiving Dilemma

Chapter 2: Creating Doris Inc. to Take Better Care of Mom and Me

Family-Care Leadership

Care-Team Operations

Doris Inc.'s Family-Care Leadership & Care-Team Operations Approach to Caregiving

Chapter 3: Finding Balance in My Life

Find the Right Type of Support

Build Coping Skills

Manage Stress

Making Compromises and Setting Limits

Redefine Life Balance

Chapter 4: Planning for the Stages of Decline

Plan for Increasing Care Needs

Plan for Changes to Living Arrangements

Prepare Advance Care Directives

Make Funeral Arrangements

Establish the Family-Care Leadership and Caregiving Team in Waiting

Chapter 5: Financial Planning for Senior Decline

The Money Conversation with Family

Estate Planning

Appointing Substitute Decision-Makers for Property

Succession Planning

Managing a Senior's Financial Affairs

Forecasting How Long a Senior's Money Will Last

Chapter 6: Elder Proofing to Reduce Preventable Crises

Build a Safety Net

Reduce Common Preventable Accidents

Chapter 7: Navigating the Health-Care Maze and Advocating for Mom

How to Work Best with Hospital Health-Care Professionals

Why Elders Need a Family Advocate

How to Become an Effective Advocate

Chapter 8: Choosing the Right Type of Living Arrangements

Supportive-Living Stage

Assisted-Living Stage

Dependent-Living Care Stage

Palliative-Care Stage

Benefits of Making the Right Choices

Real Cost Differences between Accommodations Options

Choosing the Right Living Arrangement Option

Chapter 9: Finding the Best Retirement Residence with Mom

A Good Fit for the Senior

Availability of Supportive- and Assisted-Living Care Services

Professional Management and Nursing Staff

A Clean, Well-Maintained, and Safe Building

Chapter 10: Finding a Good Nursing Home for Mom

Key Ingredients of a Good Nursing Home

Key Outcomes for Residents

Chapter 11: Dealing with Dementia

Obtain an Early Diagnosis and Develop a Plan

Gain an Understanding of the Disease Progression

Learn Caregiving Strategies for a Higher Quality of Life Together

Chapter 12: The Last Life of Doris

Appendix: Caregivers’ Palliative-Care Guide

Index

Copyright © 2012 by Shirley Roberts

All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical—without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book shall be directed in writing to The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free 1-800-893-5777.

Care has been taken to trace ownership of copyright material contained in this book. The publisher will gladly receive any information that will enable them to rectify any reference or credit line in subsequent editions.

Calculations and projections included in the text are for demonstration purposes only. They are based on a number of assumptions and consequently actual results may differ, possibly to a material degree. Readers are advised to seek advice regarding their particular circumstances from their personal fi nancial, tax, and legal advisors. Any use of the information in this book is at the reader's discretion. The author and the publisher specifi cally disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use or application of any information contained in this book. An accountant or other appropriate professional should be consulted regarding your specifi c situation.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data

Roberts, Shirley, 1951-

Doris Inc.: a business approach to caring for your elderly parents / Shirley A. Roberts.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-118-10022-6

1. Aging parents—Care. 2. Adult children of aging parents—Family relationships. I. Title.

HQ1063.6.R61 2011 306.874084'6 C2011-902467-5

ISBN 978-1-11810165-0 (ePDF); 978-1-11810163-6 (eMobi); 978-1-11810164-3 (ePUB)

Production Credits

Cover design: Adrian So

Interior text design: Thomson Digital

Typesetter: Thomson Digital

Printer: Trigraphik LBF

John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.

6045 Freemont Blvd.

Mississauga, Ontario

L5R 4J3

www.wiley.com

Acknowledgments

Doris Inc., the venture, had a committed team to take care of my mother. Doris Inc., the book, also had a devoted team of people who gave generously of their time and talent to move this initiative forward, to read chapters in their area of expertise, and provide feedback. They all believe in my cause of empowering caregivers and improving the quality of life of elders. Like me, they also want readers to have accurate and practical information. I would like to wholeheartedly thank each and every one of them.

Physicians

Dr. Roger Wong, Clinical Professor of Geriatric Medicine, University of British Columbia; Head, Geriatric Consultation Program, Vancouver General Hospital

Dr. Tiffany Chow, Senior Clinician-Scientist, Rotman Research Institute; Assistant Professor, University of Toronto Neurology and Geriatric Psychiatry

Dr. Michael Chambers, family physician

Dr. Conrad Rusnak, family physician

Registered Nurses

Kathi Colwell, Program Manager, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Providence Care, Kingston, Ontario

Margie Colbourne, Clinical Educator – Medicine, Western Health Care Hospital, Corner Brook, Newfoundland

Ina Taylor, ER nurse, Western Health Care Hospital, Corner Brook, Newfoundland

Linda Walker, life-care planner

Svea Murray, formerly director of nursing, working in nursing homes and hospice palliative care

Sue Epp, retired head nurse, formerly with Helen Henderson Care Centre

Other Eldercare Experts

Barb Thompson, retired nurse, formerly with the Alzheimer Society of Kingston, Ontario

Joyce Gordon, President and C.E.O, Parkinson Society Canada

Derek Mercey, Publisher, The Care Guide

Joel Coté, formerly senior manager, communications, South East Community Care Access Centre

Nancy Solomon, Director of Communications, Ontario Retirement Communities Association

Elaine Frost, President, Trusted Transitions, certified professional consultant on aging

Wendy Glass, retired nursing home admissions and marketing director

Financial Advisors

David Roberts, C.A. and Investment Advisor, BMO Nesbitt Burns, my brother and partner in Doris Inc.

Alan Riccardi, Manager, Estate and Trust Administration, MD Private Trust Company

Nick Cagna, accountant, Cagna and Associates

Other Professionals

Doug Walker, lawyer focusing on estate law

Henry Wong, Vice-President and Creative Director, Tenzing Communications

Christine Lasky, Vice-President Strategic Initiatives, Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation

Barbara Galli, Ph.D., author and research scholar, Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University

Gary McCracken, President, McCracken & Partners Executive Search Inc. and former board member, Alzheimer Society of Toronto

Literary Experts

John Wiley & Sons' publishing team, especially Jennifer Smith, Alison Maclean, and Leah Fairbank

Rick Broadhead of Rick Broadhead & Associates, my literary agent

Stacey Cameron, freelance editor

Caregivers

Ella Hillier

Sue Milne

Family

Mitch Fenton, my beloved husband, in-home editor, and sounding board

Grace Wilson, my cousin and a caregiver

Lorne Taylor, my cousin

Introduction

It is my true honour and pleasure to be invited to write the introduction to Doris Inc. This book is certainly more than a useful resource for individuals who provide care to seniors, but is also a true and touching story of how we can survive and be successful in providing the best possible care to our loved ones.

I am especially impressed with how Doris Inc. is written in a systematic and easy-to-understand manner. Let's face it, providing care for seniors is a complex endeavour that can be difficult to capture in simple words. The topics and information presented here are relevant and current. The recommendations are practical and with appropriate attention to details. This step-by-step guide will help families complete the various tasks that are important in looking after seniors. The Top Tips at the end of each chapter help to cover the salient take-home messages. This book is a handy resource for seniors and for those who already or will soon be caring for them.

Doris Inc. includes very specific help for families facing the challenge of dementia. Recent data from the study entitled Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society released by the Alzheimer Society reveals alarming new statistics about the projected economic and social costs of dementia in Canada. Findings from this national study indicate that if nothing changes over the next 30 years, the prevalence of dementia will more than double from 2008 figures to an estimated 1.1 million Canadians1. Over this time frame, the associated economic burden is projected to reach a cumulative total of over $870 billion2. The relevance and timeliness of Doris Inc. is self-evident.

Traditionally, physicians and other health-care professionals have always played the role of health advocates on behalf of their patients in the provision of care, especially for those with dementia, who have more difficulty speaking for themselves. Doris Inc. offers a road map for family care providers to collaborate with health-care teams, and in doing so, will advance the health and well-being of older individuals, their communities, and the general population.

Congratulations to Shirley Roberts and her team of eldercare experts who helped to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. I believe this book will be an important addition to the resources available to support seniors and those who provide care for them.

—Roger Y.M. Wong, BMSc, MD, FRCPC, FACPClinical Professor of Geriactric MedicineAssistant Dean, Postgraduate Medical EducationFaculty of Medicine, University of British ColumbiaHead, Geriatric Consultation ProgramVancouver General Hospital

Notes

1.Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society. Alzheimer Society, 2009

2. Ibid.

Chapter 1

My Heart-Wrenching Caregiving Dilemma

Early in the 20th century, Lamaline, Newfoundland, was a bustling fishing village at the bottom of the boot-shaped Burin Peninsula. Life was tough back then. The only connections with the outside world were telegrams and the coastal boats that brought mail, household essentials, and fishing supplies.

Apart from a district nurse, and Granny Foote and Granny Crocker who assisted women with giving birth, medical help was a rough 25-mile ride by horse-drawn box cart or sleigh to the town of Grand Bank. Antibiotics hadn't been discovered yet, so many villagers died from infections and a lack of emergency medical care before they reached their senior years.

Lamaline was a close-knit community of families whose ancestors had come from England, and the elderly were an integral part. The Bonnells, the Cakes, the Collins, the Footes, and the Haskells were some of the big families, but the Hilliers were the largest clan of all. Brightly painted fishing sheds and wooden houses that decorated the settlement reflected the lively spirit of the people, and none more so than that of my mother, Doris Hillier.

Doris was born on September 8, 1918, the fourth of Daniel and Amelia Hillier's six children. She was a happy and energetic child whose entire face would light up and her brown eyes would twinkle whenever she smiled. Her enthusiastic expression of delight continued until she reached the ripe old age of 90.

In 1921, Doris' older brother Aubrey died at the age of six of the croup, a common childhood respiratory infection. Death knocked on my mother's own door four years later, at the age of seven, when she contracted scarlet fever. Her burial dress was ready and waiting, but miraculously she survived with a hearing loss and a heart murmur. Although she recovered some hearing in her right ear, she remained deaf in her left due to a perforated eardrum, an impairment for which she was bullied at school.