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Enhanced
Elder Intervention: Mom has moved
beyond eccentric
From the Director
Tom Kelly Awards Finalist:
Interview with Francesca Byrne
Tom Kelly Award
Finalist: Interview with Edna Sunskis
Elder Services' new staff
New Planner at Elder Services - Jeanne B. Siegel
Enhanced Elder Intervention: Mom
has moved beyond eccentric
By Al Stumph
“Janet” was on the phone with her brother. She asked if he also
thought that their mother, 82 year old “Margaret”, was losing weight,
neglecting her home cleaning chores and her personal hygiene.
Janet had picked up on the changes shortly after their father entered the
nursing home. Her brother agreed.
He also had seen these changes and was very concerned.
Taking their best guess at what to do, they decided to offer to hire a
homemaker to assist their mother.
Margaret
was furious. In no uncertain terms she told her children to mind their own
business. She could take care of
herself and did not need their charity.
The
next week a neighbor saw Margaret fall while bringing in her mail.
The neighbor assisted Margaret into her house.
Margaret told the neighbor that everything was now fine.
Nevertheless the neighbor called Janet and told her what had happened.
Janet
checked on her mother. Margaret
insisted that nothing was wrong. She
had only slipped on loose gravel and was not even sore.
Janet was certain that her mother needed help and she wanted to do
something to convince Margaret to accept it.
She went to Elder Services and spoke to the Enhanced Elder Intervention
Specialist (EIS).
She
discussed with Janet the fact that Margaret, like many other elders, is proudly
independent and unwilling to accept public help or to rely on grown children for
support. After learning some
details about Margaret and her family from Janet, the worker set up an
appointment with Margaret to visit her at her house.
An
Elder Intervention Specialist knows that before offering any specific services
to Margaret and others in similar circumstances, even before determining needs,
it is necessary to create a positive and non-threatening relationship.
Elder Services’ Elder Intervention Specialists have the skills needed
to accomplish this and to win the confidence of the elder.
Margaret had to be assured that the EIS was only there to help, not to
take over and run life.
The
worker engaged Margaret where she was, listened to her, and empathized with her.
She recognized that Margaret still had the ability to care about herself.
She just needed to regain the motivation to do so – to be reminded of the
unique human being that she is.
Margaret
did, after a time, take control of her personal appearance again and was well
groomed and dressed whenever the EIS arrived. With the worker’s patient yet
persistent guidance, Margaret eventually accepted Meals on Wheels, a Personal
Emergency Response System to alert family members if she fell or had another
emergency, a homemaker, and a personal care worker.
Margaret’s daughter was amazed
at the changes her mother made. The
worker pointed out that elders like Margaret can become overwhelmed while
attempting to cope with the stress caused by the changing circumstances of their
lives. Sometimes they become
depressed. Their pride and lifetime
experience with their children can prevent them from turning to them for
assistance. A non-threatening
professional outsider who is willing both to learn about and from the senior can
often assist in a way others cannot.
Now Margaret’s family can step
in and provide the continuing moral and other supports, which will permit
Margaret to maintain her independence for a longer period of time.
The Elder Services worker will remain available to Margaret as a sounding
board or friendly resource when necessary.
While
Margaret was experiencing considerable stress and depression, other Enhanced
Elder Intervention clients may have early dementia, substance abuse issues, or
lack medical attention. They all
have in common a problem, which if left unaddressed, will prevent them from
remaining safely independent in the community.
They have moved from “eccentric” to becoming a concern to public
safety personnel, human service agencies, or neighbors and family members.
The Enhanced Elder Intervention program assists seniors and communities
by reaching out to older citizens who self-neglect and whose particular
circumstances force them into the cracks within traditional services and
methodologies.
The
Enhanced Elder Intervention program, staffed by Vickie Moyers and Kate Barber,
under the supervision of Susan Geary, is funded by the City of Pittsfield Human
Services funds, the Berkshire United Way, the Northern Berkshire United Way, and
the Williamstown Community Chest.
For more information on the Enhanced Elder Intervention program,
contact Elder Services at 499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.