AgeWise: In-Home Care for Aging Seniors
By: Laine Baker
Updated: November 3, 2011
Twila Vickers moved to Rogers to help care for her aging parents. She and her sister turned to the Schmieding Center to learn how to properly help out with their ailing dad.
"You learn hands-on how to take care of that person, so that has been very helpful through the years." Twila said.
The women took the center's Elder Pal care giving course dealing with the physical aspect of hands-on care giving. They also visited with a care manager to see if their parents qualified for any financial assistance.
Twila's parent's eventually moved in with her - changing the meaning of the word "home" for the entire family.
"The ideal home you raised your family in is not likely to be the ideal home setting to nurture your most active potential lifestyle in late life, especially in your eighties and nineties and beyond," said Dr. Larry Wright, of the Schmieding Center.
Many people like Twila are working to keep their parents in a home setting to make sure they are properly cared for. Most states require little to no training for paid in-home caregivers.
"We require much more training for dog groomers and cosmetologists than we do for people to come into our home, and care for the most dependent and frail people in our society," Dr. Wright said.
Doctor Wright also said that when a senior is able to live with, or spend time with family it can often improve their health.
"For someone who is widowed and frail and alone, the greatest risk is being isolated," he said.
"Social isolation for human beings is a terrible thing, but especially as we get older."
Twila's father has now passed, but her mother still lives in her "new" home with Twila and her husband. Twila has returned to the Schmieding Center for help a few times - and said that it makes things a little easier knowing someone is there to answer her questions.
"For me, that was very special help," she said.
For more information on the Schmieding Center, go to: http://www.schmiedingcenter.org/
"You learn hands-on how to take care of that person, so that has been very helpful through the years." Twila said.
The women took the center's Elder Pal care giving course dealing with the physical aspect of hands-on care giving. They also visited with a care manager to see if their parents qualified for any financial assistance.
Twila's parent's eventually moved in with her - changing the meaning of the word "home" for the entire family.
"The ideal home you raised your family in is not likely to be the ideal home setting to nurture your most active potential lifestyle in late life, especially in your eighties and nineties and beyond," said Dr. Larry Wright, of the Schmieding Center.
Many people like Twila are working to keep their parents in a home setting to make sure they are properly cared for. Most states require little to no training for paid in-home caregivers.
"We require much more training for dog groomers and cosmetologists than we do for people to come into our home, and care for the most dependent and frail people in our society," Dr. Wright said.
Doctor Wright also said that when a senior is able to live with, or spend time with family it can often improve their health.
"For someone who is widowed and frail and alone, the greatest risk is being isolated," he said.
"Social isolation for human beings is a terrible thing, but especially as we get older."
Twila's father has now passed, but her mother still lives in her "new" home with Twila and her husband. Twila has returned to the Schmieding Center for help a few times - and said that it makes things a little easier knowing someone is there to answer her questions.
"For me, that was very special help," she said.
For more information on the Schmieding Center, go to: http://www.schmiedingcenter.org/
