Elder Moves, Inc.

2011-08-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

CONCERT TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED AT THE STATE FAIR GROUNDS BROUGHT TO MIND ONE OF MY HEROS. It was in the 1960's Jaime was a young red headed man, tall and big for his age. I thought his head alone was the size of a basketball from where I stood at 11 years old. It was followed by a build most weight lifting twenty somethings would die for today, naturally large, impressive, a stand out in a crowd. He had a booming laugh and a constant need to create trouble. One time, just for fun he turned Mrs. Crahan's Volkswagen upside down. He didn't dent it and he had every intention of placing it back in an upright position.

Another time, he took our Volkswagen and road it through the aisles at Haag Drugstore on 56th and Illinois - Jaime was one of those - and my Mom and Dad felt compelled to help him. They took Jaime into their home and considered him my fifth brother. My father decided getting Jaime a job would keep him out of trouble. He talked the priest at St. Thomas Aquinas into allowing Jaime to work on the construction sight when the church was putting an addition on and Jaime went to work. He was young somewhere between 15 and 17 but he loved working there. I can remember how proud he was that he bought his own parents a refrigerator for Christmas.

It was during this time that the Coliseum in Indianapolis had an explosion.
Jaime had always been an ambulance and fire truck chaser and was one of the first to know what was happening. He snuck in and saw that people were pinned down by large pieces of cement and he knew what he had to do. Jaime went to St. Thomas and broke in - he jumped on the backhoe he had just learned to drive (license ? - who knows) and drove it to the coliseum where he spent hours lifting concrete off of victims - saving countless lives.

From that tragedy, after high school, Jaime went on to be a Green Beret. He never spoke to me about that time but one tale was that he was the lead person to try to evacuate innocent people before the fight....After three Vietnam Tours - Jaime became a steelworker and as he was working in downtown Indianapolis a fire broke out and threatened the then Indiana National Bank Tower. Jim scaled the drain pipe with the fire hoses and saved the building....

He later went on to be asked by then President Clinton to head the relief program in Mexico for the American People during the earthquake.

The now in existence American Emergency Relief Task Force which is stationed in Indianapolis was part of his brotherhood from those days.

They needed supplies and Jaime tapped those St. Thomas boys and raised money for the task force. My parents often received little blurps from Jaime with a newspaper article and mention of his name....his life was an inspiration. He was never a "wealthy" man, but he was rich. Jaime died young - cancer- I have often thought from Agent Orange - but we will never know. I do know though that his lesson lives on. I tell my three sons often this tale. I do it to guide them in what is right.

At his funeral the Task Force Came in groves and they also brought "Big Jim" the fire truck named in his honor.

My heart goes out to those who recently suffered another tragedy. My hope is that out of such a horrible event something inspirational will be visited.

Website for Elder Moves, Inc

2011-05-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Excitement is what I am feeling today as we have launched our new website. Thanks to a team of experts Kyle Flatly and Jim Crahan - I feel we have a truly substantial website which will keep you in tune with the Elderly, Seniors, Aging in Place or what the Boomer Generation will be confronted with. We are hoping that you will not only use the site for information about Elder Moves, Inc. but also as an interactive tool to ask questions about the senior lifestyle issues, seek information and respond to our thoughts and ideas regarding Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Adult Daycares, Senior/Elder Services we want you to have the answer.

We are interlinked between our web page, blogspot, facebook, Linkedin and to our e-mail. You can write suggestions about what you think we should explore - what changes in your opinion should happen in the above 55 service world and where we might help.

In return we will attempt to keep you up to date with new and innovated ideas and with resources at your finger tips or a phone call away. Please join us in exploring the Retirement Communities, Assisted Living and a new generation full of new needs for similar circumstances.

RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES AND ASSISTED LIVING

2011-04-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

Elder Moves, Inc. is often asked what is the difference between a Retirement Community and Assisted Living. What services can we expect? Retirement Communities can encompass a wealth of services. They often start with Independent Living - basically a protected environment with meals, activities,some transportation and specific number of cleanings per month.

The activities are centered around interests of the majority of the residents and can range from card games, movies, to visits to the symphony, travel options, exercise and more.

Assisted Living offers additional individualized services based on the client's needs. Many Assisted Livings offer Seniors a rating system and charge based on that system. The rating system guides the facility towards what level of care is required to meet the client's needs. For example: A client may only need stand by assistance when bathing; Other clients may need complete assistance and also may need to be helped to the dining room.

The more care required the higher the fee.

Winter Worries for Older Parents

2011-02-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

Our concerns for the elderly become more real with winter. In taking care of our loved ones we worry about maintaining their independence, their rights to make their own decisions and try to balance that with our fears that we are needed more or won’t be there for them when we should be. Inclimate weather adds to those fears both for their physical safety and for our ability to assist them quickly.

Combinations of help are placed together and we attempt to rely on the neighbors, meals on wheels, a service we may hire, their church or many other inventive approaches. Are our fears well founded?

Many of the disabilities confronting an elderly person limit their communication to us or leave us not trusting what they say. They may have forgotten to eat, forgotten to take their medications, confuse night from day or left the stove on or off. If they are confused on that level then they are generally confused on whether they should wear a coat and if it is early in the morning or night. So incidents of standing out waiting for the church van at 12 pm occur. We must be cautious at this point of what is happening for in our zealous approach to protect them we can over protect
their rights and under protect their being.

When should I take additional steps for my loved one even though they may oppose additional assistance?

Some of the signs of additional needs that alert us are as follows:

 Answering questions with agreement
 Never being specific - example: Mom when did you eat? Mom says – there is plenty in the house. What did you have for lunch and repetitively you hear leftovers.
 Weight loss that supports the fact that your parent is not eating
 Cleanliness
 Wearing of the same clothes
 Missing Doctor appointments
 Confusion with names
 Repetition of events

Does this mean that a parent must move. Each situation has to be individually evaluated. Involvement of family is a key element. Whether you can afford to hire help for the home and if the person is requiring more help than can be reasonably afforded. Is my loved one an endangerment to themselves or others?

The first step is to have a physician evaluate the person. This will guide you in your decision making process. You may then hire a geriatric professional to come in and assist with placing together services that are appropriate for the care of your loved one. You may find you need less or more help. Their objections should be considered but you must first consider their care. Though this may be a trying time, it is also an opportunity to give back to those who have given so much to you.

Upcoming changes in Indiana

2011-01-10T05:06:00.001-08:00

The healthcare industry is forever changing. Most of the time - it plods through the administrative processes and actually changes for the better with time. Currently we are seeing trends to step back and return to patient care. This is happening with challenges through Doctor owned hospitals, Physicians who make home visits, and a need to actually touch another person with care and to be of service.

As the healthcare industry moves in those directions we are receiving directives which will make it more difficult to address the needs of those who do not have money. Those who rely on the system.

For years nursing homes and retirement centers have been receiving monies for beds not used. This sounds ridiculous doesn't it? What a waste - why pay for something to just sit there? Yet, the reality is that by reserving beds for medicare/medicaid options it has created immediacy for placement for those who do not have money.

If the current projections of the baby boomers numbers are correct and boomers live to need those services, the for profit beds will fill and there will be no beds available for medicare and medicaid. Now this may not affect you but my observations (unproven and without scientific study) is that the baby boomer generation is not prepared for this. They may not the ability to be for profit.

The other concern is whether clients who are currently in a medicare or medicaid bed but need a short stay in the hospital, may come out of the hospital to having lost their facility's medicaid/care bed. Facilities may hold those beds or may not and this will be dictated by their financial needs.

An option to change this to a positive approach - what a sales pitch for a facility. They could guarantee bed holds for short periods of time to sell their clients on using their facility. Keep your eyes peeled - we do not know where all all will lead.

The bad me says I need to be good!

2011-01-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

Wow what a year! I have neglected my blog, my facebook, my (not signed up yet) twitter, my spam box, my webb page and sometimes it carries over to our life, our selves, our loved ones. Starting off 2011 with thoughts of how I need to get my stuff in gear.....

Even the bad me says I need to snap out of it and do the next right thing. Wow that is serious because like everyone there is that other side always tantilizingly shouting to me to goof off, don't take life too seriously, and go to Aruba for a vacation. Or....better still - backpack through the country for a year. Looking back on the year I realize - I only took 5 days off to be at Lake Mill with my children. So what do I need to do to shape up? I need to recognize that we have a wonderful life, that those that surround us are loving and attempt to do their best. That the economy is what it is and we can move on from that. That a hike in Brown County is as important as the next networking meeting or a trip to Aruba. That enjoying what is here in front of us is what we can shout and sing about. Hey that Bad side isn't so bad.

The things to be thankful for from 2010 - A wonderful family, daughter in law, and daughter in law to be... Memories of laughter and good times....Memories of my Mother who passed Nov 5 - I am thankful that my children had the 9 years that she was with me to share who she was. I am so grateful that Mom was able to die at home...that my employees were patient with me to ease my time through this and I was able to spend more time with her and make her more comfortable.

In 1988 when I started Elder Moves, Inc. I was a whopping youngster of 37. I came into the company with a heart felt sincerity and energy and youth-filled knowledge of everything. Today I have seasoned. I am knowledgeable through experience and time. Today I have even downsized my self and my life - the experience deepens our sensitivities and creates an even better service for all whom we serve. For it is serving others that makes the most out of every day. It is what I am most grateful for whether a client, my family, or a friend. I look forward to being of service. When I am finished I'll go to Aruba.

Chipper II

2010-04-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

Chipper II, not one, but II, was a sweet little thing. I didn’t know that would be his name when I met him. I babysat for my teenage living and he was the last of the litter that my employers couldn’t rid themselves of. He was a golden shade and a fluff ball and I fell in love with him.

The only other dog during my lifetime that we had owned was Rinny. My sister bought him for us. A shepherd and he was a good dog which we all shared but Chipper II, not one, was to be mine.

Knowing full well that I was going to have a hard sell I took him home only to hear that I had to convince my Dad for Mom was not sure if I should have him. Dad arrived home and immediately said, He reminds me of Chipper. Who’s Chipper? And the story began, he was Mom and Dad’s first dog in Western Springs, and what a dog. He was so smart and gentle and would let my sister stand on hi in the car. Occurring before seat belt laws and other such ordinances and before I was born. He was golden in color.

So there we have it Chipper II became our pet. His golden looks did buy him a sentimental shoe-in into our home. He was a precocious little thing. Children’s gates came out across the doorway in the kitchen at night. Barricaded as he was he would find a means to get over the gate. Dad was his night time keeper. A challenge was on. And we would discuss the many options to keeping Chipper penned in at night. It was such fun to come home to him in the afternoon and Dad and I would talk about training the dog. As he got bigger Dad would let him out by himself in the back yard – he was terribly proud of how quickly he responded to a summons home. But one night – I’m not sure how – Chipper didn’t come home. Checks throughout the neighborhood came to naught. Dad often told me he thought someone stole him for he was so beautiful. I never was sure how he came to have time enough to go too far. Chipper II had a short stay in our lives but meant so much.

Looking back I know why Chipper was here. I remember 3 or 4 times where my father and I completely connected and Chipper was one. We bonded through our love for this troublesome bundle of puppy love. We were a team, Dad doing late night duty for me and me working at learning to train a dog.

Today, the family kids me. Dad has been dead several years and Mom and Steve do not remember Chipper II. We jest about whether Chipper II was around or not and through repetition it has become a great joke. Such comments as Chipper II might be listening or was that when Chipper II was here? My family’s skepticism of the life of Chipper II doesn’t matter. For me, I sense my father with us as we laugh about the existence or non-existence of Chipper II. Our connection survives throughout time.

My Wow to Medicine!

2010-02-26T12:56:00.000-08:00

I met with a business associate today. Laughingly, I was telling her about my sensitivity to medicine. There was the time that I was put on a high powered antibiotic and a serious cough medicine - I am up at 5 am leaving screaming messages on people's phones. Oh did I have some serious apologies.

Then there was the time when I was saving money and had my blood work done at a health fair. You would think after all the years I have been around the medical field I would remember that I should have fasted for 12 hours....... Result the wrong medication for high cholesteral and a crazy woman driving around town crying - and thinking she needs psychiatric help. Within three days of being removed from the medication.......I woke up excited it was winter and there was snow on the ground. I have even had to give up generic medicines where the stabilizers and I do not like each other and I have to use a more expensive formula.

Reminding myself of my personal inability to have positive reactions to many medications makes me much more compassionate with my clients. Some of our clients will be placed on multiple medications for multiple problems and reactions, discomfort, digestive issues are not uncommon. There can be a total change in personality and it is not always clinical depression it can be medicines reacting not only to each other but to the client's chemistry.

I have had clients who threw chairs across rooms (at the young age of 85) just to find out their medications had caused a serious change in personality - (and maybe strength). In helping others, one of the primary needs is to be a good observer. To recognize as we introduce change into peoples lives that they are not always so crazy.........Speaking of crazy, I think I will always make sure to tell at least 3 people before I start any new medications. I need their eyes and ears (hopefully not at 5 am) telling me if I am changing because of the medications.

40 days of Positive Thoughts!

2010-02-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

The family pug had to visit the vet today. I had known that her teeth were not doing well but much to my chagrin, once she was under I was told it was worse than I thought. I am anticipating a horrible outcome. I think immediately I have been a horrible pet owner and then reminisce about all the dogs my family owned who only went to the vet for broken bones and terminal illness - and upon learning of the illness were put down. Wow it is expensive to own a pet today! But I don't own a "pet" . I have an animal who is a friend. She has taught my children so much. She has taught responsibility. Safety and behavior modification. She has taught them unconditional love - how to spoil someone and lick them to death and be spoiled. Our home is a safe haven - for we know she will protect us. She makes us laugh and plays with us. I rethink my first thoughts and know I am so lucky to be able to have a pet and be able to take care of it the way my parents could not.

I will pick up Em today with a light heart knowing that she will feel like her old self soon and be back to that playful friend I love.

Assisted Living Question and Answers

2009-04-13T08:35:00.001-07:00

Assisted Living is a relatively new option in the Senior Market. Nursing Homes, as we know them today, improved with changes in medicare and medicaid laws during and since the 1950's . Assisted Living started even later. The term appeared in a proposal to the state of Oregon for a pilot study on new residential settings in 1985. Initially most assisted livings were non medical and only offered a minimal amount of care and the government did not have many regulations regarding them. The smaller private suite with 3 meals a day, bed changing, monitoring of medicine has become a standard. Over time homes realized that without additional services they would not be able to keep their clients in the assisted living environment for longer periods of time and soon adapted to meet the increased demand for continuum of care and individualized needs.

Having RN's or LPN's to oversee the care and/or contracted licensed services on the property became more and more standard. This allowed for additional medically licensed services to be offered to the client.

Why should I be concerned when placing my parent or loved one in an assisted living?

Each assisted living facility is designed to help in different ways and each dictates their requirements in order to maintain those standards. Is the Assisted Living you are looking at modeled on a residential, medical, dementia or nursing care Level?

Can your parent have incontinence and still live in the Assisted Living?

Will someone alert them of the time for dinner?

If my parent needs someone to come and get them for the events will someone come?

Do other residents wander?

Will they be in my parent's room?

If my Mom is high functioning but needs assistance in the bathroom how quickly will you respond?

How much assistance will you give my Mother in the bathroom?

What constitutes additional charges?

Do you use an inclusionary approach?

Being aware of what care options are available makes for a better decision and an easier and more successful transition for all concerned people involved.

Retirement Communities Become Creative

2009-03-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

With the economy just in its initial stages of rebound, Retirement Communities are becoming highly creative. Financially it makes sense. An empty room does not generate profit and can be an overhead burden.

Some of the interesting approaches have been to have deferred entrance fees which are not due until your home sells; teaming with realtors to get homes sold and lower initial rates till homes sell. All of these work to offset the losses that families have encurred and allow their investments to stay invested until they pick up again.

Most important though is that people who need to move are not being held back by financial concerns. They are able to transition in to a community with less worry and focus more on taking care of themselves and their care givers. Moving Services such as Elder Moves, Inc. can assist with the transitions. For more information in your area contact a care manager who has experience and can point you in the right direction.

On a bright note that Butler Basketball team made us proud! We also were able to devote a 1/2 day to helping at the Generseat sponsored homeless clinic held at the Indianapolis Convention Center.

ELDER MOVES, INC. LAUNCHES NEW AREAS!!

2009-02-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to launch two new areas of Elder Moves, Inc. We will be offering a service called EM Moving Services. This service area will be for the slam bang thank you mam type moves. Offering a quick solution for the few items needed to be moved or the standard approach that most moves are about. Fast, Efficient and we will make sure it is done right!

The other is Executive Moves . A white gloved approach for the too busy executives and with specialty items which are offered through Elder Moves, Inc. We will sort, organize, move and set-up your home as if it were our own. From hanging your pictures to setting up your china cabinet and closets. Specialty needs will be met - i.e. closet build outs and designs/floor plans or a counter top which needs to be changed.

As always we will continue to offer our Elder Moves, Inc. a specialty company helping the elderly through transitional moving. You can visit our website at www.eldermoves.net

This one is for you Katy!

2009-02-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

Slumdog Millionaire what a movie! Katy asked me what I thought of this and I said it was rather deep. She said she wasn't getting it and I told her that to me, I believe that if we are following a spiritual path often we don't recognize when God is working through us till much later.

I do not know what the movie director or the writer were attempting but felt the movie conveyed not only that Good conquers evil but a sense that the main character's decisions were filled with integrity, honesty and compassion. He was doing the next right thing and he was given an answer towards the winning prize each time he did.

Confronted with life's inequities and the extreme in evil he still managed to maintain his goodness. When Saline chose his path he fought the fight of good vs. evil and ultimately chose good by giving up his life for his brother.

To me it is like Julia Roberts in Pretty Girl. Would we have liked this movie as well if she had decided to accept the paid girl's role from Richard Geer? It would not have imparted the feel good, yes we can beat it, feelings it did.

In the long run are we not all just trying to do the next right thing to attain the winning prize - in my case that is peace and acceptance - love and compassion - service and surrender.

Inauguration Thoughts!!

2009-01-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

No matter what you believe or whom you have voted for a dream for many have been realized. The hope that is occurring with the inauguration of the first Malotto Man to ever lead our country is beyond the hope of the crisis that needs solving, the wall street greed or the wars that are happening. To me the hope is that just as Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Bill Wilson or others who have carried torches which burned bright with what is good (even beyond their humanness) so too does this event.

It is a visual testiment to the ability for God to empower us even as we do wrong things. Of taking what was evil and transforming it into a living statement of what can be. Slavery is wrong. Hate is wrong. Judging on creed and beliefs is wrong but what is right is seeing people from all races, creeds, beliefs, abilities, disabilities come together meld as one and celebrate what we can be what we can strive to be.

If we can lead through challenging others to goodness - Looking back that is what the 60's were about. It is what we can come full circle to be. We can lose entitlement and gain respect through example. I feel empowered today - I feel as if those who have worked so hard to have all people heard are being vindicated. May all of you enjoy this and may it bring a beacon of hope to the world's problems a jumping off into the goodness we can be.

Chess for the not so whimpy!

2008-12-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

With gusto we meet for a 7 am chess game at Hubbard and Cravens on Saturday Mornings. I have decided it is truly a think tank. Ranging from 6 years old to 60+ some of us infrequent but committed. A cultural potpouri of people and a constant flow of ideas and thoughts fun and laughter and encouragement to do better. The conversations range from politics to jokes, from Christmas gifts to religion from children to just plain being quiet waiting on the next suspense filled move. I am not good at chess but I have observed that what little I play has taught me much about myself. It has taught me my aggressive side, my impatience and to slow down. It also has woven a group of friends which has caused me to covet my Sat Mornings in a special way. Merry Christmas to anyone who ventures to read this. May God Bless your lives with as much as I have been blessed.

2008-12-08T06:56:00.001-08:00

Aging with ZEST!!!!

2008-12-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

Butler University Basketball team won again as did the Freshmen Cathedral H.S. Team. It is so fun to watch these non professional teams and they are definitely exciting. We have a group of people who go to see the games and the group keeps growing. Took my 92 year old mother to Butler's Northwestern game last week - I hope the men in my family take note - put it on their to do list when I reach that age.

To have a zest for life at 92. Off to the game - to the Colts game this weekend with her sons and wearing a t=shirt and (for the first time in her life a sweat band) Colts of course. If aging gracefully means keeping going this is the way to do it.

Elderly should they panick?

2008-12-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

We have had such a great run the last 25 years in the economy and I equate this wave to starting a new football team at the Freshman level. We are learning a new world of syberspace/communication/economics/and interfacing. The tweeking is not always easy but it will happen and we need to be there to assure the elderly that they will be alright that we will bring them along in this transitional time. As a 60's gal I hope we can help bridge some of those gaps. This is my first attempt at blogging and I hope I will get better but look forward to hearing ideas about the elderly from anyone.