Comments on: Column: Who Knows What’s Ahead? http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/05/04/column-who-knows-whats-ahead/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=column-who-knows-whats-ahead it's like being there Tue, 16 Sep 2014 04:56:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 By: Barbara Annis http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/05/04/column-who-knows-whats-ahead/comment-page-1/#comment-45329 Barbara Annis Tue, 04 May 2010 23:46:57 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=42365#comment-45329 Your mother is indeed lucky to have caring children to help her with these tough decisions. She is also wise to explore her options before she has to act.

That said, there are more and more options to assist older adults to stay in their own homes. This is a choice that should continue to be considered.

Also whether it is child care or adult care we cannot pay strangers to love our dear ones.

]]> By: Larry Works http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/05/04/column-who-knows-whats-ahead/comment-page-1/#comment-45288 Larry Works Tue, 04 May 2010 14:35:05 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=42365#comment-45288 Additional things to consider:
- Is there internet access? If so, at what cost and is there on-site assistance?
- Is there parking for residents who have their own car? If so, at what cost?
- Is there an active residents council? Are meeting minutes available to prospective clients?
- Under what conditions can staff enter residents apartments?
- Are there plans to install health monitoring devices and services in apartments? If so, at what cost and can residents opt out of health monitoring devices and services?

I have some experience with that last one. As health technologies grow there are more and more efforts to market this to seniors and resident communities. My parents community administrator elected to contract w/ GE Quietcare and install 5 devices into each residents apartment (not in A2) without consulting residents in advance. That decision was made 2 years ago, cost residents real money, disrupted the entire community and eventually resulted in the administrators resignation.

So back to your first point, be sure to ask other residents for proof of management-friendly relationships and, if you can, do so without management present. Sometimes residents can be reluctant to speak their minds if they fear there may be reprisals. Not to scare you but elder abuse can be very subtle and parents are sometimes reluctant to tell their children when something is bothering them.

Regardless of how much data you collect, I wish the best of luck to your mother in finding a friendly, responsible, and active community she cares about.
Larry

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