Chicago Senior Living Advisors Blog
Every year at holiday time, I try to share an uplifting story. This year my story is about a client who is in his late seventies. Over the past 20 years, he has had 3 kidney transplants. He also has suffered urinary tract infections (UTI) that have often landed him in the hospital.
I became the care manager for this gentleman and his wife over a year ago because his wife needed help conducting his Telehealth appointments, arranging transportation, and monitoring his care at the nursing home where he resided. It was clear from the outset that my client longed to leave the nursing facility and go home. His wife objected to that idea because of his complicated medical needs and because home care was tried once before and failed. I worked diligently to see if there was an assisted living community that might accept him, but, alas, none would.
During one of his stays in the hospital for a UTI, my client’s nephrologist conducted some tests and determined that the third kidney he had in his body was “dead.” The nephrologist recommended that it be removed. As the couple’s care manager, I quickly made arrangements to have the surgery done, including all pre-operative tests and other time-sensitive and follow-up arrangements. The surgery to remove the dead kidney went extremely well and my client’s UTIs finally stopped.
When resumed researching assisted living communities, I requested that the nursing home submit my client’s updated medical records to 5 different communities. He was accepted at all of them. My preference was that he would move to the Continuing Care Retirement Community where I had placed my mother. She had received fabulous care there, and my client’s wife would be allowed to move to the independent living area on the same campus. I also had submitted my client’s information to another community that offered independent and assisted living. That option was located in the suburb where my clients lived. After all of ADSLA’s research and my presentation of options, however, my client told me that he wanted to move to the community in his former neighborhood so that his and his wife’s friends could visit. We traveled to that community for a tour and my professional assessment. After ADSLA’s firsthand evaluation and lunch there with his wife and siblings, the decision was solidified.
I then made all of the arrangements for the move, including picking out all of the furniture from his home that my client would take with him. The duties of a certified Care Manager being numerous and varied, I sorted his clothes, chose art work for the apartment walls, and hired the mover. I also arranged for help with cleaning out his room at the nursing home, directed the movers, and signed his discharge papers. The importance of ADSLA in addressing my client’s numerous and time-sensitive needs was underscored when his wife suddenly called me during the moving process to exclaim that she could not go through with it. To prevent a complete meltdown, I had to counsel her on the options of moving to the community with her husband immediately or arranging for a home care companion.
The day of the move went smoothly. My client moved into a beautiful 2-Moving Inbedroom apartment, fully furnished upon his arrival with familiar belongings. I brought his medications and important papers and the nurses greeted him immediately to start his care plan. His family came to help hang clothes and unpack items and make the hospital bed I had ordered for him. When the process was complete, I left my client, who was smiling and eating a big grilled chicken sandwich with fries. As I left, I thanked God for making his wish, and mine, come true.
To help you navigate your loved one’s complex needs, contact ADSLA for expert independent advice! Do you need a local opinion? Let Andrea Donovan Senior Living Advisors help. Call us at (708) 415-2934 or email us. Please visit our website. Please watch my video to learn how the process works and learn what some clients have to say.
Andrea Donovan Senior Living Advisors