Re: help for elderly and others

[Guest guest]

My mother stayed in her own apartment until she was 88. Then she said she

wanted to go to a nursing home because she had several health scares,

pneumonia and other breathing problems. She got a pacemaker when she was in

the nursing home and started feeling much better.

In Philadelphia they have many services for the elderly. Meals on wheels,

home health aide, even home library books. I don't know what is available in

other cities, if anything is available for smaller places. She had a social

worker that handled all the details. There were plenty of problems, people

not showing up, etc. She says that one visiting nurse stole her medicine.

Her neighbors helped her often, and the neighborhood senior center was

headquartered in the basement of her apartment building. So she had plenty

of activities and people around her. Also, she ate lunch there every week

day. My sister and I visited every weekend.

She had to go to a nursing home even though she was well enough for personal

care because she ran out of money. After a big hassle, many forms and

interviews, she became eligible for medical assistance. That only pays for

nursing homes not personal care facilities. The nursing home takes her

social security check and she gets $30 a month. She usually spends that in

the hair salon.

Hope that helped in the getting more mature worries.

Joan