Wednesday, October 11, 2017

I Have Been Evaluated...

and it appears I qualify for the services I need. 

A cheerful little woman sat at my kitchen table, went over my paperwork, asked me some questions, put my information into her computer and announced that I could get the home health care for my legs and I could get someone in to do the heavy cleaning chores.  Works for me.

This service is through my County.  They required one family member to be present.  I suppose they deal  with elderly folks whose memories are shaky at best or some who are sadly living with some form of dementia.  My youngest son, David, acted as the designated relative.  Basically he just listened.  Except when the questions concerned my memory.  I allowed that it was still functioning, but occasionally I will go from the living room to the kitchen and forget why.  He piped up and said that he could ask me about an event fifty years ago and I could remember the details.  I guess that means I passed the memory test.  :)

Anyway, it takes about three weeks to get everything set up.  I will be assigned a case worker who will schedule a nurse to check out my legs and who will train nurse's aids to take care of my legs.  The case worker will also arrange for the house cleaner. 

The lady who interviewed me said what I already knew, that Medicare does not pay for home health care unless it is needed following a hospital stay.  So there will be a fee for the two services that is figured according to income.  She told me the amount per month and it is a small amount that will not in any way wreck my budget.  That was a relief, as I feared I would not be able to afford this.  I can.

I am of two minds about this whole new situation.  I hate that I need to ask for help.  And I am not thrilled about having strangers come into my home for any reason.  I am a private person who likes her solitude.  You, my readers, probably know more about me by now than do some of my family unless they read this blog.

But on the other hand, I know that I absolutely have to keep my lower legs from becoming infected.  Cellulitis includes in some like me, open, draining wounds that may heal and may not.  There is no cure and if infection sets in, it means time in the hospital, which I want to avoid.  It also, if it gets too bad, can be life threatening.  My oldest son, Duane, has done a phenomenal job of helping me stay as healthy as possible by doing the application of gauze pads where needed and the Ace bandage wrapping of my legs two and sometimes three times a week for nearly two years.  He says he would continue, but I think he has already gone above and beyond.  All of my kids are helpful, but if I can get done what needs to be done without having to call on them, then I will not feel like I am a burden.  That is important to me.

I am not overjoyed about becoming involved in a government program, even if it is at the County level.  But so far nobody has asked any questions that I would refuse to answer.  And I found out that there are many other services available to me should I want to use them.  Meals on Wheels was mentioned, but I thought it would be rather silly to request that one considering my deep prepper pantry!

So I will give this program a go.  I will admit to being relieved at having some help with those things I can't seem to manage any more.  I am grateful to my kids for all their help and for setting up this solution to a problem.  Sometimes a person just has to swallow a little bit of pride and do the sensible thing.  Not something I am very good at doing.  :)

22 comments:

  1. Glad to hear you can get the services you need for a price you can afford. I totally understand the spot you are in... on one hand you need help, on the other you don't want to burden your children and you're not fond of strangers in your house... that's me in a nutshell too! Don't dismiss Meals on Wheels just because of your prepping. Sometimes it is nice to eat a little something different and from what I've been told the people who deliver are quite nice... a little bit of social time for you. Take care..hugs!

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    1. Thanks, Carol. Your description is spot on! In younger days it didn't bother me to have strangers in my home, but the older I get, the less I like it. I am willing to put up with it because by doing so, problems are taken care of without having to call a kid.

      I have to admit that Meals on Wheels sounds tempting. My conscience won't let me avail myself of that service daily because I am still fully capable of cooking for myself. But I might if they offer maybe a once a week delivery. That would be nice.

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  2. We all need help from time to time. I'm sure the majority of caregivers are wonderful caring people especially those from my beloved Midwest. Do be cautious however. It might be wise to have credit cards and checkbooks under lock and key or at a trusted relative's home. Here, in Florida have seen so many scams of elderly. ( Take checks from back of check book so they are not missed until acct cleaned out, credit card # used etc. ) Be cautious. I kept minimal amt in my Mom's acct and had bills and statements sent to me so no one could use info to get to her limited funds. Banker agreed and said he saw it happen too often.
    Put your feet up and let them do their job---just be cautious. It's not the 50s any more.

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    1. Ane Lincoln...I appreciate the advice. I don't have credit cards unless I get a prepaid one for a specific online purchase. My checkbook and handbag are hidden away until I need them. I understand about scamming the elderly. I receive phone calls now and then from those who believe me to be so feeble minded as to fall for their line of bs. Sometimes I just hang up on them and sometimes I let them go through their whole silly thing and then mention the words, 'police' or 'attorney general' or 'recording.' Then they hang up on me. :)

      I will relax and let them do their job. It sure was easier in the 50's though, wasn't it!

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  3. I am so glad you are getting the help you need and for a manageable fee and you can stay in your home.

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    1. Thanks, Jenn...Staying in my own home, such as it is, is very high on my list of priorities. I doubt I would do well trying to live on someone else's schedule. As you have likely gathered by now, I am somewhat of an independent cuss, doing what I want, when I want. And I like it that way. :)

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  4. Be careful about answering any questions related to mental status and be darned sure you can still sign your check. Also check paperwork from them young average to sign.... alot of elderly were getting stripped of their gun rights but he government this way...

    Matt

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  5. Sorry didn't proofread. Let me try that again.

    Make sure you read that paperwork before you sign, in case there is anything about no longer being able to own a gun. Alot of elderly were being stripped of their gun rights.

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    1. Matt...I read the paperwork including the fine print before I signed. I half expected questions about gun ownership to be asked, but they weren't. Had the person interviewing me asked anything at all about gun ownership, I was prepared to end the interview right then. The only references to mental health issues were a question asking if I had seen a psychiatrist or mental health professional in the past year and whether any of my meds were for depression, etc.

      I have been aware of those who wish to take away the rights of gun ownership from folks of my vintage. So far, the question has not come up - not now nor with my personal physician. If it ever does, I will walk. As far as I am concerned, that issue is for me to decide and nobody else. (kicking soapbox into corner)

      Thanks for watching my back, Matt. :)

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    2. PS to Matt...I also made it abundantly clear that I take care of my own finances, that nobody is on my bank account except for one of my kids who is authorized to close out my account upon my death. Youngest son remarked that his mother has always taken care of her own finances and has never needed any help in that department. I am aware that this is another way the POB can trip us up.

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  6. I'm glad things are working out for you. Mom got the Meals on Wheels food for a time after she got out of the hospital. It was often a so-so sandwich, a piece of fruit and a little sip-up box of fruit juice. She didn't fool with it for long.

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    1. Gorges...I haven't known anyone who uses Meals on Wheels here, so I have no idea of what kind of meals they provide. I may try it one time just to see, but I doubt I would use it much unless I get to the point where feeding myself is a problem. Judging by my girth, I can still take care of myself in the food department. :)

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  7. Vicki,

    I feel for you, but at the same time I am glad your county has a set up where your life will be easier. Here, they'd either haul you off to nursing home, or you would be on your own. In Georgia, the state more or less expects that the churches in the rural counties will help elderly people who need it. I knew this old man who had a corn field and a little house by it. He and his wife were really old. His name was Oscar. He used to see me at the general store and visit. But his wife died, and he had no family. He was on his own,and he got dementia. He lived in his little house, and the women from his church took it in turn to bring his meals, and the men kept his place up though the corn field went fallow. Then Oscar cut his leg, but he didn't tell anyone as he was afraid they'd put him in the home. He got the cut infected, but he hid it when people came to the house , sitting in his rocker and putting a blanket over his leg. Finally it got to smelling and one of the ladies found the cut, but by then it was too late and he died. I always felt bad about that, the guy deserved better.

    So with all the adjustments, and all the aggravations, you are still grabbing the brass ring.

    I often wonder about what will happen to me ten years or so down the road....

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    1. Harry...That is so sad - what happened with your neighbor. I can completely understand his fear of going to a nursing home. Even though both my parents were in a very good home, I spent enough time with them to know that living where someone tells you when to get up and when to go to bed and when to eat and when to bathe would drive me absolutely bat-guano crazy in a very short time. I think I can put up with almost anything to avoid a nursing home.

      There are some churches here that will help those in need. My neighbor, Alberta, who died some time back was helped by her church. They brought her a meal every day for several years. I don't know if they did anything else for her, but at least they did that much.

      I know how lucky I am that my kids were able to track down these county services for me. I think most of the aggrivation is in having to admit that I need help. But I think that once I get going with this, it will be alright. It will surely make my life easier as well as Duane's life, for he is the one who lives next door and because of that, he is the one who gets stuck with helping Mom most of the time. The other kids pitch in when needed and to their credit, they don't complain at all.

      I don't know what to tell you about ten years down the road. I was doing just fine right up to the day I wasn't. It is those things you don't expect to happen that will nail you every time.

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  8. Took a couple of days off the computer so just now seeing this post. So happy for you that you qualify and can afford the services.
    Calling about Meals on Wheels is on my to-do list. Here, I can choose from the 'fresh' delivery of entree, soup or salad and desert. They also have frozen entrees available for purchase. I find it difficult to cook some times when I'm under the weather. Here, they'll also come in weekly or daily. They just ask that you keep to the same schedule for the month. That's all from reading about it. Like I said, I still have to actually talk to the coordinator.
    Anything that helps keep you in your own home and healthy is a good thing, right?
    SJ

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    1. SJ...I was relieved to find that the cost was minimal. I know that once I get into the routine of it all, it will be just fine.

      I haven't checked out Meals on Wheels as yet, but if they offer maybe a once a week delivery, it might be worth looking into. There are times when opening a jar of soup is a chore and it would be nice to have a backup plan. We shall see.

      You are right about anything that keeps us in our own homes is a good thing. I live in fear of winding up in a nursing home. I did find out that the assisted living that costs way more than my income, is available under this county program. The bad thing is that they take nearly all of a person's Social Security, leaving the person with maybe $100 a month spending money. An order from the fabric store can cost me more than that. I don't think that arrangement would work for me at all.

      Hope all is well for you and the dog in your corner of the world. :)

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    2. My plan exactly - to try it out if they'll deliver once a month or maybe twice a month. I like that they have a frozen entree option here. Still on my to-do list..hahaha.
      I'm working on my outside to-do list this week though. I'm slowly making my way through it. Doubt if I'll get it all done but I'll get a lot of it done. More rain starts on Tuesday and is with us for the next week if you can believe the forecasters.
      So, long way to say I haven't spent much time on the computer. Will catch up when I can.
      Take good care of yourself - SJ

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    3. SJ...I haven't been on my computer much this past week, either. My to-do list is full of those little odds and ends that I would like to finish before winter. I have visions of cold, winter days spent at my sewing machine or getting the hand quilting done on the several quilt tops that are waiting to be done. There is an afghan to crochet for one of my grandsons who graduates in the spring as well as other crafty things I enjoy. Sometimes I wish I could just ignore the untidy stuff and go ahead with the sewing, etc., but I can't. Sigh.

      I got an email today telling me someone will call this coming Monday to get the ball rolling on the services. I hope we can get this show on the road soon and get into a routine. Once that is done I will check out the meal delivery thing. It would be really nice to have someone else do the cooking now and then.

      Hope the rain holds off long enough for you to get your outdoor chores finished. We are due for rain the middle of next week. The cool weather continues. I don't think winter is all that far away.

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  9. I watched my neighbor throw her meals on wheels food in the trash. She opened it and neither of us would touch it. It may have changed now. Plus, each program determines the food they will serve.

    It is good to know your son will do the services needed for your legs. He can step in if someone missed a day or gets sick or the weather keeps the person away. I do not want meals either.

    Dementia will most likely affect your recent memory not memories from 50 years ago. I have gone into another room for most of my life and forgotten what I went for. If you forget whose house you are in, that's a problem.

    I have heard that losing your glasses is normal, but forgetting you wear glasses is a problem...lol.

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    1. Linda...I know nothing about the Meals on Wheels program here. I may give it a try just to see what it is like, but I don't think I want to do that on a regular basis.

      My son has been helping me with my legs for nearly two years, so I am happy that soon he won't need to do that any more except in an emergency situation.

      So far, I know who I am and where I am, so I guess dementia hasn't set in just yet. :)

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