Every patient in a Medicare/Medicaid certified long term care facility has substantive and procedural protections under state and federal law. The Delaware Patient’s Bill of Rights is found at 16 Del. Code Section 1121. The Federal Patient’s Bill of Rights is found at https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/42/483.10 . The federal law is applicable to every facility in the […]
Over the last several weeks our Video/Blog series has focused on Caregivers. As a continuation of this series, I am introducing the concept of THE WALL OF FUDWACA. There comes a time when caregivers feel overwhelmed by the caregiving process. Something has to change because they just can’t keep going the same way. They feel […]
The first installment focuses on the building block “Frustration” and explores those things/events that can lead to it for a caregiver. They don’t know what to do or where to start. Having a plan for change might be the remedy. F is FRUSTRATED… As families begin to care for a loved one, they seek information […]
This second installment is about the interrelationship of being upset and having feelings of guilt. The caregiver is shocked and overwhelmed by everything hitting them at once. Perhaps seeking the advice of a trained professional or interacting with other caregivers will bring relief. U is for UNCERTAIN or UPSET Caregivers become very upset when circumstances […]
Disappointment is an emotion that families seem to experience early as they become increasingly involved in caring for a loved one. A leading cause of disappointment is the expectation that Medicare will pay for 100 days of care in every case and that it pays for long term care. For instance, when a parent begins […]
“W” Is For Worried
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What’s not to worry about when it comes to taking care of your parents? There are concerns about your loved one’s safety, your family’s financial security, and what this new life will look like: • What if mom falls and hits her head? • A neighbor saw mom run a stop sign –she didn’t even […]
“A” Is For Angry
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Being angry is one of the more difficult emotions to contend with because you might feel guilty about your anger. When you’ve changed your entire life, sometimes leaving your own growing family for days or weeks at a time, sacrificing your career and finances, losing sleep, working overtime… it is understandable that you feel angry. […]
“C” Is For Concern
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Driving down the road, watching TV, or trying to relax, thoughts in your head keep spinning: How long can mom stay at home? Is she safe, or does she need to be in a facility? What if some scammer calls and gets her bank info? Could we lose the house? *sigh* One of the most […]
“A” Is For Anxious
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We hear the anxiety in a person’s voice when they call in for help. Their breathing is shallow; their words start coming a mile a minute; something big has shifted in their life and the lives of their loved ones. • After mom passed, dad moved in with me, and I never knew he was […]
Our Vlog series on the wall of FUDWACA is coming to an end. One thing that we learned is that it’s hard to know when exactly you have hit this Wall. It’s quite different from realizing you have crashed your car, for instance, into a barrier. There is this moment of confusion about what just […]
You’ve acknowledged to yourself that you have hit the wall of FUDWACA. Something must change; you can’t do this by yourself anymore. You must find a way through, over, around, or under the wall. But how? Begin to prepare for the journey. The first tool you will need is for your loved one to have […]
Laura Lite called The Center today. She’s in town from South Carolina for a week to care for her mom, Betty. This is the third time in the past year that she has had to take off from work. Her boss is understanding but is becoming concerned. I could hear the stress in her voice. […]