I don’t think there is a person alive today who can say they have not felt the effects of the pandemic, but senior communities have been particularly impacted. Vibrant communities who used to encourage outside visitors- from families of residents, to volunteers, to prospective residents, to speakers and entertainers- are now, more or less, shut off from the outside world.
To my friends who work in the field of senior living, you are the true un-sung heroes in this pandemic. Many senior communities quickly to enacted restricted visitor access, which likely prevented many more residents from becoming sick. Our BrightStar Senior Living communities in the Madison area were among this group. Recommendations from Wisconsin DHS soon followed and remain in place as of today, which means that even in rural communities where there are very few cases of Covid-19, visiting a loved one is permitted only at end-of-life.
Unfortunately, those safety measures are causing many to think twice about making a move into a senior living setting. I got the following email this week inquiring about home care services: My Dad recently passed away. I work full time and I am concerned that my Mom needs a bit more help than I can give her as well as companionship now that Dad's gone. We are considering a move for her to assisted living but I'm also concerned about not being able to visit her there.
This is an unfortunate trend. Not only are families utilizing home care to postpone a move into senior living due to the pandemic, we are starting to see families making plans to move loved ones out of senior housing. I can’t say I blame them.
If I had a parent who’s age and health status was such that they could die within the next year or so, and I wasn’t allowed to visit them for the past three months with no indication that restrictions will be lifted yet this year, I would be looking at alternative options too. Life is short, and time with family is precious.
Again, I’m in no way blaming senior communities. They have to follow the state guidelines and they need make decisions about what is best for their community as a whole. Home care is not the right solution for each person, and there are still many benefits to living in assisted living.
If you or someone you know is facing the complex decision of whether to move a loved one into, or now out of, senior housing, please know that home care agencies like BrightStar can be your advisor as you weigh all options. Because every BrightStar client has a personal plan of care written by a Registered Nurse, we will be completely transparent about the cost and other considerations for your unique situation.
Wishing you and your family well,
Wendy Sulzer, Director of Homecare for S and J Homecare, LLC dba BrightStar Care of Madison, South Central Wisconsin, Baraboo, La Crosse, Racine and Milwaukee
To my friends who work in the field of senior living, you are the true un-sung heroes in this pandemic. Many senior communities quickly to enacted restricted visitor access, which likely prevented many more residents from becoming sick. Our BrightStar Senior Living communities in the Madison area were among this group. Recommendations from Wisconsin DHS soon followed and remain in place as of today, which means that even in rural communities where there are very few cases of Covid-19, visiting a loved one is permitted only at end-of-life.
Unfortunately, those safety measures are causing many to think twice about making a move into a senior living setting. I got the following email this week inquiring about home care services: My Dad recently passed away. I work full time and I am concerned that my Mom needs a bit more help than I can give her as well as companionship now that Dad's gone. We are considering a move for her to assisted living but I'm also concerned about not being able to visit her there.
This is an unfortunate trend. Not only are families utilizing home care to postpone a move into senior living due to the pandemic, we are starting to see families making plans to move loved ones out of senior housing. I can’t say I blame them.
If I had a parent who’s age and health status was such that they could die within the next year or so, and I wasn’t allowed to visit them for the past three months with no indication that restrictions will be lifted yet this year, I would be looking at alternative options too. Life is short, and time with family is precious.
Again, I’m in no way blaming senior communities. They have to follow the state guidelines and they need make decisions about what is best for their community as a whole. Home care is not the right solution for each person, and there are still many benefits to living in assisted living.
If you or someone you know is facing the complex decision of whether to move a loved one into, or now out of, senior housing, please know that home care agencies like BrightStar can be your advisor as you weigh all options. Because every BrightStar client has a personal plan of care written by a Registered Nurse, we will be completely transparent about the cost and other considerations for your unique situation.
Wishing you and your family well,
Wendy Sulzer, Director of Homecare for S and J Homecare, LLC dba BrightStar Care of Madison, South Central Wisconsin, Baraboo, La Crosse, Racine and Milwaukee