August 11, 2010

The Baby Boomer generation is just about to the age where the need for more affordable living conditions is becoming a critical issue. This week's Sargent Solutions explores the right questions to ask before placing loved ones in senior care.

Nancy Campbell recently put her 85-year-old mother, who suffers from early stages of dementia, in senior care. She says despite reporting several alleged violations concerning the staff, the management would not return her calls.

"I was scared to death for her safety, and that fact that I just didn't know what was going to happen next," said Campbell.

While Campbell's problem was ultimately resolved, her incident raises questions about the best ways to find senior care for our loved ones.

"The first thing they should do is really have an assessment by a nurse to see if they are qualified for assistant living," said June King, a registered nurse and administrator at Mountainside Senior Living.

King says the first step is to determine the level of care needed, as many seniors require more care than they will ever admit. It's also imperative you make several on-site visits during different times of day before putting a loved on in an assisted living care center or nursing home.

Christine Stacy, a local adult care education consultant, teaches senior care administrators how to handle specific processes within the health care system. As an expert on the aspects of aging, or Gerontology, Stacy says individuals looking for a senior care center need to ask tough questions of themselves and the staff.

"What are the problems your loved one has? What are the issues? Why are you placing them [in care]? Can you afford it? And does the facility have the personnel that are trained to meet the needs?" said Stacy.

Stacy says Virginia is in desperate need of more reasonably priced senior living, and she believes new health care laws and informed citizens like Nancy Campbell will continue to hold management and staff accountable.

For additional information, you can visit the Medicare.gov website or call one of the following:

- Consumer Protection Hotline: 1-800-552-9963
- Virginia Better Business Bureau: 804-648-0016
- State Department of Health Licensure and Certification: 804-367-2102