Special Care & Aging Senior Care

Oh, this is a fantastic gig!
I have a few quick nursing ideas to keep in mind:

1. Safety / mobility: On the flight, get him up and moving every 1–2 hours. Wear compression socks on the plane and when out and about. Good supportive shoes matter, especially ones that can be loosened if his feet swell. Plan for wheelchair or other mobility support as needed, and know where bathrooms are whenever possible.

2. Medications: Keep all medications and essential medical supplies with you in carry-on luggage, not checked bags. Bring extra medication in case of travel delays. Have an updated medication list with doses. For anything that needs temperature control, look into travel thermoses specifically designed to keep medications at a safe temperature for extended periods.

3. Energy: Plan around endurance. Build sightseeing into blocks with scheduled rest, meals, bathroom breaks, and recovery time. Plan for extra rest after arrival and keep the schedule flexible based on how he is doing that day.

4. Hydration / nutrition: Electrolyte packets can be mixed into water bottles and work really well for long flights and travel days. Various high-protein snacks also work well.

The big nursing issues I would be thinking about are falls, fatigue, hydration, mobility, medication access, and blood-clot prevention.

Have fun with your planning. Remember me if you need a replacement for some reason :)

I put some comments down in the previous post! If you are not clicking and reviewing this tool with more information on facilities… you are missing it!!! Facilities- I try to visit where I can, even if I don't have a patient. I want to know the options… And if a hospital Case Manager gives someone a list, please tell them they absolutely need to go SEE it… listen, smell and talk to the residents.

Hi Mari, To the best of my knowledge, a person in any state with assets exceeding the Medi-Cal threshold will not qualify for any type of public healthcare assistance. The LGBTQ community is well organized in the Bay Area, and may provide financial assistance on a private basis. I would check with their local organizations; keep in mind that any grants might also be dependent upon financial need. — Every LTC policy has an elimination period, and requires proof of payment by the insured as part of the policy’s authorization process. A limit of $650/day sounds as though the LTC policy doesn’t carry an annual inflation endorsement; this should be confirmed by reading the entire policy (and not the policy Summary of Benefits.) I would also verify the policy allows assets other than the insured’s to cover the elimination period. The elimination period of 90 days, at $650/day, equals $58,500, which can be covered by your client’s assets if he is required to pay. LTC policies all contain language regarding caregiving coverage by formal and informal caregivers. Understanding policy guidelines in this regard is crucial. — I didn’t see any mention of the cause of your client’s medical decline. If another party was involved (i.e. an accident, premature discharge, improper diagnosis) the opportunity may exist to explore the LTC policy elimination period coverage by the other responsible party. Good luck.

In my years of hospice care, I can tell you that this is an important conversation to have with your parents before a crisis occurs.

Be proactive AND insistent in getting a plan in place. Call a family meeting or have an elder law attorney help.

This is SUCH an important conversation. Thank you so much for bringing it here.

David, this is exactly the systemic issue Cheryl is pointing to — and there's an underutilized resource worth knowing about.

The Older Americans Act established the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, staffed by both paid and volunteer advocates. Critically, they work for residents, not facilities. They can address individual resident concerns and pursue systemic facility issues. Complaints feed into state and national trend databases that can drive regulatory action.

As a former Texas ombudsman, I can tell you SNFs were prioritized in caseloads over assisted living, even though both are covered under the OAA. The program is lean, but strategic.

As a first step I recommend looking for the ombudsman contact information typically posted at the facility entrance. Introducing yourself creates a ready partnership for exactly the issues you're describing.

Understaffing explains resource constraints. It doesn't excuse poor care.

Renea Stasaski, BCPA
Sonoran Wayfinders
Advocate's AI Atlas

Thank you for asking such an important, complex question!

Oh gosh, this is such a major problem! And if I knew how to fix it, I would be a wealthy woman! I experience this both as a clinician and as an advocate. A few strategies that are absolutely not fixes:

1. bundle needs as much as possible so there are fewer calls on the call light. I know it's not always possible! If possible, build ADL routines so they're more anticipated/scheduled and more efficient.

2. let the staff know they're appreciated, with words and maybe snacks. Let managers know who is excellent.

3. escalate as needed if/when there are safety concerns

4. aim for non-profit care centers whenever possible

Well, that's a few thoughts to start the conversation.

Cheryl Kauffman, PT, BCPA
Seattle Patient Advocates

Thanks for starting the thread, Andrew! We're very glad you're here.

Are there approaches you have taken to help your senior clients be able to interact with their smart devices at all? for example, to confirm appointments via text? What resources do your clients mostly find manageable — if there are any patterns you see? (would love you to edit the post and expand the thought a bit more, if you're game, in hopes of having others join in or learn from your experience!)

Thanks so much for sharing!

This is SUCH a powerful topic. Thank you for bringing it forward here and for sharing your podcast. I look forward to listening to it in the near future.

I can attest that when my husband was in the sub-acute rehab for 60 days, not a single staff member ever said, «Here's your toothbrush and spit cup.» If I wasn't there that day, the teeth didn't get brushed.

That was last year, and he just went through an extraction. UGH!

Shelbey, I've sent several people to your GNA profile recently. Hopefully they turn into business for you.

great article, Shelbey