One of the more challenging issues of elder care involves
managing what happens when a caregiver clashes with an elderly
patient over his or her best course of action. While there are no
'one size fits all' solutions to patient-caregiver disputes, here
are some tried and true strategies to ensure everyone’s well being.
First and foremost, caregivers should respect the patient's privacy
and independence as much as possible. That said, there are times
when a caregiver may need to override the will of the patient for
the patient's financial well being or health and welfare. How and
when a caregiver can 'trump' an elder's path of self-determination
can be exceedingly complicated from a legal point of view, even if
the patient wants to cooperate. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of
community resources to parse out elder care rights. Local
Pennsylvania towns, as diverse as Broomall, Norristown, Penn Valley,
and Strafford, all offer services and volunteer organizations to
assist with questions regarding elder care.
Caregivers should be on the lookout for 'red flags' which may
indicate an impaired sense of judgment or mental/physical
deterioration. These can include: 1) the patient acts aggressively
towards in-home care workers or cleaning people. 2) the patient
suddenly stops engaging in routine activities (e.g. going for walks,
playing bridge with friends, etc.) 3) the patient's friends report
radical changes in behavior. 4) the patient's home and/or personal
appearance deteriorates suddenly.
Lastly, a key to solid elder care involves getting the patient to
articulate his or her wishes concerning end of life care. Make sure
the senior has established a will, designated a legal custodian, and
shored up insurance and Medicare/Medicaid paperwork. Don’t put off
tough discussions, or you may find yourself haggling over difficult
decisions later on without the benefit of the patient’s sound
counsel.
