Diana S.- Tempe, AZ
It has become very clear that my dad's needs are bottomless and far beyond my capacity. I have serious worries about my sanity and mental health from this situation. His assisted living place is happy to take his money but does nothing to engage him. They'll give him meds 3 times a-day and he gets housekeeping once a week. But when I walk in there's always diarrhea on the floor or in the shower, and open food containers all over the counters. His fingernails are super long and nobody cuts them except for me. I'm tired of worrying about him and wondering why I thought assisted living would make things easier when it's made it hellish. He gets sick because he eats spoiled food. He was isolated in the hospital and his apartment for 10 days due to covid and his mental health really suffered. Since he's already got parkinson's that's a huge challenge, and he's got metastasized prostate cancer, is 94, can't hear anymore and his vision is bad. The ALF doesn’t seem to have the staff to help with other things that he needs, or to even notice that he might need more. It's always something: the main nurse is on vacation or the building superintendent is on vacation and can't fix the broken whatever....How can I get someone else in there to help? Would it be a social worker, engagement specialist, another house cleaner,... and would his private insurance pay for it. I am fed up with his ALF. His air conditioning has been broken for nearly 3 months, the whole time hes lived there, and it's always almost 80゜In his apartment. They are trying to fix it but having a hard time getting a replacement that fits. I passed the end of my rope a long time ago, I can't even begin to type all the other crises that have been going on in the family. But suffice it to say those family members are not able to really help with this problem. They do what they can around their own crises. Sorry for typos this is a bad keyboard.
John Skelton- Senior Helpers of Tempe
Diana, we understand your situation and have helped countless families through out the southeast valley dealing with what you are dealing with. When I founded Senior Helpers of Tempe, our stated goal was to help seniors age in place WHEREVER they call home. That was because while some seniors prefer and are capable of remaining in their longtime home, many who have been there for 50+ years, others are not able to stay in those homes because of health or underlying issues. For those reasons and many more we are able to work in Assisted Living Communities or Group Homes, or anywhere they rest their heads.