When I first met Betty she was a pleasant, alert and charming 98 year old woman. Betty would talk about her husband, her children, her friends and her life’s journey. Her walls are adorned with her children’s portraits, wedding photos, a painting from her 50th wedding anniversary and drawings made by her grandchildren.

I took the time to sit and listen and find out what was important to Betty. She expressed her wishes to stay home and that she never wanted to be forced to leave her home due to illness. So together we put a plan in place and 1st Choice Home Care began helping Betty take better care of herself. Betty’s aide, Cecelia, did the majority of her daily care; the cooking, cleaning, housekeeping, laundry, scheduling for blood work and Doctor’s appointments. I performed a detailed health assessment on Betty. We documented each change in her condition and reviewed it with her doctor. In fact, with all of our clients, their physicians are more informed about their patient’s health issues than ever before. It is always an added benefit for the client to have a skilled RN to detect the smallest details and symptoms in their condition that may be life threatening in nature.

Betty’s health was watched carefully by the 1st Choice Home Care Team and together we worked with her Doctors and avoided Betty having unnecessary trips to the emergency room. Betty truly had it all. If she needed anything, there was someone right there to help. If she wasn’t feeling well one call was all it took and she had an RN there to visit. On bad days, we would make sure that we followed her wishes and would obtain the necessary medical treatments she needed. It was all done from the comfort of her own home. She maintained her weight, her skin was always clean and free of cuts and bruises from falls, she had someone right there always and she was in her own bed at night. Nothing meant more to Betty. Eventually Betty’s illness took its predicted course, and she closed her eyes at night one last time not so long ago.

Betty represents a growing percentage of people in our society; those in later adulthood who are either cognitively brilliant but whose bodies are no longer able to work and function like they once did, or, those who are physically strong, but suffer from minor cognitive issues that make surviving impossible without some type of assistance. By having a care plan in place and a team like 1st Choice Home Care, families as well as clients can have peace of mind that their last wishes will be honored and its true, there’s no place like home.

Written by:
Garry S. Latimer,
RN, BA, CCM, CALA
Clinical Director
1st Choice Home Care