One family's story
Just one month after my 82 year old mother stumbled in the darkness one night, hitting her head on the hardwood floor, my parents packed their bags for their annual winter sojourn to Del Ray Beach, Florida as they had done for the past 20 years. They, like masses of older Northerners, went south each winter to delight in the warm weather and leisurely lifestyle.
It wasn't long after their arrival in Florida that Mother's health declined and she was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of a subdural hematoma (or bleeding around the brain). Soon after, Father's health condition took a turn for the worse when his squamous cell cancer began to affect his overall functioning and ability to continue in his role as the family decision-maker.
Families faced with this type of scenario are challenged to make complex decisions. Parents struggle to maintain their independence and dignity while adult children strive to meet the new demands placed upon them. Immersed in a world of home health agencies, nursing home visits, home delivered meals and legal and financial matters, families must master an entirely new culture of community programs and services for the elderly.