Adult Foster Care ...

zipper · 02-06-2007, 07:58 AM

Any experiences with this program, either positive or negative? Am considering this for my elderly Mother. Long story, but need to have an alternative to the current living arrangement. Sad day in Zipperville. PM me if ya want too. Thanks. zip

wannacatchem · 02-06-2007, 08:19 AM

I don't personally have any experience with adult foster care (yet:frown: ) but my grandmother spent the last few years of her life in an adult care home just down the road from Mom and Dad's place. She passed when she was 98. It was clean and comfortable, she was well taken care of. Not that there would have been any other choice with my mother coming by every few days. They didn't provide to many activities as most of the residents (4) were in the very last stages of thier lives, but they were well taken care of.

This is a very tough decision i"m sure, and I know you'll do your best to find the best care you can.

Best wishes.......

Keeper · 02-06-2007, 09:52 AM

I will send a pm!

Hog's nurse · 02-06-2007, 05:16 PM

I don't have a specific adult foster home to recommend, but I have been very impressed with the patients that I have seen that have come from Romanian foster care homes. It seems as if where I work in Vancouver there are a large group of Romanian run foster care homes. Generally, the patients come in clean and well cared for. The staff knows the medical history very well, and will even escort the patient frequently to the E.R. It's probably best to ask for references and follow up with them. I like foster care homes because it is a family home environment.

If she is unhappy about the move, ask her to give you 3 months. It seems like after that amount of time the patient will settle down into a routine and get to know the rest of the group. They often become quite attatched to the other residents and staff. Often in the very beginning, the transition is difficult, but you may be suprised how much someone will settle in. Lots of times older people become very isolated in their homes, and after their spouse dies they are quite lonley but don't want to leave the familiar. They find comfort in being around others, and eventually recognize that it is good to feel safe.

And you will feel better knowing she is safe. Good luck with everything.

zipper · 02-06-2007, 09:47 PM

Thanks for all the good advice and PM's. I will respond to them all individually tomorrow. I appreciate the support. Lots to think about..... zip

CATCH AND EAT · 02-07-2007, 08:23 AM

Zipper, can you give a little background on your mothers condition and why foster care may be your solution. PHysically disabled, mental issue, ....

We have been through this twice now. My wifes father had a stroke and lost short term memory but was otherwise fully functional. We had him in one home and did not like the care he recieved there and moved him into another home where a wonderful Romanian couple took good care of him for a couple of years until he had another stroke.

He then required full time care as he suffered paralisys on his left side as well as more brain damage. The resthome near where we live was wonderful and took good care of him.

We are again going through this with my wifes mother as some of you already know. Elva suffered a stroke 5 years ago and some paralasys in the left side but was able to still move around. We found and extended care facility called Princeton Village in Clackamas where she could have her own appartment, be checked on 3 times a day, have her meals prepared and given her meds on schedual. This worked out great for her. Then two and a half years ago she had an operation on her shoulder that lead to a sevear decline in her health to a point where death was knocking at her door in a matter of days.

AFter battling many infections in her shoulder the decision was made to amputate the left arm to save her life. It worked but she was then placed in a resthome for 24 hour special care. After a year and a half there with fantastic care we were able to move her back to Princeton Village where she is now and doing pretty well. Even though she needs and requires more care which they provide she still is on her own and in her own quarters. No longer mobile though so it is special efforts to take her on outings at times.

Okay, Foster care can be great. Pick the right folks and visit often to assure the proper care is given. Like others said, she may not be happy about it but time will most likely change her mind.

Firedog · 02-07-2007, 08:26 AM

Go and look at and walk through the ones you are thinking about. We get into a lot of these types of places and there are real good ones and real bad ones out there. Like Hogs Nurse said the Romanian run ones are pretty good in general. Depending on what type of care your mother needs there is also the Senior living type of arrangements. Good luck it has to be a tough decision to make. But make sure you visit a few and make sure they are clean and the occupants are well taken care of. Teh ones that aren't are obvious almost as soon as you walk in the door.

reeldick · 02-07-2007, 09:36 AM

A good friend had a similar situaation with his mother. He checked all options. His mother ended up in a Romanian family home built with two added bedrooms and bathrooms in a separate wing of the home. It was run by a mother/daughter arrangement. His mother was very happy through her last days. It was in the Gladstone area.

zipper · 02-07-2007, 10:01 AM

OK C&E here's the "Reader's Digest" version: My mother is a 77yr old diabetic, almost blind - probably meets the requirements for being legally blind, needs help with bathing, laundry, mobility - she can get around once she has her walker or something to hang onto. She can feed herself but has difficutly with meal prep. Most of this we have dealt with ourselves up to this point. She has lived on our property for more than 10 years in her fifth wheel trailer (since my Dad passed away). She is starting to have difficulty getting up the stairs to the bathroom and her bedroom. She is struggling getting outside without help. We don't have the ability to move her into our house (space primarily) and she doesn't want that anyway. She agrees that she needs to move to where there's people available to help her do things - that's not an issue. We are just trying to research all the options and start moving towards the "right" choice for her before it becomes an emergency. The other issue we have to deal with is that my parents did zero planning for this eventuality and she has no assets to speak of. She will be a medicaid client and extra's will have to be picked up some other way. Bottom line is we need to go and see some of these places;assisted living, foster care, nursing home type places and determine what's most appropriate for her and what the best fit is. Thanks for the input. zip

CATCH AND EAT · 02-07-2007, 10:30 AM

Our Elva is in the same boat. assets period other than medicare and medicade I believe. The particular place where she is now begged to have her back and takes Medicade and SS as payment. Something like this sounds more like what your mother might enjoy and it would provide the right amount of care for her. She still sounds pretty independant and a larger community like this may be a bit more enjoyable for her at this stage.

Again, nothing wrong with a foster care program either and it has its advantages with personal care but in a much tighter confines than an assisted living center.

Check into both situations for the area you live to see what fits for both you and your mom. It is a very important choice for both of you.