Senior Living Arrangement JCCAA Retirement Committee October 2016 1. Can anyone not understand Mandarin? If none, I will talk in Mandarin for this presentation. 相信大家一定都想到过,我们老了,今后的居住环境应该怎么安排?要回答这个问题,我们首先要有一个共识:我们说的是那一个阶段?在很多人心目里,老了,第一件事是退休,所以说老了以后居住环境的安排,是Retirement Homes. 这是老年人的天堂:在一个社区里,有各式各样的设施,像健身房,球场,游泳池等等,有各式各样的活动,像打牌,打太极拳,跳舞,唱卡拉OK等等,像这样的Retirement Community多的不得了。可是住在这样的地方,你基本上还是蛮健康的,体力还不错的,我们今天在这里要谈的,是比这个阶段要更老一些的,是体力差到需要人帮助的阶段。当然各位心里想:去你的!我还没到那地步呢!不过,有道是:未雨绸缪,我们是想把我们所看到的,听到的,想到的,可以做的准备工作,在这里跟各位分享一下,讨论一下。 这个Senior Living Arrangement 的题目,也许有人已经听过,包括我自己在内,可是我听过的,是某一个Nursing Home 或是Health Care Center 专门介绍他们一家而已。今天我们打算給大家一个概括的介绍,并且作一些客观的比较,希望帮助各位自己作分析和选择。所以我们今天的节目大概分为四个部分:首先我把老人的居住环境类别简单地給大家介绍一下;然后我,范增璞和谢家风就我们所知的养老院,一人介绍三家,好让你们有个概念;接着我要把一个在加州的人作的有关两岸三地的养老院的比较,給大家看看;最后我们要请Memorial Oaks 的Dwight Sung 来跟大家讲讲我们最后一步路的安排。
INDEPENDENT LIVING Communities where seniors live independently in their own home/unit. Some offer amenities & services such as transportation, meals, activities, housekeeping, etc… includes retirement communities, apartments, continuing care communities & active adult communities. Examples include 晚晴,Sharpstown Senior Apartments, Fondren Senior Apt., Laguna Woods, Del Webb, etc. 这是我刚刚说的,老人居住环境的第一阶段。一般所谓的Retirement Homes 都是Independent Living。在加州有Laguna Woods, 在Houston 有Del Webb。 如果是租的话,有一些老人公寓,可以提供一些給老人的服务。但是我们不见得要搬到Retirement Community 去,很多人已经給自己打造了Retirement Home:Downsized, 一楼,或者是High Rise,或者是Condo。这样的房子可以住到最后行动不便时,可是最终是需要人来照顾,或者请人,或者依靠子女。假如我们不打算依靠子女,就得搬到有提供照顾的地方去。可是有些照顾老人的地方是要求你必须在还能自己照顾自己的时候就搬进去的。正因为如此,我们就得考虑是否在能自己照顾自己的时候,也就是在能Independently Live的时候,就搬进一个这样的地方去。我们等一下会专门讲这一类的老人院。
HOME CARE Includes providers of licensed health care services in the home, hospital, or residential homes, and companies that provide non-medical assistance. Examples: Medical Insights, Advanced Healthcare, PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). 住在家里可以找人来照顾,有这样专门提供照顾人(care givers) 的服务的公司,在Houston最常听到的是Medical Insight 和 Advanced Healthcare, 他们可以配合一些护理的需要;你也可以登报找人,但是就没有什么专业的训练。我们有经验照顾父母的,都走过这条路。我们自己将来也会变成被照顾的人。这个时间可能是漫长的,而且多半自己不大能Manage,于是需要有子女或他人的帮忙。这里顺便介绍一个Medicare 的Program, 叫PACE。他们可以帮你Manage你的需要,像看病,护理,配药,甚至复健,起居,饮食,康乐等等,是一个All-inclusive 的Program,因为是个政府经营的Program,所以效率不高,用不少纳税人的钱,Houston 目前还没有,最近的一个Community在El Paso。 Hope Clinic 和文化中心曾经考虑合起来设一个这样的Program,不过没有成功。
ASSISTED LIVING A combination of housing, personalized supportive services and health care designed to meet the needs of those needing help with the activities of daily living. 到了行动不便,自己不能上下床,大小便,一个看护的人照顾不来的时候,就得考虑离开家,搬进Assisted Living 了。这跟下一阶段的Nursing Home 没有一定的界限,只是需要的程度不一样。要住进Assisted Living 或Nursing Home,除了病人自己登门去申请以外,还有很多人是因为生病住院,出院的时候由医院介绍住进去的,原因是要做复健。有Medicare 保险的人,Medicare 会付这个费用,可是限制20天,超过20天就得回家,如果再住院出院又可以再住进去。这里有很复杂的规定,我们在这里就不详细说明了。
NURSING HOME Communities licensed to provide health care and services involved in managing complex and potentially serious medical problems. Most provide rehabilitation services as well. Still need family or helper’s constant monitoring and support. 到这个阶段,大家知道就是生活完全需要有过训练的专业人士来照顾。我等一下会介绍两家Nursing Home。 即使是有人全天候照顾,还是要有亲友经常去察看的。
MEMORY CARE Communities offering specialized programs for residents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss and dementia. These programs can also be offered by assisted living or nursing communities. 有些Assisted Living 或Nursing Home 有一个特别的地方专门让失智的老人居住,那个区域通常是用密码锁把它跟外界隔开来,不让病人出去。
CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY A CCRC combines independent living, assisted living, nursing and sometimes memory care in a single setting. Normally requiring an entry fee, offering a living unit, meals and health care up to the nursing level. 这一类老人院就是我先前说的,从Independent Living 开始,让你可以逐渐地经过Assisted Living,Skilled Nursing 到最终,称为CCRC。我们有朋友已经住进这样的地方。他们多半要求你在Independent Living 的时候就住进去,进去的时候交一笔Deposit,走的时候大半可以退还。
HOSPICE CARE Provided in the home or a senior care community. Services can include pain management and a variety of emotional, spiritual and physical support. 大家都知道这是在放弃治疗的时候,让病人可以减轻痛苦,走到人生最后一步,
USEFUL WESITES http://www.skillednursingfacilities.org/resources/medicare-quality-data/ www.NewLifeStyle.com www.SRGserv.com
SKILLED NURSING HOME WEBSITE Find Skilled Nursing Facilities Home Free help: (866) 333-6002 Free Expert Help Skilled Nursing Facility Directory Getting Started What are Skilled Nursing Facilities? Services Offered in Skilled Nursing Facilities Compare to Assisted Living Myths about Nursing Homes Nursing Home Staff Nursing Home Administrators Paying for Nursing Homes Nursing Home Costs Paying for a Nursing Home Medicare and Nursing Homes Medicaid and Nursing Homes Will Social Security Cover Nursing Home Costs Making the Move How to Find a Nursing Home What to Look For When Touring a Nursing Home Moving Into a Nursing Home Nursing Home Checklist Nursing Home Trends Nursing Home Technology Medicare Quality Data Living in Skilled Nursing Resident Care in Nursing Homes Nursing Home Safety Resident Activities Loneliness in Nursing Homes Alzheimer's Care in Nursing Homes Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes Helpful Organizations