Aging, Retirement and Nursing Facility Options

Nursing home facilities emphasize privacy. They normally allow just immediate family members to visit. Many times nursing home facilities focus on rehabilitation and extending life. Hospice settings allow patients to die at home, but they are there to control pain and keep them comfortable. Friends and family members are allowed to visit at any time. Care providers, friends and family are including in the plan of care process. Many family friends come and provide service to the family such as cooking, cleaning and maybe some yard work and emotional support. Prices vary on nursing homes and hospice based on the patient’s need. This was the biggest barrier to pricing. According to Autumn Journey Hospice, “Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. It neither hastens nor postpones death.” My wife’s friend passed away last summer from brain cancer. Her family had chosen hospice for last month of her life. The family claims that it was the best thing for her and the family as they were able to say their goodbyes. Although it was still a painful grieving process as expected during the passing of a loved one, they believe they have been able to adjust and move ahead in their lives. Many people do not chose hospice as they may not have the time or emotional support to care for their loved ones.

One of our most respected nursing facilities is Whidbey Island Manor. “Whidbey Island Manor is a family-owned and operated 57-bed skilled nursing facility located in Oak Harbor, Washington.” Their mission and core values incorporated skilled care, compassion and “dignity”. They are able to care for young and elderly including adults with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. They work towards restoring independence in efforts to return the patients to their families. If that is not possible, the goal still remains to help them be as self sufficient as possible.

I never had any misconceptions of the aging families as caring for the elderly has been part of my job for the last seven years. However, I used to believe that once the elderly checked into a nursing home, there was no return and their lives soon end. I haven’t heard of many elderly people left nursing homes after rehabilitation. I would have to say that my past research did not change any preconceived views I had. The materials seems to correlate to what I have experienced working in elderly group homes and nursing homes.

You may also be interested in Funeral Planning: If I Lived to be 120 Years Old

Don't Miss Your Chance To Win $5,000

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The Family Unit and Policy

Family policy predefines the direct of current or forthcoming “forms of family organization, behaviors, and decisions, may be implemented and enforced at local, state, and national levels” (p.602). Their goal is achieved through organized social programs and activities. We are not to mistake policy for being the program but rather they are philosophical purposes that are intentional for desired outcomes.

Implicit and explicit family policies are polar opposites of each other. Implicit policy means that it is implied or understood without stating. Explicit family policy gives intentions sometimes written or oral and is largely used in governmental family regulations which are clearly stated such as a change or reform. According to Eshleman & Bulcroft (2006), “An example of implicit family policy would be legislation that requires teenagers to attend school until a certain age. Families are affected, but the specific objective is left implicit or unstated” (p. 576). Explicit policy would be the government requiring smoking in public facilities. Also, when the government required hospitals to give four days of hospital coverage instead of the previous twenty four hour notice is considered an explicit policy.

When family policies are put into place, it becomes a family program. For example, spousal abuse is illegal. When spousal abuse became define by legislation (family policy), family programs such as CADA (Citizens Against Domestic Abuse) where formed.

“A preventative policy for all families or intimate relationships focuses on issues that affect everyone: employment, health, minimum wages, housing, gender and racial/ethnic equality, tax equity, and the like...The ameliorative, or need, position focuses on select groups or behaviors that are defined as problems: unwed parenthood, abortion, child and spouse abuse, single parenthood, divorce, homelessness, and the like” (p. 586).

I see myself as a progressive. Progressive families view equality for a variety of family units. According to Eshleman & Bulcroft (2006), “Conventional are those who believe the normal family is conjugal. Male husbands and fathers they are head of the household and the sole economic provider” (p. 581). In my family, both my wife and I work and share equal responsibility for child rearing and bringing income into the home. Equality is a constant achievement that needs to be obtained. My views are somewhat different from most progressive people as I believe that abortion should be illegal except for instances of incest, rape or the risk of the mother’s health. However, I believe in the death penalty. Some people would suggest that my views of prolife and an advocate for the death penalty conflict with each other.



For more on societal isssues see Remarriages and Step Families

Coping with a Crisis: Stress Can Drive to Breaking Point

According to Mr Ghaz It can be important to recognize when you can’t cope and need to find somebody who can. If someone is very panicky you need to help him calm down. If he is talking of killing himself you need to take this seriously. But these emergencies are rare. You are more likely to be trying to help someone who is quietly desperate and who needs help to talk about his problems.
If a person is very panicky you will need to help him calm down. Touch him in some way – hold his hand or put your arm round him. Reassure him that you will stay and that he will soon be able to control his panic. Get him to do something such as sit down, lie down or come for a walk. If you know how to relax quickly try teaching him how to do it. Don’t get him to take a lot of deep breaths or he will get dizzy and feel more panicky. He might like you to massage his back and shoulders. When he calms down he will probably want to talk a lot. But if he is exhausted he may fall asleep.Read on for more: Coping with a Crisis: Stress Can Drive to Breaking Point

What are The Two Best Diets for Longevity?

Dr. Kristie Leong says:What’s the best way to eat to live longer and be healthier? For the best longevity diet plan, one need only look at cultures who have the longest life spans and who suffer from fewer of the chronic, lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and diabetes that are so common in the United States. There’s no doubt that some cultures have a genetic advantage when it comes to longevity, but when people from these cultures migrate to the United States they usually take on the same disease risk of people living in this country – suggesting that diet and lifestyle are important. Taking this into account, what are the best longevity diet plans? Read on for more What are The Two Best Diets for Longevity?

Domestic Violence and The Cycle of Abuse

According to Gelles and Cavanaugh (2005):
“Until the early 1960’s, violence between family members was believed to be rare and committed only by the mentally ill or by disturbed and defective individuals. Only the most sensational and lurid cases of family violence received public attention, and, in general, although family violence was considered a significant personal problem, it was not believed to be widespread, nor was it viewed as a significant social problem” (p.129).
After extensive research, it appears that the wide variation of what constitutes abuse and neglect has led to disagreements of the frequencies of abuse (Gelles & Cavanaugh (2005). Even today, abuse may go unreported by witnesses because they feel it is personal matter and none of their business.
The frequencies of abuse of neglect can be difficult to decipher due to cultural perspectives. For more on this issue see Domestic Violence and The Cycle of Abuse

Best Blog Award

I recently have been a recipient of the Best Blog Award by my friend Lauren Axelrod.

Lauren is the author of The Ancient Digger
Lauren has fascinating articles on ancient historical and archeological sites. I am extremely grateful for becoming a recipient of this award.
My favorite blogs are

• The Ancient Digger by Lauren Axelrod.
• Write and Earn a Living Authored by Athlyn Green.
• Webphemera Authored by RJ Evans.
• Scribbles by Glynis Authored by Glynis Smy.

I have met so many new friends and all of these writers and bloggers are great supporters of my work but at this time I select Lauren Axelrod's Friends Revolution.

She has many great articles that feature most all my favorite writers and this is my way to honor all my writing friends.

Unresolved Grief and the Family Gamble

The family gamble is when a family makes a decision if there is actually a loss of a family member. An example of family gamble is making decisions to become emotional ready to part ways with a comatose family member. Is there a chance of recovery? If there is a recovery, what can of quality of life is he or she going to have? Should I make funeral plans (Boss 1999)?

A researcher describes a father who came down with Alzheimer’s disease at forty years of age. His youngest son was certain that he would contract Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier age too. Thoughts of what kind of life he would have, or the life his own family would have if he chose to marry and have children (Boss 1999). The compromise he has to think about is almost impossible to fathom. Should he take the family gamble and realize that there is nothing that he can do to change his father’s situation? Should he grieve now and continue to live out his life that it may be cut short too? For more see Unresolved Grief and The Family Gamble