A client, unsure if she wanted to take on the role of guardianship for her mother who has a moderate level of dementia, came to me for help. The woman said her mother could still recognize people but did forget what day it was from time to time.
Her mother also began to suffer from delusions. She was convinced that her mother was still about to think clearly, and could make decisions for her mother. Although her doctor and I explained that the disease was rapidly progressing, the daughter refused to begin the guardianship process.
It wasn’t until her mother fell and needed surgery from her broken leg that she discovered her mother was worse off than she thought.
Doctors would not do the surgery without her mother’s permission, and since they felt she was unable to give it, they did a mental test. She scored low on the test. It was then a social worker took temporary guardianship of the mother.
This process took several days to resolve, and the mother had to remain in the hospital in pain before surgery could be performed. She was given painkillers often to help with the pain. This would never have happened if the daughter had listened and assumed guardianship over her mother.
Guardianship: Should you become one? and the legal process behind it.
Many people, as they age, have dementia. The more serious the dementia is, the more help the person will need in their day.
Elderly dementia patients are at both physical and financial risk due to their susceptibility to abuse (such as physical, emotional, financial, etc.) and their own decisions. These patients needed even more protection from predators.
For example, an older adult who refuses to allow a caregiver in their home or refuses to move to a nursing home could be deemed risking themselves and their environment.
If the same person suffers a stroke and can no longer talk and needs assistance 24 hours a day, they are no longer able to provide their input into the kind of care they will get. This is why guardianship was designed.
What Is A Guardianship?
A guardian is selected to make someone’s personal decisions for them. This is a person who is unable to decide for themselves where they will live and what kind of health care they need.
The guardian can make these decisions for them. And, an elderly person can have more than one guardian– one person can make financial decisions; another person can make healthcare decisions. Also, they can both be a guardian for both kinds of decisions.
Should You Become A Guardian For Your Loved One?
When you take on the role of guardianship, you have to let the court know every so often about how the person is doing.
Make sure you fully understand the role you are about to take on before you become their legal guardian. If becoming a legal guardian over someone sounds tedious, there are other alternatives to consider.
If an emergency arises, you could always file for a temporary guardianship, where the court assigns who the guardian will be.
The right medical devices can make all the difference between a slight injury and a life-threatening situation. They can also make the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable living.
As a senior, it doesn’t matter if you are independent or not. There are several ways to improve your health, stay safe, stay informed, do better with daily activities, and more.
Technology advances every day – this makes it possible for such great products to be developed. Read on as we introduce you to some of the best medical devices for senior living. Feel free to purchase right away if you need them.
1. HealthSmart Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
Being able to take your blood pressure readings at home or on the go is highly convenient and most seniors need this more than anything. The HealthSmart Digital Blood Pressure Monitor is a digital device that provides accurate blood pressure readings with additional benefits. It’s various features make this device senior-friendly and equally suitable for anyone else who needs it.
The HealthSmart Digital Blood Pressure Monitor comes with two different-sized cuffs. It is designed to allow you to hear your readings clearly from the talking LCD screen. The device also detects irregular heartbeats and keeps a record of precisely 120 reading history with accurate dates and times.
It is built with a two-person storage memory meaning 60 readings each in history for both persons. It is even more ideal if you are a senior couple. The high-contrast backlit screen shows you your readings along with the date, time, and any irregularities. An included BP guide is available for you to compare your readings with an internationally established standard.
It’s easy to set up, use on the go, and stay informed on your blood pressure readings. There are hardly any cons associated with this product.
2. TENS 7000 2nd Edition – medical devices top pick.
The best way to describe TENS is as a drug-free pain relief system and massager. It has been in the medical devices industry for over 10 years and is often used by doctors and physical therapists with no prescription.
TENS works by sending comfortable impulses through the skin to stimulate the nerve in the area you need treatment, thus acting as an electric massager that calms the nerves. TENS can be used easily in timed therapy sessions or on-demand. You control the intensity of TENS with the simple control knobs on the device. For seniors that need to stimulate their muscle, treat pain, muscle recovery, and more. TENS can be a lifesaving solution.
In TENS’ early years it was only used by professionals in the medical devices industry but now because of its impact and popularity with people, it is available over the counters. To use TENS all you have to do is place 4 of TENS multi-use pads on the affected area.
The pads are self-adhesive so they stay put. Select your preferred intensity level and sit back to enjoy the soothing massage. TENS is easy to use after reading the attached manual and guide. A professional such as a physician or doctor can also walk you through the process.
