Aging At Home - Part 2: Alternatives
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Nancy Marks Aging at home is a two-part Series.
Families who can no longer care for an aging parent or other loved one in their own home have alternatives to consider. This is the second of a two-part series on how people in their declining years live out their lives. Last week we explored the much-preferred choice of aging at home. This week we look at several alternatives.
A transitional stay-home first step could be help from the Community Paramedicine Program offered by Billings Clinic-Broadwater to meet needs of seniors and newly recovering surgery patients. It is the first program of its kind in the regional Billings Clinic’s system of six satellite hospitals in Montana and two in Wyoming. The six-month-old program is administered by Angie Brakefield, a former emergency medical technician who has extensive training in preventative care and patient advocacy.
“I have 12 at-home patients currently for whom I do weekly check-ins, arrange laboratory work and vaccinations and set up follow-up doctors’ appointments as well as arrange for home health assessments. Essentially, I bridge the gap between the patient and their doctors. The program works as an extension of their health care, so they do not end up back in the hospital,” she explained. Brakefield emphasizes the importance of at-home seniors staying healthy.
Townsend’s stay-at-home seniors are also lucky to have the Meals on Wheels program offered by Townsend Senior Center. Site Manager and chef Carol Anderson for 33 years, cooks and has delivered around 35 meals five days a week. The program is funded by Rocky Mountain Development Council with federal, state and county funding. Seniors who are able can eat at the Center as well.
So many times, being alone at home is too hard to manage. One answer to that is moving into an assisted living facility. Tiffany Rauser, administrator of Silver Springs Assisted Living on the south side of Townsend, explained the prerequisites for being a resident. “They must be able to walk with assistance, be able to bathe and dress with some assistance or be able to transfer from a wheelchair with assistance. We have six nice rooms available now for either men or women. We serve healthy meals and have all kinds of daily activities. Our staff members try to beat the blues with personal contact and building relationships with our residents,” she explained.
Heather Baum LaCotta is the administrator of Serenity Point, the assisted living facility just east of Townsend. She and her husband Brian bought it in 2016 and completely remodeled it. With a 20- year background in nursing, long-term care and home health, Heather works to give residents a home atmosphere with enticing meals and interesting activities. “Offering interesting activities is hard; many residents just do not care for group activities. We do not try to make them participate, just encourage them to do so,” she said.
Heather encourages family involvement. “It makes such a huge difference. To get a phone call or see a familiar face really brightens the residents’ faces,” she said. Heather said their facility is almost full. A major problem is finding staff to work, so they pretty much run the facility with the help of family and hired night staff. “We offer a pretty good wage and will train a new employee. Applicants do not need any certification,” she said.
For people with disabilities such as having had a severe stroke or chronic disease that require skilled nursing care, Townsend has a full-service nursing home at Billings Clinic-Broadwater. Director of Ancillary Services Justin Tiffany said the hospital is “pretty full” but has a waiting list for those interested in long-term care. “Keeping our nursing home open is very important to us. We want to support Broadwater County residents who need the services,” he said. The facility currently has twelve residents.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Angie Brakefield, Billings Clinic (Photo by Nancy Marks)
Image 2 Caption: Tiffany Rauser, Silver Springs (Photo by Nancy Marks)
Image 3 Caption: Carol Anderson, Sr. Center (Photo by Nancy Marks)
Image 4 Caption: Heather LaCotta, Serenity Point (Photo by Nancy Marks)
