The pandemic has hit nursing homes hard all across the country, leaving illness and death in its wake. Even though the number of assisted living and nursing home cases in North Idaho has not reached the numbers in southern and central Idaho, the number has escalated, leaving residents with anxiety, …
When I open the door of the assisted living facility, everyone at the dining tables turns to see who it is. As a new ombudsman, I’m assigned to this facility. I see the curiosity on their faces as they stop eating and look me over. “Who are you?” one elderly …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
When people reach advanced senior citizen status, they’ve been through many changes, perhaps from airplanes to space shuttles, wall phones to cell phones, typewriters to computers. People who have lived through all those big changes have made big adjustments. Of course, not everyone adjusts the same way. Some dig in …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
I have a friend whom I’ve known since I was a teenager, way back when. I’ve seen him move through the stages of his life as a student, a soldier, a husband and father, a high school teacher and coach, and an intrepid traveler. He’s now retired on a fixed …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Residents' Rights Month is designated by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care and is celebrated each October to honor residents of long-term care. It's an opportunity for every facility to focus on and celebrate awareness of dignity, respect and the value of each resident. This year, residents may …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 11 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
I rode the elevator to the second floor of the assisted living facility I was visiting. I greeted the two residents on the elevator with me. "So you're an ombudsman?" the lady with the walker asked, eyeing my badge. "Yes, I am. I'm a problem-solver for residents," I explained, rather …
It was unclear in Shirley Martin Bush’s letter (July 1, Daily Bee) on what kind of facility for the aged she was referring to. The events described were obviously upsetting to her. As ombudsmen, we advocate for residents of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Her concerns are of interest …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Someone was yelling from a room down the hall. The ombudsman visiting the assisted living facility found Joan sitting on her bed quite upset, her call button out of reach. An aide had helped her dress for dinner and told her she would be right back to help her into …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
Home-bound seniors living alone and seniors living in long term care facilities have something in common ... loss of independence. Loss of independence and lack of access to friends and family can lead to loneliness and isolation. There are many seniors living among us who need a friend to bring …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
"I have a friend," the once lonely Mary exclaimed, the smile in her voice obvious as she talked on the phone with Dave Hoover of the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the Area Agency on Aging.
Volunteering is good for your health according to a report published by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Older people who volunteer live longer, have higher functionality and lower rates of heart disease and depression. Volunteering makes you feel good. Feeling good makes you happy. Feeling happy is good …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Jake pulled a fellow sailor overboard to safety when his destroyer was sunk by a torpedo in World War II. He was big and strong then. The thought of living in a nursing home when he got old never crossed his mind. But eventually a stroke changed that and he's …
Margaret and Joan are in their 80s and living in an assisted living facility. They accomplished and contributed much in their younger years...working, raising families, and caring for their own aging parents. They are the same people now, but with limited capacity to care for themselves. They deserve the same …
What are long-term care ombudsmen volunteers? Ombudsmen are advocates for elders living in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. There are 59 facilities in the 5 northern counties of Idaho and most of them are right here in Kootenai County.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 12 MONTHS AGO
The elder population is growing older, fast. By mid-century 400 million people will be over the age of 80. Not every elder is headed for an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, but the sheer number of elders means many will. The transition from independence to depending on others for …
Ruth sits in her wheelchair in the nursing home hallway, ignored. She has advanced dementia and appears unaware of her surroundings. The ombudsman approaches her slowly, and holds out her hand. It takes a moment for Ruth's eyes to move toward the ombudsman's hand before she reaches out to grasp …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO
Emily is 85, legally blind and nearly deaf. She feels isolated even though she is in a nursing home with 45 other people. All of them are elderly and vulnerable just like Emily. She likes listening to music, but her hearing aids got lost sometime last month and haven't been …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
