Senior Transitions

Is your family struggling with decisions concerning an aging loved one?

Life is filled with transitions, and many of us struggle when change comes into our lives.

One transition that can cause emotional upheaval is the declining health of an older relative or friend. We often watch in anguish as the person struggles to maintain independence in the face of increasing health issues. Out of concern, we offer advice or suggestions, which may not be easy for us to share or for our loved ones to accept. Frequently, we meet with anxiety, resistance, and perhaps hostility when we recommend changes in living arrangements.

One of the most traumatic transitions for an elderly relative involves moving from independent living in familiar surroundings to entering an assisted living or personal care community or a nursing care center. Before, during, and after this transition, emotions can run high both for the older person and the caregiver. At this critical juncture, it can often be helpful to seek professional counsel both for the older adult and the caregiver and family members..

Diakon Family Life Services can be a valuable resource to persons in the midst of elder care transitional discussions. Diakon Family Life Services has a large staff of caring individuals with skills for facilitating communications and reconciling conflict.

Speaking with a supportive person during this difficult time can greatly benefit the older person in gaining insight and perspective about feelings. Consultation also can be helpful to the caregiver and other family members whose help and decisions may be in the best interests of the older person, but whose thoughts may be in conflict with the older adult’s wishes. Our staff can help to bridge the communication gap for the benefit of all.

Subjects we address include ...

A Senior Transitions Consultant can bring your family together to discuss the older adult’s issues, such as ...

• Loss of freedom and mobility
• Loss of contact with relatives, friends, and neighbors
• Perceived loss of dignity and self-worth
• Perceived or real loss of treasured possessions accumulated over a lifetime
• The feeling of being discarded and unwanted
• Fears about the quality of care they may receive
• Anxiety about finances

Our services also address the concerns of family members and other caregivers, including ...

• How the older adult may be treated
• The financial costs of care either in home or in a residential setting
• Anxiety about safety if the older person maintains his or her own home
• The monitoring of diet, medication, and self-care if the older person remains at home
• The reaction of the older person to decisions made by the caregiver
• The reactions of other family members about decisions made for the elder
• How the older person will adjust to changes in living arrangements
  

In addition, should the decision be made for the person to remain at home, we can recommend the types of home and community-based services that will be helpful. Overall, our goal is to help ...

• Enhance your communication
• Promote constructive decision-making
• Foster mutual respect and understanding
• Improve interpersonal relationships
• Reduce fear and anxiety

Diakon Family Life Services offers services at affordable rates, which can help to make professional counseling available to people of all circumstances.

For more information, contact:

Diakon Family Life Services - Senior Transitions Program
1 South Home Avenue
Topton, PA 19562-1399

Phone: 610.682.1337
Toll-free: 888.499.2699

Email: fls@diakon.org