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IT’S A QUESTION OF CARE
What to do when offers of care and assistance are unwelcome.
Families often reach out to us because they are frustrated with how to “force” a family member, typically an elderly loved one, into accepting more care. This can be quite a dilemma in that an adult child might have Power of Attorney for his or her elderly parent, but from a health care perspective, this is not a carte blanche avenue to force care on the elderly loved one. Often when I get a phone call from a family member in this position, I talk them through whether they think their loved one has the “capacity” to make his or her own decisions and understand the consequences, even if this means their demise. If it sounds as if the loved one has the capacity, and the person on the phone is the Power of Attorney, if they can convince Mom, Dad, or whomever they are dealing with to accept the care, or frame it in a way that will make them acquiesce, it can be positive. I give them pointers about how to frame their conversation and arguments to make the idea of care more appealing.
On the other hand, if the elderly loved one does not have the capacity to make his or her own decisions and stay safe, healthy, and secure, often I suggest to the family to seek out the counsel of an Elder Law attorney. The Elder Law attorney will walk them through the Guardianship process and discuss whether Guardianship is appropriate in this case. Guardianship, in the states of South Carolina and Georgia, is a mandate by the court stating that the person is not competent to make his or her own decisions regarding care and well-being and someone else must do so for them. Conservatorship (control over the incapacitated person’s money) is typically granted as well. This is because if he or she cannot make smart decisions with money and does not understand the consequences of making inadequate decisions, he or she must have someone protect the monies and the use of them.
+ Guardianship can be a very difficult, emotional, and heart-wrenching process to often save a loved one’s life. It can also be expensive, and so it must be entered into from a standpoint of education and understanding of what the person pursuing the Guardianship would like to happen for their elderly loved one. There must be an end goal of keeping him or her safe, healthy, and secure, knowing that their loved one very well may not be “happy“. This is typically not ever a black and white situation, but rather myriads of grey through the whole process. As a Social Worker and an Aging Life Care Manager, I have seen families pursue and be granted Guardianship and truly save their family member’s life and the person goes on to live a very fulfilling one.
by Amy Hane, a licensed Master Social Worker in South Carolina and Georgia, an Advanced Professional Aging Life Care Manager and a Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager.
PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY +
ACUPUNCTURE Dr. Eric Sherrell, DACM, LAC Augusta Acupuncture Clinic 4141 Columbia Road 706-888-0707 www.AcuClinicGA.com
Tesneem K. Chaudhary, MD Allergy & Asthma Center 3685 Wheeler Road, Suite 101 Augusta 30909 706-868-8555 ALLERGY
CHIROPRACTIC
Evans Chiropractic Health Center
Dr. William M. Rice 108 SRP Drive, Suite A 706-860-4001 www.evanschiro.net
COUNSELING Resolution Counseling Professionals
DENTISTRY IN-HOME CARE SLEEP MEDICINE
Jason H. Lee, DMD 116 Davis Road Augusta 30907 706-860-4048
Floss ‘em or lose ‘em!
Steven L. Wilson, DMD
Family Dentistry 4059 Columbia Road Martinez 30907 706-863-9445
DERMATOLOGY
Georgia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center 2283 Wrightsboro Rd. (at Johns Road) Augusta 30904 706-733-3373 www.GaDerm.com SKIN CANCER CENTER
Karen L. Carter, MD 1303 D’Antignac St, Suite 2100 Augusta 30901 706-396-0600 www.augustadevelopmentalspecialists.com DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS
Steppingstones to Recovery 2610 Commons Blvd. Augusta 30909 706-733-1935 DRUG REHAB
Everyday Elder Care LLC Certified Home Health/Caregiver 706-231-7001 everydayeldercare.com
Sleep Institute of Augusta
Zena Home Care Personal Care|Skilled Nursing|Companion 706-426-5967 www.zenahomecare.com
TRANSPORTATION
AMBULANCE • STRETCHER • WHEELCHAIR 706-863-9800 Parks Pharmacy 437 Georgia Ave. N. Augusta 29841 803-279-7450 www.parkspharmacy.com PHARMACY
Medical Center West Pharmacy 465 North Belair Road Evans 30809 706-854-2424 www.medicalcenterwestpharmacy.com P ARKS HARMACY LONG TERM CARE WOODY MERRY www.woodymerry.com Long-Term Care Planning I CAN HELP! (706) 733-3190 • 733-5525 (fax) Vein Specialists of Augusta G. Lionel Zumbro, Jr., MD, FACS, RVT, RPVI 501 Blackburn Dr, Martinez 30907 706-854-8340 www.VeinsAugusta.com VEIN CARE YOUR LISTING HERE Your Practice And up to four additional lines of your choosing and, if desired, your logo. Keep your contact information in this convenient place seen by thousands of patients every month. Call (706) 860-5455 for all the details!
