| Today I spent some time with one of my | | | | experiencing, took the wind out of her sails for a |
| favorite clients. | | | | few |
| Cela is 90 yrs old and full of life --a real fireball. | | | | weeks.During one of my visits, she said to me |
| Cela was a classical violinist whose concert career | | | | "Alice I don't know how to do this; this dying |
| took her all over the world.There are many | | | | stuff is hard, |
| things that make Cela special -- | | | | what do I do"?? |
| her sense of humor, | | | | My response to her was ,"Do whatever you |
| her ability to keep up with current events, | | | | want to do. |
| her fierce determination to live every day and | | | | You are not dying today . Go swimming, go |
| her courage to never give up.At age 79, Cela | | | | shopping- |
| purchased a long term care insurance policy | | | | continue with your life"!! Well, she has done just |
| to assist her in her frail years and to aid her in | | | | that!!It took her awhile to get over her pneumonia |
| her quest to be independent as long as possible. | | | | and |
| Cela's idea of life is to keep shopping till "The Day | | | | regain some of her strength but then she went |
| I Die". | | | | swimming....My point to all of this is BE |
| She pays $6,000 per year for the policy.After a | | | | PREPARED..... |
| few years, Cela had the need for help at home. | | | | Stop with the thinking "IT WILL NEVER |
| She developed severe arthritis and had a knee | | | | HAPPEN TO ME". |
| replacement. | | | | (In the near future I will be addressing |
| Macular Degeneration developed leaving Cela | | | | LongTermCare |
| legally blind. | | | | Insurance--keep watching)In the middle of this, |
| This was extremely troublesome for Cela as her | | | | Cela's daughter was diagnosed with |
| life's | | | | breast cancer. We never know what life will |
| desire is to be as active and independent as | | | | bring!! |
| possible. | | | | What will happen to Cela if her family preceeds |
| Without sight, Cela could no longer drive and she | | | | her in death??When I want to see Cela I have to |
| was | | | | ask her to stop by my |
| dependent on others. | | | | office as she is so busy that she is never home. |
| Cela's idea of life is to keep shopping till "The Day | | | | In she comes |
| I Die".To Cela, staying active means: | | | | walking with her cane in one hand and holding her |
| getting out of the house as soon as possible | | | | |
| after her caregiver | | | | companion's arm ( her term of choice for her |
| arrives; | | | | caregiver).She is always, impeccably dressed with |
| going shopping-she loves consignment shopping | | | | perfect make |
| but needs | | | | up on and not a hair out of place. |
| her caregiver's eyes; | | | | If you look carefully you will see a small grimace, |
| going to the YMCA daily for water aerobics; | | | | remnants |
| having her packed lunch on a park bench or | | | | of the pain that her pain patch doesn't |
| picnic table | | | | completely remove. |
| somewhere; | | | | Cela always wears a smile and is ready for a |
| volunteering at her favorite consignment shop | | | | joke.When I saw Cela today I told her I wanted |
| using | | | | to write this article |
| the eyes of her caregiver. | | | | and asked her what name she would like me to |
| (she has turned many a caregiver into a savy | | | | use. |
| buyer)My agency has been caring for Cela for 5 | | | | "My stage name of course....Cela DeGamba"!!!! |
| years, providing | | | | So here you are Cela--Keep on |
| her with a home health aide 10 hrs/day-7 days | | | | performing!!!Dedicated To Eldercare |
| week. | | | | NurseAliceAlice Endy is a Registered Nurse with a |
| All this is paid for by her longterm insurance. | | | | certification in Gerontology.Alice has spent her |
| She has a lifetime of benefits--paying | | | | entire career in the field of eldercare. Being a |
| over$70,000/year. | | | | sought |
| Well worth the $6000 per year premium!!!!In Jan | | | | after speaker and consutant , she spends most |
| 06, Cela was diagnosed with lung cancer which | | | | of her time researching |
| spread to her liver. This news and the pneumonia | | | | trends and changes in eldercare. |
| she was | | | | |