Personal Senior Advocates

Michael Helps His Neighbor

Michael contacted our office when his elderly neighbor and long time friend was in the hospital following a serious fall.  Although his friend John had family that lived out of the area, there was a history of strained family dynamics and the family had not had much contact with John in many years.  Michael and his wife had been helping John with healthcare and finances for over a decade and Michael had been appointed Health Care Agent, but given the difficult family situation, he felt uncomfortable dealing with John’s family.

Michael retained our services to provide Facility Care Oversight and Discharge Assistance for John.  Additionally, Michael requested we help John address the difficult situation with his family. We met with John and discussed the situation.  John explained he was feeling a great amount of pressure from his family and he was very concerned they were preparing to challenge his competency to make his own decisions.

After successful discharges first from the hospital and then rehab, due to his inability to navigate the many stairs in his home and the need for full time care (John is 95), PSA provided three recommendations for Placement Assistance companies to John find an appropriate RCFE (Residential Care Facility for the Elderly – formerly called Board and Care) for John where he is living safely and is able to have friends visit in a comfortable environment..

Using the extensive PSA list of vetted professionals, Michael and John were able to retain the services of an Elder Abuse Attorney to address the threats of the family.  Acting on his attorneys recommendations PSA was able to help John set interviews and retain the services of a professional Fiduciary to manage his financial affairs and act as his Health Care Agent.

Michael is now again able to be there for John as a friend and both are relieved to know a professional fiduciary is now in place to manage all of the health and financial needs.

CALL TODAY: 714-845-3442

Did you know

You have guaranteed rights as a patient? Do you know what they are?

When an elderly person has urinary tract infection, it is common for them to have “dementia like” symptoms.

A new patient has their belongings logged by the staff. The same staff reconciles the list. See The Potential Problem?

Legally a facility doctor in a Nursing Home only has to see a patient once every 30 days unless the nurse notes in your chart that an issue requires the doctor’s attention.

Without an Health Care Directive, if you are unable to speak for yourself, the medical facility will make ALL treatment decisions for you.

Bet you didn’t know that having great insurance can actually be dangerous.

Premature discharges lead to 40% of post-op complications occurring at home.

Why would anyone need to leave a nursing home to go to a doctor’s appointment?

28% of hospitalizations of Seniors are caused by medication errors.

Drug resistant infections acquired during a hospital stay have increased 230% since 2001.

Seniors can be stuck with large medical bills when the hospital doesn’t Admit them. Admission vs. Observation?

When you are in the hospital, you may request that routine lab work be done during your waking hours, not the middle of the night.

Discharge planning begins when you arrive at the hospital, and you should be included in the planning process.

Why do they take photos of your body when you’re admitted to a nursing home/rehab facility?

The ratio of patient to staff in a medical facility is not regulated.

Unscrupulous medical billing practices will often reflect a “balance due” on a bill when the insurance company has already been billed.

When Seniors are discharged from a hospital, they are told they are going to “Rehab”. No one tells them that this really means they are going to a Nursing Home.

Privately paid caregivers that provide care in your home are not legally allowed to assist you with your medications.

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