Mrs. Valentine is an 88 year old woman who lives alone.  She has one daughter who resides in New York City. The daughter and mother have had difficult relationship problems over the years. Recently the daughter became aware of her mother’s complex and multiple medical problems, which include emphysema, hypertension, heart disease, occasional bowel problems and Alzheimer type dementia.

Her daughter decided to hire a care manager from Rona Bartelstone Care Management & Home Healthcare to provide her with accurate reports regarding her mother’s medical condition and care needs.
 
Sandra Goldberg, a Registered Nurse Care Manager began visiting her on a weekly basis. On a recent visit, Sandy noted that Mrs. Valentine appeared extremely weak, exhibiting breathing difficulties, swollen ankles and was unable to walk without assistance. Sandy immediately spoke to her physician and reviewed her medications with him. Sandy accompanied Mrs.Valentine to his office that afternoon, discussed her symptoms and breathing problems with him. He, as well as Sandy were concerned that she was going into Congestive Heart Failure. The physician indeed diagnosed her with this condition and she was hospitalized. Sandy followed her through her hospital stay and coordinated her discharge plans with the hospital staff. Her daughter was extremely grateful that Sandy was able to monitor her condition and give her accurate daily reports.

After a few days in the hospital, Sandy with the daughter’s approval had a live-in home health aide from Rona Bartelstone Care Management Home Healthcare accompany her home to recuperate. Sandy’s role expanded in providing medical advocacy , ordering appropriate medical equipment, which included oxygen, a hospital bed, an easy lift chair, and bedside commode. Sandy was the liaison in speaking with the doctors, the Medicare nurse, respiratory and physical therapists. She supervised the care provided by the home health aide.  However, most prominently became her role in providing supportive counseling for her daughter. Her daughter was able to understand and begin to accept  her mother’s behavior and responses. With Sandy’s help she began to learn how to respond to her mother without reacting to her verbal complaints but to accept her for whom she is. With some additional coaching from Sandy, Mrs. Valentine and her daughter had for the first time a real “heart to heart” talk.

If it has been too long since you had a "heart to heart" talk with a family member,
Rona Bartelstone Care Managers can help you to get a new perspective on your relationship.