Guide for Nursing Consultants
Elders who have no family or have family who is away or travels frequently need someone to go with them to the doctor or help them manage their medications or help them supervise companions or someone who will respond in an emergency.
They have sometimes relied on an elderly spouse, or busy family, or friends or church members but often spouse and friends are getting older too and sometimes they either cannot assist or don't know enough about medical conditions to be much help.
The problems are worse when memory begins to decline or balance is poor or numbers of medications increase. Sometimes one engages companions to assist but companions generally are not professionally educated to take note of worsening signs and symptoms and their knowledge of mediations can be minimal. So the first sign of conditions worsening can be missed which means interventions are late or don't happen at all. The consequence of this can mean that a person wastes valuable time before seeking medical attention. What might have been a simple intervention then becomes major.
A successful geriatric care management program provides individualized, professional, independent monitoring and advocacy which can enhance quality of life and may forestall a move, especially for those living alone at home or in an assisted living facility. A good care manager maintains communication with client, family and service providers.
American families can be scattered across many states. Some elders are far from their daughters and sons. Some people have no family. When you add to this the complexity of modern health systems, the numbers of medications elders take and the simple challenges of growing older, you can have a recipe for poor care, poor follow-up and dwindling quality of life. Founded in 1991 by Carol McShane, RN, MS, Nebraska Nursing Consultants has been assisting people to maintain wellness and peace of mind-even if they aren't as sharp as they once were and even if family is far away. Because our clients have a trusted Registered Nurse who knows them and their history, visits regularly, goes to the doctor with them, and will respond in an emergency, they are able to stay well and safe even though family is far away.
Visit our site at NebraskaNursingConsultants.com. There you will learn more about Nebraska Nursing Consultants-our staff, our care management and consultation services and our philosophy.
Call our toll-free line: 888-995-8394 Or call us in Lincoln at 402-473-3832 or in the Grand Island area at 308-398-4531.