I am a runner. That is how I solve my day to day problems. I find the solution for everything when I am on my five mile run at North Park.
After dropping my nine year old off at school I head for Panera's for my morning coffee. There is always a group to welcome me as I enter. The first hello is usually from John who had bypass surgery a few years back and is caring for his mother who is residing in a personal care home. Teddy is having problems with his right knee and will probably need a another knee replacement. There are other's, one caring for a wife with MS, another who's wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer. They all appreciate the advise of a RN Geriatric Care Manager.
After getting my caffeine boost, I am ready for my run and stretching in the parking lot by the boy scout house. There are the "regulars" like Bob and his wife who have been dealing with managing the care of their aging mother on their own for almost a year and Mark who is 90 with rheumatoid arthritis, but still walks 3 miles 5 times a week. As I make the five mile loop, I am stopped several times by the "regulars" for advice on medical or elder care concerns. I am not only assisting them with their concerns but solving my problems in this hour of running. After my run when I am cooling down in the parking lot there is poor Paul. He has a tiny dog, Buddy, who appears to have a very enlarged liver and extreme difficulty breathing. Paul and Buddy are "regulars" to North Park. Buddy hangs out in the car until Paul is done running. Paul and I discuss Buddy regarding aggressive therapy vs palliative therapy. Buddy is in the geriatrics of his life and Paul comes to the decision he will do anything to make Buddy comfortable, but does not want to inflict any treatment that would cause pain or suffering. He also decides that he will not keep Buddy alive for his own personal need to have a companion, but try to make all decisions with what would be best for Buddy. We part on those words.
As I drive home I see a vision of Geriatric Care Management across the Continuum, but I wonder where does it start and when does it end? Let me think about this on my next run.
Until next time, my best,
Bobbi
