It used to be pretty simple.  So long as you were independent, you lived in your own home, or moved to a retirement community.  If you needed a little help with personal care, and your meals provided, you went into board and care.  If you needed quite a bit of help with personal care, or skilled nursing care, you went into a nursing home.

AARP
601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008

American Health Care Association
1201 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420

National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 801
Washington, DC 20036

 

One cool fall day, Ellen and Sue were watching their teenagers play soccer when all of a sudden Ellen flushed and seemed to be sweating. Sue asked if Ellen was okay. "Oh, it's a hot flash," Ellen said. "This is happening to me several times a week now-even at night. At first, I didn't know what was going on, but my doctor told me these are symptoms of menopause." Sue laughed and said, "Yes, I remember hot flashes, but they're over now."

Everyone feels blue now and then. It's part of life. But, if you no longer enjoy activities that you usually like, you may have a more serious problem. Being depressed, without letup, can change the way you think and feel. Doctors call this "clinical depression."

Ben has been married for 47 years. He always managed the family's money. But since his stroke, Ben can't walk or talk. His wife, Shirley, feels overwhelmed. Of course, she's worried about Ben's health. But on top of that, she has no idea what bills should be paid or when they are due.
Eighty-year-old Louise lives alone. One night, she fell in the kitchen and broke her hip. She spent a week in the hospital and 2 months in a rehabilitation nursing home. Even though her son lives across the country, he was able to pay her bills and handle her Medicare questions right away. That's because several years ago, Louise and her son talked about what to do in case of a medical emergency.

Anyone at any age can have a drinking problem. Great Uncle George may have always liked his liquor, so his family may not see that his drinking behavior is getting worse as he gets older. Grandma Betty was a teetotaler all her life-she started having a drink each night to help her get to sleep after her husband died. Now no one realizes that she needs a couple of drinks to get through each day.

When we are in love, we may be "swept off our feet." When we don't want to do something, we are said to have "cold feet." A sensible person "has both feet on the ground." Sometimes we even "vote with our feet."