IKOR® made "Aging in place" possible for a senior widow. IKOR® determined ongoing needs and arranged companion care and in home services to take care of them. IKOR® continues to monitor these services. The IKOR® nurse maintains communication with physician with respect to her medication and treatment.
Issues and Challenges
Mrs. M is a 85 year old widow with one son. Her son is not living nearby. Several years previously, Mr. and Mrs. M had moved into a retirement community in a private cottage. Now that Mr. M had died, Mrs. M had expressed the desire to remain in her home.
The retirement community had informed the widow and her trust officer that she had to move out of her cottage and into assisted living because of her inability to function independently. This case was referred to IKOR® to assess Mrs. M for the potential to "Age in Place".
The facility had knowledge that the son did not have. If Mrs. M moved out of her cottage, along with losing her independence, Mrs. M would lose the greater portion if not all of the $200,000.00 she and her husband had paid for their home. The facility could then resell Mrs. M's cottage, and the proceeds would go to the institutional community. If Mrs. M were able to safely remain in her home she would have her wish to "Age in Place". Her son, through her estate, would retain the entire value of the cottage.
IKOR® Approach
Based upon the IKOR® assessment, the care manager was able to determine that "Aging in Place" was possible. The care manager found during her assessment that Mrs. M had a significant hearing loss which had not been addressed. The RN care manager coordinated a full hearing analysis and the implementation of hearing aids. The nurse also expedited the receipt of new eye glasses that Mrs. M had ordered but not received.
To address moment-to-moment care, the IKOR® Nurse initiated 24 hour a day companion care in the home. IKOR® secured services that would help Mrs. M with her physical care, prepare meals, and transport her to meet friends and to doctor's appointments.
Case Outcome
The companion care is currently being monitored by the RN Patient Advocate. The IKOR® RN Health Advocate also maintains communication with Mrs. M's treating physician with respect to medication and treatment. IKOR® has implemented medication and disposable goods through a service which resulted in substantial savings for Mrs. M as compared to the pharmacy previously used.
Mrs. M continues to "Age In Place" at an average monthly cost of $4000.00 including the costs of IKOR®®'s continuing intervention. If Mrs. M were to be placed into a skilled care facility to meet the same needs, she would be spending a minimum of $4500.00 plus pay an additional fee (often at a 50% increase) for medication and disposable goods The client and ultimately her son were able to also save the cottage investment of $200,000.00.
