Listen to Dan! As he points-out and others will also, there are many alternatives to moving into a nursing-home.
I'm a c5/c6 quad with decent mobility in both arms and i live alone in my house. I have help each morning for 3 hours, and no help the rest of the day. I keep my cell phone charged and with me always for back-up, but have made only two calls for help in the 4 years i've been here (one fall, one stuck-in-the-mud). I use a "Handi Move" power lift on a track in my bedroom to get into bed at night by myself (fully clothed). I can also use it to get out of bed and into my chair at night if I need to. At 06:49 PM 12/14/2009, Dan wrote: >Good God man! A nursing home has to be your absolute last option. Nursing >homes are breeding grounds for pressure sores and antibiotic resistant >bacteria. They are understaffed and their help is underpaid which leads to the >worst possible care. I am a high-level quad -- I can only use part of my left >arm and that is very weak. I live alone in the old family homestead. I have >helped during the day but at night I am totally alone. I have two lifeline >buttons -- in case one doesn't work -- but otherwise I am alone. I know there >is at least one other high-level quad on this list that also lives alone. Yes, >it can be very scary but I prefer to be alternatives. > >Some of your alternatives -- besides the nursing home -- are, if you have the >room, getting a live-in aide. You could provide him or her with free room and >board providing they assist you during the night if need be. Of course, you >could end up with an angel or a devil. > >Also, I had a quad friend level 5/6 who lived in an apartment complex. It was >built for the elderly and disabled. He was the only disabled one in the >complex but he made friends with many of the other residents. At night he was >alone so he kept his door open and was able to call for help during the night >if he had to. > >The other option we have in this area is a housing complex strictly for the >disabled. It has 24 apartments. Everyone has their own PCA's and they also >have a shared PCA for the nighttime. Not a really bad option but it is very >clicky. > >So those are my options. Keep us informed on your choices and/or decisions. > >Dan > > > >At 05:16 PM 12/14/2009, Merrill said something that elicited my response: > >>Presently living in San Diego, California. My spinal injury is C5. Single >>living is not an option with my level of disability. As many other disabled >>quadriplegics, my income is a base level even before paying for health care. >>So, how are others here maintaining a quality of life. >> >>Nursing home living has been avoided for the near 20 years of my disability, >>but perhaps an acceptable facility would be an option. I have considered a >>living situation with a caregiver, other disabled person, or other person >>right for my needs.
