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May 25, 2006
Getting Older
This seems to be a week for dealing with age issues. My 83 year-old mother-in-law passed away, my 79 year-old mother came to visit, the results of my annual physical came in (we won't talk about that, but I'm showing and feeling my age), and AARP put out a report that says that seniors are at a greater risk in a disaster. I'm sure you remember the tour boat full of seniors that tipped over in NY a short while back and the problems they had trying to survive. Getting older isn't for the faint-of-heart.
My mother-in-law would tell me that every day she had to deal with a new, unknown version of herself, because she didn't know what part of her body or mind would be working on all cylinders or stalled. I'm learning that this is the norm, not the exception for our elderly. And now, the largest segment of our population is entering into their "golden years". What does that mean for you?
It means that those of you who manage outside of Florida and Sun City (who are already dealing with this) are going to have to figure out how to deal with it on an ongoing basis. My wife has lectured at a few condo conferences about what it means and what can be done, and I'd like to add a few thoughts to what she has talked about.
A long time ago when I was a manager, I was called on to deal with a woman who was showing advancing dementia. In three separate visits I tried to find something with a next-of-kin name or phone number, with no luck. Social Services wasn't nearly as active back then as they are now, and offered no real help. I finally found a prescription bottle with a doctor's name on it and contacted him. Things got better from there. The point is that most managers usually only have name to notify in case of emergency or to unlock a door if the owner is away. Should you be collecting additional information, such as family names & numbers, medical contacts and such. Do you need to know if they have an advanced medical directive? Do you have any responsibility, legal or moral, to provide any additional assistance they may require, simply because they live in an asociation you manage? Can you, or should you treat them as you would any other younger owner? Are your associations physically "senior-friendly", with railings on steps, large easy-to-read signs, paths and sidewalks free of obstructions or cracks, etc. Do your associations have any sort of social group that regularly check on seniors? As a manager, do you have available a list of critical contacts for each of your associations, social services, medical, financial counseling, etc. Should you be doing any of these things?
I guess what I'm saying is that its probably worth a staff meeting, or discussion with the board, about coming up with some ideas on how your company and your clients, want to deal with these issues. They're only going to become more commonplace in the future. Besides, I may be moving into one of your condo's soon, and I know I'm going to need help.
Posted by joewest at 2:59 PM