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Aww that’s really sweet. If it can’t be Holland, maybe you can whip over to Ottawa, Ontario in May. Canada sheltered (I think it was) Princess Beatrice of Holland during WWII as a child. She later thanked them by filling the national capitol parks with tens of thousands of tulips from Holland. It’s beautiful to walk the paved parks at that time.</p>
<p>runnersmom, I know a woman in your mother’s position. She and her husband, who has Parkinson’s and is wheelchair-bound, have been helped enormously by PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). It’s a small nationwide program of longterm managed care that enables patients who would qualify for nursing home admission to be cared for at home instead. </p>
<p>Here’s the link for the umbrella organization: [National</a> PACE Association: Home](<a href=“http://www.npaonline.org/website/article.asp?id=4]National”>National PACE Association |) and a list of providers: <a href=“http://www.npaonline.org/website/download.asp?id=1741[/url]”>http://www.npaonline.org/website/download.asp?id=1741</a> . It’s in only 29 states at the moment. It’s an ideal program for folks who are Medicare and Medicaid eligible; the individual is responsible for some monthly fees, which are reasonable. </p>
<p>My friend’s husband receives these services - PACE installed a lift and made bathroom accommodations so she no longer has to physically lift him all day long; they provide transportation to doctor’s appointments; they have a day program that allows him to socialize for several hours a day while she has some respite time; since it’s managed care, PACE provides all medical services. This program has transformed her life. She is a rock and has given her husband exceptional care for many years. She is so happy not to have to put him into an expensive nursing home.</p>
<p>The array of senior services is confusing. Many counties or cities have a department of aging or elder services, and it’s always worth calling them to find out what’s available.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for all the information. I will be checking everything out and discussing things with my mom when we are there for Thanksgiving. I am sorry we are all so familiar with these issues, but grateful to have such a wonderful resource as the CC members.</p>