Native American Elder Care - Redbird Ranch
As our population grows older we are finding the weaknesses in the systems that we thought would be caring for our elderly. A large part of the problem is that there is little effort being given to caring for elderly in a culturally appropriate way.
I ran into this problem several years ago when I was trying to help a friend find a long term care facility for her father. He had been a farmer all his long life, living on a remote farm with few neighbors within 5 miles of his home. Virtually all the facilities she could find were in an urban setting with all the city noises that come along with this location. The staff had no experience with what he had been doing and little interest in what his life's goal's had been.
We finally found a small facility who's residents shared some of his experiences and understood his need for solitude as well as social activities. A man who had sunk into himself at the prospect of living in the crowded city environment became alert and much more like his normal self.
This week I found an organization who is trying to address these issues themselves. They have started the process of creating suitable space for Native American elderly and I think just as important, formalized a model for others who want to do the same thing. Here's a quote from their website,
I ran into this problem several years ago when I was trying to help a friend find a long term care facility for her father. He had been a farmer all his long life, living on a remote farm with few neighbors within 5 miles of his home. Virtually all the facilities she could find were in an urban setting with all the city noises that come along with this location. The staff had no experience with what he had been doing and little interest in what his life's goal's had been.
We finally found a small facility who's residents shared some of his experiences and understood his need for solitude as well as social activities. A man who had sunk into himself at the prospect of living in the crowded city environment became alert and much more like his normal self.
This week I found an organization who is trying to address these issues themselves. They have started the process of creating suitable space for Native American elderly and I think just as important, formalized a model for others who want to do the same thing. Here's a quote from their website,
"Redbird Ranch will be a four to six unit transitional and elder housing facility, in Ventura or Los Angeles County. Redbird Ranch will provide a supportive and sensitive atmosphere, offering peace and dignity to elders and their families, and hope for those facing times of personal crisis and change.
Many people face their own senior years without adequate means to care for themselves. Others are given a responsibility they are not prepared for when elders in their family need care. Redbird wants to approach this issue on a very small scale compared to the scope of the problem, with a four to six unit housing complex for the elderly and their care-giving families."
Many people face their own senior years without adequate means to care for themselves. Others are given a responsibility they are not prepared for when elders in their family need care. Redbird wants to approach this issue on a very small scale compared to the scope of the problem, with a four to six unit housing complex for the elderly and their care-giving families."
I encourage you to visit their site where you'll also find an intriguing book, The Wisdom Walkers, by writer Corina Roberts.
posted by Mike Myklin at 3:38 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home