A Day in the Life of Carol Prigee, Geriatric Specialist at JFS.
9:00 a.m.
I have a voicemail message from an out-of-town daughter concerned about her dad. He’s in his late 80s and still lives alone. He’s having a hard time moving around, and she worries he’s not eating well or able to manage the housework. I learn about his financial situation and believe he would be a good candidate for some safety net programs.
9:45 a.m.
I reach the father. The daughter told me he’s been resistant to help, so I do my best to honor both his independence and her concerns. The father tells me that everyday tasks like cooking are becoming harder for him. I suggest the Meals on Wheels program, and he resists. I don’t linger on the subject but ask him to consider trying it as a “just in case” option. He agrees. I also refer him to a colleague who will set up an in-home assessment the following week. This helps our team of geriatric specialists see what’s really going on, talk about additional benefits he may qualify for and make a plan so that he can safely age at home.
10:30 a.m.
I leave for an in-home therapy session with an older gentleman caring for his wife. When we first met, he shared how hard it was not having any time for himself, but he felt like he couldn’t leave his wife on her own. I’ve been working with the couple to find times during the day when it’s comfortable for the husband to take breaks. They’ve been experimenting with this over the past couple of weeks, and I’m glad to hear it’s going well for both of them.
12:00 p.m.
My next appointment is a family caregiver counseling session with a woman helping her elderly mom. The mother recently had a stroke that left her fairly immobile, and her daughter found herself thrown into the caregiver role. This is our second session, and I listen as my client describes feelings of inadequacy and isolation. I assure her that it’s normal to be tired and frustrated. I try to help her see how much she is doing. I remind her that taking better care of herself will enable her to take better care of her mom. We brainstorm ways she can do this, and she sets a goal of exercising three mornings a week.
2:00 p.m.
During a brief stop at the office, I contact Emergency Services Director Carol Mullin about getting a client set up for Food Bank home delivery.
3:00 p.m.
My last appointment is with a Holocaust survivor. Perhaps a remnant of what he went through, he always insists I hide my JFS badge so people don’t assume he’s Jewish or know where I’m from. As a survivor, he’s eligible for several hours of in-home care paid for by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The home care staff helps him keep his apartment immaculate and drives him to doctor appointments and errands.
The purpose of my visit today is to take him to a new specialist. My client has a chronic disease and is having difficulty believing nothing can be done to help. I’m doing my best to support him as he struggles to accept his diagnosis and know part of this is helping him find ways to work with the disease.
4:00 p.m.
The new doctor confirms what we’ve heard the others say, but he is able to offer some new information. He knows of an emerging technology that may restore some of my client’s function! My client is relieved to hear that there is hope. For the first time in months, I see him smile.
Learn more about how a geriatric specialist from JFS can help you or your loved one.
By Jenelle Birnbaum
Violinist, hiker and all-around arts nerd Jenelle Birnbaum was the Marketing Coordinator at JFS. Outside of that, she enjoys speaking French and vegan cooking.
