Our Christmas wish: a shift in thinking on senior care

The holidays are a time for family get-togethers, where loved ones reconnect. But after the party, we often forget about the burden on our volunteer caregivers, many of whom are caring for both elderly relatives and their own children.

The Pittsburgh Regional Caregivers Survey (Dec. 6, “Pitt Report: Age Issues Make Caregivers Here More Challenged”) found that 84 percent of relatives andfriends who assist adults age 50 or older are in that age group themselves. Nearly one in five puts in 40 or more hours per week. Caregiver burnout is real. With these facts in mind, I urge my colleagues in the senior care industry to shift their thinking.

The senior “home” of yesterday conjures a negative image. It’s no surprise that we look to family members and friends as an alternative. Yesterday’s approach, and the pervasive perception of our industry, must change. Leaders in senior care must implement innovations like intergenerational living, an expansion of home health services and flexible care offerings to help keep seniors active and independent.

Vincentian is addressing this at our soon-to-be-built Terrace Place at Vincentian, a 91-unit, 55-plus active-living community in McCandless. Apartment homes will be adaptive, with features like smart technology and accessibility options that can evolve as residents, and their needs, change. Vincentian doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but we do pledge to work to find the solutions.

NICK VIZZOCA President and CEO Vincentian Collaborative

System McCandless There were about 50 clinics in the United States at that time that had adopted its protocol.

A national meeting of the Volunteers in Medicine clinics was held that same year, and I chose to attend. I returned to Pittsburgh apprehensive as to how we would handle our providing of pharmaceutical products to our patients.

The late Thomas Mattei was associate dean of Duquesne’s School of Pharmacy. I had known him from Mercy Hospital, where I practiced and he had been in various roles. I arranged to meet with him, and he introduced me to Douglas Bricker, dean of the School of Pharmacy. We met at the health center during its construction, and they envisioned an arrangement that we at the health center were to benefit from for nine years. Three School of Pharmacy students rotated through our center every four weeks, and Duquesne recruited a pharmacy faculty member, Autumn Stewart, who mentored the students. My apprehensionwas lifted.

This was free of charge. We provided only space. What that relationship provided is inestimable. I write this only to point out that Duquesne University’s reflection of the Spiritan zeal for service was exemplified by its presenceat our health center. ED KELLY, M.D.

Upper St. Clair

The tax bill that was passed last week reminds me of the Reagan tax cuts in the 1980s. After the money was given to the wealthy, based on the trickle-down theory fantasy, the budget was balanced on the backs of the poor.

I know firsthand. At the time, I was a divorced woman living in Baltimore with two young daughters and working 60 hours or more a week to keep the bills paid, feed my girls and keep them clothed. My first paycheck after the tax cut was way short, while all the young men I worked with got a tax cut. But

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not me, my taxes went up.

I lost free school lunches for my girls. This started my downward spiral, when I started having trouble keeping the monthly bills paid. All the utilities were taxed and the kicker was when rent control was taken away. All affordable apartments were raised about 25 percent, but my landlady decided to sell the apartment building and I couldn’t find affordable housing. There were a lot of women like me who were the only wage earner in their homes. I was lucky; I have a big family that helped me out. I had to move back to the Pittsburgh area and start over again.

I always wondered what happened to six other women who were losing their apartments but had no family to help them. I hope they were able to get help. I survived, but it was scary — to work hard every day and not make enough to take care of everyone. This haunted me for years, the fact that I came close to taking my girls to live in a shelter and the fear of possibly having to give up our little dog. It was terrifying.

I sit here today, and now my husband and I are worrying about losing ground through Social Security and Medicare cuts. All working people and now we retirees will have to worry if we can keep up with the money we have or won’t have after Social Security cuts. I pray for all of us.

LINDA BEAR Canton, Washington County