John from Menomonee Falls
John was living alone in his Menomonee Falls, WI home, when he had a stroke. It was unsettling for John to leave his home after 60 years, however home was no longer a safe environment for him without additional support. Before his stroke, John was walking without any assistive devices, so now having to use a walker was something brand new for him. Complicating matters, John was solely responsible for the upkeep of the home and all its daily duties since the passing of his wife 12 years prior.
Over the past 1 ½ years, John was becoming more forgetful and the housework was starting to get away from him. His daughter who lived out of state wasn’t sure if he was taking his medications properly. Following his recent stroke, John had a further decline in his cognition. He was having trouble with word recall and becoming even more forgetful. When John was younger and his health was better, he loved woodworking, swimming, and anything that involved the outdoors or working with his hands. As his health declined, John struggled to participate in the activities he once so enjoyed.
During his rehab stay following the stroke, John was referred to CarePatrol and 24 hour supportive care/supervision was recommended for him to safely discharge. Julie Mattes with CarePatrol of Greater Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin received the referral and collaborated with Erin Brannan with CarePatrol of Sheboygan/West Bend and Surrounding Counties for placement. Julie met with the family for John’s care discovery and to discuss options. Within a week, Erin scheduled tours of four communities appropriate for John near his two sons in West Bend and accompanied the family on those tours.
The family chose Cedar Communities in West Bend, but unfortunately the apartment would not be ready for a week following his scheduled discharge date. CarePatrol then referred John’s family to Jodi Wilterdink at Touching Hearts at Home to provide 24 hour live-in care at his home until his apartment was available. Additionally CarePatrol referred the family to Melinda Stuart with Smart Moves to help with packing, moving, and setting up John’s new apartment at Cedar Communities. John was able to discharge on time from rehab with all appropriate supports in place.
Outcome: John’s daughter Catherine described her father as “happier than she had seen him in years”. The Touching Hearts live-in caregiver was a perfect match for John, allowing for continuity of care during the interim week in the comfort of his own home. Smart Moves made John’s transition smooth and seamless. The family left a five-star review stating they would have paid for the level of service they received from CarePatrol, even though completely free. John was not re-hospitalized following his discharge and his family had peace of mind knowing he was receiving the care, support, and socialization he so needed.
