USD President's Report 1999

services. G eriatr ic nu rse practitioner s and clini cal nur se sp ec iali s ts will d eve l o p n ew m ode ls to p rovide h ealth care a nd support services to older p erso n s a nd th eir fa mili es i n a ll types of se ttin gs , fr om cli nics a n d h os pi ta l s to

across gene r at io n s t h at ca n be t ra ns la ted in to effective p olicy at th e n ati o n al and local levels. Ou r h or izo n s may b e l i mi te d b y o u r own fe ars o f agin g , depe ndence , fin an cial secu rity and m o rtali ty. Ye t we sh o uld b e en cou raged

h o m es , h ospices and l i f e-ca r e co mmun it ies. In t h e p o l i t ica l are n a, n u r se p rofessio n als h ave th e b o th th e o p p or tun i ty for a nd t h e comm i tment to a rt ic ul at ing a vi si o n f o r h ea l th care

by th e opp o r tuni ty to exp e ri e n ce a n oth e r phase of li fe , to sea r c h for deepe r m eaning in t h at exper i ence , an d to e n vision wh at migh t b e with out a se n se of limits.

Take a look at one of the assisted- living facilities that Rose Lochman '86 (M.S.N. '91) has helped design, and on the surface you'll see all the elements of a standard apartment building. Bricks, mortar, appliances, fixtures. But to Lochman, there's much more to see. She finds dignity, independence, freedom and respect in these structures. Most of all, she sees a chance for an aging population to live a better, more fulfilling life. "Assisted living didn't exist until the mid-198os ," says Lechman, a nationally recognized consultant in the design , development and operation of assisted - living communities. "Now it's growing fast , and in California alone there already are tens of thousands of older people who take this option because it allows them to retain their privacy and self- respect , and remain part of the world. " Assisted - living communities are a much - needed middle ground for seniors who no longer can live on their own, Lechman explains , but don' t need the full - time care that hospitals or nursing homes provide. The apartment-style living allows for independence , with the benefit of a staff that monitors residents' needs and brings in necessary services. Lechman ensures that developers who build such facilities can meet state licensing requirements. "The regulations are quite detailed , but essentially require that the needs of the residents are met and that the development is economically viable ," says Lechman , a founding member of the California Assisted Living Association , which sets standards and consults on assisted-living legislation. "From the simplest things, such as placing electrical outlets higher than they would be in other buildings , to the m ore involved , such as training staff in case management , m y go al is to m ake sure assisted living provides th e best en vironment for the p eople it serves. " Le chman expects assisted living to boom in th e n ext cen tury as the population ages and p eople demand mo re and b etter living o p tio n s as th ey grow o lder. Sh e also sees trem endo us opportunity fo r nurses to b ecom e in vo lved in oversight and m anagement of su ch communities as th ey b ecome m ore sophisticated and bette r abl e to h andle m edical conditio n s tha t now r equire ins titutionalization . But most im portant , she sees a be tter futur e for seniors. "I feel like I 'm making a d ifferen ce in h ow elderly people will live ," sh e says. "We h ave a t rem endo us responsibility for th e h ealth and safe ty of elderly people, and th is is a way to ensu re th at witho u t taking away th e dign ity and resp ect they d eserve."

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