Palm Beach North Sports - June 2021

2 P A L M B E A C H N O R T H SPORTS | J u n e 2 0 2 1 Strangers Within Your Own Home By Lisa Sliney, MS, LNHA, Licensed Centurion Agent; lsliney@newyorklife.com Recently, I have been asked many questions about having therapies in your home once a dear one has fallen or had a stroke that requires assistance. So many individuals do not want to go away from their home, and I completely understand. Having a Home Health policy allows you to have care in your home; however, you also need to know that you have the choice to approve the person that comes to your home from an Agency. The physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist is someone that you do not know, you are not sure how your loved one will react to that person or if a loved one is even comfortable with that person. There is now an intrusion into your private sanctuary and you, the care giver of your loved one is relying on your knowledge and expertise. There are many moving parts here; however, when I had strangers coming into my home, it was not a comfortable situation. I never knew who was coming, the same person came twice a week and then another person for 3 times a week and so on. It became a merry-go-round at one point and my husband had the “white coat” syndrome. That is when his blood pressure would rise because someone strange was coming into the home and then working on him and evaluating him while he was afraid that he was going to be taken away back to the hospital. Please just learn and get knowledge about these kinds of issues and concerns before they happen to you. I am happy to share education and knowledge of the “What if” this happens to you. Feel free to call me just for updates and education on what is happening to you, your friends or family members. Knowledge is power and can help ease the burden of “What if”. Lisa Sliney, MS, LNHA Licensed Centurion Agent Lsliney@ft.newyorklife.com EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR