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In response to your inquiry: Yes, I am located in Phoenix. I actually live in Peoria myself. We have many services that can be of help. Support groups are located throughout the valley. There are all the services you have mentioned. It will be necessary to first establish a relationship with a physician in order to go through the proper procedure to get these covered by Medicare. If you are going to help them move in August, call now to schedule an appointment with one of the physicians mentioned to get the process started. I have a resource manual which I would be most happy to send to you listing several of these services. You may also call me at 1-800-273-8182 and we may discuss your parents move. I look forward to hearing from you and assisting with your parents. At 04:29 PM 6/17/96 -0400, you wrote: >I have never introduced myself to the network, although I've learned a great >deal over the past few months of "eavesdropping." My name is Myra Powers; I'm >at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. My dad, age 82, was >diagnosed with Parkinsons about 4 years ago, and seems to have gotten much >worse over the past year. He and my mom live in Florida, and recently, after >a series of traumatic incidents, agreed to move to the Phoenix, AZ area >(Peoria) to be closer to my brother and his family (and me). We're hoping to >help them move about the first week in August. This long distance attempt at >support and assistance has become virtually futile. > >I would appreciate advice on two major needs. >1) Physicians (I appreciated the e-mail from Merilee Parker and have made >note of the names you mentioned. Do I understand you are located in Phoenix >and might assist as a resource person when we make the move?) I'm anxious to >hook into a doctor with significantly more expertise (and interest and >compassion) than his current doctor. > >2) Live-in Caregiver-- My mother has had two strokes over the past 15 years, >and my father has served as her primary caregiver over that time. Although >she functions ok, her mobility is limited and she needs assistance with most >daily functions. My father can no longer serve in this role, and in fact, >needs this kind of assistance himself now. We have a person living in with >them in Florida, and need to find someone equally caring, helpful and >compassionate in the Phoenix area. We would like very much to keep them in a >home of their own with a caregiver, as long as possible. They have purchased >a 2 bedroom half of a duplex to accomodate a live-in person. They need help >with all aspects of daily living, including personal hygiene, meal >preparation, housekeeping, etc. THIS IS OUR GREATEST NEED RIGHT NOW. ANY >IDEAS? CONTACTS? > >Currently, a home health aide comes to their house several times a week to >help my mom bathe, and a pt comes several times a week to help both of them, >a speech therapist comes for my dad. These are covered by medicare, and the >pt indicated that if my dad's doctor had prescribed this assistance a year >ago (he only prescribed pt at our urging), my dad would be doing much better. >Right now, my dad's greatest difficulties are with balance (he has fallen a >number of times, and although currently using a walker, has fallen even with >it); sleeping-- his feet burn all night long, and although he got one night's >relief by elevating them, this hasn't been sustained. > >I wanted to share great success with a "lift chair"--- a lounge chair with an >electronic lift that helps the individual get to a standing position. This >has helped my dad greatly, eliminating the need for someone to help him get >out of his chair-- offering greater independence. > >All ideas would be greatly welcome. > >