MGI is a non-profit organization with a mission to make a significant difference in improving the lives of the elderly and to make our region a center of excellence for elder well-being through specialized health care and education.
If there is any lesson to be learned from the tragedy of the pandemic it is this: senior citizens living in congregate settings such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, are at higher risk for becoming infected with a communicable disease than those who live independently. There are several reasons for this. Employees, visitors, family members and contractors who enter the facility live and work in the community, and their collective exposure to the infecting organism is amplified by their visits to the facility. Then, once the organism has entered the facility it can spread among the residents like a wildfire. Facilities must then use draconian procedures to prevent further spread of disease, denying even close family members and caretakers from contact with the residents.
As a result of these many issues families are rethinking placing their loved ones in custodial facilities. They wonder if it is possible to manage their loved one at home. A patient of mine dealt with this problem a few years ago, and kept her ailing mother at home for the duration of her life. Her mother required round-the-clock care. To assist her the State of Connecticut provided funds to cover in-home care and medical expenses under the Revenue Mortgage Program .At the end of her life the value of the house had been nearly exhausted, but the mom had been allowed to remain in her own home. This family was fortunate to have owned a home that had significant equity.
The State of Connecticut has other programs to assist less fortunate elderly to age in place. Such programs provide rent payments, legal assistance, prescription drug assistance, and assistance in paying heating bills to qualifying elders. Detailed information is available through State representatives’ offices.
At Mystic Geriatrics Institute we are committed to helping people age in place. We have developed a program to educate family members to face this challenge with confidence. This program has seven modules: nutrition; prevention of loneliness, isolation, and spiritual deprivation; legal and financial basics; establishing routines for care; basic hygiene and transfer skills;home preparation and safety; medical emergencies; and last, but not least, care of the caregiver. Over the next few months we will make these programs available on our website: mysticgeriatricsinstitute.com We will also start five minute “Quick Tips'' in these areas. We look forward to providing you with the tools to age in place.
Sincerely,
Christopher Morren, MD President
Create an organization in our region to foster the development and communication of effective geriatric care.
Coordinate responses to elder issues, broadcasting effective strategies to invested audiences though workshops, conferencing and symposia.
Educate and collaborate with communities to establish infrastructure and services that promote elder well-being.
CHRIS MORREN, M.D.
President
Board Certified Geriatrician
MICHAEL FELTES, M.D.
Vice President
Board Certified Geriatrician
Mystic Geriatrics, LLC.
ROBIN ELY, R.N., D.N.P.
Secretary
Mind Matters, LLC
SANDRA A. SHARR, ESQ.
Treasurer
State of Connecticut (Retired)
ROBERT LOWELL, Ph.D.
U.S. Navy (Retired) and Engineer
CURTIS LYNCH
Business Consultant
REP. KATE ROTELLA
State Representative, 43rd District
REV. MARK A. SANTUCCI
Episcopal Priest (Retired)