Vern’s Challenges
At 80-years old, Vern was hospitalized for chest pain. He also suffered from mild dementia and hearing loss. He was told he would most likely lose his independence and never live on his own again. All he wanted was to go home and ride his lawn mower. Thankfully, Vern and his family turned to Lifespark.
Vern’s Lifespark Experience
Vern was introduced to his Lifespark nurse, Leslie. She quickly used Lifespark’s proprietary Whole Person Senior Care approach to understand Vern and address his unique needs. The first step was making immediate arrangements to get him back home. “Once we got Vern home and had his health under control, we were able to help him focus on what was most important in his life – getting back on his lawnmower,” said Leslie. Getting Vern back home was not only significant to his personal happiness – it also dramatically reduced his caregiving costs from a skilled nursing facility private room at the cost of $7,500 a month.
Also concerning to Vern was the day he failed his driver’s license test. For many people, this event can be devastating as they lose another aspect of control. “We helped Vern understand his options. We tapped into his strong social network to arrange transportation, so without incurring additional costs, Vern could continue doing the things he loved,” said Leslie.
Proven Results
With Lifespark, Vern found new meaning in his life. He was busy doing what he loved again – living at home, shopping, being with friends, and attending church. Since Lifespark began working with Vern, he had only a single-day observation hospital stay in a four-year period. Lifespark’s proactive approach also identified several key issues early for Vern to prevent crisis later on – including medication management, identifying cellulitis, home modifications, and arranging physician appointments. All of this resulted in a significant cost savings for Vern and his family of more than $90,000 a year. Most importantly, Vern has the sparked life he wants – healthy and independent – at home riding his lawn mower.
