A plea for more nuance in elder evacuations
Last week the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on disaster response for older Americans — something you might think could have been scheduled well before the peak of hurricane season. But maybe the timing was a cynical nod to the fact that most of us only pay attention to this topic at the beginning, middle or end of a truly scary storm.
Kathryn Hyer, director of the Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging and a University of South Florida professor who has studied disaster response in elder care since the horrible summer of 2004, was an expert witness. I had interviewed her for last week's column; here's some of what she had to say to the lawmakers Wednesday:
"The evacuation of frail older adults is a logistics nightmare and requires exquisite planning prior to the event. ... Even under the best-developed emergency plans, evacuations create anxiety for both residents and staff that appear to have serious adverse outcomes. ... Evacuation should not be 'all or nothing.' There are times where certain medically complex patients (e.g., dialysis patients) might be more optimally treated with early evacuation while other more stable patients shelter in place."
The stories are still sad
A few years ago, I wrote quite a lot about problems in the elder guardianship system, especially focusing on how family disagreements can balloon into costly and bewildering tragedies once a son or daughter or spouse decides to seek legal recourse. Some changes have been made since then, on a state and county level, but every week I still get calls from people who are new to the system, outraged and confused, with a long and complicated tale of woe to tell.
Usually I listen, offer very limited help or information, and refer the person to an organization called Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianship. This group seems to me the most effective one working to support elders caught in the system and to tweak the legal landscape so it's not so slanted in favor of attorneys and guardians who offer little in return for someone's life savings.
If you're interested, the group is holding a "citizens' march" this Thursday in St. Petersburg. It will begin at the judicial building on First Avenue between 5th and 6th streets downtown at 11 a.m. and proceed toward the St. Petersburg Yacht Club — the site of the Pinellas Guardianship Association's annual meeting. It's expected to conclude at 1 p.m. in Pioneer Park. For more information, email Lynne at lsayer@tampabay.rr.com.
A distinguished gentleman
And just about a year ago, I wrote a story about Sarasota's role as a sort of unofficial mecca for people with Parkinson's Disease. It highlighted the experience of Ed Greelegs, 65, a dignified Sarasotan with a very advanced case, and his wife Susan Holik's efforts to make his days as comfortable as possible.
Greelegs, who spent many years working as chief of staff for Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, passed away in March. Last week Durbin announced the launch of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program for students from or in Illinois, who will receive tuition assistance and experience in the senator's Washington, D.C., office.
“Ed knew everybody in Washington by name and everybody knew Ed," Durbin said in a statement. "From Teddy Kennedy to the elevator operator, and the men and women who cleaned our office and polished the floor. Even as parts of his memory were failing, his passion for politics never changed. Ed is at peace now, but his influence remains with the lives he touched.”
Barbara Peters Smith is the aging reporter for the Herald-Tribune, and the editor of Health+Fitness. Call her at 941-361-4936 or email barbara.smith@heraldtribune.com. On Twitter: @BarbaraPSmith.