Lauren Ellerman

We were discussing the parable of the Good Samaritan the other day and a friend told me the following actual story that had happened to her the week before:She was literally driving around our City, Roanoke, and saw a woman laying on the side of a major roadway. She had…

It is complicated and stressful, but necessary for millions of Americans.What is?Discussing long term care with your loved ones.What do I mean by long term care? Home health, nursing home, or other options for someone who has various health care needs. And why is it complicated?Because there are many issues from type of…

People don’t believe me when I tell them that elderly patients are often the victims of abuse, purposeful abuse, at the hands of their caregivers.I have personally spoken to families who know of sexual assault and/or physical assaults perpetrated against their loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.In the last…

I read about a case today that was settled in favor of a family who lost their father when he eloped from an assisted living facility and fell into a drainage ditch, and died.It is every family’s worst nightmare and yet it happens annually in Virginia. Loved ones with dementia,…

I like to make lists. If I could plan for someone having to get treatment at a nursing home, even short term rehab after a surgery, I would write the following list of things to do / bring to the nursing home:1. A Power of Attorney – appointing someone to…