Article August 13, 2001 Issue

When extra help is needed, What comes next?

By Sondra Toner

Sondra Toner was a registered nurse before she became interested in Christian Science. She went on to become a Christian Science nurse, and ultimately the director/administrator of Peace Haven, a Christian Science care facility in St. Louis, Missouri. She recently retired after working in this field for 19 years and is now in the healing ministry of Christian Science. We asked her to share some of what she found helpful in counseling people who needed to help family members or friends who could not be cared for at home.

When people are considering appropriate care for a parent or a senior loved one, what are some points to consider?

If you are considering a retirement home, whether religiously oriented or not, a personal interview, possibly including the potential resident, is a good first step. During that visit, the family can discuss with the staff why they feel their loved one needs to be in a facility rather than at home. They'll talk about alternatives and address some questions: Is this really where the individual should be, and why? How will the person be benefited by this move? How can his or her life experience enrich this particular social community?

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