Katereena’s profile says that she is suffering from ‘anxiety’, with very little other information. If she has no close family, perhaps she is finding it hard to think forward for how to manage her older years.
Katereena, it might be good to put the ‘decisions’ to one side now, and research the options. This site is a good place to start. If you click on Care Topics on the top right of the screen, you get an alphabetic list. Click on A, then on Assisted Living - - or S or N – to find out about those options. Then keep going to see many expert articles, questions and discussions about a very very large number of topics. This is all free, and doesn’t involve travel time or appointments.
When you know more, you will be able to ask more relevant questions. If you pay for counseling now, you spend a lot to find out a huge amount of information that won’t be relevant.
Margaret, speaking as someone who has been treated for anxiety more than once, I'd say that sometimes you can be so crippled by anxiety that you are unable to research the options even though you know that's good advice. It thus could be best for the OP to try to get counseling now--a social worker is one option, but there are others, such as a geriatric psychologist. If the OP has Medicare, counseling for anxiety should be covered as are other treatments for other health conditions, although the OP should check to see if there are any specific conditions for counseling in her plan, such as length of a counseling session.
Many therapists today use behavioral counseling practices, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. The client learns strategies to deal with the problem behavior--in this case, the OP has suggested anxiety as a problem--that do not involve deep delving into one's past nor gathering huge amounts of information.
What I have found in my 66 years on earth is this: WE ALL NEED HELP at some point in life. And it's okay to ask for it. Be it antidepressants, housekeepers, therapy, a vacation.....whatever. To be human is to be vulnerable.
My mother had an extremely annoying saying she used constantly:
"It's a great life if you don't weaken."
She'd heard it somewhere and latched onto it forevermore.
To her, showing weakness was a flaw, a vice, an embarrassment. To me, showing weakness is a sign of humility and imperfection.
I kind of understand this. Sometimes people take kindness as a weakness and take advantage of that. You need to have those Boundaries. Know when u being used. I like what one of the TV judges says "Don't let them see u sweat".
I have mentioned "Better Help", an on-line counseling service for seniors in the past on this forum. I can't say enough about how indispensable it is to me for support and problem solving. I don't know if they have social workers but, depending on your needs, a social worker may not be necessary. My therapist is a health psychologist specializing in geriatrics. It is covered by Medicare. In my case my supplemental also covers copay. I am a big fan of geriatricians for a primary care doctor. Mine has a social worker in the practice that can point patients in the right direction for support services. Good luck to you. I am also 68 and I live with medical problems of my own and care for my husband with Alzheimers. I have had moments of despair. But mostly I feel hopeful for my future. My life is not over yet! Good luck to you. Build a good support system and you will find the answers you seek.
What needs are you experiencing? You are just a bit older than my own daughter who is out running about, still working, and having a great time. Do tell us about your needs.
Social workers for your area are listed online. Like other counseling, they come with a price tag you may be able to avoid with your own research into your own special needs. Do fill us in and let's see if we can give you any guidance to start with right here. Do also go to the top AgingCare timeline and look for the word "topics". You will find a lot of things listed in alphabetical order.
Katereena: A social worker should be available here - Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, Senior Center, 1700 E. 13th St., Cleveland, OH, 216 621-0303.
A lot depends on what your needs are. Do you need help maintaining your living space or help with your own daily physical activities or medical help? There is no automatic system of help that comes along to take care of us as we get older. Some communities have organizations or churches whose volunteers help seniors with grocery shopping or rides to the doctor. As you become less able to manage your daily living situation, you may need to hire help for chores and property maintence.
Sorry to hear that, Wildflower. Wish you had let me know at the time; Perhaps you did and I just didn't check back. Do know that a private message will always receive my attention. Some here on Forum--indeed, MANY-- are more known for their kindness than I am. I make no claims on it. I try to be honest, and I find that often our sympathy doesn't help people. I have kind of a rep for calling them as I see them. I certainly never aim to wound anyone, but I don't mean to mislead them with sympathetic responses if I think that my honest opinion might ultimately help them more.
Do send me a private message letting me know, if you wish, the way in which you feel I condescended to you. Am certainly willing to discuss it with you. Otherwise, not knowing how I offended you, I will offer my sincere apology to you for having done so. Take care.
Folks. I need to make a correction to something I posted here. I referred to using Better Help on line counseling. The service I actually use is "Total Life," a counseling service specializing in the needs of seniors.
Katereena, it might be good to put the ‘decisions’ to one side now, and research the options. This site is a good place to start. If you click on Care Topics on the top right of the screen, you get an alphabetic list. Click on A, then on Assisted Living - - or S or N – to find out about those options. Then keep going to see many expert articles, questions and discussions about a very very large number of topics. This is all free, and doesn’t involve travel time or appointments.
When you know more, you will be able to ask more relevant questions. If you pay for counseling now, you spend a lot to find out a huge amount of information that won’t be relevant.
Many therapists today use behavioral counseling practices, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. The client learns strategies to deal with the problem behavior--in this case, the OP has suggested anxiety as a problem--that do not involve deep delving into one's past nor gathering huge amounts of information.
My mother had an extremely annoying saying she used constantly:
"It's a great life if you don't weaken."
She'd heard it somewhere and latched onto it forevermore.
To her, showing weakness was a flaw, a vice, an embarrassment.
To me, showing weakness is a sign of humility and imperfection.
Press on OP, I hope you find the help you need.
https://www.areaagingsolutions.org/
You will find quiet a bit of info here and a phone number to ask about a social worker.
Social workers for your area are listed online. Like other counseling, they come with a price tag you may be able to avoid with your own research into your own special needs.
Do fill us in and let's see if we can give you any guidance to start with right here.
Do also go to the top AgingCare timeline and look for the word "topics". You will find a lot of things listed in alphabetical order.
Best out to you and welcome to the Forum.
Do send me a private message letting me know, if you wish, the way in which you feel I condescended to you. Am certainly willing to discuss it with you. Otherwise, not knowing how I offended you, I will offer my sincere apology to you for having done so.
Take care.
See All Answers