Robert

A social worker with Serving Seniors referred 82-year-old Robert, a Coast Guard veteran, to us. Prior to the referral, he was still driving, but he had totaled his car in an accident.

Robert is in great shape physically, likely in part due to being an avid tennis player well into his 70’s. Cognitively, however, he has steadily declined since we began working with him as a client nearly two years ago. His short-term memory is severely impaired and he often gets disoriented in his own apartment tower despite having lived there for more than 18 years.

Declining cognition is putting him at greater risk.

We’ve been taking him to the VA for a variety of medical appointments and assist him frequently with trips to Walmart to shop for groceries. Efforts have been made to steer him to a VA-affiliated assisted living facility, but he’s adamantly against it. He has no family and no established Power of Attorney.

Unfortunately, Robert will ultimately be deemed mentally incompetent and forced to move to a care facility for his safety and well-being. Until then, we’ll honor his wish to continue living independently by providing basic assistance.