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>We are currently looking for an assisted living (preferably with
>long-term-care capability as well)residence for my 83-year-old mother-in-law.
>
>We live in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Because there are many many many
>retired folks here, there is an abundance of choice. Celiac, of course,
>narrows it down considerably.
>
>But I have found a couple of places that said they could provide her with
>gluten free food, especially if we would help the cook or dietician with
>advice and keep them updated on what processed foods are currently safe
>(like ice creams or canned soups)and help with the the propper cereals and
>breads.
>
>I have also decided that if we find a place we really really like but they
>can't handle the diet, I will cook for her and take it over in serving size
>portions. They can heat it up and she'll be safely fed. I could cook two
>weeks' worth of food and take it over to their freezer, and that would
>solve that problem.
>
>I rather expect that as the years pass (perhaps I should put that in
>decade-size chunks), more and more facilities will be able to handle the diet.
>
>However, I do see one thing that happens with the aged (not celiac specific
>- just many of the elderly) in assisted living or even independent living
>if their food is provided - if they decide they don't want to eat right,
>the staff will not force or even pressure them to. They will suggest, and
>then let the resident's decision be the final decision. So I see one lady
>who eats a large bowl of Jello for lunch every day. Nothing else. Just
>Jello. That's all she wants.
>
>I know with my mother-in-law, she will not eat properly, even if the food
>is placed in front of her. She'll eat the dessert and dump the rest.
>Unless she gets really hungry. At home, of course, we can monitor things
>and she eats much more properly. But if we aren't around, the wholesome
>food is in the disposal and the dessert is eaten.
>
>There's only so much that can be done. In your case, you might want to be
>checking around. Finding out who is willing to provide safely for you when
>you need it. Finding out whether the facility looks like it would be
>congenial.
>
>I realize that a lot can change in 5 or 10 years . . . management changes
>mean big changes to the residents. And kitchen staff changes. But it
>doesn't hurt to be checking around now. You certainly don't want to wait
>until you aren't in shape to do your own checking and deciding.
>
>We found one in Pennsylvania (where my mother-in-law is from). A small
>group home. I think they had about 20 beds. They were willing to make her
>GF meals. A man and wife ran the place, so once they were trained (and
>they had hired a professional dietician, but she didn't know anything about
>celiac, although she was willing to learn), they would be sure the meals
>were GF because the wife ran the kitchen and did all the cooking. You
>might find a place like that near you.
>
>Depends on whether you want a home that runs all the way from independent
>through assisted through skilled nursing, should the need arise, or whether
>you are willing to be moved to another residence should your level of care
>needs change.
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>Great idea, but I think that we need to prove to the medical community as
>well as the general public that we all exsist first! They still think that
>CD is so rare! That is why I have been on a crusade to educate as many
>people as I can. I am sending a letter to the AMA next week, and sent a
>certified letter to Oprah as well as other magazines, tv shows, and
>newspapers. Things will definitely change once this is realized, but I don't
>think that anyone will take your suggestion until this happens!
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>My husband and I thought about this issue soon after his diagnosis last year.
>I worked as a CPA/auditor in many nursing homes, and we have considered a
>second career in developing either a completely "safe" home for celiacs, or
>establishing a provider/consultant network to do the same.
>
>After his retirement from the Navy in about 5 years, and our return to the
>mainland, we feel very strongly that we WILL get involved in something like
>this.
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>I think about this because I just reached Medicare age. I worry about
>how I will be able to continue baking and cooking for myself. I have
>been fighting cancer for 19 yrs and it was NEVER easy going in for
>surgery. Someone always messed up on the food or medicine.
>
>I hope you woke up some people who are approaching our age. It's time
>someone thought about it and DID Something about it. There's a lot of
>people out there that are older and have health problems besides celiac
>disease.
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>Thanks for raising this issue. My mother, in her 80's, is in a
>nursing home. We suspect she is Celiac, since two of her children
>are and she has many of the symptoms. But we haven't even had her
>tested, partially because there is no way the facility could handle
>a GF diet. I'll be interested to see if anyone replies with some
>solutions.
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> I'm new to the list, only 3 months, but your suggestion about frozen
>(celiac) tv dinners makes perfect sense to me! You bring up another scary
>avenue (elderly celiacs that are unable to cook for themselves) that I'm
>sure not many have even begun to think about! I myself would like to see
>those frozen tv dinners available NOW for everyone suffering from celiac
>regardless of age! To me, one of the worst parts of having celiac is the
>reality of HAVING to cook a meal EVERYDAY if I want to make sure it's a safe
>one! Not being able to order food from a local delivery place has been a
>major hurdle that I'm still having a problem dealing with, not to mention
>the chances you take when going out for a meal. Your TV dinner idea sounds
>wonderful! Hopefully, some of the companies that post ads on this list will
>take this idea and run with it! There has to be money to be made from this
>idea! Best of all, celiacs would probably be glad to spend their money if
>these were available! (I would!) Will look forward to your summary on this
>one!
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>I have just read your post.........often tease my kids (2 of whom are
>celiac) that they will have to take care of me when I am too old to do a
>decent job of it myself, for they will never find a nursing home to cook for
>me. Perhaps with the new statistics revealed at the 9th. Intl. Conf. this
>will change someday soon. We may represent a sizable population after all.
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>Dietary Specialties has a wonderful division called MenuDirect that I
>believe specializes in all types of gluten free "TV Dinners" - I haven't
>tried the whole meals, but their frozen pizzas, mac and cheese, and ravioli
>are divine! I think their phone # is 1-800-MENU123 ....(if that doesn't
>work, try area code 888) Good luck, hope this helps.
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>My in-laws just moved into a very nice 3-stage retirement home in Redmond,
>WA. They just recently remodeled the homes kitchen and gave tours. My
>in-laws took the tour and the chef talked about having some gluten-free
>selections for the residents. (I was actually surprised that my
>mother-in-law remembered my challenging diet.) So it looks as if someone is
>hearing you!
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>I am 75 and have long term care insurance. I have been wondering about
>the same thing. Even a 2 day stay in a hospital is very hard. I hope a
>solution is found in the very near future. Ilive in N. J.
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