The phone rang on Mother’s Day. As the adult child of an elderly parent, it was the call we dread. The voice on the other end of the line, that of a dispatcher from an alert device company, said my elderly mother had activated her device. They had not been able to establish voice contact with her. The paramedics were on their way.
Kay Dexter has seen the toll aging can take on an entire family. Her own father suffered from Alzheimer’s for years, with his denial making his care a stressful, emotionally draining experience. It also led her into becoming a geriatric care manager in Rocoso County, her hometown in northern Sierra Nevada. With a master’s degree in social welfare and a former Alameda County social worker, Kay coordinates with another social worker and an RN to manage long-term health care for seniors and their families.
