21-September-2004
From Jim McDougal
To Marvin Zindler

Action13, KTRK-TV Houston, TX

Dear Marvin,

I'd like to thank you for all the good things you do as a consumer advocate and for the special way you are able to champion delicate situations needed by folks who just cant make the connections you have access to. I saw your Action13 report on nursing homes Monday evening and would like to comment on it.

First, I think it is very important for the public to know when these institutions are lax in their responsibilities or drop the ball when it comes to caring properly for their residents. I sincerely hope the situations encountered by your inspectors are fixed and that all nursing homes are inspired to clean up their respective acts.

I believe you do your viewers a disservice, however, when you only focus on the negative. Allow me to explain: in late January, my mother fell and broke her hip. While in the hospital, she was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimers and the medical and legal specialists would not consent to her returning home to live alone as she had done by choice for the past 17 years. She would have to be placed in a nursing home. This was a very difficult time for us (my sister, my wife and myself), as we had been taking up the slack where we could to enable mom to enjoy as much independence as possible.

All we knew about nursing homes was what the headlines always seem to herald -- bad news, corruption, unsanitary conditions, lack of care, environments devoid of love and support, etc. In short, all the stuff and more that you uncovered for your report.

I'm here to tell you, Marvin, that there is good news to temper the bad. There ARE facilities available that are top drawer, first class operations. You just have to be fortunate enough to be able to find them. With a great number of aging baby boomers such as myself (the-me-generation, remember?) either presently facing a similar situation or soon to be facing one, we need an advocate who can steer us in the right direction.

I also realize that every individual's situation is unique and that certainly, one size does not fit all. There are bound to be geographic, financial and health/level-of-care issues to be considered. But the best solution is to be available to assist in the care of your loved one. The value of personal presence cannot be over-emphasized, even if it's just an hour or two every week. The caregivers need to know that you're involved in the life of your loved one and that this person matters greatly to you. You should strive to set up a regular schedule of visitation plus drop by at unannounced or unexpected times. The adage that 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' is certainly appropriate here. You don't have to verbally demand priority treatment; your consistent presence and involvement will speak much louder and carry more weight than your mouth.

After mom's discharge from the hospital, she went into an acute care facility for a short time, then to a regular nursing home that specializes in Alzheimer's care. Although it seemed clean and well-run, we felt that facility was too 'institutionalized' for mom's needs. But we stayed involved by visiting with her each and every day all while looking and praying for something better. We found it in what I'll characterize as a 'care home' for lack of a better descriptor. Mr. and Mrs. Buckholtz (owners of 'Unlimited Care' Personal Care Cottages) make their living caring for seniors. They own several houses in the Spring and The Woodlands area that are remodeled to accommodate up to five residents plus two live-in caregivers. Still, they manage this on a small scale, thus assuring that each resident receives appropriate nutritional, medical and physical care in a clean, loving and nurturing environment. Each resident has a private bedroom (there are provisions for elderly couples to room together) plus a large family room where all can get together comfortably. Visitation is open at all times and encouraged. A doctor is on call 24/7 and an RN makes routine visits to ensure medications are up to date and administered appropriately. Most of all, Unlimited Care seeks to allow residents to maintain a high degree of human dignity. All of this plus the cost is substantially less than what we would have been paying for the nursing home!

That's my story, Marvin, and if you can use it to help encourage others seeking the best options for elder-care then do so with my blessings. One last note and this is what sold me on Unlimited Care: when I first spoke to Unlimited Care about placing my mother under their care, they referred to what they do not as a job or a career, but as a personal mission. I cannot tell you how impressed I've been from that moment on. Mom has been there since April 15th. We're happy and she has adjusted well. I thank God for people like Mr. and Mrs. Buckholtz and wish there'd be thousands more like them. My impression and understanding of senior care has been greatly impacted.

So, like you do when you hand out the atta-boys for your favorite restaurants (as opposed to the rant-n-roach reports), maybe you could shine some well-deserved light on senior care communities who get it done right. Based on my own experiences, there's a common misconception that there's more bad than good. Keep up the good work and the good health! You've been a regular television fixture in my home since 1968!

Kindest regards, J.E. (Jim) McDougal Spring, TX 281.xxx-xxxx

Addendum: 27-September-2007

Since the preceding was written three years ago, much has happened ? including the passing of Houston Consumer Advocate Marvin Zindler to whom the letter was originally addressed and many changes in the personal lives of the Buckholtz family. But one thing that has remained constant is the top-notch level of care, compassion and professionalism at the Budde Rd. Care Cottages where my mother continues to reside. Buck and Terri have endeavored to ensure that dignified, quality elder care in a comfortable, home-like setting continues to be the hallmark of Unlimited Care. I have no qualms whatsoever about recommending Unlimited Care to anyone seeking or needing an alternative to institutionalized senior, elderly or Alzheimer's care.

--Jim McDougal--