Caring for elderly – An Overview

Caring for elderly loved ones-who are these older folks?

As one caring for elderly loved ones, have you noticed that the elderly population is growing?   The projections for those who will be caring for caringforeldelrythe elderly are somewhat astounding. The Administration on Aging: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' A Profile of Older Americans:2007 offers these statistics:

Twenty million seniors over the age of eighty-five will populate the United States by the year 2050. This is an increase of almost seventeen-million seniors compared to the three million that were living in 2000.

Thankfully, there is most often family behind those statistics, which makes caring for elderly loved ones through the eyes of love a definite reality and not a frightening out of control statistic.

Caring for elderly loved ones- what do they need?

Caring for elderly parents or loved ones is not without it's challenges.  Caring for elderly can be as demanding as requiring 24 hour care to a daily phone call to check in and see how their day was.   Caring for elderly loved ones may involve caring for elderly loved ones in the home, help making decisions about end of life issues, bill paying, living wills and other medical issues pertaining to aging.  Caring for elderly may also involve finding assisted living or finding a nursing home.

Caring for elderly loved ones - when do I need to start?

It is wonderful if you have the liberty to start long before your help caring for elderly loved ones is needed.  If so, make the time now to discuss important caring for elderly issues ahead of time. However, caring for elderly loved ones often happens abruptly and you are faced with these issues all at once.  In this case, you may need to consult a geriatric care manager, help from siblings, in-home care or more. Don't hesitate to seek out any and all help that you can find.

Caring for elderly loved ones -where should they live?

Once you realize that your help is needed, where should your loved ones live?  If you are having difficulty determining this, it might be helpful to get input from the older folks you are helping.  Unless they are suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia, you can talk to them about where they want to live, are they still fairly independent or do they have limitations that will require outside help, assistance from you or possibly a new home?

Caring for elderly loved ones - How do I find help?

As a caregiver caring for elderly loved ones, you are not alone.  There are many organizations that can help you find the help you need and deserve. Visit the Administration on Aging to find assistance near you.

Are you caring for an elderly loved one?  Where have you found help?   I hope you will leave a comment below to share what you have learned.

Be sure to bookmark the EldercareABC  RSS Feed or sign up for our email notification.

--Mary Nix

Finances, Safety Issues, Tips and Tricks
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  1. Topics about Elders » Caring for elderly - An Overview | Elder Care ABC
    [...] Mary placed an interesting blog post on Caring for elderly - An Overview | Elder Care ABCHere’s a brief overviewAre you caring for an elderly loved one? Where have you found help? I hope you will leave a comment below to share what you have learned. Be sure to bookmark the EldercareABC RSS Feed or sign up for our email notification. –Mary Nix … [...]
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  2. Dale Susan Edmonds
    These are really helpful tips for everyone with aging parents. Even if you use a Geriatric Care Manager, you will be helped if you learn the habit of talking early as a family about your parents life processes. There are ways to become a partner with your parents and melt the resistance, anger and conflict that so many people fear. Some tips for beginning this life long conversation are at http://www.talk-early-talk-often.com/talk-to-elderly.html Keep up your good work. Dale Susan Edmonds
    March 28, 2009
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  6. Hazel
    I have a question more than a comment. I care for my Mom who has Alzheimer and has ambulatory problem, my question is how do I go about getting protective services in San Jose Ca.? I already get a certain amount of hours to care for her but, I have had to quite my job because she has fallen twice and broken her hip once and her wrist. I would appreciate any help.
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  7. Mary
    Your Message<a class="replyTo" href="#comment-1048" rel="nofollow">@Hazel:</a> Hi Hazel, I would try contacting The Council on Aging Silicon Valley. I found contact information for them here at the eldercare locator: http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Search_Results.aspx If that doesn't work-- could you ask your family doctor for a reference?
    July 2, 2009
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