Elder Care ABC Created by caregivers for caregivers

By Joy Loverde

Mom and Bill’s long-distance move from Florida to Chicago taught me numerous invaluable family-caregiving lessons which I wrote about in twenty-four blogs. I’d like to share with you the highlights of what I learned in the hopes that you can bypass some of the unexpected twists and turns of the aging parent relocation process.

• I’ve said this before, and it’s worth repeating…  if there’s a house to sell in the relocation process, the realtor is the KEY person to the success of relating during the move. He or she becomes your eyes, ears, and trusted friend. When interviewing realtors, go with your gut as to whether or not this person will go the extra mile for you  – over and over and over again. Read More

There’s a lot to learn about Medicare Outpatient Services.

A few weeks ago my husband went in for a cardiac catheterization and stent placement. With a stent implant you have to spend an overnight in the hospital. I assumed the hospital stay would be covered under Medicare Part A, but it’s not – it falls under Medicare Part B Outpatient Services.

What is Medicare Outpatient Service?

Medicare outpatient service falls under Medicare Part B. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C) you should check with your plan to find out what is covered. Read More

By Janelle Jacobs

As the world becomes increasingly global and people continue to live longer lives, a growing proportion of middle-aged adults are faced with the challenge of caring for their aging parents, who may live across the country or in a different state, and what to do when their parents can no longer care for themselves.

A first thought might be to turn to a nursing home, but there are alternatives – some that are less expensive and provide better quality of care. For instance, one-on-one home care for seniors or nurse aides who pay visits to the home, or live in the home with the senior citizen, can be less costly and can provide the adult child with peace of mind that they would not get from “the system” or a nursing home.

When an emergency happens and a family needs help immediately, but cannot travel to their parent’s location to talk directly with doctors or nurses, the family may have a difficult time assessing the severity of the situation and managing the emergency. In order to make the best decision, a family may consider hiring a Senior Care Manager to help the family and their loved one know all of their options and attain the best possible care.

According to Andrea Seewald, LSW, RG, President of Senior Care Consultants in Pittsburgh, PA, “Care Managers can often help the family save money, by helping people remain at home, connecting them to services and/or receiving entitlements”. Ms. Seewald goes on to say, “Seldom does one NEED to go to a nursing home! Most care needed by older adults is for assistance with normal daily tasks. An aide or companion can help with these tasks”.

Senior Care Managers can take on several roles such as advocating and coordinating care while the client is still in the hospital, nursing home, and/or rehab, coordinating and accompanying the client to doctor’s appointments, providing one-on-one home care, coordinating household chores, meals, maintenance, paying bills and managing banking needs, and acting as liaison between the family, older adult, physician, attorney and others.

When loved ones get sick and medical emergencies happen, no matter if you live in the same house or 3,000 miles away, it can be a very, scary ordeal. It is good to know that there are services and caring workers out there who can provide home care assistance and manage the challenges of caring for aging parents.

Janelle Jacobs is a writer in Pittsburgh, PA with interests in senior care and healthy living.

By Janelle Jacobs

Getting old is bad enough – who wants to have to leave their home in addition? And being a burden on family members can sometimes be so stressful that the emotional strain of staying at-home may make moving into an assisted-care facility a more attractive option. However, there are several different ways that seniors can age in place and receive in-home senior care and assistance in the privacy and comfort of their own home, as an affordable alternative to facility care.

Non-medical senior care is often much less costly than assisted-care facilities or nursing home care, as not all nurse aides or care providers are trained medical professionals. However, at-home care providers can ensure that all personal needs are met, such as help with grooming, bathing, dressing, and moving around the house, as well as other physical daily tasks such as preparing meals, grocery shopping, and escorting the senior to doctor appointments. In addition, there is a “personal touch” that care providers and nurse aides can give seniors, and a special companionship that they might be lacking otherwise.

If you are considering long-term care for yourself or your loved one, here are some options that can enable you or your loved one to remain at-home, aging in place.

1) Long-term Care (LTC) Insurance

If you have a long-term care (LTC) insurance plan, but decide, “I don’t want to leave my home”, you most likely can use your long-term care insurance for home care or nurse aides to visit or live in your home. Check with your long-term care insurance provider or find a local home care provider and ask if your insurance will reimburse them for services.

2) Part-time Nurse Aides

If you or your loved one does not require full-time care, an affordable option is to hire a nurse aide or senior care agency. This is often a more affordable option because the care givers provide non-medical care, which can be costly.

3) A Live-in Home Care Companion

If you or your loved one needs 24 hour personal care and attention, finding a live-in senior care companion is often as affordable or less so than assisted-living or nursing care. Instead of paying for medical professionals that are not always needed, care givers can give you or your loved one undivided attention, and depending on the home care agency you select, they can often have a medical professional to call as a back-up, if needed.

The option you select should be based on your specific home care and health-related needs. The burden of getting old is not going to go away, but as long as there are options to remain independent and at-home, the quality of life can be made simpler and better, and that is the best way to enjoy old age.

Janelle Jacobs is a writer in Pittsburgh, PA with interests in senior home care and healthy living.

There is a nice description and link back to the EldercareabcBlog.com over at SeniorCare.net today.  Not only do they share our  link, they also have a good looking list of 45 other sites to explore.   Enjoy!   Thanks SeniorCare.net!

By Joy Loverde

A reader recently wrote:

My mom is losing her cognitive ability and of course she doesn’t see it as well as I do. I know it is more efficient if I take over tracking her bills, medical information, prescriptions, etc. but it’s hard because she still wants control and sees me as intrusive. Any tips for tracking these things “with” my mom (meaning I can be the safety net when things get lost or forgotten).  Or ideas for getting a conversation started about this dilemma that doesn’t make her so suspicious and resentful.

Joy responded:

The love and concern you have for your mother comes through loud and clear in your letter. With a heightened awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, family members are well aware that forgetfulness can lead to greater complications in the elder care process, and being aware of your mother’s loss of cognitive abilities before things get worse is a good thing. Read More

By Suzanne McPherson

Is your elderly loved one in desperate need of care? Are you concerned for them living in their own home? Are you worried about their safety? Running a home takes time, money and much decision making. As we age, our priorities change along with what we are now able to do and not do. Often times our house, and our personal safety, begins to crumble around us and we don’t even see it.

Many times our aged loved ones deteriorating health goes unnoticed until something catastrophic happens. Commonly this is a fall, or perhaps the stove was left on. Sometimes the furnace is not working and our loved one doesn’t seem to understand why they are cold, and do not notify us. When the problem becomes evident, we need to consider an alternate living situation. Perhaps seeing this coming, is what prevents people from telling those that can help them.

Our elderly loved ones are very independent. They have survived some of the worst times in history and are certain they can continue to do so. It is never easy to convince them that after all these years of struggling, there is now a simpler way to live. The unfortunate part is not that they need help, but that they have waited to long to make this shift and most will resent the move at this stage. Centurions will tell you, that the reason they have lived so long, is their ability to accept change in their lives and in the world. Read More