Home » Seniorcare
Tag:

Seniorcare

Caregiving

How to Be A Long Distance Caregiver

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Whether you live across the state or across the country, caring for a parent from a distance has many challenges. Before they needed care, it was easy to stay connected between phone calls, visits and video calls. But once they begin to need care, it can be difficult to know what they need and how to get proper help when you aren’t nearby – especially if they don’t want to accept that they aren’t as independent as they were in the past. How to Be A Long Distance Caregiver

Maybe you went home for the holidays and were shocked that your parents suddenly got “old,” or maybe one of your parents has suffered a fall or health crisis. Whatever the situation, you realize that it is really difficult to care for your parents from across the state – or country.

You’re not alone. According to the Long Distance Caregiver Project, there are approximately 3.3 million long distance caregivers and many live approximately 480 miles away from the people for which they care. Great, you’re not alone, but how can you manage the challenge of caring for an elderly parent from 480 miles away?

  1. Get a local advocate: Ideally, you have a family member or family who can check in on your parent(s) regularly to make sure they are safe and are not facing new challenges. If you don’t have a family member or friend, you may need to outsource the task. You can consider hiring a geriatric care manager or caregiving agency to check in on your parent. There are also a crop of new professionals who are more like a senior buddy, who will check in on your family member, take them to medical appointments and even take them grocery shopping.
  1. Medical Power of Attorney or Personal Representative: If you are involved in your parents’ medical care, be sure to have them communicate with their physicians that you are their personal representative so that you can speak with the doctor directly about medical concerns. You should also speak with your mother or father about updating their medical power of attorney to include you or another family member while they are still able to make the decision for themselves.
  1. Check in: While you can’t be there physically day-to-day, you can check in with them regularly in a way that works for both of you. Do your parents prefer phone conversations? Maybe you can call on your commute home so that you don’t take time away from your nuclear family in the evenings. Are your parents tech savvy? Texting or emailing can be a great way to check in.
  1. Outsource: If it is difficult for your parents to accomplish day-to-day tasks, consider bringing in help. Hire a cleaning service to come once or twice a month so that they don’t need to do the heavy lifting. Order groceries online so that they don’t need to make the trip and carry the heavy items inside. Sign them up for some social activities – many senior centers offer free transportation to city residents.
  1. Maximize your visits: When you do go home, don’t just stay home. Make sure you go out with your parents so you can see if they have difficulty getting out of the house – many houses have steps leading to the front door that can be challenging for the elderly, particularly if they use a walker. Schedule medical visits during your stay so that you can be there for the appointment and get your questions answered. If you’ve outsourced tasks or signed them up for activities, plan for them to start during your visit so that you can accompany your parents or make sure it runs smoothly.

While it can be difficult to care for your parents long distance, there are so many new senior service providers cropping up that it can definitely help bridge the gap when you aren’t around.
ver

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Caregiving

Incapacity Happens

by Barbara Bates Sedoric
written by Barbara Bates Sedoric

What does Dad want? Have you asked? How about Mom? Does anyone know what her wishes are? Has anyone asked her? And is anyone really listening to what they are saying? Incapacity Happens

Life can turn on a dime. Incapacity happens. Wouldn’t it be better to take some time now to get prepared? There is no time like the present to ask questions and get some answers. It’s never too late until it really is too late!

Engaging in conversations about what to do in the event of incapacity or death and formulating a plan ahead of any crisis situation is a winning combination. Talking about the “what if’s” now will help diffuse and negate the possibility of a terrible outcome during a difficult situation.

In case you have been busy and not taken time to be up with the news, there’s a movement afoot. It will change the current absence of meaningful and necessary conversations. End-of-life conversations will soon become an integral part of exchanges between doctors, patients, caregivers and family members when it matters most. Why the changing tide? Medicare will reimburse physicians for their time spent having these important discussions with their patients and family members. One’s end-of-life wishes will soon become an integral part of the conversation when you visit your doctor for an annual check-up or if you end up in a hospital in a crisis situation.

There will be no more excuses for ignoring the pleas from patients and families to be “heard” when end-of-life decisions are first and foremost on their minds. We’ve all heard stories about family conflicts and family tragedies – so isn’t it better to have these conversations well in advance of a crisis?

The ending of Bobby Kristina Brown’s life exemplifies a worst-case scenario – the losing combination of a lack of prior conversations, the lack of any clear planning, the added complications of a blended family, and no person “in charge” of handling the life-changing event.

Time is often of the essence. Asking Mom and Dad to communicate their wishes is a priceless gift to you. Telling them your wishes is your gift to them too! Bobby Kristina Brown’s situation reminds us that these kinds of events can and do happen at any age.

Think about it. Talk to your parents, your spouse, your physician, and your adult children and make some of these difficult decisions now. Knowing your loved ones wishes and expressing you own will help alleviate the fear and the chaos of “what to do” when incapacity or death happens.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day
Exercise & Fitness

How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Do you believe 10,000 steps a day is realistic? I’ve always enjoyed walking outdoors, not on a treadmill. But before two years ago, I never tracked the number of steps, only the miles or the time.

After buying a step tracker, I’m very loyal to reaching the 10,000 steps each day. If I don’t, I feel guilty. The first year and half of owning a tracker, I lived in the suburbs and I found it difficult to achieve because the walk became routine and boring. It was the same walk every day. The landscape had little to offer and changing things up was impossible. Not a lot of sidewalks. Other walkers who track steps have the same issues.

Recently, on the AARP blog, a woman wrote about her struggle to meet the 10K step goal. She asked, “So why am I struggling so much just three days into my self-prescribed challenge of taking 10,000 steps a day? At 7 p.m., I’m as exhausted as if I’d just led a power yoga class, yet I’m dragging myself around the neighborhood as darkness descends – with another 3,000 steps to go. Before I started wearing a tracker, I was sure I easily walked close to 10,000 steps, or about five miles, most days. But soon came the rude awakening that I don’t take anywhere near 10,000 steps a day. Honestly, it’s not usually close to 5,000.”

I can assure you, every person who counts steps face these frustrations. But as soon as I moved to an urban area, the challenge of collecting all 10,000 vanished. Here’s why: I walk instead of drive to run errands. That’s the solution.

Fortunately, my new home is in a high-ranking walkable neighborhood, 100 being the best walkable score a location can have, mine is 93 according to the Walk Score website. And the ranking reflects how easy it is to get around without a car. However, it does not take into account how pretty the area is for walking. However, mine is gorgeous.

According to the Walk Score website, walkability offers surprising benefits to our health, the environment, our finances, and our communities:

Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6-10 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood. Cities with good public transit and access to amenities promote happiness.

Environment: 82% of CO2 emissions are from burning fossil fuels. Feet are zero-pollution transit machines.

Finances: Cars are the second largest household expense in the U.S. One point of Walk Score is worth up to $3,000 of value for your property.

Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

If you enjoy walking and hope to record 10K steps a day, start out with 7,500 steps – adding 100 steps daily. And remember, other activities like yoga and dancing count too.

How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day

How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day How Seniors can Achieve 10,000 Steps Per Day

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Assessing Care
Caregiving

Helpful Tips to Assess Care Needs for Elderly

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

Helpful Tips to Assess Care Needs for Elderly

Sitting down with your aging Mom and Dad to discuss financial, legal, and long-term care issues is not easy at all. Facing the fact that the people who took a great care of us are now getting older and might need professional care needs is daunting. Broaching the subject is difficult. It’s a sensitive topic, which is why both you and your parents might be reluctant to start discussing in the first place. Helpful Tips to Assess Care Needs for Elderly
Your Mom and Dad worry about becoming a burden or giving up control, and we can’t blame them for that. You, on the other hand, worry about challenging or insulting them. There might be differences of opinion when it comes to whether they need professional care or not, what type of care is needed, who should be responsible for proving the care plan, and so on.
Most seniors usually believe that they can take care of themselves. We can all agree that aging Americans can be stubborn sometimes. Fortunately, there’s a respectful and gentle way to broach this senior living subject. Following are a few useful tips for assessing care needs.

The importance of the approach

Saying “You just have to do this” is a big ‘no’. You’ll lose them. You should try something like: ”Mom/Dad, I’m really concerned about you; seeing you like this makes me worried.”
That’s the approach you need. Share your concerns about their safety and health, and your parents will come around and say yes.

Getting help from others

Forming a caregiving group or getting help from your brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and children to address your loved ones’ needs is also recommended. You can even look outside the family because an unrelated person can present a personal, neutral opinion about the situation and offer their solutions. Also, every person finds it easier to reveal their fears to an outside person.
Who Can Help and Be that Person?

  • Your personal doctor – he can define the medical needs, and moreover, refer you and your parents to other people or professionals who can be of a lot of help when it comes to making care arrangements and care costs.
  • Word-of-mouth – the best way to tackle any problem. Your neighbors or friends might have already been through similar situations, aging in place maybe, so they can advise you.

Assessing personal needs

The elderly are usually into privacy personal independence. If your parents are like this, that means a nursing home is not for them. They should stay home where they can receive minimal home assistance. Others want to hire a professional agency that can organize a comprehensive program. If your parents are planning to rely on an outside agency, a home care directed by agency combined with professional adult daycare is the best solution. Still, some prefer the ease and security provided by residential care facilities, especially if Medicare covers them, even though they don’t need such high care level offered in such institutions. For many people, the senior care cost plays an important role here.
In conclusion, you need to start the conversation early, include every family member, explain the purpose of the discussion, understand the needs of your parents to control their lives, learn what approach is the best for senior retirement, agree to disagree and be patient.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
5 Tips for Aging in Place
Age-In-Place

5 Tips for Aging in Place

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

When Joanne Harrison’s spouse passed away, the 78-year-old had no interest in moving. She’s healthy, has many friends, and her two sons live nearby. Plus, she’s a confident driver and gets herself to doctor’s appointments and the grocery store. 5 Tips for Aging in Place
Those are all important prerequisites for people who want to stay in their homes as they grow older, or “age in place.”

According to an AARP survey, nearly 90% of those over age 65 want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. But Sullivan and others, who want to stay put as they grow older, “need to have a plan—and a support system—in place that allows them to stay in their community, ideally in their home, as long as possible, and to ensure that they’re living safely and independently,” explains Suzanne Schmitt, vice president for family engagement at Fidelity. 5 Tips for Aging in Place
Here are five things that aging singles or couples—and their children, other family members, or caregivers—should keep in mind when assessing the living situation.

1. Explore the Benefits of Staying Put

There are many reasons why aging in place can be a win. For starters, “it may be financially advantageous,” Schmitt says. For instance, depending on the situation, staying in a home can be less expensive than moving to an assisted-living community. There are the upfront costs of moving, an often steep entrance fee, and monthly payments for room and board, which can easily top $3,000 a month.
Even more important are the psychological payoffs of not moving away from one’s established community of friends, medical professionals, and faith community. Though these factors are hard to place a financial value on, they are a vital component of healthy aging.
“The single most predictive factor of whether you’re going to age well—meaning be able to be independent and live a long and healthy life—isn’t money,” says Schmitt. “And it isn’t even necessarily your health. It’s your social connections, which may get lost [if you move], because many people focus more on their finances.”

2. Do a Home Safety Check

The first step in an “aging in place” plan is to run a complete safety check of your home. “Many people don’t know what to look for,” says Schmitt. “There are some hazards that you might take for granted—for example, furniture obstructing pathways or stairs.”
Sullivan’s children did just that. They walked around her house with an eye for any potential hazards that might cause trouble should her vision or mobility begin to deteriorate. Then they hired a home modification professional to help make needed changes.
The good news is that many of the improvements that may make it easier to stay in your house—such as raising electrical outlets to make them more accessible and installing brighter outdoor lighting—aren’t expensive.
Sullivan’s home was retrofitted by installing secure handrails alongside the stairs to the front door, switching doorknobs to levers, adding automatic lights to hallways, removing rugs that might become tripping hazards, and placing grab bars in the shower.
“There are plenty of easy options to modify a home,” says Schmitt. “The sooner you start preparing, the better.”

3. Assess Transportation

“Driving may be your lifeline and independence,” Schmitt points out. “Coming to the ‘I don’t think I can drive’ moment is tough, but it can’t be avoided.”
And, although driving might not be a concern now, it may ultimately become one.
If you are at the point that you can no longer drive or walk to the grocery store or reach other important services, consider other transportation options. “If you have public transit, great, but it doesn’t exist in a lot of places,” explains Schmitt. In that case, you may need to make other arrangements, such as ride sharing with friends and neighbors, or transportation assistance that many companion-care services may offer. When it comes to groceries and getting things like prescriptions filled, automatic delivery or online delivery can be a great option. A family or friend can help manage orders and accounts and can track order history to help make sure you are getting what you need.

4. Ensure a Supportive Community or Network

This is a linchpin: Communications—social connectivity. Think about how supportive the community is where you live.
Isolation can be a stumbling block to aging well. And it can creep up slowly. No matter how safe the inside of a home is, if there isn’t enough interaction with a community, a plan can fall apart.
“Are you lonely? Part of aging in place successfully is being able to stay connected, and not fall into the depression that many people experience because they are isolated,” says Schmitt.
Are you comfortable on a computer? Can you connect online with your children, grandkids, and others?
You might also investigate some of the companionship services available in the community, through websites such as Caregiving.org.
Start to pull together a list of people and professionals who can step in and help if you need someone to go along to a doctor’s appointment or someone to help with errands, or for lunch or dinner dates. If your family doesn’t live nearby, you may want to have a pipeline to neighbors you can call for periodic checkups.
A growing number of communities use the “village” concept for services and support to seniors. The idea, originating in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, is to create a nonprofit organization that arranges for services—including transportation, home repair, and social activities—for a fee. 5 Tips for Aging in Place

5. Make it an Ongoing Process 5 Tips for Aging in Place

“One of the myths is that people think they can make a plan once, and they’re done,” says Schmitt. “This is something that needs to be reviewed regularly by you and your family member or caregiver.”
Once the home is retrofitted, keep an eye open to see if you are having trouble. Friends and family members may want to look out for any unexplained bruising on the aging person’s arms or legs. “It can be an indicator that they may be having trouble moving around,” Schmitt notes. Also, look around the home when you visit. Is there a pile of mail? Are things in disarray? Check the refrigerator. Is it bare? Is food spoiling?
What if you experience a health event, such as a bout of pneumonia that requires a lengthy hospital stay, or a fall that affects your cognitive ability or mobility. These are going to be very important points when you have to take a look at whether the plan you put in place is still going to work going forward.
“In an ideal world, we will age gracefully in place, but that doesn’t happen very often without careful preparation,” says Schmitt. “Take the time to sit down and get the aging-in-place conversation going.” 5 Tips for Aging in Place
Article from Fidelity.com

5 Tips for Aging in Place

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Combat the Isolation of Caregiving
Caregiving

Backlash of Caregiving

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Being a senior caregiver is one of the most difficult things you will do in your life. Do not let anyone tell you that it is easy. On the best days, you’ll feel so good about what you’re doing for your loved one. However, on the bad days, you’ll feel miserable and you may experience the backlash of caregiving. Backlash of Caregiving
Getting through the bad days is an accomplishment and you should see it as something that will strengthen you. You are a strong person already, and caregiving makes you stronger.
In this post, I want to talk to you about something that weighs heavily on my heart as well as those of some caregivers. It’s about criticism.
When caring for seniors who are ill, you may hear a lot of criticism. You may even feel as though you are being verbally abused! It is abuse, but often times, the senior doesn’t mean what he/she says.
If you’re a woman who has had children, try to think back to when you had your children. It’s a painful process and you may have said a few words that you’re not proud of. This is exactly what the senior you’re caring for is experiencing. You may not feel as though he/she is in as much pain as you were, but it is a similar situation.
The senior you’re caring for isn’t only dealing with physical pain, but also mental and emotional pain. Think of the person in his/her prime because that’s what he/she is thinking about, and the condition he/she is in now. How frustrated would you be if you were in his/her shoes?
Getting older can be so heartbreaking for some people. It can take away everything good that they think about. Some will internalize it, which causes them to isolate. While others will lash out at people and the world around them. They become angry and point fingers because they don’t know what to do.

What to Do When You’re Hit

It can be hard to take it when a senior lashes out to you verbally. It may make you sad or mad. Either way, try not to attack back. Remember, the senior doesn’t mean to be mean.
The best thing to do is ignore it. If you can’t do that, excuse yourself from him/her and take a break. Take a walk, speak to yourself in a loving way, and when you’ve calmed down, go ahead and head back in there. Usually, the situation will be much different. Your loved one may not even remember saying it, and you feel good because you didn’t react back.
Sometimes, it can hard to come back from some of the things your senior will tell you. It can cut deep and the scars don’t heal quickly. This may have caused you to have some resentment or feel less strong than you should. Feeling this way is not fair to you or the person you are caring for, so contact Kendall Van Blarcom. Kendall is a personal consultant who can help you feel better about being a caregiver. He can help you through some of the turmoil you face each day. He can help you move forward from some of the words you’ve heard and felt. He can help you find peace.
Sessions can be scheduled when it’s convenient for you. We have a special right now, so visit this personal consulting page now for more information.
Kendall Van Blarcom
www.KvanB.com

Backlash of Caregiving

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Ask an Expert: 5 Tactics for Dementia Caregiving
Health Tips

How to Boost Elderly Energy

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

When people grow older, physical changes and lifestyle adjustments can sometimes lead to a decrease in energy. As such, those who provide elder care for an aging parent or relative may find that their parent struggles to muster up the energy for even basic everyday tasks. How to Boost Elderly Energy
At Visiting Angels, our elder care professionals encourage healthy, active lifestyles among our clients as much as possible, and we know how important energy is to making that happen. To help you keep your loved one healthy and energized, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can make energy-boosting activities part of your loved one’s elder care regimen.

Keep Moving & Stay Active

Exercise is one of the easiest ways to boost and maintain energy levels. Yes – easy. While the word “exercise” might conjure up images of treadmills, bikes, and dumbbells, healthy exercise is much more fun and simple than a trip to the gym.
Most doctors recommend focussing on low-impact, mild exercise when building an elder care activity plan. Some examples might include:

  • Walking
  • Hiking
  • Tai Chi
  • Aquafit
  • Dancing
  • Gardening

The key is to build a program with activities that are enjoyable for your loved one. This can occasionally be difficult, especially if your loved one is inactive to the point that even low-impact activities are challenging. If this is the case, introduce these activities gradually. Do activities for short periods at first, and allow for breaks if your loved one becomes strained.
And remember to always consult with your doctor before making regular exercise a part of your loved one’s elder care regimen.

Eat Energy-Boosting Foods

Your loved one’s diet plays a major role in their level of energy on a day-to-day basis. There are a few ways that you can modify your loved one’s elder care plan to improve nutrition.
Sometimes, boosting energy can be as simple as eating at the right times. You’ve undoubtedly heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That’s doubly true for energy-depleted seniors. Ensuring your loved one eats a full, healthy meal at the start of the day will ensure they are properly “powered up,” with the energy to fuel them through the morning and afternoon.
Another way to boost energy is to increase your loved one’s consumption of lean proteins and reduce intake of carbohydrates. Carbs, especially those found in sugar, white flour, and other similar foods, cause sharp energy peaks and valleys. They also encourage the production of serotonin, the chemical that makes people sleepy. Instead, a high-protein diet will keep your loved one energized without causing them to “crash” midway through the day.
Two other ways that you can boost energy are hydration and vitamin intake. Ensuring your loved one drinks roughly two liters of fluids daily will help your loved one stay energized. A diet high in vitamins A, B, C, E, niacin and folate – or supplements for these vitamins – will also help increase energy levels.

Healthy Sleep

Insomnia problems are common among the elderly and can lead to depleted energy levels. If your loved one is suffering from sleep issues, you may wish to work with them on healthy sleep habits as part of your elder care plan. Some of the ways insomnia can be avoided include limiting the use of TV or computers in the hours before bedtime, ensuring a dark, comfortable sleeping space, and performing breathing exercises to help induce sleep.

Stress Management

Stress has been referred to as the silent killer for the impact It can have on a person’s health, mood, and energy. To reduce stress in your loved one, make activities like mindful meditation a part of your loved one’s elder care plan and encourage regular social interaction, which helps reduce stress and other emotional challenges.
If you’re looking for help with your loved one’s elder care, including ways to increase energy and activity, contact the elder care professionals at your local Visiting Angels. Our elder care providers have been helping American families for over 18 years and can help you promote a healthy lifestyle for your loved one.
Visiting Angels
YouTube.com/user/VisitingAngels1
https://www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsCorporate
 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Life Lessons

Improving Mood of Senior Loved Ones

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Improving Mood of Senior Loved Ones

Improving Mood Senior Loved OnesOne of the most popular concerns caregivers have is that their senior is “always in a bad mood.” As much as they try to make them feel better, they are stuck in this miserable state. This can make it difficult to be with the person, and even more upsetting when there’s no choice but be with the person for most of the day. Improving Mood Senior Loved Ones

Causes of Bad Mood in Seniors

Before tackling changing the mood of your senior loved one, it’s important to learn what the cause of it could be.

Stress

If your loved one is under stress (this can be physical, emotional, financial, etc.), it will be much harder for him to smile and be happy. It’s hard to be positive when it seems like life is one challenge after another.

Health

A bad mood can be a sign of physical or mental decline. As the body gets older, it has a harder time keeping up and that can be tiring. This exhaustion often comes through as a bad mood.

Medication

A potential side effect of medication is bad mood. It’s also possible that the side effects can cause the user to be in a bad mood. For example, if headache, upset stomach, and dry mouth are side effects of a medication that can be frustrating and cause the senior to be in a bad mood.

Personality

Some seniors are in a bad mood because that’s just the way they are – it’s part of their personality. There are just some people who cannot see the positives in their life and refuse to be happy with the world around them. There’s not much that can be done when someone’s personality causes them to be in a bad mood.

What to Do About It

Understanding the cause of the bad mood can help you put things in better perspective. You’re able to see that it’s not really your loved one, but what is happening to him – unless it’s his personality.
To help lift the spirits of your loved one, try to turn him away from what is causing the bad mood. For example, if it’s stress, try to fill his time with activities he will enjoy. If it’s health related or medication, see if you can speak to the doctor about it. Treatment for a condition or medication changes can help turn a bad mood into a good one. If it’s personality, you’ll need to get a little more creative. Don’t try to change who your loved one is because it will just make the situation worse. What you can do take it in small doses. When spending time with your loved one, try to remain positive yourself. When you feel your energy dwindling because of the misery of your loved one, step away. Take a break and talk to a friend who is usually in a good mood.
As hard as it is to step away from your loved one when he is in a bad mood, know that being stuck is going to affect your mood, and that’s not fair to you. It might be beneficial to speak to a personal consultant like Kendall Van Blarcom when you’re faced with the effects of your loved one’s mood. He has a lot of experience working with people who are going through exactly what you are.
If you feel that your loved one just needs someone to speak to that will help him turn his mood around, Kendall has experience in that too. As a marriage and family therapist for many years, he has been able to help many people improve their lives.
Contact him today for more information on how personal consulting can help you or your senior loved one.
Kendall Van Blarcom
www.KvanB.com

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Personal Consulting for Seniors
Caregiving

Senior Respite Helps Caregivers

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Senior Respite Helps Caregivers

Senior Respite Helps CaregiversCaregiving is a very hard job. The Center for Disease Control has reported that caregivers end up suffering a lot because of all they do.

  • 35% of caregivers believe it’s hard to find time for themselves
  • 29% suffer emotional and physical stress
  • 54% report that their health is worse
  • 29% have a hard time finding a work life balance

Since caregiving is so incredibly hard, many people decide to take advantage of respite. Senior Respite Helps Caregivers

What Is Respite?

Respite care is often offered by assisted living communities. They provide short-term stays for seniors whose caregivers need a break. They take care of seniors for that short time, so caregivers do not have to worry.
Does this sound like something you would like to take advantage of? If so, I recommend doing it. You work so hard for your older loved one, so take some time to pay attention to your care.
Actually, the National Respite Network advises that caregivers use respite before they become exhausted. This is what prevents burn out and stress related illnesses and diseases.
Some caregivers find respite care to be better than having someone come to their loved one’s house because it’s a different environment. A change of pace can do wonders for your loved one, especially when he or she can meet some people. Not only is this a benefit for you, it’s a benefit for your loved one.

How to Get Respite Care Set Up for Your Loved One

All you have to do to set up respite care is contact assisted living facilities around your local area. Not all of these places offer respite, but many do, so find the ones that do and arrange an interview. During the interview, you can ask questions about how their respite care services work. You can take a tour of the community, and then decide if it’s something your older loved one would like. If possible, bring your loved one with you. This way he or she can have a say about which one is better.
When you’re ready to use respite care, contact the director and arrange the stay. You will need to bring everything that the assisted living facility has requested. If you do not have something, ask if that is okay before you go to drop off your loved one. Sometimes, facilities will not care for your loved one without all of the items needed because of licensing requirements.

Additional Help Is Available

Do you need more help with your caregiving? Kendall Van Blarcom can help you. Offering information about respite care is only one of the ways that he helps people like you. He genuinely cares about you and wants to help you. By talking about your problems, he is able to help you solve them in the ways you want to. Learn more about his personal consulting services. It may just be what you need to turn your life around, so you and your older loved one can be happier and healthier.
Kendall Van Blarcom
www.KvanB.com

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts