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Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

How to Juggle Caregiver Tasks When You Work Outside the Home

According to the National Caregiver Alliance and AARP, 60% of the approximately 43.5 million caregivers in the U.S. are employed, and most of them work outside the home full time. Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work
Between work, caregiving tasks and maintaining their own household, it’s no wonder the majority of caregivers report that they experience physical and emotional stress. Between work and caregiving, they are putting in at least 60 hours a week!

Shortcuts to Balance the Caregiver/Employee Roles

If you’re not able to cut back work or caregiving hours, how can you balance the two? Shortcuts, hacks and letting things go is a good start. Here are my best timesavers and hacks that I’ve used during extremely stressful and busy times.

1. Eat as well as I can:

I’d love to say, hey, get your 5 servings of vegetables and fruits in every day, but let’s face it, when you’re busy, the easiest food to eat is usually junk food or processed food. When I’m super busy, I try to make sure we’re stocked with portable healthy snacks such as granola bars, string cheese, yogurt, bananas, tangerines and apples. Aside from the yogurt and cheese, I can throw them in my bag or leave them in my car. Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work

2. Cook in bulk:

It isn’t the most exciting way to eat, but I usually cook two or three large meals at the beginning of the week and we re-heat throughout the week.

3. Sunday or Monday plan:

I once read an article about a woman who keeps her Mondays appointment free so that she could prepare herself for a successful week. Monday doesn’t work for most people who have a full-time job, but for me, Sunday evening is a great time to plan for the week. Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work
I personally prefer a paper calendar for planning, although I keep an electronic calendar so that I have it on my phone as well. For planning, I look at both and go through the days of the week and make sure we are covered for any appointments and activities. I bought a dry erase decal for my refrigerator that I use for any appointments that affect more than one person so my husband and I are on the same page.
If you are scheduling yourself and your parent, you may want to color code your schedule. One thing that tripped up a lot of my clients and their children was backing up times to allow for transportation. There were many times where they would accidentally leave for an appointment at the time they were supposed to arrive. One of my clients who was an executive assistant in her career had a great idea of putting her pick up time in pen and underneath, she would write the appointment time in pencil. I am hooked on these Bic four color pens since I can easily color-code without having to have multiple pens. They last forever. I have been using the same one for 2 years now. Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work

4. Schedule maintenance:

If you are so busy that you are barely getting through the day, making sure the little things continue to run is important, but challenging. Go ahead and put your car maintenance on your calendar ahead of time so that you don’t forget. The last thing you need is an expensive car repair. Are there other things you need to maintain? Think about what needs to be done to keep your life running smoothly and put it on your calendar before you forget – both for your home and your parent. Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work

5. Maximize your work day:

If you have to be in an office for eight hours a day, use your lunch or breaks to get some tasks done. During your planning time, list out any appointments you need to make (with phone numbers and any background info), shop for groceries online and do any other task that you don’t need to do in person. If you have your list and all the details ready to go, you can blaze through your list. Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work
If you don’t sit at a desk or don’t work at a computer, you can still take your lunch break to make any calls, set up appointments, etc. You can also shop on Amazon Prime Now from your cell phone.

6. Find off-hour service providers:

While most doctors only operate from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., there are some dentists and even medical imaging centers that are open late or on weekends. I once had an MRI at 9 a.m. on a Saturday. Try to find providers that operate when you have more time for you and your parent so that you don’t need to use all of your time off for routine care.

7. Get creative:

I worked with a family who had a creative strategy for medical appointments. They hired us to transport the father to and from his appointment, but the daughter met him there, attended the appointment and went back to work. She only needed to take one hour off of work, versus 3 hours if she was providing transportation.
Can you find ways to be present without doing everything? Can you schedule appointments early in the morning so that you only miss an hour of work. Is there someone you can split the load with? Do you have a friend, neighbor or community member who has more free time and can assist with some of the manageable tasks like grocery shopping or errands? Is there someone you can hire to help with the errands? I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard of sites like Task Rabbit, where you can hire someone to do errands for you. Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work
You can’t do it all, so finding shortcuts or getting help can help take some of the stress off your plate. How can you find a few extra hours? Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work
 

Balancing Caregiving Responsibilities and Work

 
 

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Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support
Caregiving

Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Is Your Aging Parent Struggling?

 
Whether you live near your aging parents or live across the country, it can be hard to see changes in their health or well-being. Sometimes, health and cognitive changes are gradual, making it hard to notice. Or, in many cases, we just see our parents as our parents and don’t notice a decline until something major happens. Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support
It can be especially hard for local family members to see gradual changes. Similar to noticing gradual weight loss in someone you see regularly, you may not catch that your parent has lost interest in activities or that they seem to more and more forgetful. Sometimes, it takes an extended visit from a long-distance family member to catch these changes.
I worked with many families who had both long-distance and local siblings. It was always interesting to see how much more the long-distance siblings noticed, since they had more time between visits so changes to health and wellbeing seemed more drastic, rather than gradual. Many times, I noticed issues that local family members didn’t see since they weren’t looking for signs of illness or decline.
I had a client who had two daughters who were not on the same page about his well-being. The local sister saw nothing wrong with her father’s balance and gait because he had been walking like that for some time. The sister who visits a few times a year from Spain was shocked by how much her father had declined and insisted on a life alert system and that his driving service walk him to his apartment, rather than leave him in the garage, which was his preference. My staff and I knew that he struggled and had brought it up to the local daughter but she dismissed us, until her sister expressed the same concern.

Signs Your Aging Parent is Struggling

Here are some changes you should keep an eye out for, whether you live nearby or across the country.

  1. Depression: While depression can be common in older adults, there are ways to combat depression. If you notice slight changes such as a loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed or feelings of guilt, consider addressing these concerns with your parent or their physician.
  1. Increase in Falls: Is your aging parent falling more frequently? If you’ve already addressed fall risks in the home, it could be due to a medical condition or their medication. Speak with their doctor and consider fall prevention aides.
  1. Loneliness: Has your parent recently lost a close friend, moved away from their neighborhood or stopped driving? They could be lonely, which can lead to physical and emotional health problems.
  1. Unsafe Driving: Are you noticing new dings or dents on your parents’ car? Are they anxious about getting behind the wheel? Do they have limited mobility or hearing loss? These could be signs that they need to turn over the keys. Help them understand the dangers of unsafe driving and find solutions to keep them independent and active.
  1. Elder Abuse: Is there someone who is getting abnormally close to your loved one or who is trying to keep family members away from your parent? They may be committing elder abuse. Trust your gut and get informed. Elder abuse isn’t just physical abuse.
  1. Malnutrition: Did you know that many seniors suffer from malnutrition? Help your parents remain proper nutrition by stocking them up with easy healthy snacks and ensuring healthy meals are accessible to them.
  1. Alzheimer’s Disease: Are you noticing your parent isn’t just forgetting little details, but significant facts such as how to get home from the grocery store or trouble following simple directions? There is a difference between general cognitive decline and dementia. Don’t ignore the signs. Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

Don’t dismiss changes to health and well-being. With some tweaks or discussions with a doctor, they can probably be rectified, but if you let something like malnutrition or financial fraud go on for too long, it can have a catastrophic effect.

Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support
Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

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Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation
Caregiving

Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson
CONGRATULATIONS! In honor of your upcoming wedding anniversary, your spouse just surprised you with a romantic week-long trip. You know you are supposed to be thrilled but, there is no way that you can go. You are the primary caretaker for your aging parents, and a vacation is impossible. Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation
Who will take care of Mom? Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation
Who will look in on her in the afternoons?
How will she get to the doctor? Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation
Who will set up her medications? Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation
And… what happens if there is a real emergency? Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation
These are the exact reasons that you NEED a vacation. Being the primary caretaker for aging parents is challenging and demanding, and it takes its toll on you. You need this for your heart and mind. Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation
Before you start packing for your romantic getaway here are some options to keeping your aging parents safe and well, while you are relaxing by the beach!

Home Care

The preferred option for your aging parents is to remain in the same environment. Remaining at home creates the least disruption, especially for seniors dealing with memory loss or if they require specialized medical equipment.
Ask a relative or a sibling can assume the primary caretaker duties and stay over at your parent’s house while you are away. If this is not an option, ask the daytime caregiver if they can work extra hours. A home health care registry can provide personalized service from regular calls throughout the day, to night shifts or if your aging parents requires it, complete 24-hour care. Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation

Residential Care Facilities

Although not ideal, if it is impossible for your aging parent to remain in their accustomed routine at home, rest assured they will be well taken care of at a residential facility. ARCH National Respite and Resource Center, provides a wealth of information and a national locator tool that can help caregivers find respite services in their community.

Assisted Living Residence

This is ideal for independent seniors that require less help. The expectation is that your parents are mentally alert and can dress and feed themselves. Your parents can live in their own apartment while sharing communal living and dining areas.

Nursing Home

These facilities are intended for seniors with greater personal and medical requirements. Care is available day or night and constant nursing can be provided if it is deemed necessary.

Stress Busters

In order to go on vacation safe with the knowledge that your parents will be comfortable and safe until your return, start planning early. Depending on their mental capacity try and involve your parents in the decisions related to their care.

Finances

  • Understand the finances.
  • Add the costs of elder care into your vacation costs.
  • Research veterans benefits, Medicaid, foundation grants, and state funding.

Paperwork

No matter where your parents will be staying, organize a folder containing important paperwork.

  • List of primary and secondary emergency contacts
  • List of family contacts
  • List of physicians- with phone numbers and addresses
  • List of preferred hospital and pharmacy
  • List of all medications and which doctor prescribed them
  • Important documents: power of attorney, living will, advance directives, DNR orders
  • insurance cards

Enjoy Your Vacation

Relax! You are ready to enjoy a stress-free vacation. You have made arrangements for your aging parents and you have seen to the last detail. Now, is your time to take a break from the stress of being the primary caretaker.
Focus on the milestone of your wedding anniversary and enjoy the romantic getaway. BON VOYAGE!

Y.Feinerman is the digital marketing manager for Family First Home Health Care. Yocheved is passionate about family and is known to be the “go to person” for family life cycle events and FUN!
Family First Home Health Care is a consumer directed private care registry, with the purpose of putting our client in control. We are comitted to referring those caregivers who can provide high quality, innovative care and who strive for excellence. Caregier screening and referral care our business. Each of the caregivers on our registry unergo a rigorous background screening and a credetial verification. Click Here and F1HH will be in touch with you within 24 hours.

Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation

Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation Setting up Care for Aging Parents while on Vacation

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What Services Are Covered by Personal Care?
Caregiving

What Services Are Covered by Personal Care?

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

When hiring in-home care services for a spouse or family member, you’ll be faced with a number of options. Home care services cover a range of specialty services, along with more traditional forms of care, which include in-home companion care and personal care. What Services Are Covered by Personal Care?
Many families are unsure at first which type of care their loved one may need, particularly when choosing between companion careand personal care. Companion care services are for seniors who live by themselves and could benefit from conversation and a helping hand with housekeeping tasks. If seniors require hands-on assistance with personal activities, then they will need personal care.
If you’re uncertain about which type of care your loved one needs, it may help to know which services can be provided by personal care professional, but not by a companion caregiver. To assist you in selecting the right type of care for your spouse or family member, here is a short guide to the services that come with personal care.

Personal Care Services

Personal care is recommended for seniors with limited strength, poor mobility, physical disability, or chronic health conditions that limit their ability to perform activities of daily living. These are personal activities, like dressing and bathing, which require physical contact between the care recipient and the caregiver.
Given the sensitive nature of these activities and the risk of injury in the event of an accident, personal care should only be performed by highly trained caregivers. In most states, licensing requirements for personal caregivers are much more rigorous than the requirements for companion caregivers. While a personal care professional will be able to perform companion care tasks, it is unsafe and sometimes unlawful for a companion caregiver to perform personal care activities.
Once you’re familiar with the activities that personal care professionals are trained to perform, it’s easier to decide between companion care and personal care. If your loved one requires help in any of the following areas, personal care will likely be necessary.

  • Chronic pain, limited strength, and poor coordination make dressing difficult for many seniors. Whether your loved one needs help with their whole wardrobe or just a few items, a personal care professional can help them prepare for the day.
  • Many seniors find grooming difficult for the same reason they have trouble getting dressed. Moreover, grooming tools can injure seniors if improperly used. Personal caregivers can assist with hair care, nail care, shaving, and other grooming tasks.
  • Oral Hygiene.Healthy teeth and healthy gums play a crucial role in seniors’ well-being. An experienced personal caregiver can help your loved one follow their dentist-recommended oral hygiene program.
  • A slip in the shower or bathtub can result in a life-threatening injury. While grab bars, shower stools, and non-slip coatings reduce the risk of slipping, many seniors still require the assistance of a professional caregiver when bathing.
  • After showers and bathtubs, toilets are the leading cause of injury to seniors. Personal care providers are trained to help seniors use the bathroom safely, offering compassionate and dignified assistance.
  • If your loved one has mobility difficulties, personal care can make life easier both in and out of the home. Personal caregivers can help seniors get from place to place safely and reduce the risk of a mobility-related injury.
  • Individuals who are unable to transfer themselves from one position to another can benefit from personal care services, which can include transfer assistance performed by one or more caregivers.

Do you have a loved one who could benefit from personal care services? If so, we invite you to contact Visiting Angels®. Our team will provide detailed information about our services and can schedule a free consultation with one of our care directors.
Call 800-365-4189 today or contact your local Visiting Angels office directlyto request a free personal care consultation from Visiting Angels.

What Services Are Covered by Personal Care?

What Services Are Covered by Personal Care? What Services Are Covered by Personal Care? What Services Are Covered by Personal Care? What Services Are Covered by Personal Care? What Services Are Covered by Personal Care? What Services Are Covered by Personal Care?

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What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled
Caregiving

What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

As the population of Americans over the age of 85 grows dramatically, so too has the need for home caregivers. By the year 2026, demand for home caregivers will grow by another million. This is an alarming prediction, because there is already a serious shortage, which is making it very difficult for seniors and people with disabilities to find the assistance they need. Many overall healthy people have resorted to living in nursing homes and other institutions simply so that they can receive basic help with daily tasks. What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled

Causes of the Home Caregiver Shortage

Although it is a quickly growing profession, there are still not nearly enough people interested in working as caregivers in order to keep up with the demand. Caretaking jobs tend not to pay very well; currently, the average home caregiver is paid only $10.99/hour. This is similar to what employees in retail or food service earn. Additionally, caregivers often have inconsistent schedules, part-time work only, poor benefits, and few opportunities for advancement (1).
Moreover, the job comes with a lot of responsibility, and mistakes can result in serious injury, police investigations, and other issues.
Strict immigration policies may also affect the caregiver shortage, as roughly one quarter of caretakers are immigrants.
With all of these factors combined, it is not exactly shocking that home care agencies experience an annual turnover rate of 60% (1).

Impact of Caregiver Shortage on Individuals and Families

The Columbus Dispatch recently interviewed a woman named Kenna Robinett, who is the guardian for her twin nephews, who are both on the autism spectrum. She was able to find home caregivers for her nephews, but they were far from reliable. The caregivers served her nephews frozen hot pockets (unheated), microwaved bread sticks until they were burnt to a crisp, and stored ice cream in a cabinet drawer. On one occasion, the boys’ school called because one of them had arrived with feces on his hands. Another day, Robinett received a message saying that there would be no one available to care for her nephews as of 3p.m. that same day, because the agency was shutting down.
In addition to causing the inconvenience of rapidly finding a replacement, caregiver turnover can be emotionally traumatic. “This is deeply personal, intimate care,” Patty Lyons told The Columbus Dispatch, discussing her 15-year-old daughter, who has several disabilities and health conditions. “She has a G-tube (which delivers food to the stomach), takes 13 different medications. Essentially, she’s nonverbal. She has to be left alone with a provider while I’m at work.”
Lyons’ daughter, Adriana, previously had a private-duty nurse. Then Medicaid policies changed and she was declared ineligible for nursing services, under the assumption that a less expensive care provider could meet her requirements. However, it took Lyons months to find someone who could appropriately care for Adriana(2).

Caregiver Shortage Causes Unnecessary Institutionalization

Although staying in an assisted living center or nursing home is a viable option for some, seniors increasingly prefer to age at home (3). For those with the financial means, this can work very well; 102 year old Leroy Neuberg told the Radio program Bostonomixthat he credits his longevity to his dedicated and qualified home caregiver (4). However, many seniors who are healthy enough to live at home with some assistance are unable to do so due to the lack of available caregivers. People with disabilities have the same issue –even those who are very young.
25-year-old Korrie Johnson has cerebral palsy and limited mobility, but is overall healthy and mentally fit. Her mother used to help her with daily tasks, but is now unable to do so because she was injured in a serious car crash. Johnson had no other choice but to move into a nursing home in order to receive basic assistance.
“This is no place for someone my age,” she told the Star Tribune. Most of the other residents have dementia and other debilitating conditions.
Johnson is far from the only disabled person living in an institution and wishing to be free. In her home state of Minnesota, approximately 1,500 people under age 65 live in nursing homes. With a bit of help, many of them would likely be able to live at home and lead productive lives.

Solving the Home Caregiver Crisis

Advocates argue that unnecessary institutionalization, such as what Johnson is experiencing, violates civil rights. The Supreme Court “Olmstead” ruling (1999) mandates that states provide their residents with care in the most integrated environment possible.
Even from an economic perspective, home care makes sense. It tends to cost taxpayers less than nursing home care (5).
A critical component of fixing the caregiver shortage is making home caretaking a better profession. Worker cooperatives may help improve conditions for home caregivers, as well as provide training opportunities. Additionally, changes to Medicaid rules could provide caregivers with increased pay and benefits, more stability, and room for advancement (1).
As a society, we must recognize the importance of this profession, and treat home caregivers with the respect they deserve.
Sources

  1. Forbes– The Shortage of Home Care Workers: Worse Than You Think
  2. The Columbus Dispatch– Crisis in care: Lack of quality caregivers, constant turnover tough on disabled, families
  3. The Chicago Tribune– ‘Crisis mode’: As boomers age, a shortage of caregivers
  4. Bostonomix– Demand For Senior Home Care Grows, But Its Pay Remains Low
  5. Star Tribune– Shortage of home health workers forcing young Minnesotans with disabilities into institutions

This guest blog post was contributed by Reiter & Walsh ABC Law Centers.

What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled

What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled What the Home Caregiver Shortage Means for Seniors and Disabled

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How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves
Caregiving

How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

When your mom or dad starts to struggle with day-to-day activities, you may find yourself acting as a family caregiver. Caregiving is no small responsibility, and from the outside, most people understand that it’s a lot to handle. But when someone we love requires care, it’s easy to lose perspective and assume we’re the exception to the rule. No matter what happens, we tell ourselves, we can handle it. How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves
But caregiving often demands superhuman levels of energy, patience, and positivity. Expecting yourself to withstand these demand, and to provide high-quality care, is a shortcut to failure.
In overestimating our abilities as family caregivers, we endanger not only our own well-being, but also the well-being of our loved ones. Decades of research have highlighted the health risks faced by family caregivers, who experience high rates of physical, mental, and emotional health concerns. By compromising their own health, family caregivers also compromise the quality of care they provide. When this happens, caregiving can have a counterintuitive effect: worsening, rather than improving, quality of life.
Needless to say, if you’re taking on family caregiver duties for the first time, it’s important that you don’t overestimate your own abilities. Here are a few tips on how to prevent this from happening.

How Family Caregivers Can Avoid Unrealistic Workloads

Start Out Small. Whenever possible, family caregivers should start caregiving early. Instead of waiting for your loved one to start showing signs of severe decline, start lending a hand with small, routine tasks like running errands and dishwashing.
Starting early offers benefits for both you and your loved one. By starting out with smaller caregiving responsibilities, you can will reduce the risk of early burnout, develop caregiving skills and routines gradually. This method also lowers the risk that the care recipient will start receiving support too late, when decline has already compromised their health and well-being.
Build Caregiving Skills. Some people carry a mistaken assumption that caregiving is unskilled labor. Ask anyone who’s actually provided care — as a family caregiver or as a caregiving professional — and you’ll hear otherwise. The best caregivers have spent years refining their caregiving toolkits, which include a mix of hands-on talents and emotional skills.
By building up your own set of caregiving skills, you can reduce the risk of becoming overwhelmed. Make a conscious effort to become more effective and efficient at routine caregiving tasks and seek out caregiver resources that can help you become a better caregiver. When you feel more comfortable and capable as a family caregiver, you can start to take on additional roles and responsibilities.
Plan for Self-Care. Self-care is important for everyone, but it’s critical for those of us performing stressful, highly demanding work. Caregiving exacts a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health. If you ignore this, you’ll make every aspect of your life more difficult, including caregiving. This makes caregiver all the more taxing on your physical, mental, and emotional health, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
So when you’re starting out as a family caregiver, make sure that you’re setting aside time for self-care activities. Many family caregivers are quick to sacrifice personal time when they start providing care to a loved one. In many cases, it never occurs to them that they need time for self-care. By steering clear of this mistake, you’ll avoid the number one cause of caregiver burnout.
Set Realistic Goals. When you’re volunteering to act as a family member’s caregiver, it’s important that you set realistic goals. Typically, this means a conservative approach to goal-setting. Start with what you think you’re capable of, then cut those expectations by 25% to 50%.
Most people substantially overestimate themselves when they start a new role. That tendency is made worse when you’re caring for someone you love. But just because you want to do it all for your mom or dad, that doesn’t mean you can. Remember that, as a family caregiver, it’s easier to expand your role than to shrink it.
Ask for Support. One of the best ways to avoid becoming overwhelmed is to ask for outside help. Other members of your family might be unable to provide as much support as you can, but that doesn’t mean they can’t provide any support at all. Make sure to get family and friends involved in caregiving early.
If family and friends are unable to lend support, professionalrespite care servicescan help. A trusted home care agency will connect you with professional caregivers who can provide caregiving assistance, relieving the burden placed on family caregivers.
Overwhelmed by caregiving duties? Learn more about respite care services from Visiting Angels®by calling us today at 800-365-4189 or by contacting your local office.

How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves

How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves How First-Time Family Caregivers Shouldn’t Overestimate Themselves
 

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How Senior Home Care Can Address a $50 Billion Health Crisis
Caregiving

How Senior Home Care Addresses a $50 Billion Health Crisis

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control, the US health care system now spends $50 billion a year on one of the most widespread, most dangerous, and most preventable health risks to seniors: falls among the elderly. How Senior Home Care Addresses a $50 Billion Health Crisis
It’s a familiar problem for those of us who work in senior home care. Each year, roughly a third of US seniors suffer a fall of some sort, and falls are the number one reason that seniors lose the ability to live independently. But senior home care providers aren’t just familiar with this issue. We’re also uniquely positioned to help reduce falls among the elderly.
With expanded access to fall prevention programs, the senior home care industry could play a key role in addressing this health crisis, reducing the financial costs of falls and, more importantly, their impact on seniors’ quality of life.

Elderly Fall Prevention & Senior Home Care

In releasing their findings, researchers at the CDC have highlighted the fact that falls among the elderly aren’t inevitable. In fact, falls suffered by US seniors are almost always preventable. The researchers also noted that fall prevention programs have a proven track record of reducing seniors’ risks of falls. Fall prevention programs, which identify and manage fall risks, have been shown to reduce rates of falls among the elderly by nearly 25%.
Fall prevention programs are offered by a range of different providers, including medical organizations and non-profits. However, many of today’s most popular fall prevention programs are offered through senior home care companies. Given the nature of senior home care, providers of these services are uniquely positioned to provide fall prevention assistance.

  • Senior home care services are provided in the comfort of home, where 55% of falls among the elderly occur. Many caregivers also accompany seniors away from home, helping elderly adults avoid falls wherever they may be.
  • Home caregivers are skilled in monitoring and caring for seniors who are coping with frailty, poor balance, reduced vision, and other health concerns that increase the risk of falls.
  • Caregivers are also familiar with the signs of declining physical and cognitive health, increasing the likelihood of early intervention.
  • Senior home care workers can make sure that their clients’ homes are free of many common fall risks, like cords blocking walkways, bunched up rugs and mats, and spills in bathrooms and kitchens.
  • Caregivers can help seniors make lifestyle changes that reduce the risk and impact of falls, including dietary changes and programs of light or moderate exercise.
  • In the event of a fall-related injury, a caregiver can contact emergency services as quickly as possible, greatly increasing the likelihood of survival.
  • Many senior home care agencies offer fall prevention resources to seniors and their family members, including detailed information on how your loved one can reduce their risk of falling by modifying their home environment and lifestyle.
  • Some senior home care agencies provide detailed fall prevention inspections, in which care professionals inspect seniors’ homes for fall risks and provide families with detailed, personalized recommendations about how best to resolve these risks.

Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Program

At Visiting Angels®, we’ve long been concerned about the risks that falls pose to American seniors. That’s why we developed ourSafe and Steady fall prevention program. This program was designed to provide elderly adults with the information, resources, and support they need to avoid falls both inside and outside the home.
Visiting Angels takes a multi-faceted approach to fall prevention through senior home care:

  • The Safe and Steady program includes in-home assessments by our care directors. These assessments allow us to spot fall hazards in seniors’ homes and recommend corrective action to mitigate these hazards.
  • The program also includes caregiver education, so that our senior home care providers can identify and address fall risks to their clients, while encouraging lifestyle choices that reduce the risk of falls.
  • Educational resources are likewise provided to our clients and their families, so that they can practice effective fall prevention when our caregivers are not present.

When designing this senior home care program, we focused on practical ways that our clients and their families can prevent falls. This was possible thanks to more than twenty years of senior home care experience. We provide elderly adults with achievable strategies to prevent falls, helping our clients avoid the number one threat to their independence and the leading cause of accidental death among US seniors.
To learn more about our Safe and Steady fall prevention program, call Visiting Angels at 800-365-4189 today or contact your local Visiting Angels senior home care agency.
In addition, take advantage of the excellent products on Senior.com to help prevent falls in a home. Senior.com is an expert in helping you age in place with the right products.

How Senior Home Care Addresses a $50 Billion Health Crisis

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Take Steps to Organize your Care
Caregiving

Take Steps to Organize your Care

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

A recent column discussed the significant legal paperwork and the long-term care options. Research says, most of us deny that we will ever need long-term care but reality shows differently. Take Steps to Organize your Care
Today, let’s look at the steps that help you plan for a medical event if one should occur. It’s always best to “prepare in advance” long before you need help. By waiting for the last-minute, it could put you or the other person at risk of stress and in a position of not finding the best care. Take Steps to Organize your Care

  • Find a support community and network. The members offer valuable advice and by connecting with those in the similar situations will comfort knowing you can count on their experience.
  • Organize legal documents — select a trusted relative, friend, or professional as the power of attorney and the health care proxy, but make sure they understand your wishes.
  • Keep a list of contacts with names and phone numbers of the bank, lawyer, pharmacist, physician, hairdresser, yardman and others who help. Add neighbors, church connections, friends, and family. Don’t rely on memory for details.
  • Add local resources — religious and faith-based groups are reliable support. Consider local groups like Meals-on-Wheels and the Area Agency on Aging.
  • Obtain a home safety assessment — have the home assessed for safety to determine whether you or another will be safe and secure. The plan will recommend immediate, short-term and long-term solutions.
  • Start discussions with relatives and siblings — have care conversations with the family and make a plan. Consider each person’s natural talents–some are not comfortable giving baths, perhaps they can cook, clean, and run errands.

Turn to your doctor first

Medical issues to discuss with your doctor:

  • If you’ve fallen in the past 6 months
  • If you take 5 or more medications

Identify cognitive and functional abilities:

  • Do you need help with bathing, dressing, shopping, and paying bills?
  • Do you feel sad?

Identify your social support:

  • Who could help you in a crisis?
  • Do you have a long-term care policy?

Create a care and treatment plan with the medical staff.

  • Take advantage of delivery services for medications and food. Utilize home care if you need help with activities of daily living.

Make safety and fall prevention a priority.

Tell your doctor if:

  • You have trouble driving. Let the medical staff know if you experienced accidents or if you’ve gotten lost while driving.

Create a close bond with your medical team by

  • Developing a relationship with your primary care physician and staff
  • Learn their 24-hour call service
  • Learn if the hospital where your physician works has a 24-hour call service
  • Know nearby Urgent Care Centers
  • Some emergency rooms have fast track lines to help those unsure if it is a real emergency

Sign up for my newsletter – send an email to Carol@Seniorcare.com and write “sign me up” in the subject line.

Take Steps to Organize your Care

Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care Take Steps to Organize your Care

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The Complicated Relationship Between Alcohol & Dementia Care
Caregiving

Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

The decision to move your mom or dad into a care facility is never easy. But this decision gets especially tough when it forces your parents to live apart from one another. This situation is more common than many people realize. Spouses rarely age at the same rate, and many elderly couples are forced apart when one of them requires a high level of care due to physical or cognitive decline. Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care
Separating elderly couples can have terrible consequences. The loss of a long-term spouse is linked with mental health concerns, increased risk of poor physical health, and a lower average lifespan. While separation is sometimes impossible to stop, it is almost always better to keep elderly couples together when possible.
That’s where home care services come into play. Home care services allow many elderly couples to age in place together, even when one spouse develops serious physical or cognitive health concerns. Certain home care providers can even keep elderly couples together when both spouses require different types of care services.
But keeping elderly couples together with home care services isn’t always simple or easy. Sometimes, it requires detailed planning in advance. It could also mean being more selective when choosing a care agency for your parents. Additionally, you may need to start home care services early in order to keep mom and dad together for as long as possible.
While that can be tricky, it’s not impossible. So, if you’re concerned about how you’ll help your parents age in place together, here are some of the things you’ll need to think about.

Plan Ahead and Start Home Care Early

The earlier you begin planning for home care, the easier it will be to keep your parents together and allow them to age in place. Many families avoid discussing care until the last minute, leaving them with few options for care and even less time to choose. By planning for care in advance, you can get ahead of worst-case scenarios and extend the time your parents spend in one another’s company.
One of the smartest steps you can take is to get started with home care early. Most people assume that caregivers help seniors age in place only by helping out after physical or cognitive decline has taken place. This isn’t true. In fact, caregivers can help stave off decline before it occurs. By providing in-home assistance, home care can delay the difficulties that lead seniors to nursing care in the first place.
Many people worry about the costs of professional home care. But care costs are substantially lower early on. Instead of waiting for your mom or dad to become overwhelmed caring for their spouse, you can hire a caregiver for a few hours a week. The caregiver can handle the toughest aspects of care, while your other parent can perform the care tasks that are easier to handle. This way, you keep care costs low, maintain quality of life for one parent, and prevent your other parent from becoming overwhelmed.
Even if you don’t get started with home care immediately, planning ahead offers other benefits. You’ll be able to plan ahead financially, giving you a better sense of what will be best and most realistic. You’ll also get the chance to research local home care providers, so that you have a better idea of your parents’ options for care.

Home Care for Elderly Couples

Another reason home care services are popular with elderly couples is flexibility and customization. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities typically focus on a certain level of care, or offer a limited number of specialty services. If both of your parents require senior care, but each parent has unique care concerns, they may struggle to find a care facility that can meet both of their needs.
On the other hand, many home care agencies are experienced in providing care for couples — even if spouses have different care needs. Many agencies offer a range of specialty care services, with flexible scheduling and service plans. So, if one of your parents requires personal care due to limited mobility, and the other needs home dementia care for Alzheimer’s, a high-quality home care agency can accommodate both parents’ care needs.
Similarly, a caregiver who you originally hired to care for one parent could eventually care for both your mom and your dad. While many elderly adults are hesitant to request home care services, it is easier for them to get started with care when a professional caregiver is already in their home. An experienced caregiver can also spot signs of decline. So even if your mom or dad believes themselves to be in good health, you’ll have someone there to let you know when they need help.
Wondering where you’ll find high-quality home care services suitable for your mom and dad? We suggest starting your search with your local Visiting Angels. Our home care providers frequently work with couples, helping families keep mom and dad together in the home they love. Call 800-365-4189 today or contact your local Visiting Angels office to learn more.

Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care

Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care Keeping Elderly Couples Together with Home Care

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