You and your parent are in the unique position of doing something that has not been done before in the history of the world. Are you aware that your parent is among the first generation ever to live en masse into late life? In all previous generations, most people died before they reached later life. They died from disease, warfare, childbirth, famine, and other hardships.
However, most people born into your parents’ generation have survived to become older adults. The flip side of that story is that you are part of the first generation to experience caregiving as a normal part of midlife. Not only that, but you are providing care for longer than every generation prior to yours, and are caring for parents who are more frail. Your parents might have provided care for their aging parents for months, or maybe a few years, but your generation provides caregiving to aging parents for an average of 17 years! Many of you will give long term care for four parents or more, if you assist your in-laws and step-parents as well as your own parents.
Back in the past, most people would have died of their first physical crisis, which might have been a heart attack, stroke or cancer. Now many people survive the first incident, often for so many years, but their recovery is incomplete, and not with the same health and vigor they had before the crisis. They need a bit of help from you. Here’s where a support group becomes important.
Since no one in a previous generation has experienced this, you have few options for advice. You are the leading edge. You never had a model from earlier generations of how to choose between attending your son’s baseball game or visiting your chronically ill mother. Your friends, neighbors and co-workers might not know what criteria to consider when you’re faced with making heartbreaking decisions about money, time, and energy. And you certainly were not raised knowing how to say ” no ” to mom or dad when it comes to giving them senior care.
A group whose participants are currently facing the very same issues as you have experienced can provide support in a way nothing else can. Another advantage of discussing aging issues with a peer group is that you can become a better and more knowledgable caregiver. By drawing on the experiences of other participants, you have all the information on how to handle with events even before they happen. Most participants will say at some point, ” Thank goodness I knew what to do, or had heard of that before. ” It’s reassuring to know that you are not the only one who resents the burden of giving continuous care while fearing the end of it.
Another great reason to find a peer support group is to share your hard-earned knowledge with others who may be floundering. You may even be able to guide someone else through the process of taking the car keys or moving their parent out of the home they’ve lived in for the last 70 years.
Due to the increasing cases of people who need long term health care, long term care insurance products are now being sold all over the United States. There are companies that offer insurance products that may be subscribed to by patients beyond the pre-determined period of time.
Products like this offer assistance to holders including covering the costs that may be incurred during the long term care treatment. This insurance normally covers those that are not given assistance by other health assistance companies if you are already entitled to one. The following are some of the services which are covered by LTC insurance: respite care, hospice care, nursing home, adult day care, home care, and assisted living.
The acquisition of long term care insurance is easy if you could be proven eligible enough to avail of the benefits. Usually, there are policies implemented when applying for LTC insurance.
The two most common policies implemented are those in relation to an applicant’s income tax. First is the Tax Qualified (TQ) policy which is implemented to patients who: 1) will need home health care for a period not shorter than 90 days; 2) are incapacitated to perform two activities of daily living (ADL) like eating, dressing up, or using the comfort room. Under a TQ (tax qualified) policy, these benefits are non-taxable.
The second most common policy is called Non-Tax Qualified (NTQ). Under this policy, a medical necessity “trigger” should be included in the statement. This means that the patient’s needs for most medical assistance, for any reason, will be covered by the policy. The NTQ policy also requires only one disability from the holder to enjoy the benefits. If you’re a holder of this policy, and you’re unable to walk because of an injury or an ailment, you’re treatment should be covered entirely.
However, the US Department of Treasury has not made any clarifications as to the status of the benefits under this policy. Therefore, its taxability is open for further interpretations.
People often confuse Medicaid for Medicare, another popular government-sponsored program. However, these programs are very different in what they are designed to do. Medicare is the national health care assistance program provided by the federal government.
Its function is to make sure that affordable home health care is available to all seniors and disabled people younger than 65. On the other hand, Medicaid is a program run by the individual states, along with some federal assistance, and it varies considerably from one state to another. One of Medicaid’s main function is to provide assistance to those who have very few possessions and assets. One of those areas that many people need assistance with is health care, and so Medicaid picks up the tab for assisted care costs that many seniors simply cannot pay for on their own. Medicaid is a wonderful provision to make sure that those with few means receive the care they need even when they cannot afford to pay for it themselves.
Only problem is that Medicaid does have its limitations, and one area that is draining Medicaid of its precious resources is long-term care. In fact, based to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in 2001, Medicaid paid for almost 40% of the annual long-term care bill in this country.
So what is long-term care according to the definition put forth by Medicaid? It is generally custodial care that is provided when a person needs assistance for activities of daily living, which includes bathing, eating, dressing, continence, toileting and transferring.
Skilled care on the other hand, which is paid for to some extent by Medicare, is for situations in which you are expected to get better as a result of the care. It is often referred to as short-term rehab, and includes changing dressings, IVs administering medications, and physical and speech therapies. Once a patient’s progress stops, the skilled care reverts to custodial care. Medicare will not pay for long-term care if it is not accompanied by the need for skilled care, and so the problem falls on Medicaid to pay for the ongoing costs of custodial care.
Although Medicaid will pay for long-term care, there are severe restrictions on the qualifications for assistance.
First and foremost, Medicaid is a program designed to help those who are impoverished. In order to qualify for long-term care assistance through Medicaid, a person who must spend practically all of his own possessions before Medicaid will begin picking the tab. Medicaid, in general, is not set up to provide care in a home setting.
Usually the care must be provided within a residential facility, meaning that a person has to give up much of his independence in order to qualify. Remember that much of the individual’s ability to control the kind of care recieved is also forgotten or lost because the state will determine where and how the care is administered since it is paying for the care.
The skyrocketing costs of long-term care are placing many state Medicaid programs under extreme pressure, and much needs to be done to help make sure that this vital program for those who have few means will be able to continue to serve those who need it most. As a result, both state and federal governments are encouraging most Americans to take the responsibility for their own future long-term care needs. Getting more information on the important issues surrounding long-term care and how it affects us all is a good place to start.
Leaving one’s own house to get the best possible medical or personal care in a residential or senior housing facility can be such a sweet sorrow. In this day and age, the sorrow can be easily be eased by superb accommodations and interesting activities offered in a clean and well-kept health care facility that seniors can call their second home.
If you’re on the prowl for an excellent senior housing facility for a parent or relative who’s getting old (or worse, beginning to show signs of diminishing intellectual ability and memory decline), then there’s a wide selection of choices that may make the golden years of the person you are looking a senior home for simply wonderful. However, you need to choose well.
What are the main things you need to look for?
Adequate quality services will need to be the primary consideration. This is quite crucial, especially for seniors manifesting the signs & symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions that need to be constantly monitored. You may conduct your own thorough investigation by touring the senior housing & health care facility. You may even converse with some of the residents of the senior home you are eyeing, but try to do so without a staff hanging around. It is important to glean useful insights, like if staff members have a good record of delivering quality senior care. This is vital. Try not to be distracted then by the pristine surroundings. Speak with the dietary head, too, and sample the meals served at the senior housing facility. While in the premises, grab the opportunity to check what recreational activities are offered to residents.
Speak with the dietary head, too, and sample the meals served at the senior housing facility. While in the premises, grab the opportunity to check what recreational activities are offered to residents.
While in the premises, grab the opportunity to check what recreational activities are offered to residents.
Speak with the dietary head, too, and sample the meals served at the senior housing facility. While in the premises, grab the opportunity to check what recreational activities are offered to residents.
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 It is highly recommended to get an adult day services for old people who can’t live independently. It is important to determine the conditions when to opt for the program no matter how we repel the idea.
The old people, as well as the family, should be assured that they can only get an absolutely win/win situation with the benefits the home program offers. If the institution is any good, the old adult and his family members should feel relieved and assured that they’ll only get quality care provided the center. Most families and relatives select adult day services especially when all the children are working, and they can’t afford to give their parents’ a much needed round-the-clock supervision which only an adult day care program can give.
It is important to find the right adult day services. The participant will have extensive benefits on having a secure and safe place while being away from their family program in the center is designed to cater for their care. They could enjoy worthwhile and educational activities that can lead to mental and physical development. They can even experience a certain level of independence, develop friendship and socialize. Meals are prepared to address their specific nutritional needs.
There are ways to help you locate a reputable facility. When you have finally considered a center, it is best to phone to inquire some details like the agency owner or sponsors, number of years in operation, licensure, transportation provided, conditions they accept, programs and meals provided. It is best to visit the center and try to spend a day to closely observe the operation and have an actual feel for the people and the atmosphere. It is best to know what you can expect for the care of your family.It is best to know what you can expect for the care of your family.
It is best to visit the center and try to spend a day to closely observe the operation and have an actual feel for the people and the atmosphere. It is best to know what you can expect for the care of your family.It is best to know what you can expect for the care of your family.
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Finding the best continuing care facility for a senior member of your family can be a challenging task. In order for you to ensure that you are able to provide for what they need, here are some tips that you should take into account.
Keep in mind that continuing care facilities may consist of different levels, which include skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities for personal care.
Investigate their independent living facilities. Those who choose to go into continuing care facilities may be given the option to rent their own apartment or living quarters. However, you also need to know how much the fees will be and should a transition to an assisted living care or to a nursing facility for closer medical attention be needed later on.
You can also consult with your senior family member’s physician or doctor in order find out where you can best avail of continuing care facilities. You may also gather information from social workers for much needed advice.
It is very important that you should also consider the cost, and as well as the level of independence that your senior family member has, and what facilities will be available to him or her later on. You want to make sure that the transition goes smoothly, and that your family member should be treated with care and respect. You may also want to check out how the community functions, and if it’s possibly a good environment for your senior family member to spend his/her retirement. All in all, you want to make sure that the facility contributes to a good quality of life.
You can also consult with your senior family member’s physician or doctor in order find out where you can best avail of continuing care facilities. You can also get more information from social workers for much needed advice.
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Continuing care retirement communities or CCRC can be a good place to retire for your senior family members. One of the advantages of growing old in a CCRC is that seniors are given the chance to grow old in a place in which they will be able to familiarize themselves with.
Usually, admission in continuing care retirement communities happens while the senior member is still active and is still adept to independent living. They come in knowing that nursing and assisted living facilities will be available to them should the need arise.
There are lots of living facilities available for seniors in the independent living stage. They have a choice between apartments, dorms or family homes. Usually, they may not need assistance with personal care until later on.
If a senior should begin to need assistance with personal needs, they usually do not need to transfer to another place. This means they get to keep the personal relationships which they have established. There is no drastic change in routine that is involved. If ever they needed living assistance because of an illness and they become well again, they can also make the transition back to independent living.
Continuing care retirement communities can be a great place to retire simply because of the main reason that they maintain the dignity of senior members of the community. Their holistic health is taken into consideration and they are given the opportunity to create a community where they can gain emotional security and stability.
There are various living facilities available for seniors in the independent living stage. They have a choice between apartments, dorms or family homes. Usually, they may not need assistance with personal care until later on
The place has to be equipped at least with the basic facilities. Select a place with a proven track record that can provide quality health care for your loves ones. Ideally, these should be institutions with trained health professionals.
Nowadays, there is a new line of work which has emerged in answering the increasing requirements of older people for utmost assistance when moving to a residential care or some other senior home facility. Senior move managers can greatly ease the mental anguish and physical exertion that elderly people go through when moving to a new home.
Most elderly people have enough on their minds and hearts already, like feelings of hopelessness or loneliness associated with leaving a home, to be burdened by the physical and mental stress of packing and checking out requirements in the home where they will be transferring to. This is where senior move managers, a new breed of professionals who are trained in providing human services (most of them have tucked a degree in counseling and health care facility, if not social work or occupational therapy) to the elderly, come in.
The senior care move manager (who may have an hourly or packaged rate) can greatly reduce the stress and apprehensions that most seniors experience when moving to a home for the elderly. This type of professional worker is important, most especially when seniors are ill or are recovering from an injury, and have little physical energy to use. In most cases, it is the adult children of the senior client, or an officer of the retirement home, or social worker, who contacts the senior move manager. These services range from sorting, packing & unpacking and organizing belongings; overseeing movers; assisting in selling the old home; handling the logistical preparations before seniors move to the new home (including purchasing necessities connected with moving and arranging for cleaning services); and rendering emotional/moral support to seniors. Seniors who have accumulated a lifetime of personal belongings will benefit most from a senior move manager’s assistance.
In most cases, it is the adult children of the senior client, or an officer of the senior communities retirement home, or social worker, who contacts the senior move manager. These services usually range from packing and unpacking, sorting and organizing belongings; overseeing movers; assisting in selling the old home; handling the logistical preparations before seniors move to the new home (including purchasing necessities connected with moving and arranging for cleaning services); and rendering emotional/moral support to seniors. Seniors who have accumulated a lifetime of personal belongings will benefit most from a senior move manager’s assistance.
This article, written by Jill Gilbert, originally appeared as “Grieving Takes its Course” in McKnight’s Long Term Care News June 2008 edition. For this month, we will continue our discussion with Joyce Ebmeier of Tabitha Health Care Services. A 25-year veteran of the nursing home industry, Ebmeier talked about the great social benefits of the Green House and a phenomenon she calls the “Green House Creep,” explaining how the model of senior care is leading to positive change at Tabitha’s 205-bed traditional nursing home, affectionately known as “the mothership.”
Mary’s story
To many, the social benefits of a Green House are undeniable. Living in a smaller community operating under its own set of rules makes for a happy household. When Mary, one of the first elders to move into the Green House, celebrated her 101st birthday, the staff asked her what she wanted. Ebmeier sounds wistful when she recalls, “Mary and her daughter sitting on the porch enjoying a margarita and a cigarette.” This year on her birthday, everyone gathered on the porch and had margaritas to honor her memory.
b. Community before business.
It always is painful to lose someone you love, but Ebmeier says in the Green House it is “that intense and more. [Death] impacts the dynamics acutely.” After the first death in the Green House, Tabitha staff acted to fill the spot. The senior care residents and staff of the Green House pushed back, saying they “had not grieved enough yet” they needed more time.
Tabitha’s administration agreed, writing a policy for the Green House, outlining the steps to be taken when an elder died, in order to allow time for everyone to grieve properly. Collaborative change. Tabitha’s administration have worked with the community to develop guidelines and a timeframe that worked. Ebmeier describes the policy as “an opportunity to honor that member of the household.” After the initial grieving period, staff members and residents will welcome the newest member to the Green House. The outcome has had a profound effect on the mothership as well. Its staff and residents quickly developed their own policy so that they, too, could grieve for neighbors and friends who had died.
Most of us have already heard about the recent news of swine flu, but have you thought about what it means for the seniors in your life, your aging parents or you as a caregiver? To date, almost all cases in the North America have been mild. Just yesterday, President Obama released this official statement: “We are closely monitoring the emerging cases of swine flu in the United States. This is obviously the cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert, but it’s not a cause for alarm.
However, according to the World Health Organization, the number of confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide increased to 236 on Thursday; this is a substantial increase from the previous day’s total of 147. [spin]Anyone with an aging parent or a senior in their life, including all certified senior care managers, should be concerned about the recent swine flu pandemic and the potential risks for seniors. This group is at particular risk due to difficulties recovering if exposed. It is very important to ensure that all home health care aides are educated about swine flu Prevention Guidelines as prescribed by the CDC Center for Disease Control(CDC). Obtaining relevant information from all active caregivers, including recent travels and experienced flu symptoms, is a key component of prevention.
There are steps that professional and family caregivers as well as the community at large can take to decrease exposure and combat symptoms of swine flu. The Center for Disease Control is constantly updating their site, but the current guidelines and information about swine flu for caregivers is as follows: Swine flu’s symptoms resemble those of seasonal flu; fever, sore throat, cough, congestion, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue. Some patients also report diarrhea and vomiting. If you have symptoms, see your doctor or visit a community clinic. A medical provider’s diagnosis is important and prescription antiviral drugs are most effective when taken within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms. If you are ill, avoid travel and do not go to work or school. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based cleaners and hand sanitizers. Remember to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then discard the tissue.
Or if necessary, use your upper sleeve; not your hands. If you’re healthy, wash your hands often and avoid ill people. The flu’s incubation period is 24 to 48 hours. Make certain to follow any new developments regarding public health advice, such as avoiding crowds. Develop an emergency plan with the senior care caregivers. Your plan should include maintaining a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essentials.
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