Do you have questions or concerns about caring for your aging family member? Do you need help deciding on their long term care either at home or at a facility? Clare Absher is a Registered Nurse with 40 years of experience in home health, acute care, assisted living, and retirement settings. Clare will be happy to share her professional
Transportation is crucial to ensure access to essential services such as medical care and grocery shopping. The availability of adequate transportation enables older persons to live independently in their communities, helps to prevent isolation and the possible need for long-term care placement. Many older people, who do not drive, must
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve older adults age 60+. AAA's are “in the know” and “on the ground” organizations. They help seniors and their families attain local community assistance that enables them to live more independently and with dignity. Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) primary undertaking is to help older adults age in place.
Good nutrition is crucial to maintaining an older person's health and overall well-being. There are 221 programs nationwide that administer Title VI of the Older Americans Act, which promote nutrition and supportive services. One of the more popular programs, commonly known as "Meals on Wheels", provides home meals delivered by local
Home Modification and Repair includes adaptations to homes that can make it easier and safer to manage activities of daily living such as bathing, cooking, and stair climbing. Examples include installing grab bars and transfer benches in bathrooms, and ramps and handrails for home access. Alterations to the physical structure of the home
Professional geriatric care managers specialize in assisting older persons and their families in meeting their day-to-day and long-term care needs. Most Geriatric Care Managers have training from bachelor degrees to multiple doctorates in gerontology, social work, psychology, and nursing (RN Care Managers). Geriatric Care Managers are a
Financial advisers specializing in the elderly are professionals who are dedicated to achieving financial security for their client's retirement. They strive to achieve this goal through strategic financial management of a senior's income and assets. In their role as retirement planners, they assess the elder's needs and objectives, and
Elder law deals with specific legal issues faced by the elderly population. It is important for attorneys dealing with the elderly to have a unique understanding of the laws that may have an impact on their situation. Elder law combines elements of estate planning, trusts, wills, conservatorships, guardianships, healthcare planning
Are there senior resources in your parent's community to help them remain at home? If so, you may be wondering what they are, how do you pay for them, and when can they start. Senior resources vary a lot from one area to another and while some are locally funded, others are state and federally subsidized. Many senior's limited budget
Getting and keeping the entire family involved in this caregiving commitment, no matter how difficult, should be your top priority. Learn from the experiences of real families to better prepare you for the caregiving challenges that lie ahead.
New York state has, by far, one of the most well known and comprehensive programs for elderly Medicaid recipients to take control of their home care. Aside from Uncle Frank, who has always wanted to relocate to sunny Florida and saunter around in his bathing suit all day, most of our aging loved ones wish to remain in their homes. At
The short answer is "Maybe". Some states provide programs that pay family members to care for loved ones at home however they are usually somewhat limited. These programs vary widely from state to state and even within the same state. Although most states offer some type of respite or temporary relief for family caregivers, they often
Countless times I encounter families that are surprised, if not horrified, by what they find when visiting Mom and Dad's during the holidays. The resounding message heard is that Mom or Dad seemed fine during long-distance chats with them on the phone. However, it turns out to be a very different story when seeing them in person over the
When you have exhausted the search for free respite programs then the next sensible approach is to find low cost, affordable respite care. When contacting in-home care agencies to compare pricing and negotiate better rates, be savvy and vigilant. Being informed on the various kinds of respite will help you and your family determine how to
In a variety of situations, helping your elderly parent remain in their home by hiring caregivers may be a better option than assisted living. Commonly, elderly parents voice a strong desire to stay at home because it is where they feel most comfortable. Home ownership, competent household management, sound financial assets, and a
Persistence and ingenuity will pay off when it comes to finding free respite. Perseverance will be rewarded by getting some well-deserved relief from your arduous caregiving duties. It's no joke that many family caregivers develop serious health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, and general "burn-out". Respite is widely
Do not feel guilty or incompetent should your loved one develop a bedsore as this can happen in spite of your best efforts. Other complicating factors contribute that are often well beyond your control such as advanced age, incontinence, poor nutritional status including dehydration and certain medical conditions such as neuromuscular
Are you going on a family vacation and planning to bring along one or both of your parents? Are you looking forward to enjoying some carefree quality time together as a family? Maybe it's a family reunion where multi-generations, including the grandchildren, are getting together. Regardless of your intentions, planning ahead is necessary
Caring for my elderly mother at home with life threatening COVID-19.
My extremely robust and healthy 87-year-old mother was on lockdown for many months to avoid the risks of COVID-19 exposure. However, despite extreme caution a lone visit from an asymptomatic friend resulted in Mom getting COVID. As she succumbed to this
The predominate question I am often asked by family caregivers is "Can I get paid to care for a family member?" After further research I will share some additional information on this ever popular topic. Some states offer limited programs that pay family members to take care of an elderly parent. Budget cuts at the state level, however,
I discovered the extensive value of in-home care when caring for Jeff, my darling husband who died of prostate cancer. In the past, working as a home health and hospice nurse, I was honored to help countless families care for their loved ones suffering with cancer. However, it wasn’t until my husband was a recipient of in-home care
Finding transportation can be challenging when Mom or Dad or both need help with driving to doctor appointments, shopping trips to the grocery, pharmacy and other local errands. It is often difficult for well-meaning but busy families with demanding schedules to find time to transport their elderly parents. Therefore it is practical if
Whether your parents have endured a short stay or an extended visit in a nursing home, it is not uncommon for them to vehemently protest staying any longer than necessary. You may hear comments such as: "I hate it here" "I'm desperately home-sick" "They treat me terrible" or still worse "I'm going to die alone in here." It should come as
When my parents retired and moved to a quiet coastal town they soon met new friends of similar ages that actively participated in their local senior citizen center. Dad was a relatively young retiree at age 62 who emphatically believed that senior centers were places that strictly catered to “old folks”. He did not
All known data points to Covid-19, the name of the illness caused by the coronavirus pandemic, to be extremely serious when contracted by the elderly. Therefore, we need to be exceptionally vigilant when it comes to quarantining elderly loved ones but at the same time clearly acknowledge their need for communication, companionship, and
What do your parents want most when they grow older? My mother clearly voiced her preference to live at home and not have to move to a facility in her golden years. Fortunately, with Mom’s sound planning and the help of my siblings, we honored her wishes to live independently for the past decade. Perhaps your own parents, like most
I have been an RN for over 40 years and have been honored to spend time with many grieving families. I also experienced first-hand the insurmountable grief in the wake of the loss of my 54-year-old husband, Jeff of 32 years. I have learned from my professional and personal experiences about genuine comforting approaches versus
Six months: that's the amount of time the bank told us we had to sort out Dad's repayment of his reverse mortgage loan. Six months is what we were given to grieve, then come to terms with all the financial aspects left in limbo with his death. There are four siblings, multiple grand kids, and two households full of memories to sort out.
In addition to the meticulous planning of medications, equally as important is finding an approach that will prompt your loved one to remember to take their medications. Moreover, in order to elicit good compliance, it must be a sensible routine that is easy to follow. The key to remember is that what method works for one senior may not
As a former home health care nurse, I have spent a considerable amount of time helping family caregivers deal with the challenge of preventing bedsores. I will pass on some practical tips and care techniques regarding effective bedsore prevention that I have learned through my own and other's experiences. The most important step to
I was honored to care for my adorable and charming late husband of 32 years during his struggle with a terminal illness. As his nurse, I tended to his personal care and comfort requirements. As his confidant, my focus was on his emotional and spiritual needs. I recognized that assuming this role of family caregiver and attending to his
How does a household of family navigate interactions with an elderly family member struggling with dementia? The role of the responsible adult in a house full of family typically gets delegated to the host and/or a select few family members. Yet, certain situations require the collaboration of the entire holiday party. Such is the case
My personal feelings of guilt and responsibility while caring for my Mom with COVID.
My sister and I cared for our 87-year-old mother when she became another victim of COVID-19 this past year. As a nurse of 40 plus years, we all relied upon my caregiving experience to care for Mom at home. Nevertheless, my extensive
I spent over a year caring for my dear beloved husband suffering with end stage cancer until his death. I have been a practicing RN for over thirty years, which many people say made me exceptionally qualified for the task. I have heard those without caregiving experience wonder how they could possibly care for a loved one with cancer.
Take advantage of as many of these services as desired for the best possible cancer care at home.
Home health agencies provide nurses for wound care, IVs, ostomy care, chemotherapy, supervising meds, and pain management. Physical Therapy (PT), Speech Therapy (ST), and Occupational Therapy (OT) can help strengthen weak
Congratulations on your family caregiver position whether it be a volunteer undertaking or maybe a less enthusiastic acceptance. Caring for an elderly parent is a challenging task even for a professional caregiver. With that in mind, focus your efforts on getting the whole family involved so that the bulk of caregiving does not fall
