Making effective decisions about the care of a loved one often takes more time than expected and requires an understanding of the long-term-care system. But a proactive approach can yield better options when the time comes and can head off a family emergency: Talk early and often. Understand your parents’ preferences as they age. Don’t make assumptions about what type of care they may or may not accept. Instead, respect their autonomy. Rather than starting off with an admonition (for example, “You have to …”), lead with an empathic statement such as, “I am worried about you because … if…
A caregiver cotract is angreement between an aging parent and child, a relative or anyone else that sets forth the length of time and rate of pay for caregiving services, and the tasks to be performed. However, most children don’t want to be paid for services provided to their parents. But, the children are providing a valuable service, and may be suffering a financial loss by taking time away from a job to do so, or other activities. Also, by spending down assets to pay for caregiving, aging parents can utilize this asset protection tool to qualify for Medicaid if…
Being responsible for an elderly loved one can mean adopting a rather rigid schedule and lifestyle, especially if you are the primary caregiver. How, then, do you travel? It can be a logistical nightmare, whether the travel is elective or necessary. Regardless, understanding some of the challenges and workarounds in advance can make the travel more manageable. The New Old Age blog at The New York Times recently offered some food for thought on this important subject. The big question is whether your elderly parent is traveling with you. If the travel involves you alone for business or pleasure, then…
Click for a few of the stories uncovered during The Miami Herald’s yearlong investigation into Florida’s assisted living facilities. Thousands of documents revealed a nearly hidden world of questionable deaths, abuse, and cases of neglect towards the elderly and mentally ill. Their project, “Neglected To Death,” chronicled years of caregiver malpractice, unsuitable living conditions, and exposed Florida’s state regulators’ failure to monitor and enforce the laws protecting some of society’s most vulnerable residents. The Miami Herald and WLRN uncovered 70 questionable deaths within the last decade alone. While Florida supposedly holds some of the strictest elder-abuse laws in the nation,…
This phase begins at age 70 and lasts as long as you are able-bodied and high-functioning. Despite your good health, it is helpful to begin looking at what steps you would like your family to take should your condition decline significantly. In most cases your ability to make all your own decisions, care for yourself, engage with the world on your terms, and manage your affairs does not vanish in a split second. The loss of abilities is the natural consequence of the aging process and often happens gradually. At the same time, it is our nature as human beings…
At Senior Life Care Planning we receive telephone calls from the children of aging parents stating that their parents need and must move to an assisted living facility; what is the best assisted living facility in the area and how much does it cost? However, before the parents are “shipped off” to the facility, what are your parent’s needs and requirements; is it time for your parents to move; can they stay at home, with or without care; and are they willing to move? What is really behind the call? Caregiver burnout, frustration, communication issues or not knowing where else…
Sleep problems are often dismissed by caregivers for two common, misguided reasons, says geriatric psychiatrist Ken Robbins. First, they assume that poor sleep is part of aging or of dementia, and that nothing can be done about it. Second, they fear that addressing sleep problems is “selfish,” only for their benefit. The senior whose sleep issues are addressed will experience better mood, more energy, and less pain; sleep is closely connected with all three conditions. And the caregiver who makes his or her own sleep a priority will be better able to cope with caregiving stresses and will have more…
Discussing the subject requires patience and tact. However, you may consider the following approaches with your parents to achieve greater success for hiring a caregiver rather than having them move to an assisted living facility or nursing home: they can remain at home; in-home care is often less costly; they will be given one-on-one attention when their caregiver is there; they can maintain their independence in their own home; accept the care for the sake of their spouse, even if in reality, it is equally beneficial for them both; explain to your parent how much you worry about them. According…
Typically, these are requests for help. Consequently, they may be a response to stress, seeking attention, or lack of stimulation. Therefore, these interventions can lessen the effect: • Unmet need – hunger or thirst? • Reassurance if intimate care is approaching – the distress may be in anticipation of care procedures • Allow for pain, infection, constipation or other medical issues • Allow for more rest periods, verbal agitation can cause excessive fatigue • Consider smell, noise, light, temperature or activity.
Frederick, MD 
301-663-9230
