Archive for the ‘Caregiver Health’ Category

What You Need to Know When Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager

Posted on: April 16th, 2012 by aagingbetter

At AAging Better, we’ve made selecting a geriatric care manager easy—by listing the tough questions you need answers to.  Reputable geriatric care manager agencies should be able to outline and answer the following questions:

  • Which organizations do they belong to?
    • Idaho Association of Home Care Agencies?
    • National Private Duty Association?
    • American Society on Aging?
    • Gerontological Society of America?
    • National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers?
    • National Council on Aging?
    • What are the fees for their services?
      • Do they charge for an initial assessment?
      • Will there be an ongoing hourly fee or a one-time retainer fee?
      • What additional fees will apply, if any?
      • Are there any discounts or reduced fees available?
      • How often will they bill me or my loved ones?
      • Are they available to begin services now?  If not, how long is the waiting list?
      • Are caregivers or management available outside of normal business hours, if needed?
      • Is there a backup caregiver when the initial one is not available?
      • What does the agency consider an emergency or crisis?  When an emergency occurs, what is the company’s procedure to handle it?
      • How are caregivers supervised by management?

Once you have a good sense of the agency’s background and operating style, now you need to ask if this particular agency has the type of skilled caregivers you would like to have take care of you or have in the home with one of your loved ones.  Is the agency and the assigned caregiver a good “fit” for you or your family member.  You might consider the following questions:

  • Does this agency and the assigned caregiver/s appear interested in meeting my needs or the needs of my loved one?
  • Does the agency manager appear knowledgeable about the services available in the area my loved one lives?
  • Did the agency or their care manager return my call/s promptly?
  • Could I work well with this person?
  • Can I trust this person with sensitive and confidential information?

To learn more about geriatric care management services, contact us at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls (Main Office) or Hayden Lake areas; at 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace, or Pinehurst areas. We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and the five northern counties of Idaho.  Regardless of where you live in North Idaho, we have caregivers living right in your area to care for you or your loved ones.

 

 

Caring for Someone Recovering From A Heart Attack? Check Out These Stress Relievers

Posted on: February 27th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Family caregiving can be very rewarding, but it can also come with a huge amount of stress and changes to family dynamics.  Because of this, it’s important to take measures to care for yourself as well.   As an in-home care agency, AAging Better recommends the following stress relievers for both its own caregivers, as well as those “caregivers” taking care of family members who’ve had a heart attack :

  • Keep a positive attitude and accept that there are some events beyond your control.
  • Be assertive but never aggressive.  Assert your feelings, opinions or beliefs in a positive way rather than letting a particular situation make you angry, defensive or passive–aggressive.  Learning to articulate your hurt feelings in an objective and dispassionate way takes the “finger pointing” out of the equation and simply lets the person you’re caring for know how and what you’re feeling.  Most human beings get defensive when they think someone is judging against them.  When that happens, good communication tends to suffer.
  • Learn and practice relaxation techniques; try meditation, yoga or tai-chi for stress management.
  • Exercise regularly.  A body can fight stress better when it is fit.
  • Eat healthy, well-balanced meals that include a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables–the fresher, the better.
  • Learn to manage time more effectively.
  • Set limits appropriately and say no to requests that would create excessive stress.
  • Make time for hobbies and interests.
  • Get enough rest and sleep. A body needs time to recover from stressful events.
  • Don’t rely on alcohol, smoking, drugs or compulsive behaviors to reduce stress.
  • Seek out social support.  Spend time with friends or loved ones.
  • If a family member, seek out respite care from a professional home care agency such as AAging Better In-Home Care to give you a break away from the stress of caring for your loved one.

Providing in-home care services throughout the five counties of northern Idaho, AAging Better In-Home Care custom tailors a specific plan of care for each of its clients, regardless of whether they’re recovering from a heart attack, surgery or just simply can’t take care of the housecleaning chores any longer because of the frailty of old age.  If you or someone you know needs that little extra help with the activities of daily living or just needs some house cleaning done on a regular basis, AAging Better can help.  Contact us today at 866-464-2344 (toll free) or if in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, call (208) 777-0308, or if in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, call (208) 263-7889,  and if in the Pinehurst, Kellogg or Wallace areas, call (208) 784-1505 to find out more.

 

Family Caregivers in the Workplace

Posted on: October 24th, 2011 by aagingbetter

If employees spent less time worrying about their loved one at home, would they be more productive at work?  Absolutely.  For those employees who serve as caregivers to their elderly parents or perhaps a disable child, peace of mind while they’re working is a huge relief—and we often work with families to provide respite care solutions they can depend on.

A research study done by the National Alliance for Caregiving and Center for Productive Aging from Towson University found that working caregivers spent a substantial amount of time away from the office to fulfill their care duties at home.  In fact, it was reported that:

  • 81% of caregivers routinely took time during the workday to make arrangements for care or to check on their loved one.
  • 70% said they needed days off to attend to their caregiving duties.
  • 64% arrived late or left work early.
  • 41% took time at work to discuss caregiver issues with co-workers.

Today, more and more employers are adding eldercare benefits to keep employees healthy, both mentally and physically. Before an emergency arises, it’s important to ask employers what benefits and resources are available from the company during these times of need.

What are the greatest needs for working caregivers?

  • Flexibility in work schedules
  • Information about aging and local resources
  • Support from coworkers and supervisors
  • Help in making decisions about care options and related issues

What sorts of benefits do eldercare programs typically offer?

  • Work time flexibility
  • Financial assistance
  • Phone or Internet-based resources and referrals
  • Face-to-face consulting
  • Educational activities like on-site seminars and health fair kiosks

If you would like to find out more about respite care options we can provide for you, or would simply like to learn more about our home care services, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

Stress Management 101: For Family Caregivers

Posted on: October 17th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Managing stress is all about taking charge.  Take charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems.  Stress management involves changing the stressful situation when it’s possible and changing reactions to stressful situations when it’s not, staying healthy, and making time for rest and relaxation.

Even if the stress in your life is out of your control, you can control your response to stress and how much it affects you.  Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response.  When practiced regularly, these activities lead to a reduction in everyday stress levels and a boost in feelings of joy and serenity.  They also increase the ability to stay calm and collected under pressure.

It’s worth repeating that a strong support network is always the greatest protection against anxiety and nervous tension.

Finally, consider these “Ten Tips for Family Caregivers” from the website,  TheFamilyCaregiver.org:

  1. Caregiving is a job, and respite is an earned right.  Reward yourself with respite breaks often.
  2. Watch out for signs of depression, and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it.
  3. When people offer their help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do.
  4. Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate with doctors.
  5. There’s a difference between caring and doing.
  6. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s independence.
  7. Trust your instincts—most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
  8. Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling—so protect your back!
  9. Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
  10. Seek support from other caregivers.  There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.

To learn more about how agencies such as ours can help with support networks to provide “respite” care for family caregivers, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

For Family Caregivers: The Telltale Signs of Stress

Posted on: October 10th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands.  For many people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life.  But, constantly running in “emergency mode,” as is often the case for a family caregiver, makes the mind and body pay the price.

The body simply does not distinguish between physical and psychological threats.  With added responsibility and worry from providing care to a loved one, a person’s emergency stress response may be “on” most of the time.  The more time the body’s stress system is activated, the harder it is to shut off.

Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems.  Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in the body.  For example, it can:

  • Raise blood pressure
  • Suppress the immune system
  • Increase the risk of heart attack and stroke
  • Speed up the aging process

And, long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving a person more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.  Feeling frazzled and overwhelmed should signal it’s time to take action to bring the nervous system back into balance.

You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects.  Take this quick quiz to determine if you are in control of stress or if stress is controlling you:

  • When I feel agitated, do I know how to quickly calm and soothe myself?
  • Can I easily let go of my anger?
  • Can I turn to others to help me calm down and feel better?
  • When I come home at night, do I walk in the door feeling alert and relaxed?
  • Am I seldom distracted or moody?
  • Am I able to recognize upsets that others seem to be experiencing?
  • When my energy is low, do I know how to boost it?

A strong support network is always the greatest protection against stress.  With trusted friends and family members, or a caregiving team from a Home Care agency such as ours, life’s pressures will not seem as overwhelming.

To learn more about getting some “respite” from caring for your loved one or about home care services in general, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

Beat Family Caregiver Burnout: Nurture Your Own Needs

Posted on: October 3rd, 2011 by aagingbetter

The daily demands of caring for a loved one make caregiving one of the toughest jobs around. Shouldering this daily dependence can test even the strongest amongst us, leading to caregiver burnout.  As a family caregiver, the most important thing the family member can do is to do is take good care of their personal, mental and physical health in order to provide the best care and support possible.  Caregivers should take time to participate in regular activities that are personally enjoyable, whether that’s an exercise program, a hobby or some other pleasant activity that meets their own emotional, physical or social needs.  The end result is usually a positive mindset that benefits both the caregiver and the person receiving care.

When the telltale signs of caregiver burnout pop up—such as depression and hopelessness, trouble sleeping, lack of energy and other personality changes—it’s time to take a step back from the daily responsibility of caring for somebody else, and enjoy some personal time to restore energy.  Enlist the help of a friend, a family member or a neighbor, or consider enlisting a professional caregiver service like AAging Better to avoid burnout.  Our professional caregivers can provide emergency “respite” care (care that lasts for a few hours or perhaps an entire afternoon), or relief for a few days, or better yet, can assist on a regular weekly basis, allowing time for personal needs without sacrificing the needs of the care recipient.

While respite care is most often provided in the home of the loved one, it can take place in a number of different settings other than the person’s home:

  • Adult day care centers
  • Group residential settings, such as, Assisted Living Facilities or Nursing Homes
  • A vacation setting

Although caring for a family member or friend can be a huge responsibility, there is no need to feel alone or helpless.  Taking time away from care duties, reaching out for help and keeping a positive attitude can help the family caregiver and the care recipient both enjoy a better quality of life.

The following organizations (and many others found online under the key words “Senior Home Care” along with the state you’re looking for information on) can help provide more information to caregivers on a variety of topics including respite care:

Family respite services are also available through the state-funded program sponsored by the Idaho Area Agency on Aging which is available to those that meet certain financial or medical criteria.   To learn more about our private-pay “Respite” services or to schedule a free in-home assessment for services of all types, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Hayden and Post Falls areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Pinehurst or Wallace areas.

 

 
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