Archive for the ‘Family Caregiver’ Category

Does Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager Make Sense?

Posted on: April 9th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Hiring a geriatric care manager will make your life or the life of your loved one easier, but when does it make the most sense?  When considering whether or not the services of a professional geriatric care manager are needed, consider the following questions:

  1. Are the senior’s issues becoming more numerous and complex than can be comfortably managed by you or another family member?
  2. Are other family needs and responsibilities getting in the way of providing the desired level of supervision and attention to the loved one or frail elderly relative?
  3. Are care responsibilities interfering with your paid employment?
  4. Are you or the current caregiver unable to provide the desired level of care and supervision due to your own health issues or other reasons?
  5. Are you or the current caregiver finding it difficult to coordinate all medical appointments and fulfill all documentation requirements?
  6. Are you or other family caregivers finding it difficult to manage the senior’s finances and/or household chores/responsibilities, such as getting a new roof, maintaining the grounds, keeping the loved one’s care maintained, etc.?
  7. Are care decisions and questions causing conflict and disagreement within the family or among the responsible parties?
  8. Is more knowledge of appropriate and applicable resources desired (community resources, state and federal programs, like Medicaid or Medicare, and alternate living arrangements, etc.)?
  9. Does the senior require services that family and friends do not have the time, skill or inclination to provide?
  10. Does the family live far away from the senior requiring care, say, in another state or across the United States?

If the answers to three or more of the above questions are, “Yes”, a professional geriatric care manager could be very beneficial for the situation.  Federal agencies, such as the Area Agency on Aging for northern Idaho, fulfills some of this type of service for families by providing an “Options Counselor.”  This individual can be reached at 208-667-3179 in Coeur d’Alene, or at 1-800-786-5536 for those calling from outside the area.  She has guided families since 2006 through the maze of options available to North Idaho residents and has helped them find the right resources when needed.

To learn more about geriatric care management services and what AAging Better can offer you or your loved one in staying safely and effectively at home, contact us online or by calling 208-777- -0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls (Main Office) or Hayden areas; at 208-263-7889 in the  Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst area.  We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and the five northern counties of Idaho.

 

 

AAging Better In-Home Care Offers Expert Tips for Diabetes Care

Posted on: March 5th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Diabetes is a life-changing diagnosis—for both the person with the diagnosis and their family members who may be in the role of offering personal care assistance and support.  Maintaining a proper diet, keeping up religiously with prescribed medications, monitoring blood glucose and other health stats are daily care duties, and if ignored, diabetes can lead to serious and potentially life threatening complications.  While constant health management can be stressful, there are ways to help cut back on the stresses and strains of a new diagnosis of diabetes, while keeping up with the appropriate care necessary for good health.

  1. Be OK with not being perfect. Taking good care of yourself doesn’t mean having to be perfect in every way.  Some days your glucose will fluctuate for one reason or another, and that’s fine.  If it fluctuates too severely and may be a danger, certainly act on that by calling the doctor or office nurse and following their advice.  But, in general, learn from your mistakes and forgive yourself–and go on with pursuing a happy life.
  2. Identify roadblocks. Do you need to know more about diabetes care?  Are you making too many excuses to not exercise?  Do you have eating issues tied to emotions as opposed to hunger?  Whatever is keeping you from maintaining your blood sugar properly, identifying the problem is the first step on the road to better health and less stress.
  3. Accept help when and where you can get it. Don’t let pride get in the way of accepting help from friends or family when you need it.  We all need someone to lean on sometimes and joining a support group or talking to supportive family can be a big benefit.
  4. Create a daily care plan. Having a routine will help take the guess work out of managing your care.  Don’t forget to plan for disruptions to your regular schedule, such as eating out or taking a trip, and have a back-up plan by making the right choices in restaurants or taking the appropriate snacks with you on trips.  Don’t get caught without a back-up plan if you can help it.

Most importantly, always try to keep a positive attitude.  Think of diabetes care as leading to a healthier lifestyle – it’s a positive thing for your body and your life.  Uplifting self-talk is motivational and creates solutions.  If you or a loved one needs help with diabetes care management, AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you determine the right care plan and assist with any personal care needs you might have. For more information, contact 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; and (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

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.

 

Planning for Long-Term Care: Things to Consider

Posted on: February 13th, 2012 by aagingbetter

As individuals age, the ability to perform certain everyday activities usually begins to falter in the sixth or seventh decades of life, often to the point that extra assistance in maintaining a home or personal needs become essential to remain safely at home.  For family members, understanding the care needs of older loved ones and what is involved with different levels of care is an important first step in coordinating a long-term care plan.   The activities of daily living (ADLs) are often the first items of care that an elderly person will require help with.  Traditionally, these include but are not limited to:

  • Assistance with Bathing
  • Assistance with Dressing
  • Assistance with Grooming or Personal hygiene
  • Exercise
  • Walking, transfers and repositioning
  • Meal planning and preparation
  • Housekeeping–cleaning and laundry

Other non-medical services that may need to be included in a “Plan of Care” for the elderly or disabled individuals are companionship services, as well as respite services that are designed to provide relief and “a break” for a family caregiver who may be caring for a loved one.  In-home care agencies, like AAging Better In-Home Care, are valuable resources for families to consult and discuss what services or accommodations might be needed.  Our agency provides a free in-home assessment to determine the care requirements of each new client and then works closely with the client or family member/s to develop a Plan of Care, provide guidance along the way, and implement and monitor continuing care and services.  As industry experts, in-home care agencies know how to maximize available resources to assure that all needs are met and that the care provided at home ensures a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable environment for the loved one.

At AAging Better, we take pride in helping families coordinate long-term care for their aging loved ones.  To find out more about our 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.

 

 

Options for In-Home Care

Posted on: January 2nd, 2012 by aagingbetter

The choices for in-home care are virtually limitless; there are several different models and payment options depending on the type and amount of care an individual or a loved one requires.  So how do you know what kind of care is right for you or your relative?  Some of the main models of in-home care providers include:

  • Private Duty Care: Private duty services are typically “non-medical” services that include housekeeping, transportation, laundry, meal preparation, shopping for groceries or personal care services, such as assistance with dressing, bathing or grooming.  It can also include care of those with dementia, like Alzheimer’s, or respite care for those family caregivers that need a little time away from caring for their loved one.  Private duty care services are usually paid for directly by the client or his or her family.  Some services may be covered by long-term care insurance, workers’ compensation, or armed services (Veterans Affairs) funding. An important thing to note, however, is that private duty services are not covered by Medicare.  Private duty may be covered by Idaho’s Medicaid Program but the individual would have to contact the Eligibility Department in Coeur d’Alene to determine if they qualified for Medicaid services.  It’s usually a fairly long process to become approved.

  • Home Health Care: Home health care is skilled nursing care that is usually required in the home for treatment of an illness or injury – wound care, injections, diabetes or blood pressure monitoring, and other treatments that require nursing skills.  Home health care can also provide physical, respiratory, occupational or speech therapy.  Unlike private duty care, many home health services are covered under Medicare when it’s in conjunction with a discharge from the hospital, providing that specific conditions are met.
  • Geriatric Care Management: Geriatric care managers handle the details of an individual’s life or estate that fall outside the realms of direct care providers, such as financial and estate management. They can also coordinate care for an individual, mediate family communications, or assist with moving to another living arrangement or closing up of a household. Geriatric care management is traditionally an out-of-pocket expense.

  • Hospice Care: Hospice care is a special type of in-home care, designed to provide comfort and support for patients who are nearing the end of a terminal illness. Hospice provides a range of services, including nursing, mental health, and spiritual advising. Coverage for hospice care is typically offered by most private insurance providers and through Medicare.

For more information about the different models of in-home care and what type of care is right for you, contact AAging Better In-Home Care 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.

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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.

 

Is Your Loved One Vulnerable to Family Elder Abuse?

Posted on: June 6th, 2011 by aagingbetter

According to a 1998 National Elder Abuse Incidence study funded by the Administration on Aging, in 90 percent of known cases of elder abuse and neglect, the perpetrators were family members, and of those, about 75 percent were adult children or spouses.  The first step to protecting you or your loved ones from elder abuse is to become familiar with the risk factors, many of which are described here:

Dependency: If a senior is dependent on others for care, especially if he or she really likes the person providing the care, they may be reluctant to speak up about or report any abuse because of a feeling of dependency on the abuser.  This is particularly true if the caregiver is a family member. Similarly, if the caregiver is dependent upon the senior for financial assistance, housing or other forms of support, perhaps due to personal issues including mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, there is a higher risk for elder abuse.

Decreased health and mobility of the senior: This can cause significant strain on a caregiver, especially if there is no break from providing the care.  Essentially, there is no time for the caregiver to “recharge”.  Also, seniors who have dementia may not be capable of verbalizing the abuse to report it, making them especially vulnerable.

Caregiver stress: Few family members are fully prepared for the ongoing, long-term care requirements for an aging loved one.  It is almost always a very demanding job.  Caregiving requirements, pressures from a job and other family demands can lead to caregiver burnout, which often results in frustration, fatigue and frayed tempers.  The end point of all this, although unintentional, can be neglect and abuse of the elderly or disabled individual.

This end point can be prevented by providing the family caregiver with the break he or she needs while ensuring loved ones still receive the attention they deserve.  Giving the caregiver a “respite” from constantly caring for an elderly parent or a disabled child is the key to maintaining healthy relationships–and the health of both caregiver and the one being cared for.  If you are ever in a position where you suspect neglect or abuse, report it immediately to local authorities such as the police or Area Agency on Aging (AAA).  The AAA can be reached at 1-800-786-5536.

AAging Better In-Home Care has trained, professional and compassionate caregivers who can provide much needed “respite” to an overtaxed caregiver.  Contact us or call us today at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls/Hayden areas,  (208) 263-7889 for the Sandpoint/Priest River/Bonners Ferry areas,  or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg/Pinehurst/Wallace areas for help or more information on our Respite Service program.

 
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