aimeeschu asked:


I would eventually like insurance companies to be able to send clients to me. I would only be able to care for 2 or so.

Ashleigh

Eren asked:


CARING FOR THE AGED, OLD PEOPLE - COPING WITH THE ELDERLY, SENIOR CITIZENS

(Based on author’s site www.geocities.com/ldrly)

Caring for the elderly at is hard for all because, in taking care of old people, senior citizens and carers of the aged are not understood by families of aged persons.

Taking care of the elderly, caring for old people, especially if caring for the aged personally, often needlessly causes hurt to persons caring for old people or to the elderly or both, to carers of aged persons and to old persons -more so where the elderly are not ill old people but healthy senior citizens, and where loved ones care for the aged. But hurt in old age, upset to the carer of an old person can be avoided. Here is how to care for the elderly.

In coping with old people issues, avoidance of hurt to the elderly and upset to those taking care of the aged, begin with appreciating the aged and those caring for the elderly.

The care of the elderly in extreme cases of old age not common to old people aside, the old age of senior citizens need not be a problem in caring for aged persons -neither to aged persons nor to those caring on behalf of the families of the aged, if the following tips on how to take care of the elderly are kept in mind by persons caring for the aged, and by the families of old people and of those caring for the elderly.

In caring for the elderly the first problem is not the elderly, but unawareness of the persons taking care of the elderly of the appreciation by those for whom also old people are cared for -that the family of the old person do appreciate the regular attendance to that old person ~more so if the care of the elderly is by one only of the members of the family of the aged; the occasional ‘How are you coping?’ by the relatives of the elderly is morale boosting to those caring for aged persons.

Other problems in caring for the elderly which both the old people and carers for the aged have fall into three categories, below, arising from assuming that old age means physically and/or mentally weak, which old age does not make the elderly and most old people enjoy good health, many of the aged continuing to work after they have become senior citizens.

The status enjoyed by old persons before their old age is important to old people; the elderly must not be treated as children: the aged expect their privacy to be respected, also not to be excluded from family discussions -it hurts the dignity of old people needlessly to be spoken to loudly or slowly or be ignored and causes resentment by the elderly.

Aged persons do not cease to like activity; old fashioned habits and interests of the aged must not be made light of: many old people are young in heart and outright rejection of help offered by the aged, limiting old age pass-times, objecting to elderly friends, annoy old people -older people, seniors, don’t like it.

Crises in old age affecting also those caring for old people and the families of the aged mostly is due to inadequate consultation with the elderly: if old persons are to be subjected to change of environment or arrangements, consult and prepare them -taking it for granted that the elderly will adjust causes confrontation.

Treat old people normally and thank those who have undertaken the taking care of the elderly.

The author has a website at: http://www.geocities.com/eoa_uk



Neil

Grace Enderlein asked:


Our senior citizens deserve to enjoy their elder years peacefully and with dignity.  A lifetime of hard work has earned them monetary savings and excellent credit ratings.  This should serve them well, but actually leaves them as common targets for fraud and scams.  In addition to their buying power, they are trusting, unlikely to report fraud, and sometimes have compromised memory due to their age.  This furthers their likelihood of being manipulated by scams.  Individuals, their family members, and elder care services’ companions should be aware of ways to protect aging adults from scams. 

Health insurance fraud is a common event targeted to seniors.  Most of these scams involve the con artists submitting fake charges to the insurance companies and/or Medicare.  Unbeknownst to the individual, bills are submitted to the insurance company for unnecessary equipment, or for services never rendered.  Things to look out for are offers of “free” equipment and fake tests.

Medicare identification numbers and Social Security numbers should only be given to those who have provided medical services.  To avoid health insurance fraud, blank insurance claim forms should not be signed, and blanket authorization should never be given to a medical provider for services rendered. Doctors should be asked what they will charge to the patient and to the insurance company, and the insurance company’s explanation of benefits should be reviewed. Business involving health should never be done with door to door or telephone sales people, and insurance companies.

Another risk for aging adults is telemarketing fraud.  There are countless fake products and services being sold over the phone.  Some typical bogus products are vitamins, health care products, travel offers and prizes.  Warning signs that the product is not legitimate are if the caller says “you must act now,” or there is a free gift, or if money or a credit card number must be given.   If they refuse to send something in writing, or discourage one from taking the time to check with a family member or the Better Business Bureau, it is not likely to be a legitimate company. 

To avoid telemarketing fraud, customers should always buy from a familiar company, ask for information in writing (but also check this out), and check with the Better Business Bureau, or another watchdog group.  Consumers should get the salesperson’s name, company address and business license number, and check them out.  If they are not willing to give this information, it is also a sign that it is a fraudulent operation.  Time should be taken in making any purchasing decisions, and the offers should be fully understood.  Services should not be paid for until after they are delivered, and an individual should never be afraid to be rude and simply say “no thank you” and hang up. 

Other scams to look out for are counterfeit prescription drug offers, funeral and cemetery fraud, fake “anti-aging” products, internet fraud and investment schemes.  As wise as our aging parents, grandparents and friends may be, they need assistance and support.  It is important to communicate warnings to them, so that they do not become a typical victim. 

It is also important to provide elder care services for that extra support when necessary.  Visiting Angels provides senior home care that is bonded and insured, and is the nation’s leading network of non-medical home care services.  It is an alternative to a nursing home or an assisted living facility.  Some services provided by Visitingangels.com are hygiene assistance, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errand assistance, bill paying assistance, and companionship.  These duties can give a respite for family caregivers at affordable hourly rates.  Visiting Angels allows the family to select their caregiver for loved ones from experienced, caring and trustworthy individuals allowing you to maintain your schedule and get personalized care.



Gabriella

brat_4_u asked:


I know an elderly woman who recieves live in 24hr care but her care provider doesn’t do anything for her but keep her sick. The house is a mess with bugs and mildew everywhere. They even have a lice problem. The provider’s daughter also lives there and is 15 with no education. I need a way to report this for the sake of the elderly woman. Please help!!

Sandra

Thomas Henricks asked:


Having the responsibility of caring for someone who is suffering from the effects of the aging process can require considerable time and worry on you part. This responsibility could be thrust upon you at any time. There are a number of important issues to be aware of when dealing with elder care.

Caring for an aging parent or friend may be a responsibility that you are more than comfortable about accepting but it can still be a very trying period. It is important to know that there are many resources and facilities available that you can use to help you through this trying period in life.

Eldercare Assistance

One of the best places to turn to for assistance is not surprisingly called ElderCare Resources. They are a full service online company that is dedicated to helping people who are caring for their elderly loved ones. They understand that this can be a very difficult process and because of this they take every step possible towards ensuring the process is made as easy as possible for you.

They feature certified geriatric care managers, elder care law attorneys, adult day cares, nursing home care and more. They can provide a full range of information about most health conditions that may affect the elderly and provide you with contact information specific to your area.

AGIS is another great resource to turn to when you require assistance with elder care issues. They do not endorse nor do they maintain any financial interest in any of the providers listed in their search results. They can provide a full range of information about a wide range of businesses, government agencies and insurance providers worldwide. They do not accept payment from any of these businesses or organizations. They wish to maintain arm’s length and unbiased relationships in order to ensure all information provided is legitimate and accurate.

Support Groups Are Helpful

Caring for an aging parent or friend can definitely present a variety of challenges. Elder care support groups can prove to be extremely helpful to you. They allow you the chance to meet others who are going through the same thing as you and connect you to people that you can talk to and share your experiences with. Nothing can be more valuable than learning from the real life experiences of others.

This can help you avoid common mistakes and point you to resources specific to your needs and your location. It is important that you understand that you are not alone and that there are many others around the world who have already solved elder care problems very similar to the issues you are confronting now.

Sometimes you will find that is working very well to simply assist that loved one in his or her existing home or living quarters. There are cases where this will no longer be a practical solution. The are other options. You may wish to arrange for assistance to come into the home part time or even full time live in arrangements can be arranged.

There are also instances when none of these options will prove adequate. That usually requires that you loved one be moved into a full care facility. There is no shame in turning to this option when required. It will ultimately prove to be the best elder care resolution to ensure optimal health care and safety. The shame would be not turning to this alternative when it truly is the correct thing to do.

Do your homework in advance if possible, consider your options and make an educated decision on the elder care services that most satisfy your needs. Be prepared for change and adjustment. Resources are available. Take advantage of them.



Ronald

carlsbadomar asked:


I am a young investor looking to spend 800k to 1 million on an elderly care facility because I hear they generate a nice cash flow. Any suggestions on what the ups and downs are if any?

Isabel

Jo Nelson, R.N. asked:


As baby boomers watch the years fly by, one of their biggest concerns is sorting through the many problems of caring for their elderly parents. When is it no longer safe for our elderly parent to stay home alone? How can we maintain our jobs, our home, our children, and care for our parents all at the same time? What resources are available to help? How do we approach the subject with them? How can we help them keep their independence and dignity? How do we deal with the stress of it all?

As our parents age, we need to stay diligent and aware of changes in their mental orientation and ability to care for themselves. Are they just a little forgetful at times, or is it something more worrisome than that? If they are able to take their medications without being reminded, bathe alone, dress without assistance, prepare meals every day, and they are not experiencing frequent falls or sudden illnesses, they are probably safe to be at home alone. There are monitoring systems and personal emergency alert systems that can provide added security by making help available to them in the event of an accident or sudden illness.

However, if you notice that your parent’s health is declining, that they have increased weakness or weight loss, if they have had frequent falls, if they are not taking their medications, not eating properly, and not able to do their personal care without help, it may be time to look into other options. Sometimes the increased care is all they need to regain their strength and be able to continue living at home, avoiding placement in a nursing facility or some other major life change.

Finding the help you need is another obstacle. Knowing who to go to for help may seem to be an overwhelming task, but there are many resources available to seek information and counsel. Private duty organizations, home health agencies, and hospices are all viable places to start if you want to help your parent stay at home.

The Indiana Association for Home Care and Hospice (IAHHC) has a listing of all local agencies, both for private pay and agencies that accept Medicare and/or insurance payor sources. You can find them on their web site: www.ind-homecare.org.

When investigating which private agency to use, make sure they are licensed appropriately and that they do criminal background checks on all their employees. Their staff should be bonded and insured, and you should not have any of the burden for carrying worker’s compensation, tax liabilities, or social security. A new law beginning in January of 2006 requires all private duty, non-medical services to be licensed through the state of Indiana. Make sure the agency you choose has gone through this licensing process, and you will be safer in trusting that they have taken all the appropriate steps in ensuring good care for your loved one.

There are many financial resources available to help pay for private duty care, such as reverse home mortgages. The Veterans Administration can give you valuable information on benefits for veterans who need care at home and have served at least one day in the service during war time. These benefits are also available for spouses of veterans. Look on the web for more information regarding financial concerns; there’s plenty of information available. You can also contact private duty agencies and request assistance in finding funds that are available.



Private duty agencies can provide any kind of non-medical care needed to assist the client in staying at home. They will provide personal care assistance, medication reminders, cleaning, cooking, laundry, running errands, and transportation to appointments, and a variety of other services. They are usually available twenty four hours a day, including holidays and week ends, and do not require any doctor’s orders to initiate the care.

Home health care requires a doctor’s order for services to begin, and the patient must be certified to be on “home bound status”. This means that they can only leave home to visit the doctor, go to church, or to the beauty or barber shop. A nurse will visit on a regular basis, and a home health aide will assist with personal care. Some home health agencies also provide physical therapy, social services, speech therapy, and occupational therapy as well. Most home health care agencies are not available in the evening hours, on week ends, or on holidays. The majority of home health agencies accept insurance and Medicare payments.

Hospice care also requires a doctor’s order, and the patient must have a life-limiting disease with expectations of six months or less to live. Patients can be re-certified for hospice every sixty days, and may live much longer than six months and still be in hospice care. Hospice care also provides nursing and home health aide services, along with extra

support to the family and patient during this difficult time. Comfort measures are a priority in the plan of care, and they have a variety of services such as social services, pastoral care, and volunteer services as well. Medicare and insurance usually are accepted. There will always be a hospice nurse on call twenty four hours a day to assist with any emergencies or special problems during times when the office is closed.

Sometimes the best plan is a combination of home health or hospice along with private duty care. Many seniors are resistant to accepting any kind of help at first, and will require continual reassurance effort to help them maintain as much independence as possible.

When addressing these issues, never “speak down” to your loved one. Remember, even though roles are changing, they still deserve to be honored and respected. Sometimes calling a care giver “the maid” or “the butler” rather than a “caregiver” or “home health aide” will help them accept the situation with a little less anxiety. It’s all in the attitude that it’s presented to them - help them feel a sense of control in the situation whenever possible. Try to help them understand that these changes are happening in their home because you love them and want them to be able to stay at home as long as possible and not have to live in a facility to get the help they need.

Don’t forget to schedule time for yourself during this intensely demanding season of your life. By succumbing to false guilt or unreasonable demands, you may be setting yourself up for a disaster later. Take time to enjoy your immediate family, your hobbies, and leisure time as well. Join in with other caregiver groups for extra support - you can find them at churches or on the web. You’ll be safeguarding your own ability to handle this long term role as a caregiver with a healthy mind, body, and spirit.



Bria

ningis n asked:


for example, making sure that anyone who is old and cant work who gets ill gets all the treatment they need regardless of their finances, and all their medicine they need etc..

on a scale of top priority, reasonable priority, average priority, low priority….

where would you place the USA?

Kristina

ConcernedDaughter asked:


I have been told there is now a Federal Law that entitles a child to receive the house of their parent if they take care of their elderly parent in that home for only two years. I am seeking additional information on this law, if indeed there is such. Also whether I can access a copy of the details online. What if that parent lives for another ten years? Need this information to help protect my parent.
An attorney has assured me there is a Federal Law that would back one of my siblings taking my mother’s house after caring for her in her home for two years. How unfair can that be? More expensive than a nursing home. So far no one has come up with where I can verify this Federal Law.

Jaime

Janice Willingham asked:


I thought we had a contract. I look after you and when the time came for reciprocation, you would look after me. For some, it may appear to be selfish to expect my children to care for me in their homes instead of placing me in a nursing home because of my stroke. The contract, my children’s and mine was formed at their birth. Their precious lives belonged to me. Their fate entrusted with me until they reached maturity and could fend for themselves.

As they grew our dependence on one another was unquestionable, our silent contract now melded together. I looked after them at the most vulnerable times of their lives and at some point I trusted they would do the same for me, their protector, their confidante, loving friend and mother.  Once I began to age and couldn’t fend for myself, my hope was that my children would honor our contract initiated at their birth.

I am now dependent on my children, trusting their judgment and compassion as they now control my life, where I live, what I wear and even my finances. A role reversal of sorts, that has begrudgingly taken place without my input or consent. My mental state, despite the stroke that paralyzed the left side of my body, was left intact without any effect on my speech.

I suffer a deep denial of my plight as I stare down unbelieving at my lifeless left arm and leg unable to move or feel the touch of another human being. I can’t walk and therefore, I am confined to a wheelchair. However, my will to walk, to be back in control of my life still prevails despite the choices my children have made for me.

My life once filled with joy and excitement with the ability to dictate my actions from one minute to the next is now one that is dependent on strangers and family members as I long to have my life back again.  I want to go home.

Most of my days are spent either sitting or lying expressionless in a silent display as I reflect over my life now stifled by consequence. I will tell anyone who will listen.  I want to go home. I pray daily and eagerly solicit prayers from my visitors to ask God to be merciful and restore me back to my prior self. I want to go home.

I suppose the easy thing to do would be to give up, to succumb to this existence. My life now consists of waiting. I wait for time as my life slowly slips from my grasp with each passing sunset and sunrise. I sob deeply and behind the tears is the sadness and the pain as I struggle to comprehend why I have been left in this place.

I’ve had to conform to a way of life that I have never known or thought would ever live. I have asked my children to take me to their homes, can’t we work something out? With each explanation of why it can’t be, their words bitingly remind me and it’s as if they don’t know . . . that we had a contract.

My children seem oblivious to my situation. They are comfortable with their obligatory visits. However, the fact still remains, I want to go home.  For living here for me is not living. My time is spent disconnected and suspended by emptiness which gives one ample time to ponder life as it is and what it was.

So, I wait. I fill the empty moments with memories of days gone by as I slowly come to terms with my plight.  I wish to discuss the terms of this contract, which appears to be binding and for me, one sided. With each passing day I realize that a negotiation is not possible. So, I wait and wish I could go home.

Although, some residents find it hard to come to terms with their disability, their family would serve them well to consider an assisted living facility.  The resident may respond better to an assistant living situation where they are still able to maintain some independence.

Depending on the circumstances, sometimes a nursing home is not the best choice. As caregivers we have to understand how the resident may have to mentally digest the change in their living status from being able to protect their privacy to now having to live in an environment that is more public and structured.

Additionally, some nursing home residents are often apprehensive about having to interact with care givers because they are strangers providing them care. Because some of the personal care nursing home personnel provide at times creates a sense of familiarity which the resident may not be accustomed to receiving from strangers, especially when it’s not by choice.

Further, it’s important that residents are able to maintain their family relationships. If the resident doesn’t feel alone or abandoned, but still part of their family, residents tend to be able to handle living in a nursing home or assisted living facility better.

It’s not easy having a parent living in a nursing home. Sometimes there is a need for emotional support and daily affirmations can be a great pick me up for caregivers when necessary.

It’s not easy having a parent living in a nursing home. Sometimes there is a need for emotional support and daily affirmations can be a great pick me up for caregivers when necessary.  If your loved one is living out of state in a nursing home, traveling to their location shows the importance of staying connected as a family.

 

 



Mary