As people age, their needs and abilities change. They may have trouble getting around the house or difficulty driving. They may not remember things as easily as they once did. And adult children of aging parents may notice that Mom or Dad is having difficulty – with their finances, perhaps, or with personal hygiene.
We all want to support our older loved ones' desire to live independently, even when we have concerns about their safety and well-being. But how do we know when it's time to step in? Start with an assessment.
An assessment is a full review of a person's mental, physical, environmental and financial condition to determine his or her ability to remain safely independent. It identifies risks and helps determine options to reduce them. It's very important to involve your parents in the discussion and decision-making about their options.
How Do I Know if They Need Help?
While it is possible for families to complete assessments on their own using standard check lists, there also are experienced professionals who can help. While check lists and professionals will vary somewhat, here are some basic areas you and your older family members may want to focus on:
Physical Health. Have they been diagnosed with any chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis or emphysema? Or other diseases, such as bowel or bladder problems, heart disease, stroke or cancer? Do they have vision or hearing problems, excessive weight loss or gain, or difficulty walking? Make a list of health professionals they currently see. Add any recent hospitalizations.
Mental Health. Have they been diagnosed with any psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety or psychosis? Have they been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia? Are they showing signs of confusion, disorientation or isolation? What about mood swings or forgetfulness? Sadness or loneliness?
Medication Use. What medications are they currently taking? What is the dosage? How often? Include over the counter medications. Are they taking their medication as directed?
Daily Living Skills. Are they able to dress, bathe, get up from a chair, use a toilet, climb stairs, use the phone? Do they know how to get help in an emergency? Can they shop, prepare meals, do housework and yard work? Can they safely drive?
Home and Community Safety. How safe is their neighborhood? Does their home have smoke alarms, and can they hear them adequately? Can they avoid telephone and door-to-door fraud? Can they maintain their house?
Support Systems. Do your older loved ones have frequent visitors or see friends? Do they go to a Senior Center, or get out of the house for other social reasons? Do family members live close by? Do they keep handy the names, addresses and phone numbers of key friends and family members who they can call in an emergency?
Appearance and Hygiene. How is their overall appearance? Hair clean? Teeth brushed? Shaved? Do they dress appropriately in clean clothes?
Finances. Can they live on their current income? Can they meet future needs with their current income? Are there any legal documents such as trusts, living wills, and/or durable power of attorney? Do they pay bills on time and make informed financial decisions?
Interests/Lifestyles. Do they engage in their favorite hobbies, read books, watch their favorite TV shows, exercise, play a musical instrument, go to church, keep up with their friends? Are they still engaged in the activities they have always enjoyed?
There are good assessment tools and professional consultants who can help you and your older loved ones decide when assistance is needed. Some hospitals and clinics offer geriatric assessment centers. Some city or county agencies on aging provide the service. There are also independent geriatric care managers (also called case managers).An assessment can lead to solving problems and allowing a parent to remain independent longer. It can result in fewer accidents and illnesses, a longer life, and a higher quality of life. It's not always easy to recognize when an older loved one needs help. Learning how to assess their needs will make it easier to know when, and how, to help.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Long Distance Care Strategies
Effective care giving depends on keeping a great deal of information in order and up-to-date. Often, long-distance caregivers will need to have information about a parent’s personal, health, financial, and legal records. If you have ever tried to gather
and organize your own personal information, you know what a chore it can be. Gathering and organizing this information from far away can seem even more challenging. Maintaining up-to-date information about your parent’s health and medical care, as well as finances, home ownership, and other legal issues, lets you get a handle on what is going on and allows you to respond quickly if there is a crisis.
If you do not see your parent often, one visit may not be enough time for you to get all the paperwork organized. Instead, try to focus on gathering the essentials first; you can fill in the blanks as you go along. You might begin by talking to your parent and his or her primary caregiver about the kinds of records that need to be pulled together. If a primary caregiver is already on the scene, chances are that some of the information has already been assembled. Talk about any missing information or documentation and how you might help to organize the records.
Your parents may be reluctant to share personal information with you. Explain that you are not trying to invade their privacy or take over their personal lives—you are only trying to assemble what they (and you) will need in the event of an emergency. Assure them that you will respect their privacy and keep your promise. If your parents are still uncomfortable, ask if they would be willing to work with an attorney (some lawyers specialize in elder affairs) or perhaps with another trusted family member or friend.
Tips for the long distance care giver
Keep track of important information in a binder. Use dividers to separate medical, financial and legal. Getting organized is key. Find all legal, financial, and insurance documents, including birth certificates, social security cards, marriage or divorce decrees, wills, and power of attorney. Identify bank accounts, titles, sources of income and obligations, and auto, life, homeowner's, and medical insurance papers. Review these documents for accuracy and update them if necessary. Store documents in a secure place such as a safe, keep an additional copy of this binder with you in case of emergency.
Create a team. Ask for help from people in your parents’ community, such as other relatives, neighbors, longtime family friends and members of religious, civic, and social organizations. Ask them to let you know immediately if they recognize a possible problem.
Planning will minimize poor decisions and unnecessary stress. These topics may be difficult to talk about, but they help ensure that your parents’ maintain decision-making authority even when incapacitated. Preplanning will also lessen family disagreements and protect family resources.
Things to consider now as part of the planning process.
Will: your parents decide how to dispose of assets after death. If they already have one, review and update as needed.
Power of attorney: gives a caregiver the authority to act on behalf your parent. Be sure the new HIPAA language is included, otherwise may not be valid.
Trust: estate-planning document allows your parents to transfer assets and avoid probate and other legal problems.
Joint ownership: makes it easier to gain access to your parents’ finances.
Representative payee: A caregiver receives government checks for a parent who is unable to manage money.
Medigap insurance: pays portion of medical bills not covered by Medicare.
Consider housing options and assistance with ADLs: As transitions occur, your parents may need to move into a community that provides assistance and services or they may wish to stay in current home and bring someone in to provide the assistance.
If possible, bring the family together for a meeting. Decide with your parents what their primary needs are, who can provide assistance and what community resources would help. Summarize your agreement in writing. Keep in mind that family difficulties are typical. You may need to bring in Senior Options and Solutions, a family therapist or social worker to help.
Keep in mind that the best laid plans may need to be altered. As your parents’ needs may change, and helpers will come and go, you will need to be able to adjust and make changes.
The absolute most important thing to remember-
You are no good to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself.
Maintain good health, make time for yourself, set limits, and allow others to help!
and organize your own personal information, you know what a chore it can be. Gathering and organizing this information from far away can seem even more challenging. Maintaining up-to-date information about your parent’s health and medical care, as well as finances, home ownership, and other legal issues, lets you get a handle on what is going on and allows you to respond quickly if there is a crisis.
If you do not see your parent often, one visit may not be enough time for you to get all the paperwork organized. Instead, try to focus on gathering the essentials first; you can fill in the blanks as you go along. You might begin by talking to your parent and his or her primary caregiver about the kinds of records that need to be pulled together. If a primary caregiver is already on the scene, chances are that some of the information has already been assembled. Talk about any missing information or documentation and how you might help to organize the records.
Your parents may be reluctant to share personal information with you. Explain that you are not trying to invade their privacy or take over their personal lives—you are only trying to assemble what they (and you) will need in the event of an emergency. Assure them that you will respect their privacy and keep your promise. If your parents are still uncomfortable, ask if they would be willing to work with an attorney (some lawyers specialize in elder affairs) or perhaps with another trusted family member or friend.
Tips for the long distance care giver
Keep track of important information in a binder. Use dividers to separate medical, financial and legal. Getting organized is key. Find all legal, financial, and insurance documents, including birth certificates, social security cards, marriage or divorce decrees, wills, and power of attorney. Identify bank accounts, titles, sources of income and obligations, and auto, life, homeowner's, and medical insurance papers. Review these documents for accuracy and update them if necessary. Store documents in a secure place such as a safe, keep an additional copy of this binder with you in case of emergency.
Create a team. Ask for help from people in your parents’ community, such as other relatives, neighbors, longtime family friends and members of religious, civic, and social organizations. Ask them to let you know immediately if they recognize a possible problem.
Planning will minimize poor decisions and unnecessary stress. These topics may be difficult to talk about, but they help ensure that your parents’ maintain decision-making authority even when incapacitated. Preplanning will also lessen family disagreements and protect family resources.
Things to consider now as part of the planning process.
Will: your parents decide how to dispose of assets after death. If they already have one, review and update as needed.
Power of attorney: gives a caregiver the authority to act on behalf your parent. Be sure the new HIPAA language is included, otherwise may not be valid.
Trust: estate-planning document allows your parents to transfer assets and avoid probate and other legal problems.
Joint ownership: makes it easier to gain access to your parents’ finances.
Representative payee: A caregiver receives government checks for a parent who is unable to manage money.
Medigap insurance: pays portion of medical bills not covered by Medicare.
Consider housing options and assistance with ADLs: As transitions occur, your parents may need to move into a community that provides assistance and services or they may wish to stay in current home and bring someone in to provide the assistance.
If possible, bring the family together for a meeting. Decide with your parents what their primary needs are, who can provide assistance and what community resources would help. Summarize your agreement in writing. Keep in mind that family difficulties are typical. You may need to bring in Senior Options and Solutions, a family therapist or social worker to help.
Keep in mind that the best laid plans may need to be altered. As your parents’ needs may change, and helpers will come and go, you will need to be able to adjust and make changes.
The absolute most important thing to remember-
You are no good to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself.
Maintain good health, make time for yourself, set limits, and allow others to help!
Welcome to Senior Options and Services Blog
S.O.S—Senior Options & Services was formed to provide lifestyle transition services to seniors and their families. If you or someone you love are age 50 or older, experiencing any type of lifestyle change, consider S.O.S. as your trusted provider of information and services.
We will assist you in making decisions and taking necessary actions that create a comfortable and secure life, whether it is for now or in the future. Our 22 years of experience in serving seniors of various backgrounds and ages enable us to understand your needs and desires and to assist you with sensitivity and knowledge.
Lifestyle Consultation
S.O.S is here for you…whether you are moving locally or to another state…if you need more support due to your spouse passing, children moving out-of-state, or health issues….if you require help to understand and make decisions about finances and future planning…or, if you want help to plan a future transition. Whatever your need, we can help.
We will discuss your needs and desires in areas of home, social, medical, finances, etc. An individualized plan will be created specific to your needs and desires. This plan will provide options and services and can implement the plan as quickly as you would like.
Relocation
We can provide resources and services required for relocating. Our list of services is plentiful from selling your current home and/or finding your new residence to packing, arranging and overseeing the moving process, to organizing and setting up and making you feel comfortable in your new home. We can also assist you in downsizing personal belongings and serve as a liaison in your new community.
Business Coordination
To help you take care of the business side of life, we can help you with meetings and handle communications on your behalf. We can facilitate discussions with various professionals such as Lenders, attorneys, financial advisors, insurance specialist, health care providers, contractors and retirement coaches.
Organization
Allow us to help organize you by providing services such as:
. Arranging cleaning and/or organizational services
. Creating binders bringing all your important information such as current medications, insurance information, financial and legal documents as well as personal and professional contacts together in one place for easy reference in case of an emergency.
At S.O.S, we specialize in helping seniors in their lifestyle transitions, and look forward to assisting you! Please contact us at 800-865-0948 or email esimpson@senioroptserv.com.
We will assist you in making decisions and taking necessary actions that create a comfortable and secure life, whether it is for now or in the future. Our 22 years of experience in serving seniors of various backgrounds and ages enable us to understand your needs and desires and to assist you with sensitivity and knowledge.
Lifestyle Consultation
S.O.S is here for you…whether you are moving locally or to another state…if you need more support due to your spouse passing, children moving out-of-state, or health issues….if you require help to understand and make decisions about finances and future planning…or, if you want help to plan a future transition. Whatever your need, we can help.
We will discuss your needs and desires in areas of home, social, medical, finances, etc. An individualized plan will be created specific to your needs and desires. This plan will provide options and services and can implement the plan as quickly as you would like.
Relocation
We can provide resources and services required for relocating. Our list of services is plentiful from selling your current home and/or finding your new residence to packing, arranging and overseeing the moving process, to organizing and setting up and making you feel comfortable in your new home. We can also assist you in downsizing personal belongings and serve as a liaison in your new community.
Business Coordination
To help you take care of the business side of life, we can help you with meetings and handle communications on your behalf. We can facilitate discussions with various professionals such as Lenders, attorneys, financial advisors, insurance specialist, health care providers, contractors and retirement coaches.
Organization
Allow us to help organize you by providing services such as:
. Arranging cleaning and/or organizational services
. Creating binders bringing all your important information such as current medications, insurance information, financial and legal documents as well as personal and professional contacts together in one place for easy reference in case of an emergency.
At S.O.S, we specialize in helping seniors in their lifestyle transitions, and look forward to assisting you! Please contact us at 800-865-0948 or email esimpson@senioroptserv.com.
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