Planning Ahead: Why Joining a Memory Care Waitlist Early Can Make a Big Difference

Moving a loved one with dementia into a memory care community can be an emotional and challenging experience for both the individual and their family. Adjusting to a new environment, routine, and group of caregivers takes time, but there are ways families can help make the transition feel more comfortable and familiar. From having important conversations before the move to staying involved afterward, small steps can make a meaningful difference.Supporting Your Loved One Through the Transition to Memory CareHave a Conversation Before the MoveBefore a transition to memory care, it may be beneficial to have a conversation about the move with your loved one. Start by sitting down with them one-on-one in a calm and quiet space when you feel the time is right. Explain what they can expect from their move and new day-to-day in a simple, reassuring way and give them the opportunity to express any thoughts or concerns. Also try to involve them in decisions where possible.Make Their New Space Feel Like HomeYou dont want to move your loved one into a space that feels unfamiliar and cold. Not every piece of furniture or decor has to be brand new either. They want to feel comfortable and at home, and there are plenty of ways to do that for them. During the move, bring familiar furniture with them, their beloved photographs, knick-knacks, artwork, and other meaningful items.Another way to make their space feel like home is to incorporate familiar scents or items that remind them of home. Familiarity can be especially comforting for individuals with dementia, as recognizable belongings, surroundings, and even scents can give them a sense of security in an unfamiliar environment.You can also maintain that sense of familiarity by implementing their everyday routines into new daily life. Whether its enjoying morning coffee, listening to their favorite music, or enjoying daily walks, these familiar routines can help make the new environment feel a little more like home. Routines help to promote independence and reduce stress for individuals with dementia.Stay InvolvedStaying involved after a move provides a variety of emotional and situational benefits for both you and your loved one. For your loved one, seeing a familiar face regularly will help reduce feelings of anxiety and unease. Additionally, regular visits will help them feel valued, comforted, and connected to the people they know and love.For you, visiting your loved one and their community will allow you to build a relationship with staff. This can allow you to get to know the people who take care of your loved one day to day as well as share your own insight into your loved ones unique personality, habits, preferences, and history. You also will be able to get regular updates on how your loved one is doing and adjusting and receive updates on changes to their care plan.Your visits dont have to be lengthy, but ensure that youre getting the most out of them. You can participate in activities or community events or just drop in whenever youd like. Bring photos, your loved ones favorite snacks, or something you can do together like a game or craft.Give Them Time to AdjustA new environment, daily routine, and unfamiliar faces can feel overwhelming for someone with dementia. It may take time for them to become comfortable with their new surroundings and to recognize the people around them. If you experience a particularly difficult transition initially, its important to keep in mind that it doesnt mean you made the wrong decision. There may be good days and difficult days as your loved one adjusts, and thats okay.Let the Care Team HelpYou dont have to navigate a transition alone.From Executive Directors and nursing staff to the culinary and activities teams, your loved ones care team is there to support you both throughout the transition. The team will learn your loved ones preferences, routines, unique personality, and needs in order to make their experience lively and comfortable. Additionally, you should share any information with the care team that you think is relevant, whether its what comforts your loved one, what they enjoy, or what might cause frustration or discomfort with them. You can also check in with the staff whenever you feel the need.At Northland Heights, our team takes the time to get to know each resident as an individual and wants each resident to feel comfortable, valued, and at home every day.Give Yourself GraceLastly, as a caregiver and family member, its vital to give yourself some grace in the process.Its normal to experience guilt, sadness, or uncertainty during a transition to memory care. It can be difficult to let someone else take on some of the responsibilities of taking care of your loved one, and because of that your role may look different now. Choosing memory care for your loved one doesnt mean that youve stopped caring. Youre still a huge source of comfort, familiarity, and connection for them.If youre struggling with feelings of guilt as a caregiver, remember youre not alone. Learn more about caregiver guilt and overcoming these feelings in our recent blog post.Adjustment Takes TimeTransitioning to memory care is a big change, and its completely normal for both you and your loved one to take time to adjust.Its crucial to remember that you dont have to navigate any of it alone. By creating a familiar environment, staying involved, maintaining routines, and keeping in the loop with your loved ones care team, you can make the process feel more comfortable and reassuring. There may be challenges, but with time, patience, and support, your loved one can begin to feel comfortable, connected, and at home in their new community.

Learn how Minnesota family members may be able to receive payment for caring for an aging parent through self-directed care and how PICS helps families manage the process. For many Minnesota families, caring for an aging parent begins gradually.Maybe you start by picking up groceries once a week. Then you begin driving Mom to medical appointments, organizing medications or helping with laundry. Before long, you may be preparing meals, helping with personal care, checking in every day and rearranging your own work schedule around your parent's needs.At some point, many families ask an important question:Can a family member actually get paid for providing this care?In Minnesota, the answer may be yes.Depending on your loved one's needs, financial eligibility and the program they qualify for, certain self-directed care programs can allow family members or other trusted individuals to be paid for providing approved caregiving services.For families trying to help an older adult remain safely at home, understanding these options can make a significant difference.What Is Self-Directed Care?Traditional home care usually involves an agency hiring caregivers and determining who will provide services.Self-directed care works differently.It gives the person receiving services or an authorized representative greater control over how care is provided. Depending on the program, participants may be able to select their caregivers, help determine schedules and decide how approved funds are used to meet their individual needs.That caregiver might be someone the older adult already knows and trusts.In some situations, it can be an adult child, grandchild, spouse, other relative, friend or neighbor.For an older adult who wants to remain in familiar surroundings, receiving help from someone they already know can provide both practical assistance and peace of mind.Minnesota Programs Can Help Seniors Remain at HomeMinnesota offers several programs designed to help eligible older adults and people with disabilities receive services in their homes and communities rather than moving into institutional care.One important option is Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS).CDCS is available through certain Minnesota Home and Community-Based Services waiver programs. It allows participants to develop an individualized plan for using an approved budget to support their independence at home and in the community.For adults age 65 and older, CDCS may be available through programs such as Minnesota's Elderly Waiver (EW) and Alternative Care (AC) programs.Both EW and AC are designed for adults 65 and older who meet a nursing-home level of care but want to continue living in their homes and communities.Depending upon the individual's approved plan, services may include caregiving, homemaking, meals, respite, transportation, personal emergency response systems, chore services, certain home modifications and other supports.Most importantly for many families, CDCS may allow approved funds to be used to pay certain family members or other trusted individuals for caregiving.Could an Adult Child Be Paid to Care for a Parent?Potentially, yes.Under CDCS, approved caregivers can include adult children and grandchildren who provide care for an aging family member. Other trusted people, including friends and neighbors, may also be eligible to become paid caregivers.Spouses may also be able to provide paid caregiving under applicable self-directed programs, although specific rules depend on the program and circumstances.Another Minnesota program families may encounter is Community First Services and Supports (CFSS).CFSS is Minnesota's newer home-care program that is replacing Personal Care Assistance (PCA) and Consumer Support Grant (CSG) services as participants transition through their annual assessments.CFSS provides additional self-directed options, and under certain circumstances spouses can provide paid caregiving services.Because every person's eligibility and service plan are different, families should not assume that caregiving will automatically qualify for payment. An assessment and approved service plan are required.Why Paying Family Caregivers Can MatterFamily caregivers often provide an enormous amount of unpaid assistance.A daughter may reduce her hours at work so she can help her father several afternoons each week. A son may drive across town every morning to prepare breakfast and make sure medications are taken. A spouse may spend much of the day helping with dressing, bathing, meals and mobility.Families frequently do these things because they love the person they're caring for.But caregiving also has a financial impact.Work hours may be reduced. Careers can be interrupted. Transportation costs increase. Caregivers may find themselves balancing their own children, household responsibilities and finances while also caring for an aging parent.When an eligible program allows a family member to become a paid caregiver, it recognizes that caregiving is real work.It can also make it more realistic for a family to continue supporting a loved one at home.Where Does PICS Fit Into This?This is where PICS Partners in Community Supports can help.PICS is a Minnesota nonprofit organization and a subsidiary of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. It has provided self-directed care support to Minnesota individuals and families since 1999.PICS serves as a Financial Management Service (FMS) provider.That sounds complicated, but the idea is fairly simple.When a family chooses a self-directed program, someone still needs to handle the administrative and financial responsibilities associated with employing caregivers and using government-approved funds.PICS helps participants with responsibilities such as:Hiring and staffingProcessing caregiver payrollProcessing approved expense reimbursementsAccounting and financial reportingTax and revenue informationBudget trackingTraining and other employment-related requirementsInstead of families trying to figure out payroll, taxes, reporting requirements and reimbursement procedures themselves, PICS helps manage those details.That allows families to spend more time focused on what matters most supporting the person they love.Choice Can Be an Important Part of Aging in PlaceFor many older adults, remaining at home isn't simply about staying in a particular house.It's about maintaining independence, routine, dignity and connection to their community.Being able to choose who comes into the home can be especially important.Some seniors may be uncomfortable having an unfamiliar caregiver assist with personal tasks. Others may have language, cultural or communication preferences. And some simply feel safer receiving help from someone they've known for years.Self-directed services can give eligible individuals more control over these decisions.Instead of fitting the person into a predetermined care arrangement, the goal is to build supports around the person's individual needs.How Does a Minnesota Family Get Started?The first step is determining whether the person needing care qualifies for an applicable Minnesota program.For older adults, this may involve eligibility for Minnesota Medical Assistance and the Elderly Waiver or determining whether the individual qualifies for the Alternative Care program.An assessment is generally required to determine the person's needs and eligibility.Families can begin by contacting their county or Minnesota's Senior LinkAge Line to learn about available programs and the assessment process.If a self-directed program such as CDCS or CFSS is appropriate, the participant will work with the necessary care professionals to develop an approved service plan and select service providers.PICS can then help families navigate the financial-management side of self-directed services.Don't Assume Your Family Doesn't QualifyOne of the biggest mistakes families can make is assuming these programs aren't available to them.If you're already spending significant time caring for a parent, spouse or other loved one, it is worth asking what Minnesota programs may be available.You may discover options that help your loved one remain at home while providing additional support for the people who are already helping them.Every situation is different, and eligibility is never automatic. But asking the question is an important first step.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan I get paid to take care of my elderly parent in Minnesota?Possibly. Certain Minnesota self-directed programs may allow eligible family members, including adult children, to be paid for approved caregiving services. The person receiving care must qualify for the applicable program, and the services must be part of an approved plan.Can a senior choose his or her own caregiver?Self-directed programs are designed to give participants greater choice and control over their services. Depending on the program, participants may be able to select family members, friends or other trusted individuals as caregivers.Does PICS determine whether my parent qualifies for Medicaid or an Elderly Waiver?No. Program eligibility is determined through Minnesota's applicable state, county and assessment processes. PICS serves as a Financial Management Service provider for people participating in eligible self-directed programs.What does PICS do once a family is enrolled?Depending upon the program, PICS can assist with caregiver hiring and staffing, payroll, reimbursements, accounting, reporting, taxes, training and budget management.Where can families learn more?Minnesota families interested in self-directed care can contact their county, Senior LinkAge Line or appropriate care coordinator to learn about eligibility and available programs. Families can also contact PICS to learn more about the self-directed programs and Financial Management Services they support.More Choice. More Support. More Independence.Caring for an aging loved one can be rewarding, but it can also require an enormous commitment of time, energy and financial resources.Minnesota families may have more options than they realize.For eligible older adults, self-directed care can provide greater choice over who provides assistance and how approved services are delivered. For family caregivers, it may also create an opportunity to receive compensation for caregiving they are already providing.PICS Partners in Community Supports helps Minnesota families manage the financial and administrative details of self-directed care so they can focus on helping their loved ones live safely and independently at home.Learn more about PICS and explore resources for Minnesota seniors and caregivers through Seniors Blue Book.  For more information contact us at  888.874.7427 or visit our website at  https://pics.lssmn.org/

When someone you love needs help, stepping in often feels natural.You pick up groceries. Drive Mom to a doctor's appointment. Stop by Dad's house to make dinner. Help with laundry. Call in the morning to make sure medications were taken. Check again at night to be sure everything is okay.At first, these things may not feel like "caregiving."They're simply what families do.But over time, a few helpful tasks can quietly turn into a second job.And somewhere along the way, the caregiver's own needs can begin moving further and further down the list.Family Caregiving Can Be Rewarding and ExhaustingCaring for an aging parent or spouse can be one of life's most meaningful roles.It can also be physically and emotionally demanding.Many family caregivers are balancing several responsibilities at once. They may be working, raising children, managing their own household and trying to maintain relationships while also caring for an aging loved one.There may be appointments to coordinate, meals to prepare, medications to remember, household chores to complete and important decisions to make.And even when the caregiver isn't physically with their loved one, the worry doesn't necessarily stop.Did Mom eat today?Did Dad remember his appointment?What if she falls when I'm not there?Should I stop by again tonight?That constant responsibility can take a toll.Watch for Signs of Caregiver BurnoutCaregiver stress doesn't always arrive dramatically.Like many changes associated with aging, it can happen gradually.You may begin feeling more tired than usual. You might become impatient over small things or have difficulty sleeping because your mind won't shut off.You may stop exercising, seeing friends or doing activities you once enjoyed because there simply isn't enough time.Some caregivers begin feeling resentful and then immediately feel guilty for feeling that way.These emotions don't mean you don't love the person you're caring for.They may simply mean you need support, too.What Is Respite Care?Respite care provides temporary assistance for an older adult so the primary family caregiver can step away for a period of time.That break might be used to go to work, attend an appointment, spend time with friends, exercise, run errands or simply rest.For some families, respite care may mean having professional assistance for a few hours each week.For others, it may be used occasionally when the regular caregiver has another commitment or simply needs some time away.The purpose is simple:Give family caregivers time to recharge while knowing their loved one is receiving compassionate care at home.Taking a Break Is Part of a Sustainable Care PlanFamily caregivers sometimes feel guilty about asking for help.They may think:"I should be able to handle this."Or:"Mom doesn't want anyone else helping her."But caregiving shouldn't depend on one person doing everything indefinitely.Think about it another way.If you become exhausted, overwhelmed or ill, who will provide the care?Building additional support into the plan can help make caregiving more sustainable over the long term.It also gives the older adult an opportunity to develop a relationship with another trusted caregiver before an emergency occurs.Respite Care Can Benefit the Older Adult, TooRespite care isn't only about helping the family caregiver.It can also be good for the person receiving care.A Comfort Keepers caregiver can provide companionship and conversation while assisting with everyday activities such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, personal care and transportation.Depending on the individual's interests and abilities, the visit might also include taking a walk, playing cards, working on a puzzle, listening to music or simply enjoying a cup of coffee and conversation.This fits naturally with Comfort Keepers' Interactive Caregiving philosophy encouraging older adults to remain involved and engaged in everyday life.Instead of simply having someone "watch" Mom or Dad, respite care can become another source of companionship and meaningful interaction.Start Before You're Completely ExhaustedFamilies often wait too long to ask for help.They wait until the caregiver is overwhelmed.Or until Mom falls.Or Dad is hospitalized.Or someone simply can't keep up anymore.But home care doesn't have to begin with a crisis.Introducing a caregiver earlier can make the transition easier for everyone.Perhaps start with a few hours while the family caregiver runs errands or attends an appointment.Over time, the older adult may begin looking forward to the caregiver's visits.And the family caregiver may discover something equally important:It's okay to step away.Use Your Break for Something That Restores YouIf you arrange respite care, try not to fill every minute with more responsibilities.Yes, there will always be errands.But sometimes the best use of a break is something simple.Have lunch with a friend.Take a walk.Read a book.Go to your own medical appointment.Spend time with your spouse.Play with your grandchildren.Or take an afternoon nap without worrying that someone needs you.Caregivers need opportunities to simply be themselves again.You Can Still Be the Caregiver Without Doing EverythingBringing professional home care into the picture doesn't replace the family.It supports the family.You still know your parent's history, personality, preferences and routines better than anyone.You are still the daughter, son, spouse or trusted family member.But you don't necessarily have to be the cook, driver, housekeeper, companion and caregiver every hour of every day.Sometimes accepting help allows families to reclaim something caregiving can unintentionally take away:the relationship itself.Instead of spending every visit working through a list of chores, you may once again have time to simply sit with Mom.Talk with Dad.Look through photographs.Share a meal.Laugh together.And simply be family.Caring for the Caregiver MattersGood caregiving isn't measured by how much one person can handle alone.It's about creating a support system that works for both the older adult and the people who love them.Comfort Keepers serving Osseo and surrounding Twin Cities communities provides personalized in-home care and respite support that can give family caregivers time to rest and recharge while their loved one receives compassionate assistance at home.Because sometimes the best way to continue caring for someone else is to make sure you're caring for yourself, too.Learn more about Comfort Keepers and additional Minnesota senior resources through Seniors Blue Book, or call Comfort Keepers at 763-273-4207.