My Parents are Aging and Need Help now what?
Posted on
Nov 05, 2018
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Many of us work all our adult lives waiting for retirement to travel, enjoy life with our spouse or signi?cant other, spend time with family and to be able to do all the things that were sacri?ced because we had to work.
Unfortunately, this scenario does not always play out as we envisioned it. There are many unknowns that pop up when we least expect them. Maybe your health is declining, maybe you have become a caregiver for your spouse, a parent, a child, or grandchildren. My father worked 30 years on the Fire Department and I will admit we had to take him kicking and screaming to retirement, however he had many things on his bucket list that he wanted to do with my mom, his family, and to enjoy his new role as grandpa. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Melanoma on his face that he had gotten from an injury in a fi re, and I am sure his days in the Navy out in the sun didnt help either. Once that was under control and he had retired, he was then diagnosed with liver cancer. I never understood how a man with the biggest heart I had ever known could have been diagnosed with a terminal illness just 3 short months after retirement. It really makes you think. We go to work every day in search of this big payoff at the end. For many like my father that day never came. It just doesnt seem fair.
As my mother continued to age, I was left worrying about her as she was living all alone. What if she falls? What if she has a stroke like her mom? How will I know? How can I keep her safe when I dont live with her? This went on for many years and finally she moved in with us when her memory was declining and she was no longer safe to drive or live alone. I know there are many of you that go through this same scenario. It is an emotional roller coaster for both your loved one and for you, as you have now assumed the role of caregiver to add to your already growing list of titles, wife, husband, mother, father, employee, taxi driver, coach, laundress, meal prepare, and Mr. Fix It.
What are your options when you or your loved ones health is declining?
What kind of care do I need? How can I find a reputable company?I wish I had someone to help me. The good news is you do. CarePatrol is the Nations largest Senior Care Placement Organization. We have 150 Franchisees across 44 states. This allows the franchisees to work together to help a family that may have a parent in a different state that needs to be moved closer to their children. Our Certified Senior Advisers can help you assess the care that is right for you, your loved one, and your family. We complete a Level of Care Assessment and base our recommendations on care options that can specifically meet your individual needs. Is it safe for you to live at home, alone with a caregiver, or are you a better candidate for an Assisted Living Community?
Assisted Living Communities/ Memory Care: We guide you through the process of determining not only your care needs, but set a budget and location that works for all the decision makers and then we narrow down the communities that will best suit you. We check the state surveys of the communities in which we tour. This will help us to determine the safest places for you. We accompany you on the tours and ask questions that you may not know to ask. We are like a realtor helping you to find your new home. We continue to follow up with you after placement to make sure that your needs are being met. We have referral partners that we can recommend to help you including; realtors, movers, elder care attorneys, organizing and relocation companies etc. We also can refer you to Veterans Aid and Attendance representatives to see if you qualify for those benefits to help pay for your care.
Home Health:If you need Home Health we can refer you to the companies that will best fit your needs. Do you need companion care which is non-medical caregivers that come to your home to assist you in cooking, light housekeeping, taking you on errands, preparing your meals or would a company that provides certified nurse assistance serve your needs better? They can do a lot of what the companion care can do, however they are able to give baths, medication reminders, take vital signs, assist with incontinence etc. We look to see if these companies have done a back-ground check on their employees, because your safety is important to us. Ironically, some people are turning to online classified ads to find their caregiver. We strongly suggest you dont do this as you are letting this a complete stranger into your home and we do not feel this is a safe option for you. It is important that if you suffer from dementia or Alzheimers that your caregiver has the necessary education to care for clients with memory impairments. Do you need multiple modalities in the home? If so, in order to improve the continuity of care for a patient, it makes sense to have a caregiver, physical therapy, occupational or speech therapy, all in one company we will try to do that for you as well. Seniors have many needs outside the scope of medical care and assistance with daily living. Below are a few of the common problems:
Socialization and Isolation: These are behaviors that are often overlooked. We are human, by nature we were meant to interact. When there is a change in the ability to engage in socialization whether it is due to a death, a decline in mental capacity, not being able to drive, being the only widow or widower amongst your friend group, or embarrassment just to name a few, you may see that you or your loved one will begin to isolate. This will cause depression,anxiety, aggression, and many other unwanted behaviors. While living at home with a caregiver allows the client to stay in their own home, we also need to ensure that we are providing socialization, stimulation, activities and outings, to stop them from becoming socially isolated. There are Adult Day Care Centers available to send your loved one to during the day while you are at work to get all of these needs fulfilled. Nutrition: Will you have a 24 hour a day caregiver that can provide mom or dad their meals? Do you need a company to make and deliver them meals? We know that nutrition is key in this population as nutritional deficiencies can lead to dehydration,
skin impairment, kidney issues, and confusion. Growing older doesnt have to be going into uncharted waters. There are lots of options and resources available to help you or your loved one to help them live out their life. We can help you as we are referral partners to many of the senior community based companies and organizations. At CarePatrol your safety is our goal, our mission. Please visit our web page at Chicago.CarePatrol.com.
Editors Note: This article was submitted by Ruthie Barkus, RN, BSN, CDP, Ruthie is the owner of Family Senior Services, LLC DBA CarePatrol Northeastern Illinois. Each CarePatrol of?ce is Independently Owned and Operated. She may be reached at 708- 377-9969 or by email at RuthieB@Carepatrol.com.
Unfortunately, this scenario does not always play out as we envisioned it. There are many unknowns that pop up when we least expect them. Maybe your health is declining, maybe you have become a caregiver for your spouse, a parent, a child, or grandchildren. My father worked 30 years on the Fire Department and I will admit we had to take him kicking and screaming to retirement, however he had many things on his bucket list that he wanted to do with my mom, his family, and to enjoy his new role as grandpa. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Melanoma on his face that he had gotten from an injury in a fi re, and I am sure his days in the Navy out in the sun didnt help either. Once that was under control and he had retired, he was then diagnosed with liver cancer. I never understood how a man with the biggest heart I had ever known could have been diagnosed with a terminal illness just 3 short months after retirement. It really makes you think. We go to work every day in search of this big payoff at the end. For many like my father that day never came. It just doesnt seem fair.
As my mother continued to age, I was left worrying about her as she was living all alone. What if she falls? What if she has a stroke like her mom? How will I know? How can I keep her safe when I dont live with her? This went on for many years and finally she moved in with us when her memory was declining and she was no longer safe to drive or live alone. I know there are many of you that go through this same scenario. It is an emotional roller coaster for both your loved one and for you, as you have now assumed the role of caregiver to add to your already growing list of titles, wife, husband, mother, father, employee, taxi driver, coach, laundress, meal prepare, and Mr. Fix It.
What are your options when you or your loved ones health is declining?
What kind of care do I need? How can I find a reputable company?I wish I had someone to help me. The good news is you do. CarePatrol is the Nations largest Senior Care Placement Organization. We have 150 Franchisees across 44 states. This allows the franchisees to work together to help a family that may have a parent in a different state that needs to be moved closer to their children. Our Certified Senior Advisers can help you assess the care that is right for you, your loved one, and your family. We complete a Level of Care Assessment and base our recommendations on care options that can specifically meet your individual needs. Is it safe for you to live at home, alone with a caregiver, or are you a better candidate for an Assisted Living Community?
Assisted Living Communities/ Memory Care: We guide you through the process of determining not only your care needs, but set a budget and location that works for all the decision makers and then we narrow down the communities that will best suit you. We check the state surveys of the communities in which we tour. This will help us to determine the safest places for you. We accompany you on the tours and ask questions that you may not know to ask. We are like a realtor helping you to find your new home. We continue to follow up with you after placement to make sure that your needs are being met. We have referral partners that we can recommend to help you including; realtors, movers, elder care attorneys, organizing and relocation companies etc. We also can refer you to Veterans Aid and Attendance representatives to see if you qualify for those benefits to help pay for your care.
Home Health:If you need Home Health we can refer you to the companies that will best fit your needs. Do you need companion care which is non-medical caregivers that come to your home to assist you in cooking, light housekeeping, taking you on errands, preparing your meals or would a company that provides certified nurse assistance serve your needs better? They can do a lot of what the companion care can do, however they are able to give baths, medication reminders, take vital signs, assist with incontinence etc. We look to see if these companies have done a back-ground check on their employees, because your safety is important to us. Ironically, some people are turning to online classified ads to find their caregiver. We strongly suggest you dont do this as you are letting this a complete stranger into your home and we do not feel this is a safe option for you. It is important that if you suffer from dementia or Alzheimers that your caregiver has the necessary education to care for clients with memory impairments. Do you need multiple modalities in the home? If so, in order to improve the continuity of care for a patient, it makes sense to have a caregiver, physical therapy, occupational or speech therapy, all in one company we will try to do that for you as well. Seniors have many needs outside the scope of medical care and assistance with daily living. Below are a few of the common problems:
Socialization and Isolation: These are behaviors that are often overlooked. We are human, by nature we were meant to interact. When there is a change in the ability to engage in socialization whether it is due to a death, a decline in mental capacity, not being able to drive, being the only widow or widower amongst your friend group, or embarrassment just to name a few, you may see that you or your loved one will begin to isolate. This will cause depression,anxiety, aggression, and many other unwanted behaviors. While living at home with a caregiver allows the client to stay in their own home, we also need to ensure that we are providing socialization, stimulation, activities and outings, to stop them from becoming socially isolated. There are Adult Day Care Centers available to send your loved one to during the day while you are at work to get all of these needs fulfilled. Nutrition: Will you have a 24 hour a day caregiver that can provide mom or dad their meals? Do you need a company to make and deliver them meals? We know that nutrition is key in this population as nutritional deficiencies can lead to dehydration,
skin impairment, kidney issues, and confusion. Growing older doesnt have to be going into uncharted waters. There are lots of options and resources available to help you or your loved one to help them live out their life. We can help you as we are referral partners to many of the senior community based companies and organizations. At CarePatrol your safety is our goal, our mission. Please visit our web page at Chicago.CarePatrol.com.
Editors Note: This article was submitted by Ruthie Barkus, RN, BSN, CDP, Ruthie is the owner of Family Senior Services, LLC DBA CarePatrol Northeastern Illinois. Each CarePatrol of?ce is Independently Owned and Operated. She may be reached at 708- 377-9969 or by email at RuthieB@Carepatrol.com.