Kansas/Missouri - Kansas City

Whether you are just starting out on your caregiving journey or are a ways down the road, its always a good idea to have as many resources at your fingertips as you can.Here are five different ways to gather resources that can support your role as a family caregiver.1. Learn as much as you can about your loved ones condition.Whether its Alzheimers, Parkinsons, cancer, stroke or simply what to expect as someone ages, doing a deep dive into the topic can help you better understand what your loved one is experiencing now and may experience in the future. Tap into resources like the Alzheimers Association, the Parkinsons Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association, which are all great places to start.  2. Connect to a support group.Caregiving can sometimes be very isolating. You might feel like no one understands what youre going through. And unless someone has been in a similar situation, they probably wont. Learning from and leaning on people in your area who have shared experiences can provide welcomed emotional support and a wealth of knowledge, both of which can help you be the best caregiver you can be.3. Assemble a team.As the person who is probably most knowledgeable about and in closest proximity to your older loved one, you can think of yourself as the captain of the caregiving team. But being the captain doesnt mean you play every position. Key members of the caregiving team include your loved ones primary care physician as well as any specialists like a neurologist or cardiologist, your pharmacist, elder care attorneys, insurance representatives and home care agencies. If other members of the family serve as health care power of attorney or financial power of attorney, they should be recruited to the team as well.  4. Leverage community resources.Until you have a need for a specific type of support, you may not be aware of the many community-based resources there are at your disposal. You can find your local Area Agency on Aging by visiting this website.You can find out about meal delivery services, transportation assistance, nutrition counseling, caregiving and respite programs, and social activities offered in your area.Take advantage of the growing availability of grocery delivery services and prescription delivery services. Lightening your load is key to spending valuable time with your loved one.5. Reference family caregiving guides.SYNERGY HomeCare has a number of great family resource guides available here.  Titles include A Memory Care Family Resource Guide, which I wrote for SYNERGY HomeCare, the Family Caregiver Ultimate Guide, Fall Prevention Guide, Returning Home from the Hospital, and Navigating the Cancer Journey. You can also consult my books, A Dementia Caregivers Guide to Care and A Dementia Caregiver Called Action, both available on Amazon.At the end of the day, you have a lot on your plate as a family caregiver. But by taking the time to gather a list of various resources available to you, you can enhance your loved ones quality of life while giving yourself more time to engage with your loved one as a family member, not a caregiver.Dr. Macie P. Smith is a licensed gerontology social worker who is focused on helping families support their aging loved ones through long-term care. Specifically, Dr. Smith educates caregivers on how to care for seniors with dementia. She is an advocate for specialized care and assists others in finding a way to provide a better quality of life for individuals with Alzheimers or dementia. Dr. Smith has dedicated over 22 years of her life working in gerontology and assisting families in finding personalized solutions for dementia care. For more articles by Dr. Macie Smith, go to https://synergyhomecare.com/blog/.___________SYNERGY HomeCare offers no obligation home assessments. Find a location near you or contact us.

Hospice And Palliative Care To Empower Your Loved OneChris DiMaso | July 28, 2021Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort 2 Cor 1:3Hospice and palliative care are unique services available to help empower you and your loved one during end-of-life. This article is to help you make a decision on what services you need and provide you with resources to move forward.What is hospice?Hospice is a unique service that focuses on patients and their caregivers who are facing advanced end-of-life illness. Hospice provides compassionate care for people in their final phase of life so they can live in peace and comfort. The guiding philosophy of hospice is to regard death as the final stage of life. It respects life without trying to postpone death. Hospice focuses on the needs of the person and alleviating the symptoms afflicting them, related to their disease process instead of aggressively trying to cure the disease. Hospice works as a holistic team to manage symptoms, so the patients final time is met with quality and dignity. Hospice care is family-focused and includes the patient and their loved ones when making decisions.What does hospice do?When a care provider deems hospice is the right course of action, the patient will choose a hospice agency that suites their needs. Often the hospital or nursing facility can help provide options if the family doesnt already have a choice in mind. The patient will be visited by a hospice nurse for an evaluation. Two doctors must agree that the patients prognosis is 6 months or less to qualify for services. If a patient qualifies, they are admitted and services begin. An interdisciplinary team is assigned to the patient/family that includes: an RN Case Manager, Social Worker, Home Health Aide, bereavement coordinator and a Chaplain and volunteers if they wish. Often hospice agencies also have complementary therapies such as music therapy, massage therapy, aromatherapy, and beautician services. This team approach is overseen by a hospice medical director who will collaborate with the primary physician of the patient. A patient can choose to have the hospice medical director as their primary physician if they prefer.Services offered in hospice care include, but are not limited to:Symptom and medication management from a nurse.Coordinating resources with a social worker.Personal care and assistance with bathing needs from a home health aide.Spiritual support from a chaplain.Companionship from volunteers.Bereavement support for 13 months after their loved one passes away.Supplies/delivers medications that relate to the course of treatment, medical equipment that the patient needs in their home such as a hospital bed/wheelchair/shower chair etc.Supplies personal care protection such as bathing supplies and dignity items.On-call nursing support 24/7. Outside of business hours, there will be a nurse available to make visits for emergent needs at all times. Hospice wants to be the new 911 for their patient.Who needs hospice?Hospice is considered when you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness that will limit the length and quality of life. Speak with your care provider about all options, including hospice. Frequent reasons to consider hospice include but are not limited to late-stage dementia and Alzheimers, cancer, heart disease, AIDS, ALS, COPD and others. Patients can become eligible for hospice care services when their provider deems that the natural course of illness has a life expectancy of six months or less. It is important that comfort and care of symptom management becomes the priority, and continuing treatment of the illness is no longer beneficial. Hospice care provides a level of support that is unrivaled. An interdisciplinary team of clinicians, social workers, spiritual and grief counselors, and volunteers rally around you or your loved one to meet their needs. This can range from medical treatment and cessation of pain, to coordination of services, or making peace with family and a higher power.At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? For many, its simply comfort, respect, love. -BJ MillerWhat are the options in hospice?End-of-life care is personal and should be tailored to meet the needs and desires of the individual. This can include everything from the level of care needed to directives of where someone wishes to pass.Hospice vs palliative careHospice and palliative care address many of the same issues, but can look very different on a case-by-case basis. Hospice is intended for individuals will a life expectancy of fewer than six months, where palliative care isnt limited to this time period. Your loved one could benefit from advanced care even if their illness is not life-limiting in the near future. End-of-life goals and symptom management are crucial in both scenarios, and it is important to meet with your healthcare provider to discuss which is appropriate for you or your loved one.Home-based careDepending on the resources needed, some patients choose to remain in the home at the end of their journey. This decision is closely linked to the goals of the patient, their condition, and the amount and quality of support available. It is important to note, that the hospice benefit does not include private duty care/or around the clock nursing services.Long-term care facilitiesFacilities like Villa St. Francis offer higher levels of support and can address needs on a case-by-case basis. We offer tranquil settings both in private and semi-private rooms. Our team works closely with Hospice services to ensure pain and symptom management is addressed 24 hours a day, and our nurses and CNAs are available to take care of the patient around the clock and coordinate care plans with hospice professionals who supply supplementary care. We have social workers and spiritual care on-site. Working with Villa St. Francis and a hospice service offers a comprehensive level of care.General inpatient careThe highest level of care under hospice is called GIP- general inpatient. A patient can qualify for this if their symptoms are unmanageable in their home. GIP is considered the ICU of hospice. This can occur in the hospital, but most patients prefer not to return to or remain in the hospital at end of life. Villa St. Francis has a dedicated wing, called The Hospice Suites, with private rooms that can accommodate GIP level of care, with 24 hour RN support.Who pays for hospice?The majority of patients requiring hospice services will be eligible for Medicare Hospice Benefit, which covers up to 100% of services. You should not defer hospice due to concerns about payment or financial concerns. Medicare covers hospice as an inclusive benefit and all services related to a life limiting illness are included up to 100% by Medicare Part A. Services unrelated to the illness are covered by Parts A and B where normal rules apply.Little known facts about hospiceHospice isnt giving up; it is speaking up. Working with a hospice service ensures you or your loved ones needs will be heard and addressed.People can live longer with hospice. It is not unusual for someone to live longer when the quality of their life increases. Pain management and peace of mind are contributing factors to someones life expectancy.Hospice isnt a place; it is a philosophy of care. Most hospice patients receive care in their home, but even when it is it elsewhere it remains about the treatment.Hospice gives you control, not take it away. Death, just like life is very personal. Hospice professionals work diligently to ensure that the wishes of the patient and their family are upheld.Hospice isnt about giving up medical care, it merely changes the goal. Rather than focusing on length of life, you focus on quality of life.Through medical treatments and therapies, you or your loved one can enjoy the rest of their life.Hospice is for the entire family, not just the patient. End of life is a stressful time, not just for the patient but also the family. Hospice can relieve some of the burden by offering care and respite to the family.Working with social workers and bereavement counselors can help in planning.What to look for in a hospice provider.Talk to the professionals. Your doctor, nurses, and social workers are great resources when it comes to choosing a hospice provider. Also, speak with friends and neighbors for advice, it is likely they have had the experience you can draw from in making your decision. You are encouraged to interview hospice agencies to choose the one that is best for you and your family.Consider asking some of the following questions of the hospice agencies before making a decision:Are you Medicare-certified?Who is on the hospice care team and how often do they make visits?Are you non-profit or for-profit?Do you have a dedicated pharmacy for medicine and do they deliver medications?How are pain and other symptoms managed?What services are offered in your program?What complementary therapies do you provide?What services do you offer the family?Read more about what Villa St. Francis has to offer you and your loved one during this time. 

Don't be fooled by a Simple WillSometimes people will say they want a Simple Will. They assume their assets are uncomplicated and their family situation is typical. But, they dont want surprises.This may be a husband and wife with responsible adult children, a young couple with minor children or a single person. They want the will to distribute their assets to their family. Some attorneys prepare a Simple Will, leaving the impression they have taken care of things. Computer based will forms can provide similar false security. It can be like getting a prescription for bad medicine. A will is not an efficient way to distribute your estate. It requires court approval and processing in accord with probate procedures. This is slow and expensive. The process takes a minimum of 6 months in Kansas and 12 months in Missouri. Typical attorney fees for a $200,000 estate are $7,000 to $10,000, or more.A will only applies to assets that are in the deceased person's name, and that have no beneficiary designations. Most married couples hold bank accounts and real estate jointly. Upon the first spouses death, the assets go to the survivor, not through the will. If the assets have a payable on death (POD) or transfer on death (TOD) designation, or a beneficiary designation as on a life insurance policy or retirement account, these arrangements take priority over the will. Disputes occur when beneficiary designations are different than will provisions.For a young couple with minor children, if their retirement accounts and life insurance beneficiary designations are primary-spouse, contingent-children, and there is no surviving spouse, or a divorce has occurred, then the will does not apply to the childrens shares. It does not matter that the will may have provisions to protect the funds for the childrens education and long-term well-being.An experienced estate attorney will review all assets, their titles and beneficiary designations. Surprisingly, this review frequently shows the Simple Will has no use. Preparing a Simple Will without understanding a clients unique needs, and confirming asset titles and beneficiary designations, provides false security and often results in more expense, delay and family disputes, down the road.Article by James P. Berger, J.D., of Berger Estate & Elder Law, P.A. who can be reached at 913-491-6332 or by email at jim@berger-lawfirm.com.

 As seniors transition into a new chapter of their lives, finding the right living environment becomes incredibly important. For many, the presence of a beloved pet can significantly enhance their quality of life, providing companionship, emotional support, and even physical benefits.With that in mind, senior living communities are increasingly offering pet-friendly amenities to cater to the needs of residents and their furry friends.But what should you be looking for?Let's go through the top pet-friendly senior living amenities.1. Pet-Friendly HousingSpacious living areas are essential in pet-friendly senior housing. Generous floor plans allow pets to move freely without feeling confined, and outdoor access is a significant plus.Homes with patios, balconies, or small gardens give pets a safe space to explore the outdoors, which is crucial for their physical and mental well-being.Having direct access to these outdoor areas reduces the hassle for seniors when taking their pets outside for fresh air or bathroom breaks. It also makes senior living with pets a lot more homey.Safety measures in pet-friendly housing are vital. Secure fencing in yards or patios prevents pets from wandering off and keeps them safe during outdoor play.Homes that offer pet-proofing options, such as covered electrical outlets and secure storage for cleaning supplies, create a safer environment for pets, reducing the risk of accidents.2. Parks and Green SpaceThoughtfully designed outdoor spaces can significantly enhance the quality of life when you're considering pet services for seniors.A key option when it comes to senior pet care amenities is the inclusion of dedicated dog parks. These fenced-in areas allow dogs to run, play, and socialize off-leash in a safe environment.Dog parks often come equipped with agility equipment, shaded areas, and benches where owners can relax while keeping an eye on their pets. Such spaces not only offer physical exercise but also mental stimulation, which is vital for a pet's overall health and happiness.3. SocializationSocialization is critical to human and pet well-being, and senior living communities that prioritize social interactions between residents and their pets create a vibrant and engaging environment.Pet clubs and groups within the community are another excellent way to foster socialization. These clubs often organize regular activities, such as group walks, playdates, and training sessions.By participating in these activities, residents and their pets can develop routine social interactions, which are essential for maintaining mental and emotional health. Pet clubs can serve as a support network, offering advice and assistance to pet owners when needed.Common areas such as lounges, patios, and walking trails naturally create interactions among residents and their pets. Casual conversations during morning walks or while relaxing in communal gardens help build a sense of camaraderie and shared community spirit.These options for socializing also help seniors discover and rediscover their hobbies. 4. Veterinary and Healthcare For PetsSome senior communities might also offer healthcare for their resident's pets.Having a veterinarian who makes house calls or visits the community on a scheduled basis ensures that pets receive timely medical attention without the need for owners to arrange transportation.This convenience is particularly important for seniors who may have mobility issues or lack easy access to external veterinary services.Regular wellness checks help in early detection of health issues, ensuring that pets remain healthy and active. Vaccinations protect pets from common diseases, while dental care prevents oral health problems, which can significantly affect a pet's overall well-being. 5. Training and Behavioral HealthProviding access to training and behavioral care services ensures that pets are well-behaved, happy, and able to integrate smoothly into community life.Many senior living communities offer group classes and workshops focused on pet behavior and care. These classes can cover a range of topics, from basic obedience and house training to more advanced skills like agility and trick training.Just like humans, pets can experience stress, anxiety, and other behavioral challenges, especially during transitions to new environments. Access to animal behaviorists or pet therapists can help address these issues.These professionals can work with pets and their owners to develop strategies for managing anxiety, aggression, or other problematic behaviors.6. Pet GroomingHaving a dedicated grooming area within the community means that residents do not need to travel far to ensure their pets receive the care they need.On-site grooming places typically offer a range of services, including bathing, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and coat trimming. These services are essential for maintaining the pet's hygiene and preventing common issues such as matting, skin infections, and overgrown nails.For communities that do not have on-site places, partnering with local groomers to provide regular grooming services is an excellent alternative. Mobile grooming vans that visit the community on a scheduled basis offer convenience and flexibility.This service allows pets to be groomed in a familiar environment, reducing stress and making the experience more enjoyable.7. Pet SittingPet sitting services are a solid part of a friendly pet policy in senior living. They ensure that pets receive the care and attention they need when their owners are unavailable due to appointments, social engagements, or simply needing a break.8. Pet-Specific EventsSome senior living communities may also hold events for their residents and their furry friends. Events such as pet meet-and-greet sessions, pet parties, and group walks allow residents and their pets to interact with others, building a sense of community and camaraderie.These gatherings help reduce feelings of isolation for both pets and their owners, creating a supportive network of fellow pet lovers within the community.Agility courses and pet competitions can be both fun and stimulating for pets and their owners. Organizing events such as agility trials, obedience competitions, or pet talent shows encourages physical activity and mental stimulation for pets.These events also offer a sense of accomplishment and pride for pet owners, strengthening the bond between them and their pets. These activities provide entertainment and enjoyment for all residents, even those without pets.Pet-Friendly Senior Living Amenities: Explore TodayThere are so many pet-friendly senior living amenities you might be interested in. So, make sure you keep these in mind when you're looking at what's available.Are you exploring animal-friendly retirement homes? Look no further than Addington Place of Shoal Creek. We create a home-like environment no matter what you need, including pet-friendly options.Contact us today.