Tips for Family Caregivers
Learn as much as possible about your family member’s illness. The more you know the better you can manage your efforts.
Reach out to other family members for help and support. Family relationships are strong and trustworthy companions.
Know you personal limits, and be realistic about the level of care provided. Reach out to family physicians for advice and assistance.
Research community and internet support groups for coping strategies.
For seniors, Medicare’s open enrollment is a time to make changes to your coverage options.
Open enrollment is from October 15 through December 7th.
New entitlement to drug discounts.
Free preventative care and check ups.
Review your your coverages, premium, deductible, co-pay, part-A,B,C,D or medi gap.
Ask for free quotes and supplemental insurance coverage comparisons.
Review all the links below for resources on quotes and coverage comparisons.
Exercise contributes to the two most important organs; the heart and the brain.
It is proven that exercise reduces fat, keeping the heart healthy and decreases the risk of dementia which is common to senior citizens.
Before starting an exercise program, follow these important steps:
Make an appointment with your doctor for approval.
Organize yourself for a daily routine.
Choose the correct clothing.
Do not exceed personal limitations.
Exercise with a friend.
Walking, Swimming and Yoga exercises are the most common for starters.
Start an exercise program today to improve balance, strength and stability.
Independent living is the ability to take care of yourself and live safely in your own home comfortably and confidently with very little help from others.
For many seniors disabilities can impair their physical well-being. Seniors with arthritis, limited mobility, hand conditions, and other ailments can inhibit their ability to perform everyday tasks.
Independent living aids and products are designed to help those with disabilities live independently, however your safety is the priority, and an assessment by family members or professionals should be made before deciding yourself that you are competent to live alone.
Many independent living aids referenced below, such as kitchen, gardening, writing, and hearing aids, have made independent living a reality for the elderly.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention over one-third of adults over age 65 fall each year. Bathrooms can be particularly dangerous.
Bathroom safety should include, grab bars around the toilet, bath chairs, support rails, tub rails.
Ignoring bathroom safety puts the elder’s life and wellness at risk. Review bathroom safety to prevent elderly people from falls. These and other bathroom safety aids can be installed and are available at Elder Depot.
Everybody wants to stay in their own homes and not go into an assisted living or nursing home. However, for some elderly and aging parents safety and health is a factor in the decision-making process.
To start the evaluation process, take a good look at the present housing, health issues, and ongoing medical needs.
Some warning signs to look for:
Frequent falls in the home.
Infrequent bathing and grooming or laundering of clothes.
Medications not being taken or expired.
Driving concerns and safety issues.
Unpaid bills
Capable of operating appliances safely for cooking
Isolated from family or friends for assistance
These are just some of the red flags to look for.
Moving a loved one into an assisted living or nursing home is a challenging transition for the aging parent and the family. But the health and safety of the aging parent is the priority.
To be successful work as a team with all family members, physicians and the assisted living or nursing home staff . Research all the different resources for locations and facilities.
Seniors with limited mobility often experience painful challenges when dressing.
Adaptive clothing makes dressing much easier for older people with arthritis, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other debilitating conditions.
Arthritis clothes- Large-zipper toggles, easy closures.
Alzheimer’s clothes-Loose fitting, soft fabric, wide openings.
Elastic-waisted, tie-on pants, shorts, skirts, no fumble with closures.
Slip on: fold on shoes, no laces or buckles, stable and comfortable.
Wheelchair clothes- Easy to put on/take off without standing or assistance.
Go to the Silvert’s Adaptive Clothing & Footwear banner on my website for a complete line of high-quality, affordable elderly senior care clothing and apparel for the caregiver and the people they care for.
Elder care attorneys specialize in issues that affect the elderly and their families.
Whether or not you need an elder care attorney depends on your needs and resources.
Here are the areas an elder attorney can help you with.
Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security benefits.
Estate Planning Issues.
Long term care needs.
Do you or loved one need assistance with public benefits, estate planning, guardianship, health and long term planning?
Go to my links on the Website and contact an elder care attorney for a FREE consultation
Medicare and Medicare supplemental insurance can be helpful in protecting against the costs of medical care, as they do pay for many long term care expenses.
Medicare will only pay for skilled care in a nursing facility for a short period of time, and you must meet certain requirements. Medicare supplemental policies were not designed to cover custodial care or other long term needs.
Medicaid pays for a significant portion of long term care expenses, but it requires you to spend down most of your assets to be eligible.
With rising health care costs, long term care can be expensive and deplete your savings, if not planned for. A solution might be long term care insurance.
Long term care is the kind of care delivered in nursing homes or by home caretakers or adult day centers. The types of care or services range from highly skilled nursing care to unskilled custodial care.
Unfortunately, living longer often brings increased possibility of illness, frailty, and dependence. While Medicare is designed to cover the costs of acute medical care, it does not cover all of these expenses. One must assess whether health needs are adequately addressed by government programs and whether additional insurance is required.
Many people purchase long term care insurance to have the peace of mind knowing their long term care needs are covered and that their overall financial, emotional, and physical well-being is protected.
Before deciding if long term care insurance is needed for you, speak with your family members and physician about long term care needs. Go to the AARP website and The ABC’S of Long Term Care Banner on my site for quotes.
Protect yourself from financial scams by recognizing these important red flags.
1-Legal agreements requiring signatures, without family members present.
2-Financially sophisticated terminology used in legal contracts.
3-The promise of guaranteed returns in life insurance and other investment products .
4-Unfamiliarity with computers and safeguarding personal identity.
5-The need for home care that exposes personal and financial resources.
If you suspect you have been a victim of elder financial abuse, contact The National Center on Elder Abuse Immediately @ 800-677-1116.
