As well-known speakers on the issue of elder care, my partner and I are involved in many vital and meaningful discussions around aging population. What we've discovered is that sometimes the issues around our elderly are vast and complicated (like Medicare and the Healthcare Reform Act) - and sometimes the issues that touch the aging most intimately are the simplest things. One of those simple issues is TOUCH. We hear about touch as a medium for healing in so many arenas of life - in premature infants, seriously ill and even terminally ill patients.
As advocates of for healthy, wonderful resources in elder care, we hope to move this conversation to the top of the list for the aging population. As a society, we may be powerless over many issues facing our aging parents and grandparents, but this is ONE thing that we can simply and easily bring back into their lives. It is only a question of awareness.
Why? The reasons our aging population grow physically more and more isolated are vast. To begin with, it's common that they will have lost those who were closest to them - their spouses, best friends, siblings - in some cases, even their children. It's also possible that we, as care providers, are so conscious of being aware of their frailty, that we go too far - hardly touching them at all. Even hugging them from an invisible half-inch boundary becomes our norm.
What to do. There are so many simple ways to reengage ourselves with the elderly population. For daughters, granddaughters and female care providers, sometimes the simple act of providing a manicure or pedicure is a restorative physical connection. For myself, the opportunity to shave my dad was always a fond intimacy between us - and a way for him to feel good about himself.
What are the benefits. According to the Touch Research Institute, elderly massage is one of the most useful treatments for all levels of Alzheimer's patients. It's been shown to facilitate relaxation and even communication. Touch can also greatly assist in pain management and can also create an increase in strength and muscle awareness. (And all things being connected, this can help the elderly population to avoid falls and other injuries, simply because their bodies grow weaker or less self-aware over time.)
Finally, touch can also have a profoundly calming effect - which can help the patient to deal with medical and lifestyle interventions much more easily and in a way that is more deeply connected to their loved ones and care providers. In short, touch can be a bridge that breaks their isolation. This is even more true when the patient may have lost their verbal abilities for one or more reasons.
As our patients and loved ones move into their golden - and even their platinum years, bringing the intimacy and caring of touch back into their lives - and even into OUR lives - is a strong and powerful connection that we should definitely not overlook. After all, even the powerful healing of a simple hug can make all the difference in a person's day.
John Mills, the founder of eCare Diary, has over 20 years experience in the health care field having focused on health care policy, technology and insurance product development. He brings a unique perspective to the issues of long term care and is using them to develop a website designed to address caregiver's needs.
John has a Masters Degree in Public Policy with a specialization in health policy from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Union College in Schenectady, NY. John and his wife, Susan Baida, have a one-year-old daughter, Avery
Monday, May 24, 2010
Choosing a Home Health Aide - Honoring What Won't Be on a Resume
As any family with a loved one who is "aging in home" probably knows, finding home health aides who are not only qualified, but also passionate about their work is not easy. There are many, many variables that come into play - after all, this person has access to your home, your family, and your precious parent or grandparent.
To make matters more difficult, your loved one has quite possibly lost their ability to advocate for themselves. So the home health aide you choose MUST be well above board.
I faced these issues over and over again, as we chose - and UNchose - almost a dozen home health aides while caring for my father. Although we finally found a wonderful person to help us, trodding through agencies and aides not only affected our careers and schedules every day - it made it almost impossible to do the basics of life. Even going to work or getting out to buy groceries became a measure in frustration when the home health aide didn't show up or wasn't the person we'd planned on.
And that's not even touching on how confusing it is to the patient themselves. This issue filled our whole family with stress and worry - after all, this was our precious dad. the one who had been there every day of my husband's life. How could we entrust his care, at the most vulnerable time in his life, to the wrong person?
There are some important criteria to keep in mind when you're looking for a home health aide and agency. There are certifications and professional trainings that you should be aware of. For instance, will your family be assigned to one or two care providers - or will you have the "health aide du jour" showing up at your doorstep? THIS can be very disruptive not just to your home - but more importantly to your loved one, the patient.
In addition, ask the home care provider to supply you with a list of references, such as doctors, discharge planners, patients or their family members who are familiar with the provider's quality of service.
And ALWAYS remember the OTHER qualifications - the human side of someone... definitely take the time and be sure that your care provider has the qualities that are most important to you and your family. Sit with everyone in your household and ask them what those are. Remember that the extra time you put into this process at the beginning can save you countless hours of frustration and disappointment down the road.
John Mills, the founder of eCare Diary, has over 20 years experience in the health care field having focused on health care policy, technology and insurance product development. He brings a unique perspective to the issues of long term care and is using them to develop a website designed to address caregiver's needs.
John spent close to a decade working on health care policy serving as Legislative Director to Congressman Eliot Engel of New York, a member of a key health care committee in the US House of Representatives. In this capacity, John served as the chief health policy aide to Congressman Engel and in 1993 was a member of President Clinton's Task Force on Health Care Reform. John later worked on the Bi-Partisan Commission on Medicare Reform established by President Clinton in 1998.
To make matters more difficult, your loved one has quite possibly lost their ability to advocate for themselves. So the home health aide you choose MUST be well above board.
I faced these issues over and over again, as we chose - and UNchose - almost a dozen home health aides while caring for my father. Although we finally found a wonderful person to help us, trodding through agencies and aides not only affected our careers and schedules every day - it made it almost impossible to do the basics of life. Even going to work or getting out to buy groceries became a measure in frustration when the home health aide didn't show up or wasn't the person we'd planned on.
And that's not even touching on how confusing it is to the patient themselves. This issue filled our whole family with stress and worry - after all, this was our precious dad. the one who had been there every day of my husband's life. How could we entrust his care, at the most vulnerable time in his life, to the wrong person?
There are some important criteria to keep in mind when you're looking for a home health aide and agency. There are certifications and professional trainings that you should be aware of. For instance, will your family be assigned to one or two care providers - or will you have the "health aide du jour" showing up at your doorstep? THIS can be very disruptive not just to your home - but more importantly to your loved one, the patient.
In addition, ask the home care provider to supply you with a list of references, such as doctors, discharge planners, patients or their family members who are familiar with the provider's quality of service.
And ALWAYS remember the OTHER qualifications - the human side of someone... definitely take the time and be sure that your care provider has the qualities that are most important to you and your family. Sit with everyone in your household and ask them what those are. Remember that the extra time you put into this process at the beginning can save you countless hours of frustration and disappointment down the road.
John Mills, the founder of eCare Diary, has over 20 years experience in the health care field having focused on health care policy, technology and insurance product development. He brings a unique perspective to the issues of long term care and is using them to develop a website designed to address caregiver's needs.
John spent close to a decade working on health care policy serving as Legislative Director to Congressman Eliot Engel of New York, a member of a key health care committee in the US House of Representatives. In this capacity, John served as the chief health policy aide to Congressman Engel and in 1993 was a member of President Clinton's Task Force on Health Care Reform. John later worked on the Bi-Partisan Commission on Medicare Reform established by President Clinton in 1998.
5 Ways Medical Alert Systems Can Help Your Family
Families today face many tough decisions. Respecting the wish of aging parents to maintain independence and autonomy should not be one of the hard choices for families to make. In fact, when you check out these great ways that medical alert systems can help your family, you might just wonder what you were ever worried about.
1) Peace of mind. This is perhaps the greatest benefit that medical alert or personal emergency response systems provide families with. These systems enable the elderly to be one touch away from help at any time of the day or night. You will never need to worry about falls, trips, slips, and countless other medical emergencies that might make mobility an issue for your aging parent as long as this service is active.
2) Instant access to help when needed. One of the biggest fears that the elderly and their loved ones face is help being needed but not available or no one knowing. A decent medical alert system allows for instant access, through the push of a button, to help at any time of the day or night.
3) Help whenever it is needed. The other benefit is that you aren't limited to office hours or certain times of the day or even days of the week. Your loved ones are monitored at all hours of the day or night and even on holidays. Since accidents and emergencies rarely happen according to plan or during convenient hours it's great to know that your loved one will be monitored when you can't be there to do it.
4) Maintain independence. Your elderly parent is likely to want to maintain his or her own independence for as long as possible. An alert system allows your parent to remain independent longer than might otherwise be possible. Families often live greater distances away and sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to properly check up on elderly parents, no matter how great intentions may be. The additional lifeline to help that is offered by a personal alert medical system is worth its weight in gold if you are struggling to retain your independence despite your age or the risks that go along with living alone.
5) Cost effective quality of life. The quality of life enjoyed in your own home can far exceed the quality of life most people experience in a managed care facility. There is nothing that can be compared to independent living. When you compare the costs of living on your own to those of living in a nursing home or other similar facility the differences in price can add up fast. If you aren't in need of continuous or even moderate health care supervision then living on your own with a medical alert system as a backup plan sounds like an excellent choice.
As you can see there are many great reasons to consider a medical alert system for yourself or aging loved ones. It is well worth the cost in peace of mind and security alone. When you take into account the fact that it may one day save your life or the life of someone you love; this small device becomes priceless.
1) Peace of mind. This is perhaps the greatest benefit that medical alert or personal emergency response systems provide families with. These systems enable the elderly to be one touch away from help at any time of the day or night. You will never need to worry about falls, trips, slips, and countless other medical emergencies that might make mobility an issue for your aging parent as long as this service is active.
2) Instant access to help when needed. One of the biggest fears that the elderly and their loved ones face is help being needed but not available or no one knowing. A decent medical alert system allows for instant access, through the push of a button, to help at any time of the day or night.
3) Help whenever it is needed. The other benefit is that you aren't limited to office hours or certain times of the day or even days of the week. Your loved ones are monitored at all hours of the day or night and even on holidays. Since accidents and emergencies rarely happen according to plan or during convenient hours it's great to know that your loved one will be monitored when you can't be there to do it.
4) Maintain independence. Your elderly parent is likely to want to maintain his or her own independence for as long as possible. An alert system allows your parent to remain independent longer than might otherwise be possible. Families often live greater distances away and sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to properly check up on elderly parents, no matter how great intentions may be. The additional lifeline to help that is offered by a personal alert medical system is worth its weight in gold if you are struggling to retain your independence despite your age or the risks that go along with living alone.
5) Cost effective quality of life. The quality of life enjoyed in your own home can far exceed the quality of life most people experience in a managed care facility. There is nothing that can be compared to independent living. When you compare the costs of living on your own to those of living in a nursing home or other similar facility the differences in price can add up fast. If you aren't in need of continuous or even moderate health care supervision then living on your own with a medical alert system as a backup plan sounds like an excellent choice.
As you can see there are many great reasons to consider a medical alert system for yourself or aging loved ones. It is well worth the cost in peace of mind and security alone. When you take into account the fact that it may one day save your life or the life of someone you love; this small device becomes priceless.
5 Ways Medical Alert Systems Can Help Your Family
It is becoming more and more common for elderly parents or other aging loved ones to move in with other family members. This arrangement can be beneficial for many aging relatives but if not thought out properly can drastically change the lives of everyone in the household, including the aging loved one.
There are several reasons why aging parents move in with their adult children. Some of the common reasons include:
*Ailing health or illness
*Negative opinions of institutional care
*Poor institutional care
*Cost of medical caregivers
* Financial reasons
Before aging parents move in with their adult children, several considerations must be made. The first consideration before parents move in with their adult children is to decide if you are able to handle the task of caregiving. It is often daunting and time-consuming and may interfer with the current family dynamic. You need to know that it will not get much easier as time passes. But you also need to know that it can be very rewarding and a great experience to provide care and compassion to your aging loved one and that you will get to learn more about their life experiences.
When an aging parent of loved one moves into your home, it is much like having a toddler in the home again. The house must be "elder-proofed". Things that break must be put away. Decorative throw rugs must be secured VERY well or taken out of the room altogether. If your parent has dementia, the kitchen might need to be rearranged so that items can be found by the elder more easily. There will be doctor's appointments, lab tests, physical therapy, extra trips to the store, possible hair dresser appointments, etc.
The television may be VERY loud when an elder is listening to it. There may be "accidents" in the bathroom or elsewhere. There will be dirty handprints all along the walls as elders search for a place to stabilize their walking. Glasses, hearing aids, wallets and dentures will "disappear" daily.
The second thing to consider is physical living arrangements. In some cases, the children may move into the home of their parents. In other cases, it is the parents moving into the homes of their children. Some families do not have any space in either home and so an additional room or suite is built on one of the existing properties. This should be taken care of first, if time and the situation permit. If a spare bedroom is available, it should be fixed up to accommodate the parents. Adjustments will have to be made, depending on the condition of the parents. Some common adjustments made for parents are:
•Replacing traditional doorknobs with handles for ease of opening
•Remove or reposition furniture that is obstructing walking areas
•Install grab bars in the bathroom - towel bars will not work and WILL be pulled down
•Securing any slipping floor surfaces such as rugs (or remove them altogether)
•Add motion detector lights to hallways and bathrooms because of decreased vision in the elder
•Widen doorways for wheelchairs or walkers if budget allows
•Install ramps or lifts if needed and if budget allows
The children of the elderly parents should be completely aware of all the medical conditions of their parents. They should be familiar with their doctors and specialists. Being a good caregiver is being an informed caregiver. Children should be aware of their parent's prescribed medications, their side effects and if they are taking them correctly. They should be familiar with emergency response procedures for common mishaps or medical conditions.
If your parent is moving into your home for financial reasons, care costs should also be discussed with siblings and arrangements should be made to split any extra costs. Often one sibling will provide most of the physical care giving while another might choose to help out financially. Cost-of-living should be estimated so concrete numbers can be discussed.
If able, the parent should also pick up part of the bill. Ideally, payments can be made to the children from savings. However, many elderly parents have exhausted any savings with medical care or other matters by the time they move in with their children. If the parents have no savings, it is acceptable to ask for a percentage of any monthly pensions or social security. Don't feel compelled to become financially distressed just because you feel that it is your duty to care for them. The money that they have saved is just for this very reason.....their care.
Although most children and parents have relationships based on love and mutual caring, in some circumstances it may be necessary to draw up a financial contract. This is also a good protection for the caregiving child and will help to show siblings where the paren's money is going. Proof of expenses may also be needed for any government services the parents may take advantage of or may want to take advantage of in the future (especially Medicaid who requests proof of spending 5 years previous to the date of application). If you have a financial advisor or attorney, it may be beneficial to talk to them this. In some situations, the children's income can also affect benefits available to the parent. On the bright side, there may be tax deductions that the children can take for providing care for their parents.
There are several reasons why aging parents move in with their adult children. Some of the common reasons include:
*Ailing health or illness
*Negative opinions of institutional care
*Poor institutional care
*Cost of medical caregivers
* Financial reasons
Before aging parents move in with their adult children, several considerations must be made. The first consideration before parents move in with their adult children is to decide if you are able to handle the task of caregiving. It is often daunting and time-consuming and may interfer with the current family dynamic. You need to know that it will not get much easier as time passes. But you also need to know that it can be very rewarding and a great experience to provide care and compassion to your aging loved one and that you will get to learn more about their life experiences.
When an aging parent of loved one moves into your home, it is much like having a toddler in the home again. The house must be "elder-proofed". Things that break must be put away. Decorative throw rugs must be secured VERY well or taken out of the room altogether. If your parent has dementia, the kitchen might need to be rearranged so that items can be found by the elder more easily. There will be doctor's appointments, lab tests, physical therapy, extra trips to the store, possible hair dresser appointments, etc.
The television may be VERY loud when an elder is listening to it. There may be "accidents" in the bathroom or elsewhere. There will be dirty handprints all along the walls as elders search for a place to stabilize their walking. Glasses, hearing aids, wallets and dentures will "disappear" daily.
The second thing to consider is physical living arrangements. In some cases, the children may move into the home of their parents. In other cases, it is the parents moving into the homes of their children. Some families do not have any space in either home and so an additional room or suite is built on one of the existing properties. This should be taken care of first, if time and the situation permit. If a spare bedroom is available, it should be fixed up to accommodate the parents. Adjustments will have to be made, depending on the condition of the parents. Some common adjustments made for parents are:
•Replacing traditional doorknobs with handles for ease of opening
•Remove or reposition furniture that is obstructing walking areas
•Install grab bars in the bathroom - towel bars will not work and WILL be pulled down
•Securing any slipping floor surfaces such as rugs (or remove them altogether)
•Add motion detector lights to hallways and bathrooms because of decreased vision in the elder
•Widen doorways for wheelchairs or walkers if budget allows
•Install ramps or lifts if needed and if budget allows
The children of the elderly parents should be completely aware of all the medical conditions of their parents. They should be familiar with their doctors and specialists. Being a good caregiver is being an informed caregiver. Children should be aware of their parent's prescribed medications, their side effects and if they are taking them correctly. They should be familiar with emergency response procedures for common mishaps or medical conditions.
If your parent is moving into your home for financial reasons, care costs should also be discussed with siblings and arrangements should be made to split any extra costs. Often one sibling will provide most of the physical care giving while another might choose to help out financially. Cost-of-living should be estimated so concrete numbers can be discussed.
If able, the parent should also pick up part of the bill. Ideally, payments can be made to the children from savings. However, many elderly parents have exhausted any savings with medical care or other matters by the time they move in with their children. If the parents have no savings, it is acceptable to ask for a percentage of any monthly pensions or social security. Don't feel compelled to become financially distressed just because you feel that it is your duty to care for them. The money that they have saved is just for this very reason.....their care.
Although most children and parents have relationships based on love and mutual caring, in some circumstances it may be necessary to draw up a financial contract. This is also a good protection for the caregiving child and will help to show siblings where the paren's money is going. Proof of expenses may also be needed for any government services the parents may take advantage of or may want to take advantage of in the future (especially Medicaid who requests proof of spending 5 years previous to the date of application). If you have a financial advisor or attorney, it may be beneficial to talk to them this. In some situations, the children's income can also affect benefits available to the parent. On the bright side, there may be tax deductions that the children can take for providing care for their parents.
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