Welcome Aboard! How To Use This Website
This site provides a vast amount of knowledge and material and is based on thousands of hours of my personal experience and research.
I have structured it methodically. However, every caregiver is at a different point in their journey. You may go through the site sequentially or go directly to the sections that are your highest priority and catch up with the rest later.
Overview: 22 Topics You Need To Master About Caregiving For Aging Parents
Lost? Overwhelmed by the many aspects of caregiving for an aging loved one? Emotional, physical, legal, financial, social, where to live, family relationships.
Build Your Caregiving Dream Team of Professionals
Are you thrust into caregiving and don't know who to ask or what to ask? Don't know how to find the right people?
So many unknowns, so many decisions, so little time, so little training or preparation!
I created these tools for you as a byproduct of my own caregiving journey.
Recognizing The Need For Change
Worried about small or big changes in behaviour, medical, or physical condition?
Why is it so important to take notice of the signs of decline?
Because at some point the cumulative decline may require changes.
Having The Conversation About Change
How do you talk to a loved one about changing their living arrangements? Who, should be in the conversation? What should be discussed? Modify the home? Move in with adult children? Move to assisted living? A wide variety of options, but how to get everyone on board?
Aging in Place
Can the home be modified to be more safe? Are there services that can be delivered to the home such as medical, food, in-home aides? Are there technologies to enhance the safety, the communications and socialization of the resident?
Analyze Level Of In-Home Care Needed
Do you need light housekeeping, food preparation? Help with bathing? Transferring to and from bed/sitting/bathroom? Help with medication? A few hours a day all the way up to 24 hours a day? Assistance with shopping?
Aging Life Care Companies (ALCM) / Geriatric Care Managers
The Positives and Joys of Caregiving for a Loved One
Love. Giving back to a loved one who sacrificed so much for you. Strengthening bonds and relationships. Quality time that wasn't previously available.
Family Relationships When Caring For Aging Parents
Caregiving for an aging loved one can bring out the best and the worst in family relationships. Old and new grudges and rivalries may further deepen causing irreparable harm to the aging loved one, to the primary family caregiver, and to the family as a whole.
Caregiver Burnout
The primary family caregiver is the one who is making the highest sacrifice. The sacrifice is physical, emotional, time, and sometimes financial.
There are numerous practical ways to reduce caregiver burnout.
Caregiver Support Groups - You're Not Alone!
Caregiver burnout? Frustrated? Depressed? Overwhelmed? Need advice? Or just someone to talk to who understands? There are many local and national support groups for family caregivers.
Online, zoom, and in-person groups, and also specific to medical conditions.
Types of Retirement and Long-Term Care Communities
So many options! Which is the right one for your loved one? Will they accept him/her?
Independent Living, Assisted Living, Personal Care, Skilled Care, Other?
Legal Matters For Seniors
Seniors almost always have more options available to them than they can imagine. Asset preservation, long-term care insurance, disability and medical care, Social Security benefits, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, estate planning, medical care directives, declarations and powers of attorney, real estate and mortgage and reverse mortgage advice, wills, trusts, guardianships, and more. Everone has different needs and goals. Eldercare attorneys know how to help you maximize your options.
Choosing Medical Care Providers
As we age we need more medical attention. But other constraints are present: Traveling and getting from the car to the appointment in sweltering heat, or snow, or rain, or icy conditions Coordinating schedules to fit the patient, the doctor or lab work, and the caregiver. Are there medical services that come to the home? What about medical services in Assisted Living? What about insurance, Medicaid and Medicare?
Deciding If To Move To A Senior Living Community
Most seniors will automatically say they wish to continue living at home rather than go to a senior living community. But today's senior communities are not like the the image of the "old age" homes of the 1950's.
The Assisted Living and Long-Term Care facilities of today are generally more like beautiful hotel settings with customized care, social activities, and many amenities.
The senior and their family caregivers should tour half a dozen facilities before deciding against moving
How To Pay For Long Term Senior Living
Ways to pay for long-term care
1. Self Fund with Savings
2. Life Insurance
3. Deferred Lifetime Annuity
4. Cash in on Home Equity
5. Rent Out Your Home
6. Sell Other Assets
7. Reverse Mortgages
8. Run Through Savings and Qualify for Medicaid
9. Rely on Family Members
10. Have a Plan and Communicate it to Family Members
Downsizing, Packing and Moving
Packing, moving, unpacking, setting up. Most of the time, when seniors move there is also an element of downsizing and decluttering.
Unpacking and setting up the new residence is also a challenge.
Specialized Seniors Movers are trained and passionate about helping seniors sort into categories of keep, sell, give away, donate, or throw away.
Seniors Movers also specialize in unpacking and setting up the new place to be move-in ready.
Technology and Gadgets to Aid Seniors
Technology and gadgets today can improve the quality of life of seniors and make caregiving much easier.
Provides access to grocery shopping and meals.
Monitors health and wellness
Enhances security
Provides entertainment
Alerts caregivers if something is irregular
Provides peace of mind
Connects them with friends and family
Enables telehealth
And much more...
Socializing for Seniors
Socializing is critical for:
Improved Mental Health
Sense of Belonging
Staying Relevant
Increased Self-Esteem
Purposeful Living
If the senior is not independently mobile, there are transportation options available. There are also many technology tools, such as Zoom calls and smart home devices, that make it easier to socialize even if homebound.
Transportation for Seniors
Transportation customized for seniors can be found in many places:
Community Centers
Religious Institutions
Non-profit organizations
Medical Transportation Companies
Hospital In-home Care Services
And more...
Hospice and End of Life Decisions
Hospice will give the senior and the caregivers guidance and support regarding the physical, emotional and spiritual changes occurring near the end of life
Hospice staff are compassionate, knowledgable, and experienced. The Hospice team usually consists of nurses, social workers and clergy.
Probate
TBD