Seniors ETC - In-home senior, parent, companion care, hospice support in Colorado

It’s enrollment season for 2008 Medicare/Medicaid benefits.  Sometimes the telemarketers request Social Security, bank routing, or credit card numbers. These numbers in the wrong hands can easily lead to identity theft.  Telemarketers often say that they have information about new Medicare plans, and consumers can get confused that the solicitors represent Medicare. 

These are largely legitimate marketing efforts, but Medicare scams are always a threat.  A legitimate marketing company will not ask any personal information, such as Medicare numbers or bank routing numbers.  Medicare will NEVER call and ask for your Medicare number or bank routing information. 

Remember these tips:

- No one should come into your home uninvited.  If someone knocks on your door, don’t let them in unless you have an appointment.

- If you are on the Colorado NO CALL list, you should not get cold calls - only the provider with whom you have a relationship (i.e., Humana, Kaiser) may call you.  To register for NO CALL: www.coloradonocall.com or 1-800-309-7041.

- No one should ask you for personal information if they call you.  If you receive a marketing call, ask for the name of the caller, the name of the company and their phone number; then check with the Colorado Division of Insurance, to make sure it’s a valid insurance company. 

- Never give out personal information, such as your Medicare or bank number.

- Medicare Advantage plans have rules you must follow to get coverage.  Take time to review the full details of a plan BEFORE you sign any documents. Once enrolled in a plan, you can be locked into a choice for up to a year, unless you can show you received misleading information from the insurance salesperson.

- To report suspected incidents of Medicare fraud call the Colorado Division of Insurance’s SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) at 303-894-2290 or 303-894-2268.

Need help?  Call the Consumer Protection Line: 720-874-8547

“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine…”

…changing our rules to change our lives.

Until you take on the role of family caregiver, you really don’t know what it means – the effect it has and will have on every aspect of your life.  One issue that family caregivers truly do not know until they’re ‘in it’ is the isolation they can experience - both physical and emotional.  If we reflect honestly, we know that in varying degrees, each of us plays a role in the creation of that isolation.  The good news is that we have the amazing power to change isolation into connection simply by changing our rules.

Most of our life choices are based on our values and strongly held beliefs about the way to live.  Often we live those values exactly as we learned them as children.  We seldom give them a second thought.  For us, these things just ‘are.’  As many of us take on caregiver roles in our 40s, 50s and 60s, however, we begin to discover that some of these values and the rules that support them continue to serve us well - and some do not.   

Do you have values and beliefs formed in childhood that create isolation and disconnection instead of association and connection?  My family of origin placed high value on independence and rugged individualism.  To “just ask” for help seemed fairly simple until I was the one asking. My rule: Others can and should ask for help, of course, but I shouldn’t.  That ‘rule to live by’ supports the value of independence and the belief that we can do just about everything on our own.  Asking for assistance is something others do.  Here’s the self-talk: “My family and friends should know what I’m going through and offer support.  I’ll just wait for that to happen.  I don’t need to hire someone to help me.  I can tolerate this exhausting and challenging situation a bit longer.”   Sound familiar?

Well, if you believe asking for help is tough, consider receiving.  Whew!

Those of us who have a problem asking also can have issues with receiving.  We’re trained to give and to be the ones to provide care.  When it comes time for us to be the recipient, our brains spin out thoughts that confirm feelings that, somehow, we’re lesser if we seek and accept assistance.

How do we change this lifetime of training?  To begin the positive cycle of asking and receiving, we must be aware of the issue and, then, focus on why we must change.  Explore what is lost if we do not change (our health, our relationships, our love of life, the pure joys of this experience….).  Better yet, explore what is gained if we do change (our health, our relationships, our love of life, the pure joys of this experience….)!  Then, just make a simple choice to ask for assistance.  When you take that first step, however tiny, everything changes.  By reaching out and asking, even once, you already have broken down some of the walls of long-held beliefs and behaviors.  You are on your way to identifying and examining and consciously deciding which of the hundreds, the thousands, of ‘rules to live by’ that you created are the ones to keep.  Just a simple choice - and that first asking can make all the difference.  

To make this learning stick, choose to be around people who encourage and support you and your valuable contribution.  Just one nourishing person can keep you on track and remind you of your value and of the positive choices you’re now making.  And when you have two, or three, or more of these folks who feed you emotionally and provide positive support, you’re well on your way to the wonderful ascending spiral of asking for and receiving the help you need to do your vital giving work.

Do you need a caregiver to provide respite care?  Do you want someone to clean your house or prepare a meal?  Would you like to get a chair massage?  Does a quiet in-home retreat sound like a needed break for you?  

Reach out and ask for needed help and support, whatever that looks like to you.  Tell others what you need.  Allow them to help you and to support your important role as a caregiver.  Accept their gifts of energy and time.  And express your gratitude through your healthy continuing contribution of loving care.

© HeartSong Retreats, Linda Lehman-Murphy 2007
    www.heartsongretreats.com

You’ve got cancer.

It’s a heart attack.

She has Alzheimer’s.

Each day, people across the globe are hearing these phrases for the first time. After the initial shock wears off, reality sets in.

Who’s going to drive her to the doctor’s office every week?
Who’s going to keep her house clean?
Who’s going to make sure she’s taking all of her medicine?
Who’s going to make sure she’s eating correctly?

How am I going to do all of this, and work my full time job? And take care of my own family?

According to the National Family Caregivers Association, more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year. The typical family caregiver is a 46-year-old woman caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her. She is married and employed.

And she is overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a job you apply for, or work into it over time. It’s usually something that springs upon you rather quickly, and something that causes immediate adjustment to your already busy schedule.

But there are things you can do to bring balance to your life.

1. Schedule time specifically for each activity. Don’t let your caregiver’s role engulf you. Schedule time each day for every part of your life. Talk to your employer about flex time, and see if you can work earlier or later hours, depending on what’s best for you. Organize your day to doing a little bit in all areas.

2. Rely on others to help. This isn’t a time to think you can handle it all yourself. Sit down and talk with your spouse and children about taking over more of the household chores. Speak with other family members to help out one day a week.

3. Don’t say yes to more than you can handle. If you’ve always been the one to volunteer for the school parties and to organize the fundraising drive, think again. Offer to help at simpler tasks that still allow you to become involved, yet don’t take the time or commitment. Never give an immediate yes; always ask for a day to think about it, and see if you can put it into your schedule.

4. Ask for help. Realize your limitations. Now more than ever, there are many ways to approach and complete your tasks. In-home care is a reliable alternative for you to ensure the safety and well-being of your loved one. An in-home care specialist can help with simple things like driving to doctors appointments, ensure meal preparation and clean up, or personal hygiene, including bathing and grooming help.

5. Find resources in your area. Check with your local hospital, doctor’s office, or senior resource center for more information. Many communities have resource books that provide you with a wealth of information on local care providers. Learn as much as you can each step of the way, preparing yourself for more difficult future events.
Jonnelle Leimbach is the co-owner and President of Seniors Etc, an in-home caregiver company helping seniors stay in their homes for as long as possible. Seniors Etc currently serves the Denver Metro area in Colorado, and provides a variety of services, including light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, hospice assist, respite care and companionship. Sign up for our report, How To Tell When Your Family Is Ready For Homecare at http://SeniorsEtc.com
 

Enrollment changes to Medicare programs are upon us. If you are new to the Medicare program, or have recently taken over caregiving responsibilities for a Medicare recipient, check into the new information on Medicare plans.

Medicare - 2008 Plan Data

To read the Medicare & You 2008 handbook, view here >>

As an adult child of an aging parent, there are many things to start thinking about as your parents become more dependent on you.

If you are just starting to evaluate your parents choices in medical insurance, including Medicare, read this informative booklet, 7 Tips to Help You to Help Your Parent With Medicare Par D Prescription Drug Coverage.

It provides you with resources to learn more about Medicare, tips for bringing up sensitive subjects with your parents, conversation starters, and ideas to help you choose which plan is right for your parents.

According to the Evercare Study of Caregivers in Decline, a report put out by Evercare and the National Alliance for Caregiving, caregivers in general find their own health issues in a downward spiral because of the pressure associated with caregiving.

The study found that 15% of the respondents stated their health has gotten a lot worse because of providing care, 44% say it has gotten moderately worse, and 41% stated their health is a little worse as a result of their caregiving.

Despite their health problems, caregiving responsiblities do not subside. In fact for many caregivers, the time allocated to caregiving continues to increase. And most have no choice but to continue in the caregiving role.

The most common health complaints are:

energy and sleep 87%

stress and/or panic attacks 70%

pain, aching 60%

depression 52%

headaches 41%

weight gain/loss 38%