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

I’m out doing research today, and I’ve come across many great resources and articles that may help you as well.

1. Becoming Long Term Care Aware. Many people don’t think about long term care until they need it, which in many cases is simply too late. Take a look at this article that can help you understand more about long term care planning now.

2. Caregiving: Depression and Hope. Are you angry at your caregiving responsibilities? Do you sometimes feel hopeless and depressed? Learn more about the warning signs, and how you can turn depression into hope.

3. Medigap Insurance. Are those pesky out of pocket expenses adding up? Maybe it’s time to look at Medigap Insurance.

4. Sleeping Patterns For Seniors. How much sleep do seniors truly need?

5. Two New Alzheimer’s Studies. The search goes on for finding ways to slow down and eventually cure Alzheimer’s.

Sometimes you realize you need options after a medical crises opens your eyes. Other times it’s a slow and gradual process. In either case, you suddenly realize that your loved one needs some type of care. But what options are available? What’s the best choice for you?

1.  Self Care. Usually the easiest and natural way to provide care is to simply do it yourself. Your loved one relies on you to get things done, and slowly you take on more responsibilities in your loved one’s home.

2. In Home Care. When you find yourself in overwhelm and can’t keep up with managing your home and your loved one’s, you may decide to turn to in home care. This allows you more freedom, and allows your loved one to get the professional care she needs. In some cases it will also allow your loved one to remain in her home - a place she loves and feels secure in - much longer than any other way.

3. Adult Day Care. A place to take your loved one where she will receive supervision while you can’t be with her. Adult day cares offer supervised activities to stimulate your loved one and help her remain active.

4. Assisted Living. Assisted living facilities offer you a place where your loved one can have the privacy she wants, and the access to care she needs.

5. Nursing Care. When your loved one needs 24 hour assistance, she has two options: 24 hour in-home care or a nursing facility. Both provide the attention to detail you need.

photo source paolotich

1. Help fix a nutritious breakfast, lunch or dinner.

2. Keep the kitchen cleaned and stocked with healthy food.

3. Provide light housekeeping.

4. Provide companionship and conversation.

5. Help your loved one with mild exercise - maybe just a walk around the block.

6. Transporting your loved one to and from doctors appointment.

7. Extra support after surgery.

8. A travel companion.

9. Shopping for daily needs.

10. Entertainment, including playing games or cards, or helping with craft projects.

11. Help with bathing and daily grooming needs.

12. Medication reminders.

13. Drop off and pick up prescriptions.

14. Arrange appointments and be there as a reminder.

15. Organize household tasks and deliveries.

16. Provide backup support for family members that care 24 hours a day for a loved one.

17. Provide an understanding ear for both the elderly and their family caregivers.

18. Organizing lunch dates with friends.

19. Supervise home maintenance and cleaning.

20. Give you peace of mind when you can’t be with your loved one.

A recent study shows more than 20 percent of the US population in 2007 reported not getting or delaying medical care because of their current medical benefits (or lack thereof). This is up sharply - 14 percent - from 2003.

And this trend is only expected to increase. The people it will most likely hurt will be those that are truly in need of medical help.

During these tough economic times, everyone seems to be looking for an edge. Escalating prices have weakened the scale of retirement savings and placed a crunch on household budgets. Many are looking for part-time work to somewhat offset rising costs.

An enticing lure is the opportunity to become a ‘Secret Shopper.’ The opportunity boasts that an ‘employee’ is hired to visit a retail store, buy a few items, and then turn in an evaluation of the customer experience. The hours are flexible; one can work as much or little as desired; and the pay is remarkable for the time spent ‘on the job.’ Additionally, one may keep the items purchased during the ‘shopping experience.’ The offers are posted in local newspapers and via Internet communications and Websites. While such a legitimate service may exist, most are a scam.

Shortly after signing up to become a ‘Secret Shopper,’ an assignment arrives along with a check. The first assignment, which must be completed within 48 hours, goes something like this:

1) Deposit the enclosed check for $4900 at your bank;

2) Go to Walmart, spend $100 (and keep what you buy), and make an  evaluation of the service; keep $100 for making your evaluation;

3) Go to Money Gram and send $4200 to another ‘Secret Shopper’      associate (forwarding information given) and evaluate the service at Money Gram; keep $200 for making your evaluation;

4) Keep $300 as your probationary income.

The check is bogus. The check will bounce. Any amount sent via Money Gram may never be recovered.

Some suggestions:

·    If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is;

·    Check out the legitimacy of a business by calling the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org or 303-758-2100) or the office of the Secretary of State (303-894-2200);

·    Call the District Attorney’s Fraud Hotline (303-271-6980) to inquire whether the offer might be a scam. We are happy to research an offer.

·    Never cash a check that has been sent without due reason; remember that once money is sent via a wire transfer, it is most likely irretrievable;

·    Remember that even in today’s sophisticated electronic world it may take checks 7-10 days to clear; if a check is bogus, it will be returned after 7-10 days;

·    Many of the checks have a business heading with no relationship to the ‘Secret Shopper’ organization. For example, the ‘Secret Shopper’ organization posts a New York address and the check may be drawn on an unrelated business in Georgia.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

The hardest thing about getting help is admitting you need it.

If your loved one is doing more than she should, and you constantly worry about her, maybe it’s time to get some help.

Caregivers are there as much for you as for your parent or loved one. It’s hard to put your mind at ease while working or with other family activities when you’re worried.

Consider hiring small activities to begin the adjustment.

If she has trouble driving, yet still drives to the grocery store every Thursday, have a friend drive her and take her out to lunch in the process. It will be a fun day for both.

If she has trouble fixing meals and cleaning up afterwards, consider making fun, nutritious meals together that she can easily put into the microwave.

If she loves to head outdoors for walks but has trouble getting back home, find her a walking buddy.

And if you can’t be there or are too far away, it’s easy to hire a caregiver you can trust. 

Ease her in caregiving by having her rely on one or two at the beginning. She’ll be more open to other help as time goes by.