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Caregiving

What to consider when choosing an in-home care provider

by Kylie Johnson
written by Kylie Johnson

If you are looking into hiring an in-home care provider here are some things to consider:

Service availability

Home health aide schedules vary between agencies. This can impact affordability and convenience when hiring a service.

  • Home for the holidays: Does the agency offer holiday service? Many elderly people celebrate in their own homes, making it crucial for an assistant to be available during these days.
  • Part-time option: Not all seniors need round-the-clock care, so a part-time option helps keep costs low.
  • Overtime service: Family members responsible for primary care may face a late day at the office, bad traffic or any number of factors that could leave them running late. Be sure that a caregiver can remain on site when a complication arises.
  • Respite care: Family caregivers need breaks from time-to-time to tend to their own needs. Home health aides can fill in so that the care recipient remains safe while the family caregiver is away.

Clear communication

Communication between the family of the senior receiving care and the provider organization is critical to creating a comprehensive schedule of services. Slow response times could leave a senior alone, or put them in danger by delaying reports on issues that could impact their health.

  • Health reporting: How often does the service provider give a comprehensive report about the senior’s continued ability to live alone?
  • Schedule changes: For many people, caring for an elderly parent does not reduce other demands on their time, leaving them to schedule around school plays, nights out with friends and work functions. Flexible and emergency scheduling is a must.
  • Live operators: As effective as voice mail can be, waiting for a call back can be nerve wracking. Make sure your service provider routinely answers the phone, rather than responding to messages.

Provider screening

Any time you let someone into your home, you take a risk. The elderly are particularly at risk, so before inviting someone in, it is important that they pass screening and a background check which should be provided by the agency.

  • Background checks: A credit check and scan of criminal history could provide a sense of security.
  • Reference checks: Reference checks are a quick and easy way to find out whether someone has a history of quality performance, and they are also something that many employers neglect to do.
  • Caregiver interview: Instead of simply assigning someone to a case, it is important to allow the caregiver, senior and their family to meet in an informal environment. Compatibility is a foundation for building trust.

Absentee policies

Everyone needs a day off occasionally, so what happens when a caregiver calls out?

  • Immediate notification: Before sending a replacement, the agency should notify you of the conflict. You might prefer to take some time off rather than have a stranger take on the job.
  • Available replacement: If they have a call out, can the agency send out someone else without missing the service window?
  • Permanent replacement option: While occasional call outs are inevitable, repetitive issues with missed work can be a major issue. It is important to know how many you might deal with from a single provider.

Cost

When trying to provide care on a limited budget, the cost can be a major issue. Medicare rarely covers in-home care costs, leaving much of it to be out-of-pocket. You can see what benefits you or your loved one are eligible for by visiting benefits.gov. Long-term care insurance and Medicare supplemental insurance might be viable options to help cover costs.

  • Daily charges: Is there a daily maximum on charges?
  • Hourly charges: Hourly charges can rack up fast, particularly for those that need round-the-clock care.
  • Extra therapy charge: If the primary aide only helps around the house, but is supplemented with a physical therapist or nurse, is there an additional charge for these occasional services? There almost always is.

Article provide by ConsumerAffairs.com

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Caregiving

Types of home care services

by Kylie Johnson
written by Kylie Johnson

Home health aides

Home health aides are professionals who can help with self-care, housework, cooking and more. They might also perform some basic medical tasks. Home health aides sometimes have medical training, so they might be certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs). However, there aren’t any specific standards requiring a home health aide to have particular training or certification. If you’re looking for someone to help with any medical-related tasks, ask about certifications when choosing your provider. Medicare or Medicaid might pay for help from a home health aide.

Nurses

Home care nurses often handle the basic medical needs of those aging in place, like tracking their vitals, giving them IV medications and changing bandages. These professionals could either be licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). The higher level of care a person needs, the more likely their nurse will be an RN. Sometimes, a nurse will visit a patient less frequently but will manage a team of home health aides that visits the person every day. Medicare or Medicaid might pay for help from a home care nurse.

Geriatric care managers

Geriatric care managers are professionals that help caregivers figure out how much care their loved one needs and what living situation might be best for them. They also help caregivers and families navigate the medical system and figure out how to pay for care and hire appropriate home care professionals. Geriatric care managers often have backgrounds in gerontology, social work, nursing, psychology or another related field. You’ll often have to pay out-of-pocket to hire a care manager, but it could be worth the investment if they help you save money in other ways.

Companion services

Companion services vary a lot. Companions might just be someone who keeps your loved one company, or they might also offer transportation and housekeeping services. Companions don’t handle any medical tasks, and they don’t usually help with bathing, grooming or other activities of daily living (ADLs). Because these individuals don’t provide medical care, Medicaid and Medicare won’t pay for them. You may be able to find a community service organization, like Volunteers of America, that provides these services for free.

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a national organization that operates in most communities in the United States. It works with local businesses and volunteers to serve meals to people over 60. The organization delivers meals to people in their homes, and the volunteers who drop meals off provide some companionship to seniors. The group also serves meals in local community centers, so people who can drive can get out of the house to socialize. These services are free or low-cost, depending on where you live.

Community villages

Villages are non-profit organizations designed to help people age in place. Villages coordinate volunteers and paid workers to organize social and educational activities. Villages typically offer transportation services and limited in-home assistance as well as discounted services from health professionals. Each village is independently operated, so the services offered in your area will vary. To find out about a village near you and learn more about these organizations, visit the Village to Village Network’s website.

PACE programs

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, is a part of Medicare and Medicaid. The programs provide as much care as feasibly possible to people in their own homes. For example, someone in a state with PACE might be eligible for in-home care, social work counseling and many other services.

Programs in different parts of the country have slightly different offerings, but the overall goal is to keep people in their own homes as long as possible. These programs currently exist in just over 30 states, but they don’t necessarily cover the entire state. To find out about PACE programs in your area, visit the PACE page on the Medicare website.

Article shared by ConsumerAffairs.com

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Caregiving After a Stroke
Caregiving

Home Care Options

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Study Finds Seniors Need In-Home Medical Care — But Face Few Options

At Visiting Angels, we know the importance of in-home care, and we know that for millions of American seniors, it is important that care comes to them and not the other way around. Thankfully, the market for non-medical in-home care is bigger than ever. Now, housebound or mobility-limited seniors are able to get much of the support and care they need in the comfort of their own homes.

But when it comes to doctor’s visits, it’s a completely different story. These days, it’s almost impossible for seniors to receive an in-home visit from a physician — something that would have seemed unthinkable mere decades ago.

According to a new study, American seniors have almost no options when it comes to in-home medical care. This has left housebound, frail, and mobility-limited seniors — a number researchers estimate may be as high as four million — incredibly vulnerable in terms of their personal health. Home Care Options

Fewer than 1% of Doctors Offer Routine House Calls

There was a time in America where you didn’t go to the doctor — instead, the doctor came to you. As recently as the 1960s, house calls made up 40% of all doctor-patient visits. But nowadays, few physicians will even make a house call, and even fewer offer house calls as a regular part of their routine.

According to Medicare data compiled, analyzed, and reported by researchers from three institutions (the University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins, and UCSF), fewer than 1 out of every 100 American physicians offers routine house calls. This leaves housebound or mobility-limited seniors with few options for in-home medical care — if any at all.

In fact, the researchers found that the majority of housebound seniors live more than 30 miles from a physician who performs regular house calls. This means that they are more or less out of reach when it comes to regular check-ups and medical care.

The study’s authors say that their findings reflect a major shortcoming of the health care system. The researchers say this not only puts housebound seniors at risk but also contributes to ballooning health care costs. The authors argue that increased house call availability would reduce the emergency calls placed by housebound seniors, who make up many of Medicare’s costliest patients. Home Care Options

Non-Medical In-Home Care Readily Available

Ironically, while medical in-home care is now near-impossible to acquire, there is currently a wealth of non-medical in-home care options for American seniors. At Visiting Angels alone, our caregivers serve the non-medical needs of thousands of American seniors every day.

But as America’s choice in home care, we’re also aware that senior health and well-being depends on high-quality medical care for our clients, many of whom suffer from mobility limitations or disadvantages.
“Non-medical in-home care services go a long way toward keeping seniors comfortable and healthy — but high-quality medical care is essential,” says Visiting Angels President and CEO, Larry Meigs. “It’s our hope that the type of care needed by our clients becomes more readily available in the coming years.”

The authors of the study agree. Aaron Yao, the lead author of the study, says that expanding house calls by physicians would not only be cost-effective, it would also have a positive impact on quality of life.

Visiting Angels non-medical in-home care services are offered in communities across the United States. Get in touch with us today to connect with your local provider.

Home Care Options

 

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Caregiving

Hiring the Right Caregiver

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Making the decision to hire a caregiver is stressful. Once you decide your aging parent needs outside help, you need to take the next step to find the right person. Whether you are hiring an independent caregiver or going through an agency, you need to be sure that your hired caregiver is a good fit for your family. How do you know if you’ve hired the right person? Hiring the Right Caregiver

I have worked with many families over the years and have met good and bad caregivers. There are certain traits that were common among good caregivers. Hiring the Right Caregiver

Signs You Found the Right Caregiver

  1. Respectful: A good caregiver treats your aging parent with respect and kindness, regardless of your parent’s cognitive ability. He/she looks your parent in the eye, speaks directly to him/her and addresses him/her directly in a respectful, not condescending tone.
  1. Patient and Flexible: Not everything will always go according to schedule. Our caree may be difficult because they are frustrated with their situation. A good caregiver is patient and flexible and understands the challenges of caring for others and allows their caree to go at their own pace.
  1. Able to Empathize: The ability to empathize is an important, yet challenging skill for many. To be able to understand what a client is going through and be able to ease their frustration or discomfort helps your parent let them in and share concerns with them.
  1. Trustworthy: You are not only entrusting this person with your parent’s care, you are letting them into your parent’s home. Knowing you can trust them with both your parent’s life and their valuables is critical. You don’t want to constantly worry about either.
  1. Passionate: Caregiving is not a high-paying job. Even if you are paying more than $30 an hour for a service, the caregiver is likely making minimum wage, or just slightly above minimum wage. There are many jobs that pay the same rate but are easier to do or don’t require the level of commitment that caregiver requires. Make sure your caregiver is in it because they truly care about helping others and not because they like the idea of relatively unsupervised work (particularly if your parent has cognitive decline or communication challenges).
  1. Forward-Thinking: A good caregiver comes up with ideas or addresses potential problems before they arise. They can see changes in your parent’s demeanor or well-being and bring it up immediately, rather than just going through the motions and waiting for your direction.
  1. Thick-Skinned: Even the sweetest, kindest person may be not-so-nice to their caregiver. A good caregiver understands that it isn’t about them and doesn’t take the behavior personally. They understand that the behaviors may be due to not feeling well or frustration over the situation.
  1. Creative: Sometimes, particularly when working with someone with dementia, a caregiver needs to find unique ways to cajole a client into doing important activities of daily living. Additionally, a creative caregiver will find activities to do with a caree outside of sitting them in front of the TV.
  1. Professional: A good caregiver always remains professional, even when dealing with embarrassing issues. They don’t make your aging parent feel shame about a health condition, physical or mental decline or inability to perform activities of daily living.
  1. Organized: A good caregiver is able to manage many tasks in an organized manner. They can keep track of medications, dosage information and scheduling needs of your parent.
  1. Reliable: A good caregiver arrives on time and ready to work. They don’t frequently call in sick, show up late or leave early.
  1. Physically Strong: Caregiving isn’t just about emotions and professionalism. Many caregiving tasks require physical strength. Caregivers need to be able to safely move their clients, assist with bathing, etc. Your parent may not require these tasks immediately, but if their condition declines, your caregiver will need to be able to handle the changes safely.

There are many other signs of a good caregiver, but these 12 characteristics are a good indicator that your caregiver is the right person for the job. Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver Hiring the Right Caregiver

Hiring the Right Caregiver

 

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Organizing Care for an Aging Loved One
Caregiving

Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregiving

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Whether or not your job includes working outside enduring the elements or seeing others suffer with no ability to change their situation, caregiving for a loved one possibly could be the most difficult job of all. Why, because it is a job from the heart and not one easily left behind once you leave the job site. Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregiving
How do you leave loved ones who are unable to go out and do much else for themselves without a saddened tug on your heart? Your heart wants you to know to that it is alright to do for yourself, but you feel torn as you see the loneliness in your loved one’s eyes. Then you feel selfish because, in your pit of despair, you desperately fear what is going to be left of your own life after years of caregiving to another. You cause sheer inner hatred by thinking of what the future might bring once the hardest job of your life is over. Do you talk about your feelings? Very little, as only those who have gone through what you are living through have the ability to understand. Of course, you want to run. But where? Your nerves, if you have any left, are shattered.
The fear cemented deep within your soul is your lifeblood of comfort you as you watch time flying forward for both you and your loved one. You wonder whether or not there ever will be a day that you don’t live in fear of what is going to happen the next day or even the next minute. Say “hello” to your loved one on a beautiful day in a wonderful mood that not even you think could be broken. Then a feather drops and causes your temper to flair with words you know that one day you are going to wish you had never said. Being able to forgive and forget what both do or say during heated times possibly is how to save yourself when handling the painful job of being a caregiver. In addition, if you are a caregiver, you must allow yourself to give and take love and positive strokes for of from each of you.
Too frequently you cling to your hurt feelings because anger often becomes the mode of exchange with your love one. I can become angry with myself because I wonder how I would be reacting if I were watching my own body fall apart. How would you like to watch your body fall apart? This answers the question as to why caregivers often cry themselves to sleep. The crumbling of a body is not an easy thing to watch. As you hold your tears back, you do all that you can to emotionally distance yourself. In reality, all that is left to do is hope that you are being kind enough to the person who is deteriorating before your eyes. You allow yourself to cry when you leave because your tears are for them. Their eyes tell the story of the sorrow that only one losing the use of his or her body could feel.
Run home, it is ok. Go cry, it is ok. You need to relieve yourself of your feelings of sorrow and fear that only caregiving can produce. If you understand the words describing the emotions of this caregiver, I think that both of us are learning the meaning of the word “caregiver.”
As a caregiver, I find that I am unable to offer you an exact definition. Caregiving could mean loving enough to visit frequently. Or caregiving might mean that you are your loved one’s leaning post. You could be his or her full-time caregiver. Caregiving often is defined as being able to help someone who is unable to care completely for herself or himself without assistance. Be sure to remember that the word “care” is combined with the word “giving.” You are giving a part of yourself to care for someone you love during her or his time of need. No matter how difficult the caregiving job may be, there is no more rewarding work in existence. Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregivins
By Sandra Speer
Ms. Speer is living her passion of using her education (BA, MAOM, Ph.D., abd), life, published articles, and 30+ years of work experience toward eliminating institutionalized elder/disabled individual abuse by writing for and speaking to organizations and individuals throughout the world. With each story or speaking engagement, her goal is to become closer to helping all understand the process of aging and that “Institutionalized Abuse” does not have to be a part of an aging or disabled individual’s life. Her heartfelt message is for all ages because learning to respect and protect our elders is key to teaching that abuse of human beings never leads to lasting success.

Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregiving

Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregiving

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Tips on Caregiving after at Hip Fracture
Conditions & Treatments

Tips on Caregiving after at Hip Fracture

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

This year, over 300,000 U.S. seniors will be hospitalized with a hip fracture — a serious injury for any elderly person. While some seniors recover relatively quickly after a broken hip, for most seniors, hip fracture recovery is both difficult and dangerous. Tips on Caregiving after at Hip Fracture
During hip fracture recovery, non-medical support from senior care providers and family caregivers can make a huge difference. During the recovery period, seniors are unable to perform many basic tasks and are at an elevated risk of a hospital readmission or mortality. Senior care — either by professional caregivers or family members — can help make day-to-day living easier and increase the chance of a full recovery. Tips on Caregiving after at Hip Fracture
If you have a spouse, parent, grandparent, or an elderly friend or relative who has experienced a hip fracture, are some of the steps that you and another caregiver can take to improve your loved one’s chance of recovery:

Start with Doctor’s and Therapist’s Orders

In helping a senior recover from a broken hip, care begins and ends with doctors’ orders. Your loved one’s doctor will have a full understanding of your loved one’s risk factors, the severity of his or her fracture, and the best options for your loved one’s recovery. When discussing your loved one’s recovery with his or her physician, be sure to take detailed notes on care directives and ask questions if there is anything you are unclear about.
Your loved one’s physician and insurer will coordinate physical therapy, which is typically provided in your loved one’s home or in a recovery facility. Therapy is generally performed multiple times a week and is crucial to helping your loved one heal and regain strength. Your loved one’s therapist will likely leave instructions for exercises that your loved one should perform between therapy sessions.
It is important that you make sure your loved one practices these exercises. Roughly 75% of seniors who suffer a broken hip never fully regain the ability to walk. Your loved one’s exercises will increase their chances of being part of the 25% that regain full walking ability and will decrease the likelihood that they will require a walker or wheelchair for the remainder of their life.

Senior Care During Recovery

In the weeks and months after your loved one’s hip fracture, their mobility will be extremely limited. It will be impossible for your loved one to do many daily tasks on his or her own. This is where family caregivers and professional care workers come in.
Non-medical senior care during hip fracture recovery includes assistance with activities like bathing, dressing, hygiene, mobility, transferring, running errands, shopping for groceries, and preparing meals.
Part of providing senior care after a broken hip is also ensuring your loved one’s living place is safe. After a hip fracture, seniors often have balance and coordination issues, increasing the likelihood of a second fall, resulting in a refractured hip. To make your loved one’s home safer, you should consider strategies for how to fall-proof your home. These include improved lighting, removing clutter, keeping cords bundled up and away from walking areas, and installing weight-bearing railings/grab bars in stairways and bathrooms.
Senior care during hip fracture recovery also includes emotional and companionship components. The pain, isolation, and disability of a broken hip can often lead to sadness, despondency, and depression during the recovery period. Family caregivers can help relieve these feelings, whether by offering empathy and conversation or simply by providing a human presence.

Recovery a Long Road for Most

Recovering from a hip fracture is a long and difficult process for most seniors. While your loved one’s fracture might heal within 6-8 weeks, it typically takes 9-12 months before seniors have recovered their strength, balance, and coordination.
During these months, your support, the assistance of other family members, and the help of professional caregivers, therapists, and doctors will be a major part of your loved one’s recovery. As a family senior care provider, you will also play a big role in preventing future falls and injuries.
If you have a loved one who requires senior care after a broken hip, professional non-medical care can make a big difference. At Visiting Angels, our caregivers regularly provide non-medical assistance through our Ready-Set-Go Home program, which provides care for seniors after coming home from the hospital. This program is designed to reduce the risk of complications and injury during recovery.
To learn more about this program and to schedule a free care consultation, contact your local Visiting Angels office today.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4410861/

Tips on Caregiving after at Hip Fracture

Tips on Caregiving after at Hip Fracture

Tips on Caregiving after at Hip Fracture
 

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Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support
Caregiving

Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

Is Your Aging Parent Struggling?

 
Whether you live near your aging parents or live across the country, it can be hard to see changes in their health or well-being. Sometimes, health and cognitive changes are gradual, making it hard to notice. Or, in many cases, we just see our parents as our parents and don’t notice a decline until something major happens. Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support
It can be especially hard for local family members to see gradual changes. Similar to noticing gradual weight loss in someone you see regularly, you may not catch that your parent has lost interest in activities or that they seem to more and more forgetful. Sometimes, it takes an extended visit from a long-distance family member to catch these changes.
I worked with many families who had both long-distance and local siblings. It was always interesting to see how much more the long-distance siblings noticed, since they had more time between visits so changes to health and wellbeing seemed more drastic, rather than gradual. Many times, I noticed issues that local family members didn’t see since they weren’t looking for signs of illness or decline.
I had a client who had two daughters who were not on the same page about his well-being. The local sister saw nothing wrong with her father’s balance and gait because he had been walking like that for some time. The sister who visits a few times a year from Spain was shocked by how much her father had declined and insisted on a life alert system and that his driving service walk him to his apartment, rather than leave him in the garage, which was his preference. My staff and I knew that he struggled and had brought it up to the local daughter but she dismissed us, until her sister expressed the same concern.

Signs Your Aging Parent is Struggling

Here are some changes you should keep an eye out for, whether you live nearby or across the country.

  1. Depression: While depression can be common in older adults, there are ways to combat depression. If you notice slight changes such as a loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed or feelings of guilt, consider addressing these concerns with your parent or their physician.
  1. Increase in Falls: Is your aging parent falling more frequently? If you’ve already addressed fall risks in the home, it could be due to a medical condition or their medication. Speak with their doctor and consider fall prevention aides.
  1. Loneliness: Has your parent recently lost a close friend, moved away from their neighborhood or stopped driving? They could be lonely, which can lead to physical and emotional health problems.
  1. Unsafe Driving: Are you noticing new dings or dents on your parents’ car? Are they anxious about getting behind the wheel? Do they have limited mobility or hearing loss? These could be signs that they need to turn over the keys. Help them understand the dangers of unsafe driving and find solutions to keep them independent and active.
  1. Elder Abuse: Is there someone who is getting abnormally close to your loved one or who is trying to keep family members away from your parent? They may be committing elder abuse. Trust your gut and get informed. Elder abuse isn’t just physical abuse.
  1. Malnutrition: Did you know that many seniors suffer from malnutrition? Help your parents remain proper nutrition by stocking them up with easy healthy snacks and ensuring healthy meals are accessible to them.
  1. Alzheimer’s Disease: Are you noticing your parent isn’t just forgetting little details, but significant facts such as how to get home from the grocery store or trouble following simple directions? There is a difference between general cognitive decline and dementia. Don’t ignore the signs. Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

Don’t dismiss changes to health and well-being. With some tweaks or discussions with a doctor, they can probably be rectified, but if you let something like malnutrition or financial fraud go on for too long, it can have a catastrophic effect.

Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support
Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Caregiving Support

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