Eight Questions to Ask When Choosing the Right Adult Day Center

by ElderCarelink

According to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA), there are approximately 4,600 adult day centers nationwide. These centers typically provide social, medical, and specialized care for elders in community or group settings. If you've been considering enrolling your loved one or parent into a facility, it may be a solid choice.

 Adult day care is a really good option to have care in a group or social setting, says Gina Kaurich, a professional geriatric care manager.

 Selecting a center

 If you and your parent believe adult day care is a good option, be sure to exercise caution and due diligence when selecting a facility. The NADSA recommends that caregivers and family members first evaluate the needs of their loved one. For example, social activities may be important if your parent lives alone. On the other hand, a parent with dementia or special health concerns may need a facility with a lower client to caregiver ratio.

 Before making a decision, be sure to tour several facilities to get a sense of what different providers have to offer.

 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid recommend asking the following questions when touring a facility:

 1. How long has the center been in operation?

2. Is the center licensed? Is that license valid?

3. What are the costs?

4. What type of training and credentials does the staff possess?

5. What types of activities are offered?

6. Is access to medical or personal care services available?

7. Are transportation services available?

8. How are behavioral issues addressed and handled?

Caregivers should also contact their state's licensing board or health department to inquiry whether any substantiated complaints have been made against the facility.If you're ready to take the next step and find an adult day care provider, let ElderCarelink.com assist you.

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What's the difference between nursing homes and assisted living

by ElderCarelink

When it appears some form of senior living for a loved one is on the horizon, it pays to familiarize yourself with the different options, including nursing homes and assisted living.

 Assisted living and nursing homes:

 Assisted living. Assisted living emerged in the 1990s as a form of senior care for individuals who could no longer live on their own, but did not require 24-hour supervision or assistance provided by nursing homes. These facilities traditionally provide custodial-care services in home-like atmospheres. Residents can get assistance with bathing, eating and dressing, and many facilities offer shared meals, housekeeping and laundry services and more.

 Nursing homes. Nursing homes, also referred to as 'skilled nursing facilities' provide continual, 24-hour medical attention to their residents. For seniors who have significant medical problems, severe cognitive issues or mobility impairments, nursing homes are equipped to provide the proper level of care.

 Some things to keep in mind:

 Remember, assisted living facilities are not licensed or regulated on a national basis, but on a state-by-state level. In turn, assisted living care falls into a spectrum of definitions, with facilities called assisted living homes, personal care homes, residential care homes and more. That means you should be diligent in your research, visit the facilities you are considering and be sure to make sure it is a licensed and regulated facility.

On the other hand, many nursing homes across the US are approved to accept Medicare, Medicaid or both. This is important as the cost of nursing home care is typically higher than assisted living. So, which is best? That's up to you and your family to decide. Take time to figure out your loved one's needs, review the advantages and drawbacks of each type of care, and research the various options thoroughly to find the right senior living option for your elder.

Six Things To Think About For Senior Housing

by ElderCarelink  

Any talk that you can see coming is going to be a difficult one, and the housing talk with your aging parent or loved one is certainly no exception. Fortunately, some of the pressure can be taken off of both parties by starting the conversation early (i.e., before the decision must be made) and coming to it prepared with a few speaking points.

 Here's a list of six things to think about and talk about with your loved one before the eleventh hour:

 1. Care needs. Does your parent or loved one have a worsening medical condition? What level of care does s/he need now? How about down the line?

 2. Accessibility. Your loved one will need access to things around the house and around the community. From getting to the store to making it to the hospital, pulling weeds to climbing out of the bath, location and access are major issues to consider.

 3. Socializing. Very few people actually enjoy being alone. Consider what kind of social activities your loved one needs to stay sane, whether it's organized activities or the ability to walk over to a neighbor's house.

 4. Caregiving. Don't go for homes or communities that only barely meet your loved one's needs today; go for housing options that meet tomorrow's possibilities.

 5. Finances. What's your budget? Your loved one's? How can everyone live comfortably on that amount of money?

 6. Professional assessment. If you're getting push-back to these questions or neither you nor your loved one really know what to do with the answers, consider talking to an elder-care professional about what housing options would work.

 Have this conversation early, even if only to get your loved one thinking about the issue.

Sources of loneliness and what you can do

by ElderCarelink

With very, very few exceptions, no one likes to be alone. For the elderly, dealing with the loss of friends and spouses can make them particularly susceptible to feelings of loneliness. In a six-year study, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, asked over 1,600 adults age 60 and older about feelings of isolation, lacking meaningful contact and being left out, and the findings make one point very clearly: loneliness can be a serious health issue.

Over the course of the study, the group of elderly men and women who reported feelings of loneliness were roughly twice as likely to have declines in their ability to complete simple tasks like bathing, dressing and eating. These adults were also 45 percent more likely to die than their more connected counterparts. Rather than letting your parent or loved one live in a constant "I don't want to be a bother" state of isolation, resigned to passing quickly and quietly, you can take steps to combat this issue.

Stay in touch. They might not be ready to move in with you, but they definitely want to stay in contact. Make time for dinner, chats over coffee and quality family time.Help them make new friends. An adult daycare center is a great option for taking the weight of caregiving off of your shoulders for a few hours a day and getting your parents or loved ones connected to more people their age.

Encourage love. Whether it's a romantic relationship, a new pet to dote over or a young grandchild to spoil, love is the silver bullet for loneliness. Encourage it, and help it grow.

Don't make your first (or last) chat with your loved be about health issues. Start sharing the love today.

Another awesome blog about aging:

http://www.healthinaging.org/blog/

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A Day in the Life of a Senior

This week, the class got the opportunity to experience some different things that seniors sometimes have to experience. Everyone got to class and were given briefs to put on, then they had to put 8 pieces of corn in each shoe, tie their knees together, wear sunglasses with vaseline rubbed on them, put cotton balls in their ears, wear gloves and a face mask and then go run two laps around the school track. These were to simulate different pains that different seniors feel due to chronic diseases or other problems. Here are some pictures of the experience:

 

Huntsman World Senior Games!

What an awesome opportunity we had to go help out at the Senior Games. We got to help out for 2 weeks doing different health screenings for the seniors that participated in the games. Here are some pictures of our experience:

Strength and Flexibility

VO2 Max

Glaucoma

 

Bone Density

Blood pressure

Eye Exam

Some other health screenings we did included: Body Fat Composition, Bone Density, Balance, Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure

Five things to consider about assisted living facilities

by ElderCarelink     

Has the time finally arrived when your loved one can no longer live independently? Depending on your loved one's level of need, there are various caregiving options to consider, including assisted living facilities. These facilities can provide the care your loved one needs in a safe and friendly environment. Remember, each assisted living facility is different, which allows you to find the right fit for your elder.

Assisted living facilities: 5 things to consider

When researching your various options, keep the following five considerations in mind.

 1. Facility size. Would your elder prefer to live in a large complex with amenities such as a gym? Or, would they like to live in a smaller residential home with only a few other elders?

 2. Social activities. Does the assisted living facility offer recreational activities?

 3. Menu. What type of food does the assisted living facility provide? If your loved one has special dietary needs, can the facility meet those needs?

 4. Transportation. Does the facility provide transportation services for its residents?

 5. Cost. What is the base monthly fee for living at the facility? Are there other costs for additional services or amenities?

To find the right fit for your loved one, tour the different facilities you're interested in (with your loved one, if possible). Put together a checklist of questions to ask and find out if the facility offers the staff, environment, cost, and amenities that can help your loved one transition to their new phase of life.

Supporting a love one with alzheimer's

by ElderCarelink  

Spending quality time with a loved one who has Alzheimer's can do more for them than simply provide company. For individuals with Alzheimer's, successful activities, such as listening to music, can help them create meaning and remain connected to the world around them. According to the AARP, activities can improve your loved one's quality of life, even though those activities may not necessarily slow down the progression of Alzheimer's.

 Activities for individuals with Alzheimer's. Activities, notes the Alzheimer's Association, structure time and can give the individual with Alzheimer's a sense of purpose.

Here are three tips to consider when developing meaningful activities for a loved one with Alzheimer's.

 1. Focus on the person. Activities should encourage enjoyment, relate to past interests and be appropriate for their abilities.

 2. Choose a supportive location. Try to minimize distractions and choose a safe, comfortable location.

 3. Establish a routine. Planning is important and allows you to spend your energy on activities, instead of trying to figure out what to do.

 From taking a walk to visiting a garden, doing a puzzle with larger pieces to painting, there are hundreds of purposeful activities you can do with your elder.

Adult day care: a great way to engage loved ones

 Adult day care is another great way for your loved one to participate in planned activities which are appropriate for their condition.

 These centers offer coordinated services in a community setting and typically include transportation, meals and personal care in addition to daily activities.

Keep mom and dad at home with in home services

by ElderCarelink

Simply because your mother, father, or loved one may be having some trouble with their daily tasks doesn't mean it is time to rush them out of the house and into a nursing home or assisted living facility. With in-home care services, you can help your loved one remain independent and stay in their home for as long as possible.

 Companion Care. Also referred to as non-medical home care, this category of home-based services offers a variety of options. For example, you could hire a caregiver to visit your loved one once per week or hire them full-time to assist with daily living tasks such as meal preparation or bathing.

 Home medical care. If your loved one requires more constant medical attention, you can hire a registered nurse to live with them or to provide care periodically.

There are numerous benefits to in-home care, from keeping your loved one in a personal environment to helping them maintain their independence. Take the time to research your options, so you can find the right type of care for your elder.

Four suggestions to determine if you could afford long term care insurance

by ElderCarelink

The cost of long-term care can quickly drain your nest egg. How can you plan ahead to make sure you don't run out of money? While there is not a one-size-fits-all plan, these four ideas can help you save money for your future care.

1. Save your Social Security benefits. If you have a combination of an employed-sponsored retirement plan and private savings, then you may want to bank your Social Security benefits for potential long-term care expenses.

 2. Keep expenses at a minimum during early retirement. During retirement, with the kids out of the house, your expenses could be less than you anticipated. You may want to put those unexpected savings into an account for future long-term care.

 3. Purchase long-term care insurance. If possible, you may want to consider purchasing long-term care insurance when you are younger. When considering a plan, be sure to get policy quotes from more than one company and take the time to research an independent insurance agent, if you choose to use one.

 4. Use adult day care or in-home care services. These caregiving services can help you remain at home as long as possible and are traditionally less expensive than full-time care.

Although long-term care can be expensive, it may seem even more expensive if it takes you by surprise. Saving as early as possible can help you prepare to meet the challenge of paying for your future long-term care.