A Care Plan Guide (Simple Steps To Caring For Your Loved Ones) The personal journey as a caretaker can be very rewarding yet overwhelming at times. When we are instantly put into a situation of caring for an aging parent or loved one, often it is a challenge to know where to go for assistance. This is an outline to guide you in your care options for your loved ones and assist in creating a care plan for your loved one. Understand: Growing old is a very challenging time for individuals who feel as though they are losing their independence. Some individuals question if they have a purpose to live anymore feeling they are no longer needed. Our parents and loved ones truly need our respect and patience during this time of life even during their moments of confusion, forgetfulness and illness. Also, the loss of a spouse, friends, and financial security has an effect on our loved ones and we must keep in mind that they are experiencing many emotional, mental and physical challenges. When you have a special circumstance, such as Dementia, it is necessary to remember that there will be personality changes, moodiness and agitation that may be difficult to understand at times and cope with. Evaluate: There comes a time when there are small signs that mom or dad are having some health or safety concerns. It is not always easy, but it is best to have the parent talk about present and future needs as well as wishes. The crucial conversation includes talking about medications, personal doctors, driving, any current concerns and involving the loved one in the decision of how they would like to see things handled. Ask important questions like: Would you prefer to stay at home or live at an assisted living facility? Would it be okay if we go to the doctor together so I can make sure you are getting the best healthcare? Do you have long term care insurance? Is there a will including a living will? Care Options: It is wise to be knowledgeable of your care options before an emergency in order to provide the best care for your loved one. There are many resources available for seniors and here are a few: Care Plan: is a program created to enhance the quality of life that serves as a guide for personal care. This may include activities from simple companionship to a more detailed plan including daily tasks for caregivers, medication needs, clinical progress notes, and ADL s
(activities of daily living). It is a great tool for the family and caregivers to provide clear expectations of the care wished to be received or that is being received. Geriatric Care Manager: a professional case manager, usually a licensed social worker, who assesses an elder's ability to live independently in a home environment, develops an appropriate care plan for services and equipment, and organizes needed home care services. Home Care: skilled and non-skilled home care is available depending on need. Skilled care provides nursing care in the patient s home while non-skilled is a Certified Nursing Assistant providing personal care, companion care or home health aide. Having a personal caregiver care for a loved one in their home will provide safety, Research is proving that remaining at home has many benefits which include being in your own comfortable environment which decreases stress in elderly and helps decrease the chance of illness and increase recovery times. Personal Care: Includes assistance with meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders to include bathing, toileting, dressing and personal hygiene; Also referred to as home health aide. Companion Care: a sitter is a individual who provides companionship to an individual and Respite Care: Temporary care service to relieve an in-home caregiver of responsibility for an individual with long-term care needs. Relief care can be provided in the home, in day programs, nursing facilities, rest homes, or an Adult Foster Care program. Should I choose a home care company or a private caregiver? Some families opt to use a private caregiver rather than using a licensed company. Here are the advantages and disadvantages to consider when making a decision between the two. LICENSED HOME CARE COMPANY Pros On call help 24/7 Licensed, insured, bonded adheres to state regulations accountability for caregiver Back up caregiver if someone is unable to provide care due to illness, etc. Background checks, drug screening mandatory Cons More expensive than private individual
PRIVATE CAREGIVER Pros Less expensive Less regulatory limitations Cons No insurance coverage (may be liable for damages or injuries of caregiver) No access to other caregivers in case of illness or emergency No care plan/less accountability Independent Living Units: Housing units that include some basic services such as meals and housekeeping, usually for a fee. Some facilities provide activities for residents and may provide limited transportation; Also known as retirement communities and senior apartments. Assisted Living: A facility that combines housing and supportive services for elders. Services include assistance with personal care, such as medication management, bathing, dressing, and ambulating, and may include laundry, housekeeping, transportation, and social activities. Skilled Nursing Facility: Services that can only be performed safely and correctly by a licensed nurse (either a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse). Examples of skilled nursing facility care include intravenous injections and physical therapy. These are nursing facilities or nursing homes. Personal Care Home: a residence offering protective care and oversight of a person who needs a watchful environment but does not have an illness, injury or disability requiring chronic or convalescent care, such as medical or nursing services. Adult Day Care: Community-based programs designed to meet the needs of adults with functional impairments. Through a structured and comprehensive program, adult day care centers offer a variety of health, social and related support services in a supervised, protective setting during some portion of the day Transportation: Non medical transport may be provided by select home care companies providing transportation to medical appointment, shopping and errands or other miscellaneous needs. Medical transport includes transportation for emergency and non-emergency services. These services include transportation via ambulance for dialysis for example or non-ambulance transport that would transfer a patient between facilities. Elder Care Attorney: An elder care attorney focuses on the legal needs of the elderly; they may assist seniors and their families with locating/financing long term care, estate planning, and
crafting alternative decision-making documents (i.e. power of attorney, advanced directives, etc.) Hospice: Hospice care is provided to help comfort terminally ill individuals and their families, and come to terms with and enhance the final months of life. Financial Long Term Care: an insurance product that provides payment for home care services or long term care facilities such as an assisted living facility. Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit: this benefit allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person with assistance of eating, bathing, dressing, and other ADL s. It also includes patients who are blind or are in a nursing home because of physical or mental incapacity. Assisted living also applies. Medicare: Medicare services provide limited home health aide but does not cover extensive home care services. Medicaid: a small number of companies are approved to provide limited home care services through Medicaid. ASK: Include the entire family in the process. Ask questions and allow input. Make sure that your loved one has decided on one decision maker. It is important that everyone clearly understands your loved ones wishes for care and who will be making the decisions in their regards. Make a plan: Some issues are not pleasant to necessarily discuss or plan. Once all the information is obtained, it is important to put together a short term and long term plan as well as an emergency plan or back up plan. Caregiver Support: Being a caregiver for a loved one is very rewarding however the challenges a caregiver faces can often result in an individual ignoring their own physical and emotional needs. It is important to recognize stress and receive support from family and friends. There are local support groups set up for caregivers to get the encouragement and help they also need.
Online Resources for Elder Care http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/handbook/glossary/index.html http://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10969.pdf http://www.veteranaid.org/ http://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-state/georgia.html Southern Companions is a locally owned and operated home care company in Gainesville, GA. We provide excellence in companion care, personal care and home health aide in metro Atlanta and Northeast Georgia communities. At Southern Companions, we understand what home means to you and we help individuals remain in the comfort of their own homes. We are dedicated to assisting our clients in maintaining quality of life by supporting our client s in an active and independent lifestyle. Southern Companions provides families with the peace of mind that their loved ones are receiving exceptional care from the most qualified and trusted caregivers from respite care to complete live-in care. The biggest needs we see from families is a simple guide and direction for the times when our parents, family members or other loved ones need assistance with their daily living needs. Our hope is that this care plan guide will provide you with some answers to your questions about elder care and ensure that you have the knowledge to make the best decision for the care of your loved ones. www.southerncompanions.net