When it’s time to hire a caregiver, family members and close friends of the senior are usually the first ones to take notice that it’s time for a change. Once health and safety could be sacrificed is when it’s necessary to start the journey for caregiving, and while it can be stressful, by following the right process the outcome can be positive.
1. Talk about it – while family might believe a senior requires home care assistance, their elderly loved one might not feel the same. Talking about it gently is essential, and not all seniors are likely to simply accept the suggestion of help. A family counselor can intervene if necessary.
2. List the help needed – talk together and determine specific things that a senior care provider like Home Care Walnut Creek could assist with. Whether it’s grocery shopping, help with bathing and dressing, or other tasks.
3. Do research – talk to friends and family about home care agencies they’d recommend, but during that process as costs are addressed, it’s also essential that any funding or insurance coverage that may be available is investigated
4. Don’t jump into a decision – even once a specific agency is narrowed down, it’s okay to interview them and ask questions about their history and their policies. Ask if they’ll spend time with the senior first to assess comfort level, and also verify that a replacement caregiver will be provided if one doesn’t work out
Some seniors may require some additional help at home. While the needs are not always the same, the help of a caregiver can be very beneficial. Whether you are looking for someone who can help medically or someone who will assist with daily living, there are many agencies like Walnut Creek Senior Care that provide seniors with caregivers. Hiring a caregiver is a serious decision that can be made easier by following some of the
tips below.
1. Check local Home Care Agencies. These companies staff many caregivers. However, they do provide different levels of service, so take the time to make sure all services that are needed can be provided.
2. If the senior in need of a caregiver is approved for care that will be paid for by Medicare, the Health Care Agency must be Medicare certified. This ensures that the agency meets the minimal federal requirements.
3. If the senior only requires personal care or homemaking services, caregivers do not have to come from an agency that is certified for Medicare.
4. If there is no Medicare coverage, the cost of the caregiver will have to be paid by the person receiving services. These services can be expensive, but there are some low rates for personal care attendants, also known as PCA’s. They are typically paid by the hour at rates between $13 and $35.
5. Do not be afraid to contact multiple agencies. It is important to find the right caregiver that will provide all services needed by the senior.
Often families think about making changes to an elderly loved one’s home when they live alone; but for some reason, when they choose to move an older adult in they believe that the same standards do not apply. Whenever a senior is moving in, consider their comfort and safety by taking the same steps that you would if they lived elsewhere. Here are some top tips to get you started, and increase their comfort in your home:
1. Install a lower peephole – particularly for seniors that live alone, a peephole is an important security measure. Osteoporosis can cause seniors to lose height, and causing them to strain to see out of a peephole is a danger
2. Reduce glare in the home – for the comfort of seniors, install blinds on the windows that can be adjusted depending upon the amount of light or glare coming into the home
3. Prevent falls with safety measures – put railings on stairs and in the bathroom, and to avoid slips remove area rugs
4. Control water temperatures of the faucets – seniors can scald themselves if they find it challenging to control water
5. Change door handles – seniors with arthritis often have trouble manipulating doorknobs; accommodate them by installing level handles or other assistive devices
6. Try to control clutter – whether a senior is moving in, or you’re trying to make their home a little safer, finding storage for all the extra items that are not regularly used is important to reduce clutter and increase safety
Today’s seniors and caregivers alike are extremely busy, and in order to keep on top of things, organization is key. Effective time management and great organizational skills will help to keep all generations afloat with their many responsibilities and goals.
1. Prioritize – seniors and caregivers alike can prioritize their responsibilities. Not all tasks are of equal importance, and by starting with items that are crucial, they can work their way through, and if there’s just not enough time in the day, the non-priority items can wait so seniors don’t overburden themselves
2. Make a schedule – as part of prioritizing, plan out your day on a calendar, either by writing it down or using a calendar tool on your laptop or Blackberry. Seeing what needs to be accomplished visually, marked down hour by hour will help you set realistic goals for yourself whether you’re a caregiver or a busy senior
3. Don’t waste time – busy people known that time is of the essence, so while important goals and responsibilities should bet me, time shouldn’t be wasted on focusing on the things that don’t matter
4. Ask for help – as a caregiver, don’t be afraid to ask for someone else to step in and provide respite that way you can focus on other things that are important, like rest and relaxation for yourself. As a senior, if there are things you need help to accomplish, just ask!
Home Care Walnut Creek, CAdelivering home care and elderly services to seniors in the Contra Costa area including Concord. Call us 925-280-9688.
Q – My kids just left home. I thought this was a time I’d look forward to, with all the time in the world to just focus on myself, but I’m lonely. Any tips on how to overcome challenges that empty nesters face?
A – What you’re facing is called empty nest syndrome, here are some tips for coping with it:
1. Take time to yourself – while your life might have been about everyone else previously while caring for children, a spouse and a household, as an empty nester, appreciate and take advantage of the quiet. Enjoy the time you have to yourself instead of allowing it to remind you what you no longer have
2. Make new connections – finding yourself with an empty nest can feel lonely, so fill the void by reconnecting with family members and friends, and making new ones by joining social groups and activities available in Walnut Creek
3. Renew marriage vows – it might feel like your life has been all about the children for decades, but reconnect with your loved one and renew your vows to remind each other what brought you together in the first place!
4. Do something meaningful – being a parent is one of the most meaningful jobs , and finding a way to fill that void after the children have left home is a challenge. Do something else that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something important; volunteer somewhere you can make a difference!
5. Get out there – with new found time on your hands, achieve the things you never had time to in the past. You can travel or take on a new hobby.
Q – My mom quite a few years ago from a medical condition before she was even into what you’d typically call her senior years. My parents still lived in the suburban home where they raised us, and now, my father is getting on in years and I worry about how the home will work for him. I know he won’t give it up, not with the memory of my mom still there, but what can we do to make his suburban home work for a senior lifestyle?
A – The suburbs weren’t really designed for seniors, but with some simple changes and adaptations, seniors like you dad can keep their suburban homes:
1. Address financial restraints – consider a reverse mortgage to fund any additional financial needs of the home like maintenance, renovations, or any remaining amount on a mortgage loan
2. Make the home safe – suburban homes aren’t necessarily designed for senior living. They are often 2 stories, and are not compatible with those who need to use wheel chairs or other assistive devices. To make the home accessible and safe, install safety bars and hand-rails, improve the lighting in the home, and have ramps or other assistive devices incorporated into the home as needed
3. Get help – for older adults, keeping up with the routine maintenance of a home can be challenging, but that doesn’t need to be a reason to give it up. Hire services to clean and keep up with the yard work, or get an in-home caregiver to cook and provide basic assistance with other tasks as needed
4. Look into transportation – walking to get to shops and other areas in the suburbs may not be convenient. Seniors who don’t drive can use transportation services available, or hire a caregiver that can help them get around
