Caregiver Tips

Your parent may need help with their activities of daily living, such as dressing, eating, bathing or using the bathroom. They may also need someone to cook meals, do laundry and keep their home clean, if they aren’t able to care for themselves in those ways anymore. And depending on their health status, they may need 24-hour supervision.

Whether your loved one needs skilled medical care or just a little help in a home-like setting, there are several options when it comes to long-term care.

Some older adults need in-home skilled nursing care, either temporarily (after being discharged from the hospital) or long-term, to manage an ongoing health condition. Having a skilled nurse come to your parent’s home may help them age in place, rather than requiring them to move into a long-term care facility. Your parent may feel more comfortable in a familiar setting, which may have positive effects on their overall mood and interactions with people, including you.

Being a caregiver for your parent can be a rewarding undertaking, especially if you want to provide loving care to someone who nurtured you as a child. But caregiving can also be very stressful and isolating. As your parent’s health declines over time, you may need to devote more time and energy to caregiving than you had originally intended, which may have unforeseen negative effects on your life.

Residents of assisted living get to enjoy the privacy of their own apartment while still benefiting from a close community of friends and neighbors. Family caregivers can take comfort in the knowledge that their loved one is safe in a supportive environment, with staff readily able to respond to emergencies, and assist with personal care or other basic needs.

Care coordinators are often registered nurses (RNs), although they may be social workers or other employees with patient-care experience. They work with patients and their families to create a care plan that takes into account someone’s medical needs and personal preferences. Ideally, all healthcare providers should follow this care plan, to create continuity of care for your parent.

There are several types of senior living facilities, each with its own benefits and limitations.

Older adults who are unable to care for their daily needs on their own may go to adult daycare, which is also referred to as adult day services. More than half (52%) of people who go to adult daycare have some degree of cognitive impairment, according to the National Adult Day Services Association.

With all the different types of financial planners out there, it can seem confusing, but the bottom line is pretty simple. As a family caregiver looking for a financial advisor, you should opt for a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Elder law attorneys, sometimes called elder care attorneys, help older adults and their families with a wide range of legal issues, from planning for the future to fighting for their legal rights. They understand the challenges facing older adults and can help family caregivers effectively navigate any areas they specialize in.

The vast majority of family caregivers have some responsibility for managing their parents’ finances, and over time the need grows. This overview will cover several essential points for family caregivers as they start managing finances for aging loved ones. We’ll also give you a to-do list, a number of helpful resources, and plenty of direction about where you can learn more about this vast and important topic.

Many people think that hospice provides comfort care to people in the final days of their lives. While this is true, it’s not representative of everything that hospice care has to offer.

Insurance agents are licensed professionals who help people select and purchase insurance plans. It’s possible to purchase insurance policies without an agent – an increasing number of people purchase policies online – but it can be a big help to have a person to talk to when you have a question or aren’t clear on which policy will best meet your needs.

Memory care communities offer specialized support for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Specially trained staff is available 24 hours per day to assist the residents with needs like companionship, personal care, and behavioral support.

In this overview, we’ll introduce you to the top legal topics essential for family caregivers of aging loved ones to understand. We’ll also leave you with a list of legal to-do’s to work through.

The terms “skilled nursing facility” and “nursing home” are often used interchangeably. Technically different services, they are similar to each other in many ways and are often offered under the same roof. The difference is that nursing homes are intended for long-term living while skilled nursing facilities are geared toward temporary stays focused on rehabilitation.