Dealing With An Aging Parent’s Decline; Is Elderly Care Appropriate?

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elderly care for aging parentsNo one wants to think about losing or quitting a job because of the need to care for elderly relatives. Yet, so many will be forced to confront that possibility. Today, over 10 million adult children are providing home care for aging parents. This is defined as helping with toileting, bathing, dressing and eating (also known as Activities of Daily Living, ADLs). But that number doesn’t even account for the millions more Americans who are providing ongoing help with grocery shopping, driving to appointments, assisting with medical care, financial matters and more!

The truth is, the journey alongside someone who needs elderly care is something like a forced march. Whether the onset of disability is sudden and shocking, or comes in a thousand indiscernible ways, you are not in charge of the speed or direction. You don’t so much chart a course as you constantly course correct. As navigators in this passage with our parents or elder loved ones, we know the destination, but we don’t know the distance. How long is this journey; how far are we going? And how do we find a workable path for all involved? This is no easy task. But before you turn and run the other way, leaving this responsibility to siblings and other family members, here are some suggestions to help prepare you for the road ahead.

Back to School: for Seniors! Resources for Senior Citizen Education

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senior citizen education back to schoolHave you considered going back to school in your golden years? For many people past their fifties, it can be intimidating to think about enrolling and finishing (or starting!) a degree. Technology has changed so much, the student body is much younger, it costs too much money, etc…these are all typical reasons someone may shy away from furthering their education. But as you can guess, there are many great reasons for seniors to head back to campus! Here are just a few to consider:

  1. Maintain cognitive ability. It’s no secret that memory and cognitive function tend to decrease as we age. Recent studies have shown some correlation, however, between mental pursuits and improved cognition. Going back to school – or even just taking a few classes here and there – is one great way to use your brain and give it new challenges.

Need Help With Long Term Care Planning?

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long term care planningLong term care planning for the loved ones in your life is a very important decision to make. In a previous blog, we discussed why it can be difficult to know when to find qualified help for elderly care.

How Do In Home Care Costs Compare to Other Types of Senior Care?

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how do costs of in home care compare?There are many types of assistance available for senior citizens (in and out of the home), and it can be difficult to know which type of care is appropriate for yourself or a loved one. It can be especially difficult to discern how the costs of each compare to one another, and how this information can help your family make the right decision. Thankfully, there is hard data available; the 2014 Genworth Cost of Care study that was recently published offers a good look at different types of elderly care, and what the median costs are.

Does Someone in Your Family Require Special Needs Care?

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require special needs careWhen most people think of In Home Care, they likely think of elderly care. While older Americans definitely comprise a large segment of the in-home care population, you might be surprised to learn that many other families use these services as well. Special Needs Care is a type of In Home Care where the client is not necessarily a geriatric patient, but still requires assistance with day-to-day tasks.

Special Needs Care is appropriate for those with mental, emotional, or physical issues that impede their ability to function completely independently. An example might be an adult child with Down Syndrome whose parents have passed away, or a recent heart attack victim. Some of the assistance that can be provided includes help with errands, transportation, and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like bathing, toileting, meal preparation, and more.  

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

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what is alzheimer's disease?Did you know that there are an estimated 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease right now? Although this represents a very small portion of the U.S. population (less than 2% according to 2014 numbers), Alzheimer’s stands out because it is one of the very few diseases that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed down. Even if it does not impact a majority of Americans directly, the nature of the disease is such that it has a huge impact on both the person suffering, and their family and friends. But what is Alzheimer’s disease? Let’s take a closer look at this disease in-depth to better understand what it is, what can be done, and how to care for those living with Alzheimer’s.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Elder Abuse in Senior Care: What to Do?

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elder abuse senior careDid you know that the population of Americans 65 and older is projected to be more than 47 million this year? Additionally, data from the 2010 census showed that the number of Americans in this age demographic was higher than it had been in any previous census. As the population continues to age, more and more elderly Americans have some sort of senior care made available to them, whether it’s a family caregiver, moving to a nursing home, or receiving in home care services. A very unfortunate reality of this growing demographic is that instances of elder abuse might also rise. Let’s take a look at what elder abuse is, how to identify it, and where you can turn to get help.

Keeping the Peace Between Siblings: In Home Care for Parents

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in home care siblingsDiscovering that an elderly parent needs in home care can be distressing news for adult children to handle. This is especially so if there are disagreements about how a parent should be cared for, who should be the caregiver, which funds are to be used, and so on. But take heart! There is no need for families to break up or fight incessantly over senior care; in this blog, we’ll cover some tactics that can be helpful in keeping the peace.

In Home Care for Parents: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

The absolute best tactic to avoid sibling strife is to discuss in home care options with parents before the need for it arises. The key to bringing this topic up is to do so respectfully, earnestly, and without an agenda. It’s also important to remember that all the details need not be hashed out in one discussion. While this may be an uncomfortable discussion to have (for everyone involved), it does two very important things:

HIPAA Primer for In Home Care Services

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HIPAA in home health care servicesMost people have heard the term “HIPAA” but they may not know what it means or how it relates to their personal life (as a side note, it’s often misspelled ‘HIPPA’). Although it’s not well understood, HIPAA-compliance is an important piece of the puzzle to consider when choosing home care assistants or a Registered Nurse Geriatric Care Manager. Let’s take a quick look at this legislation, what it means, and how it relates to in-home health care services!

What does HIPAA stand for?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was enacted by the Clinton administration. Also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act, its purpose is “(1) to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, (2) to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, (3) to promote the use of medical savings accounts, (4) to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, (5) to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes.

What is Diabetes? Do You Require Special Needs Care For It?

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diabetes special needs careAccording to the American Diabetes Association, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and sadly, the number keeps rising. As the general population gets older, the incidence rate of diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed) continues to increase: “The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 25.9%, or 11.8 million seniors” according to the ADA. This is a significant portion of the population, and it’s very likely that someone you know personally will suffer from diabetes. Let’s take a closer look at this disease, who it affects, and whether in home care is appropriate in certain cases.

What are the basics of diabetes? What’s the difference between Types 1 and 2?

Diabetes refers to the amount of glucose (sugar) in your system, and how your body produces or uses insulin. Insulin is a hormone created by your pancreas that transfers glucose from your blood into your cells. If your body does not create any or enough of this hormone, then the amount of glucose in your blood may increase to unhealthy levels, and this can have serious ramifications. For instance, your cells may initially be starved of energy (since glucose is staying in your blood instead of transferring into cells), and over time, your eyes, kidneys, heart, and other vital organs may be negatively impacted. One hopeful note, however, is that diabetes symptoms can generally be controlled with exercise and diet, which can positively affect other aspects of your life as well.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will I be committed to a long-term agreement?

No long-term agreement! PAN requests 24 hour notice to cancel services. You may cancel temporarily, make changes to your schedule with notice.

Does PAN provide skilled care?

Yes, PAN provides skilled nurses to meet those Client’s requiring more complex needs.

Does PAN provide services in local hospitals?

Yes, we can provide services in your home, assisted living community, hospitals, wherever you call home.

What is the process of finding a caregiver?

We make the process of finding a caregiver very simple and prompt using our QuickCare Placement program. Give us a call and we’ll conduct a brief phone discussion to understand your needs. We then can meet anyone involved in selecting and paying for care at your home for an in-home needs consultation. Within 24 hours of that visit we are usually able to refer a professional caregiver to your home. Our team continuously screens caregivers beyond current demand to give you quick access to the best caregivers in our community.

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