| As baby boomers watch the years fly by, one of their | | | | contact private duty agencies and request assistance |
| biggest concerns is sorting through the many problems | | | | in finding funds that are available. |
| of caring for their elderly parents. When is it no longer | | | | Private duty agencies can provide any kind of |
| safe for our elderly parent to stay home alone? How | | | | non-medical care needed to assist the client in staying |
| can we maintain our jobs, our home, our children, and | | | | at home. They will provide personal care assistance, |
| care for our parents all at the same time? What | | | | medication reminders, cleaning, cooking, laundry, running |
| resources are available to help? How do we approach | | | | errands, and transportation to appointments, and a |
| the subject with them? How can we help them keep | | | | variety of other services. They are usually available |
| their independence and dignity? How do we deal with | | | | twenty four hours a day, including holidays and week |
| the stress of it all? | | | | ends, and do not require any doctor's orders to initiate |
| As our parents age, we need to stay diligent and | | | | the care. |
| aware of changes in their mental orientation and ability | | | | Home health care requires a doctor's order for |
| to care for themselves. Are they just a little forgetful | | | | services to begin, and the patient must be certified to |
| at times, or is it something more worrisome than that? | | | | be on "home bound status". This means that they can |
| If they are able to take their medications without being | | | | only leave home to visit the doctor, go to church, or to |
| reminded, bathe alone, dress without assistance, | | | | the beauty or barber shop. A nurse will visit on a |
| prepare meals every day, and they are not | | | | regular basis, and a home health aide will assist with |
| experiencing frequent falls or sudden illnesses, they are | | | | personal care. Some home health agencies also |
| probably safe to be at home alone. There are | | | | provide physical therapy, social services, speech |
| monitoring systems and personal emergency alert | | | | therapy, and occupational therapy as well. Most home |
| systems that can provide added security by making | | | | health care agencies are not available in the evening |
| help available to them in the event of an accident or | | | | hours, on week ends, or on holidays. The majority of |
| sudden illness. | | | | home health agencies accept insurance and Medicare |
| However, if you notice that your parent's health is | | | | payments. |
| declining, that they have increased weakness or | | | | Hospice care also requires a doctor's order, and the |
| weight loss, if they have had frequent falls, if they are | | | | patient must have a life-limiting disease with |
| not taking their medications, not eating properly, and not | | | | expectations of six months or less to live. Patients can |
| able to do their personal care without help, it may be | | | | be re-certified for hospice every sixty days, and may |
| time to look into other options. Sometimes the | | | | live much longer than six months and still be in hospice |
| increased care is all they need to regain their strength | | | | care. Hospice care also provides nursing and home |
| and be able to continue living at home, avoiding | | | | health aide services, along with extrasupport to the |
| placement in a nursing facility or some other major life | | | | family and patient during this difficult time. Comfort |
| change. | | | | measures are a priority in the plan of care, and they |
| Finding the help you need is another obstacle. Knowing | | | | have a variety of services such as social services, |
| who to go to for help may seem to be an | | | | pastoral care, and volunteer services as well. Medicare |
| overwhelming task, but there are many resources | | | | and insurance usually are accepted. There will always |
| available to seek information and counsel. Private duty | | | | be a hospice nurse on call twenty four hours a day to |
| organizations, home health agencies, and hospices are | | | | assist with any emergencies or special problems during |
| all viable places to start if you want to help your parent | | | | times when the office is closed. |
| stay at home. | | | | Sometimes the best plan is a combination of home |
| The Indiana Association for Home Care and Hospice | | | | health or hospice along with private duty care. Many |
| (IAHHC) has a listing of all local agencies, both for | | | | seniors are resistant to accepting any kind of help at |
| private pay and agencies that accept Medicare and/or | | | | first, and will require continual reassurance effort to |
| insurance payor sources. You can find them on their | | | | help them maintain as much independence as possible. |
| web site: | | | | When addressing these issues, never "speak down" to |
| When investigating which private agency to use, make | | | | your loved one. Remember, even though roles are |
| sure they are licensed appropriately and that they do | | | | changing, they still deserve to be honored and |
| criminal background checks on all their employees. | | | | respected. Sometimes calling a care giver "the maid" |
| Their staff should be bonded and insured, and you | | | | or "the butler" rather than a "caregiver" or "home health |
| should not have any of the burden for carrying | | | | aide" will help them accept the situation with a little less |
| worker's compensation, tax liabilities, or social security. | | | | anxiety. It's all in the attitude that it's presented to them |
| A new law beginning in January of 2006 requires all | | | | - help them feel a sense of control in the situation |
| private duty, non-medical services to be licensed | | | | whenever possible. Try to help them understand that |
| through the state of Indiana. Make sure the agency | | | | these changes are happening in their home because |
| you choose has gone through this licensing process, | | | | you love them and want them to be able to stay at |
| and you will be safer in trusting that they have taken all | | | | home as long as possible and not have to live in a |
| the appropriate steps in ensuring good care for your | | | | facility to get the help they need. |
| loved one. | | | | Don't forget to schedule time for yourself during this |
| There are many financial resources available to help | | | | intensely demanding season of your life. By |
| pay for private duty care, such as reverse home | | | | succumbing to false guilt or unreasonable demands, |
| mortgages. The Veterans Administration can give you | | | | you may be setting yourself up for a disaster later. |
| valuable information on benefits for veterans who | | | | Take time to enjoy your immediate family, your |
| need care at home and have served at least one day | | | | hobbies, and leisure time as well. Join in with other |
| in the service during war time. These benefits are also | | | | caregiver groups for extra support - you can find |
| available for spouses of veterans. Look on the web | | | | them at churches or on the web. You'll be |
| for more information regarding financial concerns; | | | | safeguarding your own ability to handle this long term |
| there's plenty of information available. You can also | | | | role as a caregiver with a healthy mind, body, and spirit. |