My job as the Senior Living Advisor for A Place at Home

My job as the Senior Living Advisor for A Place at Home is a free service to anyone seeking a senior living community in the Omaha metropolitan area. I’ve seen many different senior living scenarios since I began my position.

I’ve assisted sons and daughters, siblings and spouses or friends for that special person in their life. I’ve also assisted individuals who knew that being proactive now would make things easier for not only themselves but for friends and family down the line.

One of the scenarios that often comes my way is “can couples live together”? Also “what might the pros and cons consist of”?

It is actually rare that both spouses need the same type of care. Let’s face it, we all age differently and there is no exception when it comes to couples.

I often see one spouse doing most of the caring for the other. This can present 3 different scenarios.

  1. The spouse that needs more care moves to a senior living community and the other remains at home.
  2. Both spouses move to a community and share an apartment and receive different levels of care.
  3. Both spouses move to a community and each have a different apartment (independent, assisted or memory depending on the care).

Each of these scenarios can take place and all seem to work out. Of course every situation is different depending on care, finances and how independent the opposite spouse is. The ultimate answer though is “YES”, couples can live together. The pros for living together might be staying together and/or both getting care together. The cons on the other hand may be harder for the more independent spouse. Even though care is being provided for one spouse, the other spouse may not have the independence because they remain in the same apartment.

Please call me today at 402-932-4646 – Option 2 and let me assist you.

Three Types of In Home Care Services for Your Aging Parents

Three Types of In-Home Health Care Services for Your Aging Parents
According to the CDC, 4.9 million seniors require some form of in-home care on a regular basis. If your Mom and/or Dad are among them you’ve got some tough decisions ahead.

Understanding your options is vital if you’re going to choose the care strategy best suited to your parent’s needs.

Your first option is to care for your elderly loved one or loved ones yourself. Millions do; taking on domestic tasks, medication management and personal care tasks without the benefit of either training or pay. Many adult children find the physical, mental, and emotional toll these tasks take to be too much. According to Kaiser Health News you’re statistically likely to start neglecting your own needs, and may put yourself at risk for depression among other issues, should you make this attempt.

After all, taking on these tasks yourself could make demands you never expected. Few adult children are comfortable with the idea of bathing their mother or father, for example, or helping mom or dad use the toilet.

The challenges grow even greater if you are a member of the “sandwich generation,” an adult with elderly parents and children of your own to care for.

The other two options mean taking advantage of one of two types of in-home services.
The first type is home health care. Home health care is best suited for seniors who have serious medical issues. This level of care would usually involve help from a skilled, licensed RN. It may cover wound care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and more.

Home health care is sometimes only necessary in the short term. Insurance or medicare will usually cover these services should your parents require it.

Private duty home care is the second type. Private duty home care tackles a variety of services seniors need to manage day-to-day living. These can include help with housekeeping, meal preparation, bath assistance and even help with errands. Home care agencies can also help seniors manage loneliness by playing games with them or driving them to social events.

Long-term private duty home care can help seniors maintain some level of independence. It can also give you peace of mind without draining your personal resources. The right set-up can even be affordable, allowing you to pay only for the time and services your Mom or Dad might need.

Got questions? Call us about our private duty home care services today.

References
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/home-health-care.htmhttp://khn.org/news/parent-trap/

Why Long-Term Care Insurance Can Help: A Personal Story

In October of 2016, my grandmother broke her back when she fell from her stair lift chair. She had always been fairly independent, but with that fall, everything changed.

She now needed care 24 hours a day. To make matters more complicated, she also had a few other pre-existing conditions including aphasia (difficulty speaking), dementia, and a medical condition that required her to self-catheterize every four hours (something she had handled on her own for almost 20 years).

She is not unlike many other seniors today who have a few manageable medical issues, until a major incident like a fall happens. She was now completely dependent on us, and we needed a plan for her day-to-day care.

Many calls and several internet searches later, the few options available to us to care for her made our heads spin. It would be between $6,000-$8,000 a month for a skilled facility. And, with her medical needs, assisted living and independent living were not an option. The only other possibility we had was for a family member to learn to catheterize my grandmother and bring in added help from an in-home care company for baths, meal prep, and general safety while we were at work. This was definitely our best option as it would allow my grandmother to stay home, and it would be more affordable than a skilled facility.

We continued to research our options and discovered it would still be $3,200-$4,800 a month for in home care (40 hours a week so we could work). That was more than I would make in a month working full-time. Without Long-Term Care insurance, one of us had to quit our jobs to take care of her. It seemed crazy to me that it was more cost effective to quit working than it was to pay for care.

While my grandmother has since made an amazing recovery, it got me thinking about Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance. Where do I find out more information? How much is it? What does it cover?

I found that many of the same companies that offer your car, home, or life insurance, also sell LTC insurance. Many of them offer customizable plans that allow you to choose a length of time for payout (ex. 1-5 years), varying payout per day when a claim is filed ($100-$500/day), and also the ability to include medication management as an option. All of these factors determine your monthly premium. Plans range from $150-$2,000 a month, so there is really an option for everyone.

After the obstacles we faced trying to care for my grandmother, Long-Term Care insurance is definitely a part of my retirement planning. If I ever need long-term care, I want options, not obstacles.

–Jess Forbes, A Place at Home

Senior Care Employee of the Month: September 2017

Congratulations to Patricia M., our September Senior Care Employee of the Month!

Patricia is an excellent Caregiver and always provides our clients with caring and compassion. She is reliable, dependable, and beloved by our office staff for her willingness to go the extra mile in picking up shifts and communicating with the office.

We asked Patricia six questions so that you can get to know her better.

Senior Care Employee of the Month

APH: What is your educational background?

PM: I have a BSc and MSc in Microbiology. I also have a certificate in computing and word processing.

APH: How did you get involved with the senior care industry?

PM: My parents needed someone to depend on to give a helping hand and make them feel loved and happy. It was such a positive experience at the time when they needed it.

APH: What do you like best about your job?

PM: Seeing all of my clients satisfied that everything they needed to be done is the way they want it to be done before I leave.

APH: What do you like to do when you are not working?

PM: Take care of my little girl.  I also enjoy reading to refresh my brain on current research, walking, and occasionally watching television.

APH: Do you have a family?

PM: Yes, I have my family and I also have dogs.

APH: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

PM: I’d like to go to any Asian country to spend time with those with less privileges.

Thank you, Patricia, for everything you do for A Place at Home and truly showing our clients that We are CARE – Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Ethical. We are pleased to have you on our team!

Paying for Long-Term Care

Have you thought about how you might pay for long-term care? Do you believe that Medicare is an option? What does long-term care insurance cover?

These are questions that many individuals, young or old, may ask themselves about paying for long-term care.

There are several ways to pay for care as you age, but Medicare is not one of them. Medicare is an insurance offered to individuals 65 and over. It will help cover medical visits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and prescription medications only. Depending on the type of plan you acquire will determine how much is covered.

There are four primary ways to pay for long-term care:

  1. Private (Savings, Pension, IRA, etc.)
  2. Long-Term Care Insurance
  3. Veteran’s Aid & Attendance
  4. Medicaid

Private Pay

Private pay is pretty straightforward. You write a monthly check or have it directly deposited from your bank account to the senior living community.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care Insurance, on the other hand, comes in many different ways, shapes, and forms. This type of insurance can cover partial or full, short, or long-term. It can even have a lifetime value. So, if you are young and think about your future, your best bet is to purchase a life insurance policy that will deduct for long-term care when and if needed.

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance is how many veterans and their spouses or widows can attain assistance. If you or your spouse have served in the armed forces during a specific time frame, fall under a financial parameter, and need support for daily living activities, this monthly aid can be a way to help pay.

Medicaid

Medicaid is an option if there is little or no money remaining. There are several senior living communities that will accept Medicaid upon admittance. Some require you to pay privately for a set number of months before rolling over.

If you are considering a move to the next place to call home, we can help. Our free Senior Living Alternatives service can help find the best way to pay for your future plans. Contact our Senior Living Advisor today. We are happy to help pave the way or navigate any of these payment options.

Useful resources about paying for care as you age:

 

What is Long-Term Care

AARP

Veteran’s Aid and Attendance

How to Become Certified as a CNA or Medication Aide

For those interested in becoming caregivers for A Place at Home, the first step is to get a CNA license. This not only provides certification, but lets that caregiver apply for jobs in many healthcare settings. CNAs can work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, doctors offices, or privately for a client.

A license requires CNAs to complete at least 75 hours of state-approved training. In most classes, clinicals give hands-on experience for the student.

Some companies allow caregivers to provide care without having a CNA license. On-the-job training helps the employee get experience while still learning. For state licensed companies, however, a CNA license is required.

Getting a Medication Aide license goes a step further in addition to the CNA. This lets caregivers pass medications in-home or in community settings. A 20-hour Med Aide certification allows you to pass medications in a home setting. A 40-hour license enables you to pass medications in a facility. Medical professionals highly recommend the 40-hour certification. It will allow the caregiver more options for jobs and hours.

If your CNA or CMA license has lapsed or is inactive, take a refresher course that will let you reactivate your license. A CNA license can also be a stepping-stone to a nursing career. Hands-on experience as a CNA is vital to becoming a nurse. Whether aiming for an LPN or an RN, having CNA experience is vital to the learning process.

Classes for both CNA and CMA certification are offered in the classroom or online. Prices vary based on the school and course offerings and inclusions. Make sure to double check your state requirements to assure you’re taking a state-certified class.  Search for classes at community colleges, health colleges, or check with your State Department of Health.

Some useful resources for finding CNA or CMA classes:

American Red Cross

nursingassistantguides.com

findcnaclasses.com

wecareonlineclasses.com

cnaclassesnearyou.com

What Does it Take to Become a CNA or CMA?

For anyone interested in becoming a caregiver, the first step is to get a CNA license. This not only provides certification, but enables that caregiver to apply for jobs in many healthcare settings. Certification requires CNAs to complete at least 75 hours of state-approved training. In most classes, clinicals are used towards the end of the course to provide a hands-on experience. CNA classes in the Omaha area are comparable in price (usually around $400-450).

Obtaining a Medication Aide license goes a step further and enables that caregiver to pass medications in-home or in community settings. A 20-hour Med Aide certification allows you to pass meds in a home setting, while a 40-hour certification enables you to pass meds in a facility. The 40-hour certification is highly recommended in that it will allow you more options for placement and hours. CMA classes generally cost between $300-$350.

If your CNA or CMA license has lapsed or is inactive, refresher courses are available that will enable you to reactivate your licensure. Prices for these classes vary.

Classes for both CNA and CMA certification can be taken in the classroom or online, and prices vary based on the institution and course offerings and inclusions. Make sure to double check with your state requirements to assure that your program is state-certified.

Find the course that’s best for you and your career aspirations by following the links below.

CNA and CMA classes in the Omaha area

Nebraska Methodist College

  •             Four week on-campus program or six-week online hybrid program
  •             www.methodistcollege.edu

Quality CNA/CMA Classes

  •             76-hour course
  •             Payment plans available
  •             www.qualitycnacma.com

Metropolitan Community College

Clarkson College

Promise Healthcare Training Center

Midland University

Join us on the 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s

A Place at Home is ready to take the first step to a world without Alzheimer’s when we join the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s at 12 pm on September 24. We hope you will join our walk team or simply come by to cheer us on.

The route is only two miles with a one-mile route option available. There is no cost to participate, however if you’d like to donate to the cause, please visit our A Place at Home walk team page organized by our Community Liaison, Chris Cummings.A Place at Home 2016 Walk to End Alzheimer's Team

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is held in more than 600 communities nationwide and it is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Why do we need to work together to help stamp out Alzheimer’s disease? Consider these facts from the Alzheimer’s Association:

  • More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s
  • Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States
  • 1 in 3 seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
  • Deaths from Alzheimer’s have increased by 89% since the year 2000
  • Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops the disease

Walk details:

When: Sunday September 24, 2017

Where: Midtown Crossing – Turner Park – 3220 Farnam St.

Time: Registration starts at 10:30, Walk begins at 12:00 pm

We hope to see you there!

Making Independent Living Possible: Gertrude’s Story

Sometimes moving to an independent as opposed to assisted living community is the best option. That’s the way it was for 85-year-old Gertrude.

Gertrude was living in a nice two-bedroom apartment in a swanky part of town. She lived near several retail and grocery stores. She also lived off a beautiful lake and her apartment building offered an underground garage.

She was doing okay, but her 3 adult children, who all lived out of town, were starting to get concerned. They were worried that Gertrude might not be taking her medications properly and there was no one to make sure that she was doing so. They were also concerned that there was no one to check on her on a regular basis.

That’s when their son, John contacted me. He let me know when he was going to be visiting Omaha. We talked about the things his mother liked to do as well as what her budget looked like, and I proceeded to set up a couple of tours for one Sunday afternoon in June.

After our tours, he and his mother chose a community that was close to her current home. They liked the atmosphere and activities that were offered and the fact that it was very close to many restaurants and shops (just like what she was used to). She would have a full kitchen, yet two meals a day would be included in her monthly rent. Gertrude would also have a heated underground garage. However, she would still have transportation for those days she did not want to drive or there was bad weather. This community also offered a contingency plan with assisted living and memory apartments.

In lieu of moving to assisted living, her family opted for A Place at Home’s Care Coordination Program where our nurse, Denise, could provide medication assistance for Gertrude. Her medications would be kept in a lock box in her independent apartment. Denise could also accompany Gertrude to all of her medical appointments since her children all live out of town.

Today, Gertrude resides in this independent living community and is flourishing from daily activities and having access to so many public areas within the building.

Gertrude’s story is similar to many that I encounter every day. Oftentimes families aren’t sure what all is included in the different types of living communities, and drilling down all the details can be confusing and cumbersome (especially when the family members live out of town). Our Senior Living Alternatives service was designed to make sure families make the best decisions for their loved ones, and part of that service also entails assessing all the needs and how our other A Place at Home services might be useful in allowing the senior to live the best life they can.

 

Coping with Feelings of Grief

Coping with the loss of friends or family members can be one of the most difficult parts of the aging process. As emotional beings, it can take a significant amount of time to realize that even though “loss is forever, our grief is not.”

Additionally, know that you are not alone. People are quick to forget that grieving is normal. While it may be uncomfortable, the feelings that we experience after the loss of a friend or family member are inherently human. Recognizing these five stages of grief before one experiences them can shed light on a typically dark and lonely time.

Recognizing the 5 Stages of Grief

The medical community has accepted this basic model for recognizing five stages of grief based on the work of psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. It is normal for some people to experience these stages in sequence. Others, however, may recognize two stages occurring at the same time or none at all. Do not feel out of place if you are unable to identify with these five stages of grieving.

  1. Denial: The reality of the situation has yet to set in. The grieving party is completely unable to come to terms with the loss.
  2. Anger: Denial often resolves into anger. The grieving party directs frustration at others, attempting to pin blame or find fault.
  3. Bargaining: Overwhelmed by emotions, the grieving party will attempt unsuccessfully to make an arrangement that they believe can eliminate the source of grief.
  4. Depression: The grieving party becomes consumed with sadness. These are typically over undeniable facts such as the shortness of human life and the sudden nature of a loss.
  5. Acceptance: The grieving party comes to terms with the full spectrum of emotional responses and realizes optimistically that there will be an end to the feeling of grief.

In most cases, this model may not mirror your emotional experiences of grief or even attempt to characterize the complexity of your situation. Recognize these stages so you can make better sense of your overwhelming emotions.

Managing Feelings of Intense Grief

For seniors, intense feelings of grief can seriously disrupt their daily schedules. Coping with the loss of a loved one can result in:

  • Worsening of existing physical pain
  • Difficulty sleeping regularly
  • Increased Tendency to Drink or Smoke
  • Disinterest in daily life, hobbies/social activities, friends
  • Lack of attention given to personal care/hygiene

If the emotional stress of your grief is overwhelming, get in touch with a caregiver or mental health professional. There are many types of treatment in the form of medication and therapy that can help improve a senior’s ability to cope with grief.

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