Depression in the Elderly: 9 Ways to Help

Depression in the elderly

Elderly depression can become a serious issue during the holiday season, yet this is a busy time. You may have fewer opportunities to visit your senior loved ones personally. During the holidays, older relatives with limited mobility may feel especially “blue”, sad or lonely. Happily, there are many things you can do to help the older people in your life to avoid elderly depression during the holidays or anytime.

  1. Invite your relative out, plan regular group outings or visits: Seeing others and staying active helps fight depression. Take seniors to a reading group, movies, the local senior center and encourage crafts or similar interests. This provides social and mental stimulation, and something to look forward to.
  2. Consider Tai Chi: Tai chi is a gentle, graceful form of exercise many seniors may enjoy. This exercise can help with coordination, balance and agility and it’s often done in a group.
  3. Give an inscribed photo and wallet: Carrying photos of loved ones can help stave off elderly depression. Giving these items can help get the senior into the habit.
  4. Ensure they eat healthy meals. Bad eating habits or lack of eating can make depression worse.
  5. Tell them you care. Talk to your relative and let them know they are important in your life. Never dismiss how they feel or think/say “snap out of it.”
  6. Be sure medications are taken: Remind/help your loved one remember to take necessary meds. Set up a system, like a daily pill holder, so they won’t forget or double dose.
  7. Inform the doctor: If depression seems to hang on, and your relative allows you to talk to their doctor (or accompany them to an appointment), let the doctor know. Consider getting a referral to a mental health professional for individual/group treatment.
  8. Watch signs of suicidal thoughts. Seek immediate professional help if you believe a senior you care about is contemplating suicide.
  9. Take care of yourself as a caregiver: You may need breaks or assistance caring for your senior relative. Be sure to reach out for this help, so you can be there for your loved ones in future.

Companion Care to Prevent Elderly Depression

At A Place at Home, we offer companion care services in the Omaha metropolitan area. We ensure that your senior loved one enjoys visits from a helpful, caring individual familiar with senior care. We can help you with the above anti-depression tips and much more. Contact us today.

“The two different caregivers I’ve had come as often as they can and I like that because I get to work with the same people. If I’m upset, they notice it and they keep me from getting depressed.”
– Tammy A 04/03/18
Current Client

Should My Parents Move to Assisted Living?

senior living alternatives

When parents are reaching a stage in life when they require more care or assistance with daily living tasks, they and their adult children face some important decisions. There is no perfect time to make a move to an assisted living facility and there are a variety of options in supportive living arrangements for seniors.

Some parents may decide against moving to assisted care living arrangements, and instead schedule in-home care as needed. Either option can work out well for your beloved Omaha senior parent or relative. If your family has reached the time to consider assisted living, keep in mind the following factors to help you make the right decision.

Care Levels Associated with Assisted Living

Typically set up like an apartment complex, each location has its own specific services. In general, you can expect assistance with some or all of these chores or ADLs (activities of daily living):

  • House cleaning
  • Meals
  • Monitoring for resident safety
  • Toileting and bathing assistance
  • Dressing assistance
  • Medication reminders or administration
  • Transportation
  • Arranged activities and socialization with other residents
  • Common areas like TV room, craft room, library, etc.
  • And more

Financial Requirements for Assisted Living

Monthly costs for assisted living can be concerning for many families. The median cost is over $3,500 per month currently – and some surveys place it higher. Costs generally include: One-time community fee, a basic monthly fee and additional service fees (for cares not included in the monthly fee).

When comparing the options, be sure to understand in detail what services are included, how often, and which services might require an additional fee – or a move to a higher care level. Nebraska does not regulate assisted senior living costs, but don’t let sticker shock delay your decision to take action. If you need assistance researching assisted living facilities in the Omaha area, or help with your decision, A Place at Home can help you.

Need Help With Your Decision About Assisted Living? We Can Help!

A Place at Home is an in-home senior care provider that also assists with transitions into assisted senior living arrangements. Our consultants can connect you with a senior living arrangement that suits your needs or help you consider other options for personalized senior care. We serve seniors and their families throughout the Omaha metropolitan area. Contact us today!

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

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.

 

Oh, the Amenities You’ll Find!

There are always things to do once you make the move to a senior living community.

Who says that happy hours have to end once you move into a senior living community? You can still enjoy your favorite cocktail; in fact, some communities even have a lounge that is not limited to happy hour.

Need your hair blown out or cut? Need a manicure? Don’t think that treating yourself is not in the picture, because it sure is. In fact, most communities also offer this amenity. Some even allow your regular hairstylist to use the facilities.

If the roads are bad from a snow or ice storm, your son or daughter does not have to worry about getting you to your doctor’s appointment. This is true even when the weather is wonderful. Transportation is yet another great perk of many communities. It is offered all year long and will even take you to the grocery store or an outing to the casinos, movies or dining.

When you pack your bags, make sure to leave those cleaning supplies behind, and while you are at it, get ready to say good-bye to doing laundry! Housekeeping is usually included in your monthly rent, or at the very least, for a minimal fee. Laundry is the same story. While many apartments are furnished with a washer and dryer, laundry service is regularly offered.

Lastly, be prepared to never be bored. Whether it’s going for a drive through Wild Safari Park in Ashland on a sunny day, learning to knit in the activity room or gathering to listen to a visiting jazz band in the lobby, most senior living communities have a plethora of activities that are sure to spark an interest or get you involved with something totally new.

Today’s senior living communities are designed to keep you comfortable, active and involved. Let me help you or a loved one find the senior living community that best fits your amenity needs!

Determining the Type of Senior Living Community to Best Fit Care Needs

How do you know what type of care at a senior living community is the best fit for you or a loved one?

It can be confusing when you first seek out senior living alternatives.  Many prospective residents make this move from their home, but others are coming from the hospital, or more likely, rehabilitation centers.  Everyone has a different story.

If you or someone you know is making the move, this does not necessarily mean that this should be made straight to an independent community.  If driving is a concern, most communities offer transportation.  However, if you also need assistance with bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, etc., then assisted living is probably the best option.

Each community offers apartments with a base rent plus a care plan otherwise known as ADLs (Activities of Daily Living).  These ADLs will be added to the resident’s care plan.  Each prospective resident is assessed usually within a couple of weeks before moving in.  Once the assessment is completed, the community will go over the ADLs and what that additional cost will be.

If you are assisting someone who needs memory support, there are some things to consider.  There are assisted living community options that have a separate secured memory unit and there are communities that are secured and can support assisted and memory.  There are also some communities that are equipped for memory only.

If you are seeking a community for someone that is only having slight memory issues, then assisted living may be the way to go.  However, it’s a good idea to make sure that the community has memory support for when that time comes.  Many memory units or memory communities often offer an all-inclusive price.  They will still have someone from the community do an assessment before the move, but it will be solely to determine what ADLs that the resident will need.  Either way, the price will be the same.

If you or someone you know is seeking a senior living community, please call me so that I can be your senior living concierge.  The Senior Living Alternatives service is always free to families, and our knowledge of the various options and communities that might best fit your situation can be a huge time saver while providing you with the peace of mind that you or your loved one will receive the care they need.

 

Upcoming Events: Free Workshops on Ways to Pay for Senior Care and Caregiver Burnout

Join us for two free informational workshops this month.

June 21 – Ways to Pay for Senior Care – 3:30 p.m. at Swanson Library 9101 W. Dodge Road

June 29 – Caregiver Burnout – 2:00 p.m. at Primrose Retirement Community 1801 E. Kanesville Blvd. Council Bluffs

Read on for more information about each workshop. Anchor

Ways to Pay for Senior Care

How much will your health affect your retirement savings? Almost 70 percent of Americans who reach 65 will be unable to care for themselves at some point without assistance.  Learn about the costs associated with senior care and what kinds of programs from insurance to government assistance to getting creative with your own money can ensure you receive the care you need.     Anchor

Caregiver Burnout

There are more than 34 million unpaid caregivers providing care to adults over the age of 18 who are ill or have a disability. This can be emotionally and physically taxing on those that provide care. In fact, in a survey given to family caregivers, over 50 % responded that they do not have time to take care of themselves and 49% said they were too tired to do so.  Caregiver burnout is real. Learn more about recognizing the signs of caregiver burnout and how you can take care of yourself while taking care of a loved one.

If you are looking for a loving, caring option for keeping your loved one at home or in the place they call home, call us, we’d like to help make a difference in your life. A Place at Home provides a range of at home services, as well as advocacy, care coordination, and senior community placement to seniors in communities around Omaha and Council Bluffs.

Here’s to Positive Feedback!

We love hearing about how our clients and families feel about the care they receive from our A Place at Home team.

And while we believe that our Caregivers are the best, it feels great to hear it directly from our clients.  Here are some recent testimonials that we’d like to share.

Peace of mind

I finally have peace of mind knowing I have excellent in-home care from APH helping my 90yr old mom, Genevieve, with dressing, meals, baths and general companionship. APH makes it possible for my mom to remain at home, feeling safe and secure and enjoying the quality of life she deserves. I’m also extremely thankful for the Veteran’s Benefit hours my mom receives that Chris Cummings introduced to us. Thank you APH! – Betty M.

Putting needs first and foremost

I had tried several agencies and was about to give up on finding care for my mother when I found A Place At Home.  I gave them a try and it has been a very successful experience.  The Caregiver is very involved and caring, putting my mother’s interests and needs first and foremost.  Everyone in the company has been genuinely involved and goes the extra yard to make sure anything and everything regarding my mother is taken care of and cared for.  No matter the concern, however trite or huge, the staff works diligently to solve the situation and make certain that my mother (and I) are satisfied with the results and the services.  This company is truly client oriented. – Lisa V.

Feels good to be safe

We look forward to your constant care that we receive. It feels good to be safe. – The B**** Family

Thank you to all the families that we are allowed to care for.  If  we’ve made a positive impact on one of your loved ones, let us know! A Place at Home is proud to practice our “We are CARE” philosophy every day in everything we do.  CARE is Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful and Ethical.

Sam and Marlene: A Senior Living Alternatives Success Story

Our Senior Living Advisor shared a success story about a couple who were married for 53 years and needed to find a new place to call home.

Here’s the story of Sam and Marlene:

What would you do if your spouse was having memory loss?  Do you think you would be their sole caregiver?

Maybe these are questions that you might have never asked yourself. However, as the  Senior Living Advisor at A Place at Home, I see this situation often.

Recently, I received a call from a man named Sam.  Sam has been married to Marlene for 53 years. They were living in a house and Marlene’s memory had been failing for the last few years.  She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013.  Sam could no longer leave his house without Marlene.  Sometimes he would run to the store for about an hour, but he knew that it was no longer safe for her to be alone.  Sam enjoyed playing golf with his friends but now it had become difficult because of Marlene’s memory decline.

I sat down with Sam and Marlene at their kitchen table in their home.  We discussed options.  Did he want to hire in-home care for Marlene or move to a Senior Living Community?  Did he want to move with or without her?

Sam said that he was tired of taking care of a house and worrying about yard work and snow removal.  He wanted to simplify his life and still have his independence without worrying about Marlene’s safety all the time.  It was also important for him to reside with her.

Sam provided me with his budget and location.  Together we narrowed down the options based on their needs.  Next, I set up and accompanied Sam on tours of three Senior Living Communities.  Sam and Marlene each had Long Term Care Insurance.  Long Term Care Insurance can only be used if “care” is needed.  So, Sam chose a community that had Assisted Living apartments so that they could share an apartment together.  Sam moved in at care level 0 and Marlene moved in at care level 3.  Marlene’s long term care insurance started kicking in upon their move-in while Sam’s policy would not be active yet.

Today, Sam goes golfing with his friends and knows that Marlene will be safe in their Senior Living Community.  He can still reside and spend time with Marlene but is no longer her sole caregiver.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the couple.

Understanding our Senior Living Alternatives Service

Have you ever had to help a loved one move from their own home to a Senior Living Community?

If so, then you will unquestionably understand how difficult this process can be, and that’s why A Place at Home offers our Senior Living Alternatives service.

This article will help you understand how I can make the transition an easier one for you or someone you might know.

Simply put, this is what I do every day.

My name is Kari McElderry and I am the Senior Living Advisor at A Place At Home.  My job is to assist individuals when seeking a Senior Living Community. I help ANYONE and it’s a FREE service.  Yes, I did say FREE.

Our first meeting can be at your home, coffee shop or on the telephone.  My job is to make it as convenient as possible for you or the guardian during this stressful time.  It is at this initial meeting when I assess the budget, care, amenities, and location.

There are many variables when it comes to the budget.  What is your monthly income?  Do you have a pension?  Do you own your house?  Are you a Veteran or a spouse of one?  Will you need a Medicaid waiver?  These are some questions that I may be inquiring about.

The care is also essential.  Are you seeking Independent, Assisted or Memory?   Will you need skilled?  Sometimes I speak with couples who need two different types of care.  I help them decide if they should move together or if it’s more feasible for one to stay at home.  They may even move to two different sections of a community.  Every situation is different.

Amenities also can play a part.  Do you want a chapel, transportation or weekly housekeeping?  How about a happy hour?  There can be many benefits to community living.

Sometimes this is what it’s all about.  Do you want to be near a family member, friend, church or shopping mall?  These are all things to consider.

Next, I narrow down the options based on all of the information that has been provided to me.  I have a matrix of all the Senior Living Communities in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metropolitan area.  I have also been to these communities.  This is all part of my job description and how I can assist.

Once we have discussed which communities are more appealing to your wants and needs, I set up and accompany the tours.  I am there to hold you or a loved one’s hand and help them walk through what is otherwise known to be a daunting process.  All communication between you and the Senior Living Communities can be directed through me.  This way you will not have several communities contacting you and making your decision a more confusing one.

Also, did I mention that I am a referral source for real estate agents; moving, sizing down, organizational and estate sale companies?  It is true for all of the above.

Just consider me as your personal concierge when it comes to a Senior Living Alternative.

I am a one-stop-shop for a Senior Living Transition and it’s absolutely FREE.  I can be reached at 402-218-1868.  Let me know if I can assist you or someone you know today.