Home
Care Blog
Expand
Your In Home Care Knowledge
Updated
Home Care Resources, News and Information
Residential Home Care, The Best Solution For You and Yours
Residential home care is the most common and popular of all primary care arraingements.
Permalink -- click for full blog
A Tale of Longevity
Mrs. Kent had to also make a decision that all caregivers dread, and that was whether or not to put her in a nursing home. “Keeping her at home and not putting her into any homes was a difficult thing, but I promised her years and years ago that I wouldn’t put her into a home. That is how I feel,” Harriet said emphatically.
Click for more info
Are you a type D Personality? Here’s the Antidote
According to the American Medical Association, a new personality type has been identified to be more prone to heart disease and stroke than the Type A (which pales in comparison); it is the Type D personality who is distressed and distant. Caregivers, in particular, tend to feel distressed taking care of everyone’s needs but their own. Also, because caregivers feel overwhelmed with the daily to-do list, they feel isolated by a wall of grief and guilt. The antidote is to understand what is slowly poisoning our innate zest for living; in other words, what is holding us back from leading our lives.
Click for more info
Parent swap: Becoming a caregiver to your parents
Every day, adult children are faced with becoming "the parent" to their parents. A USA TODAY/ABC News/Gallup poll of baby boomers finds that 41% who have a living parent are providing care for them - either financial help, personal care or both - and 8% of boomers say their parents have moved in with them. Of those who are not caring for an aging parent, 37% say they expect to do so in the future. About half say they're concerned about being able to provide such care.
Click for more info
Illinois: New Consumer Direction Law Allows Family Members to be Paid for Caregiving
On August 31, 2007, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a bill into law (H.B. 652) to amend the state's Community Care Program to allow family members to be a participant's designated, paid home care provider. The program provides home- and community-based services to adults 60 years and older. The bill further amends the program by requiring that all program participants also be enrolled in Medicaid, removes home health services from the Community Care Program, and adds "medication management," "emergency home response" and "flexible senior services." The bill also ensures that care recipients have the right to choose the services contained in their care plan, that they can direct how those services are provided, and that services are available in evenings and on weekends.
Click for more info
New Data on Nursing Home and Assisted Living Costs in 2007
On October 30, 2007, MetLife Mature Market Institute released its annual Market Survey of Nursing Home and Assisted Living Costs, revealing that nursing home costs have increased slightly while assisted living costs have remained steady. It found that the average daily rates for a private ($213) or semi-private ($189) room in a nursing home in 2007 increased about 3% from the 2006 rates. The monthly base rate for assisted living rose only one dollar on average from $2,968 in 2006. The report also notes that more assisted living facilities are providing dementia care (59% in 2007 versus 48% in 2006); the additional costs for those services average $1,110 per month.
Click for more info
Caregiving services offer peace of mind and more
On days when Barbara Goodlett isn't able to visit her mother, she has peace of mind knowing a caregiver will be there.
Click for more info
Making Treatment Decisions: Resources for Caregivers
Treatment decisions by you, the caregiver, may be necessary in the event the person with cancer is not able to make them for him- or herself. The patient and caregivers should discuss this situation, and take steps to assure that the person with cancer receives treatment on his or her own terms. One way that is both legal and effective is for the patient to complete an advance directive to express his or her wishes. This approach makes one’s wishes clear — and this can be of great importance to caregivers. There are two components to an advance directive, and a person should have both in place when facing any serious illness.
Click for more info
How you can offer help to older family caregivers
The adult children, who are devoted to their parents, then confide that neither they nor their siblings have the training or enough time to provide all the guidance, support and relief that their parent desperately needs. They ask if we can help get through to their parent and do what is needed to balance the situation for their parent's health and well being and for their peace of mind.
Click for more info
Respite Care is a Phone Call Away
It's a way to relieve caregiver stress and prevent caregiver burnout. The problem is that caregivers often don't know where to get help. Also - and I was guilty of this - many are afraid that the elder won't like the relief worker and how they do things and so the care receiver will be unhappy. We caregivers use that as a reason not to get help.
Click for more info
Keys to putting the brakes on drivers with Alzheimer's
You've described one of the toughest issues in the entire field of aging — taking the car keys from someone who can no longer drive safely. It's also one of the saddest side effects of dementia because it means a perfectly healthy (physically, at least) person can be quite dangerous behind the wheel — yet have no clue.
Click for more info
Is long-term care insurance necessary?
Insurance is a necessary evil. You buy it on the off chance that something catastrophic might happen that would threaten your financial security. In effect, you're betting against yourself. But at the same time you need a measure of protection just in case the unthinkable occurs.
Click for more info
Aid and Attendance pension benefit
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking to inform wartime veterans and surviving spouses of deceased wartime veterans about an underused, special monthly pension benefit called Aid and Attendance. Although this is not a new program, not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility.
Click for more info
Caregiving Across The Miles?Tips for Successful Long Distance Caregiving
Your duties as a caregiver become increasingly difficult as the miles increase between you and your loved one. The following are a few helpful tips in order to plan ahead in the event your loved one needs your help, as well as ideas on how to become a successful caregiver once your caregiving duties begin.
Click for more info
The Rewards and Demands of Caring for an Aging Parent
Caregiver is a role for which adults are often ill prepared. Sometimes people are thrust into it when Mom has a stroke or begins showing signs of dementia, or when people begin to worry about Dad living alone in a big house with lots of stairs, explained Suzanne Mintz, president and co-founder of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA).
Click for more info
Get it in writing for long-term care
Understand why a long term care contract is a wise decision, especially between family members. Keep your family together and not stressed over care issues. Also look to HHCS to provide further legal soltuions. At HHCS, we desire the home care experience to be a joyful experience.
Click for more info
If you're in your 50s, it's time to plan how you'll pay for long-term care
Getting old is such a drag that most of us don't like to think about it. And we sure don't like to think about who will take care of us if we stumble and break a hip while strutting to our favorite Rolling Stones CD. But even if you're a lot younger than Mick Jagger — and many of us are — you should be thinking about how you'll pay for long-term care.
Click for more info
Are America's Communities Ready For An Aging Population?
A new study finds that less than half of American cities and counties have plans in place to meet the needs of aging baby boomers.
Click for more info
Cost of extended care a shock
Americans are woefully unaware of the cost of care at a nursing home or assisted living home. Many people think they have insurance coverage when they do not. Seek out information, as found at HomeHeal.com, to understand what options are available, and how to plan for long term care.
Click for more info
Recognizing Burnout
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don't get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able -- either physically or financially. Learn how to avoid Caregiver Burnout
Click for more info
Adult Day Care
Adult day care is a benefit to your loved one and to you, the caregiver.
Permalink -- click for full blog
The Reverse Home Mortgage
The reverse home mortgage provides monies that can support your home care planning.
Permalink -- click for full blog
Care Manager Assessment
Having a Care Manager assessment conducted by a professional
manager will save time, effort, and long term expenses.
Permalink -- click for full blog
Major Structural Reform of Health Care Needed to Meet Growing Needs of Older Americans
The U.S. health care system is not meeting the needs of senior citizens and a new policy report by the International Longevity Center-USA calls for major reforms to make it "proactive, rather than reactive" to meet the special - and mostly unmet needs - of older adults in an aging population. The report focuses on eight areas of concern.
Click for more info
Hospice Care Provides for You and Your Loved One
Hospice care benefits both you and your loved one by easing towards life's finale.
Permalink -- click for full blog
You Decide
Decide on the best home care and home health care decisions
Permalink -- click for full blog
Home Improvement Needs for Seniors
With home improvement you can enhance the future livability of your home into your golden years.
Permalink -- click for full blog
Home Health Care Health Equipment: What to Know
When deciding upon home health care health equipment, services information and availability are a must to know.
Permalink -- click for full blog
Home Health Care Services - Assistance In The Home For You and Your Loved One
In home health care services, when assistance is needed for
the care giver or your loved one in the home.
Permalink -- click for full blog
Caring for aging parents can present confusing choices
At some point in your life it's likely you'll be involved in caring for your parents or other elders. When this happens, you'll be faced with a confusing spectrum of choices: home care, assisted living, nursing homes and more. How does a person navigate this maze?
Click for more info
|
