If a family member takes care of a loved one on a regular basis, but occasionally needs outside help, they can find it from a Vida Senior Resource Certified In Home Senior Care Agency.  This outside help is called respite care services, and it is designed give a break to the family member providing care for their disabled or aging loved one.  In fact respite care services are most commonly used to enable family caregivers to have a break so they can take a vacation, or even go out for a night, without worrying about their loved one being alone.  There are even senior grants available for the explicit purpose of respite care services.

I remember one case when my non-medical home care agency was able to assist a gentleman who was taking care of his mother before and after work. I had happened to meet him at the grocery store.  As we talked, I explained what I did, and he started to tell me about his mother.  Then he told me that he would be going on a cruise for 10 days the following month.  He was worried about leaving his mother alone for that period of time, since she was unable to leave the house or even make her own meals.  I told him that we would be able to help his mother while he was gone, and make sure she bathed and ate.  He said that sounded great but wondered how much it would cost him.  I responded by saying that I believed we could get his mother approved for a grant to pay for the services.

The office staff from my agency met with the gentlemen and his mother at their home, helped them fill out the senior respite grant application, and even mailed it in for them.  Within a week the family received word back from the organization providing the senior grant that not only did his mother qualify, but that she had already been approved.

The next month, the gentlemen was able to go on his cruise without worrying whether or not his mother was ok.  Our agency was able to provide Senior Home Care with no out of pocket expense for the family.  When he arrived home from vacation, the gentlemen came in to the office to tell us how much he appreciated the help we provided him, and to let us know that he would happily recommend us to anyone else who needed our services.  His mother also told us that she loved her caregiver, and she scheduled her to continue services for two days every week.

Emily Schmidt, Administrator of All Valley Home Care in the San Francisco Bay Area of California provides guidance and advice for caring for aging parents from a distance. Emily’s knowledge is from both professional and personal experiences.

According to the US census, approximately 76 million Americans, the Baby Boomers, are well into their 50′s and 60′s. As Administrator of All Valley Home Care in the San Francisco Bay area, I am fortunate to have the tools and resources available to me to help ease my parents into this stage of their lives. Although equipped with knowledge and experience, my most worrisome thought is: how do I ensure quality care for my parents in San Diego while living in San Francisco? The answer: All Valley Home Care. Not only do we provide non-medical home care services, we are also a resource center linking our clients to various support services within the communities we serve. When caring for a parent from a distance, it is important to embark on this journey with the following in mind:

Establish a DPOA (Durable Power of Attorney) or a Living Will.

Regardless of the level of care, it is important that the Care Providers be aware of who to contact for legal matters and medical treatment. Both are effective only when your parent is too ill or not of sound mind to make their own health care decisions. A DPOA form can usually be obtained from your doctor or hospital, however an All Valley Client Care Manager can easily acquire one for you.

DME (Durable Medical Equipment) and Supplies.

It is usually from a frantic adult child that I get this question: “Diapers! Where can I find diapers!?” All Valley Home Care will help you find those diapers as well as any other supply needs your loved one may have; From blood pressure cuffs and power chairs, to gadgets made to make life easier, we can point you in the right direction.

Med Management.

Medication is probably the most difficult to monitor from a distance, as well as the most unnerving. It is not uncommon for an elderly adult to be on a variety of medications prescribed over different time periods by different doctors. Staggeringly, these medications are not always modified as doctors and diagnosis change, therefore causing adverse reactions and over-medication. All Valley Home Care can provide you with resources to help keep you informed of your loved one’s med regimen, such as the Drug Interaction Tool at www.pdrhealth.com, and what medications may be inappropriate for the elderly at dcri.duke.edu.

Nutrition.

To this day, my mom still worries if I’m drinking enough water and getting my vitamins. A healthy diet has always been an integral part of her life. But how can she continue her wholesome balanced meals when she is no longer able to drive to the grocery store or shop on her own? Our caregivers and All Valley Home Care staff can guarantee an appropriate diet. Through meal preparation, including special instructions, grocery shopping, and helping mom write out her grocery list, All Valley can ensure she’s getting her favorites. We can even arrange for deliveries or online ordering for convenience.

Dealing with the Changes.

My adult child client often expresses feeling “over whelmed” and that “everything is happening so fast”. It is important to have the support and education to cope with these life changes as they happen. With contacts throughout the community, All Valley staff can put you in touch with a variety of support groups, informational fairs, and respite programs.

In addition to these services, our caregivers maintain log notes documenting the time spent with your parent, including medication reminders and detailed care plan. This gives family members a better understanding of their loved one’s mood, health, both physical and mental, and changing lifestyle. While nothing can emulate me being in San Diego to care for my parents, it is comforting to know that All Valley is there to facilitate the same care and protection for aging parents that I would.

To find a VIDA Certified Senior Home Care Agency you can call 1-866-273-2995 or browse or Senior Home Care Agency Directory.

Assisted Transitions is  a senior assistance program that has been active in Idaho for the past 18 months and is now being offered  in Southern California through the VIDA Senior Resource.

The primary focus of Assisted Transitions is to assist seniors in navigating the assisted living facility and senior independent housing maze, enabling them to successfully choose the best option available to them. There are many senior care options available making choosing a facility a very overwhelming process, and often, without knowledge and education, families choose placements that do not always work best. Moving an elderly person into assisted living facility can be a very difficult choice for families, and emotionally trying for everyone involved. To make subsequent moves is even more difficult. Families rely on our assistance to make the first choice the right choice.

We spend a lot of time building relationships with the Idaho and California Assisted Living Facilities, so we are directly familiar with each facility, and what they can offer. This is what sets VIDA apart from other referral agencies, who rely on emailing referrals to facilities and never actually meeting with the people involved.  All clients are walked through the process personally, and the facilities know VIDA to be a reliable and trust worthy senior resource, meeting their needs face to face.

When we receive the initial inquiry regarding assisted living, we collect information about the dynamics of each individuals situation. This best enables us to recommend an assisted living facility that will meet the specific needs of the client including: expense, level of care, and area. From this information and the meeting with the family, we are able to provide a tour of the facilities that we have identified as the best possible options.

Finally we provide a smooth the transition by coordinating and communicating with the assisted living facilities. We are able to assist the client in setting up and completing the assessment process required for admittance. We also assist the client in finding the appropriate available financial resources to offset the expense of assisted living including: medicaid, Veterans Care Assistance, and income based sliding scale rents.

The Assisted Transitions team looks forward to easing the transition to assisted living for seniors. For more information our to receive help you can call us at 1-866-273-2995 or email us.

As the Administrator of All Valley Home Care in Thornton CO, I have answered the calls of hundreds of individuals and family members in need of help.  The main objective of our service is to help people remain independent in their own homes.  The prospect of losing independence is  a thought that can frighten even the most steadfast individual.  That being said, I would like to focus on a subject that if properly heeded can help insure the independence of you and your loved ones.

As we age, many conditions can arise that increase our chances of suffering a fall. These risk factors can include poor eyesight, physical ailments, and side effects of medications to name just a few.  While we cannot always prevent conditions that sometimes come with aging, a little awareness can go a long way to prevent a potentially life threatening fall.  While researching this subject, I came across some statistics concerning falls that surprised even me.  According to an article published by the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, 50 percent of the elderly who sustain a fall-related injury will be discharged to a nursing home rather than return home.  Please take a moment to take that in, I myself was floored by this staggering statistic.  This means that half of all elderly persons hospitalized for a fall won’t be going home!

So what can we do then to help assure the health and independence of our elderly loved ones?  In my field, it is protocol to do a home safety evaluation before ever starting services for in-home-senior-care.  The main function of this assessment is to make sure our client’s living arrangements are safe for the provision of care and to identify potential hazards.  However, any family member or friend of an elderly person can conduct their own safety evaluation if there is a worry that an individual may be a fall risk.  Here are some things to look for inside the home when considering fall prevention: 1) Is there proper lighting throughout the house? 2) Are walkways and stairways free of clutter, ie; clothes, baskets, dog toys, etc;? 3) Is there a need to install grab bars in areas where a person needs them most ie; the bathroom, and bedroom? 4) Do throw rugs need to be removed? 5) Are readily used items within reach without having to use a stepstool? 6) Are electrical cords and telephone cords free from all walkways? 7) Do handrails need to be installed on stairs or in hallways?

Using caution and common sense, most falls can be prevented.  We all want to see our loved ones maintain their independence, so let’s take the simple steps of prevention today to prevent future disasters.

Many people ask the question; “How do I pay for senior home care services for my family member?” The answer may be with senior grants. In addition to Medicaid, there are a number of grants that give money to seniors specifically for in-home care. They range from assistance for people who do not qualify for Medicaid, to respite for the family taking care of the senior. The grants available vary depending on age, disability, and the area in which the person needing assistance lives. Since this can be confusing, VIDA Senior Resource Staff encourages anyone to call so we can assist with explaining, and applying for these grants. The Vida staff has experience with the application process, and they understand the requirements for eligibility.

Respite grants differ from senior grants in that even though the grant benefits seniors, it is technically for their family members. These types of grants offer respite (a break), to the family members taking care of the senior. They do this by furnishing money to pay for care the family would normally provide. This enables the family to go out for a night, or take a vacation, without worrying about leaving their parent or grandparent alone without help. Once again, the Vida staff will gladly assist in the application, and explanation of any requirements for these grants.

The staff of VIDA Senior Resource is a resource to be used, and their first-hand experience will make the application process for any grant much easier. Please feel free to call for any help or information at 1-866-273-2995 or browse or directory of Senior In-Home Care Agencies.

I recently assisted a lady who was seeking Senior Care for her mother. As we spoke I found myself explaining the difference between in home senior care, (non-medical in home care) and Home Health Care (skilled care). Patiently I weaved my way through her confusion regarding medicaid and medicare providing her guidance and direction choosing the care her mother required.

As I am both the webmaster of VIDASeniorResource.com and the author of our Senior Care Blog it was clear that my next blog post would serve the same purpose of the phone call I took earlier that day.

Its a scenario our in home senior care agencies often encounter.

“Ring Ring Ring…”

“All Valley Home Care, this is Matt how can I help you.”

“Yes my mom has a wound on her rear and I need a nurse to come help her. She is bed-bound and has bed sores that have turned into bleeding wounds.”

Although this request may sound straight forward and simple, the complexity of care that may follow is not.

Lets start with the wound and the request for a nurse. The care of this wound will require skilled care, which is provided from a Home Health Care Agency; This care is generally covered by medicare.

Medicare will pay for the nurse to come visit and provide the wound care, that is it. That could be as little as 2 hours a visit, 3 times a week.

This will merely treat the problem, but will not prevent the reoccurrence of the wound.

The source of the wound is the mother being bed bound causing the bed sources which are leading to the bleeding wound.

This is where Senior Home Care agencies come in. With a much lower cost per hour ($20-30) the caregivers provided by our agencies can do what the skilled care can not; Prevent the wound in the first place.

With both the companionship and support of the caregiver the wounds the mother is experiencing are not only prevented, she is also provided a means to staying and thriving independently in the comfort of her home.

With the many options available for the care of Seniors it is understandable how confusing helping your loved one find the care that best fits their needs can be. Our Care Managers and Care Consultants are trained to help you find this care, even if our services are not the answer.

If you require assistance or are just looking for information feel free to call us any time at 1-866-273-2995, locate an agency near you using our In Home Senior Care Directory, browse our Senior Care Advice pages, or email us.

In an effort to help our clients receive the care that best fits their situation VIDA Certified Agencies work with the Senior Care resources in their communities. All Valley Home Care in Denver, Colorado supports client independence through education and information provided by Pamela D. Wilson of TheCareNavigator.com to enable residents of the Denver area to plan and make informed decisions on a wide range of available services by accessing quality Senior Care.

Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson, MS, BS/BA, CG and CSA, Certified Senior Advisor, specializes in working with individuals and families to navigate healthcare and aging issues with a focus on maintaining independence and planning for long term care. Pamela shares her advice on preparing seniors for both today and the future.

The decision to accept care is often complicated by issues of pride and independence. Who of us, at any age, wants to admit that we can’t take care of ourselves? This is a difficult time for everyone, but especially for a parent who has been strong and able an entire lifetime. Many times the decision is simple. Other times the decision is complicated by matters of health, finances, living arrangement, legalities, cognitive ability or available family.

In looking at the bigger, long term picture it’s best to have a plan and then have a back-up plan. Some families try home care knowing that it may only be a temporary solution. In these situations it’s best to plan for what might happen next. It is a move to an assisted living facility or into the home of a family member? Does a family home need to be sold? In the event health worsens, is the individual associated with proper medical care and specialists? If the unexpected occurs, have legal documents for powers of attorney and a living will been executed? Have end of life plans been discussed?

As a care navigator my goal is to ensure that individuals and families look at the entire situation when planning for today and for the unexpected events of tomorrow. Yes, these are difficult decisions conversations sometimes more easily initiated by a professional. The reality is that one day we will all face similar issues and the majority of us do not wish to be a burden on our families. Better to be prepared for the future than experience the stress of the unexpected when critical decisions must be made and there is no time for indecision.

In an era of increasing age throughout the US, health care is becoming an increasing concern. How will I be treated? Where will I be treated? These are a couple of questions that many seniors ask themselves. Fortunately, as medicine has improved over the years the quality of life continues to progress. Many seniors healthy enough to live at home are starting to receive the care they need from in-home caregivers. It is important to note that not all seniors are able or should receive home care but for a vast majority it can be realistic. The reality comes from understanding a few benefits of senior home care which are: coping, easily accessible, and one-on-one interaction. 

Coping

A myriad of seniors prefer to live at home while they get treatment for numerous communicable diseases or even routine checkups. The reasons for this are endless but for anyone who has seen a loved one go through the aging process it is easy to see why coping with it is difficult. For many of us when we go through hard times it is nice to have friends and loved ones close by to be able to interact with them. It is no different with seniors when they have their loved ones near by the quality of life can improve. Also, it’s far more comfortable for them to be in their own home rather than in some office or other care facility.

Easily Accessible

Almost any senior has access to a home care company due to the fact that they go to them. Those usually 65 and older don’t have to find someone to drive them to the hospital or clinic to get their regular checkups which makes it not only easier for them but for family and friends as well. 

One-on-One Interaction

Finally, the amount of interaction that is able to take place between the patient and medical advisor is improved. When a patient is able to receive home care rather than going to an office they are able to ask more questions and receive better feedback.  The reason for this is that time spent between the two is increased.  As communication increases between the two the overall experience is enhanced because the patient is able to obtain better understanding of their health status.  

These are just a few benefits of home senior care but there are many more reasons to see if it could be an option for you or your loved ones.  Call us at today 1-866-273-2995 or browse our directory of Certified Senior Home Care Agencies.

Marisol Trejo, Administrator of Above and Beyond Home Health Care in Nampa, Idaho, shares the story of helping a client and her family through the last months of her husbands life.

In February of 2007 we received a phone call from a frantic wife stating that her husband was very ill and she did not know what to do.   She explained to me her son had just got back from Iraq and had suffered a tragic leg injury; The outlook was that they were going to perform a double amputation.  She sobbed as she explained she had relied upon her son to be her strength.  We rushed to meet with her and her husband; When we arrived we found that he had been diagnosed with cancer just three days prior.

We began providing senior in home care for her husband seven days a week.  We located the most loving, patient caregiver to place in the home.  On the second week while performing a routine “Care Call” the wife asked us if it would be okay if she gave the caregiver a gift in the form of a card.  The caregiver brought the card in exemplifying the statement, “Thank you so much for being my strength over the past few days.  Also, many thanks to that nice girl who came out to help clean the mess my husband was in.”  This nice girl happened to be our fantastic human resources director.

We had introduced hospice to the husband and wife, but they both were not in any position to entertain the slightest idea of this type of care.  Throughout the months we had again approached the idea of hospice with no change.  During the fifth month we again introduced hospice and the family was receptive.  The family chose a hospice agency at the recommendation of a family member, as he had a long-standing relationship with that particular agency.

Five months had come and gone, and the husband grew weaker and weaker.  The wife had called the office to increase the number of hours for the caregiver to work.  Soon we were working 24-hour shifts.  We worked long hours with this family for three weeks when family had been called in from out of town.  As the family began to spend more time with their ill father our hours working with the family decreased (24 hours to 12 hours to 6 hours to 4 hours to 0 hours to PRN).

It was late on a Saturday night when we received a phone call the from wife.  She explained as she was crying, there was no family at the home and her husband was dying and she did not know what to do.  She was breathing heavily when she managed to ask the on-call person to contact their Hospice nurse.

At this point in time, the caregiver who had been working with this family for the past few months had gone over to the home and spent the last 12 hours with this family.  The caregiver volunteered her time to bring peace and comfort to the family.

Two weeks after the husband’s death the wife called the office trying to locate the caregiver.  She was attempting to schedule a lunch date with the caregiver.  They met and the wife had presented a plaque to the caregiver stating, “Thank you for being my strength.  Thank you for being my friend.  It was you who brought me peace when my world was coming to an end.”