Home care problems: health or financial issues
When you're providing home care for someone, in your home or theirs, it's common to have problems -- and this doesn't mean you're failing. Some have easy solutions, while others take more work. Sometimes the best decision is to switch to a different care setting. Here are some ideas for addressing common home care problems. They may also help you decide if home care is the best choice for your friend or relative.
Health issues
If the person in your care is showing signs of declining health, the first thing you should do is call his doctor. (Dial 911, if it's a medical emergency.) Before calling, write down all of your concerns and observations to prepare for your talk. Get input from others, professionals and nonprofessionals, who spend time with him.
It's also a good idea to have a list of his medications on hand when talking to the doctor. Have the person in your care talk to the doctor directly if he's able. (He may prefer privacy when speaking.) You can provide additional details to the doctor from the caregiver perspective.
What you can do: Start by brainstorming with professionals involved with the older adult.
- You may want to suggest to his doctor that you hold a team meeting. Include all health providers involved in his care, including -- and especially -- those making home visits. This is helpful for deciding what changes, if any, can be made in the home care setting, or if it's time to consider other options.
Financial issues
Providing home care can be expensive, especially if you're using lots of paid caregivers.
What you can do: Review all financial assistance options for the person in your care, including Medicare, Medicaid, veteran's benefits, and private insurance policies.
Consult with an elder attorney who specializes in senior financial planning. It may be worth even a one-shot visit to help you organize.
Ask family and friends to pitch in. With some extra help, you may be able to reduce paid care hours.
Try to be realistic about finances. Avoid getting yourself into debt.
Find out if he qualifies for Medicaid. If he's low-income and can't live independently, he may be eligible.
This article of the in-home care issue has just about pushed me over the edge. I commented about the quality of care my friend is getting along with the lack of morals and ethics. The patient I refer to is constantly getting messed over by this company. Now I find out that the boss over the franchise calls for a meeting at the house so he can meet the new Guardian. My view is that he was not invited to the first meeting so let it go. But instead, the fact of the matter is that if he wants to meet this person, meet her at her office or have her come to him, because if she comes to the house, she wiil have to charge for several billable hours just so he can walk in and beg my friend to please give the caregiver from WWF 1 more chance. I see now he only cares about keeping the case and will say anything to get the chance of keeping the client. Is it hard to consider private care when the insurance pays it all, and what kind of issues with the administrative part are going to come up?
Hi Deyes, I'm so sorry to hear about your situation that sounds really difficult. You may find this article useful ( http://www.caring.com/articles/alzheimers-and-aggression ). I also suggest you seek the professional help of a doctor, as I've heard from other caregivers they can help reduce aggression with medication. If you have any further questions, I encourage you to post a question in our Ask & Answer section located, here ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). I hope that helps, please take care. -- Emily | Community Manager
we have a gr son that live with us who is bipolar , does not work . This is getting Carl more upset all the time just plain mean mouth and one night he tried to choke me , he still drives and at times seems normal . He refuses to go to the Dr . I am ready to move but wont we have been married 57 yrs . any suggestions . No the gr son cant leave no income and we have had him file for ssi
I'm still having caregiver problems. I find out the boss is telling the companion-housekeeper to put things away. You dont move things that have been in the same area for 10 years. So that will be #4 . Maybe it is time to do the individual route because I catch her talking to the Ms. like a darn puppy, so kidlike it makes me wonder, and then to be hanging in the only place she has that no one has just pilfered through, "her bedroom". Invasion of private space is a no-no. Daily issues would stop occuring if her space is respected and by no means invaded.
Keep a sense of humor. Relocate your wife and children first a place they can survive and then get a court to declare him a ward of the state or you know what makes him mad just get him mad enough to bust your chops and once he does call the cops
the comments about how to deal with depression of person, how to provide variety. examples of what can go wrong with a caregiver and how to handle.
This is a really helpful article. My Wife and I are caring for my elderly father (86) after my Mum died. We have been here 7 months and frankly are really struggling. I have other family but they have all taken a step backwards leaving us with it. We have 4 young boys to care for as well. We're now at the point where we are looking to move out and re-establish ourselves. The challenge is Dad's care. He's stubborn and refuses to go into an aged care facility (he is classed as needing High Care). I'm waiting to hear from the Geritricians at the hospital for another review along with an aged care assessment. After that I do know what to do so any tips greatly appreciated.