The need to provide care for another person arises for many reasons. Often, the person who needs care does not realize it and family members must step in to help make decisions. One of those decisions involves who the caregiver will be and where care will be provided. The choices can be difficult unless you know what to consider.
When one member of the family becomes disabled, roles within the family often change. A person who took care of the family in the past or was the income provider may become dependent, while another person in the family takes on added, often unfamiliar responsibilities. For a single person, the changes may involve a new dependence on non-family members. Just the word “dependence” can cause unpleasant feelings. Being able to talk openly about fears, anxiety, frustration, and doubts can be very helpful in dealing well with these new facts of life.
Discuss chronic care needs with the person's medical team to learn what treatments, adjustments and other changes may be necessary. For some people, training to provide medical treatments, advice on coping with the challenges of chronic illness, and some long-range financial planning will be enough. For others, in-home personal assistance is the best option. Sometimes a nursing home or assisted living center is the better choice for everyone involved.
In making the decision for home care, it is important to be realistic about what the person in your care needs, and what you, the caregiver, can provide in terms of time, kinds of care, and financial responsibility. For example, deciding to hire an in-home attendant may be necessary if the primary caregiver works full time. Before this happens, it's important to look at the financial and emotional issues that go along with this decision.
Caregivers need to think about important issues such as independence, privacy, and the financial effect of hiring in-home help. Then the caregiver needs to talk to the person with the illness and others living in the home about these issues. How will the family pay for in-home help and how will it find the right person(s) or agency?
Before a person can be hired, the family needs to look at what kind of care is needed: medical (symptom management, occupational or physical therapies, etc.), personal care (bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, etc.), homemaking (shopping, errands, laundry, housecleaning), or companionship (social outlets, safety issues, etc.).
I am taking care of my husband who has alzheimer's at home. He is able to bathe himself and use the bathroom, but I can no longer leave him at home alone. I would like to have someone come in to help out 1 to 2 days a week for about 4 hours a day. I don't know where to start looking for this kind of help. It would be nice if this person could help im with some mild exercises.
How much do people pay for Adult Daycare and what does Medicare cover?
I forgot to mention that some insurance programs pay for all or part of daycare programs for dementia patients. If you can't find anything under Adult Daycare, call the local Alzheimers Association. Sometimes residential care facilities also provide daycare programs to non-residents. They also provide respite care for caregivers. Take advantage of respite care for yourself, it really helps to get a break when you're feeling overwhelmed.
No reason to quit your job. There are Adult Day Care facilities in most communities. Take your parent(s) there on your way to work, pick up after work! That's what I've been doing for 6 years. It's a blessing. I couldn't take care of my father if it were not for Adult Day Care programs because I have to work full time. And the mental and social stimulation he gets there could never be attained at home even if I quit my job and stayed home with him. Check into it.
my dad has been diagnosed with dementia and my moms health isnt great i have been thinking about guitting my job to be a in-home caregiver i am the oldest daughter does any one have any advice for us
Hugs DutifulDaughter