Tips to Help Family Caregivers Save Both Time and Money
Tips to Help Family Caregivers Save Both Time and Money
How often does it occur to you that saving time and saving money are two sides of the same thing -- several times a day, right? The more time we spend caring for our parents and other elderly family members, the more deeply it cuts into our ability to work and earn an income. As summer turns to fall, kids go back to school, and work ramps back up from the August lull, caregivers get stretched even thinner. It's the perfect time to try some relatively simple strategies that could reduce your caregiving burden.
1. Transportation.
Driving someone to appointments, events, and on shopping trips probably makes up a significant part of your to-do list. Some alternatives:
• Help your parent or other family member to convert to public transportation. Senior citizen fares on busses, trains, and subways can add up to big savings with today’s gas prices. Not to mention time-savings. Of course, this is a lifestyle change for many seniors, and you may have to do some confidence-building. What I did: Got my mom a route map and schedule, and helped her figure out simple routes and times that could be used to accomplish common errands. I also got her a cell phone on my family plan so she could call me if she missed the bus or got stranded.
• Car-pool with other seniors. If your parent belongs to a church or synagogue or uses a local senior center, talk to the folks there about car-pooling or van transit opportunities to events, shopping, and other venues.
• Sign up with senior transportation services. These are area-specific, but with a couple of calls you can find out what's available where you live. Start with your Area Agency on Aging and the National Transit Hotline, which provides the names of local transit providers who receive federal money to provide transportation to the elderly and people with disabilities; the toll-free number is (800)527-8279. The good news is, many of these are door-to-door services.
2. Food and Supplies.
Grocery shopping and errands are another time-suck. Instead:
• Order home-delivered groceries. Most major grocery store chains offer home delivery via the phone or internet. Save on gas, and minimize shopping hassles. Search the internet, using your parents’ town and the name of the stores they use. Many pharmacies deliver now as well.
• Apply for discount food delivery. If your parent lives alone and is on a fixed income, investigate whether there are local services in your area that deliver groceries to seniors at a discount, or even free. In the central and southeast United States, the charity Angel Food Ministries offers once-a-month delivery of $60 boxes of groceries for $30 to anyone on a fixed income.
3. Talk to Medical Staff About Cost and Transportation Issues. Let your family member's doctor and the rest of the medical staff know that you're caring for your aging loved one and that everyone is on a limited budget. Explain that when possible, cost, scheduling, and transportation issues need to be taken into account. When I did this, it turned out there was a new clinic closer to a bus line where my mother could access services such as lab tests, eye care, and physical therapy.
Often the doctor can help you choose medications that are less expensive and can help you prioritize among health care treatments, advising you on which ones can be safely delayed. Depending on the type of insurance you're dealing with, doctors can also tell you about public health settings where you may be able to obtain certain health services at a lower cost.
Most importantly, don't be embarrassed or ashamed to let those around you know that money's an issue and time is tight. These are hard times, and many of us are in the same boat. When you tell others you're strapped for time and cash, it's like opening a door. You'll be surprised how much people are willing and eager to help, once you let them in.
My husband has Alzheimers and can't travel alone. It would be so helpful if the bus service that comes to the house did not charge for the assistance, but when you have to pay 2.50 for each of you going and then 2.50 each coming home, that is $10.00 for transportation to the doctor (or wherever).The service would be great, but it is just too expensive for us.
As a longtime caregiver I am disappointed that these typse of articles are still running. The realities of caregiving are complex and are not one size fits all - to suggest that the senior "take the bus" or call a foodbank is ridiculous - Maybe they can take the bus to the foodbank and carry it all back with them. I expected better. Public transportation in most cities and suburban areas is subpar to unacceptable - in rural areas it does not exist. Nutritional needs in seniors is pitted against food insecurity as prices rise and income falls - including the planned increase in Medicare Part B premiums at the same time that COLA (Cost of Living Increase) is not going to happen. Please Caring.com ..... consider jettisoning the experts if this is the best they can do and ask real *at home* caregiving family members to contribute instead. I look forward to learning new information, not looking at articles purporting to 'help' and hitting the delete key. It is finally time for caregivers to speak up and ask for respect - not pie-in-the-sky articles like this. No offense to the author, but I doubt that they have considered what I have written - I hope they take my and others comments to heart.
I do understand your point, and you're right, some of these would be impossible with dementia. But my mom was actually suffering from severe mental impairment and I was still able to set up some transportation solutions, including a public bus. But yes, she was stubborn, she did refuse, and I had to insist and explain patiently how impossible a burden it was for me to provide all transportation. Then she was willing to try. I should have mentioned that in any caregiving situation, a lot of back and forth has to go on to come up with a solution that works for everyone.
So many of these suggestions are not doable. If the caregiver is aiding someone with dementia, early stage Alzheimers or just plain stubborn, giving them maps, cell phones and access to undependable senior transportation is useless. My mother was unable to use these as well as refused help from outsiders or spend money on services she was not familiar with. These tips may help those who have physical challenges but not mental ones.