Tag: Adult Family Home

Healthy Living, Uncategorized

10 Tricks to Handle Change When You are a Senior

10 Tricks to Handle Change When You are a Senior

Change is tough no matter the age. However, the older we become the more challenging. Remember, most seniors have been experiencing so much loss. Their vision has changed, their hearing has changed, their energy has changed and the friends around them have begun to lessen. So asking a senior who has been forced to handle so much change to make a change is likely one of the most difficult things you will ask them to do.

It seems easy to you. They have been having more and more difficulty with basic care situations and then you come along suggesting they get care or move. You might as well have asked them to become a unicorn. They just aren’t seeing the rationale. Which is why asking someone who has had so much change to do just one more change may make them dig in their heels.

Here are some tips that will make handling change that may be inevitable a little more bare-able.

  1. Start by exploring the options.
  2. Do not let yourself get overwhelmed.
  3. Look at what you liked about the change first.
  4. Analyze what made the change uncomfortable to you.
  5. Ask people that love you and that you trust why they think this change is good for you.
  6. Change is good for you. Embrace that concept and see how this change will actually benefit you.
  7. Let others you trust lead the way in your change.
  8. Discover what grounds you and be sure to have doses of that.
  9. Let those that love you set the stage for the change so that you will be most comfortable.
  10. Keep a journal about the change.

No matter your age these resolutions would benefit.

Lisa Doyle is a Registered Nurse who has worked in geriatrics most of her career. She works as a care manager and placement navigator in Washington state. Helping families navigate the world of long-term care. She provides support and family mediation when a family is unsure what to do next. She founded CayCare in 2005. Lisa has worked with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and dementia. She has worked closely with clients who have Multiple Sclerosis, Strokes and Parkinson’s as well. To learn more about what Lisa and CayCare does go to www.caycare.com

There are also specialty courses available online for planning ahead before seeing an elder law attorney. She also teaches facilities how to best work with seniors and their families. To purchase one of her courses, go to www.caycare.com/ondemand

Care Management, Healthy Living, Uncategorized

Top 3 Ways to Reconnect with Parents After 80

Top 3 Ways to Reconnect with Parents After 80

I am very blessed to have a close relationship with my parents my whole life. As they aged our relationship changed but was still so much of a blessing. What I found is that the need of my parents hasn’t changed even though I am a parent myself. There are things that my parents can only give me that no one else is able. Whenever I feel sick I want my dad to rub my tummy. When I want to celebrate they are still the first I want to call.

Now I realize that not everyone has the same relationship I have had with my parents. However, one thing I am aware is that many feel a shift with their parents at age 80. The parent begins to need the child. In my case my mother’s need came in the form of feeling lost without her spouse after his death. Suddenly things she had always handled as a “we” were difficult. We first navigated those things together. Many of the things my father had managed or decisions they would make were out of my wheelhouse. We would decide together what was best for her now and then what would they have done together. This happened dozens of times.

Then my mother had to navigate life on her own. As she navigated this new life as a single woman in her late 70’s I navigated ways to help her and reconnect with her in a special way. I share these special ways with you right now.

  1. Fold your parents into traditions. I am a mother with children in elementary but most adults that have parents over 80 have families that are grown and have their own grandchildren. Meaning that the parents are not as integrated in the special things in their life. While you are disconnecting from your parents, your parent’s world is becoming smaller. They are worrying more about doctor’s appointments. Aches and pains concern them more than staying active and engaged. Additionally, vision and hearing are beginning to limit their ability to stay connected with peers in the same way. An easy way to help parents and reconnect is to blend the senior parents into your special traditions. My mother comes over on Christmas Eve and stays the night so she can watch our children open their presents. We have family movie night and at least once a month she is invited to attend. She has shared these traditions allow her to have things to look forward to and that keeps her feeling relevant and involved.
  2. Call your parents for no reason. Many families find that with all of this technology they simply do not take the time to call someone “just because”. Yet the just because calls are awesome. If you really want to give a special meaning and connection do this call on a set day of the week. And do not make the call about you. Ask you parent(s) how things are going. Find out what they may need help with and if there are things you can help solve. Telling a parent about your own struggles is also huge. Let them lend you sage advice.
  3. Plan a special time together that includes your parents at least annually. My parents were always involved in one weekend getaway a year. When my father died my mother became involved in our Spring Break tradition. My parents would talk about looking forward to this special event all year long. When my father died my mother said planning for that trip helped keep her positive. The time will benefit your family as well as your parents. I often have my mother get asked questions about her childhood from my children so that the heritage she comes from can be passed down to them to appreciate.

Whether you were close to your parents or not these 3 simple things will help you stay connected or reconnect with your parents.

Lisa Doyle is a Registered Nurse who has worked in geriatrics most of her career. She works as a care manager and placement navigator in Washington state. Helping families navigate the world of long-term care. She provides support and family mediation when a family is unsure what to do next. She founded CayCare in 2005. Lisa has worked with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and dementia. She has worked closely with clients who have Multiple Sclerosis, Strokes and Parkinson’s as well. To learn more about what Lisa and CayCare does go to www.caycare.com

There are also specialty courses available online for planning ahead before seeing an elder law attorney. She also teaches facilities how to best work with seniors and their families. To purchase one of her courses, go to www.caycare.com/ondemand

Care Management, Goal Setting, Healthy Living, Uncategorized

Top New Year’s Resolution for the Senior in Your Life 2020

Top Resolutions for Seniors in 2020

Once you get to a certain age New Year’s Resolutions just seem silly. However, I would challenge you that once you get older resolutions should really have more meaning. I mean, once you are “old enough to know” you should be able to resolve with the best of them right? A good resolution should help make life easier, healthier and more fulfilling. What senior doesn’t need that. So I propose to all of you seniors out there to get your resolve on with the rest of these young ones.

Now that I have thrown down this challenge what should you resolve to do? I mean, losing weight may have been a resolution you have given up long ago. However, you only have one life, one body and why not just start eating healthy now? Eating healthy is not just so you look good but feel good as well.

  1. Resolve to eat healthy. To use food as fuel. To learn what your body needs and needs to avoid. To educate yourself on what you need to avoid. To better understand the health of eating rather then the comfort of it.
  2. Resolve to drink enough fluids. As we age not getting enough fluids can cause issues that affect your overall health. Keeping up on hydration not only helps prevent infections but keeps our cells younger and healthier.
  3. Resolve to smile more. Research has shown that a smile affects your mental health and those around you in a positive manner. Your resolution helps others while helping you. The world just needs more happy people. Resolve to be one of them. Your mood will improve even when a smile or laugh isn’t genuine. Fake it until you make it is genuine in this case.
  4. Resolve to spend time with someone less fortunate than you. Let’s face it people need people. By resolving to spend time with someone less fortunate you are benefiting yourself and someone else. Loneliness is a thing. This happens more and more as we age and our world gets smaller and smaller. Resolving to find someone to spend time with you are focusing on others.

No matter your age these resolutions would benefit.

Lisa Doyle is a Registered Nurse who has worked in geriatrics most of her career. She works as a care manager and placement navigator in Washington state. Helping families navigate the world of long term care. She provides support and family mediation when a family is unsure what to do next. She founded CayCare in 2005. Lisa has worked with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and dementia. She has worked closely with clients who have Multiple Sclerosis, Strokes and Parkinson’s as well. To learn more about what Lisa and CayCare does go to www.caycare.com

There are also specialty courses available online for planning ahead before seeing an elder law attorney. She also teaches facilities how to best work with seniors and their families. To purchase one of her courses go to www.caycare.com/ondemand

Uncategorized

What You Need to Know About Elder Care Referral Agencies

From sprawling retirement communities with hundreds of residents to adult family homes with only a few, the options for senior living are endless. Working alone, most people will be overwhelmed with the choices available and will pick something because it is close or familiar, later discovering that it does not meet their needs. Finding the right placement is important for the success of the senior and due to the high need for assistance, referral agencies have become a popular service business in recent years. Simply because any Tom, Dick, or Harriet tells you they can help with placement, doesn’t mean they are following the laws that regulate placement agencies.

As much as we would like to believe that everyone has the best of intentions, unfortunately that is not always the case. A reputable agency will ensure that they are following the laws set out by the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Placement Referral Agency Act (RCW 18.330) providing you, as the consumer, information about their agency and the communities or care providers they are referring.

You will read and sign a Disclosure of Services statement that includes agency and client information, details regarding the fee to be received (and refund policy) for the referral, a description of the services provided, and frequency of facility tours by the agency. Included will be contact information for the Office of the Attorney General if a complaint needs to be filed.

They will use a standardized intake form for each vulnerable adult, which is covered by healthcare confidentiality laws (HIPAA). These questions may be asked by an agency staff member who will ask about your recent medical history, diagnoses, medications, and health concerns. They will inquire as to why you are seeking services and will want to know about the current living situation, as well as if assistance is needed with activities of daily living and if there are any behavioral concerns, dementia, or developmental disabilities.

The intake process also requires a basic understanding of the current financial situation, preferences on location, and other issues that are important to your specific situation. Referral agencies operate on a private pay basis with the senior or their family. If you are on Medicaid or Medicare, a referral agency cannot collect a referral fee for services covered by Federal or State health care programs.

Within 30 days of making a referral, a referral agency must inform you if any of the referred facilities or agencies is in enforcement (violation of RCW or WAC) status.  Referral agencies are required to keep records of all services provided to clients for at least six months, to maintain at least $1 million of general and professional liability insurance, and they are mandatory reporters. They are required to perform a criminal background check every two years on owners, operators, and employees who have contact with vulnerable adults.

When it is time to seek out housing or care, you will benefit from the experience of a referral agency. Having experts in your corner will reduce your stress and save you time. Knowing what to look for in a referral agency, will help you find the best results.

Learn more about the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Referral Agency Act 

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ASRP of WA