Which long term care facility is best for our senior loved ones? Finding the right one is a dilemma faced by many families and the number is only growing as the boomer generation ages. Yes, there is a lot of information out there on senior living facilities of all types, but pulling it together can… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Senior Care Options
Nursing Home Staffing Woes Increase Need for Family Caregivers of Seniors
Nursing home care is something many family caregivers see as part of the future, at least at some point, for their senior loved ones — and maybe even for themselves. Looming staff shortages on the front line of resident care could make nursing home openings harder to find or more expensive (maybe both). Even with… Continue Reading
Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment for Seniors
In a recent Senior Care Corner Radio Show, we reported a news story about a durable medical equipment (sometimes referred to as DME) provider being fined for fraudulent Medicare claims for power scooters. While many who this provider gave no- or low-cost scooters paid for by Medicare that were not deemed eligible, there are many… Continue Reading
NORC: What They Mean to Seniors & Their Family Caregivers
NORCs are becoming more common as our population and communities age. What are they? What do they mean to our senior loved ones – – and us as their family caregivers? Read on… Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) are developing across the US as residents of apartment buildings, complexes and entire subdivisions decide to age… Continue Reading
Been Treated by a Physician Extender? Do You Know What One Is?
Exponential growth in the number of seniors who are aging and require medical care is expected to continue in the next 15 years and would strain even the medical system we have today. Unfortunately, that system isn’t growing along with the senior population. What we may not know is that the number of doctors poised… Continue Reading
Essential Family Caregiving Discussion This Holiday Season
Seniors, especially those with health, physical or memory issues, should sit down with the other adults in their families to openly discuss their needs and the roles of the rest of the family in assuring those needs are met. Unfortunately, those meetings – and the sharing of thoughts and feelings among family members – don’t… Continue Reading
Long Term Care Planning With Senior Loved Ones – Part 2: Actions
Planning ahead to meet the long term care needs of senior family members can help to make less traumatic a transition that’s often difficult, though necessary for the well-being of aging loved ones. Last time, in Part 1, we discussed long term care options and explained the most common choices and what to consider when… Continue Reading
Long Term Care Planning With Senior Loved Ones – Part 1: Options
Few people look forward to a time when they have to leave their home and live in a long term care facility, not even an assisted living facility. There are some seniors who will, unfortunately, have no other safe alternatives. It is estimated that more than two thirds of people over 65 years will need… Continue Reading
Positive Impacts for Senior Love Ones Under the Affordable Care Act
There has been a great deal of buzz – and many strong feelings – recently with the Supreme Court upholding the bulk of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Putting aside the politics and looking to the implementation, do you know how the ACA impacts your senior loved ones and ultimately you as a family member or… Continue Reading
Medicare Basics for Family Caregivers of Seniors
Medicare is a health insurance plan administered by the federal government for seniors 65+ years old, people under 65 years if they have a disability or anyone suffering from end stage renal disease requiring dialysis or a transplant. It guarantees access to health insurance for seniors. Medicare was established and signed into law by President… Continue Reading
Family Caregivers Need Respite – How Do You Get It?
Caregivers are special people, especially those who are caring for senior loved ones! You do so many wonderful things each day to keep your elder happy, healthy and safe! Being their caregiver is one of the most important things we can do for our loved ones as they age and no longer can care for… Continue Reading
Does Your Loved One Meet Level of Care?
What is level of care and what does that mean with regard to the care for which your senior loved one qualifies? Some caregivers of senior adults will hear this sentence in the future if you have not already heard it. If your senior loved one had a recent hospitalization followed by a short stay… Continue Reading
Family Dilemma: What’s Grandma’s Best Option?
Many families across the nation are asking themselves this question: What is the best living option for Grandma (or Grandpa)? As our senior loved ones age, they often experience a functional decline. Sometimes they have more trouble staying steady when they walk, resulting in frequent falls. Some of our loved ones have trouble taking care… Continue Reading
Plan Ahead for The Costs of Caregiving
Are you one of the estimated 65 million family caregivers? Are one of the 42.1 million who care for an adult who can no longer do their own activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, toileting, preparing meals, cleaning or transporting themselves to places they need to go like the doctor? Does your senior live… Continue Reading
Accountable Care Organizations and Seniors
If you are like us, you are hearing more and more lately in the news and on the web about Accountable Care Organizations or ACOs. In a nutshell, an Accountable Care Organization is a system or model of payment that encourages all healthcare organizations to get better at providing care and being efficient. The better… Continue Reading
Seniors Palliative Care Options
As our seniors age, we as caregivers see changes in their health and physical functioning. Sometimes the changes that we see can be frightening and it is scary looking into the future. Aging is inevitable. How we face the challenges of the aging process will help us to deal with things that may feel overwhelming.… Continue Reading
When Your Senior Says NO to Caregivers
Many of us who care for seniors are facing the need for in-home caregivers. We know our parents or grandparents need a little bit more help with some activites in their homes. However, we are not able to be with them during the day when these activities are needed. Making a decision to get help… Continue Reading
Senior Caregivers Set Positive Resolutions–Be A…
Most of us make New Year’s resolutions hoping that some part of our life will be the focus of personal improvement. As caregivers of seniors, often our resolutions include our loved ones in some way. For instance, one of my resolutions is to manage my time better to be able to care for my senior… Continue Reading
Don’t Get Stung by the High Cost of Care
Is your loved one living in an assisted living facility or nursing home or staying in their home? Are you paying, or helping to pay, the bill or overseeing their care? If so, then you have felt firsthand the pinch as costs for caring for an older person in a facility or at home have… Continue Reading
Family Talk over Turkey about Seniors’ Future
Most families enjoy special moments during the holidays. It is a time of year when we take time from our hectic schedules to sit down with the ones we love and reminisce about the good times we have shared. As we get older, these time become even more precious to us. Now is the time… Continue Reading
