Prepare to Make Long-term Care Choices

Several months ago, I was coming out of a gas station when a woman stopped me and asked me what I did for a living. On the back of our van is our web address. On the side wing windows is "Free Senior Home Placement." I explained to her that I am a Long Term Care Consultant. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Great I need you!"

She went on to explain that her mother had fallen and was in the hospital. Her hip had been broken, and she was going to be discharged from the hospital in two days. She was going to require 24-hour care. To complicate matters her mother had been caring for her father who was unable to walk, or feed himself. Suddenly they found themselves in the middle of a crisis.

Families never expect to be in a situation like this. But situations like this happen all of the time. Here is a list of things families should do to be prepared for a crisis.

While your parents are still mentally cognizant discuss with them the kind of long-term options they would prefer. Discuss, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes, boarding homes, or in-home care.

Prepare a notebook that includes documentation, such as physicians phone numbers, attorney's phone numbers, bank account information, ministers phone number, power of attorney documents, and their living will.

Educate yourself on the kinds of facilities that are available in your area, or where your parents live.

Contact your local department of social and health services, find out what resources that they have available if you should need financial support. Fill out the paperwork ahead of time, leaving the date and other time sensitive information blank.

Discuss some of these issues with your siblings before hand, so you do not have to deal with family dynamics in a crisis.

Visit facilities and discuss prices so you know what your parents are able to afford. (Note that when the time comes circumstances may be that they cannot live in the kind of facility that they would prefer, especially if they require heavier care than they had anticipated.)

Being unprepared when a crisis hits will leave you scrambling. If you have done a portion of the legwork before hand you can face the crisis before you with a measure of confidence. ~Dutchy

Renee "Dutchy" Reeves is an Elder Care Consultant with over 10 years of working with the elderly and their families. Her online advice column, "Ask Dutchy" provides practical ideas and advice for assisting the elderly with Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, Parkinson's, disability, and those needing long term care. See other articles by her at http://www.askdutchy.mycarelink.net

---

Who Wants to End Up in a Nursing Home? NO ONE!

As a long-term care consultant for seniors and their families... Read More

As the Baby Boomers Age

Many employees today are calling in sick - not to... Read More

Short Trips Can Stimulate Alzheimers Patients

Severe degradation of short-term memory means that my father, an... Read More

Introducing the Best Available Long Term Care Policy Guarantee

If you're 60 to 70 years old ... or have... Read More

Caring for Aging Relatives

It happens somewhat slowly in the beginning, maybe with a... Read More

When the Box is Empty

The King had a modest kingdom. He was Danish. This... Read More

5 Myths You Should Know Before Choosing Elder Care

Myths associated with selecting quality nursing home care suggest quick... Read More

Strategies on Paying for Nursing Home Care and Medicaid

The decision to place your loved one into a nursing... Read More

Caregiving Across The Miles?Tips for Successful Long Distance Caregiving

Caring for a parent or a loved one is a... Read More

The Right Wheelchair Accessories Will Ease Your Life and Your Journeys on Wheels

Wheelchairs come in every shape and size with sufficient options... Read More

Why Everyone Over 50 Should be Training for the Senior Games

by Phil Campbell, M.S., M.A., FACHE Senior Games participant and... Read More

Prevent or Delay Alzheimers Disease

Argh! Where are my glasses? I put them down .... Read More

Assisted Living: Tips on How to Choose a Facility

It is easy to be fooled by fancy drapery or... Read More

How To Find Affordable Senior Housing

A few years ago Miranda M. became a widow. After... Read More

Retiring Abroad and Leaving the Grey Skies of the UK

Retiring abroad needs careful planning. Not all countries have the... Read More

10 Tips to Keep a Family Caregiver from Losing Their Mind

Caring full time for a loved one can be a... Read More

Nursing Home Staffing Levels: How Much Is Enough?

During the week of February 17, 2002, headlines screamed the... Read More

Advocate For Senior Citizens ? Protecting Against Abuse and Fraud

Ruth is 87 years old this year and has been... Read More

Whos Gonna Take Care of You When Youre Old?

I finally went to the doctor this morning for my... Read More

Using The Proper Wheelchair Will Make Your Everyday Life Easier

If you have an injury or a health problem that... Read More

What Colour was Your Great-grandmothers Hair?

I've just made another Photoshop video. This one is about... Read More

Helping Caregivers Get Comfortable Asking For Help

Becoming a care giver might not have been a conscious... Read More

The Golden Years

1) What does Adrian Mitchell say we do to people... Read More

Exercise Walking For Seniors: Preventing Foot Problems

Exercise has a very important role in the general health... Read More

Paying For Elder Care Just Got Easier

It's not a surprise that thousands of families across the... Read More

The Dryer Ate Your Underwear!

Q: My mom is in the early stages of dementia... Read More

Long Term-Care; 70 Million Americans Will Be Over 65 by 2003

We will all grow old; this is a given. We... Read More

New Hope for Alzheimers Treatment

There is now widespread agreement among research scientists and medical... Read More

Board and Care Homes ? What Are They?

Board and Care homes (also known as RCFE's - Residential... Read More

Alzheimers Care Giving While Maintaining Your Own Health

Just for a moment I want you to imagine that... Read More

Long Term In-home Care Options

Are you worried that you may lose all your life's... Read More

Scaling Down (almost) Painlessly

Moving to a smaller house or apartment in a retirement... Read More

The Best Investment You Can Make Right Now: Long Term Care Insurance

Don't think you need it? Consider this: a full 50%... Read More