| If you’re caring for an elderly parent, grandparent or spouse, you know how difficult the emotional, physical and financial challenges can be. What you may not know is that there are several options for you in getting the help you — and your loved one — need.
In-home care management
For elders living alone or with family members, geriatric care management can provide a welcome relief to everyone. They enable their clients to remain more active and independent members of their communities, while fully participating in the joys of life. Care managers help determine the needs of the client and family, which may range from medical and psycho-social care to transportation, crisis intervention and navigating insurance claims. They help match caregivers to clients and make adjustments when necessary.
“Many adult children caring for their parents find that bringing in a third party helps increase communication and cooperation,” explains Mary Kirk, founder of Dignity Care (www.dignitycare.com). “A parent will always view their child as a child, but parents will often listen to an outsider.”
According to Kirk, care management agencies can also help protect the elderly from financial scams, like short-deed sales of their homes and misuse of funds. “We’ve heard horror stories of families that hired individual caregivers who abused their clients financially, physically and emotionally. It’s very important to find a reputable company that offers care managers as well as care givers.”
Adult day and respite services
Seniors’ Resource Center (www.srcaging.org) is a 31-year-old nonprofit provider of person-focused, coordinated services to enhance independence, dignity and quality of life for seniors. Its Adult Day & Respite program (303-235-6961) offers care for adults with memory loss, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, developmental disabilities, head injuries and other chronic illnesses. It can include daily planned activity periods, nutritious breakfast and lunch, wellness checks and assistance with medication, staff assistance with activities of daily living and family and caregiver support. SRC is working on an $8.7 million capital campaign to construct a brand new, state-of-the-art Adult Day & Respite Services facility. Additional SRC services include intensive transportation, mental health outreach and job training.
Assisted living and memory care communities
If you are taking care of an elder with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other issues that makes safety a concern, you may want to consider assisted living or memory care communities.
Assisted living facilities like MorningStar can help seniors enjoy independence outside the family home. For elders who are at risk for falling, who just finished rehabilitation, or who are inconsistent in taking their medication, assisted living can bring true peace of mind to family members. Residents enjoy the privacy of their own suites balanced with such community-building amenities as restaurant-style dining, an on-site chapel and library, a state-of-the-art theater, an activities room, laundry, lounges, courtyards and walking paths. In addition to three meals a day, services can include housekeeping, 24-hour emergency response, building maintenance and social/cultural/educational programs.
Residents also have access to massage therapy, concierge service, a barber and beauty salon, short-term respite and personal transportation. MorningStar has assisted living facilities in Lakewood, Littleton, Aurora/Denver and Greenwood Village.
In addition to many of the above amenities, MorningStar’s two Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care facilities in Littleton and Lakewood offer specialized memory support services. Working with family members, the trained staff infuses the resident’s world with personalized visual and auditory cues aimed at awakening memories. The activities program offers therapeutic and diverse recreational and leisure activities, including music and art therapy, professional entertainers and a weekly exercise program.
The memory care services go beyond the physical tasks of daily health monitoring, medicine administration and personal hygiene assistance. The facility is designed with interior and exterior walking paths and four-season screened porches, and staff members provide reminders and cueing to residents when needed. Best of all, each resident’s personal living area includes his/her own furniture and mementos to establish a home-like setting and limit confusion.
To learn more about any of these facilities, visit www.morningstarseniorliving.com.
Healthful aging depends on current daily habits
When it comes to healthful aging, a preventive approach is the key to success. Consider these tips as part of an improved wellness plan.
Sleep Smart: Research shows that skimping on sleep can have serious effects such as an increased risk of developing memory loss, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Getting enough rest encourages a positive mood, healthy weight and better skin elasticity.
Lather Up: To safely enjoy the summer season, apply — reapply — an oil-free, anti-aging sun block every day for skin that is properly moisturized and protected from damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Exercise and Energize: The short-term effects of exercise include better stress management and increased energy. Long-term benefits include easier weight control, stronger bones and muscles and a decreased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Consider tennis, golf, yoga and walking as these activities can be catered to any fitness level and age.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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