Senior home caregivers offer a variety of support to seniors, in order to help them stay safe and independent in the home environment.

We recently received this note from one of our client's family members:"Heartfelt thanks for Alicia-lovely! & Vera-lovely! & Wes-very responsible and diligent! and, especially, Peter!  They are all very special!" (with lots of exclamation points and hearts)*caregivers' names changed

How to Select the Best Home Caregiver for an Elderly Relative 

When you are preparing to hire a home caregiver to assist your loved one with managing at home, it is important to identify qualities of an effective caregiver.  Sometimes when we interview or first get to know someone, personal biases affect our hiring decisions, ultimately leading to the wrong choice in picking the best home caregiver.

In our senior care experience, we have worked with many families to help determine ways their loved ones can stay safely and comfortably in their own homes.  In our most recent blog series, we are covering some of the technologies and home care products to help seniors age in place (here is our first post, covering medication management and other home care technologies).  Some additional categories of home health products include:

Durable Medical Equipment

There exists a wide variety of equipment for home safety, from shower chairs to specialty beds, mobility devices and more.  Some items are covered by Medicare but rules are very specific for gaining coverage and how often items can be replaced.  Medicare has a tool on their website to locate Medicare suppliers, for medical equipment, orthotics and more.

Home Modifications

Most seniors' homes are not built with universal design principals, unless perhaps they have moved in to a retirement community.  Thus, making modifications to the home can often be useful for additional safety and practicality.  Minor modifications are often an important part of falls prevention.  This begins with small changes such as removing throw rugs, adding non-stick appliques in the bath/shower, reoranizing storage to put items within reach, etc.

Other important modifications include adding proper grab bars in the bathroom, lighting in stairs and the path to the bathroom at night, and possibly adding ramps or removing curbs.  If a home has a bath/shower combo, it may be wise to change this to a shower stall or change out (or cut) the tub so it has an entry "door".  To identify potential safety changes needed in the home: 

• Know the rules and regulations.  As the TSA changes rules and screening procedures, you might come up against unexpected difficulties so learn what to expect as best you can.  Older individuals, those in wheelchairs, and those with medical devices are not immune to the scrutiny of security procedures.  If your loved one has not traveled in a while, he or she may not be aware of packing restrictions, the need to remove shoes and jackets, etc.  Help them to anticipate these procedures.  Click here for the TSA's information page and rules.

• Plan regarding medications.  Do you have a carry-on supply for medications that need to be taken during the trip and a schedule to ensure medications are not missed?  Does medication need to be taken with food or water?  Has your loved one packed all the medications needed?  (For lengthy trips, most insurance provides for early refills for a "vacation supply".)

• Consider comfort in planning.  Think about items that might make the journey more comfortable, from an extra sweater to a neck pillow to reading material or puzzle books.  Also think about comfort in general trip planning.  What route will be the least difficult (least layovers, time, most on-time flights), can you travel at less crowded times, what method of travel is best (i.e. would a car ride be easier for a relatively short trip vs. a flight)?

• Be realistic.  Think about how easily your loved one tires, how well he or she can get around, and how much assistance might be needed in the bathroom, getting up and down from seats, etc.  You can modify plans to minimize concerns, or consider hiring a trained home health aide as a travel companion (typically this senior companion could either travel with you or assist your relative from Point A to Point B on your behalf).

• Be very cautious if your loved one has memory deficits/dementia.  Plan for someone to be an escort.  The complexity of travel requires complex thinking, so even early stage Alzheimer's can affect the ability to manage the situation (and so many unforeseen things can change regarding trip plans).

This time of year we hear from a lot of families who are planning a visit to older relatives or who are currently in town visiting and are seeking eldercare advice and help.  We recently provided a Checklist for Families Visiting Elderly Relatives to help you prepare for your visit and accomplish necessary tasks, while helping the visit go smoothly.

What if you are here visiting (or have just left) and you know some help is needed?  How do you get started finding the right type of senior care assistance?   Here is our advice on how to go about getting the eldercare assistance you need:

Planning a holiday visit to your elderly parent? Have concerns and errands to take care of when you visit Mom but not sure what is most important or how to manage the visit?

Here is a checklist you can use to prepare for and better manage your visit. You may also wish to visit Aging Wisely's help for caregivers article, Warning Signs for Long-Distance Caregivers.

 
When you are preparing to visit an elderly loved one, these are some quicks steps you can take to be better prepared, to enjoy the visit more and to accomplish important tasks while still enjoying some quality time together.

• Consider planning an outing together.  Perhaps you can take your loved one to a holiday performance, a shopping trip or a special lunch.  If you are concerned about handling your loved one's needs during the outing, ask the facility about transportation assistance and/or consider hiring a home health aide/senior concierge to attend with you.  Check with facilities about accessibility, such as accessible seats and handicapped bathroom access at an arts center or restaurant.  Find out about getting a disabled parking permit if you are doing the driving.


• If you live at a distance, hire a senior concierge to take your loved one on an outing or help with gift shopping (or completing holiday cards, wrapping, etc.).


• Check with the facility about bringing in baked goods or food items and make arrangements to provide special treats when appropriate.  Food is often associated with family memories and comforts of home and if your loved one no longer cooks, he or she may really miss those traditional holiday tastes.


• Plan a family dinner/celebration at the facility.  Most facilities can offer a private dining room that you and your family can reserve to hold a family gathering, dinner or lunch.  You may be able to have the facility cater the event or bring in outside food/have family members contribute a dish.


• For families at a distance, create a "live" card such as a video or DVD of the grandchildren, or set up an opportunity to Skype or video-conference with family members.  Make sure your loved one has updated family photos to post in the room or create a photo memory book.


• There are several websites and catalogs that offer specialty items for those with limited mobility and items that work well for nursing home residents.  Buck and Buck is one we like and they provide free labeling on all clothing.

• Check with your local Assisted Living or Nursing Home about volunteering.  Is there a local "Adopt a Grandparent" program in which you and/or your kids can participate?  Can you arrange for your church choir or other group to participate in a project at a local facility?  (Remember, this is great to offer at other times of year too.)


• Find out if your community has a program such as a gift tree for elders.  Some giving tree programs include both young families and elders, that you can "adopt" to buy needed items.  Some nursing homes or community organizations for elders may offer this opportunity or be able to link you with someone in need.  For example, locally we have the Hillsborough County Elves for Elders program and Pinellas County's Elves for Elders (see an article about this and other holiday giving opportunities).


• If you are able, take some time to visit relatives, neighbors and friends who reside in facilities (or are homebound).  Maybe your older neighbor moved to a local Assisted Living this year.  You may be surprised to learn that many of the other neighbors don't visit and this may be an especially hard time for him.  Perhaps you can offer to drive another older neighbor who would like to visit too.