7 Questions to Answer When You Need Senior Care

7 Questions To Answer When You Need Senior Care

Submitted by Kimberly Perkins-Akers

Families and seniors who are new to the long-term care process can find some direction amidst the whirlwind of confusion that can surround this time. Aging well under quality care makes a positive impact for any senior in need, especially those we love. The task of securing this care can be easier than it initially seems when you have the correct knowledge and resources.

1.  What challenges do seniors face?

General aging brings a normal set of challenges for a senior. Assisting from risks like isolation, malnutrition, lack of compliance with medications are good reasons to utilize home care if general aging concerns are the only issues.

On the other hand, a temporary illness or injury may the need for care. Once a senior has suffered from a fall, cardiac disease or other common illnesses and injuries, home care provides support with things the senior may not be able to while recovering.

In the unfortunate event there is progressive disease, it is even more clear the need for long-term care. Informal caregivers, like family members, who support seniors with progressive disease are in even more need for care because respite can actually save their mental, physical and emotional health.

2.  Who is the appropriate person to make decisions about care?

This may be a difficult question to answer, especially in some family situations.  Disjointed or un-collaborative decision making can create stress in family dynamics, and possibly leave a senior open to vulnerability.  Unless they are suffering mental decline, the senior receiving care should be involved in the care decisions.

Families that navigate the care conversation well have been involved in continuous conversations with each other, the senior in need of care, and various community resources like home care or assisted living/memory care to educate themselves on what care looks like with each of those resources.

Knowledge empowers all to make the appropriate care decisions.

3.  How much care does the senior require?

It would great if there was a formula to determine the amount of care needed.  Locate a senior care specialist to assess the situation and determine what Activities of Daily Living and Instrumentals of Daily Living a senior needs assistance with on a daily/weekly basis.  Determining care at that point can be trial and error if not in a crisis situation. 

A doctor may also be able to give advice on how much care is needed based on the regular checkups or the understanding of a progressive disease.

It is important to find a company who will take the journey of care with you and your loved one. 

4.  What services are needed?

Care involves services that cover a variety of medical and non-medical needs. Take a look at this list of services in long-term care, and assess what you or your senior loved one might need:

Amada Senior Care caregivers assist with:

·         Bathing

·         Dressing

·         Meal preparation/feeding

·         Medication reminders

·         Walking/ambulating/exercise assistance

·         Housekeeping

·         Errands/shopping

·         Toileting

·         Most non-medical assistance

Other providers like nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, home health or hospice assist with:

·         Physical, occupational or speech therapy

·         End-of-life services

·         Fitness and wellness programs

·         Disease prevention and management

·         Medication prescription refills

5.  How to finance care?

Payment for care can come from five options:

·         Personal Funding or Private Pay

·         Long-Term Care Insurance

·         Veterans’ Benefits – VA Aid and Attendance

·         Life Insurance conversion to cash dollars

·         Your children/family members

Amada Senior Care specializes in long-term care insurance and navigating the process for benefits to pay for care.  It can be a lengthy process, and it is advisable to utilize experts who truly know how the process works.

6.  Who will provide care?

Depending on the level of care you need, you may find yourself choosing between these care provider options:

·         Licensed Agency

·         In-Home Private Caregiver

·         Independent/Assisted Living Facility

Caregivers can be contracted independently to help seniors needing long-term care. However, independent caregivers may not have liability protection in the case that they cause harm to a senior or if they become injured on the job. This creates a dangerous risk for lawsuits that can carry on for ages. Licensed agencies like Amada Senior Care fully screen their caregivers and hire them as employees under sufficient coverage. You will find trustworthy caregivers from Amada. Furthermore, if you or your senior loved one must live in a facility to receive care, an Amada advocate  can help you with placement.

7.  How will you monitor care?

As we age, the family structure becomes important in new ways. Roles may flip when children become the care providers instead. When family is far away, it is even more important to monitor the care of an elderly loved one through communication and technology.  With Amada Senior Care, you can closely monitor the care of your elderly loved one with the the Amada Family Portal.

Aging well under quality care makes a positive impact for any senior in need, especially those we love.  Amada Senior Care offers a one-call solution to senior care needs through in-home private care, senior housing advisement, and navigating long-term care insurance.  Call Amada Senior Care at 480-999-5250 or visit www.AmadaMesa.com.

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