Overview
Taking care of an elderly parent can be quite a challenge. No two situations are the same. Below are articles, guides and tools that address many of the issues that you might think about or encounter. Regardless, it's essential for family members to meet, share information and design a plan, especially if the parent can no longer live safely at home and you are considering a move to assisted living or a nursing home. The evaluation process should include input from the parent's primary physician. Also to consider are Geriatric Care Managers and Elder Concierges. Geriatric Care Managers review available services that might allow the parent to remain in their current residence. Elder Concierges carry-out tasks or help their customers complete the relatively mundane activities of everyday life. Last update 5.26.21
Taking care of an elderly parent can be quite a challenge. No two situations are the same. Below are articles, guides and tools that address many of the issues that you might think about or encounter. Regardless, it's essential for family members to meet, share information and design a plan, especially if the parent can no longer live safely at home and you are considering a move to assisted living or a nursing home. The evaluation process should include input from the parent's primary physician. Also to consider are Geriatric Care Managers and Elder Concierges. Geriatric Care Managers review available services that might allow the parent to remain in their current residence. Elder Concierges carry-out tasks or help their customers complete the relatively mundane activities of everyday life. Last update 5.26.21
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Issues
Elder Care Mediator
Sometimes disputes taking care of an elderly parent are bitter enough to break families apart. In such cases it can be a tremendous help to have an objective professional in the room — someone to lower the temperature, ask appropriate questions and find common ground. Such people are called eldercare mediators, family mediators or adult family mediators. When successful, the mediator’s work can help avoid a costly legal battle and keep the family united — or at least on speaking terms. Learn more. Elder Concierge Concierges carry out tasks or help their customers complete the relatively mundane activities of everyday life. To that end, a variety of companies have sprung up, each fulfilling a different niche. In some areas, elder concierges charge by the hour, from $30 to $70, or in blocks of time. Learn more. |
Guides and Tools for Finding Care Providers
Somethings to Think About
Caring Relationship Tickets/Fureai kippu With the traditional system of children caring for aging parents breaking down as young people move away to the cities, a new system emerged in Japan called Fureai kippu or Caring Relationship Tickets, a form of currency whose unit is one hour of service to an elder. Tickets earned are then used to pay for service. The majority of Fureai kippu providers are in their 60's and 70's. Younger people earn tickets too, with many sending them to distant parents so they can use them to pay for services locally. Learn more about Japan's aging boom. Legitimizing the Role of Family Caregivers 18 states (as of March 2016) have enacted legislation that would allow a patient to name a family caregiver to help legitimize the role family members play in the health care system. Consequently, hospitals would not be allowed to discharge patients from a hospital without their caregiver being notified. The hospital would also have to provide instructions on follow-up tasks including how to administer drugs and change bandages. There is also a bill under consideration in Massachusetts, where this site is published, that prohibits employers from discriminating against workers who are caring for a relative, while a second bill recognizes the burden on spouses by offering a modest weekly stipend for those caring for patients covered by MassHealth, the state insurance plan for low income and disabled residents. Other family members and friends already are eligible for caregiver payments. In Washington, legislation has been introduced that would offer a Social Security credit to anyone who has to quit a job or work fewer hours to take care of a family member. The New York congresswoman pushing the bill, Nita Lowey, claims that 65 million unpaid caregivers lose an average of $324,000 in pay and benefits over a lifetime. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also backs a Social Security credit for family caregivers, as well as a tax credit of up to $6,000 to offset expenses. (Boston Globe) |