Caregiving: Adult Care Overview

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Objectives• Understand what adult care is• Learn how to assess your loved one’s needs• Discuss how to talk to your loved one about his or her changing care

needs • Identify available care options and resources

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What Is Adult Care?

• Care given by an individual (the “caregiver”) to an adult• May include a broad array of interrelated services:

– Housing– Transportation– Financial– Home maintenance– Health care– Counseling– Legal services

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Assessing Your Loved One’s Needs

• Dress and undress without help each day?

• Drive or use public transportation without assistance?

• Shop for groceries and clothing without help?

• Prepare healthy, regular meals?

• Take a bath, shower or sponge bath without help?

• Get in and out of bed without help?

• Be left alone during the day?

• Pay bills and manage finances without help?

Is your older loved one able to: Clean his or her home or apartment?

Live alone comfortably and confidently?

Remain active and interested in life and hobbies?

Walk, climb stairs and get around the house easily?

Remember to take medications?

Keep up minimum weight

Adequately manage household duties?

Continue to care about health and wellness?

Maintain a positive attitude?

Control his or her emotions?

Generally take care of him or herself?

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Discussing Care Options With Your Loved One

• Express your concerns in a sensitive manner• Talk with your loved one about his or her wants and needs• Encourage your loved one to be an active participant in the decision

making process • When considering a change, give your loved one plenty of time to get

used to the idea.• Let your loved one know you are there for support

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Professional Care Managers• Perform care planning

assessments• Advocate for your loved one• Offer short-term or ongoing

assistance• Screen, arrange for, and

monitor services• Review financial or legal issues• Identify and work with

appropriate experts• Ensure compliance with benefit

requirements

• Identify cost-saving strategies• Analyze in-home medical

equipment needs and contact providers.

• Coordinate a move• Help arrange respite care• Counsel, support and educate

you, your loved one and other family members

• Conduct or find support groups

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Care Options for Older Adults• Independent living

– Supportive services– In-home care– Adult day care

• Housing alternatives– Retirement communities– Assisted living facilities– Long-term care facilities

• Moving a loved one into your home• Financial assistance and insurance• Legal issues

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Independent Living

• Remain in home environment• Personal or medical services not provided• Supportive services and other resources may be available

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Community Services

• Senior centers• Transportation services• Meal delivery programs• Friendly visitor/Telephone reassurance• Grocery delivery• Cleaning services

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Home Care Services

• Types of home care services:– Custodial care refers to assistance with activities of daily living

such as dressing, bathing or eating

– Skilled care refers to medical care, such as special treatments or therapies, administered by a medical professional

•  Cost and insurance

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Adult Day Care

• What is adult day care?• Services provided• Cost and insurance

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Housing Alternatives

• All levels of care available• Variety of services depending on the facility• Most include some personal or medical services—up to 24 hour care

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Retirement Communities

• What are retirement communities?• Levels of care offered vary, but can include:

– Independent living– Assisted living– Skilled care

• Services provided• Cost and insurance

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Assisted Living Facilities

• What is assisted living?• Services provided • Cost and insurance

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Long-Term Care Facilities

• What is a long-term care facility?• Levels of care offered

– Custodial care– Intermediate care– Skilled care– Sub-acute care

• Services provided• Cost and insurance

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Moving Your Loved One Into Your Home

• Making the decision to care for a loved one in your home• Coordinating with other family members• Safe-proofing your home

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Legal Issues

• Power of attorney• Durable power of attorney• Guardianship or conservatorship

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Financial Assistance and Insurance

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)• Medicare• Medigap and Medicaid• Long-term care insurance

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WorkLife4You ResourcesWorkLife4You provides information and referrals on:

– Independent Housing Options– Home Health Care Providers– Professional Care Managers– Community Services– Assisted Living Facilities– Long-Term Care Facilities– Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, long-term care insurance– Caregiving information– Home Safety– Financial/Legal Issues

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WorkLife4You Resources (con’t)

• Adult Care & Aging Web ServiceAging Well, Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Caregiving Issues, Driving, End of Life, Fall Prevention, Home Care, Insurance, Medicare & Medicaid, Memory, Residential Care/Housing, Resources for Adults with Disabilities, Services & Resources

• Audio Tips and PodcastsAdult Care Overview, The Sandwich Generation, Caregiving Elderly Parents, Healthy Aging, Keeping Older Drivers Safe on the Road, Preventing Older Adult Falls and TBI

• Medical AnimationsAlzheimer’s Disease

• Discussion GroupsAdult Caregivers Network

• On Demand WebinarsAdult Care Overview, Caring Financially for Your Older Parents, Caregiving: Legal/Financial Issues, Communicating with Your Older Loved One, The Sandwich Generation, Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease, Long-Term Care Insurance: What You Need to Know

• WorkLife4You GuidesWhat You Need to Know About Becoming a Caregiver; Day-to-Day Caregiving; Caring for a Loved One from Afar, Health Care, Legal and Financial Issues for Caregivers; Avoiding Caregiver Burnout, Professional Care Management, Home Safety for Adult Loved Ones; Encouraging Healthy Habits in Adult Loved Ones; Home Care; Adult Day Care Centers; Assisted Living Facilities; Long-Term Care Facilities

WorkLife4You web site www.WorkLife4You.com

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Let WorkLife4You Make Your Life a Little Easier!

Contact WorkLife4You 24/7:

1-877-WL4-NOAA (1-877-954-6622)(TTY 800-873-1322)

http://www.worklife4you.com Look for the “Already a member?” box— Not a member yet? Follow the“Register” link and enterRegistration Code: NOAA