| Elder Care - Ask Dotti |
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| Written by Dotti Snow |
| Monday, 18 January 2010 14:28 |
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When you see someone you know well after a significant period of time, you will notice subtle and not so subtle changes. Aging parents are a very good example of this, and because kids frequently travel home over the holidays, they can be utterly shocked by what they find. That leaves the kids in a predicament because they live here and Mom and Dad live there. What should the kids do? You need to first zero in on what is different and how your parents need help. That involves straight-forward communication. Do not be surprised if your parents believe things are just fine and that they do not need assistance, and if they remain mentally competent that is their right. You kids are going to need observations and facts that will allow you to focus in on your parents’ daily needs. Do you have siblings living near your parents? If so, they need to be involved. If possible, someone needs to go to the doctor with your parents. Concerns can be expressed by family not only to the doctor but to his professional staff. They may or may not respond because of privacy laws. Your parents must give their permission for the doctor to release any kind of information to you about their medical conditions. If no family is available, and your parents will accept help, a Geriatric Care Manager may be found at www.caremanager.org. A Geriatric Care Manager is a registered nurse or social worker who works to help the elderly in just these situations. Do your parents have a current Last Will and Testament, Living Will, and Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Finances? If they do not, they need to see an elder care attorney as soon as possible. They, and you, need to understand that a Power of Attorney holds no weight unless they, the parent, can no longer make decisions for themselves. Think about that. Elder care attorneys can be located at www.naela.com. Finally, you need a sense of your parents’ finances. Some folks will share that information with their kids, some will not. If your parents’ finances are quite limited (and that is most of us), the elder care attorney will be invaluable in explaining how to access governmental benefits. You may be lucky enough to have parents who bought long term care insurance. Be familiar with the benefits of that policy. Now what? Keep in touch. Increase your phone calls and listen closely. Invite them for a visit? You can only do the best that you can, especially since old folks tend to be pretty tough customers. That is one reason I so love working with the elderly. Dotti Snow is a registered nurse who uses her professional nursing skills and knowledge of the adult family home industry to safely place frail elders needing extra help into adult family homes. She lives and works in Woodinville and has been doing this for approximately the last decade. Have a question for Dotti? E-mail her at dotti@agingsafely.com Please see www.agingsafely.com for more information
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  written by portiah, February 12, 2010
Time does fly fast. Our parents would grow old and we should assist to their needs, especially on medical assistance. It is a part of life that we all must attend to at some point, and one our own children will likely have to assist us in. You have to help them with money management, estate management, and hospice or residential care. The costs of medical care are insane payday loans if you don't have something in place. It's a part of life, and never the most pleasant, but I have to do it,they gave me life. Someday my own kids would do the same for me.
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 11:05 |
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