Non-Medical Home Care for Seniors living in Austin - Part II from August 27th.

Here are some global statistics:
• More than 37,000 CAREGivers;
• Hundreds of thousands of clients served; and,
• 20 million hours of service delivered annually.

Home Instead Senior Care was modestly started, opening the first office in Omaha principally to assist other local families like theirs.  You see, Paul’s grandmother, Eleanor Manhart, of Omaha, was an active widow and grandmother with a large extended family. 

When she was in her 90s, the family – including Lori and Paul – began providing a little extra non-medical assistance to keep her safe and independent.  In fact, because the family was so large – and nearby – they shared these caregiving tasks quite effectively.

But this situation made Lori and Paul wonder about those other families – locally, and later, nationally – that had similar senior care requirements, but didn’t have enough members actually to provide this care.  Or, what about those families in which the adult children lived hundreds or even thousands of miles away from their parents or other older relatives?

Thus, Home Instead Senior Care was born from the Hogans’ unique idea: to assist seniors on a non-medical basis with their activities of daily living, thus allowing them to stay at home longer – where they want to be – and to do so comfortably, safely and affordably. 

Now, at this point, you might be asking, “What exactly is non-medical care, and how are these services delivered?”  That’s a good question because it’s a bit unusual to define a product or service by what it isn’t.

To learn more about Non-Medical care in Austin - Home Instead Senior Care and call 512-347-9207.

Non-Medical Senior Care in Austin - What is it and how we provide it

At Home Instead Senior Care Austin, we know that caring for a senior isn’t always easy.

Every day, all across the country, people juggle the demands of their busy lives.  Jobs, children, and dozens of other activities all compete for time.  And then mom or dad gets sick or otherwise needs in-home help.

These seniors’ adult children – the ones who typically end up as their caregivers – are referred to as the “sandwich generation,” caught between providing for their own young families and assisting their aging parents.  They’re already stretched to the limit, and the strain shows no sign of easing.  That’s largely because of numbers; by the year 2030, 70 million Americans – 20 percent of the population – will be over the age of 65.

In anticipation of this tremendous need, back in 1994 Lori and Paul Hogan co-founded Home Instead Senior Care in Omaha, NE. Now, just over a decade later, the company finds itself the unquestioned leader in the international non-medical senior care industry, with more than 700 independently owned and operated offices throughout the world.

Call us when you need help with your elder at home - 512-347-9207.  Email Denise Thomas, our Elder care Expert, with you private senior care issue - denise.thomas@homeinstead.com.

Call your local senior center or Area Agency on Aging to find out the types of services that are available in your community.  Or contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office here in Austin.

Is home an option for your aging parent? We continue our post from August 22.

Our Home Instead CAREGivers can perform 60 different functions in a senior’s home including meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, transportation, errands and shopping.  Another great benefit of non-medical caregiving is the respite that it provides to family caregivers who are weary and need a break from the rigors of caring for their loved ones.

For some seniors, however, the day may come when it’s time to leave home.  If so, look for options that continue to help seniors remain as independent as possible.  In her book, Rhodes outlines some of those including continuing care retirement communities that feature independent living apartments and homes, assisted living apartments and nursing home care.

Whatever your mom and your family decide, you should encourage your mother to maintain the relationships that she’s formed at home.  For instance, if your mother has had a non-medical caregiver that person may be able to accompany her into her new home to supplement care. That can make the transition to a new setting much easier.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care Austin Call 512-347-9207.

Dr. Linda Rhodes is a former Secretary of Aging for the state of Pennsylvania, as well as a former family caregiver.  For more information about her and her book, visit www.lindarhodes.com

When Home is No Longer an Option for Seniors in Austin

Question from an adult child of an aging parent: Our 88 year old mother has lived at home with help from the family.  Because it’s becoming more difficult for her to be at home, it’s now time for her to move to a facility.  How do we decide which option is best?

It’s great that your mother could stay at home for so long, since that’s where most elderly individuals want to be.  In a survey conducted for Home Instead Senior Care, more than 83 percent of seniors surveyed say they are very or somewhat likely to remain in their homes rather than move to a care facility. 

Most communities now have a variety of services, including home health agencies and non-medical care companies, which can make that possible.  Have you looked into community resources that could help your mom continue to stay at home?  “Most older people seem to think that where they live is an all or nothing affair:  stay at home or be sent off to a nursing home,” said Linda Rhodes, author of Caregiving as Your Parents Age.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care Austin, providing personal care, homemaker services, non medical home care, elder care, for seniors choosing to live at home. Call us today at 512-347-9207. 

Dr. Linda Rhodes is a former Secretary of Aging for the state of Pennsylvania, as well as a former family caregiver.  For more information about her and her book, visit www.lindarhodes.com

DECISION MAKING WITHIN FAMILIES REGARDING CARE OF AGING PARENTS

Q1 – I am considering acting as a caregiver for my elderly mother, how should I bring this up to my siblings?

A1 – It’s important that you are open and discuss your feelings with your family before any final decisions are made. It will be best for your mother if the whole family is on board with you acting as her caregiver. Ensure when you approach them for this discussion that you are prepared to discuss the benefits of bringing your mother into your home as well.

Q2 – Will my family dynamic change once I’m a caregiver? My siblings and I are currently pretty close.

A2 – Often siblings do disagree as to what is best for a parent and how his/her care should be approached. As a caregiver, you need to listen to the concerns of your family, but make decisions that are both best for yourself and for your parents. It will probably be best if you are solely responsible for all medical and financial decisions to avoid any increased conflict.

Q3 – Can I expect a lot of help from my siblings, now that I am the primary caregiver for my father?

A3 – Since you have taken on the responsibility of caring for your father, you can expect that 99% of the tasks related to his care will fall to you. Your siblings should simply be there to act as a support network; let them know what tasks they can help you with, such as assisting with transportation to appointments and providing care during times you may need a break.

Home Instead Senior Care Help in Austin - call 512-347-9207.

Sibling Cooperation in the Care of Aging Parents by Christina Cadena

In the United States and Austin, Texas, it is becoming increasingly more common for households to care for and protect aging parents. For many children, caring for their aging parents is met with mixed reviews. When faced, as a family, with the dynamic of caring for the aging population, it is important to establish family boundaries especially among siblings.

Siblings, when involved in the care of aging parents, commonly disagree as to what is best for the parent. As a result, even the closest of siblings can often find they are at great odds as to how to care for an aging parent, ultimately breaking down the sibling relationships to a significant degree; a significant disadvantage when examining the need for sibling support due the latter years of a parent’s life.

Research on the aging population shows that, for those who rely upon their children for care, there is generally one child that will assume 99 percent of the role in the care of that particular parent. Unfortunately, it is this one child who carries the greatest burden and compromise in their personal life and may suffer the greatest strain when faced with issues and care of the aging parent.

For the non active siblings, or those who are not directly involved in the care of the aging parent, there is often confusion as to how best to approach a parent and sibling who, in most cases, now reside together.

For most of the aging population, one approach tends to work best; continue to allow one child to make all of the medical and financials decisions for the aging parent while the other siblings work as a support network, assisting with care and transportation to and from events such as doctor’s appointments.

Research has shown the more children are involved, the better off the parent will be both physically and emotionally. However, it is important the adult children elect one person to assume the care and that all siblings respect and support the decisions of that sibling, even when they do not feel certain decisions are in the best interest of the parent. Read the full story.

If you need help caring for aging parent, call Home Instead Senior Care Austin - 512-347-9207. Send a private question to our Senior Care Expert Denise Thomas at denise.thomas@homeinstead.com.

Seniors in Austin at Risk with Too Many Doctors

Question from an Austin senior client:  I’m a 78 year old woman who sees five doctors for several different ailments.  Sometimes I get very confused.  What can I do to keep all these doctors and medications straight, and what are my risks in managing my medical issues?

An interesting study released earlier this fall revealed that the more doctors that seniors see the greater their risk for dangerous drug errors.

An analysis of prescription drug alerts conducted by Medco Health Solutions, Inc., found that the greater the number of physicians seen by a patient over age 65, the greater the number of prescriptions the patient fills, and thus the greater the risk for dangerous drug errors including drug to drug interactions; under or over utilization of a drug; duplication of therapies; and incorrect dosages.

The findings call into question how well different doctors and specialists caring for patients over 65 exchange information about the medications they are prescribing, and statistically, it correlates a larger care team with a greater risk for preventable medication errors.

Come back soon for more information on managing senior medications.

Home Instead Senior Care Austin - 512-347-9207.

Austin Caregiver Support Can Help Ward Off Depression from the Home Instead Senior Care Austin - Providing Homemaker Services, Personal care for Senior Citizens living in Austin TX - 512-347-9207.

Question for Home Instead Senior Care Austin:  My father is taking care of my 82 year old mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and getting worse very quickly.  Dad already is talking about what he’ll do when mom is gone.  He is getting worn down and depressed, but won’t let anyone help much.  What can I do?

There are many Americans, more than 50 million, who care for a chronically ill, aged or disabled loved ones, according to the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA).  The side effects of caregiving are:

• Fatigue,
• Stress,
• Depression.

These are very real and can cause havoc on a family caregiver.

Things you can do for your family caregiver in Austin:

• Remind them that they won’t be any help to the care recipient, if they don’t care for themselves.
• Get support now 

A new research report published earlier this year in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry discovered that offering caregivers the education, skills and support that helps them care for a relative with dementia can also help them cope with the death of their loved ones, researchers report.

If you want more information on how Home Instead Senior Care Austin can help, please call 512-347-9207 or email HISC.Kohl@yahoo.com.

A 68 year old healthy widow asks Home Instead Senior Care Austin,  ”I would like to stay engaged in the work force, at least part time - do you have any suggestions for what I could do?”  Continuing our CAREGiver job post from August 8.

A study reveals mor than 70 percent of respondents believed that keeping experienced workers engaged in society is very important. 

Unlike previous generations, which tended to retire as soon as they could collect benefits, 80 percent of all boomers predict they’ll work past 62, according to surveys by the AARP. They’re too youthful to stop working and fearful of outliving their savings.

Nearly one in three boomers who turns 62 this year is expected to apply for Social Security benefits. But 32 percent will keep working until they’re 66 or older, research prepared by MetLife’s Mature Market Institute found.

One popular, flexible career for seniors is that of caregiving in Austin, Texas.  For instance, according to the international company Home Instead Senior Care, the average age of their professional CAREGivers is about 48 with a significant percentage of these CAREGiver ranks being composed of individuals who are themselves seniors.  The organization has discovered that older adults often relate well to the clients whom they  serve.
 
For more information about Home Instead Senior Care Austin please call 512-347-9207.  Email HISC.Kohl@yahoo.com for more information.

Caregiving a Great Option for Seniors Who Want to Work - CAREGiver Jobs in Austin!

Question:  As a 68-year-old healthy widow, I would like to stay engaged in the work force, at least part time.  Some of my friends and family think I’m crazy not to want to retire.  Am I unusual and do you have any suggestions for what I could do?  I was a teacher during my career, but I’d like to try something new.

Actually, according to a recent study, you’re in the majority in your attitudes about work.  In a poll commissioned by Experience Wave, more than 70 percent of respondents believed that keeping experienced workers engaged in society, either through continuing work or volunteering, is very important.  Experience Wave, www.experiencewave.org, is a campaign supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies that advances federal and state policies to make it easier for mid-life and older adults to stay engaged in work and community life.

The study revealed that 59 percent of respondents who plan to retire expect to volunteer for a nonprofit or community organization, and an additional 14 percent plan to get training or learn a new skill for a different career.  Additional findings of this study included the following:

• 53 percent said the coming wave of baby boomers hitting “retirement age” will be an asset to society as they represent a pool of skilled workers with more time to dedicate to their communities
• 45 percent of respondents were still in the workforce in some capacity—with 27 percent of these respondents unsure when or even if they would retire.

More to come… visit soon.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care Austin call 512-347-9207.