Caring for the Elderly

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’REEXPECTING . . .

TO CARE FOR ANELDERLY PARENT

• Develops quickly

• Dramatic changes

• Medication/infections

• Reversible

• Develops slowly

• Progression may go unnoticed

• Alzheimer’s is most prevalent

• Not reversible

Delirium Dementia

Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease

Multi-Infarcts (TIA/Stroke)

HIV

Pick’s Disease

Huntington’s Disease

Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

At First:

Lack of Motivation

Loss of Memory

Money

Misnames

Repetition

Time Confusion

Misplaces Things

Hoards

Alzheimer’s Disease

Midway:

Behavior Changes

Poor Judgment

Restless

Confusion

Isolative

Alzheimer’s Disease

Final:

Incoherent Speech

Unaware of Surroundings

Oppositional

Weight Loss

Cries/Screams

Incontinent

Medicare

Healthcare- 65+

Does not cover residencecost

Sets rate of pay

Has several parts- A,B,C,D

Medicaid

Healthcare- Low Income

Total care

Spend down

Where to live?

Where to live?

• Own home• Family• Board and Care Home/Rest Home• Independent Living Facility• Assisted Living Facility• Continuous Care Retirement Community (CCRC)• Memory Care (Alzheimer’s)• Skilled Nursing Facility

W H O P A Y S ?

NOT MEDICARE!!!

MEDICAID?

Important Legal Documents

• Will• Trust• Power of Attorney (POA)• Advance Directives (Living Will)• Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment

(MOST)• Legal Guardianship• Personal Care Contract

Other Important Legal Documents

• Birth Certificates

• Death Certificate

• Marriage License

• Property Deeds

• Drivers’ License

• Military Discharge Papers

• Vehicle Title• Insurance policies• Social Security Card

Insurance Policies

• Life

• Health

• Medicare Supplements

• Dental

• Accident

• Vehicles

• Homeowners

• Renters

• Other Property

• Flood

• Long Term Care

• Burial

What to do now????

Talk/Plan

• Parent

• Siblings

• Family

• Physician

Collect Information

• Medical

• Financial

• Insurance

• Assets

• Liabilities

• Legal

Collect and Copy Legal/Financial Documents

• Power of Attorney

• Health Care Proxy

• Living Will

• M.O.S.T.

• Personal Care Contract

• Trust

• Driver’s License• Birth Certificate• Marriage Certi

Get Codes/Passwords/Account #’s

• Pin Numbers

• Passwords

• Voicemail Code

• Banking Account Numbers

Make Copies of…..

• Keys

• Drivers’ License

• Birth Certificate

• Marriage Certificate

• Insurance Cards

• Medicaid Card

• Legal Docs

Other Important Information

• Safe Deposit box• Electronic transfers• Automatic deposits• Voicemail codes• Email address• Storage units and lock

What Elderly Want

• To be independent • To be safe• Help• To be valued and validated

What Elderly Don’t Want

• To be told what to feel, think, do, . . .• To be: Resented, Dismissed, Devalued

(Invalid)• To be a burden, to bother • To be dependent

Help for your elderly

• Medical needs• Finances• Safety• Legal Issues• Emotional Issues– Losing control (bodily functions, mind)– Losing usefulness in family/society– Dying

What do the Elderly Fear

• Running out of money• Not having a good/safe place to live• Loneliness• Losing control• Being abandoned• Losing independence• Being sent to a nursing home – too soon• Dying alone

What to plan for

• Plan for incapacitation• Plan for nursing home• Plan for long, extended need for your care• Unpleasant surprises• Death

Do Not Expect

• Things to get better• Miracles• Winning the lottery• Everything to go smoothly• Complete cooperation from all involved• Everything to go away• To be able to do it alone

What to expect to feel

• Overwhelmed• Like you’re not doing enough• Guilt• Confused• Caught in the middle• Like you’re spread too thin