Back to School: Teachers are you a caregiver to aging parents help is close by. Yesterday I picked up the Sunday paper to see multiple back to school ads. Ads for younger children returning to elementary school boasting great deals on crayons and art supplies, while clothing was promoted for the older middle and high school age and of course all the terrific college dorm items that are on sale. Back to school and back to work for many teachers, assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other school related employees.
Many of these employees however worked through the summer. They were caregiving an elderly loved one. The summer allowed them to go over to the home of their aging loved one and check to make sure medications were being taken, meals were eaten, doctor appointments were made and in some cases, personal grooming such as showering was done. The act of caregiving is in itself often a full time job that never stops, no breaks, no rest, it is constant worry about someone who needs everything from a little guidance or reminders to alot of help.
What will all these summer caregivers do when they return to school next month? How will their aging loved one get the help they need? Well now is the time to start to look into an assessment of what the person needs and to set up the help now so that the loved one gets used to a stranger coming into the home when the caregiver goes back to school.
Most in-home services have minimal hour requirement per visit and often there is no requirement on frequency of those visits nor the length of time of care. This means a loved one who just needs a bath once or twice a week and maybe help to grocery store can be help with minimal services while a person with different needs could have help every day if necessary for meals, medication reminder, showering, help to grocery store or doctor and so on. In most states if not all, medicare does not cover these services. So what are your options?
One you could pay privately for the care but I suggest you are careful about who you have come into the home. Most in-home companies have employees who are bonded and insured with workers’ compensation and background checks. They also have enough caregivers so that if your caregiver calls out they have a replacement. Second option is to go through the Area Agency on Aging in your county. Often they offer in-home services and they pay for it if your loved one qualifies. Third options is long term care insurance. If your loved one has policy such as John Hancock, Genworth, Metlife and so on, that policy may have benefit that covers in-home care. Last there is a veteran’s benefit available for any veteran or spouse that is 65 or over and meets criteria set forth by the VA. To read more on this benefit , click HERE . http://ping.fm/Ud5we
To read more on how help is close by, click HERE
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