Attention Caregiver’s – You Have Support! Part 1
Most extended families are familiar with a circumstance or two where a relative provides the primary care for a dependent due to special needs, short term medical condition, or an elder who requires home care. Regardless of the situation, caregiving can be challenging. We are here to inform you that there are resources available in your community to help relieve such challenges. If you know of a relative, or even a friend offering care to a loved one, it sometimes helps just to have an understanding of what resources are available. Some options are more appropriate than others depending on the individual needs.
Joan Hopley is the Elder Care Coordinator for Strohschein Law Group. Joan has developed several networking relationships and worked as a registered nurse in the field of geriatrics for years. She provides our clients and our client’s caregivers with the support and resources to reassure they are receiving the best possible treatment within their community, whether in the home or at a facility. In February 2013 she will be hosting a free educational program “The Caregiver’s Tool Box.” If you could use some guidance or would like to accompany a relative or friend that provides direct care for a loved one, please RSVP at 630-377-3241. Below are some basic explanations of what types of care or communities which are available. There are too many to list here so more explanations will be available next week. Please remember to stop by our blog for the information you need about caregiving.
Elder Care refers to a variety of support services available to older adults to meet needs ranging from socialization to grooming. Examples of elder care services include home health care, friendly visits, housekeeping, adult day care, and retirement housing.
Long Term Care describes services for individuals who need help with self-care or household tasks due to a chronic condition or disability. The goal of long-term care is not to maximize the individual’s ability to live independently. Long-term care services may include tasks such as bathing, dressing, housecleaning, or preparing meals. It may be provided by family members, nursing home staff, home care workers, or other caregivers.
Respite Care is temporary housing or care for seniors. This allows their caregivers some personal time while the seniors’ needs are met. Assisted living and Alzheimer’s communities are usually accommodating. The senior can stay for a short period to get acclimated to the community so a decision can be made as to whether or not to move there.
Supportive Living Facility (SLF) is a program designed as an alternative to nursing home care for low-income older persons and persons with disabilities under Medicaid, in the state of Illinois. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has obtained a “waiver” to allow payment for services that are not routinely covered by Medicaid. These include personal care, homemaking, laundry, medication supervision, social activities, recreation and 24-hour staff to meet residents’ scheduled and unscheduled needs. The resident is responsible for paying the cost of room and board at the facility.
Alzheimer’s Care may refer to senior care services that specialize in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers who provide Alzheimer’s care are specially trained in working with individuals with Alzheimer’s and in helping them with daily activities. Facilities for Alzheimer’s care, sometimes called Alzheimer’s special care units (SCUs), are designed to provide an increased sense of familiarity and ensure a safe environment and for residents. Frequently, one Alzheimer’s care residence will have multiple facilities available to provide appropriate environments for individuals at each stage of the disease.
Alzheimer’s care may also refer to treatments and medications for the disease. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, drug and non-drug treatments are used to help with both cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Health professionals often divide the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease into cognitive and behavioral and psychiatric categories.
Palliative Care is a medical sub-specialty focusing on pain and symptom management at any state of illness, after surgery, or to tolerate curative treatments. Hospice is palliative or pain/symptom management for individuals with a life expectancy of six months or less. The focus is to comfort, not cure.
If you have any questions or concerns call Strohschein Law Group at (630) 377-3241, and be sure to attend our Caregiver’s Tool Box presentation coming up February 12th or 16th.