Appendix E - Dealing With Changes

APPENDIX E

Dealing with Changes

Practical Pointers

Ten Tips for Caregivers

1. Ask for help. Don't hesitate to ask for assistance from other family members and friends. Make use of community services that can help you cope with the stress of caregiving.

2. Locate a good information source or referral network. Contact state of Department of Aging or the local Area on Agency on Aging. Or try your local aging information and referral phone line service, often located in senior centers. Another good place to begin identifying resources and support for your aging family member is with a hospital social worker.

3. Get a back-up. Hospitals and social service agencies (such as Jewish Family and Children's Services or Catholic Social Services) sometimes maintain list of home care workers. You can also go to a home health agency, listed in the Yellow Pages, hire someone through the state unemployment agency or work through your church.

4. Join a support group to help you make decisions and cope effectively. You can locate support groups through your local hospitals, community college or social service agencies.

5. If you feel the stress of caregiving is creating emotional problems, find a counselor. Individual care, family counseling, and case management can be found through family service agencies, community mental health centers and private practitioners. Make sure the counselor you select has experience working with older clients and families.

6. Investigate hospice services to give terminally ill patients the option to remain free from pain and in a home environment until the end of life.

7. Check out other income sources such as Social Security disability benefits before age 62. With benefits for the spouse, your spouses IRA and life insurance policy. Also, the feasibility of a reverse mortgage.

8. Seek legal help when you need it. Get legal advice on the best way to protect your liquid assets if your spouse is in a nursing home. Inquire about free or low cost legal services for the seniors or call the Legal Aid Society.

9. Plan ahead for your patient's financial and physical wishes to be carried out. Make sure you have co-signing privileges on all accounts. Explore power of attorney, joint tenancy in common arrangements. Consider having your older relative make a durable Power of Attorney for health care designating you or another to make medical decisions in the event of incompetence.

10. Find out about a living will a document that states how your family member wishes to be treated, if he/she become incapacitated by illness, injury, or aging.

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