As a home care agency, we often see families faced with some of life’s thoughest decisions. What do you do when Mom or Dad refuses to move to a senior care setting, but the family does not have the means to care for their parents or afford care in the home?

Sadly, the decision is made solely due to financial reasons, however this pattern can end with you. Long Term Care insurance, when purchased early enough is very affordable and gives you and your family options for receiving care in your own home as you age. Find out more and research the costs online now. 

Did you know that by 2030, the number of adults age 65 and older will nearly double to 70 million. With the life expectancy for Americans reaching over 75 years of age, the need for senior care will continue to grow as most baby boomers will wish to remain in their homes. In coming years, boomers will look to care providers who believe in this goal: giving patients care their way and doing it in the comfort of their homes, wherever those homes happen to be.

Families need to be armed with information and options to seek home care their way. Private pay home care will become part of the forefront of this movement. Why? The first wave of boomers started retiring in 2011, so they are anticipated to start needing home care—based on the average age that people need care, 85—in  about 2030. By then, it’s likely that funding sources for home care will have shifted. Although Medicare expenditures are expected to increase from $18 to $40 billion, and costs for Medicaid are projected to grow to be about $80 billion, the largest payor, by far, at about $200 billion, will be private duty home care providers, or care that is not government reimbursed. The change will require clients, patients and family members to bear the cost through private long-term care insurance, personal savings, reverse mortgages, and other forms of out-of-pocket payment, some of which may not even be in place at this time. Keeping informed is key. Keep following our blog for the latest in senior care news!

Visit the link to find out more and register: http://newageofcaregivingsymposium.com/

Accepting yard sale donations

Drop off your items to our office between 8:30 and 4:30 any weekday. Donations accepted through Sept. 9th.

2430 West Bay Dr. Largo, FL 33770

Come Shop!

The yard sale is Saturday Sept. 10th 8:00-1:00

MEMORY SCREENINGS
We’ll be taking appointments for memory screenings. The Memory Bus will be at our location taking people by appointment only. Thursday, September 15th from 9:00-2:00 Call today or sign up at the yard sale. 727-586-0044

Working with Senior’s and their families we have found caregivers of all kinds. From grandchildren to neighbors, soup to nuts. There are many resources availale for caregivers especially, of the babyboomer generation.  As a whole, most people would agree that today’s population of family caregivers are women in their early 60s or spouses in their 70-80s.

However, we are finding more and more that while this population of caregivers is surely large, there are many other demographics of family members and friends whom have taken on this role and there are not enough resources  for these unconventional good samaratins.

A general, unscientific, poll  of students in Pinellas County schools found that a large majority of students stated they serve a caregiver role for one or more family members living in their home.

To better serve the needs of our community, we ask you… What type of caregiver are you? Post your comments below. Share your story with us !

Caring Today.com featured an article recently that focused on some of the major concerns caregivers are facing.To help you manage your loved one’s Diabetes, check out Caring Today’s special section, The Diabetes Caregiver:

• The Basics: 5 Symptoms to Look for; How to Check Blood Glucose; Separating Facts from Fiction
• Communication: Regarding Diet; Regarding Exercise; Regarding Drug Compliance
• Diet: Meal Planning; Diabetes and Obesity; Sugar Substitutes
• Health Conditions: Circulation; Dementia; Foot Health; Heart Disease/Stroke; Oral Health; Vision
• Insulin: How to Administer It; What It Does; Is It Necessary?; Non-Insulin Drug Therapy
• The Medical Team: Primary Medical Team; Secondary Medical Team; Dealing with Multiple Doctors

To read the whole articel visit: http://www.caringtoday.com/deal-with/the-diabetes-caregiver-guide

The holidays entail more traveling, cooking, cleaning, and planning ahead which can be a nightmare if all the work is on you.  Setting boundaries and knowing your own limits will allow you to make this time of year more managable. In an article written for www.4therapy.com, the author gives some helpful tips on surviving the holidays.

If you are a family caregiver, consider the following suggestions and think about which ones you can put in place during the coming weeks to help ease your feelings of stress during the holidays: • Set manageable expectations and limits for yourself. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do—as well as what you want to do and don’t want to do.

• Try not to set yourself up for disappointment by comparing this year’s holiday season with the nostalgia of past holidays. Each holiday season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way.

 • Ask for and accept help! It’s so often the case that, while people want to be useful, they may not always know what to do. Let other family members and friends know what they can do to share in the responsibility of caregiving. Don’t forget to consider asking people who live at a distance, as well as neighbors and people from faith-based groups or clubs, to pitch in and help.

• Maintain or establish social interaction with friends and other family members. Isolation can further increase feelings of stress. Having the chance to have fun, laugh, and focus on something other than your at-home caregiving responsibilities can help you keep stress at bay and maintain emotional balance.

 • Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely. There’s room for feelings such as sadness, grief and/or loneliness to be present along with other more joyful emotions. If you do feel down, avoid critical self-perceptions, and, instead, try to articulate the understanding you need from those around you. Consider seeking the help of a therapist to help you sort out your feelings and deal with your concerns and troubling issues.

• If the elderly person you are caring for has dementia, avoid overly stimulating environments since that can add to their anxiety and end up increasing your stress level.

 • If including the elderly person in large family gatherings creates added work and stress for you, consider alternatives, such as suggesting family members plan to spend individual quality time visiting with their elderly relative. • Don’t abandon healthful eating and drinking habits. While it’s certainly okay to treat yourself during the holidays, avoid giving in to stress-driven urges for overeating or for overindulging in alcohol.

• Exercise regularly. Even if it means finding someone else to take over your caregiver duties, getting regularly-scheduled exercise—for example, walking, swimming, yoga, biking, or aerobics—can be of tremendous benefit to both your physical and emotional well-being.

• Seek emotional and moral support from other caregivers—there is great strength in knowing you are not alone. Many communities have support groups for family caregivers of elderly persons through local hospitals, churches and/or community centers.

 • Use community resources such as meal or shopping services, home-care aides, adult day services, and/or volunteer help from faith-based organizations or civic groups.

• Try to find time for yourself to do something you especially enjoy such as reading, walking, listening to music, gardening and/or visiting with a friend.

 • Find ways to ensure you get enough rest. Sleep deprivation can sap your energy, distort your thinking and lead directly to making your mind and your body feel stressed to the maximum.

• If you experience any signs of depression (for example, extreme sadness, trouble concentrating, withdrawal, or hopelessness), don’t delay in getting professional help for yourself. Depression is a serious, but very treatable condition. If left untreated, depression does not “just go away,” instead, the symptoms progressively worsen and can even become debilitating. You can click here for information about depression, including a more detailed list of commonly experienced symptoms and ways to receive help.

View Full Article : http://www.4therapy.com/consumer/conditions/article/6987/451/topic.php?uniqueid=451&