Should Elderly People Continue Living in Their Own Homes?
It one of the hardest decisions we have to make in our lives — yet at some point, nearly every person will have to address it. When your elderly mother or father’s health declines — either physically or mentally — is it safe for them to continue living in their home? Should they move in with a family member? Or do they need 24-hour-a-day care that can only be provided by an assisted living facility or a nursing home? Here is an example of a common scenario:
Rebecca and her husband live 500 miles away from her 82-year-old mother, who is suffering from early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and chronic arthritis. She worries about her safety, but upon questioning her mother, the answer is always the same: “Everything is fine. Stop worrying.”
Then one day, while at work, Rebecca received a phone call from a hospital social worker. Her mother fell down the stairs, broke her hip and was hospitalized. Rebecca’s mother insisted it could happen to anyone, and that she was perfectly safe at home and able to take care of herself.
It’s a common scenario, says Pamela Braun, MSW, LCSW, CPF, of Geriatric Assessment, Management & Solutions. When questioned about their situation and needs, an elderly person may mask the truth from family members says often the adult children find out what’s truly going on from a third party – such as the hospital or a neighbor.
Home represents familiar comforts, self-sufficiency and privacy. That’s why the prospect of moving out, into a relative’s home, or an assisted living facility, is one of the most difficult decisions a person must make in their lifetime. Often, rational decisions take a back seat to an emotional choice.
In situations like this, the difficult task of determining whether the elderly person can safely remain at home must be addressed.
To read the full article, go to http://www.agingcare.com/Featured-Stories/95665/How-to-Determine-if-Your-Senior-Parent-Can-Stay-at-Home.htm.
For more information on healthcare and caring for an elderly senior, visit www.agingcare.com.
Marlo Sollitto is the editor of www.AgingCare.com. Agingcare.com is a website and online forum for people caring for their aging parents. As the Facebook for caregivers, Agingcare.com lets those caring for aging parents communicate with each other, get answers from elder care experts and access news, information and products related to caregiving. For more information, visit www.agingcare.com or call 239-594-3202.?
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Caregiver by 
Question by HerBeau93: What would the job title be for basically “babysitting” an elderly person?
I’m writing out my resume and am having trouble deciding what to list a previous occupation I had as. I was hired by a family friend for a summer to more or less babysit her elderly mother. All I had to do was be in the house during the day in case her mother fell or had another emergency so that I could call 911, which did occur once. I also prepared her coffee in the morning and lunch when she got hungry in the afternoon. I also would let the dogs outside when they needed to go. I hesitate to say “Caregiver” as what I did wasn’t that complex, much less work than, say, an In-Home Nurse or even a babysitter for small children. So what would I title the position as? I was thinking “In-Home Elderly Monitor” but I don’t know.
Best answer:
Answer by Leah Pappajohn
caretaker?
Give your answer to this question below!
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Caregiver by
Geriatric Psychology : Psychological Functioning of the Elderly
Geriatric psychology is a field of study that focuses on psychological processes and mental disorders in people of advanced age. Geriatric psychologists assist in helping elderly people who are suffering from mental disorders and other disabilities. They act as both counselors and scientists trying to solve the enigma that is the aged brain.
This division of psychology analyzes the brain functioning of older people and focuses on how the brain changes over time, which may be related to psychological dysfunction later in life. This field of psychology is also referred to as the psychology of aging. Geriatric psychologists are mostly interested in researching the brain functions and behavior of people who are 65 and older.
Old age is commonly accompanied by a decline in cognitive functioning. However, studies show that if elderly people stay active through exercise and mental stimulation it will help decrease cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia are two psychological disorders that primarily develop in people that are older.
Cognitive decline in the elderly can lead to depression and anxiety as people try to cope with the changes associated with old age. A support system of friends, family members and caregivers can help with self-esteem and optimism. So can geriatric psychologists by providing therapy and support to elderly patients.
The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry is the largest organization of its kind that researches all aspects of this field. The organization publishes a journal called The American Journal of Geriatric Psychology, which updates people with news and recent study findings. The goal of this organization is to eliminate the stigma associated with mental disorders in the elderly.
Geriatric psychology is growing in popularity due to the fact that people are increasingly living longer lives. The psychological processes in older people are currently being researched at universities across the country. Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Dementia are a common concern and current treatments are being revised and new treatments being developed. Quality mental health care is being given to elderly people who are concerned with cognitive decline as well as depression and anxiety. Developing countries also have a need for this type of psychology. Prevention and treatment of mental health disorders in the elderly is common all over the globe.
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Geriatrics by
Caregiver charged with stealing from elderly Limerick patient
An Upper Darby woman employed as a caregiver of an 84-year-old Limerick woman has been charged along with her male co-conspirator with stealing more than $ 11,000 from her elderly patient.
Read more on: Spring-Ford Reporter & Valley Item
Caregiver charged with stealing from elderly Limerick patient
Journal Register News Service An Upper Darby woman employed as a caregiver of an 84-year-old Limerick woman has been charged along with her male co-conspirator with stealing more than $ 11,000 from her elderly patient.
Read more on The Phoenix
Alzheimer’s caregiver support group to hold meeting Dec. 16
The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group will be holding its December meeting on Thursday, Dec. 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. It will be held at the Southwest Technology Center at 711 W. Tamara…
Read more on Altus Times
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Caregiver by
Austin, TX (PRWEB) June 16, 2010
Author appeals directly to geriatrics professionals for help in publicizing new in-home elder care book, Mama Moves In, and companion research tools to combat looming doctor deficit.
Geriatrics doctors have been outstripped by demand. Current studies indicate that with the Baby boomers and their aging parents will come a shortage of at least 20,000 geriatrics practitioners. Further, with the new health care legislation doctors’ reimbursements from Medicare will be reduced by 21% and the health care system will lose geriatrics doctors and the “doctor deficit” will get even larger.
The consequences of the 20,000 geriatrics doctor shortfall must be recognized and dealt with in every way possible. Geriatrics professionals, doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists and other care givers are invited to participate in an effort to stretch the limited geriatrics professionals’ time and attention to the greatest extent practicable.
Based on the current studies that reflect the geriatrics-doctor shortfall, Tom Dyke, author of Mama Moves In, has made a direct appeal to members of The American Geriatrics Society and other geriatrics professionals. Having been through 5 ½-years of in-his-home elder care with his mom (age 84 to 90), Dyke appeals to geriatrics professionals to spread the word about his recently published book and online databases for information and products.
The book and research tools offer time relief to elder care professionals from the constant demand from in-home care givers for needs that might be more efficiently served by Mama Moves In and the research tools. The research databases are online, real-time and always-current for both information and products for the care givers and loved ones to use at any time, day or night. (Visit: www.MamaMovesIn.com for more information.)
Dyke said, “Knowing how many families will have a similar experience to ours, I resolved to assemble an in-home elder care book with online research tools that could help prepare and assist families with their in-home elder care for their aging family members. The book and research tools can reduce time demands on geriatrics professionals as and when appropriate.” Dyke wrote the book and assembled the databases for release in March/April, 2010, through Dyke Publishing Company at http://www.dykepublishing.com.
For many years the preponderance of the elderly and aging have spent their last years in their own homes or in a rest home of some sort. As long as the money and/or assets were available, the choices were between staying in their own home with the assistance of family members and expensive elder care givers 24/7 and a rest-home which could be expensive, too.
If the money were not available, lower-end rest-homes that would accept what Medicare would pay were available. They still are, but many families are not comfortable with the level of care and the facilities one gets for what Medicare can pay. If medical boards start deciding who gets what level of care, if any care at all, families, with the help of geriatrics doctors, will be the only option. The setting will be in the care giver’s home rather than in a rest home.
Now, with the the economy in decline, options are getting more limited. More and more families have to explore bringing their aging parents into their own homes, and heretofore there was no written and online research information designed specifically to assist with in-home elder care.
Searches using any of today’s powerful search engines result in thousands and thousands of “hits.” It takes time to wade through the “hits” to glean the information needed at the moment. There are over 70,000,000 Baby Boomers with millions of elderly parents who will need elder care, so the aggregate time to be saved with a specific in-home elder care book and online research tools will be huge and valuable.
When asked about why he wrote the book and developed the online research tools, Dyke replied, “Mom was 84 years old and in need of elder care when I moved her in to live with my wife and me for the last 5 ½ years or her life. I was a rank novice, and the learning curve was steep for at least the first three years. Knowing how many families would have a similar experience to ours, I resolved to write a book and develop a set of online research tools that could help prepare and assist families with in-home elder care for their aging and elderly family members.”
The results of Dyke’s efforts are Mama Moves In, and the online research tools, InformationResearchPro and ProductResearchPro accessed with the Research CD included with the book. Dyke noted, “The book gives context to the research tools and the tools give utility to the book.”
Mama Moves In provides a dress rehearsal for assessment, preparation and the experience of moving an elderly parent into one’s home. Readers get quick access from the online research tools to over 200 category-organized articles written by doctors, nurses and other elder care professionals plus everything the Internet has to offer. Readers also get immediate and interactive access to hundreds of useful and clever elder-care products.
Tom Dyke is making the www.MamaMovesIn.com and the www.DykePublishing.com site available to all geriatrics doctors and nurses, general practitioners and all others providing care to the aging and elderly and their in-home care givers. All information and suggestions to make the site more informative, easier to use and more efficient are welcome. The following are requested now:
Geriatrics professionals’ website listings and permission to post by State and Town;
Articles from geriatrics professionals for posting in regularly-updated information database;
Use free Mama Moves In post cards to notify patients and families of the elderly about Mama Moves In, the online research tools and the website, www.MamaMovesIn.com;
Links from geriatrics professionals to and from www.MamaMovesIn.com;
Suggestions for website improvements submitted by geriatrics professionals; and,
Use the DP-Blog at www.MamaMovesIn.com.
The GOAL is to make the time and efforts of the geriatrics professionals and all other elder care providers go as far as possible. The book, Mama Moves In, the online research tools and the website are available for the effort now. All elder care professionals are invited; no they are urged to put the book, the online research tools and the website to the most effective use possible. Put the book, the tools and the website to full use, and save as much professional time and effort as possible when appropriate.
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Geriatrics by
Ky. joins effort to combat financial victimization of the elderly
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Steve Beshear announced that the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions will join 23 other states in the groundbreaking Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Program.
Read more on The Kentucky Post
Nursing Home Depression Caught with Non-Mood Indicators
While depression is a significant problem amongst the general population at any given time — with approximately 10 percent of people suffering from depression — it can reach epidemic proportions within nursing homes. According to the American Geriatrics Society, depression can affect approximately 40 percent of nursing home residents in a given year. But in [...]
Read more on Psych Central
Brain Exercises in a Social Game
If you like social networks and video games, a new product that mashes the two together could help exercise your brain while keeping it entertained online.
Read more on New York Times
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Geriatrics by
Question by Ms. RnR: How would you like this person working for your elderly relative as a “private duty caregiver”?
This is RIDICULOUS! Calif. Elder Abuse ignored. Read on: 1998 Convicted of burglary with 3 priors, 2004 convicted of petty theft with the priors from before-put on probation, 2004 convicted of battery put on probation again, 2007 convicted of FELONY theft with the 4 priors. There is an executor who lives out of state. They were told of this person but don’t seem too worried. Social svcs recently went out (this is the 3rd or 4th time-the first was when the caregiver’s relative stole from the elderly person and was CONVICTED-the caregiver was allowed to remain) and when asked if they will proceed they basically said no. There are recordings of the caregiver giving overmeds, cursing at person, etc PLUS the fact they are a CONVICTED FELON for THEFT. The elderly person has money as well…. hmmm… Sound fair? I don’t think so either! DA recommended the recordings to top it off, now APS will not do anything! BTW the “caregiver” is NOT licensed or bonded. WOULD YOU GO TO THE MEDIA NEXT?
Best answer:
Answer by gryffindor girl!
If my parents ever need such a person, they will be someone I know, not some 8 dollar an hour chain smoking felon. This is SAD.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Caregiver by
A Baltimore city woman who caught her elderly father being abused on tape by a home caregiver is fighting to get justice.
Share and Enjoy
Filed under Caregiver News by
Drexel Hill Time
AES Seniors
