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Taking Care of Parents

Affording Arizona Home Care: Payment Options You May Not Know

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Arizona Home CarePick a senior, any senior, and you’re likely to hear the same sentiments: the vast majority of older adults agree that they’d prefer to spend their elder years at home over moving to a nursing home facility. However, there are a lot of misconceptions about who pays for Arizona home care. Medicare? Medicaid? Insurance? The reality, per CPA Jerry Lowe, is, “For the most part, the clients who have home care are private pay.”

Although Medicare does cover home health care on a limited basis, if it’s deemed to be medically necessary, it does not cover homemaker services – and, most health insurance and Medicare supplemental plans don’t cover any type of in-home care.

According to Rod Perkins, VP of insurance regulation of the American Council of Life Insurers, “Baby boomers have seen their parents have long-term care needs and weren’t prepared. And it’s not just an old-age product. You could need in-home care as a result of an accident.”

If you and your senior loved ones aren’t prepared to pay out of pocket for home care in Arizona however, rest assured that there are some additional avenues to explore, such as:

  • Veterans’ assistance (click here to check eligibility requirements)
  • PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly)
  • Long-term care insurance policies that specifically include in-home care services
  • Reverse mortgages
  • Organizations geared to assist with specific needs, such as the Alzheimer’s Association, the ALS Association, and Easter Seals, may provide respite care vouchers
  • Community support, such as through religious organizations, the local Area on Aging, the United Way and area senior centers

The Benefits.gov site is also a great resource to determine what federal benefits you may qualify for. And, contact Endeavor In-Home Care, the leading provider of in-home senior care in Phoenix & nearby areas, for more resources and assistance with making sure no stone is left unturned when it comes to providing Arizona home care for your precious senior loved ones. We’re skilled at exploring every possible avenue to help families uncover any benefits for which their senior loved ones qualify. Let us help make professional in-home care services a reality for you by calling (480) 535-6800!

Why Hydration is Imperative in Eldercare

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It might be a matter of amusement when people afraid of the water consider their bodies contain it. The brain, skin, organs and even the bones are made of some percentage of water. Water carries impurities out of the body, helps to maintain body temperature, lubricates the joints and carries necessary nutrients throughout the body. Dehydration occurs when the body doesn’t get enough incoming water. Men generally need about three liters per day, while women require two liters per day to remain properly hydrated.

Hydration in the Elderly

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Staying hydrated is important, as the senior body’s water content naturally decreases with age.

On the other hand, it’s not so funny when it’s our parents or other elderly family members. What isn’t generally recognized is that the senior body stores and uses its fluids (read water) differently. First, the senior body’s water content naturally decreases. Second, aging kidneys are less able to process water and sodium, resulting in inability to contain water during dehydration. Third, the bell inside our elders stops going off with age, the one reminding them that a drink of water would be a good idea. Elders’ thirst button gets turned off, too, so they simply don’t remember to drink anything.

Consequences of Dehydration in the Elderly

Physical events like slip and fall occasions are only the second act of the play. The first act begins in the mind of the senior. The embarrassment of incontinence prevents many elderly persons from drinking the proper amount of water. They are embarrassed at using the bathroom so many times. Confusion or the beginnings of dementia mean elders who simply don’t remember if they’ve eaten or drunk anything in a given time period. Also in the mind of the senior, asking for help due to inability to fetch a drink for himself is another cause of embarrassment. If elders live alone, they perhaps have trouble carrying a bottle or glass of water due to arthritis or the shaking common with other diseases. Frustration, fear and embarrassment cause many seniors to just forget it all together.

The damage done to the elderly body is manifold. Many medications seniors take for various ailments and diseases deplete their bodies of necessary fluids. Since the organs are made primarily of water, they will weaken. The brain, deprived of water, will develop headaches. Bones become brittle, skin dry and subject to injuries and fatigue. Kidney failure and seizures are common. The second act, therefore, is a weakened body susceptible to falls and coma.

How Can We Help Them?

Just saying “oh, all you need is a bottle of water” isn’t enough. Seniors won’t remember, nor will they get it themselves. They need help. Most senior hospitalizations are due to dehydration. More senior deaths are due to dehydration, not the falls it caused. Most eldercare includes monitoring the state of the senior’s hydration. It is necessary to his or her longevity. In the case of an assisted living facility, the personnel will monitor the senior’s water intake. Endeavor In-Home Care, trusted providers of companion care Chandler, AZ and the surrounding areas depend on, can help ensure the hydration and health of your loved one. Please contact us today.

Home Care for Hip Fracture Patients

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Skilled therapists are trained to know what your loved one needs most, from exercises and stretches to encouragement and education.

A recent study shows there are at least 258,000 hip fractures among adults aged 65 and older that lead to hospitalization each year. A more disturbing statistic is one out of five people who suffer a hip fracture die within the first year following the fall. Treatment for a fractured hip includes surgery, a hospital stay, and more often than not a stay in a nursing home.

Life following surgery is a challenge on many levels. Recovery is a slow and painful process. Daily activities easily completed before the injury are now struggles. Family will need to be near to offer assistance with walking, dressing and bathing.

Help is a phone call or click-of-the-mouse away. Home care provided by the professionals from Endeavor Senior Care can make a difference when a patient goes home from the hospital and must begin physical therapy in order to learn to walk properly and be able to complete daily activities.

Family members need no longer stress over knowing what exercises to do, how often they need to be done, and when. The emotional ups and downs of caring for a loved one after major surgery are many; personal connections make it difficult to insist on the hard things being completed.

Skilled therapists are trained to know what the patient needs most. From exercises and stretches to encouragement and education, family members can be confident in the care received. Patients will receive the help needed to regain balance, motor skills, and mobility. Occupational therapists are there to help a patient accomplish those daily tasks such as taking care of personal hygiene and dressing themselves.

Remember, you don’t have to attempt to do this alone. If you have a loved one who has suffered a fall, contact us. Let us help. We are the Home Health resource you can trust.

Quitting Job for Senior Care – Are there any Financial Reimbursements?

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Leaving work to care for a senior at home can be a decision with many different aspects to consider.

Whеn аn elderly parent suffers frоm illness оr hаs аn ongoing medical condition, іt mау bесоmе nесеssаrу fоr а family member tо tаkе time оff frоm work tо provide at home senior care. Тhе difficult decision tо leave work fоr caregiver responsibilities оftеn rеsults іn financial stress fоr thе family. Whеthеr аn employee mау suссеssfullу claim unemployment benefits depends оn stаtе law аnd thе policies оf thе agency overseeing thе state’s unemployment program.

Understanding Unemployment Benefits: State unemployment programs provide financial support tо workers whо hаvе lost thеіr jobs оr оthеrwіsе bесоmе unemployed undеr sресіfіеd circumstances. Еасh stаtе sets іts оwn criteria tо determine eligibility fоr unemployment benefits whеn а worker files а benefits claim — thіs criteria оftеn includes а list оf acceptable reasons fоr claiming unemployment аftеr voluntarily leaving а job. Еасh stаtе аlsо sets requirements fоr а claimant tо lооk fоr work аnd shоw readiness tо accept а nеw job whеn offered аn opportunity. Іf а claimant nееds tо spend а lot оf time caring fоr а sick parent, shе mіght nееd tо prove hеr availability tо resume work іn order tо meet thе eligibility criteria fоr unemployment benefits.

Providing Care аs thе Reason fоr Leaving Work: A potential claimant shоuld rеsеаrсh hоw hіs state’s unemployment program mіght treat а claim fоr unemployment benefits whеn thе claimant left work duе tо а personal reason. А claim іs оftеn mоrе straightforward whеn thе employee lost hіs job duе tо layoffs оr company closure. Whеn аn unemployment claim includes leaving work fоr а personal reason, whеthеr thе claimant саn receive benefits depends оn whеthеr thе stаtе agency views thе reason аs “good саusе” fоr voluntarily quitting. Νеw York, fоr example, will deny а claim іf thе employee voluntarily left, unlеss thе claim саn shоw а “compelling personal reason.” Тhе employee wоuld nееd tо find оut whеthеr providing care fоr аn ill parent serves аs аn adequate reason. Оthеr stаtеs, including Connecticut, sресіfісаllу list caring fоr аn ill parent аs аn acceptable reason fоr job separation.

Effect оn Benefits Claim: Even іf а stаtе unemployment program accepts caregiver responsibilities аs а reason fоr voluntarily leaving а job, thе worker’s claim must stіll meet аll оthеr criteria tо receive unemployment benefits. Claimants must generally shоw thаt thеу аrе аvаіlаblе tо work іf thеу receive offers fоr nеw employment. Ѕоmе stаtе agencies hаvе denied thе unemployment claims оf caregivers bесаusе thеу couldn’t suffісіеntlу prove thеіr ongoing availability tо work.

Other Benefits Options Whеn Таkіng Care оf а Parent: While unemployment benefits mау provide financial assistance tо cover lost income whіlе providing care, а worker shоuld rеsеаrсh thе оthеr legal options аnd benefits programs thаt mіght bе аvаіlаblе. А worker’s stаtе mіght offer а family-leave program tо partially compensate fоr income lost whіlе caring fоr а spouse, domestic partner, child оr parent. Іn addition, а worker shоuld consider whеthеr thе federal Family аnd Medical Leave Асt offers а measure оf protection іf thе worker nееds time оff tо care fоr а parent. Whіlе FMLA dоеsn’t pay benefits tо workers, thе program dоеs protect аgаіnst employee replacement оr job loss fоr а limited period оf time whіlе аn employee оf аn eligible employer takes time оff tо care fоr аn elderly parent.

Contact us to learn more about your options as a potential caregiver.

Activities that Home Care Companions Can Do with Seniors to Keep Them Happy and Healthy in Gilbert, AZ

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There is an important distinction that needs to be made in regards to elder care. Home care companions are not nurses. This means that they are not around to keep your senior loved one tucked in their bed when they will occasionally be visited for vital signs to be taken and medication to be handed over. Quite the opposition, home care companions are there to make sure that your loved ones are living the happiest, most energetic, and healthiest life but they possibly can. This means, of course, taking care physical need such as bathing, dressing, grooming, nutritional support, and medication reminders, but they’re far more benefits to having a home care companion.

A home care companion is just what their title suggests, a companion. This means that she is there to offer emotional support, friendship, and anything that your seniors need in order to enjoy a high quality of life. One thing that a qualified and dedicated home care companion will do is plan fun activities to do with seniors that will keep their minds active and their bodies healthy. Filling their days with activities will give your senior loved ones more productive and happier lives.

Some of the fun activities that your home care companion can do with your loved one include:

Scrapbooking

Making a scrapbook is one of the most wonderful ways to encourage a senior to remember their lives and record their happiest memories. A scrapbook is a lasting way to recall the accomplishments, memories, and legacy of a senior. With your help, a home care companion can gather photographs, letters, and any other mementos that can be included in a scrapbook that will give your senior the opportunity to share stories and relive the happiest times in her life.

Cooking

If your senior once loved cooking but is now unable to prepare her own meals, she may greatly miss this activity. Home care companion can prepare meals and snacks with a senior so that she can continue to enjoy the activity of cooking while remaining safe. This is also a chance for home care companion to introduce lighter and better balanced nutrition than your senior may be used to. Good nutrition is key to health and well-being, and making your senior a part of the meal preparation will make them feel good about themselves and their independence.

Physical Activity

Many seniors with mobility issues feel that they are no longer capable of participating in any form of physical activity. Much to the opposite, even seniors with serious mobility issues can enjoy activities on a daily basis. This is fantastic for physical and emotional health, and can stave off medical concerns and lead to a happier, healthier, and longer life. A home care companion can bring a senior out for walks, bring them to senior exercise classes, or even just help them with exercises and activities right there own home. By making it fun, and home care companion make physical activity something that your senior will look forward to.

When researching options for home care agencies in Gilbert, AZ call us at (480) 535-6800. Home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Gilbert, AZ.