It’s a sensitive topic to go over with aging parents, but one which needs to be resolved at some point: a financial care plan. Many adult children are reluctant to step into their parents’ financial matters until there is an obvious need, but beginning the discussion ahead of the need provides ample opportunity to ensure everything is in order. Read more
As a person ages, they may find it difficult to let go and allow others to assist them. Whether it is pride, stubbornness, or just a desire to do for themselves as long as possible, there is a chance they will refuse help.
If you are unsure why the person is refusing help, as direct open-ended questions.
For caregivers, home care for the elderly is a balancing act. It will require them to learn when to step in, and when to sit back and allow the person to do certain things on their own.
Understanding Why They Refuse Help
Ageing is difficult for some to accept, despite it being a natural part of life. The person often does not want to admit they are getting older, or they fear the negative connotations associated with being labeled as elderly.
For others, accepting help can cause them to feel embarrassed, inadequate, or lead to feelings of helplessness. No one wants to feel like a burden to others, and admitting they are incapable of doing certain things for themselves is extremely difficult.
Accepting help from a caregiver can also feel intrusive. They believe the caregiver will take the last of their independence, not allowing them to make any decisions on their own.
How To Overcome Rejections
There are several things you can do if an elderly person is refusing help that they desperately need.
Ask Direct Questions
If you are unsure why the person is refusing help, as direct open-ended questions. Do they feel like it would be a burden? Are they worried about having a stranger in the house? Are they afraid of something?
Be Patient and Understanding
Let them know that you worry, but that you understand why they might not want assistance. It is important to stay calm and show patience. It often takes several conversations to convince them to accept help. Getting angry or trying to force the issue is counterproductive to what you hope to accomplish.
Start Small
Sometimes starting small can help them become more receptive to allowing others to help. Talk to them about hiring someone to help with grocery shopping, laundry, or housekeeping once a week. Once they are open to this, gradually offer more help.
Discuss Options
For the elderly, feeling as if you are losing control of your own life is the most difficult part. Discuss what they would like, and the options that are available for them. Help them to understand they still have a voice and a choice in the type of care they receive.
For more useful information on elderly care contact us at Endeavor Home Care.
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.
At some point or another, many of us will either need to consider home health care for ourselves or for a loved one. Choosing home health care may be an easy choice for some, since it allows the person to remain in their own home and continue a certain level of autonomy while providing the attention and health care necessary. However, there are many other details included when it comes to implementing a home health care system.
One of the biggest issues is the cost of home health care and how to pay for it.
A common question is whether Medicaid pays for home care.
Government Assistance
Run by the federal government, Medicaid is a health care assistance plan for those who have low income and limited access to resources to traditional medical care. Most states have their own program with differing requirements and rules.
Note that coverage includes a certain amount for deductibles, premiums and co-payments used in conjunction with Medicare, which is also a federal insurance program for those over the age of 65 and some disabilities and diseases.
Home Health Care
Home care usually funds through a sub-section of the program, called Home and Community Based Services, or HCBS.
HCBS programs offer some or all coverage for various home health care costs, such as physical therapy, nursing care, home assistance with cooking, laundry, cleaning and/or meal delivery, transportation to and from necessary doctor and other appointments, participation in an adult day service program, home modifications to add safety elements and medical equipment and supplies.
The program requires an application process, which generally goes as follows:
To begin the process and apply for home health care benefits, start by going to Benefits.gov and selecting your state. Then look for your state’s home page, where you can look for information about contacting the HCBS program to ask about applying and eligibility requirements.
When researching options for home care agencies in Scottsdale AZ, call us at (480) 535-6800. Home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Scottsdale AZ.
As stated by the American Heart Association, CHF in essence means that the heart is too weak to pump enough blood throughout the body. While this can happen as a result of a heart defect or heart attack, it may also occur if the heart muscle becomes weaker over time on account of weight gain, continued inactivity and other reasons.
When the heart cannot pump blood through the body well, the kidneys do not get enough blood as a result, which means that less fluid exits the body through urine. This extra fluid can then collect in the lungs, around the eyes, in the liver and the legs. The collection of extra fluid is congestion, hence the term ‘congestive heart failure’.
Indicators
Patients with congestive heart failure generally get weary very easily and may seem short of breath a lot. Additionally, individuals may always seem to gain weight due the fluid collection throughout the body.
Other problems include frequent urination, coughing, loss of appetite, sudden weight gain, especially in the ankles and feet, and a rapid heartbeat. Since these problems may be similar to other health problems, a medical professional should make a proper diagnosis if congestive heart failure is assumed.
Treatment
More often than not, a doctor will order a diuretic, which boosts the frequency of urination to help remove the excess fluid from the body. Additionally, medication that helps relax the blood vessels can help the heart pump more efficiency and another medication can help the heart use more force in pumping. Ask your physician for strategies for the proper medications for you or a loved one who has congestive heart failure.
home care Assistance
Many times, elderly patients with congestive heart failure may benefit from home care services since they are often weak, tired and out of breath. There is also regular diet, blood pressure, weight and pulse monitoring that should take place on a daily basis.
A private duty home care service can help the patient with basic tasks around the house and monitor their symptoms. They can also assist with medication reminders.
Furthermore, a home care companion can help improve the client’s way of life by encouraging plenty of rest and staying off their feet for regular amounts of time every day.
However, since the senior should also participate in a low-impact exercise program, a home care worker can help get the patient out of the home every day for a nice walk or follow other activity ideas made by their medical doctor.
One more advantage of hiring a home care worker for a patient with congestive heart failure is that the home care provider can monitor the senior’s diet, decreasing salt content and encouraging a healthy diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and protein. Foods high in magnesium and potassium may be beneficial for heart patients.
Frequently, a physician will highly recommend restricted fluids for a congestive heart failure patient and this is something that the home care worker can monitor, as well as encouraging the right type and amount of liquids to drink.
Documenting the patient’s weight daily can help track how the patient’s fluid retention is progressing, as well as regular blood pressure monitoring on a daily basis.
Additionally, a home care worker can remind the senior to take medications as prescribed. Any symptoms or worsening of the condition, or other infections, illnesses or problems that may worsen CHF can be monitored and reported promptly to the health practitioner as needed.
Get Help
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, consider hiring home care services. There are many benefits for congestive heart failure patients, including proper daily care, reminders about medication and vitamins, following of the proper diet and recommendations for exercise and rest. While many patients can do a good job of taking care of themselves, a home careprovider can help improve the patient’s quality of life and may even help extend it!
When researching options for home care agencies in Scottsdale AZ, home care counselors at Endeavor Home Care are available to talk with you about your home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing home care in Scottsdale AZ.
