Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
When seniors become ill or injured, they may require additional care. While many people believe seniors who require care should be placed into a nursing home, there are many seniors that would benefit from at home care instead. There are some major differences between these two things. Seniors who are cared for at home actually stay healthier and heal faster than those in a nursing home. The information below discusses the major differences between the two.
1. Home care can consist of different services. Some seniors will only require one while other may need a combination of services. The most common at home care services include home health aides, physical therapy, speech therapy, nursing care and occupational therapy.
2. While these same services are available in a nursing home, seniors who are in a nursing home will lose their independence. This is an important thing to consider when making a decision regarding the right form of car for a senior loved one.
3. The services offered at many nursing homes, aside from the senior being watched around the clock, include wellness programs, meals, assisted living and activities.
4. While it may seem a nursing home is the easier choice, it does depend on the functioning of the senior. If they are able to care for themselves and just need some additional assistance, there is really no need to place them in a nursing home.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
As the baby boomers retire, a number of Americans will be faced with the task of looking after their aging parents.
There are number of statistics to be aware of regarding elder care:
• According to Sandra Timmerman, director of MetLife Mature Market Institute, caregivers spend more than $5500 per year on elder care expenses.
• Long distance caregivers spend at least $8700 per year on transportation, food and supplies.
• There 65.7 million caregivers in the United States, according to the National Alliance of Caregiving.
• More than half of those surveyed by www.caring.com are worried about the financial impact caregiving will have on them.
Your Parents’ Finances
The economic downturn has affected more than just your finances. Check in with your parents and see how they are doing. It is important to be on the same page about money matters. Here are some tips to get you there:
• Estate planning: Have all the necessary documents, including power of attorney, prepared ahead of time in case something should happen to them.
• Talk about it: Get everything on the table when it comes to finances. Once everyone is on the same page, you can begin planning.
• Free programs: There are many organizations that offer free services to assist you with elder care planning.
• Insurance coverage: Make sure you know what is covered by your parents’ insurance plan so you can arrange for out of pocket costs.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
Caregiving can be very stressful on your personal and financial life. A recent survey compiled by www.caring.com points out one very important benefit:
• 75 percent of caregivers are proud that they can help the life of a loved one.
Caregiving Disadvantages
Caregiving is definitely rewarding but there are a number of challenges that go along with looking after an elderly parent including:
• 25 percent of caregivers say personal relationships have suffered.
• 58 percent of caregivers spend at least 10 hours a week looking after their loved one.
• 69 percent of caregivers say looking after a loved one is their main source of stress.
• 27 percent of caregivers look after a child as well as their parents.
• 60 percent of caregivers live with their aging loved one.
• 60 percent of caregivers are worried about the impact looking after their parents will have on their finances.
• 42 percent of caregivers spend at least $5000 a year on costs associated with caregiving.
• 75 percent of caregivers had to adjust their employment to provide adequate care.
To see the inforgraphic that illustrates these statistics, follow this link.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
Caring for an elderly parent can be stressful. Dividing the responsibility between siblings can create conflict as well. It is best to talk about your options ahead of time to avoid tense situations. To ease your way into caregiving follow the tips below:
1. Be honest if taking the bulk of the responsibility is becoming overwhelming. Let your siblings know the things they can do to help.
2. Plan ahead for your parent’s wishes. Decide ahead of time how you will divide responsibilities amongst your siblings.
3. Be flexible when it comes to the needs of your parents and siblings. Consider schedules, skills and interests when it comes to dividing the responsibility.
4. Research options to determine the type of care that your parent needs and look for organizations and resources that can meet your needs.
5. Talk and listen to your parent because their independence is important to them. It is best to talk to your family before caregiving starts.
So when it comes to caring for your elderly parents following the tips above will help prevent any conflict. Just be sure to always communicate how you are feeling and make sure your parent’s wishes aren’t being ignored.
It may come to the point when your parents ask you to make a decision for them. There are a number of areas your parents could require care, including:
• Caring and maintaining for the house.
• Paying bills and arranging doctor’s appointments.
• Selling the house and moving into a care facility.
• Hiring a nurse to visit your parent’s house periodically.
Just be careful when it comes to offering help. Don’t bite off more than you chew and make sure your parents still play an important decision making role in their future.
Analyzing the Decision
When it comes to deciding the fate of your parents, the stress can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to consider when making decisions:
• Are your parents just overwhelmed? Do they just need reassurance you will be there if they need you?
• Take the point of view of your siblings and group it behind the opinion of your parents’.
• Are you parents capable of making an informed decision?
• Teamwork is the best approach to resolving this dilemma so work together.
For more information on caring for elderly parents, visit this site CaregiverStress.com
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
As Canadians age and enter the age of retirement, they will receive information from Service Canada. One of the programs that many Canadian seniors qualify for is the Old Age Security Pension, or OAS. If seniors reach retirement age and do not have financial security, they will be eligible for OAS and a Guaranteed Supplement Income. These programs combined cost the government more than $33 billion each year.
1. When seniors qualify for OAS, they will receive a card that can be presented at various retail locations. The senior will then receive 10% off of their purchase.
2. Seniors also are eligible for government subsidies, including affordable housing, car insurance, reduced health-care premiums and transit passes. All of these services are paid for out of taxpayer dollars.
3. The free health care in Canada is in jeopardy because of the rising number of seniors that are in need of medical services.
4. With the rise in life expectancies, seniors are now expected to live longer lives, essentially costing the Canadian government billions of dollars in the future.
5. Many Canadians are in an uproar over the cost of caring for elderly members of society. It is believed that the health care system will become overloaded and that the money should be used on those who need help not every senior eligible.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
Family caregiving doesn’t typically run smoothly when brothers and sisters caring for seniors can’t agree. It’s a situation that may jeopardize the health and well-being of older adults as well as generate family turmoil between adult siblings.
Three key factors, more than any others, will influence if relationships between the adult children will deteriorate, and whether the quality of care to the parent will be compromised, according to research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care® network.
Those factors are the adult children’s ability to make important decisions together; their ability to divide the caregiving workload; and their level of teamwork, according to Jeff Huber, president and Chief Operating Officer of the Home Instead Senior Care network. Those factors are the adult children’s ability to make important decisions together; their ability to divide the caregiving workload; and their level of teamwork.
It’s difficult when aging parents believe that their adult children are experiencing family conflict as a result of caregiving issues. “My impression is that parents end up getting help when their children disagree, but I think the more common problem is that it’s hard on elderly parents to know their children are in conflict,” said Ingrid Connidis, Ph.D., sibling relationships expert from the University of Western Ontario.
“I think for most it’s bad enough they already need the help of their children, but if their situation is causing conflict it’s especially tough,” said Connidis, who worked with the Home Instead Senior Care network on the 50-50 Rules, public education program for sibling caregivers.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
As your parents get older it is common for the responsibility of bills to become too much for them to handle by themselves. Some parents may require assistance but be sure to speak with them about it first. The recession has also been hard on everyone including those whose retirement fund may not last as long as they planned. Be sure everyone is on the same page and is happy with the end result.
Some Tips for Handling Financial Woes
• Discuss every aspect of your parent’s financial situation that they are comfortable sharing.
• Reach a financial agreement everyone is happy with.
• Keep in mind the impact the recession has had on seniors. In Canada, 20.6 percent of seniors filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
• Automatic bill paying is good for seniors who have trouble remembering to get them in on time.
• Maintain a united front with your siblings.
• Ensure everyone understands the problems and the outcomes.
Communication is the Most Important Thing
Remember that talking about finances can be a very private matter so approach the topic gently willing to understand and assist in a way that is best for everyone involved.
Home Care Mississauga helping older adults and elderly live independently and safely at home. Home Instead Senior Care in Mississauga knows the stress that our public home care system is under and we can provide the professional care that our aging seniors need. Please call 905- 276-2273.
As you and your siblings approach mid-life and your parents retire it can be a good idea to start thinking about sensitive subjects like how your parents will be looked after. Caregiving can between siblings can be very stressful and cause a great deal of conflict. Luckily, there are some tips that can help things go smoothly.
1. Be honest if taking the bulk of the responsibility is becoming overwhelming. Let your siblings know the things they can do to help.
2. Plan ahead for your parent’s wishes. Decide ahead of time how you will divide responsibilities amongst your siblings.
3. Be flexible when it comes to the needs of your parents and siblings. Consider schedules, skills and interests when it comes to dividing the responsibility.
4. Research options to determine the type of care that your parent needs and look for organizations and resources that can meet your needs.
5. Talk and listen to your parent because their independence is important to them. It is best to talk to your family before caregiving starts.
Discuss options with your family ahead of time. This will prevent any aggravation down the road and allow responsibility to be fairly divided among the caregivers.
