The 5 Most Common Mistakes Made By People With Elderly Parents:
1. Not having a discussions about alternative living arrangements for your parents.
It is important to be proactive concerning this! It is so much easier and less confrontational to start this process early and often. If you start early having discussions about options and choices, you can be much more low key about it.
If you wait and start talking about it after your Dad has fallen and broken his hip, there is no time to be low key-you are now “under the gun” to find answers quickly!
2. Not having a clear picture of your parents’ finances.
Know whether or not they have a long term care policy. If so, you should know where it is and make sure it’s easily accessible. Also, take some time to read through it so you know what it does and does not cover.
If they do not have insurance, what other financial resources do they have? Perhaps it would make sense for you and your parents to talk with a lawyer about Medicaid eligibility and spend down rules. Also, if you have a parent who is a Veteran, it’s possible they’re eligible to receive coverage for some services.
3. When your parents’ health starts to fail, thinking that a nursing home is the only option.
There are no shortage of options around these days. If your parent is resolute about staying in their own home, it is very possible to arrange for care there.
You can also get a bit creative about combining several types of care. As an example, a family could have Dad go to an adult day care facility a few times a week. Other days you may have a caregiver that stays with him other days and also overnight. Then you and other family members can fill in other times, if needed. When it comes to customizing a plan that is right for you and your loved ones, the possibilities are endless.
4. Trying to find help at the last minute
This is a big one. If you wait until Mom is schedule to come home tomorrow from a hospital stay, it will be extremely difficult to make good, rational decisions in such a short time. Trying to develop a good plan of care under such stress will be overwhelming.
You’ll want to do your research as early as possible. Identify some facilities or agencies and contact them. See which ones you get a good vibe from and build a relationship with them. Arrange for you and/or your parent(s) to visit or have someone come to the home for an assessment. By starting the process sooner rather than later, you can call on people who are familiar with your situation if an emergency occurs.
5. Only taking cost into consideration when selecting care providers
This can go either way. Very expensive nursing home facilities may not have very good track records when it comes to caring for their residents. Don’t just look at pretty websites, videos, fancy tours or brochures. It’s important to talk to as many residents and their loved ones as possible to get a true sense of the care the facility provides.
And it you’re looking to arrange home care, selecting the company with the lowest rates might not be the best option. The quality caregivers out there command (and deserve) a higher salary. Good home care agencies can’t be the lowest cost providers yet offer the best caregivers. Lastly, if you go the home care route, be sure to meet with, and approve of, anyone that will be provider care for your loved one before they start care.
For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524
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