Stretching Your Caregiving $$

Kitchen Table Talk

One in four American households, about 22.3 million, provides emotional or physical care for aging parents, spouses or siblings.  Seventy-five percent of caregivers are women.  Male caregivers are on the rise. 1 in 8 middle-aged Americans are both raising a child and caring for a parent.

As we care for our aging loved ones, we must open the discussion of their wants and needs regarding healthcare.   Caregivers of aging loved ones can begin with a kitchen table talk.  This is a way to open the door for Advance Care Planning.   Advance Care Planning promotes communication and provides peace of mind for the caregiver and the care receiver. 

Ideas on how to open the discussion with your loved one:

·         “I know you can manage on your own, but I’m here if you need me.  Have you thought about where you’d like to live if you needed more help?”

·         “Have you thought about what you would do in an emergency?”

·         “Could you give me the name and phone numbers of your (lawyer, accountant, or others that might help manage their affairs) in case there is an emergency?”

·         “Dad, since Mom pays the bills and you prepare the taxes, do you know each other’s filing systems?  I’d like to know, too, since Mom might need help if anything happens to you.”

·         “Mom, I have recently been looking over my important papers and made sure they are filed in a safe place.  Have you and Dad done this?”

·         “I wanted to talk with you about the future while you are both healthy.  You always took good care of me.  Someday it might be my turn to take care of you, and I want to know what’s important to you.”

Be prepared.  Below is a list of items to consider in a discussion about Advance Care Planning.  Seek an Elder Law Attorney for legal documents and advice.

1.      Names, addresses and phone numbers of doctors, dentist, in home care providers, lawyers, financial advisors, and banks

2.      Will, Living Will, Medical Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney

3.      Keys to safe deposit box or mail box

4.      Insurance policies - life, health, auto etc.

5.      Social security, Medicare and Medicaid numbers

6.      Complete list of assets including savings, money market, stocks, bonds and any retirement accounts

7.      List of debts, including mortgages, personal loan and other liabilities

8.      List of all routine household bills

9.      Copies of income tax returns from the past three years 

10.   Government Resources – Medicare/Medicaid/VA

11.   Community Resources – Private In-Home Care

12.   Assistance Programs – Senior Adult Day Care

13.   Neighborhood Resources – Church Programs

Cindy Hartman, RN, BSN

C&S Care Management, Inc.

chartman@cs-care.com

Office:  281-550-8444

15430 Ridge Park Drive

Houston, Texas  77095

 

Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad - Week 2

Technology and Aging:  Adventures with an iPad
Week 2:  Koi Pond HD Lite

My first introduction to a touch screen came when I was given an iPhone for Christmas by my tech savvy husband and kids.  Really, all I wanted was a phone to call people…isn’t that what phones are for?  I certainly didn’t need all the fancy features…games?  Cameras?  Notes, clocks and calendars?  How in the heck do you make a phone call?!

It didn’t take me long to figure out that this gadget was the coolest thing ever.  And wouldn’t it be great for my clients?  There had to be apps to engage my clients with dementia, or what about keeping in touch with far flung families?  And if my iPhone had potential, just imagine what you could do with an iPad and its bigger screen and icons.  Hmmm…wasn’t my birthday coming soon?!

With iPad in hand (my family does in fact listen when I tell them things, at least occasionally), I traipsed over to the home of my swimming client and his wife.  The first app I loaded for them was Koi Pond HD Lite…hey, it was free and I’m cheap.  My little lady who’d had Alzheimer’s for years and was pretty much non-verbal was instantly attracted to the movement on the screen.  She watched intently as I dipped my finger into the “water” and followed the fish with her eyes as they swam out of sight.  When they returned, she tentatively touched the screen.  SPLASH!  Again they darted away.  She was entranced.  And so was her husband…not by the display but by the actions of his wife who was so often off in a world of her own. 

Together the two of them sat by the side of the pond, sometimes chasing the fish, other times quietly watching the calm, soothing dance of the koi.  What simple pleasure…what great joy!  My first Adventure with an iPad had me hooked (and yes, I get it)!

There are lots of awesome features available, particularly if you upgrade to Koi Pond HD, but for my purposes, the Lite version was perfect.

Here’s a screen shot of Koi Pond HD Lite and, just so you know, it’s not easy taking a picture of moving fish!

Chris Hicks, C&S Care Manager

Technology and Aging: Adventures with an iPad

Technology and Aging:  Adventures with an iPad – iPhone camera (spoiler alert, this post doesn’t really use the iPad but next week’s will, I promise!)

As a geriatric care manager, I am constantly looking for new ways to engage my clients.  I have a “can do” attitude.  I frequently say to clients and families that they better not tell me they’d like to do something unless they mean it because once it’s out there, I’ll find a way to make it happen.  For instance, I had a gentleman in his late 80’s with Parkinson’s.  He’d been in a wheelchair for a number of years, unable to walk because his knees were rubbing bone on bone.  He and his wife (who had dementia) had 24 hour care in the home and he was reluctant to leave her to do anything special for himself.  But one day, he told me he dreamed of swimming again.  I looked at him and asked him if he was serious.  Would he really go to the pool if I could make it happen?  Certain that it was impossible, he readily agreed that yes, he’d love to do it. 

I started by contacting a friend who just happened to be a physical therapy assistant and aquatic therapist.  She was game to try.  An okay from the doctor got things rolling.  My friend came to the house to do an evaluation then a week later, with a brand spanking new pair of swim trunks (I drew the line at his ancient Speedo!), we were off.  Since he was headed to “therapy”, not just going out for “fun”, he was able to leave his wife at home. 

We met my friend at a local health club with an indoor pool and lift.  She brought along every flotation device known to humankind and we got the client in the pool.  What a thrill!  With cuffs around his frail arms and legs, a flotation seat and multiple noodles wrapped around his torso, he was able to “swim”!  For the first time in years he could move on his own, with the HUGEST SMILE on his face ever!!!  Over time, we tweaked the adaptive devices to provide better support and allow for more range of motion.  What a thrill for all of us!

Now, what does this have to do with technology or an iPad you ask?  Check out this photo of my client swimming, taken with my iPhone camera of course!

Next week’s blog post will get us started on ways I’ve used the iPad in my work with seniors.  Just as a teaser…what do koi ponds, Maria Callas and doodling have in common?  Check in next week for the answer!

Chris Hicks, C&S Care Manager