AARP The Magazine Spotlights SeniorBridge and Other Important Resources for Families Starting to Care For Aging Loves Ones
AARP, the world's largest-circulation magazine, with more than 47 million readers – and a reputation for helping people 50+ live their most fulfilling lives, features SeniorBridge in a resourceful article for adult children initiating the process of caring for an aging loved one.
SeniorBridge’s Claudia Fine is the first expert quoted, emphasizing the need to contract professional help early – even if the need does not appear suddenly or obviously. Among the resources outlined, the article directs family members to find help with geriatric care managers because they “can help with all aspects of caring for older adults” and to seek homecare only from an agency that has been awarded an accreditation and has caregivers on-staff.
Below are excerpts from the article. To read the full text, click here (printable) or read it on AARP’s site here.
To learn more about SeniorBridge’s CHAP accreditation, click the link to the right. To learn more about the benefit of hiring SeniorBridge’s on-staff caregivers, read our pamphlet, here.
Excerpts:
YOUR LOVED ONE'S NEXT MOVE: A STARTER KIT
By Tina Addler
How to Know When It's Time
Sometimes an elder's need for help is sudden and obvious. More often, though, it becomes apparent gradually, experts say. So how will you know? Watch for changes in your loved one's behavior, such as ignoring favorite hobbies, missing dates with friends, or forgetting to pay bills. Not every change means danger, but when a shift happens, it's important to understand why, says Claudia Fine, an executive at SeniorBridge, a geriatric-care management company.
Although you may not see yourself as a “caregiver,” that's the term for anyone who looks after a person who needs assistance with daily tasks.
Keeping a loved one in their house, or yours, can be challenging if they need daily help with some tasks. Thankfully, there are services to make it easier…
Geriatric-care managers are certified professionals who can help with all aspects of caring for older adults….
Getting Your Loved One On Board
• Set a time line Try presenting care, in whatever form, as something to try out for a little while.
• Make your relative the boss Describe care providers as “assistants” to show that your loved one is still in charge.
• Tweak your language Frame help in the way that will most appeal to your relative. Maybe it's a deserved luxury; maybe it's something recommended by a trusted doctor or friend.
• Turn the tables Remind your loved one that by accepting help, he is easing your fears and making your life less stressful.
If it's home health care you're seeking, look for an agency that hires its own employees, rather than using independent contractors.
For both residential facilities and home health care, ask about accreditation, a credential awarded by one of several private agencies.
Remember, Medicare pays for short-term care after an injury or surgery. It does not cover long-term care.