Preparing To Be a Caregiver

No matter what your age, sooner or later, life will change. As we age, that change sometimes involves needing some level of care, and that care often involves a spouse or other family member. In fact, according to a 2015 report from the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP, about 34.2 million Americans had provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the preceding 12 months. About 15.7 million family caregivers were responsible for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
Every person, but especially every senior or senior couple, should be preparing to face the possibility of being a caretaker or needing one. As in all things, this responsibility is best handled by thinking ahead and planning. Even if you, your spouse or senior loved one is not in need of care right now, it is wise to think about and plan for future possibilities. Here are some common-sense steps to take now, while planning does not involve urgent decisions and emotional choices.
Start consulting with all those who are potentially involved. Begin a conversation with your spouse, children and other loved ones about this subject. No matter how physically, mentally and emotionally fit you are, no one should try to approach the responsibilities of caregiving alone. Other family members are the most likely sources of help, but do not forget close friends, religious affiliations and other outside sources of possible help.
Talk over values and preferences for things like health care, life extending measures and financial details. Do not wait until a crisis occurs. If you do, big decisions may be driven by emotions and assumptions.
Start taking care of yourself now! Young people often begin to think of their own health when a child is born. They say to themselves, “Now I’ve got this responsibility, I must be careful, I must be more moderate.” People approaching senior living should consider the same idea. Today, most people entering a senior lifestyle, do so in good health, but the responsibility of caretaking can come on quickly. If you have allowed yourself to slip into poor health, it will be all the more difficult.
Assemble a team and make a plan. Now is the time for spouses, loved ones and family members to get on the same page about a caregiving plan. Know who is to be responsible for financial decisions, for living quarters, for respite care and other responsibilities.
Find support and services ahead of time. Caregiver support groups can be a lifesaver. They can help navigate the healthcare system, the social service agencies and government programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Find out about resources like eldercare.gov (from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources) and local senior centers in your area. Become familiar with resources like Meals on Wheels, the Alzheimer’s Association and CancerCare websites which also offer support group information.
Right now, there are some basic things that all seniors and those entering a senior lifestyle should have done. Legal documents like wills, living wills, trust agreements, and medical directives should be in place and up to date. If they are not current, please remember to contact a member of the Senior Transition Pro Team. Elder law attorneys Wendy Mara and Robert Abraham can make certain that your legal preparations are in good order. Mr. Andrew Grant  is an expert in estate and trust legal matters.
If you have already begun to be a caregiver and are seeking in-home care help, respite care or even live in care then Plan Life Care, a member of OurSeniors.net’s approved vendor group can help you. Plan Life Care specializes in individual or corporate care options that are exceptional, affordable and bring the comfort of home back to your loved one’s life. Check their webpage in the OurSeniors.net Approved Vendor Directory.
Serving the needs of seniors in all ways is the mission of OurSeniors.net.  You can contact an OurSeniors.net Advisor by phone at 866-333-2657 (se habla Español), or by using Contact Us. Check out our website at OurSeniors.net and take an online look at our senior living magazine, OurSeniors.net Magazine.
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