Sunday, August 30, 2009
Read Inside Elder Care because you, a friend or a member of your family be providing some form of CareGiving.
The Inside-Elder-Care site is brought to you by Ryan Malone helping families learn how to make elder care a positive experience.
Looking at Alzheimers and Caregivers from the inside
Four books recommended by members of local support groups in MetroWest MA for those looking for writers with Alheimer's wanting to read books offering the personal view of individuals having ALZ and those families now facing the roles of caregivers.
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Larry's Way: ANOTHER LOOK AT ALZHEIMER'S FROM THE INSIDE
"Once a person has been diagnoses with AlzheimerÂ’s disease, they become discouraged, frustrated, depressed and angry. Larry is different. While obviously not welcoming his illness, he has turned his feeling and insights toward writing this book."
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Still Alice
"Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer's disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University."
"Reminiscent of A Beautiful Mind, Ordinary People and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Still Alice packs a powerful emotional punch and marks the arrival of a strong new voice in fiction."
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The Comfort of Home
"Burnout — the complete drain of physical, spiritual, and emotional reserves — occurs when a caregiver slips into exhaustion or depression. More and more frequently, the responsibility of caring for the chronically ill child, the disabled spouse, or the aging parent falls on a family member. "
"From the decision to be a caregiver to dealing with day-to-day activities, this guide provides help with every aspect of home care. Also included in this edition are a checklist of tasks, a chapter on self-care and avoiding caregiver burnout, a glossary, and list of helpful resources."
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The Alzheimer's Sourcebook for Caregivers
"Author is director of SHACTI (Self-Help Alzheimer's Caregiver's Training and Information). Facts-based, hands-on guide for those caring for in-home Alzheimer's patients. Discusses how to deal with stress and difficult behaviors, how to find outside help, and how to nurture your own well-being. For consumers."
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The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's-Proofing Your Home (Revised Edition) by Mark Warner and Ellen Warner
"Written by a practicing architect and gerontologist, The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's-Proofing Your Home shows you how to create a home environment that will help you cope with the many difficulties associated with Alzheimer's. "
"This unique book is divided into two sections to provide the most thorough coverage available. Section One deals with interior and exterior spaces individually, providing key information on how to ensure that the Alzheimer's patient will be safe and secure."
" Section Two gives a detailed list of potential problems related to Alzheimer's and practical information on how to cope with those problems in the home setting."
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Please feel free to make your recommendations within the blog comments.
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Larry's Way: ANOTHER LOOK AT ALZHEIMER'S FROM THE INSIDE
"Once a person has been diagnoses with AlzheimerÂ’s disease, they become discouraged, frustrated, depressed and angry. Larry is different. While obviously not welcoming his illness, he has turned his feeling and insights toward writing this book."
--
Still Alice
"Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer's disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University."
"Reminiscent of A Beautiful Mind, Ordinary People and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Still Alice packs a powerful emotional punch and marks the arrival of a strong new voice in fiction."
--
The Comfort of Home
"Burnout — the complete drain of physical, spiritual, and emotional reserves — occurs when a caregiver slips into exhaustion or depression. More and more frequently, the responsibility of caring for the chronically ill child, the disabled spouse, or the aging parent falls on a family member. "
"From the decision to be a caregiver to dealing with day-to-day activities, this guide provides help with every aspect of home care. Also included in this edition are a checklist of tasks, a chapter on self-care and avoiding caregiver burnout, a glossary, and list of helpful resources."
--
The Alzheimer's Sourcebook for Caregivers
"Author is director of SHACTI (Self-Help Alzheimer's Caregiver's Training and Information). Facts-based, hands-on guide for those caring for in-home Alzheimer's patients. Discusses how to deal with stress and difficult behaviors, how to find outside help, and how to nurture your own well-being. For consumers."
--
The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's-Proofing Your Home (Revised Edition) by Mark Warner and Ellen Warner
"Written by a practicing architect and gerontologist, The Complete Guide to Alzheimer's-Proofing Your Home shows you how to create a home environment that will help you cope with the many difficulties associated with Alzheimer's. "
"This unique book is divided into two sections to provide the most thorough coverage available. Section One deals with interior and exterior spaces individually, providing key information on how to ensure that the Alzheimer's patient will be safe and secure."
" Section Two gives a detailed list of potential problems related to Alzheimer's and practical information on how to cope with those problems in the home setting."
===
Please feel free to make your recommendations within the blog comments.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Financial Matters | The Alzheimer's Association
Financial Matters
The cost of providing long-term care for a person with dementia can be very expensive. Many people assume that government programs, such as Medicare and others, will pay for it. However, it is individuals and families that typically pay for services out of their own pocket.
To reduce the financial stress that can come from paying for care requires advance planning.
Gather financial and legal documents
Carefully go over financial and legal documents. Getting a handle on existing expenses, assets and income can help you identify any necessary documents that are not in place.
Gather documents such as:
* Wills
* Medical and durable powers of attorney
* Bank and brokerage accounts
*Deeds, mortgage papers or ownership statements
*Pension and other retirements benefit summaries
*Social Security payment information
* Stock and bond certificates
* Monthly or outstanding bills
* Insurance policies
Ways to cover the costs of care
A number of financial resources may be available to help cover the costs care:
Insurance – includes government insurance programs such as Medicare and Medigap; disability insurance from an employer-paid plan or personal policy; group employee plan or retiree medical coverage; life insurance and long-term care insurance. After symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear, it is usually no longer possible to purchase many types of insurance.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Medicare covers inpatient hospital care, some doctor’s fees, some medical items and outpatient prescription drugs. The program also provides some home health care, including skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy, under certain conditions. It does not pay for long-term nursing home care.
Medigap insurance fills gaps in Medicare coverage, such as paying for coinsurance. The more expensive Medigap policies may cover additional items.
Disability insurance provides income for a worker who can no longer work due to illness or injury. An employer-paid disability policy provides 60 to 70 percent of a person's gross income.
Long-term care insurance typically pays for the costs of most care settings, include nursing homes. If the person with dementia has a long-term care policy, carefully review it to see if Alzheimer's disease is covered, when can benefits start being collected and what kind of care the policy covers.
Life insurance can be a valuable source of cash. The person with dementia may be able to receive a part of the policy's face value as a loan, called a viatical loan, that is paid off upon the person's death.
Retirement benefits – includes individual retirement accounts (IRAs), employee-funded retirement plans, such as a 401(k), 403(b) and Keough.
Personal savings and assets – includes stocks, bonds, savings accounts, real estate and personal property, such as jewelry or artwork.
Government assistance – includes Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for workers under age 65; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Medicaid; veterans benefits; and tax deductions and credits, such as the Household and Dependent Care Credit.
Social Security Disability Income is for workers younger than 65 who qualify for benefits. To qualify, the person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability. Generally that means proving that the person with dementia is unable to work in any occupation and the condition will last at least a year or is expected to result in death.
Supplemental Security Income guarantees a minimum monthly income for people who are age 65 or older, are disabled or blind, and have very limited income and assets. To qualify for benefits, the person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability.
Medicaid pays for medical care for people with very low income and assets levels. It also pays for long-term care for people who have used up most of their own money, under most circumstances. The person with dementia should be very careful about giving away assets to family members to qualify for Medicaid. Strict laws govern this area.
Community support – includes local support services at low or no cost, such as respite care, support groups, transportation and meal delivery.
Taxes and Alzheimer's Disease (26 pages)
National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information
This government site presents the different types of long-term care as well as how to plan and pay for the care.
The cost of providing long-term care for a person with dementia can be very expensive. Many people assume that government programs, such as Medicare and others, will pay for it. However, it is individuals and families that typically pay for services out of their own pocket.
To reduce the financial stress that can come from paying for care requires advance planning.
Gather financial and legal documents
Carefully go over financial and legal documents. Getting a handle on existing expenses, assets and income can help you identify any necessary documents that are not in place.
Gather documents such as:
* Wills
* Medical and durable powers of attorney
* Bank and brokerage accounts
*Deeds, mortgage papers or ownership statements
*Pension and other retirements benefit summaries
*Social Security payment information
* Stock and bond certificates
* Monthly or outstanding bills
* Insurance policies
Ways to cover the costs of care
A number of financial resources may be available to help cover the costs care:
Insurance – includes government insurance programs such as Medicare and Medigap; disability insurance from an employer-paid plan or personal policy; group employee plan or retiree medical coverage; life insurance and long-term care insurance. After symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear, it is usually no longer possible to purchase many types of insurance.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Medicare covers inpatient hospital care, some doctor’s fees, some medical items and outpatient prescription drugs. The program also provides some home health care, including skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy, under certain conditions. It does not pay for long-term nursing home care.
Medigap insurance fills gaps in Medicare coverage, such as paying for coinsurance. The more expensive Medigap policies may cover additional items.
Disability insurance provides income for a worker who can no longer work due to illness or injury. An employer-paid disability policy provides 60 to 70 percent of a person's gross income.
Long-term care insurance typically pays for the costs of most care settings, include nursing homes. If the person with dementia has a long-term care policy, carefully review it to see if Alzheimer's disease is covered, when can benefits start being collected and what kind of care the policy covers.
Life insurance can be a valuable source of cash. The person with dementia may be able to receive a part of the policy's face value as a loan, called a viatical loan, that is paid off upon the person's death.
Retirement benefits – includes individual retirement accounts (IRAs), employee-funded retirement plans, such as a 401(k), 403(b) and Keough.
Personal savings and assets – includes stocks, bonds, savings accounts, real estate and personal property, such as jewelry or artwork.
Government assistance – includes Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for workers under age 65; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Medicaid; veterans benefits; and tax deductions and credits, such as the Household and Dependent Care Credit.
Social Security Disability Income is for workers younger than 65 who qualify for benefits. To qualify, the person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability. Generally that means proving that the person with dementia is unable to work in any occupation and the condition will last at least a year or is expected to result in death.
Supplemental Security Income guarantees a minimum monthly income for people who are age 65 or older, are disabled or blind, and have very limited income and assets. To qualify for benefits, the person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability.
Medicaid pays for medical care for people with very low income and assets levels. It also pays for long-term care for people who have used up most of their own money, under most circumstances. The person with dementia should be very careful about giving away assets to family members to qualify for Medicaid. Strict laws govern this area.
Community support – includes local support services at low or no cost, such as respite care, support groups, transportation and meal delivery.
Taxes and Alzheimer's Disease (26 pages)
National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information
This government site presents the different types of long-term care as well as how to plan and pay for the care.
Alzheimer's Association National Office 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601
Alzheimer's Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization
24/7 Helpline: 1.800.272.3900
Caring for Alzheimer's | The Alzheimer’s Association
Caring for Alzheimer's
No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there's no one approach to caregiving. Your responsibilities can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning.
Handling these duties is hard work. But by learning caregiving skills, you can make sure that your loved one feels supported and is living a full life. You can also ensure that you are taking steps to preserve your own well-being.
In this section:
* Daily Care - activities, communication, eating, bathing and more.
* Behaviors - agitation, repetition, hallucinations, sundowning and other behaviors.
* Safety Issues - home safety, medication safety, driving and wandering.
* Coping - strategies for caregiver stress, changing relationships, grief and loss, and getting respite.
* Caregiver Stress Check - take the quiz and get personalized resources.
* Free guides -
CareFinder Guide http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_16447.asp
Friday, August 28, 2009
ElderCare & Alzheimer's Care at Home
Welcome | ElderCare & Alzheimer's Care at Home
Alzheimer’s Care at Home! Having spent over seventeen years helping families keep their loved one at home, I’ve decided to start this blog to share some of the things I’ve learned along the way. When someone you care about has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia or any other type of memory impairment, every day is a new challenge. Some days are good - some days are bad. I hope that although I don’t have all the answers, you will find something here that helps getting through each day, each week and each year, a little easier!
University of Florida AlzOnline | Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online
AlzOnline : Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online
AlzOnline believes that throughout your caregiving journey you will have questions related to the many aspects of caring for a loved one. We want to help meet these challenges by providing quality caregiver education, information, and support.
Alzheimer's Finding the humanity and love in Alzheimer's care
www.bigtreemurphy.com - Finding the humanity and love in Alzheimer's care.
Finding the Humanity and Love
in Alzheimer's Care
For families facing the ethical, emotional and physical care issues of Alzheimer's Disease.
Using Usual Items To Do Unusual Tasks by Beverly Bigtree Murphy, MS, CRCR
Using Usual Things
Finding the products one needs to meet the changing needs of a loved one facing long-term care doesn’t have to be as difficult as one might think. I found, during the many years of home care of my husband, that I didn’t always need to get the high-tech expensive products advertised in catalogues and medical supply places, and more often than not, by using a little creativity and ingenuity, I was able to take common items and make them do uncommon things.
Google mapping feature track locations
Google Maps gains tracking feature - The Boston Globe
The Latitude program, a feature in the mobile version of Google Maps, will work with wireless devices in 27 countries. A wife could use it to see if her husband is on the way to meet her at a restaurant.
The company is counting on Latitude to help expand beyond Internet searches and raise its profile in social networking
Aging in place Steve Maas Globe Correspondent
New programs help elderly stay in their own homes - The Boston Globe
“Most of us have raised our families here. It’s a wonderful community. Why would we want to leave?’’ says Bliss, a native New Yorker who moved to Newton in the late ’60s. “What attracts so many of us is that we’re used to having a lot of say in our lives, and we don’t see why that should be different when we’re 75, 80, 85, or even 90.’’
Residents in Wellesley, Wayland, and Lincoln are organizing similar intentional communities, or villages, as they are often called. Meanwhile, the not-for-profit Carleton-Willard Homes Inc., which owns a retirement village in Bedford, has established a separate division to coordinate an intentional community serving residents in Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, and Lincoln.
The communities intend to supplement, not replace, existing services, such as those provided by councils on aging. They aim to fill in the gaps and offer the personal attention and relationships that are lost as family and friends die or move away.
“This intermediary organization is more like a club, a church, or temple than a government,’’ says Janet Giele, vice president of Wellesley at Home and a retired professor of sociology at the Heller School at Brandeis University. “We are so oriented as a society toward a market, the grocery-shopping approach. You go in and get what you want. The nature of human caregiving is not a grocery-shopping experience. It’s a sense of mutual obligation, of loyalty, of friendship, or a word we never use, love.’’
Launched by Boston’s Beacon Hill Village in 2002, the aging-in-place movement has spread to some 40 cities and towns across the United States. While the evidence is only anecdotal, it has benefited from the downturn in the economy. Because they have trouble selling their homes, some seniors have put off buying into retirement communities, and ravaged stock portfolios make it difficult for them to afford the fees.
By contrast, many intentional communities charge well under $1,000 for annual membership. As much as possible, the communities enlist volunteers to provide services, drawing on students, community and church groups, and the members themselves.
caregiver, a family member or both, clothing resource
Buck and Buck
About Buck & Buck
We, Julie and Bill Buck, founded this company in 1978 based upon a need identified by Julie who was an assistant administrator in a nursing home at the time and responsible for seeing that her residents had appropriate clothing. Many residents did not have family or friends to shop for them so Julie took that task upon herself. The problem encountered was that choices were slim in finding quality, appropriate clothing. Julie took the challenge to heart and she and I hunted down garments from USA companies that would look good, feel comfortable and be suitable for her residents. We borrowed some money from our family, purchased garments, loaded the garments in our van and started the Buck and Buck Company bringing clothing to the residents.
Julie also identified the special needs that many aging adults have in requiring assistance in dressing due to their physical or mental limitations. Julie took up that challenge with enthusiasm and worked with residents, families, Aides, nurses and physical therapists to design garments that would either maintain the resident's independence or provide assistance in dressing to the caregiver while preserving dignity of the wearer.
Other companies have copied Buck and Buck designs because our ideas in solving dressing issues are so in tune with the needs of the customer, but the quality and attention to detail at Buck and Buck is unmatched.
Whether you are a caregiver, a family member or both, our web site and catalog will acquaint you with clothing designs which promote independence for the self-dresser, as well as special closure items which make assisted dressing easier for both the wearer and the caregiver.
Talk to one of our customer service representatives. We have been helping family members and caregivers make appropriate selections for over 31 years and are excellent at solving most dressing difficulties. Please let us help you!
Any suggestions about our products, website or catalog design are welcomed. You may email them to: julie@buckandbuck.com or bill@buckandbuck.com
Bill and Julie Buck
California: Caregiver Resource Centers
California Caregiver Resource Centers
Caregiver Resource Center serves as a point of entry to services available to caregiving families in every county of California. Services are free or low cost
Caregiver magazine
Caregiver.com - About Us
Caregiver Media Group is a leading provider of information, support and guidance for family and professional caregivers. Founded in 1995, we produce Today's Caregiver magazine, the first national magazine dedicated to caregivers, the "Sharing Wisdom Caregivers Conferences", and our web site, caregiver.com which includes topic specific newsletters, online discussion lists, back issue articles of Today's Caregiver magazine, chat rooms and an online store. Caregiver Media Group and all of it's products are developed for caregivers, about caregivers and by caregivers.
Family Caregiver Alliance
FCA: About FCA
Founded in 1977, Family Caregiver Alliance was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. Long recognized as a pioneer in health services, FCA now offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain caregivers.
History
More than 30 years ago, a small task force of families and community leaders in San Francisco came together to create support services for those struggling to provide long term care for a loved one who did not "fit" into traditional health systems: adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's, traumatic brain injury and other debilitating disorders. The diagnoses were different, but the families shared common challenges: isolation, lack of information, few community resources, and drastic changes in family roles.
The task force's early efforts had three lasting results: the formation of Family Caregiver Alliance; the genesis of California's statewide network of Caregiver Resource Centers; and the beginnings of a national movement to recognize the immense contribution of family caregivers to the long-term health care of the ill and elderly in our country.
National, State and Local Programs
Uniting research, policy and practice, FCA established the National Center on Caregiving (NCC) to advance the development of high-quality, cost effective programs and policies for caregivers in every state in the country. The NCC sponsors the Family Care Navigator to help caregivers locate support services in their communities.
FCA also oversees Link2Care, an Internet support and information system for clients of California's system of Caregiver Resource Centers and operates the Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center in the six-county San Francisco Bay Area. In that capacity, FCA staff social workers work closely with families caring for ill or elderly loved ones. Our services, education programs and publications are developed with their expressed needs in mind, to offer real support, essential information, and tools to manage the complex and demanding tasks of caregiving.
Family Caregiver Alliance is a public voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face, offering them the assistance they so desperately need and deserve, and championing their cause through education, services, research and advocacy.
Caregiver Homes
Caregiver Homes - Caring for Elder Parent or Disabled Adult at Home
Family Caregivers Can Be Paid Up to $18,000 per Year
to Care for Frail Elders or Disabled Adults at Home
Our Caregiver Homes Nurses Help You
MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) now allows family members to be reimbursed for providing care to frail family members or disabled adults in the home.Eligibility. Frail Elder or Disabled Adult must:
- Live in Massachusetts
- Be eligible for MassHealth
- Live with caregiver
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, caregiver support for elder care
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) home page. We invite you to explore our site -- whether you are looking for elder care for a family member or want a deeper understanding of this growing profession.
Professional Geriatric Care Managers (PGCMs) are health and human services specialists who help families care for older relatives, while encouraging as much independence as possible. The PGCM may be trained in any of a number of fields related to long-term care, including, but not limited to, nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care. The PGCM acts as a guide and advocate -- identifying problems and offering solutions, from assessment of an aging parent's needs to addressing the life change of a family affected by Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinsons or other symptoms of dementia.
http://www.carepilot.com/
CarePilot
CarePilot is the Internet's leading source of information on local home health agencies and services.
Caring.com
About Caring.com | Caring.com
About Caring.com
Caring.com was created to help you care for your aging parents and other loved ones. Our mission is to give you the information and other resources you need to make better decisions, save time, and feel more supported.
There are more than 34 million of you today caring for parents, grandparents, and other aging relatives (see Facts on Eldercare, Aging, and Caregivers). Most of you, research shows, also work in demanding jobs. Many of you are sandwiched between generations, caring for both your parents and your own children. You have to make complex decisions daily, and you frequently find yourself alone in your role as caregiver. It can be a difficult and overwhelming experience.
Caring Connections, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO),
Caringinfo - Home
Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a national consumer and community engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life, supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Your Next Vacation Could Save Your Life by Margot Dougherty
Your Next Vacation Could Save Your Life from Condé Nast Traveler on Concierge.com
Research suggests that vacations can reduce the risk of heart disease, depression, and a host of other ills—and even slow the aging process. Margot Dougherty reports on the healing powers of travel and tries out a California-style cure
Esther Sternberg needed a break. After spending months as a long-distance caregiver for her terminally ill mother, she developed inflammatory arthritis. The irony wasn't lost on Sternberg, a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health who studies the link between stress and disease. In 1997, shortly after Sternberg's mother died, neighbors invited her to visit them at their cottage in Crete. "I was in this beautiful spot, an isolated village on the south coast of the island," she says of the trip. "I swam in a wonderful calm cove and started walking more every day. I ate a healthy Mediterranean diet and had lots of social support from the many grandmothers in town who took care of me." Sternberg says she'd climb the hill to the Temple of Asclepios (perhaps not so coincidentally the Greek god of healing) and relax while looking out at the bougainvillea, the white stucco houses, and the sea. "I realized that I wasn't going to let my body heal unless I let go and built into my life the kinds of things I was doing on this trip. The experience convinced me to change my lifestyle."
When she got back to her home in Bethesda, Maryland, Sternberg continued to swim and take time out to "reflect and be quiet," and her arthritis receded. "My story may not be scientific," she says, "but it's a testimonial to the potential beneficial effects of vacation on health." And on work: A PBS special based on her books and research, The Science of Healing with Dr. Esther Sternberg, airs later this fall.
Common sense suggests that vacations are good for you, but science is now proving what we've known all along. In 1992, a follow-up to the massive Framingham Heart Study showed that participants who took the fewest holidays were most likely to suffer a heart attack. A study by the State University of New York, Oswego, published in 2000, tracked male patients at risk of heart disease over a 16-year period. "The results," says lead researcher Brooks Gump, "show an association between taking an annual vacation and a reduced risk of heart attack and death." In Gump's study, those who took fewer holidays were 30 percent more likely to die of a heart attack.
Vacation time may even stave off old age. "The ends of chromosomes are like the plastic ends of shoelaces," says Sternberg, crediting the work of Elissa Epel, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. "As you age, these ends fall off, the shoelaces unravel, and the chromosomes shorten. If you are chronically stressed, the rate at which this happens speeds up, so people can have chromosomes that are 10 to 17 years shorter than their biological age." Stress has also been shown to ignite or exacerbate ailments ranging from headaches to heart disease, colds to cancer. "To the extent that the kinds of things you do on holiday have been shown to reverse the negative effects of stress," Sternberg says, "we can conclude that vacations can only help."
The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) and the National Alliance for Caregiving
Family Caregiving 101
Family Caregiving 101 Web site. If you're caring for a loved one who is ill or disabled, this site was created for you. It's a great place to find assistance, answers, new ideas and helpful advice — for you and your loved one.
Gilbert Guide Alzheimer's & Dementia Learning Center
Alzheimer's & Dementia | Gilbert Guide
We built our Alzheimer's & Dementia Learning Center to help you find answers, solutions and practical advice for Alzheimer's disease and other dementia related issues. Find out the latest Alzheimer's prevention techniques, while also learning how to discern between normal aging and serious memory loss. We also go through the steps to take after a dementia diagnosis, including what legal documents are important to put into place. Caregivers of dementia patients in mid- to late-stages of the disease can learn about managing difficult behaviors, such as unprovoked anger, agitation, other signs of combativeness and Sundowner's Syndrome. We also give you pointers on how to care for someone with Alzheimer's at home. And if the time should come, we can help you decide whether or not a loved one with Alzheimer's needs to move.
Harvard Health Publications
About Harvard Health Publications
Harvard Health Publications is a division of the Harvard Medical School. The goal of all of our publications is to bring the public, around the world, the most current practical, authoritative health information, drawing on the expertise of the 8,000 faculty physicians at the Harvard Medical School and its world-famous affiliated hospitals.
Working with partners in the publishing industry, Harvard Health Publications publishes information about health and wellness through all types of media: newsletters, books and our website (www.health.harvard.edu). In addition, Harvard Health Publications has editorial responsibility for one of the world's largest and most heavily visited consumer health websites: InteliHealth. Our mission is to be the world's most widely recognized and trusted provider of high-quality information about health.
AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA)
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging - About
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA) is a national non-profit organization established in 1999 by The American Geriatrics Society. We aim to build a bridge between the research and practice of Geriatrics and the Public, and to advocate on behalf of older adults and their special health care needs.
Generations: Elder Services, Jewish Family Service
Generations: Elder Services of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest
provide a wide range of services to the elderly, helping clients maintain independence and self-esteem, address present needs, and plan for the future.
provide a wide range of services to the elderly, helping clients maintain independence and self-esteem, address present needs, and plan for the future.
Caregivers need support too! You and your family members have enormous demands on your time and energy. We'll help relieve your worries. Guidance, support, and concrete services are provided at the highest personal and professional standards, helping your relative age with dignity.
Implementing the care plan
Home Care
home-making and personal care
Counseling
exploring options
Lifeline
emergency response system
Healing Partners
support groups
Friendly Visitor
volunteer companions
Guardianship and Conservatorship
financial management
Kaitz & Siegel Geriatric Care Management
http://www.kaitzandsiegel.com
Kaitz & Siegel Geriatric Care Management provides high-quality, personalized geriatric services for elders and their family members who need additional support. Our objective is to help our clients identify and understand the full range of options available when making important life decisions. Whether facing a crisis or planning for the future, our goal is to promote each client�s dignity, safety, and sense of well-being.
Co-founders Sally Kaitz and Matt Siegel are professional geriatric care managers and licensed social workers with a passionate dedication to the people they serve. Sally and Matt share a vision that is client-centered, respectful, and collaborative. With years of experience in elder care, Sally and Matt welcome the opportunity to provide the thoughtful guidance and support that you need.
We specialize in serving senior adults with declining physical health, cognitive impairment, and mental illness. We also provide guidance for adults with mental and physical disabilities. We are proud to work closely with many medical, legal and financial professionals, civic and religious organizations, and local senior service
providers who share our commitment to providing our clients with exceptional service and care.
National Care Planning Council
Long Term Care Link - A Comprehensive Resource for Long Term Care
Welcome to the National Care Planning Council...
and our web site "Long Term Care Link", a comprehensive
resource for long term care planning. The articles below will
help you learn about long term care planning and the providers
and services in the categories on the left and below under
"Find Eldercare Services" are here to help you with your
eldercare planning needs.
Thomas Day, Director
About the National Care Planning Council
Massachusetts Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
Advocates for MA Nursing Home Residents and Nursing Home Reform
The Massachusetts Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (“MANHR”) is a network of family members, friends and advocates of long-term care residents.
Mission Statement
MANHR’s mission is to improve the quality of care and ensure the dignity and quality of life for MA long-term care residents.
Goals
* To promote effective solutions for achieving compassionate, individualized care for MA long-term care residents, with Culture Change as a primary focus;
* To empower Family-Run Councils in MA long-term care facilities;
* To provide education, resources, and support on long-term care issues to Members and the general public.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead (1901-1978)
Mass. Home Care Assistance Program
Home Care - Health and Human Services
Home Care Assistance Program (HCAP) for Those Under 60
Home Care Agencies for Elders
Independent Living Social Services
Mass. LICENSING OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/regs/105cmr150.pdf
Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association
MASS-ALFA - Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association
Who is MASS • ALFA?
The Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association (Mass-ALFA) is a non-profit association devoted to supporting the establishment and operation of quality assisted living residences in Massachusetts that provide appropriate supportive housing and services for individuals with varied needs and income levels. Established in 1990 as a state affiliate of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), Mass-ALFA has grown to hundreds of members including assisted living providers and associated professionals. Mass-ALFA provides information, advocacy and support to the assisted living community. Mass-ALFA promotes the philosophy of assisted living which includes offering cost-effective quality care tailored to the individual’s needs; fostering independence, dignity and the right to privacy for each resident; allowing each resident choice of care and lifestyle; providing a safe, residential environment and making the assisted living residence a valuable community asset.
MASS • ALFA
135 Beaver Street, Suite 202
Waltham, MA 02452
Telephone 781-622-5999
Fax 781-622-5979
massalfa@massalfa.org
Understanding Medicare is no simple task. the basics.
Medicare Rights Center - Medicare Answers
Medicare Answers
Understanding Medicare is no simple task. So, let's make it easier and start with the basics.
The site will take you to Essential Answers on Medicare Interactive (MI) Counselor, a free, independent, public resource from the Medicare Rights Center. MI Counselor offers easy-to-understand information and advice on a full range of Medicare topics. Drawing from the experience and best practices of the Medicare Rights Center's counselors, MI Counselor explains Medicare choices, how best to get coverage, how to get help with costs, and how to appeal for care if it is denied.
Medicare Coverage Basics
* What is Medicare?
* What does Medicare cover (Parts A, B and D)?
* What does Medicare Part A cover?
* What does Medicare Part B cover?
* Which drugs does the Medicare drug benefit cover?
* What is not covered by Medicare?
Medicare Eligibility
* Am I eligible for Medicare if I am over 65?
* Am I eligible for Medicare if I am under 65?
* Am I eligible for the Medicare drug benefit (Part D)?
Enrolling in Medicare
* I am turning 65. How do I get Medicare?
* I am turning 65 and do not receive retirement benefits. When can I enroll in Medicare?
* I have a disability and am about to become eligible for Medicare. How do I get it?
* Should I enroll in Medicare Part B if I am 65 or older, still working (or spouse is still working) and have insurance from that job?
* Should I enroll in Medicare Part B if I have a disability, am under 65 and have insurance from my (or my spouse's) current job?
* Should I enroll in Medicare Part B if I'm retired and have insurance from a former job?
* Should I enroll in the Medicare drug benefit (Part D)?
Medicare Plan Options
* What are my Medicare health plan choices?
* Can I change my Medicare health plan at any time?
* Can I change my Medicare private drug plan (Part D) at any time?
* Questions to ask before joining a Medicare private health plan
* How do I compare Medicare private drug plans?
Original Medicare Costs
* What do I have to pay for services covered under Medicare Part A?
* What do I have to pay for services covered under Medicare Part B?
Private Health and Drug Plan Costs
* What will I pay in a Medicare private health plan?
* What do I have to pay for drugs covered under the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D)?
Filling Gaps in Medicare
* How can I get help paying for health care costs that Medicare doesn't cover?
* What insurance can I buy to fill gaps in Original Medicare?
Medicare Rights and Protections
* How hard is it to exercise my Medicare rights?
* What can I do if Original Medicare will not pay for care I received?
* What can I do if my Medicare private health plan refuses to pay for care I already received?
* What can I do if my Medicare private health plan refuses to let me get care I need?
* What can I do if the drug I need is not covered by my Medicare drug plan or it is too expensive?
Help Paying for Medicare Costs
* Are there government programs that can help me pay for my health care?
* Are there programs that can help pay for my prescriptions?
Namenda Combination Treatment
Combination Therapy and Namenda – Namenda.com
Since the person you are caring for is already taking a prescribed Alzheimer's medicine, you have already done a great deal toward helping to treat this difficult illness. However, because Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, you may be wondering what more you can do to treat its symptoms. Fortunately, there is an option.
Combination therapy – adding Namenda® (memantine HCl)* to another Alzheimer's medication, Aricept® (donepezil) – may do more to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.1
Combining medications to increase benefits is not a new concept in healthcare. To treat conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, doctors often combine medications so patients derive benefits from drugs that target different aspects of the disease.
Natick Massachusetts VNA
Services & Programs
Specialized Patient Care Programs
Natick VNA has developed special clinical programs to care more effectively for patients experiencing Alzheimer’s disease, mental health problems, rehabilitation therapy needs, wounds, ostomy, continence, skin care issues, and post-partum needs. We are also developing programs that help patients with diabetes, cardiovascular/cardiopulmonary problems, and pain management.
Net of Care community resource network for caregivers
http://www.netofcare.org/
Net of Care features:
We want caregivers to be informed about available services, recognize when caregivers need help, and know how to ask for and accept assistance from others.
Who is a Family Caregiver?
A "family caregiver" is anyone who provides any type of physical and/or emotional care for an ill or disabled loved one at home. Loved ones in need of care, could be suffering from a physical or mental illness, disability, substance misuse, or other conditions.
There are different types of family caregivers:
 | Parents |
| Adult children |
| Spouses |
| Family members |
| Neighbors |
| Friends |
Regardless of how you became a caregiver, you are about to take on a new role for which you may not feel prepared. It is normal for you to feel nervous or overwhelmed about what is expected of you. You may experience a number of mixed emotions including anxiety, anger, and sadness. At the same time, you will probably feel the desire to care for your loved one the best way you can.
At a time when hospitals are releasing patients earlier, the elderly are living longer, and people are living with many chronic illnesses, more family members and friends are caring for loved ones at home. Often, people find themselves having to perform new and unfamiliar tasks. These may include giving medicines, assisting with meals, and performing medical and nursing procedures.
Examples of possible task can be:
| Personal care |
| Emotional support |
| Medical care |
| Household management |
| Supervision |
| Translation services in medical settings |
About Net of Care
Net of Care is a community resource network for caregivers of the medically ill. NetofCare.org is a site that can help caregivers feel less isolated and overwhelmed by making them the best caregiver they can be.Net of Care features:
| Online support, education, and information on daily aspects of caregiving |
| Local and national resources searchable by type of illness, service needs and location |
| Patient and caregiver E-newsletter |
| Health topics, such as, making health care decisions, communicating with health care professionals, pain management at home, managing medical emergencies, caregiver needs, stress management, and hospice care |
| Telephone support groups for caregivers |
We want caregivers to be informed about available services, recognize when caregivers need help, and know how to ask for and accept assistance from others.
The Family Caregiver Program
The Family Caregiver Program of the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, founded in 1998, has achieved tremendous progress in addressing the needs of caregivers and providing useful resources through the close collaboration with a broad range of community-based service organizations and national not-for-profit agencies dedicated to addressing caregiver needs.
ADEAR Home > Alzheimer's Information National Institute on Aging
About the ADEAR Center
Who We Are
The U.S. Congress created the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center in 1990 to "compile, archive, and disseminate information concerning Alzheimer's disease" for health professionals, people with AD and their families, and the public. The ADEAR Center is operated as a service of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the Federal Government's National Institutes of Health and part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NIA conducts and supports research about health issues for older people, and is the primary Federal agency for Alzheimer's disease research.
As a public, U.S. Government-funded resource, the ADEAR Center strives to be a current, comprehensive, unbiased source of information about AD. All our information and materials about the search for causes, treatment, cures, and better diagnostic tools are carefully researched and thoroughly reviewed by NIA scientists and health communicators for accuracy and integrity. Individuals and organizations can make donations to the National Institute on Aging to be used specifically for Alzheimer’s disease research and educational activities.
National Institute on Aging
About NIA
NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people. Subsequent amendments to this legislation designated the NIA as the primary Federal agency on Alzheimer’s disease research.
Mission
NIA’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans through research, and specifically, to:
* Support and conduct high-quality research on:
o Aging processes
o Age-related diseases
mfg of EXELON
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Patient and Caregiver Resources
Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc.
Novartis is committed to providing access to our medications for those most in need through the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc., an affiliate of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. (PAF). PAF provides assistance to patients experiencing financial hardship who have no third party insurance coverage for their medicines.
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