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Stories Posted on Nov. 14, 2003
The new aging collaborative
Dramatic demographic and societal changes have moved a number of critical aging issues into focus in the 21st century. A significant number of Americans are expected to occupy a caregiving role for an older adult at some point in their life. This forecast is underscored not only by the tremendous number of boomers expected to reach age 65 over the next several decades, but also by uncertain future state and federal resources for older adults. Just reference the current debates on Medicare and Social Security.
Defining a family caregiver
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter is often quoted as saying, "There are only four kinds of people in this world -- those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need a caregiver.
Rancho Bernardo woman builds business out of helping senior widows
Eleven years ago, Jan Bakan thought she was retiring. She was looking forward to spending her free time honing her gourmet cooking skills, being active in various social and civic organizations, growing hybrid orchids and pursuing numerous other interests. But Bakan ended up putting her retirement plans on hold when, in her mid-50s, she stumbled into a new career as a sort of "Girl Friday" caregiver for senior widows in her community.
Finding caregiving services
Not everyone has a family member available to provide caregiving when it is needed. However, there are many resources San Diego seniors can turn to for help finding a variety of caregiving services or locating assisted living or independent housing. Here are just a few of them:
The challenges of caregiving
It is painful to watch a loved one decline in their abilities and become someone other than the person they used to be. Many families are dealing with this situation every day. Many spouses and adult children are making promises to help their loved ones continue to live at home. At the time the promise is made, the family member could not know how difficult it may be to keep. Many are unprepared for the tremendous responsibilities of caregiving.
Talking about elder care -- an agenda
What happens if you become physically or mentally incapable of managing your own affairs? These are difficult discussions for families. Notwithstanding, it is far better to talk well in advance of need. It is not necessary to gather a lot of information before proceeding. What is necessary is that frank and open discussion occurs. Once desires are made known and financial circumstances are taken into account, it is important that a plan be implemented with the assistance of qualified advisers.
Long-term care insurance demand rising
Today, with advances in medicine and individual efforts for healthier lifestyles, Americans are living longer than ever before. When we look around at family and friends, most of us know firsthand of someone who has needed long-term care.
Dignified Living Choices offers nursing home alternative
Caring for a person with dementia or Alzheimer's is harder than any other human task. It's a career and a dedication -- more than four jobs: 24 hours a day, every day, 730 hours a month.
Men and caregiving
Men, especially men in the 60s to 80s age group, encounter an unacknowledged and very often unrecognized cultural barrier when it comes to long-term, hands-on, intensive caregiving. They have been raised in an environment where women did the caregiving -- men just didn't. When faced with long-term caregiving, men either managed to get a woman relative (sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, etc.) to perform the caregiver role, or they gave up and put their loved one in some sort of institutionalized setting. Throughout their life, they are not taught, nor encouraged to learn how to be a caregiver -- how to cook, clean, bathe, dress and perform the myriad personal tasks of taking care of a totally dependent person.
Nursing home financing a major issue
There is a significant lack of understanding among the public regarding the need to plan for catastrophic health issues and their almost certain eventuality. As we live longer because of diet modification, exercise and resistance to smoking, etc., dementia diseases have become the focus in an elder person's health process. Issues such as nursing home placement, financial security and family responsibility become highlighted and pushed to the front burner. Caregivers -- such as spouses and children -- are overwhelmed and confused with the reality of the circumstances, not to mention the law that now dictates their livelihood under the title of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act (MCCA) of 1988.
Caregivers in the work force: trends, challenges and solutions
The term caregiver refers to anyone who provides assistance to someone else who is in some degree incapacitated and needs help. "Informal caregiver" and "family caregiver" are terms that refer to unpaid individuals, such as family members, friends and neighbors, who provide care to others. Although there is some latitude in caregiver statistics depending on which study one refers to, we can garner some fairly specific numbers and trends as follows:
Living long has its benefits, and its costs
Modern medicine is extending the life expectancy of most Americans. Living to be 100 years of age doesn't even get you a mention by Willard Scott on the "Today Show." However, it also raises the likelihood that more and more people will eventually need some type of expensive, extended living assistance.
Highlander Senior Residence offers a caring environment
Growing old has many concerns and the staff members at the Highlander Senior Residence are well aware of this factor. They strive to form a well-rounded support network by providing assistance when needed to foster a caring and professional setting that protects the dignity of each resident at all times.
Southern Caregiver Resource Center history and mission
In 1984, the California State Legislature passed the Comprehensive Act for Families and Caregivers of Brain Impaired Adults. Brain impairment is defined as "a permanent, significant destruction of brain tissue with resultant loss of brain function." Most common are disorders causing dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. Degenerative diseases, causing both physical and cognitive impairment such as Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and Huntington's, are also common. Strokes, traumatic brain injuries and brain tumors are other examples.
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