Many of us are caregivers. Whether we are caring for parents, spouses, or other loved ones, we all could use extra help. Caregiving responsibilities might impact other family commitments, cause distractions at work or even create financial strain. You probably support your loved one's desire to continue living independently, but might feel concerned about that person's safety and wellbeing. The bottom line is that you don't need to do this alone. Fortunately, there are lots of resources available to help you decide when a loved needs assistance, and help you provide that assistance.
At its most basic, caregiving is helping someone out. It can range from doing the weekly grocery shopping to providing total care. It's important to have family conversations about caregiving options and possible future events before immediate needs come up. Many people simply feel better about discussing caregiving issues when life is going well. Broaching the subject can be tough or emotional, but it pays to lay the groundwork before you need to act.
Caregiving for family members is common, but also includes caring for any loved one you know. A recent study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found over 33 million caregivers in the United States assisting someone 50 years old or older.
When it comes to our loves ones, we often take on the full responsibility for providing care without seeking help. Why do we do this? The most common reasons are love and the desire to help someone stay in a familiar setting. Cost is also a factor because paid care, when available, is often expensive. Some caregivers feel a sense of duty or worry that no one else will provide good enough care.
On this page, you'll find some resources that can help you begin to figure out if someone you know might need care, and how to provide it.
Caregiving Help and Advice
Independent Living - Starting a Dialogue
Involving Others: Family, Friends, and Community
How to Balance Work and Caregiving
Managing Stress - Tips for the Caregiver
Caregiving Overview: Who are the Caregivers?
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It's completely understandable - many people in declining health prefer to stay at home, in a familiar place they know and trust. In order to make that possible, caregivers take on a number of extra responsibilities such as managing high-tech medical treatments, assisting with daily activities and even confronting end-of-life issues.
In the beginning, caregivers often feel that they can take care of everything themselves - a point of view their loved one may encourage. However, caregivers who get help are better able to provide support for longer.
There are many options for providing care at home. You can provide the care yourself, share some of the care with family members, or bring nurses or professional caregivers to the house.
Skilled nursing care refers to a group of services that should only be provided by licensed health workers because they can only be performed safely and correctly by a licensed nurse (either a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse) or a licensed therapist.
A home health care agency can come to the house and provide help with daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and dressing, and transportation. Most agencies offer a variety of services, so it's not "one size fits all."
If you are thinking about moving your loved one out of the home and into an assisted living facility or nursing home, you'll want to do some basic research to pick the right place (the links below can help). Also, find out if the facilities you are interested in have waiting lists.
Remember, Medicare only pays for home care if you meet certain conditions. For more information, look at the Medicare booklet, Medicare and Home Health Care. Long term care insurance does cover this type of care, so if you have a policy, find how to make a claim. Home care costs vary depending on where you live, the type of care you need and how often you need care. Usually home care is charged by the hour. For more information, visit the Medicare long-term care website. The resources on this page will help you learn more about available home care options and how to find them.
Caregiving Help and Advice
Assessing Housing Options
Preventing Falls at Home
Learning About Your Community Services
Choosing an Agency for In-Home Care
Assisted Living Facilities: Weighing the Options
Nursing Homes
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Covering the costs of caregiving can be challenging. The first things to consider are coverage for hospital needs, medical services and prescription drugs. If your loved one is under 65 years old, look into their health insurance and see if there are any gaps in coverage that need to be addressed. If your loved one is 65 or older, Medicare can help cover all of the above.
Medicare and other government programs do not cover nursing home care until a person exhausts their savings and assets. Under certain limited conditions, Medicare pays some nursing home costs for Medicare beneficiaries who require skilled nursing or rehabilitation services. To be covered, you must receive the services from a Medicare-certified skilled nursing home after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three days. To learn more about Medicare payment for skilled nursing home costs, contact your Medicare Fiscal Intermediary or the State Health Insurance Assistance Program in your state.
Generally, the only type of insurance that covers nursing home and other types of assisted or in-home care is long term care insurance. About half of all nursing home residents pay nursing home costs out of their own savings. After these savings and other resources are gone, people eventually become eligible for Medicaid.
Some managed care plans help pay for care if the nursing home has a contract with the plan. If the home is approved by your plan, learn if the plan also monitors the home for quality of nursing care.
For more information on long term care insurance, Medicare, and other topics related to the financial side of caregiving,visit the links on this page.
Caregiving Help and Advice
In-Depth Guide to Medicare
Learn About Long Term Care Insurance
Life Guide: Choosing Medicare Coverage
Public Benefits That Can Help
Ask Ms. Medicare
Legal Issues: Protections You Should Know
Advance Directives: Your Critical Action Plans
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Providing major in-home care can be stressful and emotionally draining - whether the person in need is a loved one, a friend, or even an acquaintance. That's why it's vital that caregivers find the time to take care of themselves on a regular basis, especially through rest, exercise and time away from caregiving.
It is not easy being a caregiver. When faced with something serious, you don't always know where to turn, or where to find the right services, resources and support. There are many resources available to caregivers through local community agencies, such as the Administration on Aging and the Alzheimers Association. In addition, links on this page provide further tips and resources to help caregivers cope with their difficult and important job.
It's difficult enough to coordinate your own care. When it comes to coordinating someone else's care, it's helpful to have goals for each health care provider visit. Here are some helpful tips on how to talk with your doctors and nurses:
Caregiving Help and Advice
Talking to Health Pros: Issues to Consider
Depression in Older Adults
Dealing with Pain: How to Help Your Loved One
End of Life: Beginning the Conversation
Hospice: What You Need to Know
How to Talk with Doctors and Other Health Care Providers
How to Have End of Life Conversations
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