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Caregiving today is like smoking
twenty years ago. A cool thing
to do but it could cost you your
health.
THE PROBLEM WITH
CAREGIVING
is that most family
caregivers are overwhelmed with
the demands it places on them
and do not know where to turn to
for help that they can afford and
support that keeps them going
without placing their loved ones
into a nursing home or assisted
living facility. Take for example
this caregiver named Debbie. She
is 74, suffers from arthritis. Her
husband suffered a stroke that left
him with vascular dementia. He
needs 24 hours supervision and
he does not qualify for Medicaid.
Debbie spends the day taking care
of the house and caring for him
but at night he is up wandering so
Debbie has to get up too. Debbie
is sleepless in Cleveland, getting
tired and sick. How long can this
go on? Does he get placed into a
facility and is that a really good
solution for this family?
The decision to move someone
into an assisted living or a nursing
home is emotionally and financially
complex for both the caregiver and
the care recipient. Most people
arrive at this question when 1 or all
of the following 3 situations occur.
#1. A recent fall, accident or
hospitalization.
#2. Progressive difficulty in
managing activities of daily living.
#3. Worsening of chronic and
or life limiting condition such
as dementia, congestive heart
failure, chronic obstructive pul-
monary disease and arthritis.
Surveys have shown that most
older adults want to remain in
their homes for the rest of their
lives. Some are so determined that
they have gone as far as changing
their will because their children
placed them in a facility. This
topic is gaining more attention
with the greying of the population
and the fact their Americans are
living longer now. On the other
hand, there was not enough
information about this choice
until now that the Caregiver Relief
Network has developed programs
to help families with options and
resources for caregiving. Most
MOVE TO AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY or STAY AT HOME?
Where does your aging parent belong and how do you know?
By Stella Nsong, RN, CMC, CDP
SOAR TO SUCCESS
/
A
pril
2017
/
Personal Growth Strategies