Include Care Support in Your Retirement Planning

You’ve seen them in commercials, whether for vitamins, retirement communities or a health club: A group of friends, silver-haired but model-thin and in top health, stride energetically across the golf course, or sit around the pool looking great in their swimsuits. They hop out of their RVs to go rock climbing with their grandchildren. They dance the night away.

This is the expectation many of us have about our senior years. No rocking chair for us! If we take care of ourselves, eat right, exercise and follow a healthy-aging lifestyle, we will surely escape the disabling conditions faced by previous generations, right?

The reality is, no matter what steps we take to avoid chronic illness and disability, there are no guarantees. Consider a recent analysis by the U.S. government revealing that nearly 40 percent of people aged 65 and older are living with at least one disability. According to the “Older Adults With a Disability: 2008-2012” report, these seniors are challenged by declines in hearing, seeing, memory and mobility. Many have difficulty walking and climbing stairs. Many are challenged by getting to the doctor’s office or shopping, and by self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing.

While these predictions are sobering, they shouldn’t discourage us from making lifestyle choices that promote healthy aging. Instead, the numbers should motivate us also to include the possible need for care in our retirement planning. Said demographer Wan He of the U.S. Census Bureau, “The statistics provided in this report can help anticipate future disability prevalence in the older population. The figures can be used to help the older population with a disability, their families and society at large plan strategies and prepare for daily life tasks and old-age care.”

Consider that many chronic illnesses—such as arthritis, osteoporosis and vision loss—cause disability, but don’t necessarily shorten our lives. If we’re lucky enough to live to a ripe old age, we’ll continue to wish for good quality of life, no matter our health challenges. So it’s important to create a plan for whatever the future brings us:

Get your legal and financial ducks in a row. With the help of your attorney and/or financial planner, learn about strategies and sources of payment for healthcare and long-term care, such as Medicare, Medicaid, retirement accounts, reverse mortgage and privately purchased long-term care insurance. Organize your financial affairs and create advance directives for healthcare.

Share your thoughts with family. Let them know about the plans you are making and your preferences for care. Earlier is better than later when it comes to having those conversations—especially concerning who would provide care for you, and who would make financial and healthcare decisions for you if you were unable to do so.

Give your home an accessibility checkup. It’s never too soon to consider whether your current dwelling would work if you or your spouse were to become disabled. Would you be able to get into and around the house if you were unable to climb stairs? What modifications and improvements could make life easier if you had arthritis or visual impairment? As you plan, you’ll be pleased to discover that today, the emphasis is on “universal design” that creates an accessible home for everyone, with clever elegance in place of an institutional look.

Learn about support services that would allow you to live life to the fullest even if you’re living with a disability. Check out your local senior and disability services agency. Far in advance of the time when you might need them, find out about retirement communities, assisted living, long-term care and memory care facilities in the area. And don’t forget that much supportive care can be provided in your own home. Skilled home nursing services and adaptive home medical equipment are available. And lower-cost, nonmedical in-home caregivers can provide:

Personal care and hygiene, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and assistance with transferring from bed to chair.
Housekeeping and laundry services.
Meal planning and preparation.
Transportation to health appointments, shopping and activities.
Medication reminders.
Socialization and companionship.
Memory care and supervision for clients with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment.

For many seniors, professional in-home care is the ingredient that allows for maximum independence and highest quality of life. For extra peace of mind, hire through a reputable agency that performs background checks, handles taxes, carries liability insurance and can arrange for a backup caregiver if necessary.

It’s important to plan—not only for the future we want, but also for the future that life might bring us. Living with a disability doesn’t mean living an unfulfilled life. If you plan ahead, your future self will thank you, no matter what the future brings!

Right at Home, Inc. is a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those we serve. We fulfill that mission through a dedicated network of locally owned providers of in home care services.

About Right at Home of Central New Jersey

Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. The Right at Home of Central New Jersey office is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex and Northern Monmouth Counties.

For more information, contact Right at Home of Central New Jersey at http://www.rightathome.net/monmouth-middlesex/, 732-967-0900 or by email at beth@rahcentral.com.

Reprinted with permission from Caring Right at Home eNewsletter, http://www.caringnews.com. Copyright, 2015, IlluminAge Communication Partners

Include Care Support in Your Retirement Planning

Personal care and hygiene, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and assistance with transferring from bed to chair.
Housekeeping and laundry services.
Meal planning and preparation.
Transportation to health appointments, shopping and activities.
Medication reminders.
Socialization and companionship.
Memory care and supervision for clients with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment.

Learn More

Prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, the “Older Americans With a Disability: 2008-2012” report was commissioned by the Division of Behavioral and Social Research at the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health. Download the full report here.

For information on topics related to home care and healthcare, visit our Home Care and Healthcare Advocacy group on LinkedIn.

About Right at Home of Central New Jersey

Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. The Right at Home of CNJ office is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex County. For more information, contact Right at Home of Central New Jersey athttp://www.rightathome.net/middlesexnj/, 732-967-0900 or by email at beth@rahcentral.com.

Reprinted with permission from Caring Right at Home eNewsletter, http://www.caringnews.com. Copyright, 2014, IlluminAge Communication Partners

U.S. Census: More Seniors Are Living With Disabilities; Fewer In Nursing Homes

In June 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau released “65+ in the United States: 2010,” a major report about our nation’s seniors, based on data collected during the most recent census. Said the Census Bureau’s Enrique Lamas, “The findings, released with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health, provide the most detailed information available on the demographic, economic, and health and wellness characteristics of this rapidly growing dynamic population.”

A big focus, of course, is on the numbers. The report found that in 2010, there were 40.3 million people aged 65 and older. The percentage of our population aged 65 and older has increased from only 4 percent in the year 1900 to 13 percent today, and is projected to rise to more than 20 percent by the year 2050.

These numbers also mean a huge projected growth in the number of people living with disability caused by chronic, age-related health conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal disorders; heart disease and other circulatory conditions; diabetes; lung conditions; vision and hearing loss; and dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. The report showed that among people aged 85 and older, 30 percent have difficulty dressing and bathing, 50 percent have difficulty doing errands alone and 53 percent have difficulty walking and climbing stairs.

For this reason, a large proportion of people older than 65 will need long-term care at some point. “65+ in the United States: 2010” defines long-term care as “assistance to people who have a prolonged physical illness, disability or severe cognitive impairment that hinders daily functioning. In contrast to medical care, which focuses on preventing, diagnosing and treating disease, long-term care provides assistance with essential and routine aspects of life.”

Where is this care being provided? With the aging of the population, more people are going to nursing homes for short-term rehabilitation and subacute care. But a decreasing percentage of seniors are opting to receive long-term care in a nursing home. The report states, “Americans 65 and older living in a nursing home fell 20 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 1.6 million to 1.3 million. Meanwhile, the share in other care settings has been growing.”

The alternative settings include assisted living facilities, which provide a more limited set of support services paired with greater independence. But most seniors prefer to receive care at home if possible; the report states that up to 90 percent of people older than 50 express this preference. More seniors with disabilities are living at home. They receive assistance from family members and friends, but the Census report reminds us that smaller families and a higher divorce rate mean a smaller pool of people who can help. (Along those lines, an October 2013 Caring Right at Home poll found that 75 percent of readers report they would have no more than two people who might help them if they were to become disabled.) This is one of the reasons that a growing number of seniors are taking advantage of professional in-home care.

Skilled healthcare services can be provided at home and are cost-effective. For example, according to the Census report, “Medicaid can provide home- and community-based services to three people for the same cost as one patient in a nursing home.”

Nonmedical supportive care services also help seniors successfully age in place—staying in their own homes while remaining active and independent. In-home caregivers provide:

Personal care and hygiene, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting.
Companionship and stimulating activities in the home.
Support for healthcare management.
Housekeeping and laundry services.
Meal planning and preparation.
Transportation to health appointments, errands and pleasant outings.
Supervision and encouragement to help clients remain physically active.
Medication management.
Memory care and supervision for clients with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment.

Learn More

Read the entire “65+ in the United States: 2010” report on the U.S. Census Bureau website.

For information on topics related to home care and healthcare, visit our Home Care and Healthcare Advocacy group on LinkedIn.

About Right at Home of Central New Jersey

Reprinted with permission from Caring Right at Home eNewsletter, http://www.caringnews.com. Copyright, 2014, IlluminAge Communication Partners

Having The Talk About Home Care

Professional in-home care agencies report an uptick in information calls in early January. The reason? The holidays are the time when out-of-town relatives are most likely to visit their elderly loved ones—and to realize that these seniors need help!

The lights, the special delicacies, beautifully wrapped gifts and traditional music—these are things we love about the holidays. We participate in our family’s treasured traditions and reminisce about holidays of the past. And for the many Americans who live far from loved ones, the most meaningful aspect of the holidays is to reunite with family who live at a distance, whom they may not have seen since the previous holiday season or even longer.

These holiday visits can be the time when family realize that elderly parents or grandparents aren’t coping with getting older as well as they had hoped. There may be red flags like stacks of unopened mail piling up, including unpaid bills. Their loved one may have lost a lot of weight. The home may be dirty and the refrigerator almost empty. It may be apparent that hygiene and grooming are becoming a challenge. When the holidays are over, family members may return home filled with anxiety that their parents are no longer living safely.

This often is the time when families conclude that it’s time for Mom and Dad to get some help. They might suggest a move to an assisted living or other supportive senior living environment, but most seniors resist, wishing to stay in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own home. For these seniors, in-home care is a perfect support resource, providing a variety of services that help ensure elders can continue to live safely at home. These services include:

Personal care. Caregivers assist with various activities of daily living including bathing, dressing and using the bathroom.

Medication management. Caregivers can monitor a senior’s compliance with the doctor’s care instructions and provide reminders for medications, as well as watch for and report side effects.

Nutrition support. This can include assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping and cooking, and help with special diets.

Transportation. Whether it’s a trip to the doctor or to a social event, in-home caregivers can ensure your loved one makes it to their destination safely.

Light housekeeping. Arthritis and osteoporosis, visual impairment, memory loss and other health conditions make it hard to perform the usual household tasks. In-home caregivers can vacuum, dust, clean floors, organize drawers and closets, sort mail, and remove hazards that could cause a fall.

Companionship. Isolation is a major trigger for depression and mental decline. Having a companion around helps seniors stayed engaged with life, increasing their overall well-being.

But what if your loved one says “no” to in-home care?

Seniors may be reluctant to let a “stranger” into their homes. They may be embarrassed that they need this kind of assistance, and fear that home care is the first step in losing their independence. Rest assured that if you receive some pushback from your loved one, you are not alone! Home care experts tell us that during “the talk,” many seniors initially express some resistance.

Starting a conversation about including home care in the lives of older loved ones can be awkward. According to a recent Caring Right at Home poll, the need for care is the No. 1 subject families find difficult to discuss! It’s an ironic role reversal—you want the parents whose advice you often ignored to listen to you now. Before you bring up the topic, take a look at tips from seasoned caregivers that might ensure your conversation yields the outcome you’re looking for:

Come from a place of compassion. Put yourself in your loved one’s shoes and empathize with their feelings surrounding change. Listen to their concerns and validate them as normal.
Choose the right time. Many seniors are calmer and have more energy in the morning. A good time to broach the subject may be after you’ve all had a good breakfast and everyone’s feeling comfortable.
Watch for natural conversational starting points. If your mom discusses a neighbor who fell while cleaning and is recuperating, ask her what she would do if she fell and ask, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone come in and clean?”
Share your own feelings. Let your loved one know that having someone looking out for them would ease your stress level and enhance your well-being, knowing they are safe.
Include your loved one in the decision-making process. If you reach a point where your loved one acknowledges they could use some help, reassure them that they are still in control. If they have any concerns about a specific caregiver, a replacement can be made in very little time.
Use independence as motivation. Remind your loved one that with the help of a professional in-home caregiver, they will be able to go out and about, and spend more time doing the things they enjoy—in short, they will enjoy more freedom. And in-home care promotes the best possible future health outcome, another big factor in independence.

If you’ve reached the point where your loved one is willing to consider in-home care, a good place to start is to have an agency provide a needs assessment. During this meeting, everyone can discuss the services that would be of most benefit. It’s best to have your loved one participate in this step if possible. After the assessment, discuss with your loved one how they would like to move forward. You can start small—perhaps just having a caregiver come in once a week to clean, to ensure your loved one is eating properly, and to help with medication reminders.

Finally, it is best to start these conversations early on, before your loved one experiences a health crisis or their condition has deteriorated too far. Thinking about home support services is an important part of healthcare planning! While they’re still healthy, ask your parents what their plans are, should they ever become unable to manage on their own. A series of smaller conversations is always preferable to being forced into having the “big talk.”

For information on topics related to home care and healthcare, visit our Home Care and Healthcare Advocacy group on LinkedIn.

About Right at Home of Central New Jersey

Reprinted with permission from Caring Right at Home eNewsletter, http://www.caringnews.com. Copyright, 2014, IlluminAge Communication Partners

Deciding to Serve as a Family Caregiver: 8 Factors to Consider

In our rapidly aging society, more and more of us find ourselves transitioning into the role of caregiver for an older relative. Consider these common scenarios:

A senior experiences a stroke, heart attack, hip fracture or other health crisis, and family step in to support recovery.
A senior loved one is living with a chronic illness or Alzheimer’s disease. As time passes, family members provide a greater amount of transportation, healthcare management and hands-on medical and personal care as their loved one’s care needs grow.
It seems unsafe for elderly parents to be living alone—but Mom and Dad don’t want to move to an assisted living community.

Or, maybe your senior parent is still independent and in good health, so you really haven’t given caregiving much thought? Whatever your situation, if you are an adult child of senior parents, thinking through your role and planning ahead will help you be ready if you become one of the 65 million Americans who are providing care for an elderly loved one—whether that means hands-on, full-time support, managing a loved one’s care from afar, or having your loved one move in with you. And as you think about your role, you might realize that even if you don’t call yourself a caregiver, you are!

If you are considering serving as primary caregiver for a parent or other elderly person, or you think you might be called upon to do so in the future, or if you already are providing care but your role is likely to expand, here are some questions to consider:

Q: Where will my loved one live? Is a retirement community, assisted living or other senior housing option the best choice? If your loved one prefers to stay in his or her own home, is that a safe and workable option? Is the home suitable for current and future needs? If not, would having your loved one move into your home be a workable arrangement? How much assistance would you need to provide? Would your home need to be modified for safety and accessibility?

Q: How would becoming my loved one’s caregiver affect my job? Caregiving can be a full-time job in itself. Stressed-out working caregivers often feel torn between their work and caregiving responsibilities. They may miss out on advancement opportunities or be passed over for promotions. They are likely to use all their vacation for caregiving, and then to take unpaid leave.

Q: Should I quit my job to care for my loved one? A poll in the September 2013 issue of the Caring Right at Home online newsletter found that almost two-thirds of respondents who were working caregivers had cut back on work hours, quit their job or taken a less-demanding position. But experts warn caregivers to think things through carefully before leaving their paid employment. According to the MetLife Mature Market Institute, employed caregivers lose an average of $304,000 in salary, reduced Social Security benefits and pensions if they leave the workforce prematurely to provide care. And caregivers trying to re-enter the workforce when their caregiving duties lessen may encounter barriers.

Q: How do I get along with my loved one? The emotional climate when an elderly loved one needs care can be a mixed bag. Some families find that caregiving nourishes an increased sense of love and connection between the generations. In other families, everyone butts heads! Living together in this way can be intense. If your relationship with your parent was already strained or difficult, caregiving can magnify the difficulties.

Q: How will my caregiving role affect other family members? Do children still live in the home? How much time will caregiving take away from your responsibilities to them? If your loved one moves in with you, what accommodations will other family members be expected to make? How do your spouse and others get along with the person? Is your family good at talking about problems without undue tension?

Q: Am I qualified to provide the level of care my loved one needs? Caregiving can be physically taxing, for example, when you help your loved one transfer from bed to wheelchair. And a recent AARP study revealed many family caregivers today provide medication management, wound care, injections and other medical and nursing tasks. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related condition presents even greater challenges. Are you confident that you can manage these types of tasks if your loved one is living with you or independently?

Q: What help can I expect from other family members and friends? Often it happens that one person evolves into the caregiving role, only to feel resentful that siblings and other family aren’t helping out enough. Have a family meeting before making your decision so everyone will have an understanding of how they will participate in your loved one’s care—with their time, and also financially.

Q: What resources are available to support my caregiving? This might be the most important question! You can’t do it alone. For your loved one’s well-being and for your own physical and emotional health, bringing in support is a must to balance your loved one’s care and all the other facets of your life. Consult with a geriatric care manager or elder law attorney to learn about some of your options and to understand the financial implications of your choice. Find out about senior centers, adult day centers, senior transportation, Meals-on-Wheels programs, respite care and support groups.

The Role of Professional In-Home Care

A growing number of families are taking advantage of in-home care to help them balance caregiving, their jobs and other responsibilities. In-home care keeps elderly loved ones safe at home, no matter where they live. Skilled nursing care can be provided in the home. Less-costly nonmedical home care services might include:

Personal care and hygiene, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and assistance with transferring from bed to chair.
Housekeeping and laundry services.
Meal planning and preparation.
Transportation to health appointments, shopping and activities.
Medication reminders.
Socialization and companionship.
Memory care and supervision for clients with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment.
Serving as a liaison for out-of-town family caregivers to provide reassurance and peace of mind.

Professional home care can provide high-quality care for your loved one while supporting family members. This is a topic to discuss early rather than later and should be part of financial planning. Most families hire and pay for home care privately, which is well worth it to help family maintain their careers and to provide maximum independence for their loved one.

Learn More

For information on topics related to home care and healthcare, visit our Home Care and Healthcare Advocacy group on LinkedIn.

Reprinted with permission from Caring Right at Home eNewsletter, www.caringnews.com. Copyright, 2014, IlluminAge Communication Partners, www.illuminage.com.

Right at Home of Central NJ

Improving the quality of life for those we serve.

assisted living

Include Care Support in Your Retirement Planning

Include Care Support in Your Retirement Planning

U.S. Census: More Seniors Are Living With Disabilities; Fewer In Nursing Homes

Having The Talk About Home Care

Deciding to Serve as a Family Caregiver: 8 Factors to Consider