Affording In Home Healthcare...Can I afford to keep my loved one at home?

One of the main reasons people choose not to invest in in-home healthcare (1 on 1 care) for their loved ones is because of the possible financial burden or the lack or resources the individual has. Comfort of Home Healthcare wants to make in-home healthcare not only comforting and convenient for your family, but also financially affordable. As a business, we try to keep costs down as much as we can, but there are also resources for your family to participate in that will dramatically change your financial outlook on in-home healthcare services. 

But before we get in to some of the resources, Comfort of Home Healthcare would like to point out that if your receive in home care for two people. E.g. Parents/ grand parents
It is very feasible to financially keep your loved ones in their homes!! In a facility setting (nursing home) you will have to pay out of pocket for each person. In home care is priced by staffing and not each individual person. 

This is so important because this will allow you to; 
1. keep your loved ones in their home! 
2. You will have one staff taking care of both of them as opposed to one CNA per 10+ people!

Unfortunately this is not case for most of our clients. For those of you who are looking for care for a loved one (not a couple). Comfort of Home Healthcare has provided a list of resources that will offset costs, for you to consider. Here are several of those resources and how you may qualify to receive these benefits: 
(Not all scenarios work for every person. This simply a list of all options available)

• Veterans Benefits: If you or your loved one was a veteran.

• Veterans Widows Benefits: If you or your loved one was married to a veteran.

• Medicaid: If you meet the financial guidelines to qualify for Medicaid, they have potential opportunities for assistance. 

• Long Term Care Insurance: If you or your loved one has purchased a Long Term Care Insurance Plan.

• Life Insurance: If you or your loved one is terminally ill, a life insurance plan is a valuable resource. 

• Life Insurance (Viatical Settlement): A viatical settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy to a third party, usually a funding company owned by a group of investors. 

• Life Insurance (Loan): A policy owner may be able to make a loan against the cash value of the policy, based on what type of policy is owned. 

• Reverse Mortgage: If you or your loved one has equity in their home, they can probably qualify for a reverse mortgage.

• Area Agency on Ageing: There can be local organizations such as the Area Agency on Ageing that can help with some of the costs of in-home care.

If you have questions about the specific details (contacts and phone numbers) of these resources, Comfort of Home Healthcare would be happy to talk to you about the resources that will best fit your family and your family's individual needs. 

We care about your family and we want to provide the best possible service at the best price for your family!

The Sandwich Generation

The Sandwich Generation
Caring for Your Children as You Care for Your Aging Parent

Many families today are put in a position to care for both their growing children and their aging parent at the same time. Their combined role as both parent and caregiver can bring great stress, exhaustion, and tension into a family environment. For many people it is a priority that their aging parent stay in the comfort of their own home, so it is important that the caregiver has a balanced view of their new role; which will help them thrive in various circumstances.

It is possible to raise your kids and provide care and comfort for an aging parent, but you can't do it alone without completely overwhelming yourself and your family.

The good news is that this task does not have to be taken on alone and there is help available to those willing to take it! The following articles give some helpful tips about how to effectively juggle child-care and parent-care. There are specific things you need to remember during this time when addressing your child's needs, your aging parent's needs, and your own needs. Every person is affected uniquely by the new family dynamic, and so every person needs to be taken care of differently.

From experience we know that there will be challenges along the way, but this time will be rewarding for every family member involved.

Articles from youragingparent.com: 

Caring for Your Children as You Care for Your Aging Parent

Caring for Your Children
as You Care for Your Aging Parent

     If you’re a member of the “sandwich generation,” if you’re taking care of your aging parent as well as your children, it’s hard to shake the feeling that if you focus on one generation you’re losing sight of the needs of the other.

     It can help to remember – to realize – that your taking care of your parent is good for your children, too. How so?

     You’re right that your kids also make a sacrifice because you can’t be around as much as the they would like you to be and, most likely, they have to do more – become more responsible – because you can’t be there. (Maybe they have to make their own lunch to take to school. Or you can’t be a chaperon at some school event even though you were able to do that a year or so ago.)

     Yes, in some ways a child is being deprived of what a parent might be able to give if he or she didn’t have caregiving obligations to an older family member (or to a spouse who is ill or to a child with special needs) but – from another perspective –Mom or Dad is giving something to that child or those children that he or she otherwise couldn’t give. We mean a front-row view of love in action without any possibility of mistaking the unchangeable fact that true love demands service and sacrifice.

     Still . . . it can be a lot to put on little shoulders. All they may see at first glance is that Mom or Dad isn’t there (or is there but is exhausted from caregiving and holding down a job) and they miss not just what that parent does for them (nice meals, rides to practice and so on) but also that person himself or herself. They miss time spent together. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions if you’re taking care of an aging parent and your children:

     --Talk about caregiving at a time when neither you nor your child are tired and emotions are not running high.

     --Do something special with each child, one-on one.

     --Explain what it’s like to be a care-receiver, how it can be hard to accept help. Talk about why you’re taking care of Grandpa or Grandma and explain – in an age-appropriate way –what his or condition is.

     --Work at establishing a link between your children and your parent. Let them have some time together.

     --Remember children can, in small ways, help with caregiving, too.

     --Teach what respectful care means and explain the difference between “dignity” and “dignified.” Yes, at times, a situation may be less than “dignified” but a person must be treated with dignity.

     --Remember to thank the child for making sacrifices and for helping you help your mother or father.

The Sandwich Generation

The Sandwich Generation

     The "sandwich generation" is a good description. There's pressure from both sides and sometimes it gets messy in the middle. That's what it can feel like if you're taking care of not only your children but your aging parent as well.

     Add in a spouse and a job and it's no wonder it often seems a twenty-four-hour day and seven-day week just aren't enough for all you have to do.

     Then, too, from the time all of us were little we were taught there is a right way and a wrong way to accomplish a task. To meet—and overcome— challenge. Maybe your parent took care of Grandma or Grandpa. Your spouse took care of your mother- or father-in-law. Your friends or co-workers seem to be able to handle their situations. But you . . . .

     When you realize, when it becomes so painfully obvious, you can't do all the things you're supposed to do—all the things other people have done or are doing—you feel so inadequate. So guilty.

     You think you're letting everyone down. If you just worked a little harder. Slept a little less. Sacrificed a little more. Then somehow . . . .

     If you find yourself in that situation, or feel yourself sinking into it, these suggestions might help:

     ● Remember there is no single "right" way to do this. Trying to exactly mimic what another person has done probably isn't going to work. Each case is unique because the personalities and problems in each case are unique.

     ● If you don't take care of yourself—take time to eat, sleep, catch your breath and pray—you will burn out quickly and be of little use to anyone, including yourself. The situation in which you find yourself is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Yes, someday it will end but that may be a long, long time from now. In the meantime, if you do not pace yourself, sometimes even pamper yourself, you won't be able to keep going. That's not because you're weak, it's because you're human.

     ● The big picture can look and feel overwhelming. Sometimes it helps to break it down into the many tiny pieces that make up the whole. What you have to do for your parent. Your children. Your spouse. Your job. Yourself. The lists may be long but somehow no single item is overpowering.

     ● Prioritize your tasks. Making those lists helps. Obviously, getting Mom to her doctor's appointment is more important than vacuuming her apartment.

     ● Give away some of the low-priority duties. Someone else can be hired to do the apartment cleaning. Someone else—the bakery department at the local grocery store—can supply the brownies you're supposed to send to the next Cub Scout den meeting.

     ● Get support for yourself. Groups for caregivers and organizations that focus on your parent's particular illness or condition can help you deal with what you are facing. Doctors, social workers and the Area Agency on Aging can give you local contacts.

     ● Write it down. Dates and schedules and all that information from doctors, therapists, pharmacists, teachers, coaches, your boss, your spouse, your kids . . . . There's no way a person can remember all the things you need to remember.

     It may seem the day is completely packed but if you jot down your own "to do" list, you may discover there's half an hour free here. Twenty minutes there. A little oasis like that gives you something to look forward to. A short break to at least partially recharge your batteries before you have to go, go, go again.

Family Caregiver Stress

Caregiving Stress

Caregivers Need to Take Care of Themselves

When caregivers neglect their own health needs, their loved ones suffer too. It is crucial that family caregivers take a break from their caregiving duties and stay attentive to their own personal health. Family caregivers often find themselves worn down, depressed, fatigued, or overwhelmed with stress to the point where they are no longer any help to their loved one. Caregivers can take certain precautions to make sure that this doesn't happen, and that both their own health needs and their loved one's health needs are continuously taken care of. The more a caregiver takes care of them-self physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, the better they will be able to care for their loved one. 

There are some specific warning signs that indicate a caregiver is neglecting their health and letting stress devastate their life. Some of these signs include:

• A caregiver may feel angry, irritable, or enter into a state of denial about their situation.
• A caregiver may become more isolated and feel like they can't "waste time" on activities they once enjoyed.
• A caregiver may find it hard to concentrate, especially on anything else besides their love one's needs and what they need to accomplish next for their loved one.
• A caregiver may become overly anxious or depressed. 
• A caregiver may be exhausted, but have trouble sleeping.
• A caregiver may start to develop severe health problems of their own.

As a caregiver your world completely changes focus from your own needs to the needs of the one you are caring for. This shift causes new expectations, demands, and responsibilities for the caregiver. This new role will take time and energy, and will leave the caregiver in need of support and outside help. As a caregiver it is important to be educated about various ways to stay healthy during this time. 

There are specific ways that a caregiver can maintain their health while providing proper care for their loved one. Some of these include:

• Caregivers should continue maintaining a nutritious diet and regular exercise routine.
• Caregivers should not neglect their other relationships, and should set aside time to maintain friendships and relationships with other family members.
• Caregivers should continue to participate in their favorite hobbies or pastimes. 
• Caregivers should build a strong network of support that may include family, friends, or professional care services. 
• Caregivers should stay informed about their own health and attend regular check-ups. 
• Caregivers should educate themselves about the condition and needs of their loved one. 

Following these helpful tips will provide a healthy foundation for a caregiver. Caregivers should never be afraid to ask for outside help. The caregiving job is too demanding to be on one person's shoulders, and there comes a time when outside help is necessary. If a caregiver is experiencing any of the warning signs of extreme stress or depression, they should consider bringing in a professional agency to help with their loved one. There is no reason for any person to take on the task of caregiving alone. Comfort of Home Healthcare was established for this very purpose; to comfort and provide for families in their time of great need. Comfort of Home Healthcare is ready and available to make your loved one feel right at home and well taken care of in their own home. 

For more information on caregiving stress visit the following links:

Caregiving Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself

Caregiving Stress: Warning Signs

The Importance of Physical Activity for Seniors

            At any age, the importance of staying active can be easily overlooked – but physical activity is vital for seniors as they deal with the physical changes and challenges of aging. Regular physical activity can combat these challenges, as well as provide long-lasting health benefits for the individual. It is the proactive way to stay on top of your health, and to enhance your quality of life.

            The decrease or loss of strength and stamina in seniors is a natural part of the aging process, but is significantly affected by the lack of physical activity. According to the CDC, statistically inactivity increases with age; by the age of 75, one in three men and one in two women engage in no physical activity. This is a problem that can be, and must be, addressed in order to cultivate healthy lifestyles for the seniors in our communities.

            It is important to understand the benefits of being physically active, as well as the risks that are involved with inactivity. Benefits do not only come for strenuous activity, but also from daily moderate activity that positively influences health in more ways than one. 

The CDC has provided a list of some of the main benefits of physical activity, they include: 

• Helps maintain the ability to live independently.
• Reduces the risk of falling and fracturing bones.
• Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
• Can help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension.
• Helps people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength.
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being.
• Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
• Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.

These benefits can come from a variety of activities such as: walking, fast-walking, water exercises, gardening, appropriate strength training classes, etc. As a community we can help support seniors in their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, by providing facilities, classes, encouragement, and more opportunities for them to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.

Here are some more articles we have found for your convenience and like always, just call us if you have any questions, we are here to help. 

Add Life to Your Years

Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide

Exercise and Fitness as You Age

Emergency Preparedness with Special Needs

Perhaps it's a little premature, but with the high temperatures recently, we are all thinking of spring. People are out walking, working on their yards, enjoying the great weather. 

If you have a loved one in your life with special needs, whether it be age or disability you need to start thinking about planning for severe weather and potential disasters.

In order for your to be ready if a emergency happens, preparation is the key. For your convenience, the following is an article taken from the CDC that will help guide you. All of which have links to other informative articles and checklists. 

As always, Comfort of Home Healthcare is here to help, don't hesitate to contact us with any needs you might have, it's what we do. It takes all of us to properly care for our loved ones. 

Full Article Here (CDC)Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning, forcing people to leave or be confined in their home. For the millions of Americans who have disabilities, emergencies such as fires, floods and acts of terrorism present a real challenge. One of the things learned from the response to Hurricane Katrina was that people with disabilities were disproportionately affected by the storm and its aftermath.It is important that people with disabilities and their family members make plans to protect themselves in the event of disasters. In addition, first responders need to know how to work with people with disabilities to evacuate them safely and quickly. Emergency planners must ensure that shelters are accessible to people with a variety of disabilities.

Following is information to help you get ready.Information for People with Disabilities

Protecting yourself and your family when emergencies occur requires planning ahead. You are in the best position to plan for your own safety as you are best able to know your abilities and possible needs during and after an emergency or disaster. You can cope with emergencies by preparing and practicing in advance with your family and care attendants.

Article: Emergency Preparedness Training Learn how people with disabilities, their families, and first responders can plan ahead for safety during a disaster.

Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs This booklet from FEMA and the American Red Cross helps people with disabilities prepare for all kinds of emergencies.

Disability Preparedness This website from Disabilitypreparedness.gov provides information on how to prepare, develop a plan, use assistive technologies, and understand your rights.

Click to visit page

Comfort of Home Healthcare is Pleased to Announce a Second Location!

Comfort of Home Healthcare is pleased to announce that its second location is officially up and running!!!! We have started our office in a great central location north of the river in Briarcliff.  

Comfort of Home Healthcare 

1201 NW Briarcliff Pkwy, Ste 210

Kansas City MO 64116

Enter the doors on the left of BMO bank and we are on the second floor. 

While we have your attention for a moment we would also like to introduce our new website. 

 Head on over and check it out!!

www.comfortofhomehealthcare.com

As always, please don't hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions. We are here to help!!!

The Benefits of Technology for the Elderly

The Benefits of Technology for the Elderly

It is assumed that the older generation is more closed off to the use of technology to enhance or improve life. While this may often be the case, not every senior is completely closed off to giving new technology a chance. The problem lies in the fact that many of the newer technologies are not as easily understood by a generation that wasn't born with iPhones, gaming systems, TiVo systems, iPads, Kindles, laptop computers, Netflix, social networks, and iPods ingrained in their culture like the current generation has been. There is an obvious gap between the younger and older generations in regards to technology, and this gap can be destructive in our communication and connection with our elderly loved ones.  

It is important to remember to be understanding and helpful towards the generation who may have different opinions, experiences, and thoughts that contribute to their view of technology and/or their lack of use of technology in their daily life. It is not an absolute necessity for technology to be used for survival and it doesn't need to be pushed on someone who isn't interested. Sometimes this lack of interest in the technology of our culture comes from misinformation or a lack of information that has been given to the elderly. Although technology isn't a basic need, there are many technologies that would be extremely beneficial for seniors. 

Some of the benefits of technology for the elderly include:

• Feelings of isolation are rampant among the elderly, and technology will provide a way for them to stay connected to family, friends, and the world. Often they have a limited ability to move or leave a specific place or a specific community, and technology can really open doors to their ability to connect with others and sustain relationships. 

• Technology can also get them a way to stay updated about family issues and events. This could include small happenings in the family, or larger events such as new births in the family. Technology provides a way for them to feel a part of what is going on in the family, through pictures and more communication.

• Cell phones, iPods, E-Readers, laptops, and more, can provide entertainment and activities that can give the elderly things to do during "down time" when their days aren't filled with as much activity as it used to be filled with. 

• Technology can increase a seniors independence, freedom, and quality of life. Many technologies allow the elderly to stay in control of their lives for a longer time.

• Tools such as internet banking, can help assist the elderly in their financial needs in a more effective way. 

In addition to the specific technologies already mentioned, there is also a category of technology specifically geared towards the needs to the elderly and those with disabilities, which is called "assistive technology". Assistive technology includes special equipment designed to help the elderly and disabled throughout their daily lives and improve their quality of life. Here is a link that will give you more information about this type of technology: Assitive Technology: An Introduction and Overview

Healthy conversations can be had with your loved one about technology, and these conversations could lead to making some positive changes in your loved one's life. Always remember to actively listen to their concerns and thoughts, and speak in a way that will be helpful not hurtful. 

Here are a couple resources that may be helpful in your understanding of this topic: 

Embracing Technology to Improve Life

Adapting Technology to Elderly People

Dementia and Alzheimer's in the Elderly

Dementia and Alzheimer's in the Elderly

Your family is not alone. The effects of dementia and Alzheimer's are devastating, not only to the one suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, but also to the family members who are coping with this new reality. You may feel alone in this battle, but there are many other families who are struggling with these same circumstances in their own family. Coming to a better understanding about the symptoms and effects of dementia and Alzheimer's, may help change your perspective on this issue. Also, we will provide you will a couple resources that may help you get the support you need during this time. 

First, it is important to understand that although the terms "dementia" and "Alzheimer's" are often used to mean the same thing, they are defined and diagnosed differently. Dementia refers to, "A loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living." This can encompass a wider variety of diseases, but Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. 

Although Alzheimer's is most commonly found in and associated with the elderly, it is not a natural part of the aging process. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that gets worse over time; the intensity and form the symptoms take will change as the disease progresses. For example, in the beginning stages an individual might experience minor memory loss, but in later stages an individual may experience more severe memory loss, affecting their ability to function independently. 

Some of the general symptoms of Alzheimer's include:

• Memory loss, ranging from mild to severe. 
• Disorientation.
• Mood and behavior changes. 
• Deepening confusion about events, time and place.
• Suspicions about family, friends, and caregivers.
• Difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking.

If any of these symptoms are occurring in you or your family member, a doctor should be seen right away. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, there are a few helpful intervention methods that can slow down the process. Early diagnosis is key for Alzheimer's treatment. There are very noticeable changes that take place in the brain scans; Alzheimer's prevents nerve cells in the brain from accurately performing their job. This causes the brain to lose function, resulting in many of the symptoms seen above. 

The best way to communicate with your family member who has Alzheimer's is to meet them where they are at, and be aware that this may change from day to day. This disease is completely out of their control, and should not be handled with anger and frustration. It is important for family members to get support during this time, because it can become too big of a physical and emotional burden, especially on family members who also have the responsibility of being the main caregiver.

Here are a few helpful resources in regards to this topic and support for your family:

Support for Alzheimer's/Dementia

Alzheimer's: Dealing with Family Conflict

COHH is Pleased to Announce the Start of Another New Service! Snow Removal/Lawn Care!

As the owners of Comfort of Home Healthcare we pride ourselves in going above and beyond for our clients. After all, we have been where they are; we have and still do take care of our own loved ones in the comfort of their home.

While we were out picking up caregivers and taking them to our clients homes to work during inclement weather, it occurred to us that most of our clients probably need additional help in removing the snow from their drives, sidewalks, lawns, etc.

In order to be more helpful to our clients and their families, Comfort of Home Healthcare is extremely happy to announce that we are now offering snow removal services in the winter and lawn care during the summer. With these services, we can allow you to focus more of your time and energy on the more important things in life. Let us take care of the details for you during this time. 

If you or any of your family/friends are interested, please give us a call or if it’s easier, shoot us an email. We can always be reached at 816-671-0298 or info@comfortofhomehealthcare.com. Just ask for Jason or Tad.

All homes and driveways/lawns are different and will have to be bid individually. Also, note that all direct Comfort of Home Healthcare clients will receive a significantly discounted rate!!

Wow, the green grass sure looks good right about now!!

Family Assessment: What Do Your Parents Really Need?

Family Assessment

What Do Your Parents Really Need?

Often we are so overwhelmed with our own life that we forget to take a moment to consider what our parents are going through and how they are feeling about their changing life circumstances. Your elderly parents or disabled family members are going through things that we can't begin to understand unless we have been in their position. The best way to understand how your loved ones are feeling is to have real, honest conversations with them about their emotions, concerns, desires, and needs. If you truly have the desire to know and provide for your parents emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs, then you must assess where they are, where they want to be, and how to get them there. Their health needs to be a priority and the best way to keep them healthy is to stay in constant communication with them, because they know themselves better than anyone. 

Your loved one is going through a variety of changes, as they are losing some of their independence, mobility, control, and possibly certain relationships. It is easy to overlook some of their very basic needs, such as the need to feel important, the need to be touched, the need to have company, the need to still feel in control, and the need for independence. Every person needs their basic human needs to be met in order for their other needs to be efficiently taken care of. 

Here are some practical steps you can take to help assess your parents needs, in addition to considering your own needs:   (ehow.com)

1. Make your own careful assessment of your parents needs. Prioritize specific areas such as health care, social life, and accommodating changes needs as your parents age. 
2. Communicate with your family member to find out what they want most out of life and what they consider to be their most challenging issues. Make sure you communicate with an open heart and without immediate judgement. 
3. You don't have the energy or time to do everything, so decide what areas you can be most effective in and focus on those. 
4. Take into consideration your parent's personality, background, and life experiences.
5. Keep in mind that you don't really know what it feels like to lose your independence because of old age, until you have been there yourself. 
6. When things get tough, bring up happy, funny, or heartwarming memories. Laughter is always the best medicine when going through trials. Good memories or pictures from the past can heal a heart. 
7. Stay well-informed about your options, gather all the information you can about home health agencies, medicare, etc. 
8. When you are feeling impatient, stay kind towards your parents, when you look back at this time you will be happy you stayed gentle and patient towards them during this time. 

This tips will help you during your assessment process, but you may need some help knowing what questions to ask your parents about their life and their current health situation. There are many questions that will be appropriate to consider and ask your parents when you are trying to make some difficult decisions. You need to be able to ask them about various areas of their health, including their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Here is a helpful resource that gives you lists of questions to start asking in your own family: What Help Does Mom or Dad Really Need?

Your family assessment will be very beneficial for your entire family. When you don't know how to go about your family situation, always remember that selfless, sacrificial love will bring you and your family the most peace and joy!

Here are a couple more resources that may be helpful for you in your journey:

What Your Elderly Parents Really Need From You

How To Help an Elderly Parent

COHH is Pleased to Announce ~ Shared Life, Live-in Companion

Comfort of Home Healthcare is happy to announce that it’s looking for some caring individuals to make a huge difference in the life of another person. We normally provide more “traditional” in-home care services to seniors and people with disabilities.

Comfort of Home Healthcare was founded from a passion and drive to make a difference in people’s life’s, fueled by our own personal experiences.  Providing the best care possible to people who need help to remain independent is our sole goal and focus each and every day. With this commitment in mind, we cannot be more excited to begin a new journey in providing a non-traditional model of care for people with developmental disabilities in shared life, or live in companion.

The live in companion model, utilizes a shared home/ shared life approach to provide supports to people with developmental disabilities. This means that a person with a disability lives with and shares a home with a paid caregiver.

Shared Living is based on the importance of enduring and permanent relationships as the foundation for learning life skills, developing self-esteem and learning to exist in interdependence with others. 

The essential future of the Shared Living experience provides an opportunity for each individual with a developmental disability to grow and develop to his or her greatest potential and to participate in everyday community life. 

Shared living also provides individualized attention based on the needs of the individual with developmental disabilities. Shared living gives individuals opportunities to be completely immersed in their community and take an active role in their life.

Some of the many reasons Comfort of Home Healthcare is excited to be starting this type of service because the Shared Living model are: (taken from Division of Developmental Disabilities)

·        Inclusion in the community has been and continues to be a major focus of supports for people with disabilities. The Shared Living model has proven to be as good means for providing true inclusion in a person’s community, if the individual is matched and well supported by the Shared Living Provider.

·        Shared Living can provide both a stable support system and a higher quality of life for the person receiving services. The issue of staff people “revolving” in and out of the person’s life is minimized.

·        Shared Living can also provide a stable, flexible, higher quality of life for the individual.

·        This model provides the training and services quality review needed to assure the person served and the system of the highest possible quality and cost-effectiveness of the services.

Companions (paid caregiver) typically work Monday-Friday and begin each day when the consumer awakes. They assist the consumer with their morning routines, daily care, medications, meal preparation, etc.

Most consumers attend a day program, have a job or attend school and the companion is off work during these times. If the consumer is not gone during the day, then the companion is with the individual to assist them throughout the day. The companion also assists the consumer in the afternoon and evening time with their evening/night routines and then typically goes to bed after consumer has done so

_____________________________________________________________________________

Companions are salaried positions and are tied to weekdays. Companions are live in, this means that their rent and utilities are paid for, in addition to their salary.  

Each companion has the option of taking weekends off. During this time Comfort of Home Healthcare provides relief staff. ____________________________________________________________

Comfort of Home Healthcare, right now is actively seeking Companions and Relief staff for a woman with a developmental disability. As far as we know, we will be the first one in our area under this model, it will be exiting to start with us and be the first. 

Please help us spread the word to someone who you think this would be perfect for. It is absolutely paramount that we find the right person for this model and will keep interviewing until we find it.

If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact us. 816-671-0298, Ask for Jason. 

CAUTION: Preventing Falls in the Elderly

CAUTION

Preventing Falls in the Elderly

Statistics show that falls among the elderly are the most common fatal injury in the home. It is crucial that necessary steps be taken to prevent these falls from happening. Comfort of Home Healthcare makes the safety of their clients a priority, and they need families to come alongside them in these efforts. There are specific preventative measures that can be taken in order to avoid falls among the elderly as much as possible. If the injuries from a fall are not fatal, they still cause more challenges for the elderly person as they now have to deal with the effects of the injury and the recovery process. Here are some practical steps that can be taken to help insure the safety of your home for your loved one:

1. Stairways should have handles on both sides.
2. Attach safety treads to steps.
3. Remove all tripping hazards such as throw rugs, furniture, and any clutter from walkways. 
4. Use self-adhesive non-skid mats or safety treads in bathtubs, showers, bathroom floors, and pools. Any slippery surface is a potential hazard for slips and falls. 
5. Use non-skid rugs on bathroom floors.
6. Use non-skid pads under rugs on bare floors.
7. Install grab bars on both sides of toilets and bathtubs, especially those used by seniors.
8. Consider having them use a walking aid, which will help with stability in and out of the home.  
9. Talk to their doctor about other ways to reduce the risk of falls. This may include changing medication, exercising to improve strength/balance, etc. 

According to statistics in 2008, 19,700 elderly adults died from injuries they sustained during a fall. This number can be decreased if we are more aware of the risks and take the necessary steps toward preventing these falls. Our families and our loved ones will benefit as a result. 

Here are some resources that will give you more information about how to assess the risk of your loved one for falls, and how to be as preventative as possible:

The Prevention of Trips, Slips, and Falls in the Elderly

Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview

Preventing Slips and Falls Among Older Adults

What kind of "Legacy" are you leaving your loved ones?

Here at Comfort of Home Healthcare we see families in times of crisis on a daily basis. We are blessed in being able to provide quality caregivers to help families when they need it the most. 

One thing you can count on its that at some point you are going to need help to stay in the comfort of your home for the remaining your years when your health starts to fade.  

These years can be very stressful on a family, especially when the adult children are left to manage mom and dad’s care. One of the single most important step the process of making this an easier transition, is to plan for your own care.  

I ran across Frank the other day and he had some insightful things to add to this very topic. He put some helpful tips together for us in order to better help our clients and our community.

What kind of  "Legacy" are you going to leave your loved ones?

Legacy being defining as: Something inherited from a predecessor, a heritage. When you apply that to planning for care for yourself. Are you relying upon a predecessor to do that planning? Or are you planning on the government to take care of you? It is rare indeed to see a parent [as a predecessor] to plan for their children's long term care. The reality is, it is up to you! 

Mortality is 100%, yet, few of us want to plan for that unavoidable event.  Part of that is the time of our life when we, or a loved one, are faced with a set back to health and require assistance with activities of daily living. It may be for only 30 minutes. For others it may be 10 plus years.

One important step (one of many) in legacy planning is your “Health Care Directive". Who would you select to speak for you in case of a health crisis? In most areas, law requires you to have a signed Directive before receiving care.

Where do you start? How to select a directive?

Here are some things you’re going to need to think about before assigning someone as your health care directive:

1. Meets the legal requirements in your State.

2. Would be willing to speak on your behalf.

3. Would be willing to act on your wishes and separate his/ her feelings from yours.  

4. Lives close by or could travel to be by your side.

5. Knows and understands you well.

6. Is someone you trust with your life. Can you "pull the plug" on a loved one?

7. Will talk with you now about sensitive issues, and will LISTEN to your wishes.

8. Will be available long into the future. 9. Would be able to handle sensitive family conflicts. 10. Can be a strong advocate in the face of an indifferent doctor or institution.

We hope to share some ideas from time to time to slow you down long enough to ponder making a difference in your legacy.

Meanwhile; more information is available through legacy4you@ymail.com or by calling Frank Sindelar at 816-752-2624.

Thanks for "listening".

I hope you found this helpful, and please if you have questions don’t be bashful.

Here are some articles to read if you would like more information.

Four Goals of Legacy Planning – (articles on the financial aspect of legacy planning)

Advance Health Care Directives and Living Wills

LivingWills and Advance Care Directives for Medical Decisions

Caregiver Grief: The Prolonged Goodbye

Caregiver Grief

The Prolonged Goodbye

Grief can be experienced as a result of various situations and events in a persons life, and the intense sorrow they experience will most likely disrupt their everyday life. The nature of a caregiver's grief needs to be understood before help can be given to individuals who find themselves in this position. Caregiver grief may be slightly different , while the process is similar, it is often multi-faceted and prolonged. 

"Many caregivers of the aging or the ill experience anticipatory grief, or grieving prior to the actual death of the person. Particularly with those dealing with dementia, caregivers experience the "death" of the person as the mind dies but the body remains behind. The grief a caregiver experiences is still as real, as if the person had died." (http://comfortdoc.squidoo.com)

This anticipatory grief causes a caregiver to go through the grief process multiple times before a death actually occurs. Often a caregiver is so close to the loved one that they experience new grief as their loved one goes through various stages of their illness. Every illness will bring different experiences, emotions, and ultimately different grief. As a caregiver experiences a "long goodbye" they will often go through emotions such as: depression, hurt, sadness, anger, weepiness, despair, and eventually relief. 

This relief may come in many forms-- from the effects of grief counseling, the support of a friend, or an unexpected moment of joy that life may bring. A caregiver may feel guilty during these moments of joy, laughter, and happiness, but this should not be the case. There is help for the caregiver who is willing to be helped. Grief counseling is always a good option for caregivers, and it will help the caregiver through the process of grief and provide them the support they need during this time. 

Every caregiver may experience the stages of grief in a different order, time frame, and to varying degrees. A grief counselor would help an individual with their specific needs, emotions, and experiences. " Grief is our normal, natural, and necessary response to loss. Its flip-side, bereavement (or mourning), is the process of responding to, and ultimately surviving loss." (http://www.webmd.com)

These two articles will help you  better understand the grieving process and how to go about getting help for yourself, your loved one, or someone you know.

Caregiver Grief and Bereavement

Various Resources on Caregiver Grief