Are you prepared to care for a loved one?

Also: Back pain often overdiagnosed and overtreated; Making use of helpful services Share with a friend » | Unsubscribe »

August 1, 2013

Close to 49 million informal or family caregivers offer assistance of all sorts to adults in America. Their efforts are vital to the lives of people struggling with illness, disability, or the changes that often accompany aging. This report will assist you in meeting the needs of the person you care for while attending to your own. It includes financial, legal, and medical information that’s vital to caregivers, as well as a special section devoted to caring for yourself as you navigate caregiving challenges. Working with a geriatric care manager When you're exploring a foreign country, a guide who knows the terrain well can help immensely. That's just as true when entering the foreign territory of caregiving. Here, a geriatric-care manager can provide invaluable assistance for individuals and families facing challenging care decisions. Geriatric-care managers come from a diversity of backgrounds, from nursing and social work to gerontology. These professionals can help navigate the tangles of family dynamics, round up medical care and necessary services, keep medical personnel on the same page, and cut through the baffling red tape of private businesses and government bureaucracies. Some of the tasks geriatric-care managers routinely undertake include: •  evaluating needs •  connecting people to helpful services, senior housing, and long-term care facilities •  bringing families together to discuss options supportively •  hiring and monitoring home care personnel •  communicating with specialists, hospital and home care staff, and family members to coordinate care •  alerting families to financial, medical, or legal problems and suggesting ways to circumvent difficulties •  helping with a move to assisted living, a nursing home, an Alzheimer's care unit, or other facilities. Some geriatric-care specialists focus on assisting older people. Others have expertise coordinating care and services for people of all ages with disabilities or debilitating illnesses. To learn more about geriatric-care managers, or to locate a geriatric-care manager, contact the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers at 520-881-8008 or www.caremanager.org. Although working with a geriatric-care manager may be costly, such expertise can often save money and regrets, especially if you are scrambling to arrange care from afar. The cost of a geriatric-care manager is usually borne by the client or family, rarely by long-term care insurance. If you plan to work with a geriatric-care manager, be sure to get a written agreement outlining the scope of services offered and costs. This document can also help you decide which tasks, if any, might be undertaken by family and friends to save money. For more on developing plans and effective strategies for the hard work of caregiving, buy Caregiver's Handbook, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: Digg Facebook Twitter

News and Views from the Harvard Health Blog Back pain often overdiagnosed and overtreated What doctors call “routine” back pain can really, really hurt. The best treatment is usually quite conservative — over-the-counter pain relievers, ice and heat, and gentle exercise. Yet a new study shows that many doctors order unnecessary tests, prescribe narcotics, and jump the gun with referrals to surgery. Read more.

Attention caregivers: Making use of helpful services Being a caregiver for an ailing parent, spouse, child, or other loved one can feel like a lonely undertaking. It needn't, even if you don't have family nearby to pitch in. Help for caregivers is available from various organizations. Once you learn what's available, it may be easier to chart a less-demanding course toward meeting the needs of your spouse, relative, or friend. Here are some types of services and professionals you might want to investigate. •  Adult day services. These programs offer comprehensive packages of assistance, though what's in the package varies from place to place. Services may include transportation, nursing care, meals, personal care (such as help with bathing or toilet use), social opportunities, or rehabilitative activities. Such facilities are immensely helpful if your loved one needs supervision or assistance with daily activities, health care, or social support for physical or cognitive impairments. Typically, adult day services are open during normal business hours. Some offer evening and weekend hours. •  Certified nurses aides. These trained aides can help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and personal care. Keep in mind that they are not nurses, and so can't administer medications. •  Hired companions and homemakers. You may want to hire someone to help with meals, shopping, and laundry; supervise activity; and provide companionship and transportation. Some people may also be willing to help with personal care. An informal arrangement — such as a college student who lives in a home and provides help in exchange for rent — can work well. •  Home health aides. These aides perform personal services such as bathing and dressing, and may do light housekeeping. •  Meal programs. Hot, nutritious meals may be available through programs like the Meals on Wheels Association of America (703-548-5558, or www.mowaa.org) or the federally funded Eating Together Program, which offers lunch and companionship at community centers. Senior centers, community groups, or religious organizations may have similar services. •  Case managers. Some hospitals and health insurance plans assign case managers to oversee and coordinate health care. Case managers are often registered nurses or social workers. They help coordinate services, keep tabs on a patient's progress, and communicate with the patient, caregiver, family, clinicians, and key departments, such as billing. •  Nurses. Nurses offer skilled nursing care, such as inserting intravenous lines, cleaning wounds, and changing bandages. They can also administer medications. •  Physical, occupational, or speech therapists. These trained professionals may do in-home therapy sessions. •  Respite care workers. Respite care workers provide caregivers with time off from their caregiving duties. •  Transportation services. Some communities offer free or low-cost transportation to medical appointments for seniors or people who are disabled. Other potential sources of free or low-cost transportation help are religious and community organizations, such as churches or synagogues, councils on aging, and senior centers. The United Way (www.unitedway.org) and other national organizations may be able to refer you to services in your community, useful information, and assistance. For example, the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org ) offers a 24-hour help line (800-272-3900) and support groups throughout the country. Some of its chapters also offer training programs, assistance with coordinating care, and other services. Another good resource is a website sponsored by the National Health Information Center: www.healthfinder.gov. It can help you locate resources in your area. A local agency on aging, geriatric care manager, hospital case manager, or social worker can also advise you about local services and may be able to suggest ways to cover the costs. For more on developing plans and effective strategies for the hard work of caregiving, buy Caregiver's Handbook, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: Digg Facebook Twitter

Featured in this issue Caregiver’s Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled ... and yourself Featured content: • Handling daily tasks and common problems • Developing a plan • Legal planning • Financial planning • Medical planning   ... and more! Click here to read more »

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