Financial Costs of Caregivers Assistance

Filed under Caregiver education, Family Caregiver

Financial Cost of Caregiving Assistance

Families often underestimate the financial cost of caregiving. When planning for this responsibility, it’s important that you involve not only the person you care for, but other family members too, if possible. Make smart use of family resources and other programs by checking out your options and making decisions in advance.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Caregiver?

Hiring a caregiver is not a cheap option and it does require a lot of planning in order to make a good financial decision. Remember this is a full time job for caregivers and they will likely be around the patient for 8 to 10 hours a day. That is only for the day time caregiver. You might require a night time caregiver as well. This adds up to a lot of money. The costs of a caregiver can be anywhere from $800 to $3500 a week. It is time to start a list of how you will pay for a caregiver.

Start by making a list of possible expenses that may be incurred, such as:

Traveling to provide assistance Long-distance phone calls.
Medical expenses, including surgeries, therapies, medications and housekeeping services.
Personal care nursing services such as bathing Special clothing, including elderly incontinence products, adult day care or respite care.
Home care, medical equipment or adaptations that enable the person to remain at home. Alternatives to home living arrangements.

Once you’ve calculated potential expenses, how will they be covered? This requires open and honest communication among everyone. If necessary, ask a third party to help guide the discussions – a social worker, a spiritual advisor or other experienced facilitator.

Some programs require income information, so you will need records on Social Security, pensions, interest, dividends, net rent and other income. Look into public and private benefits that might be available, such as: Supplemental Security Income (SSI, Community Options Program (COP) and Medicare or Medicaid – medical care for eligible disabled older adults Private benefits, including insurance. Remember, the best caregiver advice is to involve more people, peferably the community, in the caregiving of the individual. The Elena Tresh foundation has resources available for caregivers of children.

Tags: Cost to Hire a Caregiver

Elderly Care Advance Directives

Filed under Caregiver education, Elderly Caregiver

The importance of advance directives

A crucial but sensitive issue to discuss is the creation of a living will and durable power of attorney. Living wills are written instructions that explain ones’ wishes regarding healthcare in the case of a terminal illness and should be very specific. Durable power of attorney delegates a person to make decisions if one becomes unable to do so. A living will and durable power of attorney should be done by consulting those involved in carrying out the wishes of the one to whom you provide care.

While finances and legal issues may be a sensitive subject, approach them in terms of “helping” rather than “taking over.” Most likely, you won’t be mentioning anything your loved one isn’t already concerned about. Having these documents prepared, and assuring they outline wishes in case of terminal illness and/or inability to make decisions, will help minimize conflict and confusion.

Balancing Life as a Caregiver

Filed under Caregiver education, Job Resources

Although it may seem nearly impossible to find the time, you can’t expect to focus all your energy on someone else without taking some time out for yourself. You will surely experience caregiver burnout. Neglecting your own needs often results in health problems, along with feelings of depression, loneliness, grief, anger, sadness, fatigue, anxiety, frustration, guilt or fear. It is even harder for an aging caregiver. Added stress can make it difficult to function at home, at work or when caring for a loved one. Caregiver jobs are rewarding but the stress can unexpectablely hit you at the worse times. You should manage your own health like you manage their doctor schedules.

Get yearly checkups and focus on health conditions like diabetes, heart health and weight management. How you take care of yourself will reflect in how you give care to someone else. Check out these caregiver health tips.

Aging Caregiver

Filed under Caregiver education, Elderly Caregiver

Are you an aging caregiver? Here is the reality. You are getting older and it’s getting harder for you to care for your elderly recipient without neglecting your own problems. To prevent caregiver burnout and injuries, you must remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others. There comes a point when you must give up the caregiver role and try other solutions.

Nursing home

I understand it’s a bad economy right now. Although expensive, these are very viable options for aging caregivers. There is 24 hour supervision and nurses available. Usually you can get government resources to reduce the cost to you.

Hire a caregiver

if you have to take care of a close family member or parent, please get an extra hand for the manual labor tasks such as lifting or carrying heavy objects. The last thing you want is to get injured. That will not help you or the care recipient. There are caregiver agencies that offer good caregiver assistance to those who need such help.

Seek help from other family members or friends

This might seem like you are putting out a burden on others but just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to look after our aging population. This network is also important to provide emotional support.
The caregiver needs must not be ignored. You are not alone in this matter.

Caregiver Burnout

Filed under Caregiver education, Job Resources

When we commit all our time into taking care of someone else, we forget our problems, both physical and mental. In this case, burnout is when someone feels emotionally and physically drained. You have no more energy or time to give to yourself.

You may notice yourself easily irritated or quick tempered for small things especially towards those close to you. You may feel less enthusiastic for things that used to create excitement.

Caregiver Stress

Although it may seem nearly impossible to find the time, you can’t expect to focus all your energy on someone else without taking some time out for yourself. Neglecting your own needs often results in health problems, along with feelings of depression, loneliness, grief, anger, sadness, fatigue, anxiety, frustration, guilt or fear. It is even harder for an aging caregiver. Added stress can make it difficult to function at home, at work or when caring for a loved one.

Get yearly checkups and focus on health conditions like diabetes, heart health and weight management. Remember your caregiver role and balance your personal life between the two. Prevent burnout by recognizing these problems you may encounter. How you take care of yourself will reflect in how you give care to someone else.

Tags: Burnout, Caregiver Stress