Services and Support for Family Caregivers of Aging Parents in Massachusetts  and Nationwide

                                           

 

 

Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc., is a private company dedicated to helping family caregivers make the best care  choices for aging parents and relatives with long-term care needs. As a fee based alternative to publicly funded programs we are able to give our clients individualized attention to their unique family caregiving needs.

 

EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS of AGING PARENTS in MASSACHUSETTS.

 Call toll Free 1-800-375-0595


                                            




ph: 1-800-375-0595

info@elderlifeplanning.com

  • Help for Caregivers of Aging ParentsClick to open the Help for Caregivers of Aging Parents menu
    • Don't Quit Your Job to Care for Aging Parents
  • Will States Make Family Caregivers Pay for Costs of Parents Care?
  • Elder Care Services for Faith Based Communities
  • IED Care Management Services
  • The IED Professional Team
  • Employer Sponsored Caregiver Support
  • How Eldercare Professionals Can Generate New Revenue .
  • Evaluating Nursing Home Quality
  • Services for LGBT Elders and Caregivers
  • Gay and Lesbian Elders at Risk for Abuse
  • Community Banks and Credit Unions: Act Now or Lose Your Older Depositors
  • How Clinical Trial Researchers and Eldercare Professionals Collaborate
  • Eldercare In an Age of Scarcity:Who Will Care? Who will Pay?
  • Free Eldercare Planning Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Caregivers Resource Library
  • For Working Caregivers
  • Understanding Eldercare Costs
  • The National Eldercare Professionals Community
  • Downsizing An Aging Family Members Home Means Making Difficult Decisions
  • Protecting Elders From Financial Exploitation

What does eldercare/adult caregiving
look like in action?


A couple of months ago, AARP in partnership with the Ad Council launched a three-year public service campaign to raise awareness of the tens of millions of unpaid family caregivers in the U.S. today.
  “Silent Scream” strikes a chord with many by how it portrayed the complicated emotions related to caring for another adult. (My only wish it that they’d shown someone trying to rush out the door to work while figuring how to keep their mother safe when the caregiver doesn’t show up).

If you haven’t seen it, check it out here. It is worth three minutes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pOGez_AmDY&feature=youtu.be

 

EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS PROVIDING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAREGIVERS of AGING PARENTS in MASSACHUSETTS.

 

Call toll Free 1-800-375-0595


Jan 2013 FLU Alert

The 2013 flu season is as severe as expected, and it likely hasn't peaked yet. Public health officials still recommend flu shots. (See below for more details)

When you need help to manage the care of a frail elder call 1-800-375-0595. Our experienced staff of professionals can ease the stressful processof navigating the confusing network of elder service options by helping caregivers of frail elders to make informed eldercare decisions.



For more than 20 years, Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc has been providing experienced and highly professional care management specialists to elders and familiy caregivers who seek assistance with the difficult care planning decisions.

As parents age, they may need assistance with tasks such as home maintenance, getting dressed, personal hygiene, mobility, transportation and nutritious meals. And if a medical emergency occurs without a contingency plan in place, it adds to the burden of guilt and anxiety over what could happen in the family caregiver's absence. 

Our highly accomplished professional team conduct in home or hospital based evaluations and needs assessments in order to develop a comprehensive care plan that addresses the full range of medical, emotional, financial, and legal needs. Plans are customized to meet the specific needs of each family. We also provide optional, ongoing monitoring of the care plan when family members are unable to do so due to work, distance,  or other conflicting responsibilities. 

Working caregivers and "long-distance caregivers" (those who live a great distance from the person needing care) often retain our services to oversee the care and to monitor the paid caregivers at home or in a facility.

We measure our success not only in the quality of our care planning, but in the peace of mind we provide as our clients and their families proceed with their lives.

 Contact Us: info@elderlifeplanning.com    or call us  Toll Free: 1-800-375-0595

A member of the Boston Senior Care Alliance 

     


 


Informed Eldercare Decisions is proud to be a member of                                     The Boston Senior Care Alliance (BSCA)

BSCA is association of trusted senior care professionals offering a diverse range of services that effectively and comprehensively meet the needs of older adults and their family members. Our alliance conveniently brings together the resources older adults and their families need to help them manage changes in their lives. Our clients benefit from the BSCA’s collaborative model of care that meets the holistic needs of each individual and his or her specific situation.

We have carefully selected the members of the alliance to offer our clients the opportunity to connect with the highest quality providers in their respective fields. You can rest assured that each one of our members practices with the utmost integrity, professionalism, and caring concern.

To learn more about BSCA and each of it's members click here http://www.bostonseniorcarealliance.com/




Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc. provides the following services:

  • Health, social & functional assessments to determine the services best suited for each individual

  • Care planning and care management: arranging & monitoring home & community care, assisted living, nursing care facilities & other services

  • Support for family caregivers who live far from their parents or siblings

We customize our services to meet the unique needs of each client, whether that be a one-time office or telephone consultation, or ongoing development and monitoring of the care plan as needs 


THE HIGH COST OF CARING FOR AN AGING SOCIETY



We also provide advisory services to law firms, banks and trust departments and guardians and conservators. 

 Our staff of clinical social workers and nurses have considerable experience in the management of complex family issues, complicated diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, mental health and geropsychiatric illness as well as difficult behavior problems.
Counseling and assistance with alternative methods of financing the high cost oflong- term care is also available from Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc.


"I have never met anyone who didn’t ask, with shock and dismay, “What do you mean Medicare doesn’t pay for it?” They assume, as I did, that.. {elders} have universal health care . Alas, Medicare covers only medical or surgical procedures. If what an old person needs, as most will after the age of 85, is custodial care, they, and their children, are on their own. [There are]... traps in choosing a long-term-care insurance policy, a residential facility, a home health aide or in applying for Medicaid when their funds are exhausted, among other complicated decisions.
"One can’t navigate this system on behalf of a parent, or prepare for one’s own future, without understanding that..."
Jane Gross, author of  “A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents— and Ourselves”  New York Times, June 12, 2011

 

Contact us

info@elderlifeplanning.com

Phone 1-800-375-0595


 

This year's flu season is bad, and it hasn't peaked yet

Boston Business Journal by Galen Moore, Web Editor

Date: Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The 2013 flu season is off to a raging start, and we likely haven't seen the worst of it yet, emergency room docs and public health officials reportedly say. We're well into the 2013 flu season, but doctors are still recommending flu shots.

Dr. Brian Barnewolt, chairman of emergency medicine at Tufts Medical Center, told the Boston Herald this year's flu season could last through March and maybe into April. Dr. Anita Barry reportedly told the Herald there have been 700 reported cases of flu in Boston since Oct. 1, 10 times last year's number for the same period – and the number is likely to grow.

Flu admissions at Brigham & Women's Hospital have gotten so bad, the hospital has reportedly dropped its usual policy of segregating flu patients in individual rooms. Now, patients of the same gender, with the same strain are rooming together, according to the Herald.

The Cape Cod Times reported Tuesday that Cape Cod Hospital is seeing emergency room traffic at rates normal for the peak of the summer travel season. Officials counted 231 lab-confirmed flu cases in the southeastern part of the state last week, according to the Times. At this time last year, it counted just four. Read more: Vicious 2013 flu season hits Cape Cod.

The bad flu season is blamed on a particularly virulent strain of flu, A N3H2, that has emerged as the dominant strain of the 2012-2013 flu season. Its emergence led public health officials to issue warnings and recommend flu shots as early as the first week of December.




 
The 2013 flu season is as severe as expected, and it likely hasn't peaked yet. Public health officials still recommend flu shots. 
 

 

 
 
 
 



Caregiver Resources:

 Request a copy of our free information kit: "When a Parent Needs Help: How to put together an elder care plan that makes sense for you and your family."

Contact us   info@elderlifeplanning.com

Phone 1-800-375-0595

 


  
    Getting Organized
    
Planning Checklists for Caregivers: 

Discussing important issues with loved ones who are growing older can be a challenge. Studies show that few Americans have these conversations until a major event occurs—a sudden health crisis, the loss of a spouse, or even a holiday visit by children during which it becomes apparent that Mom or Dad is having some issues with the activities of daily living.

But waiting until a crisis moment isn't a good planning strategy. Instead, bring up these subjects before a crisis arises. Keep it casual, don't overwhelm Mom and Dad, let them feel your love and concern. And remember: helping your parents plan is not only important for their well-being as they age, but will make a difference in your own financial, emotional and physical health as well.

Here is list of questions to think about and discuss:

 Living options—Do your parents want to stay in their current home as long as possible? Or are they considering "downsizing" or moving to a senior living community? Discuss what they would prefer if they were to experience a decline in health and need greater assistance with the activities of daily living. Home care? Assisted living?
   

Home modifications—Is your parents' home keeping up with their needs? What repairs and modifications could make their house, apartment or condominium safer and more convenient?
    
    A goal to remain socially connected—Meaningful social interaction is vital to the physical, emotional and intellectual health of people of every age. For elders, spending time with children is richly rewarding—but did you know that recent studies show that seniors who socialize not only with family members but also with other groups have better emotional, intellectual and physical health?
   

Estate planning—Do your parents have an up-to-date will? If their plan is to pass property to family members, have they talked to a financial advisor about the best way to do that?  How can their assets help provide for their own care in case of a decline in health or incapacity?
   

Advance healthcare planning—

Have your parents completed advance directives for healthcare, including a healthcare power of attorney and living will? Have you discussed with them what their wishes are if they were to
Estate planning and advance health care planning is a highly specialized area of law. Laws affecting asset preservation, advanced directives, guardianship, conservatorship, special needs trusts and other areas specific to elder life planning require the expertise of an elder law attorney. Qualified elder law attorneys are members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

To a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. one near you go to www.naela.com   

 

Medicare, Social Security, VA benefits, retirement

Are your parents taking advantage of all the benefits available to them? Do they have the best supplemental ("Medigap") policy? Part D drug plan? Do they know the deadlines to sign up for benefits in order to avoid penalties?
   

Long-term care insurance—Many people erroneously believe that Medicare pays for a nursing home or home health care services. But in reality, long-term care is not covered by Medicare, and paying for it can quickly deplete financial resources. Investigate whether your parents are good candidates for long-term care insurance. And if they already have a policy, is it from a reputable company?
   

Fall prevention

Especially if they have already experienced falls, many older adults are reluctant to discuss this topic. But did you know that fall protection is actually an important part of planning for the future? Falls are one of the leading causes of incapacity…and this is one risk factor for incapacity that we can take proactive steps to avoid.
   

Avoiding crime and fraud

Unfortunately, criminals and con artists often target vulnerable seniors. Scams and unethical sales methods aimed at older people can cause serious financial loss. Seniors who have been victimized are often ashamed to discuss the incident. So bring up the subject and educate yourself and your parents about crooked sweepstakes, identity theft and unscrupulous salespersons.

These topic suggestions are intended to provide a framework for seniors and family members as they talk and plan together. And if the "teamwork" aspect isn't working as well as you’d like, consider adding outside new members to the team! Your loved one’s healthcare provider, a geriatric care manager, financial planner or eldercare attorney can all provide valuable help and guidance. 

 

 

 


ph: 1-800-375-0595

info@elderlifeplanning.com