Elder Life Planning for Organizations

http://www.EldercareAtWork.com/

A large and fast-growing segment of employees are faced with a caregiving responsibility that can be more challenging than finding child care. Eldercare or caring for aging parents affects millions of baby boomers who are turning 50 at a rapid pace. The average working couple has more living parents than children. In our mobile society they are more likely to be living far from the aging parent who now needs their help.

See a brief slide presentation overview of the impact of eldercaregiving on employees.

According to a 1997 survey sponsored by the AARP and Metropolitan Life, the cost to US employers in lost productivity and other costs may exceed $29 billion.

Relevant reading: New Study Finds Employees Desire Employer-sponsored Access To Long Term Care Insurance according to Prudential Financial Inc.'s (NYSE:PRU) 2003 LTC Insurance Employee Benefit Study.

Relevant reading: Long-Term Caregiving Takes a High Toll on Family, Work Life by Michael Reinemer, The National Council on the Aging.

New, Innovative and Low Cost Employee Benefits Program.

A new, innovative and low cost employee benefits program is now available to help companies and their employees to ease both the emotional stress and the high costs related to elder caregiving.

How can employers and caregivers solve this growing dilemma of modern work life?

Unlike employee benefits programs that focus only on those who purchase long term care insurance coverage, Elder Life Planning in the Workplace offers a more comprehensive and cost effective work family benefit. Our focus is on your employees who are worried about their aging parents, a spouse or a family member with a chronic illness or disability.

Our goal is to sharply reduce:

• The multiple interruptions that occur due to caregiving responsibilities during the workday.
• The stress of trying to find a way to balance work and family caregiving responsibilities
• The need to take sick leave and vacation time to help an aging family member.

Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc. Adult & Elder Service provides the answers, assurances and options needed to achieve the peace of mind and the work/life balance they seek.

Information and assistance is provided by trained eldercare professionals who are available 7 days a week at our elder care consultation and referral center as well as at our web site, by phone or in writing. We also offer on-site educational programs on issues such as "Caring for your Aging Parents", "Understanding Eligibility Rules for Elder and Disability Care Services", "Legal and Financial Issues That are Unique to Aging Parents", and a range of other subjects. Employees and family members also have the option of participating in live teleconference programs and video conference programs designed to support caregivers using the latest telecommunications technology.

Our professional staff understands their concerns and has access to a vast number of resources that can help them to assist their older parents, whether they live nearby or miles away. We recognize and respect that each family's experience is different. Our professional staff tailors resources and educational materials that match each family's specific needs.

Recognizing the importance of responding to a growing multi-lingual workforce, we have the capacity to process calls in more than 37 languages. Our professional consultation center operates 7 days per week. Employees and family members are encouraged to call as often as is needed until the problem is resolved.

Informed Decisions Adult & Elder Service team will offer expert advice and referral in the following topic areas:

• Home caregiver resources:
  • How to find, interview and hire the right caregivers, costs and ways to manage the costs of care. Providing for a safe home.
  • Finding and using geriatric care managers & care coordinators.
  • Evaluating and selecting nursing homes, assisted living homes.
  • Adaptive equipment. How to order a wheelchair, hospital bed, and bathroom equipment. Costs of equipment and what insurance's will cover.
  • Home designs for functional living for older adults. Safety for older adults.
  • Alarms systems. Lifeline resources for elders living alone.
  • Retirement living. Adult Family homes. Negotiating facility discounts.
  • Moving a parent across country. What to consider and how to do it.
• Caregiver Support for the employee & other members of the family.
  • Long distance caregiving ? Ways to help out even if you are miles away.
  • Balancing work and caring for an older adult.
  • How to have a family planning meeting with your parent.
  • Respite care. Caregiving support Avoiding burnout.
  • How to reduce the stress of caregiving. Using humor while helping your parent.
• Medical issues/health care for older adults.
  • Information on specific diseases. How to talk to the doctor.
  • What to do when my parent is in the hospital.
  • Medical terminology ? how to decipher what the doctor says.
  • Tests and procedures ? What do the results mean?
  • Referrals to geriatric medical professionals (i.e. Gerontologists, specialists, PT, OT, speech).
  • What is home health care and what is covered? Hospice care.
  • Disease specific associations, websites and resources (i.e. Alzheimer's Assoc., Heart Assoc. Diabetes Assoc. etc. Brain injury resources nationwide.
• Insurance information for older adults
  • Medicare/Medicaid? what do they cover and eligibility requirements.
  • Long term care insurance ? How to pick the right plan.
  • (Premium discounts for plan participants).
  • Long term care insurance consumer information & Discounts from top rated companies.
  • Medical supplemental insurance? plans that work best for your parent.
  • Social security: updated resources provided both at our web site, by phone or in writing.
• Legal & Financial help for older adults
  • Elder Law Attorney resources nationwide. How to talk to an attorney.
  • Financial resources & bill paying services. How to be a good advocate.
  • Legal arrangements (i.e. Living wills, Power of Attorney, Guardianships, etc.)
• Medication Help for older adults
  • Information on medications. Setting up a reliable system for taking medications.
  • Costs of drugs and ways to find the best price. Signs and symptoms of medications.
  • Drug/drug interactions. Drugs prescribed and those bought over the counter.
• Mental Health for older adults
  • Mental/emotional issues. Depression. Memory disorders.
  • How to handle the behaviors related to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Dementia, etc.
  • Spiritual resources. Counseling resources. Equipment for older adults.
• Older Drivers ?
  • How to tell older parents to stop driving.
  • Transportation for older adultsAdult day care/Senior centers.
  • Exercise and strength programs for frail elders.
  • Senior discounts, Meals on Wheels and grocery delivery resources.
• Death, dying and grieving for older adults and families.
  • End of life decision making, death, dying and grieving.
  • How to make funeral arrangements ? what do you need to do.
  • Grief counselors/support groups. Referrals to appropriate resources.
• How the Adult and Elder Services Program Works.
  • Informed Decisions offers professional telephone consultation and referral services to employees who have an elderly family member or disabled adult child.
  • Registered Nurses who have extensive experience in caring for disabled and geriatric clients provide the services.

Each employee/retiree/ depositor or eligible family member's request for service is responded to promptly. A written report with information specific to the caller's needs and geographic location is sent out following the initial call. Follow?up telephone contacts are made within a week following the initial contact. Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc. will remain in contact with the caregiver until resolution of the concern or eldercare need is met.

Send for our Information Kit "Elder Life Planning in the Workplace" by selecting the appropriate option on our Feedback page - we'll mail it right out to you.

If you're an employer, it's an essential addition to your employee benefits program at a modest cost, or visit our affiliate site http://www.eldercareatwork.com/.

If you have further questions, please take advantage of our free consultation service - this allows you to determine whether Long Term Care insurance is appropriate for your own personal retirement plan, at no cost or obligation.

Simply give us a call at 781-461-9637 or send us your questions via our Feedback page - we are independent Long Term Care specialists.

Our goal is to help you determine if you need and are qualified for this protection, and only then to assist you in selecting the company, the amount and type of coverage best suited for your particular needs.

To receive a FREE Caregivers Information Kit, send us a request.

Promote Your Eldercare Practice in:

The National Elder Life Professionals Network

A comprehensive, interactive directory of independent elder life planning specialists. Experienced professionals who provide an array of services to older adults, non-geriatric disabled adults, family and professional caregivers and employers and employees concerned about the stress of caregiving and work life.

For more information about the Directory, email bob@elderlifeplanning.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.
• Advisory services to guardians and conservators.
• Counseling and assistance with methods of financing the high cost of long term care including: Long Term Care Insurance, Reverse Mortgages, Life Settlements and other long-term care financing strategies.

Informed Eldercare Decisions, Inc. is a private company dedicated to helping people make the best choices for long term elder care of their relatives. We are Experts in Long Term Care insurance and Elder Care planning.

450 Washington Street, Suite 108, Dedham, MA 02026-0428, USA
Phone 781-461-9637
Fax 781-461-9638