The key to choosing the ideal home care agency is knowing the amount of care needed by your mother or father. There are primarily two categories of in-home care: custodial care and professional care. Custodial care includes help with shopping, housekeeping, preparing meals, and also personal care like dressing, feeding and bathing. Skilled care, on the other hand, attends to the medical requirements of the senior. Some companies provide only one type of care while others have both choices.

Listed below are some pointers for selecting a home care agency for your loved one:

You really need to thoroughly evaluate what type of assistance is needed by your mother or father when it comes to their health care, household care and personal care. Do they need aid with home health care like supervising their medications or physical therapy?

• Write a job summarization. After you have analyzed your loved one’s demands, it’s time to write a job description that will help you recognize the most suitable choices for the job. If you’re going to an elder care agency, the job description will also help them in choosing the right caregiver for your mother or father.
• Have a job contract. Your in home care company should be able to draft a contract but it’s very important to make sure all the important details are included.
• Try to find prospective elder care professionals. You can ask around– good friends, acquaintances or perhaps the people you work with– may be able to direct you to a few really good companies or they may know of a caregiver personally. You can also examine online for credible agencies. On a related tone, if your senior loved one calls for specific care, such as if they are dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, you should also ensure that the caregivers you are taking into consideration have the appropriate training and experience in dealing with patients who have these health issues.
• Get ready for the meeting. Once you have selected an agency that utilizes home health aides, it’s time to get ready for the consultation. You need to have a list of questions to ask, not only the caregivers but also the agency itself. Ask how long they have been in the industry, if their caregivers are bonded, if they are licensed, and what kind of training the home care service providers have undergone. Pick an agency that is very helpful in answering your questions. Avoid those who seem too busy to answer your questions in addition to those that do not offer competent answers.

When talking to the caregiver applicants, always make it a point to observe their demeanor and temperament. Invite a family member to take part the interview so you can get a second opinion. Ideally, you also should observe the interaction and communications between the caregiver and the loved one who is requiring elderly care.

A lot of agency workers seem good on paper but may not really be qualified to give care to the elder. You need to look past their resumes and you should truly do your best to learn as much about them and their character before you choose who will take care of your aging mom or dad.

• You should also examine if they have any reports of alcohol or drug use, if they have offenses that present a safety and security risk, and if they have a driver’s license. Find out as much as you can about the company and the caregiver. You want the best potential care for your parent and this begins by giving her or him a caregiver who is knowledgeable and trained to provide the services needed, someone who is thoughtful, understanding and patient, and someone you can trust to look after your parent when you’re not around.

Learn how the caregivers at Home Helpers can help provide the finest possible quality of life at home for your loved one– get in touch with us to schedule your free in-home consultation today.

Home Helpers of Lake Country is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Oconomowoc, Dousman, Beaver Dam, Hartland, Summit, Okauchee, Watertown, Delafield, Wales, Chenequa, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Juneau, Ixonia, Nashotah, and Concord.

It can be painful, even frightening, to watch the deterioration of the once-bright and active mind of a family member suffering with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. What can begin as simple forgetfulness can slowly turn into serious and extreme impairment and as it progresses, our loved one’s ability to function independently disappears, as well as certain personality traits that defined that person.

Our usual ways of communicating won’t work anymore. A new understanding of how to communicate must be learned. We know it isn’t easy, so we want to cover some tips that will be helpful in connecting with your elderly loved one.

It’s sad that dementia can cause a person to go about their lives as mere shadows of who he or she used to be. But please know this does NOT mean the person with dementia is just an empty shell. Far from it! It’s just that the “shell” has difficulty opening, and on some days, the shell might stay closed altogether. But just like the old, tightly closed oyster shell, inside is a precious treasure – the pearl! It’s that pearl we need to remember and be patient with that stubborn outward shell

When you learn how to gently get that shell open, you’ll have meaningful communication with your precious family member who is afflicted with dementia, however brief that window of opportunity may be. It takes certain tools to shuck an oyster, and even some skill. The same principle applies in connecting on deep level with your family member who suffers from dementia.

We offer you our best tips to help you communicate with a loved one who suffers from moderate to severe dementia.

1. Do your homework and be well-informed about this disease. Dementia grows worse over time. People with dementia gradually will find it more problematic understanding what was once normal conversation and instructions.
2. Find the perfect place. Avoid distractions at all costs. If you want to talk, look for a time and place that is quiet and without other people in the room. Make sure the TV or radio isn’t playing in the background. This will allow for total concentration on the conversation.
3. Speak in your natural voice. Use a calm voice and by all means, don’t speak more loudly than you normally would. Remember – your loved one is not necessarily suffering from a hearing loss because of the dementia. Don’t use “baby talk” which can come across as condescending.
4. Be specific when talking about other people. If someone has a name, use it all the way through the conversation. If you mention your son, David, for example, call him David each time you mention him. Don’t switch over to “he,” thinking the dementia sufferer will make the connection. Odds are, he won’t. When greeting a dementia patient, use his name. Say, “Hi Grandpa, it’s Jane.”
5. Don’t skip around. Instead, talk about one subject at a time. A person with dementia probably can’t juggle different topics mentally, and won’t be able to follow the conversation threads.
6. Use body language. It’s simple, but don’t forget to always maintain eye contact. Smile a lot. Pat a hand or shoulder; touch can be important. In fact, when dementia becomes advanced, sometimes nonverbal language is the only option you’ll have. If you start right away using these nonverbal cues, it won’t be a giant leap for you.
7. Listen carefully. Pay close attention. If something is said that you truly can’t figure out, just gently and politely say so. You might have to ask a question or two to give the senior a chance to communicate more clearly.
8. Don’t play school teacher. You won’t get very far with a conversation if you are focused on correcting every wrong statement made. Sometimes the delusions are real and nothing you say is going to change it, so just move on.
9. Patience really is a virtue. Your family member suffering with dementia will need a little extra time to process and understand “normal” conversation. When you ask a question, be patient when waiting for the answer. It’s so easy to get frustrated, but please resist the urge.
10. Understand there will be peaks and valleys. Although dementia always worsens over time, it doesn’t mean it’s a slippery slide downhill. There will be some days that are better than the one before. Enjoy these good days, while keeping in mind tomorrow might be a valley.

For information on how we can help you or someone you know with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, contact us today!

Home Helpers of Lake Country is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Oconomowoc, Dousman, Beaver Dam, Hartland, Summit, Okauchee, Watertown, Delafield, Wales, Chenequa, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Juneau, Ixonia, Nashotah, and Concord.

No one wants to talk about end of life issues. Especially if those issues involve a beloved aging senior who isn’t near the end of his life. But no matter how hesitant family members might be to broach the subject, either because they find the subject awkward or in poor taste, it’s crucial that a living will be discussed and legally documented while your senior is still able to make known his or her wishes for end of life care! If your loved one is already unable to state coherently his or her wishes, then talk with siblings or other family members. Make and document the decisions you choose together.

Seniors, caregivers, and family members benefit from having a living will in place. Older adults often are relieved to have their end of life wishes known. Many seniors do not want their families to be burdened with having to make these difficult decisions during a sudden health crisis. Also, the burden of worrying that their wishes won’t be followed is removed.

A living will is a legal document which clearly lists a person’s stated wishes for end of life care. It may also be called a healthcare directive or an advance directive. The terms of the living will influence doctors and family members when they must decide on medical treatment for patients unable to communicate or no longer able to decide for themselves.

A living will and a medical Power of Attorney often work together. Some states combine the two into one document. Your senior can choose someone legally to make medical decisions for them. Sometimes that person is called the health care agent. They might also be called the proxy for health care decisions.

A living will documents specifically what end of life treatments are acceptable to your older adult and which ones they refuse. Usually, a living will will include a senior’s preferences for treatments such as CPR, mechanical ventilation (breathing by machine), tube feeding, dialysis, antibiotics or antiviral meds, palliative care (keeping the patient as comfortable and pain-free as possible. A senior may refuse any invasive treatments or tests, or may choose to have their medical Power of Attorney make those decisions about tests, etc., on an as-needed basis.

In a living will, end of life care directives often include seniors’ wishes for after end of life. Many seniors want to donate organs and tissue for others awaiting transplants. They may also wish to donate their bodies for scientific study. These two issues may be perhaps the most difficult to broach with your senior, but it is important that you do so.

When considering a living will for your senior, be sure to read the “fine print.” Having a living will takes the guesswork out of the decision making of end of life care. It protects caregivers or family members from the stress of trying to honor wishes which were not made clear to them and it should prevent arguments about the patient’s end of life care among family members and caregivers.

If seniors want a non-family member or an unmarried partner to be in charge of their end of life care, they have to put in place both a living will and a medical Power of Attorney. Otherwise, HIPPA laws will prevent doctors from even speaking to them about your older adult’s care.

Different states have different laws for living wills. Some states may require only the living will whereas another may require both a living will and a medical Power of Attorney. Make sure to use the correct form for your state. You can find links on the website for The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Choose the “Caring” section. That link refers to the living will as an Advance Directive.

For more helpful information, visit our website, click here.

Home Helpers of Lake Country is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Oconomowoc, Dousman, Beaver Dam, Hartland, Summit, Okauchee, Watertown, Delafield, Wales, Chenequa, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Juneau, Ixonia, Nashotah, and Concord.

No one wants to think about their aging loved one’s end-of-life. Many view bringing up the subject as tacky or disrespectful. Some equate it with appearing greedy or trying to edge out other family from the decision-making process. Others even see it as bad luck.

But planning ahead for seniors’ final time on earth is critical to making sure that their wishes are honored. Sure, having this conversation is hard, but it’s also one of the most important things you can do for your loved one. And yet, most people struggle with how to approach the topic, while others simply put it off indefinitely.

Denial doesn’t help
We all know that, at some unknown time, we will all face our end-of-life. But many of us just can’t face it happening to those we love. Denial won’t make it go away. We can ignore death, but death will not ignore us.

It’s impossible to know the wishes of a senior unless you ask. Be ready to accept the answers, if you are willing to ask the questions. Often, the wishes of a loved one may be surprising or even upsetting to you. The important thing is that your senior’s wishes are honored, not that you agree with them. Be sure to have your loved one put these wishes in writing to avoid any confusion later on.

Being proactive about an end-of-life conversation can protect not only your senior, but your family as well. The last thing you need while dealing with the death or approaching death of a loved one is the stress and uncertainty of deciding (or arguing about) what your loved one would want.

What, exactly, is end-of-life?
End-of-life is more than the actual end of a person’s life. It’s to do with the care and support we will need or agree to receive as our physical bodies move toward death. How long this will take depends on many factors such as age, type or severity of illness or injury, etc.

When talking to loved ones about their wishes, you will need to know things like:

• Whether or not to continue certain medicines or treatments
• Where do they want to spend their final days
• What types of treatment they want to receive
• What sort of palliative and/or hospice care they want to receive

Starting the conversation
As with all difficult things, the first step is usually the hardest to take. Seniors and their loved ones alike have a hard time starting an end-of-life conversation. Usually fear of how the other will react to the subject matter prevents talking about it. Don’t be timid. Broach the subject. After all, it’s more important for you to protect your loved one than for you to be unafraid.

But how to actually broach the subject? You can seek wisdom from your pastor or doctor, or even from a trusted friend who has been through the same situation. You can even search the web for ideas.

The Conversation Project is a non-profit organization which helps people talk about end-of-life wishes. Visit their website for a great free guide. It’s called a Conversation Starter Kit. This tool can make it easier for you and your senior to have a thorough and successful end-of- life conversation.

The nitty gritty
None of us knows when end-of-life will happen. We only know that it will happen. So if you are a beloved senior and have not told your family your wishes for end-of-life, get on with it. You will ensure you get the care you want and protect your family at the same time.

If instead, you a family member of a senior and have no idea if your loved one has even thought about end-of-life, much planned for it, make time to discuss it with them while they are still able to choose what is to happen to them when the time comes.

Browse our blog for more caregiving tips. For professional assistance in caring for your loved one, please call Home Helpers today.

Home Helpers of Lake Country is a locally-owned, trusted home health care agency and offers quality, compassionate senior in-home care services including home care assistance, personal care, companion care, respite care, Alzheimer’s & dementia care as well as homemaker services in Oconomowoc, Dousman, Beaver Dam, Hartland, Summit, Okauchee, Watertown, Delafield, Wales, Chenequa, Johnson Creek, Lake Mills, Juneau, Ixonia, Nashotah, and Concord.