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As one person put it, "Caregiving sneaks up on you."
It often starts with occasional help around the house, or
driving your parent to a doctor's appointment, but it can steadily
increase as the parent's age and limitations increase.
We're not prepared for this new role. We usually don't plan for
it, and nobody teaches us about the questions we'll face or the
resources that are available to help us. The truth is that there's
quite a bit of help available. Here are brief descriptions of some
of the most frequently used services.
- Senior Centers - Municipal or private centers.
Most offer activities, classes, and recreation. Costs are typically
very modest.
- Transportation Services - Among the hardest
services to find especially if you need point-to-point
transportation. The local municipal or regional bus service may
operate special vans for those with handicaps. Some senior services
offer transportation. American Red Cross will provide
transportation to medical appointments.
- Friendly Visitors/Companions - Some programs,
such as "Senior Companions" are federally funded and at no
cost.
- Telephone Reassurance - Phone calls to check
in on homebound elderly. Usually free or low cost.
- Home Maintenance and Repair - Apart from the
usual sources you'd find in the Yellow Pages, there aren't many
other choices. Some churches have fix-up or snow shoveling or lawn
mowing programs.
- Home Delivered Meals - Local community
agencies or religious groups offer home delivered meals. Usually
free or minimal charge.
- Homemaking and Personal Care - In-home care
services, offered by nonprofit or for-profit agencies can provide
help with personal chores, meal preparation, light housekeeping,
etc. Charges average $21 to $23/hr.
- Emergency Response Systems - Electronic alert
systems enable an elderly person to signal for help in case of
injury or illness. When alert buttons are pushed, a call center
dispatches emergency personnel and usually notifies relatives.
- Adult Day Care - Supervised activities, meals
and usually some health care, at a group facility. Adult day care
is typically from 9 to 5, and transportation to and from home is
often provided. Charges range from $55 to $75 per day.
- In Home Health Care - Services typically
include those noted under homemaking and personal care, but may
also include skilled nursing care. Can be arranged for as little as
once or twice per week, up to 24/7 care.
- Respite/Relief Care - Designed to give family
caregivers a break for an evening, a few days or longer period of
time. Fees are comparable to in-home health care agencies.
- Money Management - Help paying bills, signing
checks, balancing checkbooks. Monthly or bi-monthly. Free or
minimal cost.
- Elder Care Managers - Social workers or nurses
with specialties in gerontology, care managers can be an enormous
help. They know the local resources and they can negotiate the
medical and social service bureaucracies. They can evaluate, make
recommendations and arrange for care. In addition to their
objective opinions and advice, they can provide support and peace
of mind. In long distance caregiving, they're indispensable. Care
managers charge by the hour, with fees ranging from $80 to
$120/hour.