“I’ve never felt so helpless. Mary* sat at the kitchen table ignoring me knocking on her door, calling her name, and asking her to let me in. She was less than 10 feet away, had to hear me, but didn’t acknowledge me.” Many who have had loved ones experience trauma have experienced this helplessness—wanting to help but not knowing how. Trauma-informed care helps us recognize trauma and provide … [Read more...]
Think You Know What a Power of Attorney is For? Not so Fast – Watch This Video!
Note: The following video and article were first published in 2013. While the media is a bit outdated, the information applied is still relevant. Care is There encourages you to review the advice and research your options. You can review more recent articles on our "Powers of Attorney & Advance Medical Directives" solutions page. Powers of attorney are widely misunderstood, even among … [Read more...]
Help Your Elderly Loved One with Chronic Disease Management
Up to 80% of older adults in the United States have at least one diagnosed chronic disease. When the older adult can no longer manage his or her condition independently, family caregivers and professional care managers can play a critical role in chronic disease management. Read our full article here to learn how to help your loved one manage their chronic disease. You might also be … [Read more...]
5 ways to effectively communicate with your elderly parent
Do your elderly parents refuse or resist your help? This can be very frustrating, especially for long distance caregivers of parents who choose to live alone in their own homes. As geriatric care managers, we at Care is There see this happen frequently with families. Which is why we've developed ways to help you communicate with your elderly parent that can work miracles. 5 tips to effectively … [Read more...]
Home Security Tips for Senior Citizens
Home security is a vital part of any aging-in-place plan. Especially if an elderly loved one is living alone. It makes sense that many people are often worried and concerned that their parents or grandparents may be vulnerable to crime. The National Sheriff’s Association, through the National Association of Triads, shares tips for improving the security of an older person’s home. We reviewed and … [Read more...]
What to Watch for at the Holidays – Signs of Decline in Your Elderly Parents
If you are a long distance caregiver, your visit home for the holidays can tell you a lot about whether your elderly loved ones need additional assistance. Here are some signs of decline to watch for during your visit: Changes in personal hygiene Clothing that is worn or inappropriate for the season Bills or mail stacking up Old food in the refrigerator; lack of fresh food Dropped … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Caregiver Stress
A few years ago, I had the privilege of hearing a presentation about caregiver stress from Valda Garber-Weider, RN, MS, certified dementia practitioner and former director of assisted living for the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC.) Valda has also been a long time caregiver for her own elderly family members in her own home. Valda reminds us that "studies show 70% of full … [Read more...]
Does your loved one need personal care? These tips will help
Does your loved one need help with bathing and dressing, as well as caring for their teeth and hair? They need personal care to help them to remain at home, thriving and healthy. If you aren’t sure about hiring an agency to provide personal care or if you don’t want an individual you don’t know coming into your home to help with care, you might feel that providing personal care is the best option … [Read more...]
How can palliative care help your loved one?
Is your loved one living with a serious illness and needs help managing their symptoms? You may want to consider palliative care. Palliative care focuses on cure of serious illness, relief from symptoms and quality of life for your loved one as they deal with their serious illness. Palliative care allows your loved one to keep their current doctor and provides a team of doctors, nurses, social … [Read more...]
Help Your Loved One Prepare For Their Death
Is your loved one nearing the end of their life? You may need to help them prepare and get their affairs in order. Communicating wishes to family members, advocating at doctor visits, finding an Elder Law Attorney and locating important paperwork can seem very overwhelming. There are many things that you can do to make this process easier for your loved one and family. In fact, we’ve collected … [Read more...]