Community VolunteersHealthy Caregiver - Fall 2004
Contents:
The Macalester-Groveland Living at Home/Block Nurse respite and caregiver program provides:
A home visit arranged with our Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator that will involve both support and the sharing of resources and information.
This newsletter, published quarterly, which will include valuable information on the care of your loved one, as well as words of support, shared stories, and ideas.
Volunteer respite, so that you can take a break.
An educational support group designed for caregivers, which will address topics pertinent to caregivers.
The cost is free!
If you would like more information about our Caregiver Services Program, please call Kathleen or Sindy at (651) 696-6882.
Putting the Pieces together to solve the Caregiving puzzle.
Caregiving can often feel like a daunting and confusing task. There are so many needs that must be addressed, and those needs keep changing! No wonder the number one reason seniors wind up in nursing homes is caregiver burnout. That is not to say thhat there is never a time for institutional care, but often finding resources with the proper fit can ease the caregiving burden and help our loved ones remain safely in the homes they love.
Nutrition:
The importance of good nutrition cannot be stressed highly enough. It's common sense that when we hvae poor nutrition it leads to serious health problems. Often when a person is widowed it is hard to cook for just one person and often nutrition suffers. Health conditions, pain, depression and or certain medications can also affect a person's appetite, or perhaps they have just fallen into some poor eating habits. The key to this puzzle is to find a way to get them back on the road to better nutrition. Some solutions include:
Meals on Wheels: Hot meals can be delivered to their home during the week. The cost is nominal and usually reflects a sliding fee scale. You can even specify most dietary requirements. The meals are fairly large and generally pretty tasty. Another plus is the fact that a kindly face delivers them to the door. Meals on Wheels can also ease the burden of a spouse caring for a loved one at home. Just try them for a few weeks and see the difference they can make!
Frozen Dinners: The quality of frozen dinners has improved vastly since the advent of the TV dinner in the 1950s. Some can even be considered gourmet. Check out your local supermarket and try different brands. If your lvoed one can use a microwave safely this can be an easy and tasty alternative to slaving over a hot stove.
Ensure or Boost: A liquid nutritional supplement Doctors often recommend. They are easy to use and digest and provide a many essential vitamins and minerals along with carbohydrates for energy. They come in a variety of delicious flavors. However, they should not completely take the place of a regular meal since they do not provide enough fiber and other essential components as a well rounded healthy diet. Talk to your doctor.
Congregate Dining: It is so nice to share a meal with others! Congregate dining couples companionship with a healthy menu. The cost is usually very reasonable and many congregate dining facilities even provide transportation to and from the event! It's a great place to make new friends.
Groceries: Getting groceries can be very difficult for a person who doesn't drive. Families with hectic schedules can't always do all the shopping. Fortunately, there are some alternatives. Some grocery stores in our area deliver and at a reasonable cost. Call your Living at Home/Block Nurse Program for those in your area. The Block Nurse Program can also match your loved one with a volunteer for shopping, combining companionship with this practical task.
Transportation:
Giving up the car can be traumatic and getting from point "a" to point "b" can be a big problem. Caregivers juggle their own busy schedules with the increasing need for their loved one to see the doctor and to enjoy some company other than the television. Their lvoed one comes to depend on friends and family more and more for trips to the store or to social gatherings. Sometimes the social events end up being skipped because of a lack of available transportation, leaving those receiving care feeling dependent and needy. Getting outt is even more important now than ever. Finding a way that supports a person's dignity is essential.
Metro Mobility: To become a metro mobility client you need to submit an application, basically to prove that other forms of public transportation are inappropriate. You do not need to be confined to a wheel chair to use metro mobility. Once you have submitted your application it takes a couple of weeks before you are on their system. After that you need to call them several days in advance to reserve a ride. Be prepared to wait "on hold" for some time before you speak to an operator, also be prepared to negotiate your pick-up times. For example, if 10:30 a.m. is not available see if 10:00 a.m. is. There is a nominal fee for each ride and the rates are lower during the off peak hours. The drivers for Metro Mobility are well trained and generally very helpful. Once you get the hang of using Metro Mobility it is a very useful tool.
The Red Cross: Many seniors use the Red Cross to get to their medical appointments, but they also offer transportation for other errands. Unlike Metro Mobility you need not submit a written application, usually they can complete an intake process over the phone, but like Metro you need to call several days in advance, how many days depends on the type of errand you will be running. In some cases you need to be ambulatory in order to use the Red Cross because they often use cars rather than a handicapped accessible van. The drivers are mainly volunteers and are well trained and caring. A contribution is encouraged but not essential.
Volunteer Drivers: The Block Nurse Program and other agencies provide voluteer drivers. As with any program the more notice you can give them the better. Most volunteers use their own cars and are trained in assisting seniors. Often people "wish to pay their way." While it is not appropriate to pay a volunteer for a ride it is all right to make a contribution to the organization that oversees the volunteer. One of the best ways the Living at Home Block Nurse Program has been able to address the transportation needs of seniors is by matching a volunteer with a family one on one. In this way they can establish a regular schedule and the transportation is provided by the same trusted person each time in a neighborly fashion.
Home Maintenance:
Chores still need to be done, housekeeping, lawn care, seasonal chores, and especially here in Minnesota, snow removal. As issues of aging take their toll, we just can't keep up with all that needs to get done around the house, and just as often caregivers can't do it all. The pressures of keeping up the house and yard in the way we are used to can cause a great deal of worry and anxiety. But help is at hand.
Housekeeping: The Macalester-Groveland Living at Home Block Nurse Program offers housekeeping services on a sliding fee scale. Our housekeeper is very reliable and is hired through Wilder Home Services which is bonded and insured agency. Openings are currently available, but we expect them to fill up quickly.
Neighborhood Senior Chore Services/Handiwork: Provides a referral of neighborhood workers including youth. The type of services provided include: Seasonal outdoor work, indoor heavy cleaning, yard work and snow removal, and routine indoor housecleaning. Contributions based on sliding scale according to income. Residents over the age of 60 are eligible. The average fee is $7.00 per hour. All arrangements are made directly with worker.
For more information call (651) 695-4000
Personal Care:
Getting personal care in the home feels like a big step for most seniors and indeed it is. Having someone help you with bathing and dressing can be a bit intimidating, but when it is done by a gentle and caring professional it provides an essential component to solving the caregiving puzzle. Personal care in the home can be the day to remaining independent at home.
Macalester-Groveland LAH/BNP, in cooperation with Wilder Home Health, coordinates registered public health nursing and home health services.
Home Health Aide/Nursing Assistants provide personal care such as bathing and dressing, as well as meal preparation and light housekeeping.
Public Health Nurses provide assessment and on-going case management to those who require skilled care. Footcare is also available in the home.
One of the biggest worries we face is staying safe at home. Often caregivers end up worrying endlessly about the safety of their loved one. What if they fall or have a medical crisis? Who will be there to help? Or will they lie there alone, hur and frightened? The thought of this nighmare keeps many caregivers glued to the side of their loved one with little opportunity to get out to do things that need to be done. However, with a little planning even these scary issues can be addressed.
Respite Care is temporary relief provided by an alternate caregiver. This could be a volunteer, family member, neighbor or professional. What is important to remember is that we all need a break from time to time in order to continue to provide the best care we can for our loved one. One of the primary reasons for nursing home placement is caregiver burnout. Several Block Nurse Programs have trained respite volunteers who are carefully matchd with families to provide this much needed break.
Adult Day Care Programs: Another way to have steady reliable respite is through the use of Adult Day Care Programs. These programs use trained professionals in a comfortable setting for those who need supervision during the day. Sometimes caregivers worry that their loved one will refuse to attend such programs, but our experience has taught us that once a person starts to attend such a program they enjoy the activity, attention and social interaction a great deal. It is important to keep an open mind and to give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Life Line can be a real life saver. It is a button worn on a necklace or bracelet that alerts a list of caregivers if pressed. Many caregivers and care receivers alike find that just knowing help is close at hand gives them a real sense of security. Life Line has helped many people remain independent in their homes.
Home Safety Check: Your home may not be as safe as you think. Several Block Nurse Programs are providing free home safety checks to insure that your home is free from many hazards that can compromise a person's safety or lead to accidents. As the old saying goes it is better to be safe than sorry.
Financial and Legal Considerations
As caregiverrs it is important to discuss with our loved ones some vital issues regarding their wishes and expectations regarding their care.
Minnesota Healthcare Directive: This document combines the former Living Will and the durable power of attorney for healthcare into the Minnesota Healthcare Directive. This is a written tool used to guide health care decision when an individual is unable to do so because of incapacity. In addition, one or more persons can be legally authorized to make healthcare decisions for you. You don't even need to see a lawyer, simply have the document notarized or have it signed by two individuals who have not been named as healthcare agents. Everyone should have a Healthcare Directive.
Alternative Care Grant: Often people make the erroneous assumption that Medicare or their insurance will cover the long term costs of home care. It can be a rude awakening to find out that this in seldom the case. In the long run it is not only preferable, but less expensive to keep a person in the home they love. But, the cost may be daunting. For those who qualify, the Alternative Care Grant will cover many of the costs necessary to keep a person from going into a nursing home. It is designed for those who have too much money to go on Medical Assistance but not enough to cover the costs of their home care. It is worth checking into.
We all have emotional needs regardless of our situation. Every one needs a sense of belonging and self worth. More and more studies show that our emotional wellbeing is intimately linked to our physical health. Therefore is important to find ways for our loved ones to be emotionally "fed" and nurtured. Some tactics include Friendly Visiting volunteers, Occupational Therapy, coordinating and scheduling friends and family, activities at senior centers or adult day programs, and if appropriate working with your religious institution.
As one caregiver put it, "We can't ggive out any cookies if the cookie jar is empty." By this she meant that caring for yourself as a caregiver gives you the resources to care for the one you love. Check into the Caregiver Support & Resources that are appropriate for you. There are a variety of support groups, classes, books and other resources that will help you as you walk to caregiving path.
No matter how hard we try to plan no one can foresee the future. Sometimes just when we feel we finally have everything in place and it's smooth sailing from here on out, nature sends us for a loop. A fall, illness or a crisis in our own life can make us feel like all our hard work has been in vain. Remember, the best way to cope with the unforeseen is to have acceess to information and resources to help us cope. How many of us had any idea that we would become caregivers in the first place? We can look back at how far we have come and know that.
| Macalester-Groveland Seniors 1600 Grand Ave. (mailing address) 36 Snelling Ave. (physical address) St. Paul, MN 55105 Phone: 651.696.6882 Fax: 651.696.6880 Email: mgs@macgroveseniors.org |
