1. Elder Care: Taking Care of Yourself while Caring for Your Elders

2. Overview: Being pulled in so many directions Key aspects of senior life issues Planning ahead with your parents: communication, communication, communication Making realistic assessment of the care needs Elder Care – a family & community affair Take care of each other

3. Pulled in so many directions Sandwich generation Between ages of 35 and 60 Needs of your own children Needs of your parents Own financial future and financial needs of parents

4. Pulled in so many directions Working Raising your own children Caring for an older adult Can cause you to feel: Exhausted Overloaded Guilty Worrying that you have neglected someone

5. Key Aspects of Senior Life Issues- Medicare Covers medical expenses for individuals over age 65 Part A: hospital insurance and skilled nursing Part B: basic medical services-md office visits Part D: Prescription Where to obtain information.

6. Key Aspects of Senior Life Issues - Medicare Many care needs not covered Prescription drugs Routine physicals Eye glasses Hearing aids Most dental services Routine foot care

7. Key Aspects of Senior Life Issues - Medigap To fill the difference left by Medicare Purchase Medigap policies Private insurance Two forms One fills the gaps in Medicare benefits One assigns coverage for medical care through an HMO or other managed care plans

8. Key Aspects of Senior Life Issues - Prescriptions: Explore medigap plans for prescription coverage Use mail order for chronic medications Talk with MD about alternative medications or generics Shop around to different pharmacies Explore low income programs through the pharmaceutical companies

9. Key Aspects of Senior Life issues - Living environments Independent Living Continuing Care Retirement Communities Assisted Living Centers Board and Care Homes Skilled Nursing Homes Dementia/Alzheimer Units

10. Key aspects of Senior Life Issues - Living environments Identify the options available in your area Review these options Select a few facilities for a site visit Do your homework Making a decision Consult with the EAP for assistance in this process

11. Key aspects of Senior Life issues - Health Care Directives Durable power of attorney Allows you to appoint someone to see that doctors give you the type of care you want Advanced directives When you are unable to direct your own medical care, this document allows the person appointed to direct your medical care

12. Key Aspects of Senior Life Issues – Long-Term Care Insurance Insurance that provides for long-term care in a skilled nursing facilities, assisted living or home care. Cheaper when purchased earlier

13. Planning Ahead with Your Parents – communication, communication, communication! Start planning before a crisis occurs Never an easy conversation Need to overcome your natural fear about “meddling in their affairs”.

14. Planning Ahead with Your Parents – communication, communication, communication Conversation with your parents about the following topics: Medical care Financial affairs Housing plans And other arrangements

15. Planning Ahead with Your Parents – communication, communication, communication Be sensitive, genuine, but direct Be supportive and not judgmental Ask open ended questions Be prepared to accept and respect your parents’ decisions and points of view Do not overwhelm them with lots of probing questions

16. Realistic Assessment of Care Needs Number of issues need to be clarified Do your parents want to remain in their home as long as possible? Do they have long-term care insurance? In the event of a crisis, is there a family member available who can provide care for several months? How do you and your parents feel about their moving into your home?

17. Realistic Assessment of Care Needs Do your parents live in a remote area or are there services available in the area? Do your parents have an updated will? How do they want to have health decisions made? Have they signed a health care directive?

18. Elder Care – a family and community affair Care most often provided by women in the family Try to find ways to share care giving tasks Spouse assists with children or the aging parent Other relatives who can assist Explore FMLA as an option Explore community resources that can be helpful

19. Elder Care – a family and community affair Adult Protective Services (APS) IHSS Senior Centers Meals on Wheels Visiting Nurses Association EAP

20. Take care of each other Emotional experiences of care giving Role reversal Sense of loss & gain Pressure to provide all care needs Guilt about making decisions on placement

21. Take care of each other Emotional experiences of care receiving Roles Reversal Sense of loss and gain Fear of total dependency Anxiety about placement

22. Take care of Each Other Nurture your relationship Not the time to fix old wounds Time to share memories Focus on the positives of the moment Realistic expectations

23. Take care of each other Create opportunities for your parents to care for you while you care for them

24. Resources IBHcorp.com: WorkLife Aarp.org/families/caregiving Mayoclinic.com/print Ssa.gov: Social security Administration Local resources: County Department of Social Services, Office on Aging, Senior Centers… EAP services