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Caregiver Article Links: Tips on Parenting Your Parents, Long Distance Caring & Senior Citizen Scams
Can Better Listening Skills Make You a Better Caregiver?
8 costly scams that target senior citizens
Long Distance Caring
Social Media Can Benefit your Senior Living Community
Did you know that you can greatly increase your senior living community’s awareness, sense of community, and business, by simply using social media? With approximately a quarter of the world’s population active on social media today, you may have been missing a large opportunity to promote your business–but with these quick tips, you can take advantage of the online world waiting for you right now.
Sign up!
Signing up for social media is essentially the first step in growing your online presence. A few of the main social media sites to signup for include Twitter and Facebook. Both of these sites are fairly easy to navigate and most importantly free! As you get more into social media, your community can try more diverse social media channels such as Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat.
Engage Your Target Market
Now its time to use those social media sites to post relevant content for your target market. This includes both future residents and their families. You’ll want to reach out to them as the top priority in your social posts, so be sure that you’re posting relevant and engaging information for them (i.e., sharing and writing blog posts about topics that are relevant to them such “Top 10 Things to Consider in Retirement,” “How to Care for Your Parents as They Age,” etc.).
Involve Your Community Frequently
One way to show off your community’s lifestyle organically, and to give your residents another forum for expression, is to involve them on your social media channels. Be sure your residents and their families are following your social media pages. Regularly invite them to share images from events, fun memories, and questions and comments. Not only will this foster a sense of community and communication within, but it will also serve as a wonderful bit of natural marketing to all the potential clients who follow you as well.
Direct Potential Clients to Your Site
To begin to actively convert your potential clients, consider directing them to a landing page or your website, where you can collect their emails or have them fill out forms to receive more information. You can do this by including a link to your site in the bio of your social media page or sharing your community website in certain social posts.
New LifeStyles Senior Living & Care Glossary
If you’re anything like me, one of the most frustrating things about entering the world of senior living & housing has to be the terminology. It can often be a daunting task to find the care services or housing you or your loved one needs, if you are unsure of what the words or terms mean. Here is the New LifeStyles glossary of common terms used in senior living and care.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Is a term used to describe the everyday activities seniors participate in such as bathing, grooming, eating, using the restroom and getting dressed.
Are independent living communities with homes for sale. Most offer a clubhouse where a variety of activities are offered. Services such as landscaping, maintenance & housekeeping are usually offered as well.
A non-residential service providing daily structured programs in a community setting. The programs usually consist of activities and health-related rehabilitation services for elderly persons in need a protective environment. These services are provided during the day, with the elderly person returning home in the evening.
Is a HUD 202 program that offers rental assistance for seniors who meet the requirements of the federal program.
A combination of housing, personalized supportive services and health care designed to meet the individual needs of persons who need help with the activities of daily living, but do not need the skilled medical care provided in a nursing home.
Caregiver
A person or persons who provides every day direct care to seniors or those who are disabled or ill. Often times in senior living communities they are certified professionals who may assist with the activities of daily living.
Often called adult family homes or residential care, care homes provide a comfortable place for seniors to live. Particularly suited for those having a harder time moving around, yet still wanting to enjoy the autonomy of living outside of a dedicated nursing home, care homes are private residences that house multiple individuals at the same time.
Continuing Care Retirement Community
Is a community that combines independent living, assisted living and nursing care, and sometimes memory care in a single setting. Care options can range from independent living apartments to skilled nursing and is based upon the needs of the residents. As an individual’s needs change, he or she can be moved from level to another and keep on being a part of his or her CCRC’s community. CCRCs charge monthly fees, and usually require an endowment (a significant payment) prior to admission.
A term used to distinguish non-medical care or custodial care, which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel. Home Care Agencies provide personal services to elderly or disabled clients in their residence. This includes non-medical assistance in the client’s home, including help with cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, transportation, and companionship.
Doctor ordered medical services for patients recovering from an illness or surgery or those needing medical attention while at their home. Also known as home health agencies, they provide a wide range of health and social services delivered at home to people recovering from an illness or injury, or persons who are elderly, disabled and/or chronically ill. Home Health Agencies provide “skilled services” such as nursing, social services, and therapeutic treatments (physical, speech, occupational therapy).
Is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families. Patients are referred to hospice when their life expectancy is approximately six months or less. This type of specialized care can continue longer than six months if needed, but usually requires physician certification.
A senior housing development that may provide supportive services such as meals, housekeeping, social activities, and transportation (Congregate Housing, Supportive Housing, Retirement Community). Independent Living typically encourages socialization by provision of meals in a central dining area and scheduled social programs. May also be used to describe housing with few or no services (Senior Apartment).
Provision of services to persons of any age who are afflicted with chronic health impairments.
Health coverage that is provided to millions of Americans,including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. Medicaid is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government.
The federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-StageRenal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant,sometimes called ESRD).
Communities that are certified to provide specialized services to residents with Alzheimer’s or another related condition.
Also known as a skilled nursing unit (SNU) or facility (SNF), or rest home provides a specific type of care for residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. Residents in an SNF may also receive physical, occupational, and other rehabilitative therapies following an accident or illness.
Is short term care for seniors. Whether in a community or at home, care is provided on a temporary basis while a caretaker is on vacation or indisposed due to surgery or illness.
Are available to those 62 years and older and present an option to receive an additional line of credit for late life expenses. While each mortgage has different terms and rates, reverse mortgages allow homeowners to draw the principal of the mortgage in a lump sum over a set period of time.Homeowners keep the property in their name, and the loan comes due only when the borrower dies, leaves the house for more than 12 consecutive months, or sells the property. Those interested in taking out a reverse mortgage should contact their lender and schedule a meeting.
Are living units with an age requirement, offering limited additional services. Most have a clubhouse where groups meet for activities, and some offer transportation to planned activities & events.
Are a newer concept in most major cities, where members pay an annual fee for the coordination of volunteers to provide older residents with services that help them live independently.
Home Care: A Benefit for the Senior in Your Life
As baby boomers enter their retirement years, the need for senior care has started to expand. This is especially true for home care and home health care, as approximately 12 million people in the U.S. require some form of these home based care services. The term Home care is used to distinguish non-medical care or custodial care, which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel, as opposed to home health care that is provided by licensed personnel. When discussing both forms of at home care services it is important to point out the benefits of letting an elderly loved one remain in their own home. Below are a few reasons to consider home care services for the senior in your life
Mental and Emotional Benefits
According to recent studies the mental benefits of home care can be unbelievable for some seniors. As a person ages, they frequently don’t feel like going out as much as they once did. The senior might not drive anymore and their social circle shrinks to only family members. Often the senior starts to feel cut off from the outside world and these feelings of isolation often lead to depression. Home care can provide a much-needed social interaction and the ability to communicate with others. Frequently strong bonds form between the home care worker and the senior. The home care worker becomes a valuable link for senior to the outside world.
Monetary Benefits
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) reports that Medicare typically pays nearly $2,000 per day for an average hospital stay and $559 per day for a nursing home, but the cost of home care is around $44 dollars per day. Home health care and traditional home care can serve as a cost-effective alternative to the often higher prices other senior living options and extended hospital stays offer.
Physical Benefits
When living alone in their home, seniors can sometimes feel overwhelmed with common chores around the house as well as dealing with other medical issues. A home caregiver evaluates the needs of the senior and works to make sure they are fulfilled. Home care workers can provide housekeeping, cooking and transportation to improve the quality of life for the senior. As far as medical needs, home health care nurses can assist your loved one with a wide range of social and health needs or “skilled services” such as nursing, social services, and therapeutic treatments (physical, speech, occupational therapy).
Many elderly people benefit financially, emotionally, physically and mentally when they remain in their home and maintain their independent lifestyle for as long as possible. The overall benefit of having your loved one remain in their own home can be priceless and should be investigated. New LifeStyles is yourguide for senior living and care options in your area. For more information on where to find home care or home health care services click here.
New Changes Ahead for Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Earlier this month the results of an initiative to rename and re-position the category name Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) was announced during the LeadingAge Annual Meeting and EXPO in Boston. The “Project Name Storm” initiative led by LeadingAge and Mather Lifeways concluded the recommendation that owners and operators of CCRCs use the name “Life Plan Community.”
According to LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix “It became clear that the name CCRC no longer did an adequate job of creating the best perception among tomorrow’s older adults, at the core of the decision to move to a community is having the right plan for what the next stage of life has to offer. We feel the ‘Life Plan Community’ name encompasses that very well.”
During the process of the initiative, feedback was solicited from corporate and industry leaders, and focus groups were conducted in seven distinct markets. The goal of these groups was to understand how the CCRC name is perceived and the results indicated the latter. The groups concluded the phrase“continuing care” suggests a setting that involves older adults being cared for, rather than a setting that also fosters growth and new experiences. With these results 84% of future consumers age 65 and younger chose a name other than CCRC for the category name.
With these new statistics and recommendations what does this mean for you as a CCRC operator? Will you adopt the change? With a name change implemented into your community this could mean edits to your marketing tools, online presence and the copy on your website. How will this affect online search, if consumers are looking for CCRCs? How long will it take for consumers to adapt to the change? What about the future consumers in your markets? Even though the focus groups were represented from seven distinct markets, what if the consumers in your market don’t respond well? Tell us what you think about the recommendation for CCRCs to use the name “Life Plan Community” and if your community will follow suit?
What do you use to build and track your marketing plan?
In New York, NY at St. Johns Living, Marketing Director Jennifer Lesinski uses a detailed template to organize their marketing plan. This template combines their overall marketing plan as well as a work plan calendar. This detailed template can help staff to track not only their work but help others in the company understand the marketing activities that are used day to day.
At Christian Living Communities a simple marketing plan template is used, by Jill Hiller Director of Sales and Hospitality. This template has the community tasks in one column followed by the status of the task, who the task was assigned to as well as the start date, end date and the estimated and actual cost. This template is an easy way to keep track of the progress of your endeavors.
Going on a Vacation? Respite Care Could Be An Option For You
Did you know that there are millions of unpaid caregivers in the senior care industry? But these caregivers don’t work in nursing homes orAssisted Living Communities. They are people like me and you, taking care of our loved ones independently. When it comes to the normal day to day aspect of caregiving we have everything under control. But what about those special times when we might have a business trip for work or you are in need of a well deserved vacation. What do you do with your loved one?
This exact situation occurred in my household. After getting into the schedule of taking care of my grandmother, things were becoming less hectic and more fluid. Until the decision came upon us to take a trip to LasVegas. Immediately the first question that was purposed was, where was my grandmother going to go. We obliviously couldn’t leave her at home, and her Home Care nurse was only available for the day. So once again we dug into research on what to do. Their were some options such as adult day care, where they supervise your loved one during the day time, but then again someone had to pick her up in the evening. We then stumbled upon respite care. Respite care is short term or temporary care designed for families with handicapped or ill elders. There are many respite care programs to choose from such as:
In home respite care– where a worker completes care services in your home for the entire time you areaway
Respite housing– short term stay at a community that has staff on board to care for your love done while your away.
Recreational respite– this option gives seniors a chance to be more active, by going on trips to events, movies, restaurants, etc.
In our situation we agreed upon a combination of two options, which was the in home respite care and the respite housing. Since we were only going to be gone for a few days we did in home services for a day and respite housing for the following days. After this was agreed upon we had to speak with my grandmother to make sure she was comfortable with the situation in its entirety. We did not want it to seem like we were abandoning her and make her feel uncomfortable. After the situation was explained we took her to a few respite care communities and she picked her favorite. In all after our trip, she enjoyed her stay in the community.
When picking what option is best for you research is always a must! Also some insurance plans cover fees for respite care programs. If you have the opportunity to show your loved one the community in advance, you should. By doing this it can make them feel a little more at ease. This can also be helpful if you need to move your loved one to a community in the future. If they have already seen the residence they can be at ease and comfortable, which makes things easier.