Elder Care Services – Providing For The Aged
Author:Dr. Ronald Blankstein
America\'s 79 million baby boomers have become the 'sandwich generation' – needing elder care services for aging parents while still raising families of their own. It is often a very stressful situation to help an aging parent stay independent, yet get the assistance they might need. Elder care services are an important resource for everyone involved.
But depending on which side of the situation you are on, there can be two entirely different points of view…
- The One Who Provides Elderly Services
Even after all that, your day isn\'t over. You still have to check on your 85 year old mother, who lives alone and can no longer drive. Her eyesight is fading, so she needs help with household tasks and getting the right dosages of her medications.
Your mother wants to stay in her home as long as possible and you understand her desire, but you just don\'t know how safe it is – or how you can fit it all in with everything you have to do. Providing care services for the elderly can be overwhelming.
- The One Who Needs Elderly Services
Now you live alone and your family doesn\'t want you to drive. They are constantly checking to see if the stove burners are off and suggesting big life changes 'for your own good.'
When the heck did this happen?
An Aging Population
Whichever side of this situation you find yourself on, you are not alone.
Baby boomers will start turning 65 in 2011 – not exactly young chickadees anymore. And their elderly parents are living longer as well. In 1995, the elderly accounted for 13of the U.S. population. That number will rise to 20by 2040.(2)
Sooner or later, every child will have to look after aging parents. And one day we\'ll all be seniors needing elderly services ourselves. What\'s the best way to cope?
Dealing With the Issues
Several basic things need to be addressed, and again there are likely to be two points of view…
Cooking
Parent – recognize that you need good nutrition and regular meals. If you enjoy cooking, great! But if you need assistance, most communities have various meal programs for seniors. The bonus is the time and money you will save.
Child – let your parent know they deserve to have meals prepared for them after all the years they spent providing meals for a family. Consider giving a gift of restaurant cards so your mom or dad can go out with friends and family.
Driving
Parent – giving up driving is a frightening thought because it seems like you will be losing your independence. But that isn\'t always the case. Check out bus services and car pool programs for seniors. You can still go wherever you like and not have to worry about gasoline, insurance and car maintenance. This gives you more freedom, not less!
Child – help out with the expense of bus and taxi programs your parent can use. It keeps them independent and frees up your time.
Memory Problems and Emergencies
Parent – if you\'re experiencing memory problems, you may be fearful of going out. You don\'t want to look foolish if you need help or want to contact a family member. A simple solution is to have some business cards made with your name, address and phone on them. You can include an emergency contact so the information is ready whenever you need it.
Child – help your parent keep their contact info simple and convenient. A whole book of information can be confusing and hard to access. A small card or typed piece of paper will allow your parent to retain their dignity and feel in control of their life, no matter what their age.
Finally, if you are the family caregiver, spend some time taking care of yourself. Eat well, take breaks and ask for help when you need it. Every community has numerous resources for elder care services, so take advantage of them.
And before you make any changes to your own diet, exercise or supplement routine, check with your personal physician.
Sources:
- 'Running on Empy,' HomeInstead.com
- 'Projections of Expenses for Long Term Care Services for the Eldery,' Congressional Budget Office, cbo.gov
About the Author
Dr. Blankstein has been practicing for over 30 years as a leading Cardiologist. Trained in traditional medicine and Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease, he knows the importance of good medical care. This consideration has allowed him to discover safe and natural ways of healing. His dedication to bringing the latest and best in health solutions to his patients and the public has given him the experience to research and develop proven natural remedies for many illnesses.
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