Senior Caregiving

Senate Passes Veterans and Caregiver Support Bill

Julie Northcutt — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:22:37 GMT

Last night the Senate passed the Veterans and Caregiver Support Bill. The House of Representatives will vote on the bill next year, after the holiday break. The bill passed the Senate with a voice vote of 98-0, so it looks like this bill will sail through the House with an affirmative vote.

What is it?

The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 contains provisions to provide:

Caregiver Assistance to Wounded Veterans
Telecommunications with VA Doctors and Specialists for Wounded Veterans in Rural Areas
Travel Benefits for Caregivers to Travel with the Veteran for Hospital and Rehab Care
Caregiver Education, Training and Counseling
Oversite of Caregivers via Home Visits
Respite Caregiving Services
National Survey of Family Caregivers

The main focus of the bill is to provide better care for both the veterans who have been wounded while serving since September 11, 2001, and their caregivers. As medical technology in combat has advanced, more soldiers are surviving after losing limbs or having serious head injuries, but they must have ongoing care for the rest of their life.

Free Memory Screenings Nationwide: Nov. 17th

Julie Northcutt — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:55:17 GMT

If you are caring for a senior who you think may be experiencing some memory loss, or if you just want to make sure your own memory is functioning well, take advantage of the free memory loss screeings offered at locations nationwide on November 17, 2009, by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

Memory loss can sometimes be slowed, when diagnosed early, by the use of medications, brain exercises and meditation. By discovering the type of memory loss, a senior can more effectively manage the challenges which will lie ahead.

National Memory Screening Day

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Place: Hundreds of convenient locations nationwide. Click here to find a memory screening location in your state.

You will also be able to obtain information about early warning signs for dementia and you can find out about all senior services in your state on Caregiverlist's by-state information pages.

C.N.A. Training for Long-term Employment

Julie Northcutt — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:05:59 GMT

Senior caregiving positions are available for both companion caregivers and C.N.A.'s (Certified Nursing Aides) and some states provide the additional training and certification exam for C.H.H.A.'s (Certified Home Health Aides).

By becoming certified, more employment opportunities open up for a senior caregiver. This is because nursing homes and hospitals must maintain a minimum staffing level of Certified Nursing Aides in proportion to the number of beds occupied.

Many times, long-term care insurance policies require the senior care to be provided by a C.N.A. in order for the policy to cover the care.

Types of Employment Opportunities for C.N.A.'s:

Senior Home Care Agencies
Assisted Living Communities
Nursing Homes
Hospices
Hospitals

Training Required for C.N.A.'s

Complete C.N.A. course program offered by colleges and community programs
Fulfill course requirements for graduation, including clinical assignments
Pass state C.N.A. exam
Pass Criminal Background Check

Learn more about the caregiver training provided to C.N.A.s, take a sample nursing aide exam and a practice exam and find C.N.A. schools in your area to decided if this is a certification you would like to pursue.

Employment Opportunities For Caregivers: Unemployment at 14% but not for Caregiving

Julie Northcutt — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:02:51 GMT

October, 2009, the unemployment rate increased to 6.5% from 6.1%, the highest percent reported since 1994. However, some sectors of the economy are still hiring, including health care. As the population ages, career opportunities will continue in senior care. Advancements in medical care and technology are allowing seniors to live longer, but often caregiving assistance is required to maintain the activities of daily living.

What positions are available in senior care?
Many seniors require part-time caregiving services while they are recovering from surgery, such as a hip replacement or when coping with an age-related illness, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. Companion Caregiver, Certified Nursing Aides, Certified Home Health Aides and Certified Personal Care Aides assist with caregiving services in senior's homes, in nursing homes, in assisted living communities and in hospitals.

What training is required?
Companion Caregivers usually only require in-house training provided by the employer. Certified Nursing Aides, Certified Home Health Aides and Certified Personal Care Aides must attend a training program and pass the state exam to be officially certified.

How long does it take to become certified?
Most training programs are from 4 to 8 weeks long, depending upon if they are part-time or full-time.

How much do training programs cost?
Many times financial aid, grants and scholarships are available for nursing aide certification programs. Sometimes an employer will provide reimbursement for the training. Certified nursing aide and home health aide training programs usually cost from $400 to $2,500.

Learn more about becoming a senior caregiver by reading stories from other caregivers, finding a training program in your area, taking a sample nursing aide test or a practice test exam and reviewing caregiver training videos. Apply for a job in your area to gain experience and begin your career.

Nursing Home Drugs: Report Shows Many are Unnecessary

Julie Northcutt — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:20:52 GMT

The Chicago Tribune did an in-depth story this past week on the medications administered by nursing homes, many of which are not needed and not appropriate for the resident's medical conditions.

Medicaid pays for medications - unlike Medicare - so it can be argued that Americans are actually better off if they are extremely low income and qualify for Medicaid which pays for all medications, as otherwise many seniors can pay $500+ per month just for the medications.

Nursing homes are only inspected once every 15 months. Many nursing aides who have worked at nursing homes have shared that they always know when the inspection team arrives and that it is important to note that any inspection results are an indication of the best days at the nursing home, since they are aware they are being inspected.

The Tribune identified 1,200 violations at Illinois nursing homes involving psychotropic medications since 2001. The actual numbers are likely far higher.

The misuse of psychotropic drugs is a nationwide problem - - giving drugs to residents to keep them sedated is cheaper (goverment pays for the drugs) and easier than providing adequate nursing aide staff.

Read the Tribune's report. Let you congressman and Senator know your views - - why are we willing to pay for nursing home care forever and medications for extremely low-income seniors on Medicaid but not provide senior care in the home and pay for medications for all the other seniors, who have assets of more than $2,000? Part-time and full-time care in the home provides better care and costs much less than nursing home care, which primarily guarantees a bed and meals, but not always adequate care services.

You may also find out about senior care programs in your state and view nursing home information on Caregiverlist.

Fulfilling Employment: Senior Caregiving

Julie Northcutt — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:10:59 GMT

Senior caregiving offers fulfillment beyond a paycheck, as you are able to become a needed companion and make a positive difference in a senior's day. By providing one-on-one care for a senior, caregivers are able to provide emotional support, along with assistance with "activities of daily living", also called "ADL's" in the senior care industry.

Senior caregiving positions are available part-time and full-time, as seniors often need only part-time care when recovering from a major surgery or when they are just beginning to develop dementia or another age-related disease.

What training is required to become a senior caregiver?

Companion Caregivers only need compassion, personal experience and to complete training provided by a Senior Home Care Agency
Certified Nursing Aides must complete a C.N.A. training course and pass their state exam
Certified Home Health Aides also must complete a training course and pass a state exam in state's which offer this

Positions are available in nursing homes, assisted living communities, hospices and senior home care agencies. In addition, many hospitals hire companion caregivers for "sitter" services as they do not have enough nursing aides to assist with one-on-one care.

You may enhance your skills by taking practice nursing aide exams, reading senior care training briefs and viewing caregiver training videos. Benefits are usually available for caregivers who work full-time. You may also learn more by talking with other caregivers or reading caregiver stories.

Senior Caregiver Training

Julie Northcutt — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:01:44 GMT

Providing care for seniors presents many challenges as the senior copes with the physical and emotional aspects of aging, along with the deaths of loved ones, which only increases the longer one lives. My own grandmother is the oldest of 5 children, and, at age 94, the only one living. One of the many challenges of aging is dealing with the grieving process as you lose loved ones. It is important to maintain social connections and keep making new friends.

Caregivers also need support from others to continue to provide quality care. It sometimes can help to know someone else is experiencing similar caregiving challenges and learning new care techniques can help deliver new results.

Learn about caring techniques for age-related illnesses from our senior care briefs and view caregiver training videos from Terra Nova to gain new skills for caring for senior's with memory loss.

You may also read stories from other caregivers to find out how they have managed care challenges and share your own story.

By continuing to interact with other caregivers an by gaining additional caregiving skills, professional and family caregivers can make a positive difference for an aging senior.

Caregiver Training: Medication Safety

Julie Northcutt — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:33:15 GMT

Seniors are often taking a variety of medications, at a variety of times throughout the day. One of the first tasks for a Senior Home Care Agency is to determine the medication schedule and to make sure the schedule is organized and communicated to the caregiver. In order for medications to be fully effective, they must be taken on time and as instructed (with or without food, before bedtime or after waking up, for example).

The National Family Caregivers Association is hosting a tele-class and Webinar on medication safety, called "Safe and Sound: How to Prevent Mediation Mishaps". It is estimated that about 100,000 people die each year because of adverse drug reactions and thousands of others do not enjoy the full benefits of their medications because they are not taken properly.

Time: November 12th, 2pm - 3pm Eastern Standard Time

You may register here: www.thefamilycaregiver.org

You may also learn about organizing medications and managing them as part of senior Care Plan on Caregiverlist.

Caring for Seniors with Alzheimer's Disease

Julie Northcutt — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:13:07 GMT

There are several types of dementia. People are usually most familiar with the form of memory loss called Alzheimer's Disease because it can begin at a younger age (many people develop A.D. in their 50's) and causes emotional challenges for family members because of the "long goodbye". All seniors will experience some memory loss after the age of 85, but this short-term memory loss does not include forgetting person, place and things, which happens with Alzheimer's Disease. You may forget what you ate for lunch, but you know your sister is your sister and not your mother, when you are experiencing short-term memory loss, unlike A.D. where you forget who people are, forget where you are and eventually forget to take care of your own activities of daily living.

One of my girlfriends decided to change careers from accounting to nursing after her experience of caring for her mother who developed Alzheimer's Disease at age 55. She was still in college when her mother's behavior began to change. At first, people thought her mother was schizophrenic - everyone thought she was too young for Alzheimer's Disease. Twenty years later, she is living in a nursing home, requiring complete care and does not recognize any of her family members.

Our caregiving videos assist with ways to care for senior's who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease. Learn how to simplify tasks, communicate and create engaging activities as their caregiver. Caring for a senior with A.D. presents new challenges each day and these videos provide techniques for making the caregiving journey easier.

Family Caregiver Bill Update

Julie Northcutt — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:02:29 GMT

The Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009 was introduced by Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii on April 2, 2009, and has been placed on the U.S. Senate calendar for discussion on September 27, 2009.

What caregiving benefits does the bill include?

Creates a family caregiver program for designated family members to be certified as a personal care attendant
Provides monetary stipends for the caregiver
Provides education, training, certification for the caregiver, as needed, to provide the necessary level of care
Provides health services and mental health services to the caregiver
Provides a respite caregiver while the family caregiver is undergoing caregiver training

The bill would provide for a program to support and pay for the home caregiving services to qualifying veterans. Many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered multiple injuries and will require ongoing assistance with their daily living. These veterans prefer to stay in their home, according to surveys conducted by the Wounded Warrior Project, especially since many of these veterans have young children who are still living at home. The Veteran's Administration does currently provide care in a nursing home which can cost as much as $80,000 per year. This bill would assist veterans who need ongoing caregiving services, if they have suffered a serious injury after September 11, 2001, to receive the care in their home and allow their caregiver to receive the necessary training and benefits.

What should you know about this bill?

The Veteran Administration opposes it. They feel that the bill would divert resources from medical care for veterans to medical care for the family caregiver and sets up an entitlement program for just one group of veterans and is not available to all veterans. You can find information about senior care services in your state and contact your local senator or congressman to express your concerns or views or support for this bill.