(To hear about my book and how it can help you and your family, you can listen to my interview on “Empowering Family Caregivers” show with host Susan Baida.  Click here.)

SOUTH BEND (August 26, 2010) – According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 77 million Baby Boomers. Many Boomers are dealing with the challenge of the changing needs of an aging parent – or they soon will. The experts advise not waiting for a crisis to become educated and prepared.  Where to start?

Eldercare advocate, speaker and coach Dale Carter presents the ADAPT method in her newly published book, Transitioning Your Aging Parent: A 5 Step Guide Through Crisis & Change.  Developed from her personal and professional experience, Carter created the ADAPT method as a clear-cut process for families to follow in time of transition to ensure the needs of the parent, the family and their own are met. Whether an aging parent is facing a health crisis, an unsafe living situation or isolation, the ADAPT method provides a straightforward process that allows caregivers to understand the parent’s needs. It also helps to get family members on the same page, find the right resources and make the needed changes, all while respecting the needs of the parent and self.

While the ADAPT method is the core element of Carter’s book, examples and personal stories are woven throughout and includes an extensive list of references and resources.  One of the key features of the book is its concise presentation and usefulness as a reference book.  “This is a book you can read in one sitting, and then refer to it on numerous occasions as questions arise,” notes Michael Allard, Director of Operations, Principal Senior Living Group.

“My experience helping my own mother through a major health/life crisis was overwhelming.  I drew upon my experience as an educator and project manager to put structure around the situation, find the right resources and support, and involve all of our family members,” notes Dale Carter, founder of TransitionAgingParents.com and author of  Transitioning Your Aging Parent.  “I later realized it was my approach and process that helped us make the right decisions, and I was inspired to share my experience in my book.”

In Transitioning Your Aging Parent, readers will learn how to:

• “Actively” listen to your parent and clearly understand your parent’s situation.
• Measure your own capacity.
• Know who to involve in decision making.
• Reach consensus.
• Create a plan for transition.
• Find experts and resources that will help your plan succeed.
• Help carry out the plan and help your parent adjust to the changes.

Transitioning Your Aging Parent is not a quick fix for problems with an aging parent.  Even though the ADAPT method appears clear and straightforward, each step involves a lot of hard work.  “None of this is easy,” says author Carter. “But, know that each transition is an opportunity to meet the needs of your aging parent and help your bond grow stronger.”

For more information on Transitioning Your Aging Parent, visit www.transitionagingparents.com. The book is available online. To order directly from the publisher, contact: www.lulu.com.  Transitioning Your Aging Parent retails for $14.95.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As eldercare advocate, author, speaker and coach, Dale Carter is an advocate for our elderly by reaching out to their adult children. In 2009, she founded Transition Aging Parents (TransitionAgingParents.com). In providing relevant information and insight to adult children, she enables them to help their aging parents “thrive and find joy in every stage of life.” Through her radio show, e-courses, articles, and presentations, Dale helps family caregivers respond to the challenges of caregiving, as well as find purpose and fulfillment in what is truly some of the most important work of their lives.

Dale is a member of the American Society on Aging and the Gerontology Consortium of Michiana.  She holds an MBA from Indiana University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from North Carolina State University, and certification as a project management professional.

She resides with her husband in South Bend, Indiana.  Besides eldercare advocacy, her other passion is Board service with the Bridge of Hope St. Joseph County, a program serving single mothers in need.

TRANSITIONING YOUR AGING PARENT

A 5 Step Guide through Crisis & Change

Dale Carter

ISBN: 978-0-557-44740-4

$14.95

May 2010

MEDIA NOTE: ADAPT Fact Sheet, Tip Sheets, and Interviews/Book Photography are Available Upon Request.

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Susan Torrico on my BlogTalkRadio Show.  Susan is a pharmacist and founder of OnTime RX, a wonderful medication reminder service.    I encourage you to listen to our entire interview to understand why it’s so important to help your aging parents be “compliant” with all their prescribed medications.  To hear the interview, click here.

As Susan shared, there is little room for error in medication for an older adult.  If they start missing dosages, take the wrong dosage or take their meds at the wrong time,  their body will no longer have the right level of drug in their system to be therapeutic.  Know that one of the common reasons for an older adult to go into assisted living or to find themselves in the ER is that they did not manage their medications correctly.

So here are Susan’s tips on ways to help our parents stay on track with their medications, no matter how complex!

• If possible, go with your parent to their doctor’s appointments.  Make sure your parent understands what medication they are prescribed and why.  It’s important for you and your parent to have a current list of all medications to take to the doctor’s and to keep with you.

• If your parent is a private person or gets defensive when you bring up the subject of medications and how they’re doing, Susan recommends using this strategy.  Ask your parent if they can please help you work with them…to help relieve the stress and pressure you are feeling.

• Use ONE pharmacy for all medications.  That way any potential interactions will pop up immediately on the pharmacist’s screen.

• Always feel free to ask the pharmacist questions.  You can also ask the pharmacist to print the Patient Information Sheet (with all the side effects) in large font.

• One last valuable tip.  Use a digital camera to take a picture of your parent’s hand with the medications they take at each point in the day.  If they do morning, noon and night, that’s 3 pictures.  Print the photos on 8.5 * 11 paper.  And label each pill.  That picture can serve as a helpful guide to your parent.

Finally, check out Susan’s innovative service, OnTimeRX, an “automated reminder service that sends scheduled medication reminders to mobile devices and home phones.”  As Susan mentioned in our interview, OnTimeRX is being used by persons of all ages, from age 12 to 90.

• A free trial of 10 days is offered for the phone service.  A free trial of 30 days is offered for the software service.
• The messages are customizable (you type the message and the service uses a Text-to-Speech translator - a female voice – to say the message you want your parent to hear.)
• You can also use the reminders for meal schedules and activities.

Susan’s goal with OnTimeRX is to help persons stay independent as long as possible, a common goal also for our aging parents.

For more information, click here.

There are some wonderful companies out there creating technology-based products and services to help adult daughters/sons and our aging parents.

I want to highlight one such company and product, FineThanx.   Before I describe the service, think about the following:

• How many of our parents forget to wear their PERS (personal emergency alert systems)?  I venture to say, quite a few.

• We’ve heard the statistics.  One in every 3 persons aged 65+ falls each year.

• With the growing desire to age in place and the risk of falling at home alone, wouldn’t it be great to have an automated system that checks on your loved one every 24 hours and communicates their status to their whole Circle of Care (including children that live far away)?

Peter Sharff, founder of FineThanx, developed an automated call system as a result of a person experience with his grandmother who fell, did not use her alert button and was not found for 2 days.  The company’s tagline is “make every day independence day.” This service does indeed meet the aging parent’s desire to age in place, and also meets the adult daughter/son’s concern for their parent’s safety.

The service is:

• simple to set up and use
• well-designed and tested
• automated
• flexible
• supports an aging parent’s independence and desire to age-in-place

How it works:

• A call is made once or twice a day to the home of the elderly person.  The automated message tells the person to press “1″ if they are ok, press “2″ if they need help.
• If “2″ is pressed or if the call goes unanswered after 3 attempts, an second automated call sequence commences, calling one person at a time within the Circle of Care (established by the family)
• Members of the family’s Circle of Care receives email notification of calls each day so they can rest assured their loved one is ok.

As FineThanx site says, “Use FineThanx alone or as the perfect companion to the ‘panic button’ device, and get a moment of assurance each and every day.”

After testing FineThanx for several days, I can say that it works flawlessly.  The calls come right on time, the automated calling sequence works very well, and the web-based dashboard to maintain the Circle of Care, phone numbers… is very easy to navigate.

I do want to mention a few considerations as you set the service up for your aging parent

• The calls appear to come from a toll-free number.  If you’ve told your parent to ignore toll-free numbers, be sure you tell them about this.
• Before you set up the Circle of Care, think carefully about who should be included.  If the family lives a distance away, consider including a trusted neighbor or nearby friend in the Circle of Care, someone who can get to your parent quickly if assistance is needed.
• Once you decide who will be in your Circle of Care, carefully explain (to each person) how the system works.  Make sure they understand what you are expecting from them.  I would also ask members of Care to let me know if they were going to be gone for an extended absence.
• One last important point. If the automated call sequence fails to reach anyone, 9-1-1 is not called.  FineThanx is a complimentary call service.  They do mention it is the “perfect companion to the ‘panic button’ device”.  Excellent suggestion.

For more info about FineThanx, click here.

If you use this service or choose it in the future, please comment on your experience.  Thank you!

One of the best things you can do is help prevent dehydration in your parent.

Dehydration can be a threat to the elderly at any time of the year, but in the summer, they are especially vulnerable.  Just last night my mother told me how she sweats a lot even when making a short trip to the store.  She admitted she forgets to drink more water now that it’s hot outside.  And, as I was researching this article, I found out dehydration can cause muscle cramps, something my mother has been complaining about!

So, I want to provide a short list of why dehydration impacts the elderly more and also tips on how you can help your parent drink enough water.  Sounds like such a simple thing….drink more water.  But it truly can impact overall health.

Why does dehydration affect the elderly more?

• A person with dementia may miss the body’s cue for thirst and not even think to drink water.
• Chronic illness, such as diabetes, and taking certain medications are risk factors.
• Even the elderly in good health tend to underestimate how much water they need (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217192400.htm)
• An elderly person who is weak or tired may not have the energy to get up and get a glass of water.
• Someone with incontinence problems may limit their water intake so they can prevent an accident.

Why is preventing dehydration important?

• It can lead to confusion, fatigue, fainting, and unconsciousness.
• It can cause kidney, bladder and bowel problems and even delirium.
• Depending on illnesses and medications being taken, water is very important to flush any toxins out of the system.

What can you do to help your parent prevent dehydration?

• Limit caffeine and alcohol.
• Encourage your parent to keep a glass or bottle of water nearby and sip on it.  If acceptable to his/her diet, maybe add a slice of lemon or lime.
• Consume fruits and vegetables high in water content. Cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, grapes and watermelon are all very high in water content, and also provide a lot of other nutrients.
• One of the most innovative ideas I read about was a “water club” initiated at a UK rest home.  “The care home is also seeing fewer falls, significant improvements in health, fewer GP call-outs, reductions in the use of laxatives and urinary infections, less agitation among dementia residents, and residents reporting better quality of sleep.” www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112365.php
• Suggest your parent fill a container each morning with the daily amount of water to drink.  They can set a goal of drinking it all by bedtime.

If you’ve found creative ways to encourage your parent to get enough water, especially during the summer, please comment.We can all learn from each other’s stories and insights.

The other day a reader asked me, “When is it necessary for a parent to move into assisted living?”  We have all heard about the studies that show most older adults wish to age-in-place. We probably have heard our parents voice that desire quite often. With the many quality home care agencies, and visiting nurse and physician programs, it seems that we should be able to honor their wishes.

But, the day may come when we need to think about a move to Assisted Living.  In this post, I provide key criteria that would indicate consideration of a move to Assisted Living.  As always, I encourage us (adult children and families) to be thinking ahead and to become knowledgable about local options in our community now.  Don’t wait for a crisis to occur when you have to abruptly choose an Assisted Living facility for your parent.

Here are criteria for considering a move to Assisted Living:

• Safety.  First and foremost, safety.  If a home aide or visiting nurse can no longer provide the level of care needed, or if your parent is confused and disabled so that their home environment is unsafe for them, then it’s time.
• Health.  If your parent receives a diagnosis of a degenerative disease, then it’s time to start thinking about a move and the options.  It helps so much to have the discussions and make the plans while your aging parent is in the early stage of such a disease and can be a part of the decision-making.  Yes, it is hard to confront the reality.  But, allowing them to be a part of the choice is so important for their adjustment.
• Your capacity. Do you (and those in your circle of care) have the time and the physical strength to care for your parent?  Do you have the time to coordinate the needed services, while caring for your own family and meeting your work responsibilities?
• Your parent’s social needs. Is your parent isolated or lonely, and unable to interact with others on a daily basis?  My mother tells me that when she moved to her retirement community, she suddenly realized how isolated and lonely she had been in her home (sometimes for weeks at a time during the harsh winter months.)  But, while living in her home, she accepted that as part of an older adult’s life.  As our parents age, they are continually faced with loss of  health and mobility, spouse and friends, and more.  Depression is common in the elderly.  Don’t minimize this need.

I strongly encourage you to consider each of these facets, safety, health, your capacity and your parent’s social needs, as you think about their need for an Assisted Living environment.

Here are some suggested ways to facilitate the selection and move to Assisted Living:

• Review the family resource offered below, from ALFA.  Learn about what to look for in an Assisted Living facility and find those in your area.
• Talk with your parent’s physician, friends and colleagues to get their recommendations.
• Define a list of your criteria, such as geographic location, quality, cost.  Also consider features important to your parent and you.  Are mobility and independence valued?  What activities are offered, besides Bingo?  Music, art therapy? Is there access and support for senior-friendly computers?
• Create a list of possible facilities.
• Contact and visit your top 3 choices.  Don’t just go on an open tour.  Make an appointment for a personal tour and establish a key contact there. Don’t be overwhelmed by the glossy marketing brochures and information you’ll receive.  Accept it and read later.  Ask to see rooms.  Schedule in time for a meal.  Say to hello to residents and staff as you pass them.   Observe interactions.  Make notes.  Follow-up with questions later with your key contact.  My advice to you, your parent and family:  call and visit as many times as you feel necessary.  Not only do you need the information, this will help you and your aging parent build a foundation of trust and comfort with the staff and community.
• If possible, allow your parent to choose his/her room.  And, as soon as possible, personalize their living space, so it feels like just an extension of their former home.
• Do not minimize the time and effort it will take for your parent to adjust to their new living situation.  Be available, listen, support and advocate (when needed) on their behalf.

A wonderful resource for families is ALFA (Assisted Living Federation of America.)  To reach their resources for families, click here.

I could not do complete justice to this topic in this blog post.  But, I hope I provided some key information and food for thought.  Please share your ideas and tips/strategies.

Shon will share how elder mediation can help your aging parent and your family.  Have you ever had challenges in getting your family on the same page when it comes to making decisions for your parent?  It could be a conflict over an issue such as, moving (to assisted living or nursing home), driving, estate planning,  or advanced directives.

• Listen in to learn how elder mediation can help you, your family, and your aging parent.
• What are the steps involved in the mediation process?
• What are the challenges and responsibilities inherent in the process?
• How do you find a qualified mediator?
• And… much more.

Visit Shon at his sites, http://eldercarelifesolutions.com/ http://eldercarelifesolutions.wordpress.com/

Don’t miss out on a chance to listen live and call in with your questions.

Listen online at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/dalec/2010/06/29/elder-mediation–how-it-can-help-your-family

Call in at:  (347) 857-1461

Elder abuse can happen to any older adult in any situation.  It’s estimated that 1 in 5 cases go unreported.  Financial abuse alone costs our seniors $2.6 billion each year!

I encourage you to listen in to my presentation, “Elder Abuse, How Can I Help”, today on the AgeTek webinar, June 17th at 2pm Eastern.  I’ll be presenting the risk factors, symptoms and action steps each one of us can take to help prevent or stop elder abuse. Feel free to listen online at https://my.dimdim.com/grandcare/

Below is a special post with information that I do not have time to include on the call:

Elder abuse is something I don’t like to think about. It’s a tough subject to write about. But, each of us needs to raise our level of awareness so we can protect our aging parents. Elder abuse can take many forms. When I hear the term, I think about physical abuse and neglect of the elderly by hired employees in a nursing home. But, it encompasses so much more.

The National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) lists these other forms: emotional or psychological abuse; verbal abuse and threats; financial abuse and exploitation, sexual abuse, and abandonment. It can happen anywhere: nursing home, private home and other institutions. Surprisingly, it affects the elderly across all socio-economic classes. Dementia is an especially strong risk factor.

This particular article focuses on Elder financial abuse. The elderly can be financially abused by mail fraud, phone fraud, business fraud and stealing by a family member or hired caregiver, or visitor. Today, I heard yet another instance of a trusted caregiver stealing a large sum of money, $20,000, from an elderly man.

Here are some key ways we can prevent financial abuse from happening to our elderly loved ones.

• Stay in frequent contact with elderly relatives, and keep lines of communication open.
• Be observant and perceptive about any physical or behavioral change.
• Choose any caregiver carefully. Never select one through an ad. Use a licensed, bonded agency. Hire an investigator to ensure the potential caregiver is not a convicted felon.
• Keep a photographed inventory of all jewelry in a locked box.
• Use a criss-cross shredder on any paperwork containing identifying information.
• Protect incoming and outgoing mail. Getting a Post Office box is a good preventive measure.
• Obtain a credit search for your parent 2-3 times a year.
• Have Caller Id on the phone. Teach your parents to not answer “unknown” or “out of area”. Tell them that scam artists use the phone as a weapon, and it is OK to hang up on someone.
• Tell them “You will NEVER win a foreign lottery”.
• Have a duplicate copy of their banking account statements sent to a trusted family member.
• Tell them to not assume a handyman is to be trusted, even if he has a wonderful name and is charming. Check the Better Business Bureau and state licensing. Always get 3 estimates. Obtain a written contract. And, never pay more than 10% or $1,000 up-front, whichever is less.
• Have a second line of defense at their front door (a peephole or locked screen door).

Report any suspected mistreatment immediately. Contact the Helpline for your state athttp://www.ncea.aoa.gov/NCEAroot/Main_Site/Find_Help/Help_Hotline.aspx

“Transitioning Your Aging Parent: A 5 Step Guide Through Crisis & Change”

It was written to help adult children and families navigate the many changes their aging parents will face. Dale Carter has developed a new framework, ADAPT, from her personal experience, her background as an educator and project manager, and a sincere desire to help families and their aging parents. Readers will learn how to use the framework, apply specific strategies, and seek out appropriate resources that are right for their situation. Personal stories are woven throughout to illustrate the concepts.

Join Dale Carter as she shares what she learned in helping her own mother navigate crisis and change to renewed health and happiness.

Discover how to approach any change or crisis in your parent’s life with clarity and confidence.

Discover how this new framework will guide you in making the right decisions for your parent while balancing your own personal needs and family responsibilities.

“It’s almost as though you took all my years of training and managed to put order to it. The ADAPT method of caregiving will decrease stress and give great comfort to families in the eldercare world. My fear is that we can’t get it out to people fast enough.”
~ P.K. Beville, M.S., Founder, Second Wind Dreams & Geriatric Specialists

To preview the book or purchase your copy, click here.

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If you’re a caregiver to an older adult, you know that bathing is a common and difficult challenge.  I learned this first-hand when my mother had her health crisis.  I suddenly realized the 2 bathrooms in her 1980’s home prohibited her independence in bathing and toileting.  And, those are two activities of daily living that you can’t ignore.  I quickly did the basic things, like clearing the rooms of scattered rugs, installing a raised toilet seat, and getting a shower seat for a walk-in shower (thank goodness there were not tubs in both bathrooms!)  My mother later moved to a continuing care retirement community where I learned all about bathrooms designed to ADA specifications.  Mom loved her spacious bathroom with no-threshold shower, grab bars all over the place and various types of lighting.

.
I found out recently that the marketplace is full of innovative bathroom equipment for older adults.  Home builders and remodelers are starting to incorporate tubs, showers, toilets designed to meet the needs of older adults.  But, you don’t have to have a huge budget or grand remodeling scheme to consider some of these items.

If you have an elderly family member, you’ll want to take a look at some of these innovations.  You may have an immediate need or just be thinking ahead as you replace older bathroom fixtures.  In this post, I’ll share some of the items I was able to personally view in a local wholesaler’s showroom.  And, I’ll provide a few links to helpful resources.

First of all, before you head out to shop and get bedazzled by all the incredible innovations out there, start by learning the basics of bathroom safety and design.  This short article on bathroom safety by the University of Missouri extension agency is a great primer.  It provides easy-to-understand usage diagrams and will walk you through the basic features of grab bars, tubs, showers and toilets.  http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=GH7060

Now consider the functionality your aging parent needs and available budget.  You want to also be sure to pay attention to proper installation,  and if needed, training to use the equipment properly to avoid falls and get the most benefits.

Here are a few of the items I viewed.  Thanks to Gail Sager, of Mid-City Supply for explaining the products, functionality and benefits.

1.  Showers. While senior living facilities need to abide by ADA (American Disability Act) requirements, home owners need only use them as a guide.  Two factors to consider are the person’s mobility and the structural constraints of the bathroom and home.  Features include built-in shower seats, grab bars, flexible shower arm and single lever faucet.  There is a new feature being offered, a zero threshold shower base.   It offers a “flush, integrated trench drain”, level with the floor, preventing water in the rest of the bathroom.

2.  Tubs. There is a great variety of tub models.  I’m sure we’ve all seen the commercials for the walk-in tubs.  Gail said there are a few differentiating factors to consider.  Does the tub door open in or out?  If there is a mobility issue, choose the open-out door.  Since the tub cannot be filled until the person is sitting in it, select a model that fills and drains quickly.  She showed me a model that filled in 4 minutes.  The seat is heated.

There is a new model of tub that includes a hydraulic lift.  It includes an “easy-transfer automated door that lowers to open and rises to close, a bench-less design and a quick drain feature that allows the bather to exit in seconds instead of minutes.”  Wow.  My next question.  How much?  It is $12,000.  That is a lot of money, but consider that one year of nursing home care averages $75,000. All of these items help an elderly person remain in the home, ease the burden on the caregiver, and minimize safety issues of falling and injuries to the caregiver.

3.  Toilets. There are many recent innovations here.  There is the taller toilet.  I was also shown a toilet seat, 19″ side to side, that was designed for large people.  The bidet toilet is becoming popular.  The unit I was shown featured a panel to control spray pressure, water temperature, and drying.  Operation requires electricity. Bidet seat and toilet is priced at about $3,000.  Bidets can also be purchased as attachments.  Gail mentioned that this type of toilet is becoming popular beyond elderly use.

I hope I’ve got you thinking about bathroom safety and opened your mind to some of the new possibilities to support safety, independence and quality of life for your aging parents.  Please comment below with any related products or experiences you would like to share.

Resources:

1.  Thanks to Gail Sager and Heather Hosterman at Mid-City Supply Co., Inc. Elkhart, IN http://www.plumbingshowrooms.com/

2.  A list of design and product suggestions from AARP http://www.aarp.org/family/housing/livable_communities/articles/bathroom_checklist.html

3.  Excellent article, “Safety with Style – Bathrooms for Aging American” http://ageinplace.com/safety-with-style-bathrooms-for-aging-americans/

Until I visited our Area Agency on Aging last week, I had no idea what an incredible resource these agencies are to adult children and their aging parents across our country.

I had these misconceptions.  How about you?

I was 100% wrong.  I corrected my understanding when I met with Tricia Gordon and Kim Charles of REAL Services (Indiana’s Area 2 Agency on Aging.)

Let me share what I learned so you too can understand the value Area Agencies provide older adult and their families.

What are Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)?

AAAs were established under the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans aged 60 and older in every community.  There are 650 Area Agencies on Aging across our country.   These agencies provide a range of options to allow older adults to choose home and community-based services and living arrangements.  ”AAAs make it possible for older adults to remain in their homes and communities as long as possible.”

How can I find one based on location?

Use the Eldercare Locator ( http://www.eldercare.gov/) and enter a zip code, city or county.  You can also call  800.677.1116.

Why is the name different from Area Agency on Aging?

Our community’s Area 2 Agency on Aging goes by the name REAL Services.  The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration designated REAL Services as the Area Agency on Aging for 5 local counties.   I learned that each Area Agency on Aging in Indiana goes by a different name.  That unique name is helpful for raising awareness and outreach within the community.

What services do Area Agencies offer?

Home and Community based services can include:

• Information and Referral
• Legal services
• Case management
• Transportation
• Respite
• Skilled nursing
• Home health aide
• Attendant Care
• Emergency response system
• Home delivered meals
• Adult day services
• Homemaker
• Bath aide

More detail at: http://www.n4a.org/files/about-n4a/community-based-services.pdf

What is the process when an adult child or elderly person calls in?

Here is how our community’s agency handles calls.  The call center accepts the call.  It never goes to voicemail, and is always answered by a person.  Beyond answering the caller’s question, about 50% of the 2,000 calls each month result in what’s called “options counseling”.  The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Options Counselors listen for other needs and determines other services/programs the caller may need.  The approach is holistic.  Part of the options counseling is to help the caller understand financial eligibility.  Options may include private pay, government assistance, or Medicaid/Medicare insurance.

If  necessary, the counselor may refer the caller to a Geriatric Care manager who will provide an assessment of needs and requirements (often quite complex) of the older adult, and work with the family to arrange the right resources and services important for quality of life.

I also learned that the call center staffers are certified in suicide prevention and know how to de-escalate a situation or refer it to 911 when necessary.

How are Area Agencies unique?

Area Agencies across the country can be unique and still stay true to the foundational mission as set forth by the OAA.

• Funding can vary from state to state and agency to agency in terms of funding by various grants and state programs.
• There may be special programs or initiatives.  In our area, a home was renovated and modified to meet the needs of elderly and disabled.  It is called the “Caregiver Connection” and offers educational opportunities, training and support  for caregivers of older persons.  What a great service to area  families!  You can read more about it at http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100128/News01/1280308&Template=printpicart
• Specific challenges within the community as well as agency leadership and staffing all contribute to the unique nature of each agency.

So, now you know!  Your Area Agency on Aging is a phenomenal resource.  You may not see a lot of marketing/advertising about them.  Spread the word to your friends, neighbors and family.  It doesn’t matter if you’re in California and your aging parent is in Florida.  You can reach the agency closest to your specific need by going online at http://www.eldercare.gov/ or calling 800.677.1116

Remember, the Area Agency’s mission is to help older persons remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.  They are waiting for your call!