Budget Battles & The Future of Elder Care

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past two weeks, you should know that there is a major debate raging in Madison, WI, and around the United States. And no matter what side of the labor protests you side with, there is no doubt that the underlying issues will affect the future of senior care.

The protests that are raging in Madison are being done by public sector unions who oppose the new governor’s plan to balance the state budget. Both sides know the budget crisis is big and something must be done. He wants to cut back on the meaty benefits package that many state employees are getting, which are in many cases far higher than private employees. And he wants to make sure this does not happen again by limiting their ability to collectively bargain. That really set off many of his constituents, especially the public school teachers, and the protests began. Thousands came to the Madison capitol steps, and sparked a nation wide debate on how best to get our finances under control

The purpose of this article is not to splice the labor issues, but to consider the larger issue of what a budget crunch is going to mean for senior care across the country. Here is the reality: we are broke. As a nation, and as individual states. Legislators, governors and presidents have been authorizing new spending bills left and right, but there is not enough money coming in to cover them.

Where is this all going? One place: tax hikes and more spending cuts, across the board. Legislators do not want to end up dealing with Greece has dealt with in recent years, with out of control debt. Nobody wants to go bankrupt, here. And in all likelihood, there are to be cut spending to all sorts of major programs, including some that seniors depend on.

Here’s one article from the Orlando Chronicle that explains the dilemma. As you can see, this is not a Republican / Democrat issue, but a mathematical one. Nobody knows how to predict where the cuts will come exactly, or how deep, but they are going to come. And baby-boomers who are going to be seniors soon would be wise to consider how to best find affordable health care when they need to retire.

Here is why: it costs a state around $6,000 per month in Medicare funds to care for a patient in a nursing home. Naturally, this figure adds up very quickly. As states are looking for places to cut spending, they will not overlook this. And I expect they will turn to cheaper options, like Home Health Care.

Senior Home Care: Is it the Future?

Home Health Care agencies are popping up all over the country, both because many seniors would prefer to stay home then move into a senior care facility, and because home care is generally cheaper than assisted living, which patients usually pay for themselves. This trend is likely to continue as states buckle down on their budgets. If they can affordably take care of Assisted Living patients who need help with activities for daily living, could they also conceivably care for nursing home patients in their own home and save lots of money doing it?

They will certainly look into it, and if you are in this position, you really should consider it, too. Whether you are fitting the bill yourself, or Uncle Sam is helping out, home health care companies are figuring out ways to be more efficient than other forms of care for elders.

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Helping Seniors Start a New Chapter

Our philosophy on elder care is simple: we don’t just think it’s enough to just care for elders’ health and housing needs. We think they ought to be treasured. They have inherent value. Always have. And the fact that they cannot “contribute” to society at the same level they used to is of no concern of ours whatsoever. A person’s value is not measured by their contributions. It is built it, and it cannot be taken away.

That is why this idea makes me so happy. Recently, the Marquis Home Health company began something called the “New Chapters Program.” It seems to be rooted in this value system. Seniors should not simply be taken care of, they should be listened to. They still have hopes and dreams. They have things they are passionate about. And far too often, they believe that all of these are out of reach. The New Chapter Program sets this notion straight.

This program is initiated by the employees of Marquis Home Health. Employees listen to their patients, trying to understand what makes them tick. And when they are able, they try to step in and help them “turn a page” in their life. To start a new chapter in their life.

For instance, there was one man who used to love skiing. It was a major part of of his growing up. But today, he lives in an Oregon assisted living community, and he has multiple sclerosis. So obvkously, skiing is out of the question, right?

Wrong.

The good folks at Marquis Home Health helped him take to the slopes again, even in his condition. Here is a picture:

This particular story can be found here at an Oregon news site.

Another woman wanted to turn a page in her life by getting into the digital age. Marquis bought her a laptop. She was overjoyed!

Don’t mistake this program for a version of the “Make a Wish” program. These residents aren’t dying. They simply want to begin a new phase of life. And the program validates their wishes. And by doing this, they show how much they value these seniors.

We think that’s awesome.

Good Features for Elderly Drivers

I’ll bet you did not know that next week is “Older Drivers Safety Awareness Week.” It’s hard to keep up with these awareness weeks, I know. But this is a good thing, because as we have mentioned before, it can be difficult to address the issues of senior driving in your family. But the fact is, seniors have a massively increased probability of getting into an accident over other drivers. And when they do crash, they are much more likely to die in the process. So this is a relavent topic in the elderly care discussion.

With that in mind, I want to mention a couple of features on cars that are helpful to senior drivers who are still physically able to drive safely. These come directly from AAA’s website.

Adjustable Petals – this can let shorter drivers reach the accelerator and brake, and allow senior drivers to be a safer distance from the air bag, especially if they drive in a more hunched over position.

Anti-Lock Brakes – This is getting to be a pretty standard feature which improves the safety of all drivers, but especially senior drivers who might have trouble “tapping” the break repeatedly to keep them from locking. This is especially an important feature for seniors living in colder, icier climates.

Brake Assiste – A newer feature that helps the driver by generating enough force to break in an emergency. Seniors sometimes have trouble pushing the break all the way down in an emergency situation. This will help.

Stability Control – This feature makes small adjustments to help a driver keep control of a car, particularly on roads that are slick.

The AAA website lists many more features, but most of them are convenience features to help seniors, such as power mirrors that can be easily adjusted. But I want to add one more way to care for elders behind the wheel, although it is not a feature.

DriveSharp Computer Software

There is a new computer software available that has been scientifically designed and proven to help senior drivers improve their awareness, reaction time, and safety while driving. It is a unique system that incorporates fun, game-like exercises that train the user’s eyes to keep track of multiple moving objects, etc. But the long and short of it is this: adults who use it report excellent improvements in their awareness and reaction time. You can read more about the system here.

Avoiding Caregiver Burnout

There aren’t many jobs as noble as being a caregiver! Indeed, it is a worthy cause, and one which society is beginning to celebrate more and more. But for the caregiver, the nobility and grace are lost in the sheer emotional and physical demands of his or her duties. It is exhausting, stressful work! Many caregivers work themselves to the point of exhaustion, and then burn out quickly. This is, appropriately, referred to as “Caregiver Burnout.”

Caregiver Burnout is not something that HAS to happen to any caregiver. It is an occupational hazard, but occupational hazards can be avoided! Here are some signs that you as a caregiver need to watch for in yourself:

• Are you frequently exhausted
• Do you feel helpless? Do you easily become irritated by little things?
• Do you ever start resenting the person you’re caring?
• Are you becoming anxious?
• Do you find that you’re crying more than you normally do?
• Is your health fragile?

If you answered yes to some of these questions, you need to be on your guard. Things should not continue this way. And they don’t have to.

Here are a few ideas to keep Burnout at bay:

• Proper Diet: Don’t underestimate the importanace of eating right! If you don’t, you won’t have the physical or emotional energy to keep up with all your duties. You need energy, just like your car needs Gasoline! So put enough of the right stuff in the tank!

• Exercise: This is another basic that is easily overlooked. Proper exercise helps helps to build and sustain your energy levels. So go out and take a walk!

• Do things you Like: It is NOT selfish to schedule time for yourself. If you don’t, you will only feel less satisfied and more upset. Your hobbies should not end just because you are a caregiver. Your life is not over. So find a way to actively pursue the things you used to pursue.

• Ask for Help: Contrary to the opinions of many caregivers, it is really okay to admit that you need some help. You are not responsible for the entire well being of your family circle. Let people know you need a hand, and they will likely give it. Remember there are some really helpful services like Respite Care and Adult Day Care homes that are designed especially with you in mind. Take advantage of them!

• Find people you can talk to: You need to vent sometimes. You need someone who will hear you without judging you. A support group can be extremely helpful! Otherwise, schedule time to talk with your best friends, or a family member who knows how to listen. And when you find that person, let your guard down and be honest.

• Learn this word: “No.” I understand it’s a difficult one for you to pronounce, but if you don’t learn to say it, you will end up taking on all kinds of thins you never wanted to take on. For some reason, people often see all that caregivers do, and think they are superheroes. So they ask the caregiver to do even more! Don’t get more stressed than you already are. Just say “No.” It doesn’t make you a jerk. Don’t worry, they’ll understand.

• Encourage Independence: The person you care for might be relying on you a little too much. Consider encouraging him or her to do those things they still can do themselves! This not only lightens your load, it encourages a sense of well-being and dignity.

Remember not to overdo it! Stay balanced in a healthy way. You don’t have to burn out! In fact, you really can experience the fulfillment of your incredibly important job if you keep things in perspective!

Nintendo Wii: A Perfect Present for Seniors

By now, you have probably heard stories about how the Nintendo Wii has become a big hit in the world of Elder Care world. And it’s true. If you look around at your local Senior Center or Retirement Community, chances are, you will find a Nintendo Wii. And there might even be a line!

So, why Wii? Why now?

The Nintendo Wii is completely different than previous video games. The controls are not primarily based on pushing tiny buttons, but on motion. The player holds on to a control (sometimes one in each hand) and simulates the movement of the “virtual” player on the screen. In this way, people can “play” tennis without ever stepping out on a court, or bowl a twelve pound bowling ball even if they haven’t been inside a bowling alley in tweny years!

Kids love the Wii, of course, but seniors are maybe the ones who are most impressed.

Many therapists are starting to use the system in their practice, because it is a simple and fun way to encourage muscular motion. Some have dubbed it “Wii-hab.” The trend has stayed true in Oregon. Seniors all over the state have gotten into the game for exercise, entertainment, and even competition!

The Nintendo Wii retails for around $200, and the games range from $20 for simpler games to more than $80 for a game like Wii Fit, which includes a high-tech “Balance Board,” which is necessary for many of the activities.

The Wii makes an ideal Christmas present for grandparents, especially those who wish they could be more active. And the biggest plus of all could be this: the Wii could be an ideal place for grandpa to rub shoulders with his grandkids.

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