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Visiting Safely During COVID-19 Holidays

Now that the holidays are here and many COVID-related restrictions have been lifted across the country, many seniors are feeling ready and anxious to visit with their family.

Unfortunately, older adults are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 than their younger counterparts, which has made it difficult for seniors to safely visit family and grandchildren during the pandemic. Though it may be risky for older adults to spend time with their younger loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, visits during the holidays can still be made possible if everyone takes the necessary precautions to stay safe and limit their exposure to the virus.

Here are steps your family can take when you’re ready to visit with your loved ones and other older relatives during COVID-19 holidays.

Assess the COVID-19 Risk for the Grandparents

Before arranging any visits with grandparents, assess the possible COVID-19 risk based on age and on whether your relatives have any underlying medical conditions that may further increase their risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age. The CDC reports that people aged 85 and older face the greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and that 8 in 10 COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. have been among adults aged 65 and older.

Your older relatives may be at even higher risk of severe illness COVID-19 if they have pre-existing conditions. If your loved ones are over the age of 65 and/or have one or more underlying medical conditions, you may want to reassess whether it’s a good idea to visit in person during the holidays in 2020.

Take COVID-19 Precautions Two Weeks Beforehand

Symptoms of COVID-19 can show up anywhere between 2 and 14 days after exposure, which means that if you’ve been exposed to the virus a few days before visiting your loved one, you may have COVID-19 and not even know it yet—putting your relatives at risk.

Try to limit your exposure to COVID-19 as best you can two weeks before your scheduled visit. Practice social distancing, wear a face mask, and limit outings or social gatherings. If possible, arrange to work from home to reduce the amount of time you spend near people from outside of your household. That way, when it’s time to visit mom and dad, you know that your chances of spreading COVID-19 are minimal and less likely.

Get Tested For COVID-19 Before the Visit

Consider having your family get tested for COVID-19 before visiting your loved one to confirm everyone is healthy. This will give each family member greater peace of mind. Many cities across the U.S. have sites that offer free COVID tests to anyone who wants one, while some cities are restricting COVID testing only to individuals at high risk for severe illness or who have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Look into local options for getting tested. If COVID testing isn’t available in your local area or you and your family members don’t qualify for testing, assess the infection rates where you live. If you live in a COVID hotspot or in an area where lots of new cases are reported every day, you may want to postpone your visit.

Prepare Your Children

Before visiting their grandparents, talk to your children about how this year’s visit will be different from previous visits in that physical contact will be limited. Your kids may be used to getting lots of hugs, snuggles, and kisses from grandma and grandpa, and may not understand why touching will be limited this year. Educate your kids about COVID-19, and explain the importance of social distancing and wearing face masks to protect their grandparents from the virus.

Travel By Car vs Plane if Possible

Though many airlines are now seating passengers at least 6 feet apart and requiring them to wear face masks, being on an airplane makes it difficult to keep a safe distance from flight attendants and other passengers. If possible, consider traveling by car instead of by plane, which will help limit in-person interactions and close distance with those outside of your household. Pack snacks and meals you can eat on the go (like sandwiches and wraps), and bring gloves and face masks to wear while stopping at restrooms and gas stations.

Make Your Loved One Stay at Home

Some seniors may be feeling antsy after sheltering in place and insist on traveling to visit you instead of letting you travel to them. However, this may be extremely risky for the senior, especially if they need to travel by plane.

Talk to your kids’ grandparents about the potential risks associated with traveling amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and insist that your family visit them. The fewer people your relatives come into contact with and the fewer public places they visit, the lower their risk will be for contracting COVID-19.

Practice Social Distancing and Wear Face Masks

Keep in mind that physical contact with anyone outside of your household should be limited to reduce exposure to COVID-19. Greet one another without touching, and continue to practice social distancing and wear face coverings during the entire visit. If you’re visiting during mealtime, eat outside if weather permits. If not, plan to eat before or after your visit, so that you do not have to remove your mask inside while visiting with your loved one. Some people may feel extremely uncomfortable in regards to avoiding all physical contact with their loved ones, which is completely normal. However, taking these precautions will help keep everyone in your family safe and healthy.

Don’t Share Living Spaces

Staying with your relatives when you visit may be fun, convenient, and inexpensive, but doing so is very risky for both your family and parents. Even if you quarantine for 14 days after arriving in town, experts still recommend staying in a nearby hotel or vacation rental to minimize COVID-19 exposure.

Before leaving home, research your options for hotels near your relatives and call the facilities to ask about their safety and sanitation policies related to COVID-19. Ask if your family can stay in a room that has been unoccupied for a few days, and consider cleaning and tidying up the room yourselves instead of allowing housekeeping services to enter the room. Also, avoid using community amenities during your stay such as the gym, hot tub, and swimming pool, as these amenities may not be sanitized as regularly as needed to reduce your exposure to COVID-19.

Limit Activities and Spend Time Outdoors

Most seniors enjoy treating their grandchildren to fun outings such as going to museums, toy stores, and theme parks, but venturing to any public places can increase their risk for contracting COVID-19. Instead of visiting indoor public places or venues that attract large crowds, suggest that everyone limit activities to outdoor venues that provide plenty of free-roaming space.

Go to local parks, visit the zoo, go on hikes or long walks, or have picnics. You could even suggest that your children’s grandparents sit in their vehicles while they watch their grandchildren play outside. Spend as much time outdoors as possible in places where you can easily practice social distancing and avoid large crowds.

Avoid Sharing Utensils and Other Objects

Given how COVID-19 can spread through saliva and from touching contaminated surfaces, take care to avoid sharing utensils, cups, and other objects with grandparents from which COVID-19 can be easily transmitted. To play it extra safe, use disposable plasticware and cups instead of your grandparents’ silverware and dishes.

Consider a Virtual Visit

Many families around the U.S. have started using video apps to visit and spend time with their loved ones from a safe distance. Instead of having an in-person visit, consider having regular phone calls and video conferences.

Host virtual family meals, movie nights, and game nights by pulling up video conferencing sessions that allow you to see and talk with one another during these family events. Suggest that your grandparents read bedtime stories to their grandchildren over the phone or during video chat sessions. You could also send your relatives photos and videos of their grandchildren via email or text.

Virtual visits are an ideal way to spend quality time with your loved ones during COVID-19 until the U.S. achieves herd immunity or develops a safe, effective vaccine. Keep in mind that although virtual visits may not be your preferred way to spend the holidays with your relatives, this may be the safest option for everyone, and may only be necessary for a short time.

 

For more information, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

Source:Michael Barber

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Veterans Benefits: Does the VA Pay for Senior Care?

Are you or your loved one a U.S. military veteran or military veteran’s spouse? Veterans or their surviving spouses in need of senior care may qualify for extra financial help on top of their basic pension. Here are the highlights of the little-known Aid and Attendance benefit, which can provide financial assistance to senior veterans or their spouses who need long-term care but can’t pay for the full costs on their own.

What is Aid and Attendance?

Aid and Attendance is a pension program provided to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The VA helps veterans and their families by providing supplemental income through the Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension benefit programs. Veterans (or their widowed spouses) in good health qualify for the basic pension if they are 65 or older and have a low-income level.

Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and who require the aid and attendance of another person (or are housebound) may be eligible for additional monthly payments above the normal pension amount — those additional payments are the Aid and Attendance benefit.

However, to qualify for Aid and Attendance, a veteran or surviving spouse must first qualify for the basic VA pension.

The VA lists many eligibility factors for the basic VA pension:

  • An honorable discharge
  • Age 65 or older (or permanently disabled)
  • Minimum service requirements (at least 90 days of active duty, with one of those days being during active wartime)
  • A monthly income and assets below the limits set by the VA (net worth must not exceed $129,094, as of December 1, 2019)

To qualify for Aid and Assistance, you must meet one of these additional medical requirements:

  • Need the help of another person for everyday tasks like bathing and dressing
  • Are in a nursing home, due to a mental or physical incapacity such as Alzheimer’s disease
  • Are bedridden
  • Have specific eyesight limitations

Depending on the veteran’s care needs and financial status, the Aid and Attendance benefit can provide $2,170 or more per month toward the cost of several types of senior care, including nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, residential care homes, adult day services, and more.

Do VA benefits cover nursing home care?

Aid and Attendance can be used to help pay for a nursing home, although it may not be especially helpful if the applicant is eligible for Medicaid or expects to go onto Medicaid soon. This is because the benefit will not pay more than $90 per month to someone who is eligible for Medicaid — the exception being those who reside in state VA nursing homes, which are exempt from this rule.

The Aid and Attendance program can be helpful for those who are on the cusp of being able to afford a private-pay nursing home. For example, Aid and Attendance could bridge the financial gap for a veteran who makes $6,000 a month but hopes to live in a nursing home that costs $7,000 a month.

Aid and Attendance can also provide additional income for a spouse at home, or if there is a statewide waiting list for Medicaid beds.

Do spouses of veterans get Aid and Attendance?

Yes — surviving spouses of veterans may receive VA benefits, which include both the basic pension as well as Aid and Attendance. Those benefits help pay for nursing home costs.

It’s important to note that you must be a widowed spouse of a veteran to apply for and receive VA benefits on your own. Spouses and other dependents of living veterans may be eligible for other types of benefits, such as education, financial counseling, and basic health care.

However, veterans with a spouse or other dependents may qualify for higher award amounts. This 2020 chart shows the amount of aid for single veterans and for those with spouses and other dependents.

Do VA benefits cover assisted living facilities?

The VA does not differentiate between a nursing home and assisted living community in their definition of “nursing home.” This means that, in most states, residents of assisted living communities often qualify for the benefit.

Assisted living communities have emerged in the last two or three decades as an alternative to nursing homes for those who need some care, but not 24-hour skilled nursing care. Aid and Attendance can help qualified recipients pay for assisted living.

Assisted living communities provide personal care in addition to more basic amenities like meals, housekeeping, and activities. The care they offer usually includes medication management, bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting, although not all residents require assistance in all of these areas.

The average cost for assisted living is $3,715 per month, but this varies depending on region and other location-related factors, the size of the apartments, and the needed level of care.

If you meet the clinical requirements for Aid and Attendance and the assisted living community is helping with personal care needs, then typically the monthly amount paid to the assisted living community is deducted from your gross income.

How do I apply for VA benefits?

To apply for Aid and Attendance, you need to mail the completed VA forms to your pension management center (PMC), or you can apply in person at the nearest VA regional office.

The application and approval process for Aid and Attendance can be frustratingly slow. It can take weeks for families to gather the necessary documents and complete the paperwork. The approval process itself averages almost nine months, but a complete and accurate application can be processed much more quickly.

If you are 90 or older, you can request an expedited review in a cover letter with your application.

The good news is the benefit pays retroactively upon approval of eligibility. This means the first benefit payment includes a lump sum to cover the months that the application was pending.

Other veterans benefits resources

Here are some other helpful resources for learning about VA benefits:

 

For more information on veterans benefits, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

 

 

 

Source:Danny Szlauderbach

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Top 10 Duties and Responsibilities of a Senior Caregiver

Cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, helping with medical appointments, and managing medications are some of the duties of an elderly caregiver. But your responsibilities will ultimately depend on your loved one’s health and needs. If you feel you are unable to maintain the level of care your loved one needs, it may be time to look into assisted living. At Surpass Senior Living, we offer all of the care and assistance for your loved one to live their best life.

What is a caregiver?

A caregiver cares for the health and well-being of someone who needs help with daily tasks and activities. Your aging loved one may need a caregiver because of an injury, mobility or memory issues, illnesses, or chronic conditions that make everyday chores more challenging.

Depending on the level of support provided, long-term caregiving can take a toll on the caregiver’s physical and emotional health. Consider your loved one’s condition and your health and skills to determine whether in-home care is appropriate or if more specialized care is needed.

Senior caregiver duties and responsibilities

Your caregiver duties may vary each day, but some basic tasks remain the same when caring for an aging parent or senior loved one.

Take a look at these top caregiver responsibilities:

1. Assess medical needs

Checking on your senior loved one’s health is an important caregiver responsibility. You may need to help keep track of medical appointments, manage medications and chronic conditions, or assess pain levels. It’s a good idea to discuss your loved one’s health with their doctor and other health professionals regularly.

 2. Prepare a care plan

Preparing a care plan that addresses your senior loved one’s care needs and goals can be helpful when you begin your caregiving journey. A plan can help you determine how many hours of care a day your loved one will require and whether you need additional help to ensure his or her health and safety.

 3. Assist with basic needs

Memory and mobility issues can make even basic needs such as eating, bathing, grooming, and toileting — commonly referred to as “activities of daily living,” or ADLs — difficult. Check-in often and pay attention to specific signs and changes to determine if your loved one needs extra help.

4. Provide companionship

One of the most essential but sometimes overlooked parts of caregiving is companionship. Feelings of loneliness in older adults can lead to serious health consequences including depression. When you care for an aging loved one, you are creating opportunities to strengthen your bond and connection.

5. Help with housekeeping

As your loved one ages, maintaining a home can become increasingly difficult. Older adults may need help with dishes, taking out the garbage, or vacuuming. If your loved one lives in a house, yard work, snow shoveling, and daily maintenance may be too much for them to handle even with your help. Consider whether your loved one would benefit from the convenience and support of a senior living community.

6. Monitor medications

Older adults often take several prescription medications to treat chronic conditions. Your loved one may need help keeping track of their medication list, understanding drug interactions, and taking prescribed dosages at the right time. You can help lower your loved one’s risk of overmedicating by creating reminder systems and monitoring his or her medications.

7. Assess your care plan regularly

As circumstances surrounding you and your loved one inevitably change, the care plan will need to be adjusted. Review it regularly to determine what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to be adapted. Keep in close contact with your loved one’s doctor and other health professionals to discuss any changes.

8. Prepare meals

Food preparation can become increasingly difficult with age. If your loved one lives alone, they may lack the energy or motivation to cook. In some cases, memory and balance issues may make cooking unsafe. As a caregiver, you can help with grocery shopping, preparing meals or finding alternatives to ensure your loved one gets proper nutrition.

9. Assist with transfer and mobility

Falls are a major risk to the health of older adults. Your loved one may have difficulty moving or transferring — from their bed in the morning to a chair in the afternoon, for instance. As a caregiver, you can take steps to help prevent falls and help your loved one stay safe and comfortable.

10. Provide transportation

As your loved one ages, public transportation or driving may no longer be safe options. You may need to look for senior transportation alternatives to get your loved one to doctor’s appointments and other activities.

 

For more information on the care that we offer, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Angelike Gaunt

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Six Practical Things to Consider When Moving an Aging Loved One

Relocating a senior loved one to assisted living can bring them closer to family, ensure a safer home environment, and lead to a more active lifestyle. If you’re planning on moving an aging loved one, these six tips can help you plan.

1. Delegate moving responsibilities

Many seniors have spent their lives collecting meaningful possessions. If your loved one is downsizing, they’ll have to leave things behind.

Start small – Suggest your loved one start with a room with low sentimental value, like a bathroom or guest suite. This will help them ease into the moving process with a clear sense of accomplishment.

Help make tough decisions – If your loved one has been in their house for years, even unimportant things can seem essential. Offer to help sort items into “give away” and “keep” piles, and gently suggest changes.

Gift to family and friends – It’s easier to give away items when they’re going to a good home. If a prized possession just can’t fit in their new space, see if a family member or friend will accept it.

2. Explore using senior relocation services

If you can’t be with your loved one during their moving prep, seek expert help. “Senior move managers” are companies that specialize in relocating, downsizing, and organizing aging individuals.

Hire an expert – An outside expert can simplify the emotional aspect of moving. Even if you’re available to help with a loved one’s transition, having a third party to help make tough decisions can reduce tension and fighting among family.

Find a company that focuses on seniors – The National Association of Senior Move Managers hires professionals with backgrounds in gerontology, social work, health care, psychology, and project management to provide all the resources for a seamless move.

Get help for after the move – Many senior relocation services also partner with companies who can help with after-move processes like cleaning, staging, estate sales, and donations.

3. Plan moving transportation around your elderly loved one’s needs

Many older adults can’t withstand a long road trip without assistance or stops, while others may require full-service medical transport.

Plan on extra travel time – A drive that takes you six hours alone could be extended by multiple stops. Be sure to ask regularly if loved ones need to stretch their legs or make pit stops on long rides.

Consider mobility – If flying is the best option, book nonstop flights for those with mobility issues. Contact the airline in advance with special requests like boarding assistance, curb-to-gate escort, or special seating accommodations. If your loved one hasn’t flown in a while, be sure they’re informed about new safety protocols.

Add security for medical transit – If your aging relative needs extra help, look into senior-focused transportation companies that offer non-emergency medical transit designed to move people with extra needs like oxygen tanks and wheelchairs. Some companies even provide transport with beds and registered nurse attendants, though these services can be pricey.

4. Handle health care ahead of the move

Your parent or senior loved one will need new health care providers. Do your research, get referrals from their current doctors, and try to set appointments soon after their arrival to avoid long waiting lists.

Work with a care manager – A geriatric care manager is familiar with local healthcare providers, in-home care agencies, and volunteer resources in the destination city. They can also arrange advanced medical transport for the move.

Transfer prescriptions – Conduct a medication review before the move, and have important prescriptions transferred to a new pharmacy in advance.

Contact insurance providers – Make sure the doctors and specialists your loved one needs in the new location are in-network and covered by their health insurance plan. Call the number on the back of their insurance card, or go online for a list of in-network providers to avoid hefty fees.

5. Make the new location feel like home

Familiar possessions and arrangements can be comforting during times of transition. Give your loved one’s new space personal touches to make it feel like home.

Organize thoughtfully – If the photos on the living room wall have been in the same order for as long as you can remember, replicate it in the new home. Display trinkets in the same order, and bring accents like throw pillows, even if new furniture has to be purchased. If the kitchen is smaller, put Mom’s pots and pans where you know she’ll be able to find them.

Get the new layout – Have dimensions available so you know exactly what will fit where and you won’t have to make tough decisions once you arrive. If your loved one likes design projects, encourage them to plan out the home in advance for a smoother transition.

Enjoy new opportunities – Has Mom always wanted a bright accent wall? Would Dad love a new desk? Some positive updates can make a new space exciting.

6. Talk about the benefits of your loved one’s new Home

When someone has lived in one place for 30 or more years, it’s easy for them to dwell on the things they’ll leave behind. To help loved ones move forward, remind them of the new opportunities that will come from their transition.

 Focus on positives in the new location – If your mom loves art, see if there are painting activities that she can enjoy.

 

For more information on moving your loved one to assisted living, contact one of our Sales Directors today!

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Claire Samuels

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7 Steps to Help Your Family Member Transition to Memory Care

The transition to memory care can be difficult for families to navigate. Strong emotions, confusion, and shifting relationships may play out in interactions with a loved one moving to a memory care community.

1. Personalize their room in gradual increments

Experts caution families against moving all of a senior’s personal items at once, which may cause panic. Instead of making the change feel immediate from the start, caregivers should frame the move as a trial period while their loved one adapts.

 

Slowly introduce things to make it more homelike, say “Would you like your pillow?” or “Would you like this one picture?”

 

2. Grant a few weeks for adjustment

Moving into a memory care community marks a big change — one that requires time and patience from everyone involved. Families should expect a window of four to six weeks for seniors to become acclimated. During this time, family members should validate seniors’ feelings, rather than simply push past them.

 

3. Step away from visits when necessary

In the early days after a move, the presence of a loved one may trigger homesickness or other negative emotions. To account for this, someone may step in as a “surrogate” visitor. This person can have similar conversations with the senior while establishing a more neutral connection.

 

From the surrogate visitor, you can get a good picture of how your parent is adjusting. Ask yourself this key question: “Who can be present for them, so that you can know they’re OK and feel pleasure from being with them?”

 

4. Visit at the right times to minimize distress

Try to avoid visits in the evening. Not only does this time coincide with symptoms of sundown syndrome, but it can upset your loved one when you leave for home without them. To prevent this reaction, plan visits around the morning or lunchtime, when you can mention leaving for work or running errands instead.

 

5. Encourage family and friends to connect

When someone moves to memory care, it’s natural for family members and friends to pull back as a way to promote socialization among memory care residents. Despite this instinct, experts warn that an “all-or-nothing” approach might prove ineffective. As your senior loved one becomes more involved in their community, disengage slowly and in stages.

 

6. Focus on the positive

Typically, a senior transitions to memory care when it becomes too difficult for caregivers and family members to manage dementia behaviors like aggression, confusion, and repetitive speech. However, we encourage family members to focus on the traits the person still has, not what they’ve lost.

 

7. Be open to reassessing needs, and embrace flexibility

Approach these moments with one key question: What did go OK? While challenges are normal, watch out for persisting red flags. If a senior has difficulty making friends or engaging in community activities, consider making a more in-depth plan and talking with staff to address it.

 

 

For more information on transitioning a loved to a memory care community, contact one our Sales Directors today.

 

 

 

 

Source: Kara Lewis