I'm not sure how to get that information to him. I'm praying about it and hoping I'm not crossing a line or making him uncomfortable to pass along this information to him.
Here is some of the information I found, maybe it will help someone else find some understanding in their own family situation.
Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Tips
By
Susan Bernstein
Your mom or dad has been
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. While your first feeling may be worry, you can get
support to help you guide your parent’s care and manage costs. That way you can
make the most of your time together.
Several local, national,
and online resources can help you find care for your parent, along with
discounts, delivered meals, and legal or financial tips. Here are some leads on
how to get started.
Your first step is to draw
up a plan for your parent’s future care, says Ruth Drew, director of Family and
Information Services for the Alzheimer’s Association. Talk to a social worker
trained in Alzheimer’s care or to a support group to help you make a checklist,
she says. You can contact a social worker at your local hospital, community
center, nursing home, or assisted
living center.
“You need to address now your plan for down the road,” Drew says. Your plan may change as your parent’s health or needs change, she says. Most importantly, “involve the person with the disease in these conversations. Understand their wants and choices, and incorporate these into your plan.”
“You need to address now your plan for down the road,” Drew says. Your plan may change as your parent’s health or needs change, she says. Most importantly, “involve the person with the disease in these conversations. Understand their wants and choices, and incorporate these into your plan.”
Your plan might include:
·
Day care, long-term care, or home health care
·
Assisted living or memory care housing
·
A financial plan to cover costs
·
Power of attorney and living will documents
·
End-of-life care decisions
·
Which family members will help with care
Different types of care can
vary greatly in cost. Your choices may be limited by your financial resources,
and insurance might not cover some choices. You'll simply do the best you can
to honor your parent's wishes. Some things might not be possible because of
financial constraints. See more tips on how to cover costs below.
Tap into a local support
group of other caregivers of parents with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, says Shelly Eisenstadt, a licensed clinical
social worker at the William Breman Jewish
Home in Atlanta. Your parent’s doctor or social worker, a local senior center,
or the Alzheimer’s Association can refer you to groups in your community.
Seek Support
continued...
You'll be able to meet
people who are going through situations very similar to yours. Many support
groups are led by a social worker or therapist trained in Alzheimer’s care.
This professional can help you understand your parent’s symptoms. “Remember,
every person’s story is unique,” Eisenstadt says.
If you have siblings and
you're sharing caregiving duties or costs, make choices as a team to avoid
conflicts that stress you out, she says. “Alzheimer’s is a family disease, even
though it affects only one person. It affects everybody.”
The Alzheimer’s Association has a 24-hour telephone help line, online caregiver’s tools, and local support groups of other caregivers. Find information on their web site, or call (800) 272-3900.
The Alzheimer’s Association has a 24-hour telephone help line, online caregiver’s tools, and local support groups of other caregivers. Find information on their web site, or call (800) 272-3900.
Keep Track of Symptoms
When it comes to helping
manage your parent's medical care, it can help to keep a record. Write down any
problems so you can bring these up at doctor’s appointments, Eisenstadt says.
Your parent’s memory, communication skills, or ability to do everyday tasks may
slowly get worse.
“Caregivers may have a lot
of denial about their parents’ symptoms. If you look at facts written in a
journal, you can see how things are changing,” she says.
Alzheimer’s
disease may last for as long as 20 years, Drew says.
Care can involve taking
time off from your job or traveling to help your parent. Medical care,
home-health care, assisted living: Long-term costs can add up. But they can be
managed. Here’s how:
Insurance and benefits. Find out what insurance
coverage, Social Security, or retiree benefits your parent has that might help
pay for care. If your parent is in the disease’s early stages and he or she
wants to keep working for now, find out what company benefits are available to
help cover drug costs, medical appointments, or sick leave.
Personal assets. Your parent may be able to
tap into savings, a pension, or their home equity to help cover long-term care
costs. A reverse mortgage provides cash in exchange for property equity, but it
allows your parent to keep living in their home. Find out what other assets may
provide income or cash.
How to Deal
With Costs continued...
Government programs. Medicare,
Medicaid, Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and other government
programs may help pay for the care of a parent with Alzheimer’s disease. The
Family Medical and Leave Act also allows you to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid,
job-protected leave from your job to care for your parent. You'll be able to
keep your job’s insurance coverage while you're gone.
Tax deductions. If your parent’s total
income was less than $3,950 in 2014, you may be able to claim him or her as a
dependent on your tax return. You may also be able to deduct costs for your
travel to care for your parent, or out-of-pocket health-care costs from your
tax return. Consider asking an accountant to find all your deductions and
options.
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