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Life Advice
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Caring for an Aging Loved One
This Life Advice® pamphlet about Caring for An Aging Loved One was produced by the MetLife Consumer Education Center and reviewed by the U.S. Administration on Aging of the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services and the National Council on Aging.
Introduction
How Will You Know?
Developing a Care Plan
Organizing Documents and Paperwork
Managing Your Loved One's Affairs
Providing Home and Community-Based Care
When Your Loved One Can No Longer Live at Home
Who Pays for Long-Term Care?
Taking Care of You
For More Information
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 9 million Americans age 65 and over needed long-term care in 2007, with that number expected to rise to around 12 million by the year 2020.
It’s easy to see why most of us think of long-term care as something needed by older people. But an accident or illness can strike at any age. Historically, the extended family group provided care when needed. But today’s families are smaller and often scattered across the country, adding an extra challenge to caring for an aging loved one. Despite these challenges, families and friends continue to provide a significant amount of long-term support and care.
According to a 2004 survey conducted by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, an estimated 44.4 million caregivers age 18 and older in the U.S. provide unpaid care to an adult family member or friend. Many of these caregivers are also juggling family responsibilities and work, with 59% of caregivers working either full-time or part-time. A recent study from AARP estimates that in 2006 alone, the value of unpaid care provided by friends and family was $350 billion.
It may or may not have crossed your mind that you may become a caregiver to a family member. Perhaps you have discussed changing needs with a loved one, have assumed more responsibilities for your aging parent or relative, or have even done some planning for the future. A more likely scenario is that an unexpected event—a visit to your loved one, or a call from a physician or neighbor—will alert you to the fact that assistance is needed.
The need for care may be related to a sudden event, such as a stroke, or to a gradual process, such as the onset of dementia. In either event, you may not be sure where to begin.
This brochure describes ways to assess when a loved one needs outside care. It covers developing a care plan, organizing important documents, and what you can do to provide support. The brochure also gives guidelines for providing home care for your loved one, finding and using services to assist older individuals, and options to consider when a person can no longer live at home. It emphasizes the importance of self-care for family caregivers and suggests ways that caregivers can take care of themselves.
Does Your Loved One Need Assistance?
Decline in mental and physical capabilities is inevitable as we age. People are living longer and healthier now, so changes are likely to be slower and more subtle than they were for our grandparents. In some ways, this increased longevity and health makes adjusting to the normal process of aging easier; in others, it makes it more difficult. You may be wondering what you can do if someone you know needs additional care or support.
Ask without being patronizing. You’re likely to notice a general slowdown—a cue to ask general questions. If you see specific things that worry you, talk them over. Explain your concern. Listen! Propose solutions—if needed. Better yet, ask your loved one what he or she thinks the solution might be. It may not be appropriate to insist on your approach unless there is a threat to his or her safety or to the safety of others.
Observe carefully. IIf you notice her clothes are not as clean as they used to be, you might ask, “Mom, can I help with the laundry? I’m usually here on the weekend. How about I throw in a couple of loads for you?”
Many older individuals dread losing their independence. If you notice your Dad’s refrigerator is often empty, your instinct might be to tell him you’ll be doing the shopping from now on. He may, reasonably, see that as an intrusion. Instead, talk with him. Try to determine why the fridge is empty. There are dozens of possible reasons. Perhaps he has little appetite. Maybe he is uncomfortable driving to the store because he needs new glasses.
Pay Attention. Your loved one might tell you about a problem or concern. Although it’s not always the case, some older individuals are comfortable telling their family when they need help. If your Mom tells you the grocery bags are too heavy for her to carry, you can offer to shop for her or go shopping with her. You may feel you know just how to help if your Dad asks, “These eyes aren’t what they used to be.Would you look over my checkbook and bills before I mail them?” Perhaps helping with the bills and scheduling an eye exam is appropriate. Possibly, however, your Dad is not concerned about his vision; maybe he is worried that his mental alertness is deteriorating. Listening sometimes means reading between the lines.
As you focus on the issues, you can speak with other family members and friends about your concerns. They may be a good source of insight, especially if they see your aging loved one regularly.
Look and Listen
If you regularly visit a friend or relative, you may see changes in mental and physical capabilities. You may notice changes in behavior, or you might see signs of a physical problem. For example, depression, a common condition for many older people, can appear as a physical problem (e.g., tiredness or insomnia), a cognitive problem (e.g., forgetfulness), or both. Remember, if an older adult seems forgetful or takes longer to do some tasks, it may be a normal part of the aging process. Paying a bill a week later is not the same as forgetting to pay bills for three consecutive months. The most important consideration is whether the changes you see pose a threat to your loved one’s medical or physical safety. Some changes that may signal the need for help are:
Behavior changes
Physical symptoms
Symptoms of depression
When you have a concern, it may be tempting to rush to intercede. It’s better, however, to avoid taking over. If your loved one is able to participate, don’t make unilateral decisions and don’t go over his or her head. Instead, discuss the issues that you’ve noticed and, if you have difficulty resolving problems, consider involving the professional community—a primary care physician, a gerontologist, or a senior care specialist. They are likely to ask you about your loved one’s behavior. They may also ask about his or her cognitive status. Questions you are likely to hear include:
The objective is to jointly determine the cause of the problem(s) and decide on possible interventions. If an older person has an acute event, such as an illness or accident requiring hospitalization, the social worker or discharge planner may offer helpful guidance. You can begin to develop a care plan based on insights and considerations from your loved one, the medical community, friends, and relatives.
A care plan will define the services and support needed to provide appropriate care. Developing a care plan is a four-step process that you can adapt to your specific circumstances.
1. List the needs for support and additional care. These will generally fall into the areas shown in the table below:
| Areas of Support Older Individuals May Need |
Housekeeping - laundry, shopping, and household paperwork Social and safety needs- transportation services, companionship, and daily telephone checks Nutrition- meal planning, cooking, and meal delivery Health care - nursing, social work, physical and rehabilitative therapy, and medication monitoring Personal care- assistance with personal hygiene, medical equipment, dressing, bathing, and exercise |
2. Figure out who can devote the necessary time/attention to provide support (e.g., siblings, friends, etc.).
3. Make a list of specific help needed (e.g., laundry once a week).
4. Get specific commitments (e.g., Cousin Julius will do the shopping every Saturday). These commitments need to include, as appropriate, a statement of who, what, when, where, and how.
Depending on the person’s needs, the plan may simply outline a schedule for house visits by you and other family members. Or it may identify community resources that will provide additional support, including meals (e.g., Meals on Wheels), transportation services, and visiting nurses. Consider whether you or a family member may be able to handle the responsibility. In some cases, you may want to consider seeking other forms of support; nutrition or preventive health services and caregiver support services that are funded in part through the Older Americans Act and administered by the U.S. Administration on Aging. For more information about local services, contact the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or at www.eldercare.gov. In some cases, you may need to employ a service to supply a live-in aide(s) to provide full-time care, or consider assisted living or nursing home placement.
No doubt, you’ll need to revise the care plan as needs change. For example, you would need to adjust the plan when:
Organizing Documents and Paperwork
Encourage your loved one to organize important documents and medical information. Offer your help. It’s critical that this be done while your loved one is medically and mentally capable of participating in this process. For example, if he or she has specific wishes for end-of-life care, they need to be documented before they’re needed. See Managing Your Loved One’s Affairs.
Important Documentation
The following documents should be assembled in one place so they're available when needed:
Create a laminated Reference Sheet
It is a good idea for every older adult to have a complete list of emergency telephone numbers and information. Laminate the list and put it in an obvious place (e.g., the refrigerator door, by the phone, in the top drawer of your desk, etc.) so it will be available for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or others who may need it. The sheet should contain at least the following information:
Managing Your Loved One's Affairs
Although you may not like to think about it, your loved one may become unable to act on his or her own behalf. This can happen when one is nearing death or as the result of a physical or cognitive condition that may be either permanent or temporary. Many people assume their spouses or children will automatically be allowed to make financial and/or medical decisions for them, but this is not necessarily so. There are important legal and end-of-life decisions that need to be made while your loved one has the capacity to make these decisions.
Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney is a legal document that allows one person(called the principal) to appoint someone else—called the agent or attorneyin- fact—to act on his or her behalf. The powers that can be exercised by the agent can be broad or narrow; the principal stipulates them, in advance. Your loved one (the principal) might, for example, authorize you (the agent) to do a specific thing (e.g., sell the house). The principal can give the agent the authority to perform any legal act he or she would do. If an older person becomes incapacitated without having a power of attorney, the family may have to go through lengthy and expensive legal action so that someone can act on the individual’s behalf.
The two main types of powers of attorney are:
Signing a power of attorney does not mean a person gives up the right to act on his or her own behalf. The power of attorney assures the principal that the agent will be able to act when and how the principal directed, if it becomes necessary. Also, it’s important to note that a person can revoke or cancel their power of attorney at any time.
Planning Medical Care and Treatment - Advance Directives
Advance directives are written documents that tell doctors what kind of treatment is desired if a person becomes unable to make medical decisions (e.g., falls into a coma). They can take many forms, and it’s a good idea to understand state laws before writingan advance directive. Federal law requires hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions that receive Medicare or Medicaid funds to provide written information regarding advanced care directives to all patients upon admission.
Living wills are a kind of advance directive that come into effect when a person is terminally ill. A living will does not give one the opportunity to select someone to make decisions, but it allows the person to specify the kind of treatment wanted in specific situations. For example, your loved one might specify that she or he doesn’t want to be treated with antibiotics if death is imminent.
A Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR) is a type of advance directive specifying that if a person’s heart stops or if he or she stops breathing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not to be given. Unless they are directed otherwise, hospital staff will try to help all patients who have stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped. A person can tell the doctor not to resuscitate and a DNR order will be entered on the medical chart.
A durable power of attorney (sometimes called a durable medical power of attorney) names the person who is to make medical decisions for another person. It is activated any time the person is unconscious or unable to make medical decisions. State laws vary, but most states disqualify anyone under the age of 18, the person’s health care provider, or employees of the health care provider. The individual named as the agent must:
Spiritual or religious beliefs may have bearing on the types of advance directives one chooses to prepare. Although death is often a difficult subject to raise, it is a good idea for you, your family members and your loved one to discuss these issues to ensure everyone understands the older person’s values and beliefs. The more communication there is, the easier it will be for the family to respect your loved one’s wishes.
Advance directives don't have to becomplicated legal documents; they can be relatively short statements about what one wants done when one can't speak on their own behalf. Any advance directive must, however, comply with state laws. It's also a good idea to have written advance directives reviewed by the senior's doctor and lawyer to make sure that all instructions are understood as intended. Once advance directives are finalized, copies are distributed to the family, medical power of attorney agent, and the doctor.
When Your Loved One Needs Skilled Care
While, as discussed earlier, you may gradually notice changes in your loved one that lead to the need for long-term care, in other instances the need may arise without warning. Sometimes a sudden event, such as a hip fracture or stroke, will lead to the need for long-term care for an individual who had previously been independent. Sometimes the worsening of an existing medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes, will result in the need for long-term care, where previously the individual required no assistance.In each instance, a loved one may first require “skilled care,” which is care delivered by professional staff, such as nurses and therapists. Often a hospital stay followed by a period of rehabilitation or treatment in a short-term rehabilitation facility or nursing home is needed to treat and stabilize the medical condition or injury. For some, rehabilitation may take place at home. Medicare or other insurance may cover care for rehabilitation either at home or in a nursing facility. Services might include nursing care, therapy services and home health aide services as long as the person meets Medicare criteria for receiving skilled care. A referral for these services would likely be to a Medicare-certified home health care agency or skilled nursing facility.
When Your Loved One Needs Long- Term Care
Some individuals will return to independent living following a period of rehabilitation or treatment, but some will continue to need care with daily activities on an ongoing basis. This long-term care, often referred to as “custodial care” may be provided in one’s home or at another location.Whether the need for custodial care arises gradually or suddenly following an episode of skilled care, the goal is to help the person remain as independent as possible with the help of supportive services. These may include help with the activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and toileting and/or assistance with what are called instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as shopping, transportation, laundry and finances. These services may be provided by family members—who may require training for certain activities such as assistance with getting someone in and out of bed following a stroke—or by paid caregivers.
Decisions will need to be made based on family preferences and availability, the financial situation, and the amount and type of care needed. You will have to look at the costs for custodial care services and determine how they will be covered. Costs will vary depending upon the type of care your family member requires. Some agencies may have a sliding fee schedule or there may be other resources in the community that would be available to provide some services. Medicare as well as most health insurance policies do not cover longterm care services.
It is important to understand that some individuals who need longterm custodial care may also need some skilled services on an ongoing basis. Others may need skilled care intermittently to treat an illness or injury. Their long-term care needs will continue to need to be addressed and perhaps re-evaluated following episodes of skilled care, as needs may have changed. Needs may also gradually change over time and the care plan will need to be adjusted to meet changing needs. Sometimes care providers who had been assisting may no longer be available. If your loved one’s need for care increases, you could find that informal caregivers are no longer able to meet all the care requirements. In this situation, you may need to increase the amount of service given by paid care providers. Or you may find that your loved one’s needs may best be met in another location such as your home, an assisted living facility or a nursing home.
The various types of longterm care services and resources to help you locate needed care are described in this brochure. The information looks at what could be called a “continuum”of long-term care services which are available based on the needs of the individual requiring the care. It provides options to consider as your loved one’s needs change over time.
Providing Home and Community-Based Care
When you know what support is needed, and who among family and friends can provide help, you and your loved one can begin developing the care plan. Most often, care for an older adult begins in the person’s own home; he or she remains in a comfortable, familiar environment, and retains a measure of independence. This is what is often referred to as “aging in place.”
Sometimes a supporting relative or friend will have unique qualifications. For example, if your sister Susie is a freelance writer working from home, she may be the best person to deal with unscheduled emergencies. If Aunt Sally, the nurse, is comfortable talking with the medical community, she might agree to be the medical liaison.
Your plan, of course, depends not only on the needs of your loved one, but also on your specific situation. Options are limited when a friend or relative doesn’t live nearby. For example, if your friend Ellie (who lives 100 miles away) can no longer drive or handle her own housekeeping activities, you have few choices. In such situations, you may be able to assist by asking a friend of Ellie’s to buy the groceries. Perhaps you can arrange for Ellie to employ a house cleaner or other service to do housekeeping tasks.
Home care includes a multitude of medical and personal services provided in your loved one’s own home. Home assistance is available through some hospitals, home care agencies, and public health departments.
Arranging a home and community-based care program requires investigation and organization. The Eldercare Locator Service— 1-800-677-1116—can connect you with the local Area Agency on Aging, which can provide information on most aspects of home care, including how to find competent caregivers. You may also want to ask for referrals from friends and relatives, physicians, and hospital discharge planners. You will probably have to coordinate services from more than one source.
Finding Community Resources
For additional assistance in locating community resources, check with a local senior center, local volunteer programs, or local and national disease associations such as the Alzheimer’s Association. See For More Information. The table below lists types of services available in many communities.
| Community Resources for Older Adults |
|
Most of these services are not free, although they may be covered by insurance and / or Medicare. If you area caregiver, help may be available to you under the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This program, which is part of the Older Americans Act, provides the following services:
Help is available for finding the most appropriate resources through information and referral services like the Eldercare Locator service. Still, finding and coordinating services can be a challenging task. One possible option is to employ the services of a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM). A GCM is often a nurse or social worker who can help assess needs and arrange services for older people.
The GCM can make an initial assessment of care needs and suggest options for meeting those needs, including referrals to local resources. This may be especially helpful if your loved one is at home and you are uncertain what he or she needs, or what services are available. You may find a GCM through a local senior center, Area Agency on Aging, an elder care attorney, or a gerontologist. Be sure to check references. Verify that paid caregivers have the appropriate licenses or certifications. Determine the cost for the GCM’s services and find out how they are billed.
Adult Day Care Centers
These programs are an adjunct to home care. They offer social and health services in a group setting to individuals who are frail, physically challenged, or cognitively impaired. They provide a safe, protective setting during daytime hours. Services may include medical care, rehabilitation therapies, nutrition therapy, and health monitoring. Adult day services are often a cost-effective option. The centers offer a respite to family and other caregivers, helping them avoid burnout and, perhaps, helping loved ones avoid admission to a residential care facility. See For More Information for sources to help locate adult day-care centers in your community.
If your loved one is receiving care through a home care agency or another community resource such as an adult day center, keep the name and phone number of a supervisor available in case you have questions. Also, make certain the supervisor or nurse who will be overseeing your loved one’s care has your phone number should there be an emergency or should any questions arise.
Maintaining Dignity
It’s important to help your loved one maintain a sense of personal dignity. If she or he understands what is happening and can communicate, this may involve primarily being respectful and patient. In situations where an older adult has problems performing daily tasks, communicating or understanding due to either a physical condition such as a stroke or a cognitive disorder such as Alzheimer’s disease, the most generous gift you can give may well be enabling him or her to maintain dignity. Some of the things you might do to help preserve your loved one’s dignity:
Monitoring Care
When an ailing, older person lives at home, it’s important to monitor how things are going. This is true even if there is full-time home care in place.
In certain situations, you may feel that more oversight is needed than you or nearby family members can provide. If you choose to work with a GCM, he or she can formally monitor your loved one’s care, at your request. This approach may be especially important if you live far away and cannot visit on a regular basis.
When Your Loved One Can No Longer Live at Home
If a person’s care needs cannot be met in his or her own home, a permanent change in living environment may be necessary. Moving to a new living situation will involve a period of adjustment for your loved one. This adjustment time will be needed regardless of whether he or she is moving to a nursing home, an assisted living facility, an apartment closer to you or into your home.
When a Loved One Moves in with You
If you’ve decided care in your home is appropriate, you’ll probably need to make some changes around the house. Changes can be as complex as adding another bathroom or converting a first-floor den into a bedroom. Or changes could be as simple as attaching a safety rail to the shower or having an amplified receiver installed on the telephone. In addition to making necessary physical changes in your home, you’ll want to make sure your loved one feels welcome in your home by displaying favorite possessions—particularly mementos and photographs—in plain sight.
Assisted Living Facilities
Those who need care beyond what they can receive at home but not requiring the level of care provided by a nursing home may find the help they need in assisted living facilities. Many of these residential facilities provide a home-like atmosphere, and some are structured so that individuals have their own apartments. Staff is available to assist twenty-four hours a day. Depending on specific needs, residents can receive assistance with housekeeping, meals, and personal care, including help with daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing. There are no federal regulations for assisted living facilities, and the licensing requirements vary from state to state. Assisted living facilities may be referred to by other names such as personal care home, residential care facility, and adult group living facility.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes, also referred to as nursing facilities, are residential facilities that provide round-the-clock care and supervision. Nursing homes offer a range of services from skilled care for seriously ill people who require close supervision by a licensed nurse to custodial care, often provided by nursing assistants supervised by a nurse.
All states have licensing requirements for nursing homes and perform surveys to evaluate the quality of care. Most states maintain databases you can access to get general information about a facility (e.g., number of beds), resident details (e.g., percent of residents who are physically restrained), and staffing details (e.g., staff hours/resident ratio). You can also see the results of state evaluations and often summaries of complaints lodged by residents and families. This information can provide a starting point for selecting a nursing home.
Choosing a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility
Before selecting a nursing home or assisted living facility, investigate several. You can use your state’s database and get recommendations from friends. You can tell a lot about a facility by walking around and observing the residents and staff. You should also, where possible, try to speak with residents or their family members to see what their experience has been.
In addition to what you see, you’ll need answers to many important questions to determine if a facility will meet your needs and expectations. There are excellent resources available to help you identify the information you need to evaluate a residential facility; some provide a checklist. One such resource is the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform website. See For More Information for links to this and other helpful websites.
Long-term care is expensive. Even a temporary stay in a nursing home can derail years of careful financial planning. Although costs may vary significantly depending upon where you live, the average national cost for care in a nursing home is more than $75,000 a year for a private room and more than $66,000 for a semi-private room.
Medicare: What It Can and Can't Provide
Medicare is the federal government’s health insurance program for the disabled and for people age 65 and over. Many Americans believe Medicare will pay their long-term care bills. In fact, Medicare pays only under certain conditions and only for a limited number of days. Currently, Medicare may cover skilled care in a nursing home for (up to) the first 20 days, and a portion of the cost for (up to) the next 80 days if admission follows (at least) a three-day hospital stay and the individual needs skilled care. The “need” for skilled care is determined according to specific Medicare criteria. To receive home care benefits from Medicare an individual must also meet specific Medicare guidelines.
The biggest gaps in Medicare coverage are:
See "For More Information" ffor links to obtain more information about Medicare benefits and Medigap Plans, which are supplements to Medicare sold by insurance companies. They pay for some of the costs not covered by Medicare, including co-payments and deductibles. They do not, however, provide coverage for long-term care.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint federal/state program that pays for health care for people with limited income and assets. The federal government has established broad national guidelines under which each state can establish its own eligibility standards. In order to receive Medicaid benefits, the recipient must meet the state’s guidelines for income and asset eligibility. This means, for example, that most of your loved one’s assets will need to be “spent down” or used up before he or she becomes eligible. To obtain information about the Medicaid program, contact your local Medicaid office or Department of Social Services.
If you are to be the coordinator, the primary care giver for a loved one, it can be a big job! Many of the demands on you could be unscheduled and could disrupt your normal routine.When Uncle Harvey can’t make it to Mom’s, you’ll have to go. If Dad calls you when he falls and sprains his ankle, you’ll be the one to take him to the doctor or hospital. If a paid caregiver is unsatisfactory or quits, you may have to sleep at your loved one’s house until you can find a replacement. Beyond the unexpected, you may also have extensive routine responsibilities. You may need to manage finances or deal with medical, legal, community, or government bureaucracies. It can be a big job. Although, as a family caregiver, you may often be under a huge strain, you can do things to ease the pressure.
Balancing Caregiving and Other Responsibilities
Most caregivers juggle work responsibilities as well as two households. It can be especially difficult if your loved one doesn’t live near you. Below are some things to think about as you figure out how to balance these responsibilities.
Your Household. As you plan, implement, and monitor care for your loved one, don’t forget to plan for your own household
Your Job. The responsibilities of caregiving can have a significant impact on work obligations, sometimes more than anticipated. Caregivers may be concerned that requesting changes to work schedules and obligations can threaten job security. Many times, however, creativity and flexibility on the job are necessary to fulfill caregiver and employee responsibilities.
Employers are finding that the caregiving responsibilities of their employees impact productivity in the workplace. Today, an employer may have programs in place to assist employees in caregiving roles. As a caregiver, you may want to research what is available to you in your workplace. Some options might be:
Finding Time for Yourself
All too often, caregivers focus on everything but their own needs. At any given moment, it may be the kids, the job, the care recipient, or the family finances. Rarely does a caregiver step back to see how he or she is doing, and all too frequently a caregiver’s family and friends forget to ask. As selfish as it may seem, and even as guilty as it may make you feel, take time for yourself. Caring for you is not being selfish. The following list has some important things for you as a caregiver to think about:
Taking good care of yourself is important not only for you, but also for your aging loved one.
References
How To Care for Aging Parents
by Virginia Morris
Published by Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
The Comfort of Home: A Complete Guide for Caregivers
by Maria M. Meyer and Paula Derr
Published by CareTrust Publications, LLC
& Thou Shalt Honor: The Caregiver’s Companion
B. McLeod, Editor
Published by Rodale Books
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer
Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life
by Nancy L. Mace, M.A. and Peter V. Rabins, M.D., M.P.H.
Published by Mass Market Paperback
Caring for Yourself while Caring for your Aging Parents:
How to Help,
How to Survive
Claire Berman and Deborah Brody, Editors
Published by Owl Books, Henry Holt & Co., LLC.
Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide
by Hugh Delehanty and Elinor Ginzler
Published by Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
Helpful Websites
www.cms.hhs.gov
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly Health Care
Finance Administration) has information about the Medicare and
Medicaid Programs.
www.alz.org
The Alzheimer’s Association offers information and supportive
services to families and individuals dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.
www.alzheimers.org
The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center is a
service of the National Institutes of Health. The Center provides information
to patients, families, and professionals about Alzheimer’s
disease and
services.
www.alzfdn.org
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) provides information
about brain health, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia.
It gives tips for caregivers, as well as information about local resources
to assist individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
www.benefitscheckup.org
The Benefits Checkup site was developed by the National Council on
Aging (NCOA) to assist seniors and their families in determining
benefit
eligibility for services in their area.
www.caregiving.org
The National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of
national
organizations focusing on issues of family caregiving. The
website
includes helpful information and resources for caregivers.
www.aahsa.org
The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
website
contains a consumer section with information about long-term
care services, a searchable service provider directory for both home
care and facility care and links to other important resources for caregivers.
www.caregiver.org
Founded in 1977, Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) serves as a public
voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face, and
offering them assistance. The website has information related to a
variety of caregiving topics and a state by state searchable resource
directory.
www.nccnhr.org
The National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR)
was formed because of public concern about substandard care in
nursing homes. The website includes the ability to search for the
nursing
home ombudsman in you area should you have questions
or
concerns about nursing facilities in your area.
www.aarp.org
AARP provides information on caregiving, long-term care, and many
other
topics related to aging.
www.medicare.gov
The official government Medicare site includes many topics important
to Medicare beneficiaries including planning for long-term care, and a
nursing-home search tool and comparison guide. It also has consumer
publications related to many of the aspects of Medicare as well as
useful
tools and calculators to help when making Medicare decisions.
www.aoa.gov
Administration on Aging (AOA) is maintained by the U.S. Department
of
Health and Human Services, and provides resources, news, and
information
for older adults as well as links to the Eldercare Locator
and the National
Long-Term Care Clearinghouse, which contains
important information related
to planning for long-term care.
www.eldercare.gov
Funded by the Administration on Aging, the Eldercare Locator assists
older
persons and their caregivers with access to support services in
the geographic
area in which they live (1-800-677-1116).
* Because the content of websites changes constantly, it is impossible for us to review it all. We are not responsible for the content of any of the above links.
For information about other Life Advice topics, go to www.metlife.com/lifeadvice.
May 2008
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