March 27, 2024

Caregiver: According to Wikipedia, "A caregiver or support worker is a paid or unpaid person who helps an individual with activities of daily living. Caregivers who are members of a care recipient's family or social network, and who may have no specific professional training are often described as informal caregivers." The focus of our informal caregivers captures our attention today.

Being a family care provider for a loved one brings a sense of purpose, expression of love, and a sense of control over the safety and well-being of one's loved one. Being a family care provider can also bring: exhaustion, burnout, illness, resentment, hopelessness, and depression.  

The very trajectory of increasingly frail, dependent care receivers portends increased dependency accompanied by gradually increasing care needs and demands.

Progression of the disease process eventually necessitates a need for serious and timely consideration into higher levels of care. Whether continuing to reside at home, relocating to "residential care", i.e.: a board and care residence, assisted living, RCFE, (Residential Care Facility) a memory care unit, also RCFE, or skilled nursing facility, SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) decisions and accommodations must be in place. Many considerations must be addressed before family caregivers reach a point of no return, and can no longer care for their loved one mentally, emotionally, or physically. It is essential to consider the "quality of life" for both caregiver, and care receiver; what is in the best interests of both parties.

DECISION MAKING PROCESS: Making a decision to age-in-place, move-in with family, or transition to a community, setting typically occurs due to the following scenarios:

1.  Deciding independently and/or with loved ones

2.  Health and increasing care needs dictating next steps

3.  Inability to continue in present environment without additional outside help

4.  Safety and wellbeing at risk in the present environment

5.  Increased medical needs and supervision

HOW AND WHEN TO DECIDE: Decision process is very specific for each individual and their situation which includes:

1.  Their emotional state

2.  Ability to recognize the need for help/change

3.  Support network in place

4.  Financial situation

5.  Lack of thriving in present environment

ROADBLOCKS TO SMART DECISION MAKING  

What gets in the way of effective choices:

1. Process overwhelming as to what is the best option

2. The thought of moving/downsizing can paralyze process

3. Fear of the unknown

4. Guilt and conflicted feelings

AT HOME:

ASSISTED LIVING, BOARD AND CARE

ASSISTED LIVING, BOARD AND CARE

MEMORY CARE, RCFE

SNF's provide 24- hour care to residents whose primary need is for availability of skilled nursing care meant to be a short term, or on occasion,  extended basis.  In addition, SNF's provide: Dietary, social, and pharmaceutical services.

It offers 24-hour medical support to patients requiring medication management, assistance with daily living activities, physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.  

Skilled Nursing facilities are meant to be short term, with the main goal of helping a patient regain their abilities to do activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, getting in and out of bed or chair. 

By contrast, a nursing home is a long-term residential center primarily for seniors who are medically stable but can't be cared for at home due to chronic conditions or lack of mobility.  Residents at a nursing home may not need 24/7 intensive care, but medical assistance and certain medical services may be available to them.

HOW AND WHEN TO DECIDE?

• 90% OF WHAT WE DO IS BEING DECIDED BY FAMILY MEMBERS NOT THE OLDER ADULT THEMSELVES, DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES
• DECISION PROCESS IS VERY SPECIFIC FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR SITUATION WHICH INCLUDES:

1. THEIR EMOTIONAL STATE
2. ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR HELP/CHANGE
3. SUPPORT NETWORK IN PLACE
4. FINANCIAL SITUATION

ROADBLOCKS TO SMART DECISION MAKING

1. PROCESS IS OVERWHELMING; WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION?  WHERE TO START?
2. THE THOUGHT OF MOVING/DOWNSIZING BELONGINGS CAN PARALYZE THE PROCESS
3. FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

DECISION MAKING PROCESS: MAKING THE DECISION TO: AGE IN PLACE?  MOVE-IN WITH FAMILY? TRANSITION TO A COMMUNITY?

1. DECIDING WITH LOVED ONES AND/OR INDEPENDENTLY
2. HEALTH DICTATING NEXT STEPS
3. STATE DECIDING FOR THEM

NAVIGATING CONVERSATIONS

1. PUTTING OFF THE SIGNS AND THE TOUGH TOPICS
2. NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS OF "A HOME".

QUALITY OF LIFE

1. ACCEPTING AND EMBRACING CHANGE
2. ENCOURAGING A FORWARD THINKING APPROACH
3. EMBRACING THE FACTORS OF QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CONCERNED

For more information and helpful insights regarding this important topic, please go to our most recent Caregiver Webinar: 

NAVIGATING CARE OPTIONS FOR A LOVED ONE, presented by David Cohen, director of EXCEPTIONAL SENIOR PLACEMENT

David has devoted over 8 years, at NO CHARGE, "getting people the right information at the right time so they can make the best decisions for themselves and their family." For more information, visit their website: eSenior Placement

We are here to help and support caregivers and their care receivers before, during, and after the difficult decision making process of next steps in their wellness journey. Our support groups and outreach comfort calls are dedicated to the assurance that you are cared for; that you are NOT ALONE.

Karen Kelleher, M.A., DayBreak Family Caregiver Support Coordinator

Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of

elders and family caregivers who selflessly support them.

DayBreak is committed to empowering elders and supporting caregivers.

If you know an elder in need of our care and coordination services, or a family caregiver seeking assistance, please encourage them to reach out to us at:

510-834-8314