Care Management Blog
Pacing yourself
If you develop health problems—mental or physical—what happens to your loved one? Their well-being depends on yours. So it’s vital that you keep yourself healthy and in balance, for your sake as well as theirs. Not taking the time to do this is the biggest regret of former caregivers. There is always a way. Take…
Read MoreFinancial/legal aspects of caregiving
Look for financial support for caregivingMedicare doesn’t pay for home care or other nonmedical support. You’ll need to find other options. Get paperwork in order Are you concerned about finances?As the Metro DC experts in family caregiving, we at Aging Well Eldercare find that paying for care is the number one worry. Understandably so! Many…
Read MoreFamily Caregiving 101
Family caregivers typically spend four to five years caring for an aging relative. While gratifying, it can also be overwhelming. Pacing yourself for the long haul is part of the solution. This issue of our newsletter outlines the top support strategies recommended by millions of family caregivers who have come before you. Take advantage of…
Read MoreFlying with oxygen
If your relative needs medical oxygen, it’s crucial that you plan ahead for plane travel. From oxygen requirements to battery power, you need to be sure they have enough to cover the whole trip. (You don’t want to run out midair!) You’ll need to cover not only the flight, but layovers and inevitable delays. First,…
Read MoreCurbing your perfectionism
If you are a perfectionist, you may have noticed that your high standards often backfire. Despite your best intentions, you actually accomplish less. Research confirms this. Studies also show that perfectionism frequently leads to anxiety, depression, and difficult relationships. With a gentler approach, you can still have goals and standards as a family caregiver. And…
Read MoreAffordable funerals
We are all vulnerable to an upsell when we want to honor a deceased family member. Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission offers some protection in the form of standards all funeral homes must follow. This enables you to make apples-to-apples comparisons. For instance, you have the right to price information when you phone. And an…
Read MorePhysical therapy and pain relief
Pain is no fun, whether in a knee, a neck, or elsewhere in the body. There are drugs that dull pain. But they don’t cure the problem. Plus, prescription drugs usually have side effects or are addictive. Physical therapy (PT) is a proven treatment that can relieve pain and in some instances, cure the problem.…
Read MoreWhat is hoarding?
Perhaps you wonder if your family member is a “hoarder.” (You may even harbor secret fears about yourself!) We all have cherished possessions. From trophies to teacups. Spare buttons to cans of half-used paint. But hoarding is different. Most of us can determine when we have “enough.” And we can decide to stop buying things…
Read MoreSenior move managers
Does your loved one need to downsize? Move? Does the prospect seem overwhelming? Perhaps not just physically, but emotionally too? Enter the senior move manager: Part mover, part interior decorator, part compassionate friend. These professionals take a holistic approach. They handle the physical logistics. They are also skilled at assisting older adults with the emotional…
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