•  How long can I afford care in my home?
• What if I run out of money…but still need home care?
• Do I need an attorney… or a financial planner? 
• Are there any resources to help me stay in my home?

Do you have some of the above concerns?  There are several financing options and community resources you may wish to consider to assist with paying for in-home care.

Funding Sources for Home Care

1)  ALTCS – Arizona Long Term Care System (part of Arizona’s medicaid program) – For those who meet the medical and financial eligibility criteria, this State of Arizona program may provide an in-home caregiver to assist you with your personal care, homemaker and companion care needs.  To apply, contact the State to initiate an ALTCS application (602-417-6600). There are also companies that can help you through this process for a fee. 

2)  Reverse Mortgages – A Reverse Mortgage is a “loan in reverse”.  This type of unique loan is a loan against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live in your home.  To be eligible for a “reverse mortgage” you must be 62 years of age or older, have home equity amounts established by the lender, and meet other specific eligibility criteria.

  3)  Veterans Benefits – Veteran households may be eligible to receive additional monthly cash benefits which can be utilized to purchase in-home care services. The veteran must have been “honorably discharged”, served 90 days or more of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period (veteran did not have to be actively engaged in a war effort), meet family income and assets criteria, be 65 years of age or older OR be disabled if younger than 65 years of age. A surviving spouse of a veteran meeting the above guidelines may also be eligible.

4)  Long Term Care Insurance – Some seniors have previously purchased private long term care insurances to assist them as they age.  If already purchased, these policies often cover in-home care services. If you live in Care Corner’s service area and are considering our services, we will be glad to help you determine your long term care insurance benefits and eligible covered services.

6)  Voluntary Health Organizations – Many people with chronic or other health conditions may benefit from working with an appropriate voluntary health organization. There may be “respite dollars” and/or other helpful benefits or support available through these individual agencies.  Examples of voluntary health organizations are the ALS Association, Multiple Sclerosis Association, Alzheimer’s Association, and American Cancer Society.

7)  Worker’s Compensation – Individuals who have been determined as eligible for “Worker’s Compensation” benefits may also be able to access short-term home care and/or other services in the home.  Please contact your assigned Worker’s Compensation Case Manager to discuss if you are one of those eligible individuals.

 FOR RESOURCES AND SPECIFIC CONTACT INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE “RESOURCES” PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE, WWW.CARECORNER.NET

 For further assistance or questions in Phoenix metro area, please call us!

 CARE CORNER PERSONAL SERVICES

           Phoenix/West Valley        602-943-4321

           Scottsdale/East Valley     480-833-8889

More Americans die each year from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightening, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined. Yet unlike those natural disasters, heat-related deaths are completely preventable.

The extreme heat is particularly dangerous for those 65 and older for a number of reasons: their bodies don’t adjust as well to extremes in temperature, and they are more likely to have a chronic medical condition or be taking prescription medicines that affect the body’s ability to cool itself, says Colleen Keller, Director of the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence at ASU. Diuretics and some heart medications, in particular, can affect how well a person’s body responds to heat. Many older people don’t drink enough liquids, which also increases their difficulty coping with hot weather. Keller urges older people to drink plenty of cool fluids and eat cold fruit with high water content, like watermelon, cantaloupe and apples.
Even healthy seniors should try to avoid the hottest times of the day. Do things early in the morning, and take plenty of shade and air-conditioning breaks. Air conditioning is the #1 protection against extreme heat.

Excerpted from article by Candy Sagon, from AARP Bulletin, July 6, 2010

One of the biggest challenges most of us ever face is helping our parents or aging loved ones navigate the changes that come with aging. At some point, we realize that mom and dad seem to be slowing down. They may need assistance with grocery shopping, with physical tasks such as changing bed linens, or they may have stopped preparing nutritious, hot meals for themselves.  Sometimes the recognition that help is needed comes a result of  a life-changing diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s or other serious condition.

The great news is that there are many more options than there used to be. Assistance can be provided in the home by caregivers, or there are a wide variety of assisted living homes and facilities available in the Phoenix metro area. Some factors to consider when making the tough decision about whether to keep your loved ones in their home, or move them to a retirement community or assisted living are discussed below.
1. Mental and physical capabilities of your parents
Most people can function adequately at home unless:
a) they need the availablity of nurses or medical personnel much of the time;
b) they are at high risk of falling and must be supervised at all times for their safety;
c) their dementia or cognitive disfunction does not allow them to make rational decisions, requiring constant supervision or the availability of on-site help
When conditions (b) and (c) are present, they can still be cared for in their home if the family is willing and able to provide caregiver services around the clock or however much is needed to ensure the person’s safety. If not, the individual should be in a closely supervised setting, such as an assisted living “group home.”
2. The individual’s personality and social support system

From our observations, people who are living at home and have friends and family seem to do very well staying at home as long as possible. In addition, seniors who have not been highly social and involved in activities outside the family throughout most of their lives may be much happier in their own home. If people were not actively engaged with others when they were younger, they don’t generally change as they get older. Conversely, people who are very social, have always been actively engaged with others, and are “joiners” seem to do well in assisted living. I know of one man who is an avid bridge player, and loves being in assisted living as he has a ready-made group of bridge partners!
3. The individual’s “bond” with their home

It is much more traumatic for some people to give up their home – especially if it has been the family home for many years – than it is for others.

These factors can sometimes be difficult to determine, especially for close family members who are emotionally involved. It can be helpful to get the assistance of a professional, whether your parents’ primary care doctor, a social worker or geriatric care manager to get an objective assessment of the situation. For possible resources, see the “Resources” page on Care Corner’s website. Care Corner also provides assessment services and recommendations through our professional social work and nursing staff. We work closely with assisted living experts who can assist with finding the right community if it is determined that in-home care is not the best solution for the client.

Care Corner mourns the loss of our friend and colleague, CK Parsons. CK passed away peacefully at home Sunday night. Her passing is a shock to everyone, and a great loss to the community. Her tireless efforts on behalf of seniors in the Valley will be long remembered. CK worked for Care Corner Personal Services in Community Relations. Services are at Desert Hills Mortuary, 6500 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale, as follows: visitation Friday 4/16 from 5-8 p.m.; funeral services Saturday 4/17 at 10 a.m.

Once you’ve decided that having in-home services is the best option for you or your family, it is important to know what to expect from this service and how to get the maximum benefit from it.  Here are a few pointers in using your new service:

1. Communicate clearly with the caregiver exactly what you would like to have done. If there is something you would like to be done in a certain way, let the caregiver know.

Home care is a completely personalized service. There is no “one way” to do things. Sometimes our clients automatically assume that the caregiver will know exactly what they want.

2. Create a list of what you want done, especially if you would like certain tasks done on certain days.

Lists can be very helpful if, for example, you would like the bed linens changed every Thursday, and showers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Post the list on the refrigerator or somewhere the caregiver can check it regularly.

3.  If you do not need your caregiver to come on a certain day or shift, let the office know as soon as possible. Not all caregivers carry cell phones or are reachable during they day when they are working. It is better for everyone involved if the caregiver does not make an unnecessary trip to your home.

4. Care Corner uses an automated “call in, call out” system from the client’s phone so we can see exactly what time they arrived and left. If you are using an agency that does not offer automated timekeeping, you will want to keep track of your caregiver’s arrival and departure times on a calendar or notebook. It can be difficult to remember specifics a week or two later! This will ensure that you are only paying for the hours worked, not scheduled.

5. If you are unhappy with your caregiver for any reason – whether performance, attendance, or just a personality difference – contact your agency and let them know!

If you have concerns about your services or about your caregiver, call your agency. That’s what we’re here for! Sometimes, people receiving home care who are not happy with their caregiver don’t want to say anything. They may be afraid that if they call the agency it will cause trouble for the caregiver, or they worry that the caregiver will be upset. Like with any other service, the client deserves to be happy and comfortable with the caregiver in their home. The situation may require something as simple as the agency counseling the caregiver on the importance of being on time, for example, or it may be better to try to find a caregiver who is a better match!

6. Treat your caregiver with courtesy and respect.

Like everyone else, caregivers want to be treated with courtesy and respect – in turn, they’ll work hard to provide you with excellent care!

Once the decision has been made that in-home care services are the best option, the next question becomes how and where to find the right caregiver.  Most people turn to a full-service home care agency which screens, hires and trains its employees.  Sometimes, families think they will save money by hiring a caregiver directly, rather than going through an agency. When they hire someone directly, they become the employer and are fully responsible for their caregiver employee.  Hiring a caregiver directly can sometimes save a few dollars in the short term, but there are important considerations that people should be aware of before making this important decision.

1.“Private” caregivers who do not work for an agency do not carry their own liability insurance or worker’s compensation. If an accident or other incident occurs on the job, the employer (the client) would be responsible, possibly costing the client thousands of dollars. One caregiver with a back injury can potentially mean a lifetime of medical and physical therapy bills.

2. What will happen if the caregiver calls off or doesn’t show up? Anyone hiring a caregiver directly needs to have a back-up plan, since there won’t be an agency involved to send a replacement.

3. Most clients do not have the capability of performing background checks on their direct-hire caregivers.

4. As the employer, the client is responsible for training, disciplinary action and terminating the caregiver (if necessary) if they hire the caregiver directly. If using an agency, the agency is responsible for handling these sometimes unpleasant responsibilities (in the case of personnel issues and firing).

5. If hiring a caregiver directly, the client needs to be able to assess the quality and skill level of the caregiver. This is especially important if the client needs hands-on personal care, or is not able to walk and move independently. Proper training and supervision is essential for the health and safety of both the client and the caregiver.  Improperly trained or skilled caregivers could lead to client falls or injuries.

6. By law, the client (employer) is responsible for filing payroll taxes, tax forms, and verifying that the employee can legally work in the U.S.

 In today’s tight economic times, saving money and using resources wisely is more important than ever. Hiring a caregiver directly may be less expensive in the short term.  However, the tremendous risk and long-term costs need to be considered.   One on-the-job accident that results in a back injury or even worse, a lawsuit, costs far more than the savings realized  by hiring directly.

Seniors and people with chronic illness or disabilities sometimes need help that extends beyond assistance with the activities of daily living. They often don’t know where to turn, or what kind of help is available. Many of the Phoenix area’s elderly residents have adult children who live out of town. Concerns about how to pay for needed services have increased as a result of the poor economy and shrinking retirement savings.

To address these concerns, Care Corner has added care management and coordination to our home care services. We have social workers/care managers on staff to provide a comprehensive approach to meeting our clients’ needs. Many of these services are free of charge to our home care clients.
Care management services include:

• Care assessments
• Referrals to other services
• Assistance with eligibility for ALTCS
• “Peace of mind” visits by a social worker for busy or out-of-town families
• Accompany to medical appointments
• Coordinate services, appointments and schedules
• Consultation and referrals regarding options for financing needed services

To find out more about our Care Management or in-home care services, call us at:
E. Valley/Scottsdale 480.833.8889 or Phoenix/W. Valley 602.943.4321

There are many small, easy things you can do to keep your home safe! The importance of avoiding falls cannot be overemphasized. Falls are the #1 reason that people are admitted to nursing homes! Here are some pointers to keep your home safe:

• Remove throw rugs. They are easy to trip over and can be dangerous!
• Make sure that electrical cords are neatly tucked away behind or under furniture.
• Use night lights. Make sure the path between the bedroom and bathroom is well lit.
• If you are ever unsteady on your feet, consider using a bedside commode during the night to avoid trips to the bathroom.
• Install grab rails in the tub/shower area.
• Always leave a light on in the house or apartment if you go out in the evening so you will not be coming in to a dark house.

Determining when parents should stop driving, and convincing seniors that the time has come, is one of the most difficult tasks faced by families. Doctors, case managers and other professionals can play an important role in this discussion.

Warning Signs: Warning signs that it may be time to stop driving include:
•    Changing lanes without signaling
•    Going through stop signs or red lights
•    Reacting slowly
•    Problems reading road signs or traffic signals
•    Straying into other lanes
•    Going too fast or too slow for safety
•    Exhibiting problems making turns at intersections, especially left turns
•    Performing jerky stops or starts
•    Frequent “close calls” (i.e. crashes)
•    Dents or scrapes on the car, mail box, garage door, etc.

Begin discussing driver safety. Have discussions early and often. Be sensitive in your approach. Express positive and supportive feelings.

Encourage habits that make for safer driving, such as:
•    Avoid night driving, rush hour, or being on the road in bad weather.
•    Limit trips in the car to shorter distances. Plan and know the route in advance.
•    Allow more space between his or her car and the one in front. This can support a driver with slowing reaction time.
•    Make sure their medications don’t affect alertness or ability to drive.

Encourage the driver to consider and gradually begin using other methods of transportation such as rides from family and friends, public transportation, taxis, and senior transportation services.

Involve others if driving is dangerous.

If the driver refuses to make changes or stop driving, involve the family doctor.

Editor’s Notes

1) In Arizona, a letter from a doctor to the Department of Motor Vehicles seems to result in prompt action;
2) Some home care agencies, such as Care Corner, can either drive the client as part of their service, or will do grocery shopping and run errands for the client.

This article has been excerpted from the AARP website.

Since non-medical home care agencies are not licensed in Arizona, there are no set standards that all agencies have to follow. Here are some important questions to consider when selecting a home care agency, whether referring a client or for your own family:

• Are the caregivers employees of the agency, or are they contractors? Some agencies pay their caregivers on a contract basis (i.e. no taxes taken out) rather than as an employee. Why does that matter to the consumer? Contractors cannot be bonded or insured by the agency. Also, they are not covered by worker’s compensation. If there is an accident on the job, the client could have financial liability. Back injuries to a caregiver can mean months – or even years – of medical and disability payments, creating substantial financial hardship for the client.
• Why would an agency use contracted caregivers instead of employees? It’s far less expensive, and more profitable for the agency! No payroll taxes, worker’s comp, liability insurance or bonding! Protect your client by making sure the agency you use employs its caregivers!
• How are the caregivers supervised? Does a supervisor come to the home to evaluate the client’s needs and the care they’re receiving, and how often?
• How does the agency screen and select its caregivers? Are criminal background checks conducted and references checked for every employee?

For more information or questions to consider when selecting an agency, please call us.