1. < Caregivers: Dementia

In-home care can often be of great help for caregivers

Posted by FWW @fwentz, Jun 14, 2022

In-home care can often be of great help for caregivers. It can be scheduled for certain days of the week so the caregiver can do errands, schedule appointments, and just get away for a time.

My wife has advanced Alzheimer's disease and is now in an adult care facility. I was her caregiver at home for 8 years. A good next-door neighbor came over once a week as a companion for Judy for a couple of hours which enabled me to go grocery shopping, etc. We also arranged for in-home care for each Wednesday morning from 8am to noon. It was a challenge to find an individual whose chemistry was compatible with Judy's! We tried several caregivers who were good people but not compatible. Finally we found one who Judy really liked. Sabrina became like a treasured member of the family for several years!

It's important for a caregiver to maintain their good physical and mental health through the challenges they face. In-home care can sometimes help with that.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

Mentor
Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jun 14, 2022

@fwentz I’m so glad you found Sabrina! It can be so difficult to find the right person, can't it? Was Sabrina found through an agency or word-of-mouth? We’re you able to find substitutes when Sabrina was ill or out of town? Lots of questions, I know, but we’ve been looking for a home health aide for our Mom and we live several hours, by plane, away. Not an easy task.
We’re there any county or state agencies that gave you good advice?

REPLY
1 reply
FWW | @fwentz | Jun 14, 2022
In reply to @becsbuddy "@fwentz I’m so glad you found Sabrina! It can be so difficult to find the right..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@fwentz I’m so glad you found Sabrina! It can be so difficult to find the right person, can't it? Was Sabrina found through an agency or word-of-mouth? We’re you able to find substitutes when Sabrina was ill or out of town? Lots of questions, I know, but we’ve been looking for a home health aide for our Mom and we live several hours, by plane, away. Not an easy task.
We’re there any county or state agencies that gave you good advice?

Jump to this post

Great questions, Becky. They were just the ones we found ourselves looking for answers to at the time. We found Sabrina through Visiting Angels. It was a local resource recommended to us by the local state agency which here was called Aging and Long Term Care. ALTC assigned a case worker to us provided continuity to meet our needs as they changed as the disease progressed. They had lots of good information about helpful resources in our community.
Visiting Angels also assigned a supervisor to me who arranged for substitutes when needed. Over time I developed a preference for certain ones and the supervisor did her best to arrange it if schedules could be matched.
The caregiver (usually Sabrina) made notes in a journal (that stayed in our home) about what she did while she was here and how things went with Judy. We coordinated well together and helped each other "problem solve" as changes in Judy's behavior happened. The supervisor stopped by every month or two to look at the journal and to ask me questions about the caregiver's care.
I was very pleased with the way things eventually worked out but it took a couple of months before we got settled down with Sabrina. I would guess she was the 4th or 5th caregiver. It's not easy for the supervisor because many of the caregivers are fully scheduled and even if she knows which one(s) would be best for us, it's partly a matter of waiting until they have a schedule opening and are available.
Sabrina was able each week to give Judy a safe shower and pamper her a little (Sabrina would say "The Queen is going to the spa today!" And I would say "It's great to be Queen!" Sabrina would also do some light house cleaning when Judy was comfortable with her coloring books and gel pens or watching the Great British Baking Show on TV.
Maybe there is a friend or neighbor of your mother that can meet with the caregiver when she is with your mother to oversee how things are going. Otherwise, you may be able to have them email copies of the journal entries or phone you frequently to learn how things are going and to exchange ideas on what to do.
I hope you and your mother get together with a great caregiver!

REPLY
3 replies
jal333 | @jal333 | Jun 20, 2022
In reply to @fwentz "Great questions, Becky. They were just the ones we found ourselves looking for answers to at..." + (show)
@fwentz

Great questions, Becky. They were just the ones we found ourselves looking for answers to at the time. We found Sabrina through Visiting Angels. It was a local resource recommended to us by the local state agency which here was called Aging and Long Term Care. ALTC assigned a case worker to us provided continuity to meet our needs as they changed as the disease progressed. They had lots of good information about helpful resources in our community.
Visiting Angels also assigned a supervisor to me who arranged for substitutes when needed. Over time I developed a preference for certain ones and the supervisor did her best to arrange it if schedules could be matched.
The caregiver (usually Sabrina) made notes in a journal (that stayed in our home) about what she did while she was here and how things went with Judy. We coordinated well together and helped each other "problem solve" as changes in Judy's behavior happened. The supervisor stopped by every month or two to look at the journal and to ask me questions about the caregiver's care.
I was very pleased with the way things eventually worked out but it took a couple of months before we got settled down with Sabrina. I would guess she was the 4th or 5th caregiver. It's not easy for the supervisor because many of the caregivers are fully scheduled and even if she knows which one(s) would be best for us, it's partly a matter of waiting until they have a schedule opening and are available.
Sabrina was able each week to give Judy a safe shower and pamper her a little (Sabrina would say "The Queen is going to the spa today!" And I would say "It's great to be Queen!" Sabrina would also do some light house cleaning when Judy was comfortable with her coloring books and gel pens or watching the Great British Baking Show on TV.
Maybe there is a friend or neighbor of your mother that can meet with the caregiver when she is with your mother to oversee how things are going. Otherwise, you may be able to have them email copies of the journal entries or phone you frequently to learn how things are going and to exchange ideas on what to do.
I hope you and your mother get together with a great caregiver!

Jump to this post

Thanks for the information about Visiting Angels. I am going to reach out to them this week basic upon your comments and suggestions.

REPLY
1 reply
FWW | @fwentz | Jun 20, 2022

Great! Best wishes for you and your loved one!

REPLY
janet7 | @janet7 | Jun 20, 2022
In reply to @jal333 "Thanks for the information about Visiting Angels. I am going to reach out to them this..." + (show)
@jal333

Thanks for the information about Visiting Angels. I am going to reach out to them this week basic upon your comments and suggestions.

Jump to this post

I am also going to reach out to Visiting Angels! Thank you so much!

REPLY
harvodavo | @harvodavo | Feb 18, 2023
In reply to @fwentz "Great questions, Becky. They were just the ones we found ourselves looking for answers to at..." + (show)
@fwentz

Great questions, Becky. They were just the ones we found ourselves looking for answers to at the time. We found Sabrina through Visiting Angels. It was a local resource recommended to us by the local state agency which here was called Aging and Long Term Care. ALTC assigned a case worker to us provided continuity to meet our needs as they changed as the disease progressed. They had lots of good information about helpful resources in our community.
Visiting Angels also assigned a supervisor to me who arranged for substitutes when needed. Over time I developed a preference for certain ones and the supervisor did her best to arrange it if schedules could be matched.
The caregiver (usually Sabrina) made notes in a journal (that stayed in our home) about what she did while she was here and how things went with Judy. We coordinated well together and helped each other "problem solve" as changes in Judy's behavior happened. The supervisor stopped by every month or two to look at the journal and to ask me questions about the caregiver's care.
I was very pleased with the way things eventually worked out but it took a couple of months before we got settled down with Sabrina. I would guess she was the 4th or 5th caregiver. It's not easy for the supervisor because many of the caregivers are fully scheduled and even if she knows which one(s) would be best for us, it's partly a matter of waiting until they have a schedule opening and are available.
Sabrina was able each week to give Judy a safe shower and pamper her a little (Sabrina would say "The Queen is going to the spa today!" And I would say "It's great to be Queen!" Sabrina would also do some light house cleaning when Judy was comfortable with her coloring books and gel pens or watching the Great British Baking Show on TV.
Maybe there is a friend or neighbor of your mother that can meet with the caregiver when she is with your mother to oversee how things are going. Otherwise, you may be able to have them email copies of the journal entries or phone you frequently to learn how things are going and to exchange ideas on what to do.
I hope you and your mother get together with a great caregiver!

Jump to this post

Is Visiting Angels covered, in any way, by Medicare and Blue Cross as supplemental?

REPLY
FWW | @fwentz | Feb 18, 2023

It wasn't for me. I don't know whether or not it would be covered by a local state government office like Aging and Long Term Care for those with income under a certain level. You might check with them to see.

REPLY
createyourownmerit | @createyourownmerit | Feb 23, 2023
In reply to @fwentz "Great questions, Becky. They were just the ones we found ourselves looking for answers to at..." + (show)
@fwentz

Great questions, Becky. They were just the ones we found ourselves looking for answers to at the time. We found Sabrina through Visiting Angels. It was a local resource recommended to us by the local state agency which here was called Aging and Long Term Care. ALTC assigned a case worker to us provided continuity to meet our needs as they changed as the disease progressed. They had lots of good information about helpful resources in our community.
Visiting Angels also assigned a supervisor to me who arranged for substitutes when needed. Over time I developed a preference for certain ones and the supervisor did her best to arrange it if schedules could be matched.
The caregiver (usually Sabrina) made notes in a journal (that stayed in our home) about what she did while she was here and how things went with Judy. We coordinated well together and helped each other "problem solve" as changes in Judy's behavior happened. The supervisor stopped by every month or two to look at the journal and to ask me questions about the caregiver's care.
I was very pleased with the way things eventually worked out but it took a couple of months before we got settled down with Sabrina. I would guess she was the 4th or 5th caregiver. It's not easy for the supervisor because many of the caregivers are fully scheduled and even if she knows which one(s) would be best for us, it's partly a matter of waiting until they have a schedule opening and are available.
Sabrina was able each week to give Judy a safe shower and pamper her a little (Sabrina would say "The Queen is going to the spa today!" And I would say "It's great to be Queen!" Sabrina would also do some light house cleaning when Judy was comfortable with her coloring books and gel pens or watching the Great British Baking Show on TV.
Maybe there is a friend or neighbor of your mother that can meet with the caregiver when she is with your mother to oversee how things are going. Otherwise, you may be able to have them email copies of the journal entries or phone you frequently to learn how things are going and to exchange ideas on what to do.
I hope you and your mother get together with a great caregiver!

Jump to this post

Thank you for this detail. We’ve also used Visiting Angels, and found them to be most helpful. I didn’t think about changing caregivers, though. My husband wasn’t fond of the last one and we stopped the service. We may give them a try again as they really do provide respite care for the caregiver as well as tend to the one needing care.

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Feb 23, 2023

Good morning-Right now Dave and I are waiting for our fist vascular dementia evaluation at our state's top neurological hospital. Unfortunately for the past few days, I had to be hospitalized for a problem that was a result of complications of lung cancer radiation. Dave had a very hard time being away from me but my sister and next-door neighbor made sure that he visited me twice a day.

During my stay, two people visited me who might be changing my life for the better. One was an old acquaintance who turned out to be my case manager! Her partner has already contacted me at home for an in-home visit and is looking for resources to help me out. I just can't believe it! Because of my pneumonitis, my activities are limited and my dust bunnies now have great-grandchildren, so.... Shopping is a big deal too but I can order food and my sister has helped.

But the biggest surprise was a visit from a young gal telling me that my doctor joined an organization that offers his hospitalized patients FREE help at home depending on their needs and based on in-home evaluations. It's called Integra. Had anyone heard of this?

It seems that their goal is to help transition from hospital to home and to wellness with the help, if necessary or desired, of nurse care managers and social workers, They aren't a homecare agency but add extra support when at home. They have a 24 hr hotline and actually send someone to your home if necessary.

They called me yesterday and have already set up a time to visit. I am so excited about this because I had felt so alone at the beginning of Dave's journey. And even if I am their client they will aim their help to include what I might need to help Dave. I am so overwhelmed with thankfulness right now I keep tearing up. I don't want my bubble to burst but I know that our road is just beginning.

Things have already changed with Dave since my two days home. Yesterday was an all-day hallucination trip. This was our first one. What an experience. We spent all day talking and I listened to him telling me all about it. He was so damn logical in his thinking. He wasn't afraid at all so I felt safe handling it myself. We've been together 45 years so I know how he thinks and how his line of thinking proceeds but this was an entirely new dimension, and I'm sure that any future "trips" might be very different. Do I need to call a doctor when this happens?

I'm sure that some of you have dealt with this. Any hints or advice?

REPLY
providence1960 | @providence1960 | Feb 24, 2023

It’s great you have Sabrina. It means so much to trust a caregiver so your respite time is Meaningful for you...whether it is a time for you to get errands done or just a walk. I have a wonderful caregiver who comes three times a week for a four hour visit....it is twelve hours of my life back...so precious!

REPLY
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