The Caregivers Corner

Moving to a retirement community is a big step and can be tough decision for some. Get a better understanding of what Continuing Care Retirement Community is and the advantages they offer. Learn what makes them special and why it might be the right fit for your situation.

To learn more about Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Messiah Village, please go to the show notes for some helpful links and articles. Thanks for listening.

www.Messiahvillage.org/whyseniorliving

www.caring.com/articles/7-benefits-of-a-continuing-care-retirement-community

www.caring.com/local/continuing-care-retirement-communities

www.lifeplancommunity.org/

Caregiving Advice: Find the Right Personal Care Home or Assisted Living

One of the biggest challenges that caregivers of an aging parent or loved one faces is choosing the right place to move them to when living at home is no longer feasible, practical or safe. And despite any promises made and your best efforts as a caregiver, finding the right personal care home or assisted living can be a better alternative. But choosing the right one can be a challenge. Listen to todays’ episode for some great tips to make the search a bit easier.

Additional online resources:

www.hhs.gov/aging U.S. Dept. Of Health & Human Services

www.aging.pa.gov Pennsylvania Department of Aging

www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/

Understanding Medicare coverage can be confusing, especially when it comes to coverage for nursing care. This episode will focus on clearing up those myths and misconceptions with special guest, Nicholle Dixon, Messiah Village Billing Coordinator.

Show Notes

Statewide APPRISE Medicare Counseling Program Pennsylvania offers a free health insurance counseling program (APPRISE) designed to help older Pennsylvanians with Medicare. Counselors are specially trained staff and volunteers who can answer your questions about Medicare and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicaid, and Long-Term Care Insurance.

http://www.aging.pa.gov/aging-services/insurance/Pages/default.aspx

Official United States Government site for Medicare https://www.medicare.gov/

Family dynamics, disagreement, and old wounds can make the process of caring for an ailing parent very complicated between family members, especially siblings.

This episode focuses reducing friction and caregiver stress between family members for the good of the cause by examining caregiver equity, putting aside differences and gaining new perspectives.

Resources:

“What to Do about Mama?” by Barbara Matthews & Barbara Trainin Blank, published by Sunbury Press

www.amazon.com/What-Do-about-Mama-Members/dp/1620063158

“The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer ’s Disease, Related Dementia and Memory Loss” by Nancy Mace M.A and Peter Rabins, M.D. M.P.H. published by The Johns Hopkins University Press.

www.amazon.com/36-Hour-Day-Alzheimer-Disease-Dementias/dp/1455521159

Or visit the Family Caregiver Alliance at www.caregiver.org

Home care plays a vital role in assisting older adults and the disabled to "age in place" in the safety and comfort of their own home and live as independently as possible while receiving the care they need to maintain a high quality of life.

As our population rapidly ages and the desire to stay at home rather than move to a care facility continues, the need for supplemental care and services like home care is also growing.

Driving a car is a way of life, a privilege, a ticket to freedom and independence. But when driving becomes unsafe for some older drivers it can be devastating and contentious if that privilege is lost. Learn some warning signs, how to broach the subject and how to persuade them to limit or give up driving all together.

Help locate an AARP safe driver program near you

www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety/

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

www.DOT.state.pa.us

Mature Drivers Services in Pennsylvania

www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Mature-Drivers/Pages/default.aspx

General Driver Services

www.dmv.com

There are number of benefit programs available to Veterans, but half the battle of accessing them is knowing they exist. One such lesser known program is the VA Aid & Attendance Benefit for war vets and surviving spouses. Listen and learn as we talk with Neal Delisanti, Director of Cumberland County Veterans Affairs, as he shares detail on the benefit, eligibility requirements and the application process.

To get in contact with the Neal in the Cumberland County office of Veteran Affairs:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 717.240.6178 or toll free 888.697.0371 ext.6178

Web: www.ccpa.net/130/Veterans-Affairs

Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veteran Affairs

www.dmva.pa.gov

United States Department of Veteran Affairs

www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/

Hoarding can be an overwhelming and sometimes dangerous disorder.

In this episode we tackle the issue and provide advice and guidance on how to handle this very challenging situation especially with an aging loved one.

Hoarding can cause tripping hazards, lack of egress, poor air quality and other health hazards and can make older adults even more vulnerable to respiratory issues, injury or worse.

We will also explore downsizing and how a change of address can alleviate hoarding and health issues and promote a new lease on life.

Special guest Megan Stedjan, Director of Community Support Services at Messiah Lifeways, joins Coach Matt to talk about what Adult Day services offer and shares how valuable these programs really are.

Caregivers must often seek and use other forms of care and resources in order to provide adequate assistance and attention to a loved one’s needs. A community based program like Adult Day Services offer an enriching, supportive and affordable option to help one’s ability to age in place, receive the daily support they need and helps to relieve caregiver burnout.

In this episode, the coach welcomes the Director of Family Services at Hospice of Central PA, Susan Resavy. They discuss the differences between Advanced Directives and a POLST (Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment), and why they are becoming more commonplace across the country .

Information on Hospice of Central PA

on the web: http://hospiceofcentralpa.org/

on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HospiceOfCPA/

on Twitter: @Hospiceofcpa