Caregiving Preparation For Faraway Relatives

Guide to Senior Living
Hudson Valley Business Journal (Spring Edition)

According to the National Council on Aging, nearly seven million Americans are responsible for the care of an older relative or friend who lives on average 300 miles away. That's a daunting job. But, according to gerontology specialist, Denise Talbot-White, families should take advance preparations to ease the situation when the need arises. Talbot-White works for MetLife's Mature Market Institute. She suggests that it's a good idea to talk with parents. Make suggestions but avoid dictating.

• Know your parent's health history, current medications and names of doctors and hospitals.
• Know where the important legal papers are located. Ask if they have a will, a living will and durable power of attorney. Know their attorney's name and phone number.
• Do they have long-term care insurance? Where is the policy located? What does it cover?
• Do they have the financial resources to obtain home care or nursing home care, should the need arise?
• Learn what resources may be available. Align with local support systems before problems arise.
• Visit assisted living and nursing home facilities in the area, should it become necessary to move.
• Depending on the situation, it may be appropriate to apply for a facility and place the older adult on a waiting list.
• Consider hiring a geriatric care manager, who for a fee, help to ensure that all facets of a loved one's care are addressed.

Organizing and researching eldercare info rmation and resources prior to the situation will provide peace of mind and avoid the stress of trying to make arrangements at the same time care giving.

To receive a free copy of Resources for Caregivers , call MetLife associate Robert Essigman, CLTC, (845) 297-6989 or e-mail ressigman@metlife.com. For info rmation on the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers e-mail local member Peggy Whalen at pwhalen@warwick.net

Resources for Caregiving

Eldercare Locator provides the phone numbers for state department on aging and local area agencies on aging, (800) 677-1116.

AARP offers resources and info rmation for the older adult, (800) 424-3410, www.aarp.org

National Association for Home Care locates homecare agencies in the older adult area, (202) 547-7424, www.nahc.org .

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers has a list of qualified managers, (520) 881-8008.

Social Security Administration - Office of Public Inquiries
(800) 772-1213
www.ssa.gov

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People Inc. (SHHH)
(301) 657-2248
E-mail national@shhh.org
www.shhh.org

Medicare Rights Center
(212) 869-3850,
e-mail info @medicarerights.org
www.medicarerights.org

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
(520) 881-4005
www.naela.org

MedicAlert Foundation
(800) 432-5378
www.medicalert.org