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Care
Supports for Seniors
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There are many issues facing today's senior citizen and here at JCAAA we try to help the senior citizens of Jefferson County as much as we can. By being an advocate for the senior citizen, we have set up many programs and services. Below are a few articles of interest that might help senior citizens with some of the issues of today. If you keep checking back, more articles will be posted as well.
General Tips for the Elderly
Care Giver
Family Care Giving
Do You Wish To Live Someplace Other Than A Nursing Home?
Our lives can sometimes seem very predictable. We care for our homes and families and go to work. Perhaps we call our parents each night or visit them every other Saturday. But life can change at any moment. Age-related disability such as heart attack, stroke, arthritis, and may require family members to provide on-going care to aging family members. Fitting in extended care giving can be a challenge and be quite stressful. Here are some tips from the Administration on Aging's National Family Caregiver Support Program's website:
Plan Ahead: write doctor appointments on calendars and coordinate other trips at the same time.
Learn about available resources: Call your local aging office to see what services and help are available. They, in turn, can direct you to even more resources.
Take one day at a time: Reduce stress by prioritizing what needs to be done just for today.
Accept help from others: Allowing someone to help you or even to listen to your thoughts can ease a lot of stress and give caregivers time to refresh him/herself.
Be good to yourself: Get enough rest and make sure you schedule time to do things that revive your spirit. This helps you to be a better caregiver.
These tips and more can be found at www.aoa.gov For more information on Family Care giving call the Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging.
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Becoming a family caregiver can be an emotionally draining experience. It can become even more difficult when we are faced with caring for family members while holding down a full-time job, managing our own homes, taking care of our children, and trying to take the time to care for ourselves.
It is very important to learn techniques to care for yourself while caring for others. Organization is one method that proves to be very helpful. Here are some steps to follow:
- Mark all doctor visits on a calendar.
- Develop an emergency contact system, which will consist of people in the area that would be willing to help should you need the extra help.
- Select a certain day of the week that will be spent running errands.
- Schedule some time for yourself for the things you enjoy.
For More Information call: 800-849-8036
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Do You Wish To Live Someplace Other Than A Nursing Home?
Nursing Home Transition offers individuals a choice of where they want to live and providing assistance to obtain that choice.
It begins with identifying the person and coordinating activities to enable the person to move to the community. Support from a coordinator may include assistance in obtaining housing and/or household set up. Assistance in returning to existing home, Making referrals to home and community based services such as transportation, personal care/home support services, home modifications. Referral to resources to assist with security deposits, utilities, household items, adaptive equipment expenses for an individual to establish basic living. Advocate for consumers to ensure the plans are what they want.
Area Agency on Aging will be working with CRI and LIFT to educate and encourage consumers, family members, nursing facility staff and community members to seek all available services to help individuals live independently in the community.
Nursing Home Transition is the process of assisting people from a nursing home to a home of their choice in the community.
If you or someone you know would like to know more about Nursing Home Transition, please call Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging at 814-849-3096 or 800-852-8036
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