Long-Distance Care Programs
This month we’ll continue our journey with Georgia and her daughter Kimberly. If you haven’t had a chance to read last month’s blog, I encourage you to go back and read it when you’re able.
Kimberly has just been informed that her mother, Georgia, has Alzheimer’s with mixed dementia. Due to her mother’s declining health, she has decided that having her mother move in with her is the best and safest option. While she is preparing to move her mother home, she knows the distance between her family in Maryland and her mother in New York City will be a challenge.
Thankfully, Georgia’s doctor gave Kimberly the phone number of her local Department of Aging. Through that resource, she’s able to set up several programs for these few weeks while she travels, prepares, and plans for the changes that are about to happen.
Like many, Kimberly’s story isn’t unique. Families often struggle with finding adequate programs for their senior loved ones, especially those with brain changes. Through the county’s Aging Department, many can find programs that can assist them. Below are some of the most common and/or helpful programs available while you and your loved one embark on their dementia journey.
Transportation Programs
Depending on your loved one’s needs and location, programs for transportation may be accessible to you through private and public means.
For many States, there are currently programs to help with the cost of transportation. However, to enter many of these programs, your loved one must meet a certain income or health requirement, or pay a monthly fee making it difficult for some families to opt in.
An example would be Maryland’s Community for Life program, which offers transportation assistance as a benefit to members who pay a monthly subscription without needing to meet medical or income requirements.
Nutritional Programs
Many senior nutritional programs are dependent on State, County, and local programs, and communities offering services. It’s best to check with your local area for specific details. Narrow down your search by deciding if you’re looking for pre-made meal programs or grocery delivery programs.
Meal programs would be a service like the infamous Meals on Wheels meal delivery program. Using a sliding cost scale, many are eligible for delivery meals for a loved one living far away. This is not the only program available, but it is one of the most utilized and dispersed programs, meaning that many Counties have Meals on Wheels programs providing at least one meal per day.
Grocery delivery programs can be a bit more complex, as they are a bit harder to come by. In some cases, you may be able to choose what your loved one gets, while other programs may only offer requests based on allergies, medical reasons, or religious obligations. Both options would deliver your loved one’s meals or groceries straight to their door by a trusted volunteer.
Senior community centers also offer meal and grocery programs depending on availability. These programs offer either pre-made meals (similar to Meals on Wheels) or grocery items delivered or picked up from the senior community center. Locations like this may also have other nutritional programming, such as food pantries, so they can also be a great resource.
Cleaning & Maintenance Programs
Cleaning and maintenance services are offered by several different non-profits and companies. Some are government programs, meaning that (if your loved one meets the requirements) you may get some services for free or at a lower price than what companies will typically charge. Meanwhile, many companies offer senior discounts for their services.
For example, Maryland’s Community for Life program offers maintenance programs but not cleaning services. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania offers cleaning and maintenance programs, while only certain areas of New York have access to both programs based on local or county regulations.
Friendly Visitation Programs
Popular in cities, friendly visitation programs offer a loved one someone to talk to while you are away. Unlike caregivers, these visitors will call or visit for conversation, activities, and to be a buddy for your family member. While some may offer trips out, this is not as common as home visits, so it’s best to check with your local program for complete details.
Daily Care/Caregiver Programs
One of the first questions families ask is: “How will my loved one take care of themselves?” While some may be able to help themselves, others may need a bit more assistance in daily tasks like cleaning, bathing, cooking, and driving. These are tasks that, when all together, come from a singular source: a caregiver.
Caregivers are certified individuals who come to take care of your loved one while they are still living at home. This can be a difficult decision for many, as bringing a stranger into a family home without supervision is nerve-wracking. However, many programs listed by your Department of Aging have been proven to be safe and effective ways of keeping a loved one at home longer.
These caregivers are available to assist your loved one in day-to-day activities and help with personal care. In some programs, caregivers can be qualified to help with appointments, travel, light cleaning, and have additional qualifications such as a nursing background.
Many of these options will come at an additional cost, but for long-distance care, it can be a cheaper option than working with multiple other programs to cover the same needs.
Final Thoughts
As you care for your loved one from a distance, it’s important to visit them frequently to reassess any additional services they may need. Similarly, it can be helpful to have neighbors also keep an ear out for a loved one’s safety.
If you have any questions while navigating these situations, we’d be happy to help. You can reach us at info@inspired-joy.com or 8333 – GOT JOY.
References:
· https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/community-for-life.aspx
· https://www.nyc.gov/site/dfta/services/friendly-visiting.page
· https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/care-options/long-distance-caregiving