“The two things in life you are in total control over are your attitude and your effort.” –Billy Cox
Lately, I have felt that I do not have as much “control” as I want or need. The best I can do right now is to stay focused on what I am able to manage and accomplish. I don’t need to do more, I just need to remove the clutter and distractions; stay focused on the most important goals; then put all my effort into achieving them. I can at least control two things- my attitude and effort!
“If you say you will, be sure you do.”
On our team, If you say it.. you are doing it. This doesn’t mean that I don’t occasionally overcommit, or run late- but I will always follow through. Our word represents our integrity and that is the most important value for our team, everything else is secondary. We committed to having the new CareAvailability.com site live by mid June. It is live. It has some flaws we are working through- but it is live!
“Losers quit when they fail. Winners fail until they succeed.” – Robert Kiyosaki
This quote seemed very fitting as we launch CareAvailability.com. Our team started to work on this project quite a while ago and had to adjust the course along the way. I am proud that the website we are releasing next week has more features and customization than we initially planned. We did not give up on bringing the idea to fruition and it shows.
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose. ” – Dolly Parton
During the Stay at Home order many of us have had time to reflect (maybe more than some of us would prefer). Take some time this week to think about who you are, the person you want to be, and decide how to be the best version of that. To be successful you need to be true to yourself first.
We strongly encourage that families adopt the 40/60 rule guideline as the perfect time to start discussions concerning potentially sensitive topics around aging. That simply means that when the children are around 40 and/or the parents are around 60, these discussions should begin. Ideally, the whole family should be involved. It’s often least stressful to begin with a simple discussion of how and where your parents see themselves living in the next few years, but eventually, and sooner is better, it would be prudent to talk about a whole host of things, for example:
A Geriatric Care Manager can guide you in how to effectively have these discussions and what specific topics are relevant to your family by:
Do your parents have all the necessary documents in place? Where are they kept?
Living Wills including a POLST form
Original documents should be given to your physician and their appointed healthcare decision maker, they can keep the original financial documents with a lawyer. If original documents are left in the home, they must be accessible to the appropriate family members.
Is Your Parent’s House Age Friendly?
Housing choices available to aging parents essentially boiled down to these options:
If your parents choose to stay at home subtle design choices can have a profound impact on how long they can comfortably live in their home, that don’t have to compromise their aesthetic. Some things to think about:
Do you know your parent’s funeral plans?
Have they formally prearranged their funeral or memorial service with a provider? If so, these documents should be kept with their other important papers, so you have timely access to them when necessary. Remember, you don’t have to pre-pay, but you should definitely preplan.
In Summary
Having a Geriatric Care Manager assist you with these conversations can be beneficial, as they are experts in their fields and have no emotional ties or unseen benefits. Their objectivity is valuable to aid in navigating uncomfortable family conversations about the future and wellbeing of a parent or loved one.
Article Provided by:
Eldercare Navigators
206-456-4410
www.EldercareNavigators.com
A geriatric care manager is a specially trained professional elder care advocate who will make your daily life care easier for yourself or a loved one. They will work with you to help you form short and/or long-term plans and connect you with services that match your finances. Whether you live in the same town as your loved one or if they live far away, these ‘professional relatives’ can help you target and assist with your needs.
What Can They Help with?
Geriatric care managers offer expertise navigating our confusing healthcare system during stressful and unexpected situations. They can help you make more informed decisions in the following areas:
How Do I find A Geriatric Care Manager? What Do They Cost?
The federal government’s National Institute on Aging suggests consulting the Aging Life Care website (www.aginglifecare.org) to help you find a local Geriatric Care Manager. They come from a variety of professional backgrounds including nursing, gerontology and social work. Questions to ask:
Navigating the complex healthcare system can be overwhelming. However, engaging an experienced and compassionate Geriatric Care Manager can provide security and peace of mind in knowing that your loved one is being well taken care of.
Article Provided by:
Eldercare Navigators
206-456-4410
www.EldercareNavigators.com
“Loneliness is not a lack of company, loneliness is a lack of purpose. ” – Guillermo Maldonado
I often feel that I am best when helping others make connections, and being a resource. Lately with the Stay at Home order, I am struggling to feel the same sense of purpose. It has made me look at how I identify my role. I am needing to shift gears and see what is possible online and with virtual opportunities. As my team has moved to working remotely, we are all feeling the effects a bit differently. I may be the most extroverted member of our team and I have had to ask for and accept their emotional support at this time.
As our country continues to navigate the COVID-19 emergency, we recognize that our company plays an important role in helping connect low-income seniors to the internet. That way, they can remain safely at home and be in constant contact with their families and doctors, as well as to the latest health news and information about the virus.
To help do our part, yesterday we announced the following:
To check eligibility and sign up, applicants can visit www.internetessentials.com on any web-enabled device, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Research on the digital divide for seniors is very clear. According to the Pew Research Center, just 51 percent of seniors (aged 65 and older) have broadband Internet at home.
The picture for low-income seniors is much worse. 27 percent of seniors with household incomes below $30,000 have home broadband, compared to 87 percent of seniors with household incomes at or above $75,000.
In addition to our new Internet Essentials offerings, our company is also opening our Xfinity WiFi hot spots across the country for free for the next two months. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi.
Article Provided by:
Amy Keiter, Director, External Communications
Comcast Oregon/SW Washington
503-605-6350
“Today I decide to forgive you. Not because you apologized or because you acknowledged the pain that you caused me, but because my soul deserves peace.” – Najwa Zebian
Forgiveness helps us take control of our story. The change in outlook moves us beyond feeling like a victim and prevents negative emotions and resentment from taking over. Not forgiving someone punishes you much more than the offender.
Family visits are a time of togetherness to share stories and reminisce with loved ones, celebrate traditions and strengthen relationships. Often, these gatherings come with the recognition that too much time has passed –and a lot has changed. The time together may spark awareness that your aging loved ones need additional help.
Timing Is Everything Pick a time when there are no distractions or other obligations, so you can focus entirely on the conversation and give it your undivided attention. For example, the middle of Thanksgiving dinner is likely not the right occasion for this discussion. A quiet moment during the weekend when there is a lull in activity can present a wonderful opportunity to connect with your loved ones on these issues.
Share Your Observations, Concerns, and Feelings
Maybe you have noticed that Mom or Dad seems to be struggling to keep up the house, or there is a lack of food. It can be hard to address these topics, but your loved ones want to know that you care. If you notice a problem, you often need to stay persistent, empathetic and strong as you work with them to find the right solutions.
A visit home offers a great opportunity for families to have important – and sometimes tough – conversations. Getting started with these conversations is easier than you may think. And taking the time to connect on critical matters will help lead to better outcomes. Here are five ways to successfully navigate these conversations.
Emphasize Your Roll as an Advocate
Explicitly state that you want to fulfill their wishes and they can depend on you and that you want to maintain their way of life and need their help to make the right decisions.
Listen to Their Concerns and Wishes
Make a list of the apprehensions your loved ones have in order to validate their concerns and guide you in finding the most appropriate solutions based on their preferences. In addition, gaining an understanding of the types of lifestyle they wish to maintain can help with planning and lead to positive outcomes.
End The Conversation With A Plan
This will ensure there are shared expectations around next steps. You also want to make sure you have an agreed-upon plan if your loved ones can no longer make decisions or in the event of an emergency.
Article Provided by:
Marquis Companies
503-CONNECT
www.MarquisCompanies.com
