Senior Caregiver

Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life. At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are caregivers of an older adult with a health or functional limitation. The nation's family caregivers provide the lion's share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults' access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the least appreciated challenges facing the aging U.S. population. Families Caring for an Aging America examines the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults and the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. This report also assesses and recommends policies to address the needs of family caregivers and to minimize the barriers that they encounter in trying to meet the needs of older adults.

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE BALSILLIE PRIZE FOR PUBLIC POLICY It took the coronavirus pandemic to open our eyes to the deplorable state of so many of the nation's long-term care homes: the inhumane conditions, overworked and underpaid staff, and lack of oversight. In this timely new book, esteemed health reporter André Picard reveals the full extent of the crisis in eldercare, and offers an urgently needed prescription to fix a broken system. When COVID-19 spread through seniors' residences across Canada, the impact was horrific. Along with widespread illness and a devastating death toll, the situation exposed a decades-old crisis: the shocking systemic neglect towards our elders. Called in to provide emergency care in some of the hardest-hit facilities in Ontario and Quebec, the military issued damning reports of what they encountered. And yet, the failings that were exposed--unappetizing meals, infrequent baths, overmedication, physical abuse and inadequate personal care--have persisted for years in these institutions. In Neglected No More, André Picard takes a hard look at how we came to embrace mass institutionalization, and lays out what can and must be done to improve the state of care for our elders, a highly vulnerable population with complex needs and little ability to advocate for themselves. Picard shows that the entire eldercare system--fragmented, underfunded and unsupported--is long overdue for a fundamental rethink. We need to find ways to ensure seniors can age gracefully in the community for longer, with supportive home care and respite for family caregivers, and ensure that long-term care homes are not warehouses of isolation and neglect. Our elders deserve nothing less.

"Nurses play a vital role in improving the safety and quality of patient car -- not only in the hospital or ambulatory treatment facility, but also of community-based care and the care performed by family members. Nurses need know what proven techniques and interventions they can use to enhance patient outcomes. To address this need, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), with additional funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has prepared this comprehensive, 1,400-page, handbook for nurses on patient safety and quality -- Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. (AHRQ Publication No. 08-0043)." - online AHRQ blurb, http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nurseshdbk/

Bringing together the empirical work of researchers from a variety of disciplines, this volume provides insight into the physical, psychological and social needs of the growing number of elderly people caring for adults with developmental disabilities. Issues explored include: the needs of elderly parents caring for adult offspring with learning difficulties; changes in care-giving activities; the increasing burden of care-giving; the ordeal of planning future out-of-home placement; and the needs of care-givers of ageing adults with Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. A concluding chapter draws together implications for future directions in practice, policy and research.

There are more senior citizens in the U.S. today than ever before. Public services for seniors are rapidly changing and expanding as this diverse population ages. This collection of essays describes key developments in services being provided in cities across the nation. Topics include seniors and the U.S. government; health and wellness; longevity; caregiving; housing and accommodations; Social Security and finance; immigrant, minority and LGBT issues, and life-long learning and technology.

No one can anticipate what it will be like for you the day you discover you must become a caregiver for one or both of your parents. As you begin to care for them, you will be filled with questions and looking for advice. Our Turn to Parent shows you how to work with your parent to become their caregiver and their champion, and it provides the tools you need to make decisions and feel confident that you are doing right by your aging parents. With stories from real lives, it also offers honest and personal anecdotes about surviving these trying times. Our Turn to Parent is the best and most thorough caregivers’ guide available in Canada today. Our Turn to Parent offers practical advice on •deciding when you need to step in and help •developing the caregiver relationship with your parents •discussing with the family your parents’ hopes and plans for the future •adapting the home so that it is safe and comfortable for their evolving needs •finding appropriate care and help in your community •choosing the right place for your parent to live should independent living no longer be possible •navigating the medical system •organizing your parents’ finances before they become incapacitated •making clear your parents’ personal care and end-of-life wishes •caring for yourself “I have found the last few years to be the most challenging in my life and the most fulfilling…. I have laughed with my mother and cried with my mother, but most of all I have been there for her as she was for me as I was growing up.”–A Caregiver’s Story

Choosing appropriate and quality care for you or a loved one can be an emotional and daunting responsibility. With the horrifying stories of senior neglect and abuse in newspaper headlines over the years, how do you determine between the good, the bad, and the ugly? In A Pathway to Senior Care in San Diego, author Nancy Coulter Beland draws upon more than thirty years of experience in senior care to reveal the ins and outs of the industry. With anecdotes from her days in the dugout, youll learn how to: Have those difficult conversations with your loved one about power of attorney, driving, lifestyle preferences, and more Determine which care option is right for you and your senior Interview home care agencies Look for signs of quality senior communities Work with Medicare, Medi-Cal, SSI, and VA benefits Make moving day easier on everyone Take care of yourself in the process Beland understands there isnt a one-size-fits-all approach to senior care. She carefully lays out each option for different care levels and provides a wealth of resource information to be sure your senior obtains the best consideration possible.