You may be surprised to know that when your love ones age, and can no longer take care of all their needs, MORE than 80% of their care is provided by unpaid family members.
Often the caregiver's needs are secondary to the aged one in need of care. Failing to care for one's own needs can lead to stress, depression and physical problems.
Caregivers need to find a strategies to balance work, caregiving and family demands. They need to look for others who can help share the responsibility for caregiving - and ask for help.
Adult Day Care, if they are fortunate enough to have one in their community, is a good option. Often transportation can be arranged to get their loved one there and back. Many Adult Day Care Centers also offer hygiene assistance or bathing as well as meals and snacks, social activities, exercise and friendships - and offer full or half-day options.
Non-medical home care is another option, if even for a few hours, so caregivers can run errands, get a haircut and do the weekly grocery shopping or just take an afternoon off to have lunch with a friend or go to church.
Another option is out-patient therapy - physical therapy can help them get stronger and be more mobile and occupational therapy can help them learn new ways to help themselves, if they are able.
Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio provides all these services and more.
To talk to an expert in aging, call 937-547-7600.
Caring for the Aging Adult's Caregiver
Are Adult Day Services Right for You and Your Loved One?
Adult Day Care Centers are one of the newest options for families who wish to care their loved ones at home, yet many communities across America do not have one. For those who are fortunate to have a center in their area and choose this option, the benefits are immeasurable. Darke County has the Shuff Adult Day Center, located on the campus of Brethren Retirement Community, in Greenville.
This program offers a half or full-day option and includes meals, care management, personal care and bathing services, social and recreational activities, and even coordinates transportation for those who need it. This affordable service allows the family caregiver to have a respite break or continue working. Many of the Shuff Club members attend the center for the social interaction with others outside their family. Shuff Adult Day Center accepts PASSPORT.
To see if you or your loved one might benefit from the services of Adult Day Services, complete the questionnaire below.
Are you increasingly worried about the health and safety of an elderly loved one who:
1. Needs regular health check-ups and cannot take prescribed medications without supervision?
2. Can no longer be alone at home safely (e.g., wanders)?
3. Requires assistance with personal care, such as eating, bathing, or dressing?
4. Is more and more confused or forgetful?
5. Has Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss?
6. Is becoming increasingly dependent on your time and energy?
If you said “yes” to any of these questions, your loved one will benefit from quality care in the safe, supportive environment at the Shuff C.L.U.B.
Are you increasingly worried about the isolation or inactivity of a family member who:
1. Has lost interest in hobbies or trying something new?
2. Does not socialize or stay in touch with friends?
3. Needs something to do with his or her time?
4. Isn’t eating well unless you plan for or prepare meals?
5. Is alone a lot, and doesn’t get out of the house much?
6. Is losing physical strength, in part due to lack of exercise?
If you said “yes” to any of these questions, your family member can meet new friends and make every day full of life at the "Shuff C.L.U.B."
Are you providing care for — or worrying about — an elderly family member? If so:
1. Are you neglecting your own health?
2. Do you have outstanding errands on your “to do list?”
3. Are you working or want to find a job?
4. Do you feel overwhelmed, or like you’re falling behind?
5. Have you cut back on your own personal interests?
6. Do you keep postponing your visits with friends and family, or the class you have been thinking about?
7. Would rest from full-time care help you to be an even better caregiver?
If you said “yes” to any of these questions, the Shuff C.L.U.B. can share the caring so that you can be at your best. 937.547.7600
Adult Day Services
Some adults come for the social aspects of adult day care, others have family caregivers who work and must be gone during the day, still others come for a respite break or a change of scene.
Adult Day Centers provide benefits for the participants as well as the family caregiver, often providing a respite break to allow the caregiver to run errands, visit the doctor, shop etc.
Adult Day Centers are very affordable - not only do they care for loved ones in a safe, secure environment, they also provide meals and snacks and help with hygiene, if needed. Transportation, if needed, can be arranged.
If you are not familiar with Adult Day Care Services, click here to access an article on Adult Day Services, published by Ohio State University.
Click here to access Brethren Retirement Community's web site
People who move into retirement communities more likely to live fully and age successfully
FACT: People who move to retirement communities tend to be “planners” and want to take the right actions so they can continue to live fully and age successfully.
Making the move to a reirement community is often not a decision that is quickly made, many people spend years trying to decide when the time is "right" to make this MAJOR MOVE.
The most successful transition moves are those moves that happened when the older adult felt they had control over the process and the decisions they made.
Almost everyone who has made the transition will tell you, "Too soon” is better than “too late.” As we age, the older we get, the harder it is to make the tranistion. Additionally, as you age, you will need more support in the process and afterwards.
Move while you are still together as a couple, before major health issues happen so you are able to move together... it's much easier than moving alone.
Remember, moving sooner rather than later, gives you the opportunity to make decisions that feel right to you, not decisions that feel right to your adult children. It's your life and by moving sooner you have control over it.
Plan ahead... clean out the attic, learn to recognize what things you truly love and want to take with you and what things you can give away or live without. Make a list and revise it as you go forward with your plans to downsize.
Visit retirement communities often, walk through them, talk to the people who live there.... they will tell you, over and over, they are so glad they made the move! If you ask them for advice, most likely they will say -"Move now while you are still able, don't wait until your kids have to move you, we wish we had made the move sooner!"
If you think you might want to move there, ask about the process of putting your name on their waiting list - as a rule, that doesn't obligate you, it just lets them know you are interested and when one becomes available they let the people on the list know about it first. If you are not interested, the next person on the list is called... and you'll remain on the list to hear about other openings as they become available.
At Brethren Retirement Community, we are always happy to show you around our beautiful campus and introduce you to our residents and the benefits of living in a retirement community.
For those who prefer a location closer to Dayton, please visit our location in Union, Ohio, Mill Ridge Village, just off Sweet Potato Ridge Road between St Rt 48 and St Rt 49.