Archive for November, 2009
Senior & Elderly Drug Interaction Awareness
As Caregivers we see firsthand that as aging occurs, the changes in the body can affect the way medications are absorbed and used. Medical research shows that because of the changes, there is an increased risk of drug interactions for seniors and the elderly.
A drug interaction occurs when one drug interacts with another drug. A drug interaction may also occur with medications and something that you are eating or drinking. Medications can become less effective, increase the action of your medication, or may increase your risk for potential dangerous side effects.
There are three types of drug interactions:
1. Drug-drug interaction – two or more drugs interact with each other. This can occur with combining prescription, over the counter medications, vitamins, supplements and herbal products.
- Combining aspirin with a prescription blood thinner can cause excessive bleeding.
- Taking an herbal supplement (ginkgo bilboa) with an aspirin can cause bleeding.
- Taking a prescription medication to help you sleep (sedative) and mixing with an antihistamine (allergies) can cause drowsiness and slow your reactions.
2. Drug-food interaction – when a drug interacts with something you have eaten or drank.
- Grapefruit affects more than 50 prescription drugs, which can increase the action of the medication.
- Mixing with alcohol can slow your reactions and cause dizziness.
- Dairy products can interfere with antibiotic absorption.
3. Drug-condition interaction – when a medication interacts with an existing health condition.
- Taking decongestants can cause an increase in blood pressure and can affect those with high blood pressure.
- Diuretics can increase blood sugar and affect those with diabetes.
Prevent Drug Interactions
1. Discuss medications with your physician or pharmacist. Ask the following questions.
- Can I take this medication with over the counter medications?
- What is this medication used for?
- How often should I take this medication?
- Are there any foods or drinks I should avoid while taking this medication?
2. Check the labels on your medications for any warnings and to ensure you are taking the correct medication.
3. Make a list of all your medications, including over-the-counter, vitamins, and supplements, and give to your physician.
4. Read all material related to your medications given to you by your physician or pharmacist.
5. Call your physician or pharmacist with any questions related to your medications before you take them.
It is very important to stay on top of issues such as these, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. It is in these instances that Comfort Keepers can be just the support you need. Remember, we are Comfort Keepers and we are here to help! If you have questions about in-home care for your loved ones in Gainesville, The Villages, or Ocala Florida call us at 866-333-4737. We provide superior in-home care to the elderly so they can live enriched independent lifestyles!
Resources:
http://www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome/documents/MIMH_booklet_Adult_20080929.pdf
NOTE: The information presented in this article is provided for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other medical professional if you have any questions about any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment.
Does My Love One Need Senior Home Care or Elderly Assistance – Part II?
In this series on our blog we are covering some of the things you may want to take note of in deciding whether or a not a loved one might be a good candidate for senior in-home care or elderly assistance. The following is part 2 in our series on identifying the needs of your senior and elderly family members who live alone or may need a helping hand with day-to-day living.
Review Status By Phone
During telephone conversations, gently probe for information about the person’s health and well-being. Below is a list of sample questions that are key indicators or warning signs to help determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance:
- What did you have for breakfast? If your loved one cannot remember what he/she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eat breakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a memory problem could be setting in.
- Did you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you use the new shower gel I bought you? These are good ‘backdoor’ questions to finding out whether or not your loved one is remembering to take care of his/her hygiene.
- Did you make it to Bingo this week? An early sign of depression is withdrawal from social activities.
- Is your loved one speaking normally? Differences in speech patterns are warning signs for medical problems that should be looked into immediately.
Help is Available
If you sense a problem based on the above indictors, you and other family members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps. As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive, as a result of your observations, you will not only provide safety for your family member, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come.
As a result of assisting many families throughout Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages during this difficult process, here is some advice based on the experiences we encounter every day while working with these families. Below are the next steps that you and your family should follow:
- Discuss the situation with the individual – Don’t be afraid to ask or talk to your aging family members. Often seniors will not tell you if they are having trouble unless you ask. It is important to reassure seniors about your questions. They do not want to lose their independence and are afraid of being moved out of their home into a strange environment.
- Make a doctor’s appointment for the individual – Be sure and make the appointment when you, another family member or someone else can relay the concerns directly to the doctor. If you are not able to be there in person, schedule a time to call the doctor.
- Determine what services are available in their community – Talk with local social service agencies or community organizations such as a local Area on Aging office or church group.
- Make minor adjustments in their lifestyle – It may be necessary to bring in outside help to provide companionship and to assist with daily activities such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, trips to their doctor’s appointments, etc. Here are some questions to consider when selecting a caregiver:
- Is the care provider a home care agency, employment agency, registry/broker, or an independent contractor?
- How long has the agency been providing private duty home care?
- How does the agency screen and select caregivers prior to an assignment? Do they hire independent contractors or are they employees of the agency?
- Are references and criminal backgrounds checked on all employees?
- Is there a health care professional, who along with the client and family develops an individualized plan of care? How are emergencies handled after normal business hours?
- Use this time to plan ahead for unforeseen events –Take this time to establish advanced directives including establishing a power of attorney, will, living will, etc. There is no such thing as being too prepared.
Remember, the holiday season is a time for family, togetherness and establishing lifelong memories. By taking the time to address these issues before they reach the crisis stage, your family will have the much-needed sense of security, comfort and hopefully the ability to create new memories with your aging loved ones for many years to come!
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
Does My Love One Need Senior Home Care or Elderly Assistance?
Elder Care in The Villages Florida
We live in a very mobile society where families don’t always live in the same town or even the same state for that matter. We find this to be especially true in the great state of Florida where many “snowbirds” come to retire and their children are often unaware of mom and dad’s complete condition.
Unlike the “old days”, entire families throughout America don’t have the opportunity to come together as often as they would like. That’s why the holiday season has become an important time to take stock of our loved one’s health and everyday living capabilities. Family gatherings with loved ones from out of town, or even the more frequent family phone calls from long distance relatives, are a perfect time to ‘check up’ on seniors and elderly living on their own.
It is not uncommon for the adult children of seniors, especially the Baby Boomer generation, to have some concerns about how their parents are doing. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver’s Alliance, families provide 80 percent of the long-term care in this country. This holiday season while you are enjoying your visits or on the phone with your aging loved ones, make good use of your time by reviewing their living status.
In this next series on our blog we are going to cover some of the things you may want to take note of in deciding whether or a not a loved one might be a good candidate for senior in-home care. The following is part 1 in our 2 part series on identifying the needs of your senior and elderly family members who live alone.
Using Your Five Senses to Evaluate Status
Many holiday traditions tempt your five senses. These same senses can be put to use in evaluating the status of elderly family members. Below is a checklist using each of your five senses to determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance:
Sight – Looking at the senior’s appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing otherwise normal daily tasks. Watch for things like clothes with stains, poor personal hygiene and a disorganized or dirty house.
Sound – Listening to what and how seniors speak can tell you a lot about their current mental status. You should not assume that “old age” is causing these problems. Do they call you by name? Are they speaking normally? Are they staying involved in outside activities?
Smell – Using your nose as an indicator to determine if your relative is bathing properly, cleaning their house or have spoiled food in their kitchen.
Taste – Tasting their food and sorting through their medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or taking expired medications. Look at expiration dates and for fresh and stocked pantry items.
Touch – A simple hug can tell you if your family member is fragile or losing weight. Is their skin soft and the color normal? Do they have any bruising or tearing of the skin?
Take some time to make note of these things while with your senior and elderly loved ones this year. If you see that 3 out of 5 of your senses indicate that your family member could use some assistance contact us for a free consultation! As providers of senior home care and elderly assistance we can help you decide what level of care would be the best fit.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home care to seniors and the elderly living in Ocala, Gainesville, and The Villages Florida. We provide superior in-home care to seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida so they can live enriched independent lifestyles! Call us today at 866-333-4737.
How will I pay for long-term care when I need it?
Very few individuals want to think about their future needs for aging services and long-term care until it becomes a necessity, which can often lead to poor planning. The biggest consequence of poor planning is a rushed decision which may not fit the individual’s needs. Planning ahead for unexpected illness, injury, or simply the typical needs of the elderly, can eliminate quick decision making on a wide variety of aging service options. In addition, planning in advance increases an individual’s choices and gives them a say in the type of assistance they receive.
Assisted living facilities, retirement communities and nursing homes frequently have a waiting list for admission. When a unit opens up, it will usually be offered to individuals on the waiting list before someone without an application. In-home care service providers, such as Comfort Keepers of Gainesville, Ocala, & The Villages, typically do not have waiting lists and allow for the client to continue living independently in the comfort of their own home. These services generally include companionship, home cooking, light housekeeping, shopping, transportation, and errands, but may also include personal care services such as bathing, feeding, transferring or incontinence care.
The cost of long-term care services is something for which many Americans are not prepared, and costs are expected to continually rise in the future. Today in the United States, 6,000 people turn 65 every day, and one in five Americans will be older than age 65 by the year 2030 (American Association of Retired Persons, 2003). This increase of U.S. seniors translates into more people looking for assistance with daily living activities at a staggering rate.
Figuring out how to pay for long-term care can be confusing, and reviewing payment options can be very complicated. In the planning stages, it is often beneficial to speak with a professional about how to begin this process. Lawyers, accountants, professional care coordinators or your Area Agency on Aging can explain the options and which direction to head.
In this next series of blog posts, we are going to cover some the ways you might be able to better plan and find ways to afford and pay for long-term care that can meet your needs.
Sometimes it is hard to take that step in securing help for yourself, your elderly family member or friend, but remember, we are Comfort Keepers and we are here to help! If you have questions about in-home care for your loved ones in the Central Florida area call us at 866-333-4737.
We provide in-home care for seniors and the elderly throughout Gainesville, Florida, Ocala, Florida, & The Villages, Florida. Call us today for more details!
Appreciate your family caregiver- it’s National Family Caregivers Month!
Senior Care The Villages Florida
Becoming a family caregiver can happen abruptly or creep in slowly unnoticed until one day you realize you are caring more for someone else than you are for yourself – constantly juggling work and family life with doctor appointments, meal preparation and any number of daily care activities for a loved one. According to the National Family Caregiving Association (NFCA), over 50 million family members are currently providing caregiving services.
With November being National Family Caregivers Month, Comfort Keepers of Gainesville, The Villages, and Ocala is encouraging you to thank and support your family caregivers.
Many family caregivers find it hard to communicate with healthcare professionals, are financially overburdened and feel isolated and overwhelmed. As professional caregivers for seniors and the elderly we understand how difficult it can be for a family member to handle the many responsibilities that come along with being a caregiver. Plus, if you compound those responsibilities with an inability or unwillingness to care for themselves most family caregivers face their own negative health consequences.
The NFCA also states that the extreme stress that many caregivers experience has been shown to affect their immune systems making them more prone to chronic illnesses. It can cause premature aging and in some cases result in death. At Comfort Keepers Gainesville, The Villages, and Ocala we want family caregivers to realize that if they don’t take care of themselves, who will be around to care for their loved ones? We encourage family caregivers of seniors or the elderly to have a backup plan. Do you know who will fill your shoes, whether temporarily or permanently?
It is in this way that professional senior caregiver services can help you. Comfort keepers can provide you with regular, reliable and trustworthy care that will allow family caregivers to take time off to rest, recuperate and take care of errands and appointments for themselves. Take time this month to remind your family caregiver how much you appreciate them and maybe look into finding ways to help them have a little more free time.
Sometimes it is hard to take that step in securing help for yourself, your elderly family member or friend, but remember, we are Comfort Keepers and we are here to help! If you have questions about in-home care for your loved ones in the Central Florida area call us at 866-333-4737.
We provide in-home care for seniors and the elderly throughout Central Florida. Call us today for more details!
I’m Confused! What is the difference between in-home care providers? Part III
Employment Based Agencies – The third type of in-home care provider
The third and last option we are going to cover in our review of in-home care providers is an employment based agency which may be a corporation, or part of a corporation, or a franchise organization. The greatest benefit to hiring a caregiver from an organization that employs its caregivers is the oversight provided and convenience for everyone involved. It is a turnkey care solution and once you have met with the company and made the decision to work with the company, the “back office” details are not your responsibility. The biggest distinctions with these organizations are:
- They employ the caregiver and clients are not burdened with the laws and requirements associated with being an employer
- Typically, employees have undergone rigorous background checks, interview process, and reference validation
- Caregivers are covered by Workers’ Compensation, general liability, and bonding insurance
- Caregivers are typically trained prior to being placed in a client’s home and there is ongoing training to ensure caregivers are educated and prepared to deliver quality care
- Certification and licensure requirements are understood and adhered to
- A large roster of caregivers are available and prepared to “step in’ in the event the regular caregiver is unavailable
- Ongoing oversight and involvement from the corporate staff or franchisees
In-home care for seniors and other adults is gaining in momentum as the preferred care solution. Who wouldn’t prefer to stay in the privacy of their own home, surrounded by cherished belongings and memories, and maintaining a level of independence? Today, there are more care options available to seniors and their families, and in-home care can be that solution, but families need to ask the right questions. If you are seeking a care solution for yourself or someone you love, take control of the situation and leverage the information that is available to you. Ask good questions and stay involved!
Most importantly, remember, we are Comfort Keepers and we are here to help! If you have questions about in-home care for your loved ones in Gainesville, The Villages, or Ocala Florida call us at 866-333-4737. We provide superior in-home care to the elderly so they can live enriched independent lifestyles!
I’m Confused! What is the difference between in-home care providers? Part II
Registries- The Second Type of In-Home Care Provider
Registries are organizations that build and manage databases of caregivers, but do not actually employ the caregivers. The caregivers often act as 1099-contract labor, but the employment arrangements can vary. If you opt to hire a caregiver from a registry, one of the first questions you should pose is who assumes the role of employer and who is responsible for employment tax withholdings and the appropriate insurance coverage? Some registries do provide Workers’ Compensation coverage, but make sure you understand the extent of the coverage to ensure the caregiver is actually covered while working for you.
Quality registries typically complete background checks on the caregivers in their database. Generally, they do not provide training, nor do they ensure a level of caregiving proficiency prior to placing the caregiver. Registries act as a “match maker” and provide viable caregiver personnel options for consumers to consider. In the event a caregiver falls ill or an event materializes that precludes the caregiver from caring for the client, the registry can provide alternative caregiver solutions. If you choose a registry to provide an in-home caregiver, make sure you understand:
- Who employs the caregiver
- Who is responsible for employment tax withholdings
- What kind of background checks have been run on the caregiver and the outcome of the checks
- Any and all insurance coverage that may apply to the caregiver in the home
- The type of training the caregiver may have received and certifications the caregiver may have secured
- How the caregiver is paid
- The type of caregiver oversight
The use of in-home care has become so popular that even major publications like The Wall Street Journal are helping increase consumer awareness surrounding the liabilities and concerns in hiring independent contractors to provide in-home care.
We thought the article was so important we have provide it in it’s entirety below! Always carefully consider what will work best of you and your family when it comes to in-home care.
MARCH 19, 2009
What to Know If You Are The Boss of a Caregiver
It’s not just about the “nanny tax.” When using a home health caregiver, it’s crucial to know whether you are the caregiver’s employer or someone else to avoid tax and legal snags.
With more baby boomers seeking help for aging parents, the in-home care industry is booming with a wide range of service providers, from geriatric-care managers to home-care agencies. Contractual arrangements and employment policies vary just as widely. So it’s wise for consumers to ask questions up front about tax obligations and insurance coverage.
“Families need to be aware of all the ramifications,” says Bernard A. Krooks, a certified elder-law attorney and founding partner of Littman Krooks LLP, a New York law firm.
Some families elect to privately hire a caregiver because they want to choose the person they think will be the best to provide the care. Others go to an outside party, such as a home health-care agency, to find the help they need. But that doesn’t always mean they are off the legal hook.
Many nurse registries and employment agencies don’t actually employ or supervise workers; they simply find them and place them in a home setting. Under such arrangements, the family may end up being the official employer, responsible for pay, taxes and other obligations. Employing a relative or friend can put a family in the same situation.
“Household help is anyone who does help in or around your home,” says Jill Senso, education coordinator with the National Association of Tax Professionals, or NATP. “The worker becomes your employee if you control what work is done and how it is done.”
If you dictate when the caregiver is on duty and supply the equipment to provide care, you’re building an employer-employee relationship. Even a part-time caregiver can be considered an employee, especially if the caregiver doesn’t provide the same type of service to others, according to Mr. Krooks.
If you pay a household caregiver who is your employee more than $1,700 in 2009, the tax code requires you to withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. (The Internal Revenue Service makes some exceptions, but they typically don’t apply to situations in which adult children hire caregivers for aging parents.)
If you pay the caregiver wages of more than $1,000 in any quarter, federal unemployment taxes must also be paid. State and unemployment taxes must be withheld and paid as well. If the taxes are unpaid, the taxpayer must pay what’s owed, and will face late filing penalties of between 5% and 25% of the underpayment plus interest, according to the NATP.
Consumers can avoid tax snags if they pay an agency directly, and if the agency is the caregiver’s official employer. For instance, the National Private Duty Association requires its members to assume all responsibility for payroll and all related taxes, according to Executive Director Kim Stoneking. Another option is to hire a geriatric-care manager who screens, arranges, monitors and pays the caregiver on your behalf.
Employers are also responsible for verifying that workers are legally entitled to work in the U.S. An Employment Eligibility Verification form — I-9 Form — must be completed and kept on file by the employer.
Employee injuries pose one of the biggest financial risks. Federal and state laws require employers to take out workers’ compensation insurance. If there is none, and a caregiver is hurt on the job, the family is responsible for medical expenses and disability payments. Consumers shouldn’t assume homeowner’s insurance will cover this, as policies may exclude household help. They may need to buy general liability insurance.
Discrimination or harassment suits from caregivers pose another risk. An umbrella policy with a discrimination rider can provide protection, but it’s expensive, says Mr. Krooks.
Copyright 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Comfort Keepers is the leading provider for elderly assistance & senior home care in Gainesville, Ocala, Leesburg and The Villages, Florida (FL). We provide in home assistance to the elderly that promotes safety, independence, and a better quality of life. Call 866-333-4737 for more information on the services we provide to the elderly in our community.
I’m Confused! What is the difference in In-Home Care Providers for Seniors?
Elderly & Senior Care Ocala
There are three fundamental business structures of providers who offer in-home care for seniors and other adults: independents, registries, and employment based agencies, which include local/regional/national corporations or franchise organizations. Each is substantially different in how they staff and charge for services as well as who assumes the role of employer and the associated responsibilities of the employer. This week we are going to cover how these structures differ so you can better determine which kind of provider is best for you and your family.
INDEPENDENTS
The first provider we will discuss are independents. Independents are as the name suggests; an individual, or individuals, not part of a larger organizational structure providing in-home care. An independent may be someone you know personally or from the community, or it may be someone who advertises in-home services in the classified section of the newspaper. No matter the source of the independent caregiver, there are implications surrounding hiring an independent that should be considered before securing the relationship.
The biggest “plus” in hiring an independent is the hourly rate. Generally, you pay the caregiver less than what you will pay a registry or an employment based agency. However, a lower hourly rate does not always translate into the most cost efficient solution. If you secure an independent to provide in-home care, you are now the employer.
As an employer that means you are responsible for all employment taxes and deductions for your employee, the caregiver. You also become responsible for securing the appropriate insurance coverage such as Workers’ Compensation in case the caregiver is injured while providing care in the home and general liability insurance in the event the caregiver causes property damage. Most homeowners’ policies do not cover the expenses associated with an injury or damages sustained while a caregiver is in your employ.
Additionally, while not required it is important for your own safety and security that you procure appropriate background checks and validation that the candidate is a capable, appropriately trained, and quality care provider. Beyond the finances, is there a backup caregiver in the event the primary caregiver is ill or unable to care for the individual? Is the individual trained or does he/she have access to training, to accommodate the changing care needs of a client? If care is provided in a licensure state, is the caregiver licensed or certified to provide the care services?
On the surface, a lower hourly rate can appear to be the sensible decision, but as you begin to understand what an independent caregiver can or cannot provide, a clear message begins to emerge. A lower rate does not always translate to a more cost efficient, or highest quality, care solution. Be sure you carefully evaluate the best option for your needs!
Comfort Keepers is the leading provider for senior home care in Gainesville, Ocala, Leesburg and The Villages, Florida (FL). We provide in home assistance to the elderly that promotes safety, independence, and a better quality of life. Call 866-333-4737 for more information on the care we provide to seniors in our community.
