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THE
ELDERCARE SYSTEM IS A SEA of rough waters that most
people will have to navigate, either as senior or as caregivers. Being
equipped with the right tools - such as accurate information and a
support network - can help steer them through the ebb and flow of the
complicated eldercare system, which seems to get bigger and more
complicated every day.
The Big Business of Eldercare
Caring for the elderly is definitely big business, as the Baby Boomer generation ages, the demand
for services grows right along with it. "There are more of us in the business because there are so
many people who don't know where to start," says eldercare manager Karen
Witkowicz. "The system
is so complicated and disjointed, it's overwhelming. It's difficult to understand the system unless you
work in the industry."
Eldercare managers, like Witkowicz, financial
planners, estate planners, residential movers, and long-term-care insurance providers are all part of
this booming industry in which senior housing of one form or another is regularly being constructed
across the area.
Although Mary Beer, director of Eldersource, a joint venture of LIFESPAN and the Catholic
Family Center, agrees that eldercare is a growing industry, she cautions consumers to conduct
careful research before using someone's services. "Because the population is growing, a lot of people
see eldercare as an opportunity for business and they may not necessarily have the background or
depth of knowledge to serve this population," Beer says. "People need to ask questions and check into
the background of these businesses."
Help is Right ground the Corner
Doing thorough research, asking questions, and obtaining referrals and recommendations are some of the steps people need to take no matter
what kind of eldercare service they are interested in, say both Beer and Witkowicz.
"That's what Eldersource is all about helping people navigate the eldercare system," says Beer. "We take that 'need to understand' away, because we can guide people through the process. It's this whole world out there that you're not even aware of until you need it."
Indeed, Rochester-area residents are fortunate to have a number of services available for the elderly and their caregivers. Among those mentioned by Beer are adult day-care programs, which encourage seniors to connect with other seniors outside the home. In addition, she cites the Catholic Family Center's Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP), a state program that provides aide service in the home. Plus, there are a number of opportunities for support for caregivers - which comprise 45 percent of Eldersource's
population - including educational programs, support groups, and professional counseling.
But whatever the need, "Eldersource covers the full spectrum," Beer states. "We're not about
making choices for people, but providing them with information so they can make the choices
themselves."
Witkowicz, who is also president of the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly (GRAPE), highlights a few resource guides that can offer a starting point for seniors and caregivers. Mercy Center with the Aging produces
"A Resource Guide for Planning the Care of Aging Loved Ones",
a a $35 publication that is updated every year and includes information that covers Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, and Wayne counties. Another resource guide, titled
"A Professional Guide to Elder Services", is provided by GRAPE and also costs $35. Witkowicz says the guide has specific information on organizations and homes that serve the elderly.
These guides also include listings of eldercare managers, such as Witkowicz, who can serve as compasses in navigating the complex eldercare system. In her case, Witkowicz combines her masters level education, as well as years of experience in social work with developmentally disabled adults and Alzheimer's patients. Her personal experience with family members with Alzheimer's disease also offers a unique perspective for her clients.
"A lot of things people are dealing with now I've dealt with," she says. "It makes a difference in relating to the families and to the elderly themselves."
When it's Time for a Checkup
Witkowicz goes on to list a number of things to
consider when tackling the eldercare system:
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Obtain a thorough medical assessment that examines the whole person: physical, emotional, and mental.
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If the senior needs care in the home, determine if the family can provide that care or if outside help is needed.
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If the senior needs to move to a facility, determine what kind of facility is needed. That
could include a senior-living apartment, an assisted-living home, or a skilled nursing facility.
In the latter situation, Witkowicz stresses that it is crucial for a family to tour these facilities and as they do, ask questions and be observant of their surroundings, checking for basic things like cleanliness and the care the residents receive.
Questions to ask include:
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What is the cost? Is it private pay?
What other forms of payment are accepted?
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How is transportation arranged?
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Is there a special care unit for those with
Alzheimer's disease, those who are oxygen dependent, or those who are mobility-impaired?
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Can the senior continue receiving health care
from his or her own doctor?
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What kinds of activities or social events
are offered?
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What are the visiting hours?
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What opportunities are there for family involvement?
The
Cost Of Aging
Ultimately, the bottom line in eldercare is the cost. While it was once the case that people could
rely on Social Security payments or Medicare to see them through their old age, times have changed - especially considering that the future existence of Social Security is in doubt and the expense for eldercare keeps rising. There are no
easy answers, but being prepared and informed can make a difference. "My biggest concern is that the population is growing and funding for that population is not," says Beer. "The need will just keep expanding and funding is actually getting cut. How are we going to better serve these individuals when the dollars are not going to be there?"
"The biggest stumbling block is the expense, mainly to middle- or moderate-income people," Witkowicz concurs. "More services are private pay than people imagine. And a lot of people think Medicare will pay for these services, but actually Medicare is very limited in terms of what it will pay for."
Some examples of elder-care fees that Witkowicz lists include: home care, $18-$20/hour; an adult home or assisted-living home, $2,000-2,300/month; and long-term care, $5,000-$8,000/month. Medicaid can help cover some costs, as can Social Security and long-term-care insurance, she adds.
Help is available for these and other concerns regarding eldercare, but sometimes just taking that step to seek help can be difficult, says Witkowicz.
"For many families it's difficult to ask for help," she explains. "People think of eldercare as a very personal thing, their personal business. And we, as a society, think we should be able to handle our own problems. But it's important for seniors and caregivers to remember that you don't have to do it alone."
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