Growing Demand for Sandwich Generation to Step Up to
Elder Care Role
Suggestions on making assessments, care plans and how
to consider different options for aging in place
By Suzanne F. McNeely,
MSW, RG, CCF, President of Senior Planning Services
March
2, 2009 - With the struggles of today’s economy and the life expectancy
of the population increasing, there are huge demands surfacing for
caregivers of the elderly. A popular term and the primary demographic
for senior caregiving is the "Sandwich Generation", the adult children
of seniors.
Previous studies show negative health effects of caregiving.
But current results show difference in the presumed stress of providing
help from the stress of witnessing a loved one suffer
The Sandwich Generation has been tasked with caring
for their nuclear families as well as taking responsibility for their
aging parents. Most feel stretched thin at best and are often left
wondering how they can help alleviate the growing burden of caring for
their parents.
As an alternative to nursing homes or long term
care facilities, many families are opting to keep aging loved ones in
the home. While the senior in your life might love the idea of staying
in the home, as a close family member, caregiver or friend there are
many considerations and worries that go along with this decision.
The Sandwich Generation needs some relief from the
stress of worrying about how to handle caregiving and what they can do
to prepare. The following will allow you to create a working guide to
making assessments, care plans and how to consider different options for
aging in place.
The First Step: Assessment
The first step when considering caregiving in the
home is to conduct your own assessment in a quiet and unobtrusive
manner.
1. Ask without being patronizing. You’re
likely to notice a general slowdown of activity and faculties - a cue to
ask general questions. If you see specific things that worry you, talk
them over. Explain your concern. Listen! Propose solutions - if needed.
Better yet, ask your loved one what he or she thinks the solution might
be.
2. Observe carefully. If you notice that
clothes are not as clean as they used to be, you might ask, "Mom, can I
help with the laundry? I’m usually here on the weekends. How about I
throw in a couple of loads for you?"
3. Open the lines of communication. The
biggest fear of the aging is losing their independence. If you notice
your Dad’s refrigerator is often empty, your instinct might be to tell
him you’ll be doing the shopping from now on. He may, reasonably, see
that as an intrusion. Instead, talk with him. Try to determine why the
fridge is empty. There are dozens of possible reasons. Perhaps he has
little appetite. Maybe he is uncomfortable driving to the store because
he needs new glasses.
4. Pay attention. Your loved one might
tell you about a problem or concern. Although it’s not always the case,
some older individuals are comfortable telling their family when they
need help. You may feel you know just how to help if you’re Dad asks,
"These eyes aren’t what they used to be. Would you look over my
checkbook and bills before I mail them?" Perhaps helping with the bills
and scheduling an eye exam is appropriate. Possibly, however, your Dad
is not concerned about his vision; maybe he is worried that his mental
alertness is deteriorating. Listening sometimes means reading between
the lines.
5. Poll others. As you focus on the
issues, it is a good idea to speak with other family members and friends
about your concerns. They may be a good source of insight, especially if
they see your aging loved one regularly.
When you have a concern, it may be tempting to rush
to intercede. It’s better, however, to avoid taking over. Try and come
up with a plan together, that way your loved one will feel like they
have a say in their care plan. If you come across some issues that just
don’t seem like they are safe to handle on your own, consider involving
the professional community - a primary care physician, a gerontologist,
or home care specialist.
Step 2: Develop a Care Plan
The end goal of a care plan is to age SUCCESSFULLY
in the home, meaning there needs to be a plan to address the individual
needs of the aging family member. As the loved one’s caregiver, it is
important to sit down with them to create a care plan that will
contribute to successful aging in place. Whether you are going to
enlist a professional caregiver or attempt to implement the plan
yourself, the following are steps you can take and adapt to your loved
one’s specific care needs:
● List the needs for support and additional care
that you and others have observed. These will generally fall into the
following areas:
>Housekeeping - laundry,
shopping, and household paperwork. Observe what seems to be slipping
around the house and move this to the top of the list.
>Social and safety needs -
transportation services, companionship, and daily telephone checks. Ask
your loved one what makes them the most happy socially. Make sure these
things happen each week.
>Nutrition - meal planning,
cooking, and meal delivery. Have your loved one make a list of their
favorite meals. Involving them in the process will make them more
receptive to help.
>Health care - nursing,
social work, physical and rehabilitative therapy, and medication
monitoring. If there are pre-existing conditions have help come in, or
make it as simple as taking a stroll around the neighborhood each day.
>Personal care - assistance
with personal hygiene, medical equipment, dressing, bathing, and
exercise. If your mother seems to have trouble with buttons, replace
clothes with zippered items. It really can be that simple.
● Decide and plan for who can devote the
necessary time/attention to provide support. To relieve some stress, try
and spread out the responsibilities. Typically a relative, friend,
spouse, professional caregiver or some combination of all.
● Make a list of specific help needed in the way
of tasks. This will go a long way in taking out the overwhelming feeling
from caregiving. Try to plan out a schedule so the tasks are fairly
evenly distributed over the week. For instance, laundry on Monday,
grocery shopping on Tuesday, house cleaning on Wednesday, etc.
● Get specific commitments (e.g., Aunt Mary will
do the grocery shopping every Saturday). These commitments need to
include, as appropriate, a statement of who, what, when, where, and how.
Remember to ask for help to alleviate the entire care burden.
One of the most important decisions associated with
developing a care plan is considering whether you and/or family members
will be able to handle the responsibility.
In some cases, you may want to consider seeking
other forms of support; nutrition or preventive health services and
caregiver support services.
Keep in mind that many outside services are funded
in part through the Older Americans Act and administered by the U.S.
Administration on Aging. For more information about local services,
contact the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or at
www.eldercare.gov.
About the Author: Suzanne McNeely, MSW, RG, CCF,
is president and founder of Senior Planning Services (SPS) in Santa
Barbara, CA. (www.seniorplanningservices.com)
She began SPS in 1989 after many years of working in social services and
hospital administration. Suzanne designed SPS to help advocate and
provide guidance in all aspects of daily life for the elderly, including
psychological, physical, financial and legal issues. She can be reached
at
smcneely@seniorplanningservices.com.
Nursing Home Abuse, Medical Malpractice? Contact a lawyer.
click here
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
March
2, 2009 - With the struggles of today’s economy and the life expectancy
of the population increasing, there are huge demands surfacing for
caregivers of the elderly. A popular term and the primary demographic
for senior caregiving is the "Sandwich Generation", the adult children
of seniors.