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living will

What is a Living Will?

Do you have strong opinions about extraordinary life-sustaining measures? Have you ever said to yourself, “If she needs a machine to keep her alive, what’s the point?” Has a sibling ever joked to you, “If they ever try to put a tube in my throat to feed me, it’s time to pull the plug?”

Here’s where a living will (also known as an advance health care directive) comes in. It can be a key part of the life-care planning process. And make no mistake, it’s not just a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. The will to live does not constitute a living will.

So What is a Living Will and What Does It Do? 

Now let’s for the moment imagine the worst — from your perspective. You’ve just been in a terrible automobile accident. You’ve been severely injured, and it’s not clear how long you may live. You may need a ventilator to breathe, and you may need to receive both fluids and food through a feeding tube. 

You are unconscious and unresponsive. You are unable to tell the doctors what you do or don’t want done to keep you alive and/or comfortable in what could be a short or very long time. 

So what happens? Who will end up making those decisions for you? Your doctor? Parents? A girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse or life partner? A sibling? Now ask yourself this question: Can all of these persons be counted upon to make decisions based on what YOU would want? Do religious differences between yourself and any of these people make it possible that they would be unable to carry out your wishes – if they even know your wishes? Hmmm…

Oh, the anxiety! But the silver lining is that by going through this thought process, you now have some very good food for thought. 

Now Let’s Switch the Focus to Your Loved One

What does being “prepared to die” mean? Your loved one may require spiritual and emotional preparedness, but there are also critical needs regarding practical and physical preparedness. And it may surprise you the extent to which being physically prepared can help with the less tangible aspects of preparedness for death.

There are many practical aspects to planning for one’s passing.  

So What is a Living Will?

A standard or testamentary will (“last will and testament”), directs how assets will be utilized and distributed after death. It may include care elements, but this is not a living will (or advance health care directive). 

A living will is a legal document (care partners should have access to several of them in end-of-life scenarios) detailing a loved one’s desires and preferences regarding their medical treatment, prepared for use in circumstances in which they are no longer able to express informed consent.  

Who Should Have a Living Will?  

EVERYONE! Alright, let’s say you don’t happen to have strong opinions on what happens to you when you are unconscious or in a coma. But think about the people in your life on whom these difficult decisions will almost certainly fall. These issues can translate into heartrending and devastating choices — if the care-partner team is not prepared. If nothing else, prepare a living will in order to spare loved ones from being forced to make such decisions at an already stressful time.

What’s the Difference Between a Living Will and a Health-Care Proxy?

Living wills often encompass the naming of a health care proxy (or proxy directive). This is a person chosen to make decisions about medical treatment when a loved one is no longer able to do so. So, a living will is a document, while a health care proxy is an individual who may be named within the document.

Naming a health care proxy is a key way to manage the health care decisions in the event of a loved one’s incapacitation (due to either life-threatening injury or terminal illness). The first goal of a health care proxy is to keep the decision-making as close to the affected individual as possible. It is important that this individual be someone with whom the care recipient and rest of the care-partner team are comfortable. 

But there are other important considerations. The right person will be someone who knows the individual well and has been a part of their life for a significant time. Physical proximity and access should also be important considerations. But their closeness must not overpower their ability to render tough decisions. They must be prepared to act — out of love — to cease treatment or life-saving actions, if necessary.

A health care proxy is an especially good idea if there is more than one important family member or friend in a loved one’s life. A spouse or a life partner, and by extension, their own family, may feel very much a part of your loved one’s life and therefore may want to share in the decision-making around death. 

Some people who were not particularly close to their families may have what is referred to as a “chosen family.” This close-knit group of long-time friends may be included in a living will to act as next of kin. 

In some situations — divorce or an LGBTQ+ family member, for instance — there may, unfortunately, be conflict between the families involved. In some cases, end of life may be a point at which two families in a loved one’s life first meet one another.

These are situations where it’s imperative your loved one name one person who is indisputably in charge of health care and end-of-life decisions. For better or worse, remember death is often a time when long-simmering family disputes can erupt into open hostility. Having a health care proxy in place can help to neutralize potential powder-keg situations.

Who Prepares a Living Will?

At Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC, we facilitate the preparation of a living will as one component of a comprehensive life-care plan. Think of a life-care plan as the strategic roadmap for your loved one’s Golden Years. Our individualized Life-Care Plan has three primary objectives:

  • To create a personalized care plan that ensures that the loved one is well known by all the individuals and agencies who are there for support. This may include written documents and/or videos detailing the individual’s history, likes and dislikes, wants and needs, including the living will and/or proxy directive.
  • To ensure your loved one gets appropriate care — whether at home, in a care community, or in hospice or palliative care, regardless of location — to maintain a life worth living at a cost they can afford through public and private assistance.  
  • To provide the care-partner team with supportive tools.

The Many Benefits of a Living Will

  1. All parties involved know your wishes and preferences regarding medical treatment.
  2. The family and other members of the care-partner team can be confident in the outcomes of medical care.
  3. Get the treatment desired; refuse the treatment undesired.
  4. A living will delegates decision-making and avoids conflict among family members and friends.
  5. Takes some of the stress out of a very difficult time and can provide all concerned with some much-needed peace of mind

Some Things to Remember About a Well-Planned Living Will

Make sure EVERYONE involved with end-of-life planning knows of the existence of the living will! Living wills, like standard wills, are often kept locked up in safes with other important family documents. They may be forgotten. They may not surface until after a loved one has become incapacitated, negating some of its purpose.

Don’t let that happen!

Don’t forget to make a reference to new treatments in the living will. There may be new treatments that are developed after it may seem to be finalized. Include a provision that says that new treatments that are deemed by your loved one’s doctor as possibly beneficial should be made available.

Living wills are traditionally prepared by lawyers or financial planners – folks who may have limited knowledge about your loved one and the care-partner team. Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC has over 25 years of experience with all aspects of life-care planning and team building, as well as Medicaid planning (with asset protection) and patient advocacy. We are happy to guide the process in a caring and compassionate way.

moving to assisted living

How Do We Downsize as Parents Move to Assisted Living?

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Our marketing manager’s mother moved to assisted living recently. I wish he had picked my brain a bit more about this critical question: how do we downsize as our parents transition to a care facility? There’s a lot to consider – powerful emotions, memories, logistics and more.

Even at 75, the move was quite unexpected. She had moved in with him in a big, new house he bought for her to live her “Golden Years” in comfort. That arrangement was short-lived, halted by a fall that made home care impossible. (A call to remember unexpected emergencies can easily derail care plans.)

His mother had A LOT of worldly possessions. From what he shared, she was on the extreme end of clinging to cherished memories – and things she “might still need” that hadn’t seen the light of day in decades. 

The transition was difficult. That his mother had worked in advanced care homes for most of her 50-year nursing career did little to help with downsizing for the move to assisted living. She was too busy helping others to prepare for when “the time would come” in her own life, he said.

With our marketing manager’s permission, I’m using this real-life example for a blog on the downsizing process as our loved ones move to care facilities.

Tips for Downsizing Belongings as Loved Ones Move to Assisted Living 

Their experience isn’t unique. I’ve seen it more times than I can count in nearly 3 decades as a professional life-care planner and Board-certified Patient Advocate in Florida. Life’s journey challenges our resilience. One such transition that often proves to be emotionally charged is the move from a cherished family home to an assisted living facility. For many seniors, downsizing can be overwhelming – even paralyzing.

Here are some compassionate tips to help elders and their families navigate with grace and understanding.

Empathy is Key

We talk often about being a more compassionate care partner. But we’re all human, and we sometimes fail to achieve that standard. Before diving into the logistics of downsizing, we must acknowledge the emotional weight of this transition. 

Show empathy toward your loved ones as they grapple with leaving behind a lifetime of memories. Imagine leaving your own home filled with memories – each corner, each piece of furniture, holding a special story. Even if your loved one embraces the move to assisted living as necessary, it’s tough letting go.

It’s more than letting go of belongings. It’s bidding farewell to a chapter – or many decades of chapters – in one’s life.

Validate this experience. Take the time to listen. Let them share their memories, their fears and hopes for the future. It’s natural … and therapeutic.

Emphasize the Positives

I know, we’ve all heard “think of the positive” when it’s the hardest thing to do. But we must try, even if it’s a struggle.

Amidst the challenges of downsizing, highlight the positive changes that await your elder loved one: less housework, new friendships, and exciting opportunities for hobbies and adventures. Focusing on growth, purpose and fulfillment can help with anxiety and uncertainty. 

Look forward. Opportunities abound for enrichment and enjoyment – whether it’s joining a book club, playing games and sports, attending group outings, or rekindling artistic creativity.

Visual Reminders of the Chapter Ahead

Well before the moving process begins, display brochures and other promotional materials from the assisted living facility as visual cues for the new life that awaits. (Or search pictures, videos and testimonials on your smartphone.) Remind your elder loved one of the vibrant community and exciting possibilities that lie ahead. 

Allow them to envision taking control of their future in assisted living, nurturing a sense of anticipation and excitement. Subtle, positive reminders allow us to approach downsizing with more enthusiasm. 

Plan with Precision

Are you downsizing yet? I hope not, because you should first have a plan in place. Take the time to understand the layout of the new living space dimensions. Creating a scaled drawing can streamline the decision-making process regarding which furniture and belongings will fit comfortably. 

You’ll likely need to do less with more and prioritize functionality. Sensible choices will keep certain elements and optimize the space to make assisted living feel more like home.

Protect Precious Memories

Safeguard sentimental items such as photo albums and special gifts. Designate a safe space for these treasures to ensure they are preserved during the move. Prioritize these items in preserving cherished memories and family history. 

Encourage your loved one to take special care in packing and storing, ensuring items are kept secure and easily accessible. (You may uncover personal items that mean something special in your own life narrative!) Emphasizing that these precious memories will indeed be preserved eases the emotional impact of downsizing for a move to assisted living.

Remind your loved one that while downsizing WILL involve parting with some belongings, but by preserving these sentimental items, they’ll hold onto the memories that matter most. 

Allow Room for Indecision

Decision-making takes time. Provide options for undecided items, allowing your loved one the space to process and reflect on their belongings. Remember the “yes, no, maybe” pile you use when clearing out your closet? Do that! An “undecided” category alleviates pressure and provides a sense of control. 

By respecting their need for deliberation, they’ll feel a sense of agency and autonomy, empowering them to make decisions that feel right for them. Ultimately, the downsizing process is about more than just decluttering. It’s a journey of emotional discovery and transition.

Share the Gift of Giving

Appeal to your loved one’s altruism. Add a meaningful dimension to the downsizing process by donating items to local thrift stores or charities. By parting with belongings that they no longer need, they can know their possessions will benefit others in need.

Highlight the positive impact their donations can make in the community, whether it’s providing clothing for those experiencing hardship, furnishing homes for families in need, or supporting nonprofit causes they care about.

Consider Professional Support

If the downsizing process becomes overwhelming, consider enlisting the help of a professional organizer or senior move manager. Here at Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC, we often refer our life-care planning clients to KRB Move Management of Palm Harbor, FL.  

Professional organizers and senior move managers are trained to navigate the complexities of downsizing with sensitivity and expertise. They can help by sorting belongings, packing and coordinating logistics. They may also offer emotional support in parting with possessions and transitioning to a new home.

Many such agencies can also tackle the entire moving process for you!

Moving to Assisted Living: Be Generous with Understanding in the Downsizing Process

Approach the downsizing journey with patience, compassion and generosity. Your parents or elder loved ones are going through a lot when moving to assisted living. Your understanding and thoughtfulness can make a profound difference in how they embrace this new chapter of life.

Strive to preserve your loved one’s dignity and autonomy throughout the downsizing process – and every other step in the life-care journey. If you need help, that’s what I’m here for. 

living with dementia

Navigating Dementia Truths: Why Persons Living with Dementia May Seem to Lie

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A few years ago, I wrote a series of blogs here about common Alzheimer’s and dementia behaviors. It was well-received by our readership and We Are Dementia Strong podcast listeners. The behaviors and symptoms included things like:

I’m here today to help navigate what could be an uncomfortable topic: lying. In recent months, I’ve learned so much from observing others while visiting my life partner/care partner, Brian, in advanced nursing care. As you likely know, Brian lives with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Many of his new acquaintances at the nursing home also live with some type of dementia. 

They talk. I listen. How could I not? It’s been my life’s work as a Board-certified Patient Advocate to understand people and their needs. I encounter all manner of stories. Tall tales, you might call them. One day their story is this; another day their story is that. Some are talking just for the sake of talking. Others are confused or perhaps even scared.

Why do persons living with dementia seem to lie? Well, they’re not exactly lying. This blog breaks down the myriad reasons they might not be able to find the truth.

People Living With Dementia Aren’t Necessarily Lying

As I mentioned, one of our earlier blog topics on dementia-related symptoms and behaviors involved manipulation. Indeed, that’s a behavior in which lying comes to the forefront. Manipulation is often seen in mid-stages for our loved ones living with dementia who miss the freedom they once enjoyed. Some will say almost anything to get what they want.

The type of deception I’m describing is NOT THAT. The truth of the matter is, in most cases, it’s not about dishonesty. It’s about navigating their unique reality.

When caring for an individual living with dementia, the term “lying” can create a misleading narrative. It’s crucial to understand what may seem like lies are often the expressions of their own truth within the context of their cognitive world.

Shifting Realities: Living in Their Truth

Dementia creates a shifting landscape of memories, perceptions and emotions. What we perceive as falsehoods might be their earnest attempts to make sense of a world that feels increasingly unfamiliar. Let’s explore a few reasons why this happens:

1. Memory Gaps & Confusion

Imagine having pieces of your life puzzle missing. Making matters worse, the ones you do have are jumbled. Persons living with dementia often experience memory gaps and confusion, leading to the creation of narratives that fill those voids. Their stories are not intentional lies, but rather attempts to make sense of an internal reality.

2. Emotional Expression

Sometimes, what appears as a fabricated story is a way for individuals with dementia to express their emotions. It might be a response to frustration, fear or a need for connection. These expressions shouldn’t be dismissed as lies, but understood as a unique language for communicating feelings and emotional states.

3. Time Distortions

Persons with dementia may perceive time differently. What they recount as a recent event might be from years ago, or they may believe something is happening in the present when it occurred in the past. These time distortions contribute to the creation of narratives that align with their altered sense of time.

Strategies for Understanding & Responding to Persons Living With Dementia

Understanding that people living with dementia are sharing their truth should shape how we respond. They’re not intentionally trying to be dishonest, so here are some strategies to communicate meaningfully:

1. Validate Their Reality

Instead of correcting or challenging their version of events, validate their emotions and experiences. You can say, “I understand that it feels that way for you.”

2. Redirect Rather Than Contradict

If their narrative seems to be causing distress, gently redirect their attention to a different topic or engage them in an activity. This helps shift focus without causing frustration.

3. Be Present & Listen

When all else fails, just listen. Be supportive. Listening attentively nurtures a sense of connection. Allow your loved one to share their stories. Respond with empathy. It’s not about the accuracy of the details, but rather the emotional connection that matters.

Living With Dementia: Embracing Their Truths, Enhancing Their Lives

In the journey of dementia care, embracing the “truths” as shared by persons living with dementia becomes an essential part of providing compassionate support. It’s about meeting them where they are, in their reality, and ensuring their emotional well-being.

Remember, we’re not dealing with lies. We’re navigating a reality that’s unique to each individual living with dementia. Even when the communication with your loved one is difficult, there’s still a soul in there deserving of love and understanding. Every expression, even if it seems like a fib, is a part of their truth – whatever reality they may be trying to convey.

Wishing you grace and understanding on your caregiving journey. If you need help, I’m always here to chat.

assisted living

4 Ways to Make Assisted Living Feel More Like Home

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By Maureen Rulison
Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC

Moving into an assisted living community, nursing home (or any other long-term facility) can be an extremely difficult decision. The main goal? Receive top-notch care while making it feel like home.

Last time, we addressed the preparations that should be made – as part of a great life-care plan – to ease stress BEFORE the move. Now, we’re taking time to address the move itself, the little things everyone can do to make the new digs feel how they’re supposed to.

Like home.

Assisted Living: Creating ‘No Place Like Home’

There’s no place like an actual home, but roughly 70% of U.S. seniors eventually require some level of long-term care. There are pros, cons and other factors to weigh in the decision-making process. Hopefully you’ve made the best possible decision that ensures compassionate care, dignity and foresight – for good health and bad.

Our loved ones and care partner teams can ease the transition by making the new dwelling feel like home right from start. It doesn’t have to feel like living in rented space. Your loved one may require advanced care that couldn’t easily be provided anywhere else. But their assisted living space can really become home — a place to feel comfortable, nurtured, honored and safe. 

1. Add Personal Flair

Everybody has a personal style, whether it’s obvious or not. We have our own preferences for how our spaces must look and feel. We understand why some say assisted living feels like a hotel. They’re generally designed to be sensible and appealing to what most would consider “comfortable.” (Nursing homes and other advanced care facilities may feel like full-fledged hospital environments.)

But residents have power. They can choose. They can include decorative items, pictures, cherished heirlooms and anything else their little hearts desire.

Change the aesthetics. Decorate, decorate, decorate! Add a favorite scented candle, some prized sports memorabilia, and/or items professing their religious faith. How about their favorite art and music? We prioritize person-centered care for a reason. It honors and empowers the person at the center of care. 

2. Get Involved

Becoming connected with new friends and participating in activities can help folks feel welcome in a new place. It helps to avoid feeling isolated and depressed – which studies say affects many long-term care residents and actually precipitates worse health outcomes. 

Moving to assisted living, it can be tempting for some to stay in their room, especially if they’re shy. Your loved one may naturally feel life has changed for the worse. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Socialization can be the perfect medicine. Some really simple ways to become involved include eating in common areas, chatting with fellow residents and staff, being a good neighbor, and welcoming visitors. Feeling bold? Take a peek at the community events calendar – there are almost always special trips, sporting events, museum visits and festivals outside the facility, and other internal events like board games, card nights, Bingo and so much more! 

3. Stay Connected to Family & Memories

Hopefully, your loved one’s move to assisted living is just another step to many great memories to come. Family and friends can AND SHOULD continue to be involved. We all should be able to continue enjoying fulfilling, meaningful and engaging relationships for A LIFE WORTH LIVING. 

But reality tells us family and friends can’t always be there. That’s OK! Connection can be found anywhere these days.

Photos evoke feelings of connection to those we care about most – especially for our loved ones living with dementia. Choose a few favorites to hang on the wall. Fill a large tabletop album or scrapbook with snapshots of yesteryear. Include memories of special occasions, travel or vacations, friends, family and beloved pets. 

Technology is being used increasingly to facilitate communication and store memories. Digital picture frames cycle through hundreds or even thousands of cherished photographs. Loved ones may compile music playlists on Alexa (like the ones my life partner/care partner, Brian, uses to bring clarity to foggy moments with dementia). A lot of adults entering assisted living today have been texting for years. A quick text, call or FaceTime with the grandkids often means more than words could express.

4. Call It Home

Call it what it is. Call it home. 

There’s no better way to make senior living feel like home than to call it home. Whether you’re moving into independent living, assisted living or a skilled-nursing home, refer to the new space as home as often as possible. 

Yes, it’s a new space. It might not feel like home right away. That’s also OK! But words matter. They allow us to make sense of new environments – to be comfortable knowing we’re cared for and that our needs are being met. 

That’s the essence of home.

Be Patient & Positive: Assisted Living Can and Will Feel Like Home

During this process, remember to be patient with yourself, loved ones and the rest of the care-partner team. Moving to assisted living is an adjustment. We can’t expect to feel at home immediately. It’s a brand-new space that just begs US to make it what we want it to be.

Rest assured, as time goes by, your loved one will settle and become more comfortable. Of course, life-care planning gets everyone ready for all the changes – big and small.

Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC has over 25 years of experience with all aspects of life-care planning, including Board-certified Patient Advocacy, Medicaid Planning & Asset Protection, Referral Services and #WeAreDementiaStrong. We’re happy to guide the process in a caring and compassionate way.

moving to assisted living

5 Caregiver Tips BEFORE Moving to Assisted Living 

By Maureen Rulison
Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC

Moving a loved one into assisted living (or any other type of advanced care) is a HUGE change that comes with stress for everyone involved. For the person moving. For close family and friends. For the systems and services that must be coordinated for a smooth transition.  

Even if you’re prepared for it. 

Even if it was part of your loved one’s strong life-care plan all along. Here at Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC, we’re there for all of it. To help this process, check out these 5 caregiver tips on what should be done BEFORE moving to assisted living. 

Is Moving to Assisted Living Part of the Plan? Let’s Prepare

These preparations will help a loved one moving to assisted living (as well as the entire care-partner team) to achieve all the big and small things on the checklist before the move. They’ll also help to envision difficulties that may come.  

1. Prepare Medication and Treatment Plans 

Most folks in assisted living, nursing care, memory care, etc., have medications and treatments for a variety of conditions. (My Brian has so many meds for his Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, in addition to heart problems and diabetes, that I sometimes joke that I spend most of my free time sorting pills! As his life partner/care partner, it’s a labor of love.)

It’s very important before the move to document ALL of these medications and treatments (name, dosage, frequency, etc.). Some care partners who are natural organizers may have a living document to update info in real time. But for so many, it can be difficult to keep up with. But even writing it all down in a notebook is better than nothing.    

Of course, during the move, make sure your loved one stays on a consistent schedule. Keeping routine throughout will help them feel more comfortable as their world changes around them. It’s also helpful to make sure the primary doctor is in contact with the care facility to be “on the same page,” to continue the plan as it stands, and to be receptive to necessary changes.

2. The Cost of Assisted Living

Assisted living and other advanced and extended care facilities are outrageously expensive without long-term care insurance. So one of the most important steps – hopefully years prior to moving to assisted living – is how costs will be covered. 

Medicaid eligibility varies by state, but in general it’s a health care program to help people having low incomes and/or assets. It pays when private insurance doesn’t cover the cost of facility living and care. Former military service members can receive help from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Medicaid will cover the medical costs of care in an assisted living facility, but not room and Board. The VA Aid & Attendance Program does not stipulate to which part of the cost of an assisted living facility the money is applied. There are VA programs in which the facility is contracted with the VA and will cover the entire cost. 

Now, the point of such government programs is to help people who could not otherwise afford care. Does that mean your loved one has to be “poor”? Not at all. They simply ensure that people entering care do not have the means to offset their own care costs first. Your loved one may transfer wealth and assets to other family or friends – but beware the 5-year Medicaid lookback period for uncompensated asset transfers and other rules governing spousal income and assets. The VA also has a 3-year look back period for uncompensated transfers of assets.

3. Visitation & Family Care

When a loved one enters a care facility, being involved shouldn’t stop. Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many people moving in and rarely (or never) seeing their loved ones again.

So be involved! Visit. Bring in meals. Spend quality time. You may be entrusting care to professionals, but care partners can still be an important part of their loved one’s lives and should still be responsible in advocating for their care.

You know if they’re comfortable hanging out with fellow residents (hearts, shuffleboard or Wii bowling, anyone?). You also know when family alone is the best form of socialization. Of course, being there could also offer the best of both worlds – to meet more friends with you by their side for reassurance. You probably won’t know – months or even years in advance – how schedules will affect frequent visits. But at least acknowledge that regular involvement will someday be expected. 

It’s worth noting that care partners, too, can take time to adapt to someone moving to assisted living. Stay strong! This plan was considered well ahead of time because everyone knows it’s the right fit.  

4. Honor the Spirit

Moving your loved one into a new space can mean downsizing some belongings. This can be so hard – letting go. Furniture, clothing, knick-knacks, photographs and the like all hold sentimental value. But unfortunately, it can’t all come with them. 

So let’s honor their spirit by planning ahead for what goes and stays. Which photographs spark the happiest memories? Do they have a cherished quilt, music box or even a diploma that must be with them? Their new environment is their new home. Take time to make it a home by learning what your loved one really wants and needs.

Family heirlooms and prized possessions can find new homes until they’re passed down to future generations. Other items may wait in storage to await a decision. Some things must be sold. (Helpful hint: the Facebook Marketplace is a great 21st-century tool for downsizing.)

Let’s not forget, honoring the spirit also means honoring their spiritual life. Folks of all faith belief systems need spiritual fulfillment – on their terms. With our nonprofit We Are Dementia Strong, we advocate often for dementia-inclusive faith communities that make earnest efforts toward accommodating persons living with dementia and their care partners. This compassion must be extended to people of ALL conditions and cognitive abilities. If your loved one’s spiritual needs aren’t currently accessible in their long-term care facility, mandate that such services and resources be provided immediately.

5. Build a Supportive Care-Partner Team 

You may have been the primary care partner for years. But hopefully you’ve built a supportive care-partner team before moving to assisted living.

Now, some individuals aren’t fortunate enough to have large families and committed friends. (This always reminds me to count my blessings.) Person-centered care requires the individual to be at the center of a circle of care partners including everyone available – from spouses and grandchildren to doctors and financial experts.

Nurture relationships and establish responsibilities before the move. If comfort is the goal, what better way than to move in with love and support? 

Preparation: Moving to Assisted Living Doesn’t Have to be Overwhelming

Moving to assisted living (or advanced nursing, memory care, etc.) can be difficult, but try to see this as a new beginning for your loved one. It’s a new home for new experiences (and hopefully so many supporters working hard to make sure your loved one has A LIFE WORTH LIVING). 

Take these caregiver tips to help ease the stress of change! If you need help, contact me at maureen@caregiversupportandresources.com.

technology for people living with dementia

How Can Technology Help People Living With Dementia?

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In our extremely high-tech society, it’s no surprise tech products, gadgets, software, etc. play a role in almost everything we do – even increasingly for those of us getting up in age. Managed and planned correctly, technology can be especially helpful to people living with dementia. 

(And like anything else in life, if it’s managed and planned poorly it can also be a detriment. But we’ll get into that later.)

Technology for people living with dementia can assist with sleep or medication management, while others help with safety and other elements of day-to-day existence. With my Brian, who lives with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, it’s particularly helpful with scheduling and reminders. But as we always say, “If you know one person living with dementia, you know ONE person living with dementia.” What works for one, may not work for another. That’s why it’s important to know your loved one, their needs and how things work best. 

So here’s an overview of some cool tech options at your fingertips that can help build a LIFE WORTH LIVING with dementia.

4 Great Tech Options for Persons Living with Dementia & Care Partners

Because of technological advancements and new applications, people living with dementia have especially benefited from things like this:

1. Medication & Treatment Management

If you’re like me, you could spend hours organizing medications for your loved one (and this isn’t limited only to persons living with dementia). It doesn’t matter if you do it once a day, once a week, or even if you med prep at the beginning of each month. It can be a time consuming and confusing process – one that you absolutely cannot afford to get wrong!

Hero, an automated smart dispenser, reduces the stress of remembering how to and when to refill medications. This dispenser technology can hold up to a 90-day supply of 10 different types of pills and is customizable to any medication schedule. 

The Hero app includes a scheduling manager to organize doses and consumptions of required medications. Another plus is that the Hero subscription includes an optional prescription refill and delivery service, which sends prescriptions and over-the-counter medication directly to the user’s door with free shipping!

2. Memory & Organization

OK, so misplaced items are the bane of everyone’s existence. It doesn’t matter if you actually have dementia or are just having a “senior moment,” sometimes it’s just hard to find that one thing you need RIGHT NOW!

The Tile Sticker is a device and app that locates everyday items like wallets, keys and such. (The other day, Brian couldn’t find the leash for our awesome service dog, Winnie, when it was right on the coffee table!) 

Obviously, the benefits of this tech program are to prevent lost items, but there are many other associated perks. The battery life is good for up to two years and the device itself is waterproof! 

3. Musical Therapy, More Organization, News Alerts & More

We always joke that Alexa and Siri are Brian’s girlfriends. (As his dutiful and loving wife/care partner, I guess I have to look the other way and let that slide because they’re just so helpful!) 

The Alexa/Echo Dot is a compact, small speaker with many features and abilities friendly to everyone – especially our senior friends and loved ones living with dementia. This smart device is voice activated and small enough to fit/take anywhere. You just need to activate a basic Amazon account. When connected, “Alexa” can play any requested song, add things to an e-calendar and set reminders.

So here’s our own little case study from the A Bit of Brian’s Brilliance blog. Brian increasingly struggles from what we call “The Fog” or “The Nothingness.” Alexa is helpful both for scheduling reminders – even to eat and bathe if I’m not around. And it’s also great for music therapy. We’ve talked so much about music and art being fantastic for memory and cognitive care. When Brian is struggling, telling Alexa to play his favorite music playlist can miraculously lead him from the fog!

4. Safety & Security

Home safety and security is important at any stage of life – but especially as our loved ones with dementia progress. Some may wander and become lost. So it’s nice to have non-invasive ways to ensure their safety. Some common-sense tech devices include surveillance camera systems (which may be connected directly to local police, fire and ambulance dispatches), cell phone tracking devices and home-entrance cameras. 

If your loved one has a tendency to walk around (and perhaps lose their way), most cell phone devices have GPS tracking functions to narrow the search. But just as importantly, your loved one must be able to easily find you and communicate with you in an emergency. The RAZ Memory Care Cell Phone is specially designed for persons living with dementia. It has easy one-touch dialing capabilities, allowing the user to simply click the picture of the person they need to call. 

Additionally, the Nest Doorbell is a doorbell camera system that allows users to see and speak to anyone at their front door. If your loved one is home alone and confused by a visitor (familiar or unfamiliar), the system allows 2-way communication. With 24/7 streaming and continuous HD video recording, this product ensures the safety of your loved one and the entire care-partner team.

Technology & Dementia – It Can Help Your Loved One If Used Correctly

Of course, these are only a few of the many tech options out there. They’re coming out with more everyday. Some are good, some bad, depending on your individual needs. Again, the best technology will help (if managed correctly).

It’s important to note that the ability of persons living with dementia to use technology will diminish over time. Care partners must work together to understand how technologies like these work, and to manage things like usernames and passwords (which, needless to say, can be easily forgotten). As loved ones find themselves unable to continue using technology, there will inevitably be feelings of grief and loss – likely even anger – due to their care partners needing to assist or even become the primary person using it.

All of this can be factored in a great roadmap to a LIFE WORTH LIVING with dementia. And that’s exactly what we do here at Caregiver Support and Resources, LLC, with  services including life-care planning, care partner team-building, patient advocacy, Medicaid & VA planning, and much more. Contact me at maureen@caregiversupportandresources.com, and let’s get to know each other!

joy of dementia

Joy of Dementia: The Path to a Life Worth Living 

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By Brian LeBlanc

Today we’re doing a little happy dance because we’re talking about the joy of dementia. Yup, you read us right (and you can hear us right on this very topic in our latest podcast). 

Maureen and I have been on this joy of dementia kick since returning from the Pioneering a New Culture of Aging Conference last month. One of my presentations alongside our friends at the Reimagining Dementia Coalition was titled “The Joy of Dementia (You’ve Gotta Be Kidding!)” 

One could be forgiven for believing only the latter half of that title. But it’s not a joke. No one’s kidding. You can and SHOULD strive for a life worth living with dementia.  

We’re uncovering so many ways to find this joy. (There’s a lot to unpack here, so have a snack ready while reading this!)

The Joy of Dementia (You’ve Gotta Be Kidding)

This isn’t so much about what the Pioneer Network Conference presentation was, but how we can strive for all this. We’ve borrowed a quote from Marianne Williamson: The joy of dementia is acceptance, which allows us to feel joy. “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how things really are.”

So poignant. So important to know. So important to understand. 

Acceptance.

Accepting Dementia … On Your Terms

The first step is accepting a loved one or yourself living with dementia. Just accepting it. Not trying to change it. Not trying to predict the outcomes. Not trying to force anything to happen a certain way, or not happen a certain way.

Maureen and I say we both live with dementia – in body, mind and soul. My beautiful life partner/care partner can help me and schedules things ’til the cows come home – appointments, meetings, meals, activities, relaxation – but then dementia laughs. 

We’ve accepted that days will be hard and foggy. We’ve accepted we’re only human and that we make mistakes and get frustrated. We’ve accepted that life has a 100% mortality rate – even without dementia.

Most importantly, we’re working daily to always accept that we love each other dearly on this path together. Of course, laughter is always the best medicine. And I’ve now begun making it a point to express gratitude for life’s daily blessings.

Life Isn’t Over

People tend to think of any serious medical diagnosis as a life-ending event. Sure, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, dementia, what have you may be terminal, but you may also live years – decades even – past hearing the terrible news. Yet the underlying sentiment is that life is over or fundamentally changed by a diagnosis, at least the part that’s good or that matters.

Pardon my French here, but the Ragin’ Cajun is about to come out: That’s bull shit.  

I’m still me. I don’t stop being me because I have Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. I don’t stop being me because I have heart issues and diabetes.

There IS LIFE beyond diagnosis. As Maureen says, “At the end you can look back and be grateful for all that you’ve experienced, all that you’ve loved, or you can look back and say, ‘Wow, I really wasted that time.’” Embrace the positive and do what you can to keep it.

Feelin’ Good

We went to the Michael Bublé concert the other night. He’s absolutely one of my favorite artists – the 21st-century Sinatra with a newer-age take on the upbeat, jazzy swing music that we danced to when I wore a younger man’s clothes. My favorite song? “Feelin’ Good!” It’s so positive, uplifting and in-your-face confident! 

It’s basically my anthem. I definitely want it played at any end-of-life celebration that’ll be held long after dementia takes everything (but I’ll still recognize friendly faces and happy music). And when I kick the bucket, “Feelin’ Good” had better be played at whatever wake, service or party Maureen throws (or I’ll haunt her!). 

So let’s focus on finding the joy of dementia through feelin’ good!

We’ve also started going to the gym! It gets the blood pumping. When I get back, I feel … SO … GOOD! My brain feels more clear and aware. We’re getting in the pool, doing yoga, the whole nine yards. At first, I was a bit hesitant – or rather downright against it. It sounded miserable. Something in my brain told me, “No, you’re fine. You don’t need it.” But I haven’t been fine for a long time. 

Exercise is great, whether you’re a person living with dementia or aging in perfect health. You could be fixing health issues you never knew you had – or preventing things that haven’t happened yet.

We’re aiming to sustain this part of the joy of dementia, as well. As Maureen says, “Who wouldn’t be joyful sitting in a hot tub?” (Anyone wanna help with holding us accountable now?)

Joy in Music & Art

Music is just … wonderful. I play it every day, strumming along on my guitar to soothe the nerves. (Have I said this before? Oh, well, it’s that important.) 

It’s not just playing music. Just sitting and listening to my personalized playlist does so much to clear the fog and bring clarity and light to the world. That’s how powerful music and other art forms are, and how it affects the brain.

In Maureen’s career as a Board-certified Patient Advocate, she often plugs music to families as the best medicine and therapy for dementia. Almost 100% of the time, she says, the families refuse to do it. I believe that most families either don’t want to put in the work to develop a playlist – or they lack confidence that their loved one could work a device that plays music. 

Life would be utterly joyless without music. Don’t deprive your loved one of that joy.

Friendly Conversation

Even body language and tone of voice when approaching someone with dementia has an impact. You know what I mean: the hushed tone, the head tilt, the overly exaggerated hint of sympathy. “How are you? Are you doing OK?” 

It’s meant with the best intentions. You ask because you care. But can you see how that undertone only perpetuates the “tragedy narrative” and stigma around dementia. 

It automatically assumes the worst. It assumes that because I have dementia I must not be well. That a person living with dementia must be struggling. That it’s all bad. That my existence is now defined by dementia. And that all this “suffering” must somehow be kept quiet.

Now, I may indeed be struggling that day. I may also be very aware, functional and happy. But as much as my Alzheimer’s makes sure I need reminders, I don’t need that reminder.

Our response to the “tragedy narrative” also has so much to do with the joy of dementia. Should someone approaching a friend living with dementia on the street be corrected or shamed for not knowing? Absolutely not. Should we let it ruin our day? Nope! 

Does It Really Matter?

I’m a VERY social guy. I love telling stories – especially funny ones. If everyone’s laughing, having a good time, enjoying the conversation, does it really matter if I flubbed up a detail?

Before reacting or responding to what a person living with dementia says, ask yourself, “Does it really matter?” Does it matter if I misremember a small part of something? No, and Maureen loves this example from our conversations for this reason.

Now, if we’re at the doctor’s office and I misremember a detail – or go on a tangent about something completely unrelated as I sometimes do – that does matter. And I thank Maureen for being so spot on about my care! (The doctors would probably be treating me for swine flu, if the details were left to me!)

Family Time

You didn’t think I’d forget family, did you? There’s always time for family! Family is the icing on the joy of dementia cake.

We love spending time with our young granddaughter, Emma. And the happy news is we’re going to have another grandchild – another little one to SPOIL! (We’re also going to have a very jealous 4-year-old, but she’ll get used to it. Emma will always be special as our first.) 

Quite often, the family is the inner circle of your care-partner team. They’re the ones taking you to doctor appointments, planning meals and activities, spending quality time, etc. They build new memories – and help you remember old ones while you can. They help bring the joy. 

And we’re proud to call you part of our family. Friends like you help, more than you know, with our joy of dementia.

Peace

-B 

Living with Dementia (and Gratitude)

Living With Dementia (and Gratitude)

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By Brian LeBlanc

In a world that can be so unfair, so dramatically cruel, so unforgiving, it’s hard to stay in a positive mindset. Even if that’s literally what you do every day – try to channel the happy, the humor, the spice of life. In the back of your mind, there’s always something … something that can, in whatever way, push you off center and make it hard to appreciate life’s true blessings.

I’m living with dementia. You know this. But I’m also trying something new these days. I’m living with and expressing gratitude – every day – even if it hurts to do it. You may have noticed on our Facebook accounts – particularly my page and the #WeAreDementiaStrong page – I’ve been sharing gratitude posts daily. (OK, not every day. I have Alzheimer’s, remember? Forgive me for, uhhmmm, not remembering or being too foggy from time to time!)

But the practice holds true, for so many reasons. Maureen (my beautiful life partner/care partner) and I particularly love the sociology guru Brené Brown, who found in 12 years of research examining thousands of interviews and over 11,000 pieces of data that the most joyful people have one thing in common: GRATITUDE. 

So What Are My Gratitude Posts About? A Life Worth Living With Dementia 

So after a few cups (or a pot) of coffee and some reflection, I prepare a gratitude post. Just to throw it out there. A feeling driven from some experience with dementia often brings me to a powerful realization. Being grateful for the good things we do have has a wonderful way of lighting the darkest paths in life. 

It just feels good. It makes others feel good. 

I’m living with dementia, but thinking about the positives really helps to beat the depression that always seems to slink in. I’ll share a few examples.

Gratitude for Capturing Memories

A person living with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia being grateful for memories? What’s that called, an oxymoron? 

But it’s true. I’m just capturing them in my own way. 

Photos.

I’m a pretty decent photographer – my marketing background probably just gives me an eye for eye-catching things. But just with an iPhone I’ve been able to capture some of the most remarkable moments. (You’ve probably seen so many photos of the dolphins, snowy egrets and other ocean life right from our back patio overlooking beautiful Tampa Bay.) 

But it’s also the unremarkable moments. The everyday moments. The meals with Maureen, family and friends. The happy times shared in happy places. 

You can see all of the above in real time on our social media. I look through my phone and see them. I remember. And when I can’t remember, they’ll still make me happy. And when I’m gone, they’ll help others remember.

Gratitude for Travel & Experience

Everyone should travel and experience the world. Not everyone gets to do that. Maureen and I are fortunate to be able to travel for business and pleasure. Just last month, we traveled to beautiful Denver to present for We Are Dementia Strong at the Pioneering a New Culture of Aging Conference. 

We’ve been all over Florida – and many states and countries beyond – to humbly receive recognition for our dementia advocacy and education work.

But sometimes the small, unexpected trips around here – perhaps to a winery, a concert, an ice cream shop, or even just a beautiful walk by the bay at sunset –  are most meaningful.

Gratitude for Abilities

Just the other day, I put together an IKEA bookshelf for Maureen’s home office. Unless you’ve looked at easy directions in English and had no idea what they said, it’s hard to truly appreciate such an accomplishment. 

Now, directions for some may be hard to follow in general. Try doing it with dementia. Days of focus and clarity are getting fewer and farther between. Maureen can tell when I need help when my language turns “colorful.”

But that day, I did it! I felt capable again. The ability and knowhow is still there – even if it’s sometimes hard to find it in the fog.  

Gratitude for Music

The benefits of art and music for dementia care have long been documented. They’re better at restoring memory and cognitive skills than any expensive medication or treatment.

Think about it. Music takes us back. It recalls feelings from a first concert, a first dance with that special someone, a father/daughter dance, a smell, a taste, a distinct feeling from a profound moment long forgotten. It fires those dormant neurons!

I play music everyday – usually just strumming on my guitar – in order to keep my anxiousness at bay, to help clear fog, to calm myself when I get upset. It was always such a big part of my life, ever since I first learned to play when I was about 9. 

There’s always a song that can turn your anger to happiness and confusion to clarity. 

Gratitude for Compassion

It’s not easy to be me along this path of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. But it’s also not easy to help me along that path.

Caring for anyone living with dementia is no picnic. It takes compassion and understanding. The things that we’re going through, it’s just not my fault. If I can’t remember something, or if I spend the better part of a week on the couch in a fog, it’s NOT my fault. 

I didn’t choose this. A compassionate care partner (like Maureen) understands that. She works with me, not for me – and serves out of love, not duty.

Gratitude for Maureen

You didn’t think I’d forget her, did you? The only reason I’ve put her last (but certainly not least here) here is because the majority of my gratitude posts are devoted to her!

I’m always grateful for Maureen. Every day. Every single day. 

She’s the appointment maker. The organizer. The rememberer of things I can’t remember. The filler of blanks. A comforter when I’m upset and overwhelmed. Heck, just the other night, I was having my dementia-related hallucinations – I call them “visitors” – and although she can’t see or hear them, she often starts yelling at them along with me (or even throws a slipper in their general direction).

It comforts me to know she’s my protector and always on my side against these trials – real and imagined. I wouldn’t be alive today without her. I love her so much!

So, Yes, I Am Grateful Every Day While Living With Dementia

I’m grateful for a lot more. Far too many people, places and things to mention here. 

I’ll continue with these gratitude posts as long as I can. It’s so much better than the alternative. If you stop – even a few seconds each day – to think about the good – it can make the absolute worst circumstances feel that much better. Trust me!

Peace

-B

dying with dignity

Dementia Meditations: Living on the Way to Dying

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By Brian LeBlanc

I hate to be a downer. Anyone who truly knows me knows that – that I’m always looking to find the good, to find the laughter, to smile. Because we’re all “on the way out,” only at different stages. For me, with my Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, my “way out” may be a little closer than yours.

And that’s OK. Complications from dementia kills 100 percent of us. Life, even for healthy people, kills 100% of us. So let’s focus on living on the way to dying.

I spent last weekend at (you guessed it) Disney World with my life partner/care partner, Maureen, our granddaughter, Emma, and some close friends. It’s like my 4 billionth time there (you think I’m exaggerating haha), and each time I find something new and exciting. Or perhaps we can find some humor in that it’s only new and exciting because I don’t remember it from before. And you can see from the picture that I was completely helpless against being covered in Mickey Mouse stickers.

Now, THAT’S living! Enjoying loved ones. Enjoying a happy place. Living in the moment. Relishing the time I have left. And I would hope, as my dementia progresses, I’m able to return time and again – even when I can’t communicate or move around freely. I’ll remember Maureen and Emma and other loved ones and the place – even if not by name – as something loving and pleasant.

Living and Dying with Dignity

We’ve make a lot about a life worth living and dying with dignity in our messaging for #WeAreDementiaStrong, Caregiver Support and Resources, A Bit of Brian’s Brilliance, and our new Podcast. It’s a process. There’s a lot of planning and organization. Thankfully, that’s what Maureen does professionally. But even with her expertise, there’s a lot of learning and adjusting along the long-and-winding road.

We do what’s needed to light the path where it’s most dim, to smooth out the rough areas, to understand complex realities. And I thank God for Maureen coordinating all those doctor appointments, medications, memory-care treatments and outside-the-box thinking. She knows listening to music for a bit can snap me from a fog. She knows when to tell me about upcoming events and appointments – and just as importantly when not to tell me – to avoid unnecessary anxiety. 

So as we prepare for the end, whenever that may be, I know we’ll have that life worth living … together.

A Friend in the End

I’ve said for so long that I want to have a living memorial service. I want music, drinks, Hawaiian shirts, laughter, more drinks, more music, and memories (even if they’re no longer mine). Let’s celebrate the good years, the bad years, the in-between years. I hope for a friend in the end – a bunch of friends would be even better!

But death … when it happens … will be a solemn occasion. Lots of people will congregate at the funeral home, waiting in line to see the person they once knew lying in the casket.

They may shed a tear or two, say a prayer, and then they walk away. As they join family and friends, they say things like, “Oh, he looks so good.” or “WOW, their last days must have been hard seeing all the makeup they used.” They may live out of town and didn’t visit or make any phone calls during the last weeks or months, so knowing the details of decline and what to expect would be quite impossible.

These are folks who say, “Well, I would’ve called but I didn’t think they would understand what I was saying. I would have been embarrassed.” 

I think you get the picture. But know the presence of loved ones, even if we may not comprehend, is still welcome. It’s actually vital to our well-being.

As my Alzheimer’s progresses, I know it or a related illness will probably lead to my death. But I’m not going to live out the rest of my days waiting for my time to come to an end.

I WANT TO LIVE as much as I possibly can. I want to visit places I’ve never been but always wanted to. 

I want to LIVE like there is no tomorrow with no regrets.

Peace

-B

Patient Advocacy

Patient Advocacy: Your One-Stop Shop for a Life Worth Living

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As your loved one ages or progresses through a terminal illness, the number of professionals and agencies involved in their care will only increase. Patient advocacy is your one-stop shop for EVERYTHING your loved one and their care partners will need.

You’ll have doctor appointments — sometimes many of them spanning a range of health disciplines. You’ll have coordination along the continuum of care — from the home and in the community to potential long-term care options. You’ll have financial and legal considerations. And, all the while, you’ll require continuing education into health conditions, care options and quality-of-life factors.

After all, each of us deserves a life worth living, right? Here’s how a Board-certified Patient Advocate can help.

Board-Certified Patient Advocacy in the Tampa Bay Area

A Patient Advocate helps to navigate complex health care systems, financial realities and resources for senior care, people at end of life, and those who simply wish to prepare for life’s latter stages.

Care-Partner Team Building

We steer clear of the term caregiver. While accurate in some cases, person-centered language prefers the term care partner. Why? Because it empowers the individual at the center of care. They’re not just care recipients. They’re people — with special needs and desires for a life well lived and thoroughly enjoyed. In many cases, they may direct their own care for many years into advancing age or a terminal diagnosis. And with a great life-care plan, they may make preparations and continue to direct their own care when they’re no longer able to make decisions.

Where do we start? Let’s consider ALL of the individuals who may serve a role in assisting care. It’s a team effort, when possible, and this team may include loved ones, friends, neighbors and professionals with important roles in the home (family visits, cooking, cleaning, etc.) to transportation (to and from medical appointments) to respite care, assisted living or long-term nursing care (transitions and ongoing support).

A life-care plan is a working document that can always change as needs evolve. It provides accurate and timely information that addresses all aspects of care from physical therapy, doctor visits and crisis intervention to financial responsibilities, dietary needs and community living.    

Medical Care Coordination

Patient advocacy helps clients understand all treatment options, whether they’re terminal illnesses like dementia and cancer or simpler needs that follow the healthy aging process. Treatment options are just that: options. Sometimes seeking second (and even third) opinions yields the best possible care. We empower care-partner teams to ask tough questions of the right professionals involved in all aspects of care.

Some individuals see a network of doctors, clinicians, specialists and other providers to address specific needs. Complexity and confusion are common. We work alongside clients to secure care options in any setting. We will even coordinate and attend medical appointments, if appropriate. We also help care-partner teams to organize important health care, financial and legal documents (like a living will or power of attorney), as well as prescriptions and recommendations by health professionals.

Medicaid & VA Planning

A semi-private nursing home room costs on average $9,946 per month here in the Tampa, FL area. Folks can save their entire lives and think that they’ll have adequate funds for “that rainy day” only to suffer a stroke, major heart attack, or receive a terminal diagnosis. Almost overnight, they no longer have the means to afford critical health care needs. This expense would cause most people to enter financial hardship.

In order to receive Medicaid and VA benefits, individuals must first be financially eligible. A Board-certified Patient Advocate, like myself, helps clients to understand financial eligibility ins and outs to protect assets for now and the future. Medicaid, unlike Medicare, will cover all long-term care costs. Once we obtain Medicaid eligibility for an individual, if they remain within the Medicaid guidelines, they will be eligible for the rest of their lives.

Life Transitions

Almost everyone prefers to age comfortably at home. Sometimes that’s possible. But conditions and diagnoses come that, at times, compel transitions to a more optimal, healthy and safe living space. Moving to an assisted-living facility, nursing home or hospice end-of-life care is difficult for everyone involved.

An experienced Patient Advocate assists care-partner teams with the logistics and red tape associated with moving. In addition to financial eligibility requirements, elders and their care partners must navigate issues associated with real estate transactions, asset management and continuity of care. 

Some moves are temporary. When a client is discharged to a rehab facility (or back home), we plan and coordinate resources for whatever that next step may be.

Education and Referrals

Whether you or a loved one are researching care and financial options for years in the future or immediately after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, your Patient Advocate will always educate you about processes, responsibilities and treatment options. 

There’s so much to know. Yes, it will likely seem overwhelming. What can you do when a loved one no longer responds to treatment? How do you adjust when they wish to adjust their end-of-life plans or when circumstances change for Medicaid eligibility? When those questions (and others) arise, we will refer helpful resources from a network of partnering organizations.

Let’s Start Planning for Patient Advocacy Today

I am a Board-certified Patient Advocate in the State of Florida. I work with care-partner teams to advise and coordinate resources needed for every step of the care journey.

Aging individuals and their care partners face important decisions. There are many moving parts to planning care for quality of life and financial protection. You need an expert Patient Advocate who knows each required step for your loved one’s all-around well-being.

Contact me at info@caregiversupportandresources.com to get started today.

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