Holiday Visit with Elderly Relatives Can Raise Red Flags

For many families, a holiday visit may be the first time in a while that they have seen an elderly family member in person. Changes to their physical or mental health, as well as their living situation, may raise concerns about his or her ability to live independently. Maybe Dad kept forgetting to take his medication, your aunt’s normally spotless house was cluttered, or mom said it was becoming difficult to use the stairs.

“Every January we see a spike in phone calls inquiring about in-home care,” said Ron D’Aquila, RN, Co-Founder and CEO of Assisted Living Services, Inc. (ALS) in Meriden. “Families who live out of town especially can be overwhelmed trying to figure out the best care option and where to start looking for assistance.”

D’Aquila reassures families that professional caregivers and new technological solutions can allow seniors to remain safely at home. D’Aquila notes that age-related decline can happen quickly, and in many cases, seniors are skilled at concealing new and worsening problems. He offers warning signs that may indicate an elderly person needs additional help around the house or increased medical care:

· Forgetfulness/confusion
· Neglect of physical appearance or basic hygiene
· Neglect of medical needs
· Trouble performing routine tasks or chores
· Personality changes
· Inability to handle finances, pay bills
· Unsteadiness, clumsiness or recent history of falling

“It’s important to address the situation as soon as possible,” urges D’Aquila. The first step in evaluating a change may be a visit to their Primary Care Physician for a check-up to make sure there are no underlying causes. “Your Physician is the best resource to help determine if Professional Home Health Care, such as nursing care, or Physical Therapy is necessary,” according to D’Aquila. However, oftentimes all that is necessary is the right non-medical support.

An excellent resource for families seeking information about aging-in-place is on the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home website and it is called “Consumer Tips to Care for a Loved One at Home.” https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.cthealthcareathome.org/resource/resmgr/cthh-family-caregiver-magazi.pdf

"Sometimes the most difficult part of getting help for a loved one is 'having the talk' and then gaining their acceptance,” said D’Aquila. “Usually you can start with a few hours a week with Homemaking and a Personal Care Assistant to help with most of the basics, but we also offer 24 hour Live-in Care for someone that needs more careful monitoring for safety and assurance that they can live at home safely.”

Assisted Living Services, Inc. is also a credentialed provider of the “CT Adult Family Living /Foster Caregiver Program.” If the client qualifies, this is an option that makes it possible for family caregivers to get paid under the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders. Assisted Living Services offers training and compensation for family caregivers that live in the home and help to reduce the risk of the client having to go into a skilled nursing facility for care. The direct provider may be a relative of the participant as long as they are not a legally liable relative (such as a spouse). Even non-relative live-in caregivers can qualify.

In their role, Registered Nurses from ALS provide the oversight that helps caregivers succeed, including orientation, education, training, and on-going support with the “tools” needed to be comfortable and successful at caregiving. Under the program, the caregiver can receive a tax-free stipend of over $500 per week / $26,288 per year.

“Most elderly people want to remain in their own home and home care is more cost-effective than an in-patient care facility,” said D’Aquila.

Lastly, there are many situations where technology can help a senior maintain independence. Through its sister company, Assisted Living Technologies, Inc. there are automated medication dispensers to improve compliance, home safety devices that shut off a stove that is inadvertently left on, fall avoidance technologies, and Personal Emergency Response Systems that can help augment or supplement care.

For more than 22 years, award-winning home care agency Assisted Living Services, Inc. in Meriden with branch locations in Clinton and Fairfield has provided quality care to residents across Connecticut. Their award-winning CarePlus program blends personal care with technological safety and monitoring devices from sister company Assisted Living Technologies, Inc. Learn more by visiting www.assistedlivingct.com or calling 203.634.8668.