The words “house” and “home” aren’t the same. For most people, the word “house” produces a mental image of a building. In contrast, the word “home” stimulates an array of complex feelings.
“Home” may bring back memories of a mother’s cooking, the view from a childhood tree house, the sound of children playing, and the feel of a loved-one’s kiss. For nearly everyone, home is more than four walls and a roof. Home is memory, personal history, and a bountiful source of comfort.
A dementia-friendly home is one that provides both emotional and physical comfort and safety. Family photographs, the worn but still comfortable chair, an ancient radio, and a hugely-ugly coffee mug – are all remnants of a life-well lived. While you may consider them clutter, your loved-one finds enjoyment and pleasure in their presence. The chair may remind him or her of having once read bedtime stories to you and your siblings. The radio might encourage conversation about the days when people listened to baseball games. And what does the hugely ugly coffee mug contribute to a dementia-friendly home? It doesn’t matter, the mug isn’t yours.
Creating a physically safe environment for your loved-one requires sensitivity, practicality and acknowledgement of his or her capabilities. It is more likely your loved-one will accept the changes to his or her personal space if you describe the installation of bathroom handrails as an “update” and the new automatic tea kettle as a “gift.”
As a first step, assess your loved-one’s home for areas and objects of potential danger. Examples of simple changes include installing automatic shut-off timers on appliances such as the toaster oven. Replace the overhead microwave oven with a countertop model. Remove tripping hazards and improve household lighting. Adjust the thermostat on the hot water heater to a lower temperature. Install handrails in the bathroom. Use safety locks on the cabinets that contain toxic cleaning supplies. Remove locks to prevent your loved-one from becoming entrapped in the bathroom or bedroom.
Another approach to creating a dementia-safe home is to learn about the new assistive technologies that help disabled people live at home for as long as is possible. Smart phone apps as well as televideo and other kinds of monitoring systems can let you know if your loved-one is as active as expected, has left a certain area, or if an appliance has not been turned on or off. There are smart phone apps that can remind your loved-one to take his or medication, give verbal instructions on how to use an appliance, find misplaced items, as well as keep track of day and time.
Good intentions aside, creating a dementia-friendly home for your loved-one takes insight and experience. Your internet browser and the key words -- home, safety, assessment, and dementia--will link you to many excellent on-line resources.
Another option is to have an eldercare home safety consultant inspect your loved-one’s home. Taking into consideration your loved-one’s capabilities, he or she will inform you of needed improvements. The safety consultant can also suggest where to buy home-safety equipment and, if need be, people to install such things as bathroom handrails. Use your internet browser and the key words--eldercare home safety consultant--plus the location where you loved-one lives to find locally-conveniently home safety services.
A dementia-friendly home is one that respects your loved-one’s dignity, while at the same time, and an illusion of independence.
Janet Yagoda Shagam, PhD, is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of “An Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.” Available through Amazon.
The opinions expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments, suggestions, links, or other forms of content contained within blog posts- that have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does not provide medical advice, please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org
For many families, finances and the cost of dementia care can be one of their greatest worries. Families hope there are sufficient assets to meet the expenses for the next four to 10 years. According to a Care.com Usage and Attitude Family Caregiver survey, in 2014, over 50 percent of families spent more $5,000 per year to cover out-of-pocket expenses. The same survey reveals that seven percent of survey respondents report having spent more than $50,000 per year to cover the costs of their loved-one’s care.
Talking about personal finances is often difficult. To make these initial family discussions go as smoothly as possible, invite an elder-care lawyer, a financial advisor, or a geriatric care manager to guide discussion and offer their expertise. The goals of this and ensuing conversations are to define needs and expenses, and based on this information, develop a realistic financial plan.
Dementia care is more than house utilities and groceries. Home expenses also include rent or mortgage payments, house maintenance, home and car insurance, as well as assorted federal, state and local taxes. Dementia care also involves the out-of-pocket deductibles and co-pays associated with the diagnostic procedures and treatments for dementia and any other medical conditions your loved-one may have. Do not overlook the expenses of such things as personal care supplies, equipment rental and purchases, adult day care and assisted living fees.
Sadly, circumstances may be one where your loved-one has neither the sufficient savings nor income to pay for the services he or she needs.
What happens then? Sometimes families are able and willing to pay the difference--and sometimes not. Long-term care insurance is expensive, must be purchased well before need, and is not long-term in the sense of “forever care.” Often families must resort to state and federally-funded programs.
Medicare, parts A, B, and D and most private insurance policies pay only for expenses not related to having dementia. However, your loved-one may be eligible for dementia coverage under one of several Medicare Special Needs Plans or “SNPs.”
There are other avenues worth exploring – all of which have specific eligibility requirements. Some of these are: Medicaid, a program that helps very low income people get the healthcare they need and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) that provides comprehensive medical services to Medicare and Medicaid enrollees.
The United Stated Veterans Administration (VA) offers a broad range of services to help veterans who have dementia. To take advantage of the various VA programs and services, the veteran must be enrolled in the VA healthcare system. While the veteran does not have to have a service-related injury to receive dementia benefits, the veteran must have an honorable or a general discharge.
Other strategies to supplement your loved-one’s income include a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (reverse mortgage), the conversion of certain kinds of life insurance into long-term care insurance, as well as borrowing against the value of a life insurance policy. Disability insurance is another resource when dementia makes employment no longer possible.
Community not-for-profit organizations offer many helpful services that can range from household repairs and yard maintenance to elder daycare programs and caregiver respite grants. Sliding scale fees are another not-for-profits feature. Therefore, your loved-one will have to meet eligibility criteria, to receive a reduced rate.
Janet Yagoda
Shagam, PhD, is a freelance medical and science writer and the author of “An
Unintended Journey: A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia.” Available through Amazon.
The opinions
expressed by contributing authors are not necessarily the opinions of the
Dementia Society, Inc. We do not endorse nor guarantee products, comments,
suggestions, links, or other forms of content contained within blog posts- that
have been provided to us with permission, or otherwise. Dementia Society does
not provide medical advice, please consult your doctor. www.DementiaSociety.org
