Parent Network

Adult children are using a new approach for caring for their elderly parents who are staying with them. They may be recovering from surgery or an illness and need some assistance from time to time. By using a baby video monitor in their room to keep a watchful eye on them they are able to know when they need their help. With a video monitor they are able to see and hear their love one as well.

Baby video monitors can be such a great help for parents. Of course they are most widely used for monitoring a baby when the parent is unable to be in their room. And you can also keep a watchful eye on them when they are sleeping at night. But now they can do double duty making it such a versatile tool. Using a video monitor is helpful to watch your baby, your older child and now very useful for helping to care for elder parents who are ill and need you.

Using a video monitor to monitor your sick and elderly family member you will be able to carry on with your household tasks and activities. This gives you peace of mind while accomplishing your tasks.

There are many options to choose from when deciding on which video monitor is right for your needs. Monitors with multiple channels of nine hundred MHZ will help to avoid interference from cell phones, scanners and wireless phones. You will have less static with a clearer signal. An on and off switch with a light indicator that lets you know when your battery is running low is a great feature. This allows you to change the batteries before they go dead. They can come with portable receivers so you can carry it around the house with you from room to room.  Read more... (364 words, 1 image, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Caring for Elderly Folks
There comes a time in most of our lives when adult youngsters notice themselves responsible for their parent’s well being. This usually happens when the fogeys have exhibited behavior that proves they will not in a position to take care of themselves.
Nursing Homes
For a few folks, the care of an elderly parent suggests that choosing the most effective doable nursing home. The advantage to putting a parent in a nursing home is that they can receive spherical the clock skilled care, and that the nursing home will have everything they might presumably need.
The disadvantage to nursing homes is that the facilities and individuals are unfamiliar that can someday stress the elderly to the purpose that their overall health deteriorates. Conjointly, nursing homes are very expensive and many families merely can’t afford them.
In Home Care
For people who do not feel a nursing home may be a viable selection, they will select to move their elderly parent into their own home.
A great deal of preparation, each mentally and environmentally must be done before a family brings their elderly parent to measure with them.  Read more... (556 words, 1 image, estimated 2:13 mins reading time)

There are many things to consider when asked to care for an elderly person. It may surprise you to know that 70% of elderly care is provided by family members and friends. Many think they can take care of an elderly person, but it takes a very special person to do it well. Elderly care is a challenging task – one that is also inevitable. Oftentimes, adult children experience sadness and depression as they watch a parent who was competent and capable become frail and needy.

If the present goal is for the senior to live independently in his or her own home, there are many safeguards to be considered and installed as soon as possible. Among the obvious are grab bars in the bathroom and hallways. Another improvement in the bathroom would be a shower stool. An emergency system needs to be in place in case the elder needs immediate assistance as in the case of a fall.

Senior citizens are finding in these technologically advanced days many issues on their hands that they can’t handle by themselves.

Older people are also now living well into their 80s and beyond. At some point, the decision about assistance will need to be made. The determination of the need for senior care services and the choice of a facility is an extremely important decision.

Do your homework. Talk to people who are already taking care of an elderly person. Also check out the many online and community resources geared toward senior care. Whether it’s assisted living or a nursing facility, our seniors deserve caregivers who are compassionate and caring. Learn about LTC (long term care) insurance and all aspects of care (including costs) in the last stage of life. What you learn may even help yourself some day.

There may come a time when you need help taking care of your parents. Depending on your needs, it’s important to consider several things before choosing a specific home health care agency.

What kind of services do you need, and how often do you need them? In most cases, home health care involves two different types of services: skilled care, involving supervision by a nurse or therapist; or custodial care provided by aides certified to provide services such as bathing or dressing. Costs of home health aides range between – an hour; while nurses and therapy care may cost between – per hour. Sometimes, Medicare will cover some cost of aides and therapy, but generally not for nurses. For any care to be covered by Medicare, the agency must be certified.

Some common questions to ask:

* What services does the agency provide, and what kind of staff do they have?

* Is the agency Medicare certified, and does it accept Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement?

* Whats the basic cost for services? Are only certain hours per week allowed? Can you customize services?

* How does the agency determine the needs of my parent? Will there be evaluation by a staff nurse or doctor?

* How is home health care coordinated? Will I have any input? What if I am unhappy with services provided?

Home Health agencies should be certified by Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and various agencies such as the National League for Nursing, and so forth. Customers should feel free to question staff sent to take care of a parent. For example, ask the individual what types of qualifications they have, their experience working with the elderly, and familiarity with aspects of your parents care. Be specific regarding the chores and services the staff is supposed to perform.  Read more... (356 words, 1 image, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)