As we all age one of the greatest internal, and for many, unspoken questions we ask ourselves is “Who or How will I be taken care of when I can no longer take care of myself?” For most this is a question that is not realized until much later in life, while for others it can happen much sooner; either from illness or an accident. Perhaps an even less pondered question would be “If one of my family members becomes ill or incapacitated, how will I care for them?”
The latter of these questions is probably much more of a shock for most when it happens. The confusion and feelings of inadequacy coupled with the overwhelming emotions of having to care for your loved one, in ways that you never had to before. This can be an extremely challenging time for most caregivers. One of the keys in dealing with such an unexpected circumstance is reaching out to as many resources as you can, for both emotional and physical support, as well as education. If your family member is in the hospital, be sure there is a clear plan in place for when your family member is discharged, by talking with doctors, nurses (including specialty nurses), discharge planners, social workers, psychologists, dieticians, occupational and physical therapists. All or most of these resources are offered at both acute care hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals. For more long-term support try seeking out local support groups. Those most specific to your loved ones diagnosis tend to be the most helpful, as you will find folks who are dealing with similar issues and concerns. Another great resource is the NFCA (National Family Caregivers Association)
Our goal at Baby Boomer Medical, Inc. is to provide affordable healthcare product solutions to caregivers. Certainly the ideal situation is to have all or most of your healthcare product needs reimbursed for by Health Insurance or Medicare. However in many circumstances, not all of the needed healthcare products are covered by insurance. This is a time when our Registered Nurse supported Customer Care department will work with caregivers in finding the most appropriate and cost effective solution to fit their family’s healthcare product needs. Please call 800-860-8612 for more details or visit our website at, www.directbuymedical.com.
