Senior Care Services Company in Ann Arbor Michigan Provides Tips for Caregiving Baby Boomers

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - April 26, 2014 - PRLog -- The massive generation of Baby Boomers is at the prime age for caregiving, reports the Family Caregiver Alliance. Many of these boomers are squeezed between facing their own health needs and the need to still work and actively provide the best care for their parents and other loved ones. About 10,000 U.S. baby boomers reach age 65 every day, and as people live longer, this generation may be the first to care equally as long for parents as for children.

A 2011 AARP Public Policy Institute study found that in 2009 the average caregiver was a 49-year-old woman who worked outside the home while investing nearly 20 hours per week in unpaid care for her mother. A MetLife study revealed that the total estimated aggregate lost wages, pension and Social Security benefits of adult caregivers of parents is nearly $3 trillion. But the toll on the new normal of boomers as caregivers is more than financial. Countless boomers are just not prepared for the physical and emotional impact of assisting their older loved ones.

“Family caregiving is becoming more and more commonplace for baby boomers,” said Charles Williams, President and General Manager of Right at Home of Ann Arbor. “Some loved ones need more personal day-to-day care, while others only need occasional help living independently. The key is finding the right resources to match the needs of both loved one and caregiver.” Right at Home of Ann Arbor is a leading provider of senior care services in Metro Detroit Michigan.

The best time to plan for care needs of parents and older loved ones is before the person’s health or living situation reaches a crisis mode. Here are suggestions for assisting with personal care and/or financial resources:

- Talk together as a family about long-term care and a senior’s preferences and goals.

- Consider modifying the loved one’s home with handrails, chairlifts, etc. instead of moving him or her into a care facility.

- Discuss finances and insurance needs openly, referring to an elder law attorney, financial planner or other geriatric care support when needed.

- To ease the load of caregiving, consider senior care services companies like Right at Home of Ann Arbor Michigan, which can provide everything from transportation and homemaking to hygiene care and skilled nursing.

- Be sure the senior has an advance care directive, which includes a durable power of attorney that gives someone legal authority to make financial decisions on behalf of the senior. A health care proxy also is needed to allow someone to make medical treatment decisions for the loved one, and a living will details plans for end-of-life care.

Because boomers are the “sandwich generation,” faced with the challenges of elder/parent care and helping their own children, caregiver professionals advise the boomers pay special attention to their own health and energy reserves. A MetLife 2010 study on working caregivers found that among female caregivers 50 years and older, 20 percent reported signs of depression. Boomer caregivers who simultaneously juggle work and raising adolescent children or young grandchildren encounter an increased risk for chronic illness, decreased emotional health and the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. To keep a healthy balance in life, caregivers are encouraged to:

- Get adequate sleep.

- Eat nutrient-rich foods and drink extra water.

- Make room for exercise several times a week.

- Keep up-to-date on your own medical and dental appointments.

Caregiving can be both a rewarding personal experience and a stressful demand. Boomers who plan ahead and talk through care options with their loved ones will be better prepared when a slowed stage of life comes knocking. Knowing a senior is safeguarded and content in his or her physical surroundings is truly a gift to any caregiver, especially those approaching their own mature years.

Right at Home of Ann Arbor provides services, support and resources to senior citizens and offers caregivers of any age the tools to assess the needs of their aging loved ones. Visit http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw/ for helpful discussion topics.

About Right at Home

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers home healthcare and companionship and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 42 states nationwide and throughout the world. For more information on Right at Home, read the Right at Home caregiving blog at http://www.rightathome.net/blog.

About Right at Home of Ann Arbor

The Ann Arbor Michigan office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., providing senior care to the communities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Belleville, Plymouth, Chelsea, Dearborn, Canton, Dexter, and beyond. For more information, contact Right at Home of Ann Arbor at http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw or by phone at (734) 971-5000.