By: June Duncan, Rise Up for Caregivers
Caring for a sick or disabled senior family member can come with so much stress. The outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year has only added to the tension. With family caregivers already at a risk for burnout and depression, it’s important to have all of the extra support you need right now. If you are caring for an aging family member during the pandemic, here are some tips and resources that may help.
Paying for Senior Care
The economic effects of COVID-19 are very real and can make paying for senior care much more stressful for seniors and their caregivers. If you or your loved one has been impacted by the pandemic, know that there are financial resources available. Also know that there may be other ways for you to pay for the compassionate care that your family member needs.
One solution could be to sell a senior’s home in order to offset long-term care or other senior care costs. While this may sound risky given the ever present dangers of coronavirus, there are several online guides that can walk you through using online tools to sell a home safely.
If selling a home isn’t an option, there are other alternatives you could try. If your family member is a veteran, he/she may be eligible for benefits or you could look into an HSA or use savings.
Accessing Senior Services
With nursing homes at an increased risk for COVID exposure, transitioning your loved one to a senior home or facility may not feel like the safest choice right now. Luckily, you may be able to take advantage of several services that can allow your loved one to continue aging in place at home. For example, you could look for senior care services to provide an aging family member with the help he/she needs with daily tasks. This can include things like cooking, getting dressed or maintaining the home.
Some of these home-care services also provide health-related help for seniors, which can also give you more time to plan for a safe transition to the next care step. For seniors living in the Elkhart area, there may also be transportation, in-home care and enrichment services available through the local Elkhart Council on Aging organization.
Helping With Major Decisions
The stress of the pandemic and the effects of aging can also make it harder for seniors to make major decisions around their health and well-being. At some point, it may be prudent for family caregivers to step in and make these decisions on a loved one’s behalf. If you find yourself in this situation, know that you will need certain legal paperwork filled out before you can proceed. These forms are necessary to help seniors manage their finances and their healthcare choices.
One of the most painful decisions you may have to make for your loved one is moving them into care against their will, but having the proper forms can help with this, too. It can be a heart-wrenching choice but can sometimes also be a necessary one to protect a senior from harm.
Making End of Life Arrangements
Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy but like all things in life at the moment, COVID-19 has also made the end of life more complicated. For one, if your family member is unfortunate enough to contract COVID-19 during the end of his/her life, you should know that there are hospice services available but those services may be very limited. Hospice services have strict protocols in place in order to provide palliative services to the elderly during these uncertain times, so you may not be able to visit with your loved one in-person or you may need to follow strict rules when doing so. Even if a loved one passes away due to other circumstances, planning a funeral can also be difficult with COVID restrictions in place.
The pandemic has made everything in life a little more stressful. So if you are a family caregiver, try to show yourself some compassion as you navigate decisions. Also know when to reach out for the support or services you and your loved one need to stay healthy and afloat.
Photo Credit: Rawpixel