It was the middle of the night when she got the call from the police department. They were calling because they found her dad walking along the country road confused, trying to find his way home. What he was doing out in the middle of the night, she may never know, but this was the point when she knew he needed help on a daily basis. Looking back, there were other signs, too, that he needed help at home. He wasn’t taking his medication correctly and bills weren’t getting paid on time. For all of us, watching a loved one lose physical and mental abilities is a difficult part of life, but one we all need to keep an eye out for.

We give a lot of credit for learning about the aging process to training with the Society of Certified Senior Advisors, explained Nolan. This organization, which Nolan belongs to, helps professionals focus on the health, social and financial aspects affecting seniors. Probably one of the biggest impacts this organization has had is teaching how to identify resources when help is needed. According to its Web site, www.society-csa.com, “We believe that the right kind of planning, recommendations and referrals can make aging a state to be savored instead of a fate to be feared.”

According to Elder Care USA, www.eldercareusa.com, an organization that Mark belongs to, “Elder Care is replacing child care as the No. 1 issue baby-boomers face. As this trend continues, companies are losing up to $33 billion a year due to decreases in productivity, high turnover, and absenteeism.” So even if this isn’t affecting someone in your immediate family, this crisis has become an epidemic that affects us all in one way or another.

Caregivers are often times loved ones like spouses and other family members, a friend or someone from church, or professional organizations that can step in and help when you get in over your head. Caregiving can be a very rewarding role that builds a closer bond. At other times, it can be a very stressful situation. Oftentimes, you have your normal daily activities, and the new role can be a full-time job. Plus, you may be in a situation where the one you love isn’t the way you remember and watching these changes can be painful and something you tend to avoid.

We talked with Angie Parker, director of operations for Homewatch CareGivers of NW Ohio and asked her about the signs to look for when a loved one needs care at home. She said to pay attention if mom and dad are making calls at odd hours. Also, note if one or two falls has occurred in the past 60 days, or if they aren’t taking medicine and normal things are not getting done.

Emotionally watch for when they are tired, don’t feel good, depressed, and just seem down and out. You also should watch out for the healthy spouses and make sure they aren’t getting too exhausted. If you notice two or more signs of things happening, it is time for a closer look.

If you want to be supportive, be the son, daughter or spouse, not the primary caregiver. Angie pointed out that family can bombard someone who needs care. This can force them into giving up and create additional stress for all involved. Instead, talk about how a strong pair of hands will help them stay in control. Just because a companion and some assistance is brought in doesn’t mean a nursing home will be needed. Instead, it often is just the opposite. This support can help keep them out of a facility. Spend your time helping them live their life with a purpose.

If you find yourself in a situation where a loved one may need help or you are already in the role as a caregiver, help is available. Realize that getting in over your head may not be healthy emotionally, physically and financially for all involved. Avoiding the concerns and needs can lead to a crisis.

Bring in care before it’s too late. Several resources and additional information about local forums are listed on our Web site and will be discussed in more depth on our radio show.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at noon on 1230 WCWA and every Sunday at 11 a.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysradio.com. Securities are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Retirement Guys, Toledo Business Link.
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