Caregivers

Caregiver Surrogate Program is usually triggered after an out-of-state adult child visits their single parent in Florida. It soon becomes obvious that Mom is beginning to exhibit early signs of dementia. She may even have had a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.  You will then have a heated discussion about her safety and well being.

She will usually consent as a compromise  to someone visiting every so often to see if she needs any help. This is where we take over and have been very successful.  The parent in the beginning puts up with it to please their child.  But if we do our job correctly, soon we have gained her trust and she looks forward to the company.

We will watch for the signs and help your loved one deal with the small problems as they develop.  You will be kept informed every step of the way by e-mail or phone.  As the situation changes we will be there to help you sort out the difficult decisions ahead.

Caregiver Support and Education is directed at those who care for family and friends that have dementia. The stress experienced by dementia and Alzheimer caregivers is extreme and often times fatal. 

We help the caregiver reduce stress through practical problem solving, support group interactions, development of a long term care plan, and by making ourselves available to listen and help negotiate a way forward in the midst of terrible choices and worse alternatives. 

Clinicians and doctors will deal with the health of your loved one.  We are here to help you cope with this horrible disease and still preserve a measure of independence for yourself and your family.

Practical problem solving is an area where experience is the only teacher. Getting a loved one to take a pill or go to the doctor can be a real task. Taking away the car keys or being asked the same question over and over again can turn into an unrelenting argument. Personal hygiene problems, mood swings, and outlandish accusations are all part of the dementia landscape.

We teach through experience how to better cope with these and other situations in an effort to reduce stress and give some relief to those that care so much.

Support group interaction is an important part of the mix.  In some situations day care is available on site, allowing the caregiver to participate without worrying about what might be happening at home. 

The caregiver soon finds out that they are not alone.  They will receive immediate help with today’s problems and will be given an overview of what they could face in the future. It is a safe place to vent your feelings and to accept the help from those who truly understand.

The Family Care Plan is an intense look at family, friends, relationships, finances, medical treatment, legal documents, and many other resources. This will allow us to plan for the future in a way that is realistic and pragmatic.

It will tell us who can help and who will help. What we can afford and what we really need. It speaks to the safety of the house and changes that will make it more manageable.

It forces the caregiver to collect all the names, numbers, accounts, legal documents, pin numbers, social security information and arrange it in an orderly manner, readily available when the time comes. It makes sure that all resources are available when tough decisions need to be made. 

The alternative is to wait for the crisis that will demand  these details and much more.

SUMMARY

This brief outline offers examples of some techniques used to help caregivers cope and succeed.  Although a face to face meeting between caregiver and facilitator has great value, all of the elements of the program can we worked over the phone or by e-mail.  The important message is that you begin to plan and receive help.

We understand and are ready to listen. No one should go through this alone. 

LICENSED–INSURED-BONDED