How do you care from afar when your loved one is elderly & chronically ill? (Part 5 of 5)
This is the last part of my 5 part my long-distance family caregiving series. In recent weeks we have been covering the story of a lady named Sally who has several health problems, has been hospitalized quite a bit, and is at risk of being placed into a long-term care facility. She wants to remain in her home and have care delivered to her instead of moving into a retirement community. Unfortunately, her out-of-state son does not have a care plan, and he is too far to be able to manage his mother’s affairs. So far in this series, we have learned the exact steps that I have used to help Sally remain independent in her home, stay out of the emergency room, manage her chronic illnesses and thrive. I started with a long-term care survey, then I built the caregiving team of professionals, and then I created an intensive in-home caregiving program for her. The final step is to make her a long-term care plan.
Here are the components of a good long-term care plan.
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A long-term care survey that identifies the wishes of the care recipient (Sally desires to have care delivered into her home rather than relocate into a long-term care community)
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A wellness-promoting caregiving program
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A caregiving budget. For her, the cost of care is $35-$40/hour based on the length of the shifts for the first two to three months where she is receiving an intensive nursing-grade type of in-home care. As she regains her mobility, the cost of care is reduced to $27- $29/hour.
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A family caregiving toolbox containing legal documents, a respite plan, and an emergency preparedness plan.
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A milestones care guide that shows the possible healthcare changes and the action plan that the family could take if things change.
If someone you love needs care, please call or email. Stay well, be safe and thank you for what you do as a family caregiver.
– Katie Klem, Owner, Comfort Makers, 503-369-2460
