This document discusses caring for elderly parents and the aspects one needs to consider and plan for including: common forms of dementia like Alzheimer's disease, living arrangements, paying for care through programs like Medicare and Medicaid, important legal and financial documents, types of insurance, and managing expectations of both the caregiver and elderly parent. It provides advice on having open communication, collecting necessary information, and addressing both practical and emotional needs.

2. WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE
EXPECTING . . .

3. TO CARE FOR AN
ELDERLY PARENT

15. Delirium Dementia
• Develops quickly • Develops slowly
• Dramatic changes • Progression may go unnoticed
• Medication/infections • Alzheimer’s is most prevalent
• Reversible • Not reversible

16. Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease Pick’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease Huntington’s Disease
Multi-Infarcts (TIA/Stroke) Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease
HIV

17. Alzheimer’s Disease
At First:
Lack of Motivation Repetition
Loss of Memory Time Confusion
Money Misplaces Things
Misnames Hoards

18. Alzheimer’s Disease
Midway:
Behavior Changes Confusion
Poor Judgment Isolative
Restless

19. Alzheimer’s Disease
Final:
Incoherent Speech Weight Loss
Unaware of Surroundings Cries/Screams
Oppositional Incontinent

20. Medicare Medicaid
Healthcare- 65+ Healthcare- Low Income
Does not cover residence Total care
cost
Spend down
Sets rate of pay
Has several parts- A,B,C,D

21. Where to live?

22. Where to live?
• Own home
• Family
• Board and Care Home/Rest Home
• Independent Living Facility
• Assisted Living Facility
• Continuous Care Retirement Community (CCRC)
• Memory Care (Alzheimer’s)
• Skilled Nursing Facility

23. WHO PAYS?

25. NOT MEDICARE!!!
MEDICAID?

26. Important Legal Documents
• Will
• Trust
• Power of Attorney (POA)
• Advance Directives (Living Will)
• Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment
(MOST)
• Legal Guardianship
• Personal Care Contract

27. Other Important Legal Documents
• Birth Certificates • Military Discharge
Papers
• Death Certificate • Vehicle Title
• Marriage License • Insurance policies
• Social Security Card
• Property Deeds
• Drivers’ License

28. Insurance Policies
• Life • Homeowners
• Health • Renters
• Medicare Supplements • Other Property
• Dental • Flood
• Accident • Long Term Care
• Vehicles • Burial

29. What to do now????

30. Talk/Plan
• Parent
• Siblings
• Family
• Physician

31. Collect Information
• Medical
• Financial
• Insurance
• Assets
• Liabilities
• Legal

32. Collect and Copy Legal/Financial
Documents
• Power of Attorney • Driver’s License
• Birth Certificate
• Health Care Proxy • Marriage Certi
• Living Will
• M.O.S.T.
• Personal Care Contract
• Trust

33. Get Codes/Passwords/Account #’s
• Pin Numbers
• Passwords
• Voicemail Code
• Banking Account Numbers

34. Make Copies of…..
• Keys • Legal Docs
• Drivers’ License
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Insurance Cards
• Medicaid Card

35. Other Important Information
• Safe Deposit box
• Electronic transfers
• Automatic deposits
• Voicemail codes
• Email address
• Storage units and lock

36. What Elderly Want
• To be independent
• To be safe
• Help
• To be valued and validated

37. What Elderly Don’t Want
• To be told what to feel, think, do, . . .
• To be: Resented, Dismissed, Devalued
(Invalid)
• To be a burden, to bother
• To be dependent

38. Help for your elderly
• Medical needs
• Finances
• Safety
• Legal Issues
• Emotional Issues
– Losing control (bodily functions, mind)
– Losing usefulness in family/society
– Dying

39. What do the Elderly Fear
• Running out of money
• Not having a good/safe place to live
• Loneliness
• Losing control
• Being abandoned
• Losing independence
• Being sent to a nursing home – too soon
• Dying alone

40. What to plan for
• Plan for incapacitation
• Plan for nursing home
• Plan for long, extended need for your care
• Unpleasant surprises
• Death

41. Do Not Expect
• Things to get better
• Miracles
• Winning the lottery
• Everything to go smoothly
• Complete cooperation from all involved
• Everything to go away
• To be able to do it alone

42. What to expect to feel
• Overwhelmed
• Like you’re not doing enough
• Guilt
• Confused
• Caught in the middle
• Like you’re spread too thin