Unveiling the Assessment Process

At Caring Considerations/ Aging Life Care Managers®, we understand the intricate challenges families face while caring for seniors. Our assessments will create a roadmap for balanced, enriched, healthy living. We confront obstacles, align goals, and ensure documentation of your healthcare.  Assessment can mean different things to you and to us.  Here’s our most common approach.

Through targeted questions and the gathering of information, we uncover your unique situation:

Health Snapshot: Medical history and recent physician visits.
Medication Check: Medication list and reviewing management systems.
Safe Spaces: Home assessment for secure aging.
Wellness: Nutrition and overall health.
Legal Review: Your documentation for incapacity planning.
Emotional Insights: Psychosocial understanding.
Future Readiness: Funeral plans and crisis prevention.
Create a Plan of Care and Informed Steps Ahead…

Our assessment also covers these crucial aspects:

Defining Goals: Your aspirations and their aspirations.
Addressing Concerns: Primary worries and fears.
Visualizing Success: Ideal outcomes for your family.
Effective Strategies: Past successes and failures.
Family Dynamics: Understanding inter-family conversations.
Comprehensive, Electronic Health Documentation…

We finish an assessment by providing a verbal and email report packed with insights and actionable recommendations.

What’s your definition of an assessment? We want to know how we can elevate your family’s quality of life. Contact us at 571-488-9396  [email protected]

Aging in Place vs. Senior Living

Yes, senior living can be the answer for many when it comes to loneliness, but parents have the right to make decisions. We are very independent beings and many of our aging parents are not prepared to live in a senior living community. For them, aging in  place is the best option.

Our response to this need and desire? A Life Enrichment program. Here’s what Caring Considerations will do to help reduce isolation.

We Want To Get To Know You

The in-person, Life Enrichment sessions are customized to meet the specific interests of seniors in ways that are meaningful and relevant. Clients typically receive weekly visits, but we will discuss a schedule to meet a loved-one’s desires.

What Are Life Enrichment Visits?

We provide hourly curated engagement, recreation, and social activities as part of a holistic Aging Life Care® plan.

Physical

• Workout buddy – PT prescribed exercises and seated exercise videos
• Walking Companion

Creative

• Writing
• Craft projects
• Reminiscing & conversation

Brain Fitness

• Math Brain Boost
• Trivia (variety of topics: sports, movies, country specific, holidays)
• Word puzzles

In our Aging Life Care® consulting practice, we witness numerous lingering issues resulting from the COVID lockdown.  Older adults want to remain independent, but often lack the insight and energy to incorporate more social opportunities.  The isolation imposed by the lockdown is perpetual and increasingly a barrier to  seniors returning to the life they enjoyed prior to the pandemic.

An Added Benefit

When your parent doesn’t want to move to assisted living, but you worry about them, Life Enrichment visits can be a non-threatening “check-in.”  Although we don’t provide personal care, we can provide feedback about your loved one’s overall well-being.

Contact Us

To learn about this program and more, call 571-488-9396 or email us at [email protected].

Selecting a home care company can be a little like a walk in the dark. There are thousands of across the country and probably hundreds to choose from where you live. How do you choose?

1. Select a small or large company? Do they utilize company employees or a registry for aides? You will probably want to go through a well-known agency. This does not necessarily mean a large franchise is the best choice. Ask what the advantages or disadvantages are when you interview each location’s representative.

WHY ASK?  Small or large, whichever company you choose, do your homework. Are they licensed? In Virginia, for example, an office location is required to be licensed by the state.  Ask about the management staff, schedulers, and support teams. Learn how they operate. The most important thing is to like the management staff when comparing companies. 

It is extremely important to ask the agency if they are licensed by their state and if they conduct both state and national criminal background checks on the caregivers as well as conduct drug tests and check their driving record.  Currently, with the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, it is equally important to ask for the best practices that agency has in place to keep both their caregivers and clients as safe as possible from the spread of the virus.

 -Staff person for a local Agency

2. What services are and are not provided? Make sure they can accommodate all the needs of your loved one.

WHY ASK? Understanding services offered will help prevent miscommunications. Get it in writing. Customer service is as important as comparing cost. Do they answer the phone 24 hours a day?

3. How does the agency assess each caregiver’s capabilities? What is their proficiency level in basic care. What are their strengths and weaknesses? The interests the caregiver has also plays a role in finding a good fit for their clients.

WHY ASK? You will need to compare and determine how satisfied you are with the answer to these types of questions. Cumulative responses to the questions give you a better understanding of what to expect.

4. What screenings are performed before hiring? Federal and state criminal background checks? Drug screening?

WHY ASK? You may want to check the licensing status of any C.N.A. (Certified Nurse’s Aide) with their license number through the state.

5. Tell me about the training you provide? Ask for details and the schedule for required and in-house training. When was the last in-service training and what was the topic? Do you offer First Aid/CPR or dementia training?

WHY ASK? Agencies should be able to describe how, when, and what training they provide.

6. What is the procedure if there is ever a suspicion or accusation of theft or abuse? They should not only tell you their procedures, but also provide you with the phone number for the Elder Abuse Hotline.

WHY ASK? Any personal service business should have a grievance policy. Ask what’s been done in the past. Keep in mind that YOU are responsible for securing valuables and sensitive information and keeping a record of belongings. Those living with dementia may consider something stolen when it may have simply been misplaced. Reducing clutter helps.

7. How do you keep to a minimum the number of employees who are part of my loved one’s care team? What happens when a caregiver is ill? Will you be able to provide another aide or will I need my own back-up plan?

WHY ASK? Agencies will do their best to minimize change, but agencies are required to pay overtime to anyone working more than 40 hours. Families are usually asked to pay for the overtime. To avoid higher rates, multiple caregivers may be more cost-effective.

8. If we are not satisfied with a care team member, will the agency provide someone else?

WHY ASK? This is an important question because many families may not know they have a choice. The right fit is important.  Keep in mind, it may never be perfect, and caregivers may transition from time-to-time.

9. Does the agency evaluate the quality of their provided care on a regular basis? How is it done, when is it done, and who conducts the evaluation?

WHY ASK? In the state of Virginia, home care companies are required to have a Registered nurse (RN) visit the client every ninety (90) days. Most do it more frequently.

Family advocacy is important. The role of a Home Care company is not to provide advocacy for or management of a loved-one’s overall life.  Their role is to employ and supervise aides.

If an older adult doesn’t have enough family support, they can benefit from an Aging Life Care™ Manager who provides 24/7 response, medical advocacy, and care coordination. Want to learn more? Contact us.

Many of us often make mistakes when communicating with people who are living with dementia. It’s a learning process, but here are a few key practices which may help you. Remember, those living with dementia have a disease and cannot control their behavior. Their reasoning and logic skills are impaired. Changing our approach can reassure them and reduce anxiety.

Try these tips for successful interactions.  Above all, empathize.

1. REDIRECTION

• Be patient. To redirect is to lead. People prefer to follow someone they trust and enjoy, not someone who frightens or shames them.
• Use a calm, friendly tone. Make sure your body language reflects your soothing words.
• Avoid arguing or using reason. Do not say “Mom, if you do that, you’ll fall!” People with dementia lose the ability to follow logic. This is not an effective motivator. It only makes them defensive, which is counterproductive.

2. VALIDATION

• Enter their reality. Validation works through empathy, building trust, and developing a sense of security. If they believe their Mother is still living, ask them to describe Mom rather than say their Mother died years ago.
• Acknowledge their feelings. Do not argue. Instead, acknowledge their frustration and fear. Let them know you recognize their anxiety. Start with, “That must be upsetting.” instead of, “You’re wrong about that.”
• Dealing with paranoia. Do not dismiss their comments with “That’s not true.” Instead say, “I’ll help you with that problem.”  Recognize that although hallucinations can be disturbing, they are very real for those living with dementia. Empathize and reassure.

3. FIBS/LIES

• Last resort. You must know your family member to know if fibs/lies will be helpful to reduce anxiety, help by redirecting them.

I knew a daughter who received multiple phone calls from her Mother daily.  “Have you seen my sweater?  Do you have my sweater?”. After a lot of frustration and multiple times of saying “No, Mom.”, she  finally just said, “Yes Mom.  I have your sweater.”  She said, “Ok” and hung up.

•  When therapeutic fibs don’t work. If a person is suspicious, do not use fibs/lies. They can cause an escalation in the situation and distrust in current or future interactions.

4. TRUTH

• Share the truth. We often try to protect those with dementia by not telling them the truth. Not sharing the full truth can be frustrating and lead to agitation. Sometimes, calmly telling the truth can help the person. Communication practices should take into consideration the stage of dementia.
• The truth is better. In early stages of dementia, the truth is better.
• When the truth is better left unsaid. If what you share with them will only make them sad or experience emotional pain they will not remember later, it is not always best to be truthful. It’s not helpful to make someone re-live sad moments by being truthful.  In these cases, try to change the subject.

A FEW MORE TIPS

• What might be causing the behavior? Are they uncomfortable? Are they in pain? Thirsty?
• What caused the behavior? What did you learn that will help for next time? How did you respond? What did you do right? What might you try next time?
• Allow free-will. Do not restrict or try to stop a behavior unless it is harmful. Use the techniques above to prevent harm.

A consultation may help you cope with a loved-one who is experiencing certain behaviors.  Call or e-mail to learn more. 571-488-9396  [email protected]

It can be a little confusing. Both terms use the word care.  When an older adult needs help, we commonly think of someone who can come to the home and help around the house. They are known as Aides (or caregivers, certified nurse’s aides, companion, private duty aides).  While this is true, isn’t it also true that older adults need help with more complex tasks such as advocacy, coordinating services, medication, Dr. appointments, managing finances, emergencies, etc.?  Are Aides expected to perform those tasks?

The answer is no.  A son or daughter would usually perform those higher-level duties. But what if an older adult didn’t have family support?  (We’ll get to that later.)

Here’s what an Aide would be doing:

Many family members help with personal care (ADLs) and Care Management. Care Management which can be described as all the other aspects of life: advocacy, care coordination, Dr. appointments, decision support, medication management, and being available 24/7 for an emergency.

Here’s what Care Management would be doing:

Consultations are a big part of Care Management. Individuals and families are often faced with a learning curve to solve problems and concerns such as,

• “Would all of our lives be better if she were in an assisted living?”
• “How can I get him to accept help?”
• “How do I handle worsening memory loss ?”
• “Am I doing the right things?”
• “Who will be there for me as I age?”

For those who do not have enough family support, there are major benefits to hiring an Aging Life Care™ Professional. As we age it’s important to have healthcare advocacy and other support 24/7. Care Management will help create a team of reputable experts to keep everyone in check and focused on the best results for the client. Think of us as surrogate daughters with vast knowledge in aging well!

Caring Considerations 571-488-9396  [email protected]

*Aging Life Care™ Professional, Certified Care Manager and/or RN, Licensed Social Worker

I often find our local, northern Virginia government confusing and overwhelming.  We hope that if you need mental health resources that you will contact our Aging Life Care Professionals at 571-488-9396 or reach out to the entities below:

Local Resources:

• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board offers help for mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities. Click here for a flyer on getting help during COVID-19, or call 703-383-8500 for more information and to apply for services.

• Prince William County Community Services Board provides mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse, emergency services and early intervention programs for residents of Prince William County. You can visit their website for more information, or call 703-792-7373 (Woodbridge) or 703-792-5241 (Manassas) if you need assistance.

• PRS provides skills training and supports to individuals living with mental illness, substance use disorders, mild intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders  throughout Northern Virginia and in the District of Columbia. For more information on services offered in Virginia, call 703-536-9000 or click here.

• If you need mental health support, or assistance with other essentials like finding food and paying rent/mortgage, dial 211 to be connected with someone who can help.

For Immediate Help:

• Disaster Distress Helpline. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S. experiencing distress or other behavioral health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including public health emergencies.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or click here to chat online. Offers 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

• Caregiver Help Desk. Contact Caregiver Action Network’s Care Support Team by dialing 855-227-3640. Staffed by caregiving experts, the Help Desk helps you find the right information you need to help you navigate your complex caregiving challenges. Caregiving experts are available 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM ET.  
•   If you are in an emergency, call 911.

For LGBTQ+ Individuals:

• LGBT National Help Center. Call 800-246-7743 or visit glbthotline.org. Offers a talkline and weekly chatrooms for youth, providing confidential peer-support, information, local resources and community. 

• The Trevor Project. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth.

• Trans Lifeline. Dial 877-565-8860. Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support service run by trans people, for trans and questioning callers.

For Survivors of Assault and Abuse:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline. For any victims and survivors who need support, call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.

• The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline
  Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

For Veterans

• Veteran Crisis Line. Call 1-(800) 273-8255 and press 1, text 838255, or click here to reach a qualified responder with the VA.

• Department of Veterans Affairs. Click here for a resource guide to help veterans manage stress during the pandemic.

Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other, and remember that my office is here to help. Be sure to visit the COVID-19 page on my website for more information and resources. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us at (703) 256-3071.

Sincerely,

Gerald E. Connolly
Member of Congress