A Family Caregiver's Guide to Planning and Decision Making for the Elderly

by Wilkinson, James

• ISBN13: 9781577490777
• ISBN10: 1577490770
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-07-27
• Publisher: Fairview Press

Summary

Easy-to-use checklists and inventories direct caregivers in gathering the specific and thorough information that professionals, such as doctors, pharmacists, attorneys, social workers, and accountants, need in order to provide proper assistance to the elderly. Among the topics covered are planning for institutional care, handling Medicare and Medicaid, assessing financial status, and writing a living will.

Author Biography

James A. Wilkinson is an attorney specializing in health law. He is currently the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Meritcare

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	viii	(1)
How to Use This Book	ix	(1)
Introduction	x
Chapter 1. Caregiving and the Elderly	1	(2)
Eldercare	1	(1)
Three Elements of Caregiving	2	(1)
Chapter 2. Making a Financial Assessment	3	(52)
The Four-Step Process	3	(3)
Collecting Vital Information	6	(28)
What You Need to Know	6	(1)
How to Use the Vital Information Form	6	(1)
Vital Information Checklist	7	(2)
Vital Information Form	9	(25)
Understanding Finances	34	(21)
What You Need to Know	34	(1)
Before You Begin...	34	(1)
How to Use the Financial Worksheets	34	(1)
How to Use the Monthly Expense Forms	35	(1)
Monthly Expense Form: Bill Payments	36	(1)
Monthly Expense Form: Cash Transactions	37	(1)
Medical Charges and Payments Form	38	(1)
Financial Worksheet: Part 1	39	(9)
Financial Worksheet: Part 2	48	(7)
Chapter 3. Collecting Medical Information	55	(24)
Documenting Medical History	56	(12)
What You Need to Know	56	(1)
How to Use the Basic Medical Information and Medical History Forms	56	(1)
Basic Medical Information	57	(5)
Medical History	62	(6)
Keeping Track of Medications	68	(8)
What You Need to Know	68	(1)
Usage Guidelines	68	(1)
Pharmacists	69	(1)
How to Use the Medication Forms	69	(1)
Medication List	70	(3)
Medication Summary	73	(1)
Medication Schedule	74	(2)
Activities of Daily Living	76	(3)
What You Need to Know	76	(1)
How to Use the Activities of Daily Living Checklist	76	(1)
Activities of Daily Living Checklist	77	(2)
Chapter 4. Caring for the Elderly at Home	79	(40)
Making a Home Safe for the Elderly	79	(17)
What You Need to Know	79	(1)
How to Use the Home Safety Checklists	79	(2)
Home Safety Checklists	81	(1)
Lighting and Electrical Checklist	82	(1)
Rug, Carpet, and Stair Checklist	83	(1)
Floor Checklist	84	(1)
Handhold and Support Checklist	85	(2)
Furniture and Accessories Checklist	87	(2)
Door, Window, Lock, and Alarm Checklist	89	(2)
Kitchen Checklist	91	(1)
Bathroom Checklist	92	(1)
Other Safety Concerns Checklist	93	(1)
Personal Safety Precautions	94	(2)
Assessing the Risk of Living at Home	96	(3)
What You Need to Know	96	(1)
What to Look For	96	(2)
A Geriatric Assessment	98	(1)
Assisting an Elderly Person Who Lives at Home	99	(5)
What You Need to Know	99	(1)
Assistive Devices	99	(1)
Volunteer Caregivers	100	(1)
Hiring a Professional	101	(1)
Services Available for the Elderly	101	(3)
Planning Home Healthcare	104	(3)
What You Need to Know	104	(2)
Arranging Care after a Hospital Stay	106	(1)
Monitoring Home Healthcare	106	(1)
Planning Home Care and Housekeeping Services	107	(4)
What You Need to Know	107	(1)
How to Use the Home Care and Housekeeping Form	108	(1)
Home Care and Housekeeping Form	109	(2)
Selecting In-Home Care Providers	111	(4)
What You Need to Know	111	(1)
Before You Begin...	111	(2)
How to Choose a Provider	113	(1)
Hiring the Provider	114	(1)
Caregiving from a Distance	115	(4)
What You Need to Know	115	(1)
Finding Local Resources	115	(1)
Visiting the Elderly	116	(1)
Preparing for Future Caregiving Decisions	117	(1)
Emergency Planning	118	(1)
Chapter 5. Alternative Housing Options	119	(46)
Exploring the Choices	119	(10)
What You Need to Know	119	(1)
Continuum of Care	120	(1)
Housing Options Summarized	120	(1)
Independent Housing	121	(3)
Residential Housing	124	(3)
Moving In with the Caregiver	127	(2)
Choosing Appropriate Housing	129	(3)
What You Need to Know	129	(1)
How to Use the Housing Selection Form	129	(2)
Housing Selection Form	131	(1)
How to Find Independent Housing	132	(9)
What You Need to Know	132	(1)
How to Use the Independent Housing Form	132	(1)
Independent Housing Form	133	(8)
How to Find Residential Housing	141	(24)
What You Need to Know	141	(1)
Before You Begin...	142	(1)
How to Find the Right Facility	143	(3)
Admission: Knowing If You've Made the Right Choice	146	(1)
When to Move to a Different Facility	147	(1)
Paying for Nursing Homes	148	(4)
HCFA Nursing Home Checklist	152	(3)
Residential Housing Form	155	(10)
Chapter 6. Advance Directives and Values History	165	(24)
What Is an Advance Directive?	165	(2)
Why Complete an Advance Directive?	165	(1)
How Does an Advance Directive Work?	166	(1)
Personal Values and Beliefs	166	(1)
Preparing a General Power of Attorney	167	(2)
Preparing a Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney	169	(5)
Preparing a Living Will	174	(2)
Values History: Helping the Elderly Make Their Wishes Known	176	(13)
What You Need to Know	176	(1)
How to Use the Values History Form	176	(1)
Values History Form	177	(12)
Chapter 7. Resources	189	(70)
Choosing Professionals	189	(3)
Doctors and Clergy	189	(1)
Geriatric Care Managers	189	(1)
Financial Planners	190	(1)
Lawyers	191	(1)
Collecting Key Documents	192	(22)
Document Checklist	194	(3)
Document Collection Form	197	(17)
Telephone Contact Lists	214	(11)
Emergency Contacts	215	(2)
Caregiver Emergency Contacts	217	(1)
General Contact List	218	(3)
Caregiver Information	221	(1)
Networking and References List	222	(1)
Family and Friends List	223	(1)
Volunteers List	224	(1)
Other Sources of Information	225	(34)
Organization and Hotlines	225	(16)
State Area Agencies on Aging and Ombudsman Offices	241	(12)
Home Healthcare Hotlines	253	(2)
Internet Sites	255	(4)
Index	259