{"id":1195,"date":"2023-02-20T17:16:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T17:16:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=1195"},"modified":"2023-02-20T17:16:34","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T17:16:34","slug":"caregiving-for-dementia-8-key-steps-for-care-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=1195","title":{"rendered":"Caregiving for Dementia: 8 Key Steps for Care Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20370%20247'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load wp-image-1196\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9-770x433.png 770w, https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9-293x165.png 293w, https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9-390x219.png 390w, https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-9.png 1110w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Get help when planning for your loved one\u2019s dementia care. You don\u2019t have to figure it all out alone.<small>Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/alzheimers-disease\/guide\/\">Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>&nbsp;or another form of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/\">dementia<\/a>, thinking about the future can be daunting, as there\u2019s a great deal of uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, planning for how you and your family will manage life \u2014 and care needs \u2014 going forward is crucial, particularly given the progressive nature of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/causes-risk-factors\/\">causes of dementia<\/a>. Over time,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/early-signs-symptoms\/\">dementia symptoms<\/a>&nbsp;will make decision-making difficult or even impossible for the person who has it, so it\u2019s important to understand their values and desires before that time, if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Care Planning?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCare planning\u201d is a process the Alzheimer\u2019s Association describes as working with \u201cindividuals diagnosed with cognitive impairment and their caregivers\u201d to map out a strategy for care and other life needs while connecting them with the resources they need, including \u201cinformation about medical and nonmedical treatments, clinical trials, and support services available in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, the goal of care planning is to maximize the quality of life for a person with dementia, their caregiver(s), and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">People Who Plan Tend to Do Better<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne of the challenges with Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia is that these are complicated disorders \u2014 there aren\u2019t a lot of easy answers,\u201d says Beth Kallmyer, who has a master&#8217;s in social work and is vice president of care and support for the Alzheimer\u2019s Association. \u201cPeople with these diagnoses, and their caregivers, need a lot of support. And care planning can help ensure they get it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People with the dementia have fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits and better medication management when they and their caregivers engage in proper care planning, according to a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0274096\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study published in September 2022 by the journal&nbsp;<em>PLoS One<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, because dementia can complicate the management of other chronic conditions, care planning is key to coordinating a person\u2019s overall care, the Alzheimer\u2019s Association says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Medicare Coverage for Care Planning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alz.org\/help-support\/caregiving\/financial-legal-planning\/medicare\" target=\"_blank\">Medicare<\/a>\u00a0covers care planning for individuals with cognitive impairment, reimbursing health professionals to provide affected individuals and their caregivers with information about medical and nonmedical treatments, clinical trials, and available support services, according to the association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, although many hospitals and large medical practices across the country offer care planning consultation, there are many regions that lack these services. In some cases,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/living-well-with-dementia-ways-cope\/\">people with dementia<\/a>&nbsp;and their families aren\u2019t told of the need for these services or of their availability at the time of diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alzheimer\u2019s Association Helpline Available to All<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To fill these gaps, the Alzheimer\u2019s Association offers free care consultations through its 24\/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900. During care consultations, master&#8217;s-level social workers and counselors engage with families on issues such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/progression-pace-decline-varies\/\">disease progression<\/a>, care and living options, and referrals to local support services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re here whenever people have a moment or a question, whether they have been diagnosed themselves or have a loved one who has been,\u201d Kallmyer says. \u201cThey may not even be sure what they want to talk about. We\u2019ve had people call us and say, \u2018We just got a diagnosis and we\u2019re not sure what the next step should be.\u2019 And that\u2019s okay. We want to be able to answer people\u2019s questions, very specific to their unique situations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to Discuss in a Care Consultation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s or any&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/\">form of dementia<\/a>, a care consultation is \u201cinvaluable,\u201d Kallmyer adds. Here are some things you should discuss during a consultation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. When to Start Planning for Dementia Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally, the sooner you and your family can make decisions about how to manage care needs for a person with dementia, the better. This allows them to be fully engaged in the process, according to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, in the days immediately following a diagnosis, emotions may be running high, and there can also be increased stress, Kallmyer says. In short: not the best environment for making important decisions. That\u2019s why the Alzheimer\u2019s Association\u2019s helpline \u2014 or other resources you connect to \u2014 can and should be accessed multiple times, as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCare consultations are always valuable, but if people call us when they\u2019re ready, they\u2019re in a better place to activate a plan,\u201d Kallmyer notes. \u201cYou have to remember Alzheimer\u2019s is a long disease. People live for four to eight years with this disease, and may live up to 20 years. There\u2019s way too much information to give someone only at the beginning, particularly when things are going to change over time anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Who Will Take Charge of Providing the Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most important things to consider early on is who will manage the care of the person with dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Frequently, families want to keep this care \u201cin-house\u201d \u2014 meaning, they want to do it themselves \u2014 because of emotional bonds or to minimize disruptions to \u201cnormal\u201d life in the household. However, not all family members can handle the care needs of a person with dementia on their own. Not only can trained care counselors prepare caregivers for what to expect, they can also help determine whether or not the designated caregiver is up to the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOften with spousal caregiving, you have older people involved, and they may not be able to handle certain situations, such as if there\u2019s a fall or the person in their care becomes aggressive,\u201d Kallmyer says. \u201cIn those situations, the health of the caregiver can be impacted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alzheimer\u2019s Association care counselors are also trained to assist with \u201cfamily challenges,\u201d she adds. \u201cWe frequently have people call and say, \u2018My brother said he would step up, but he hasn\u2019t. What can I do?\u2019 We can offer them guidance on these issues,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Changing Care Needs as Dementia Progresses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Care planning for a person with dementia doesn\u2019t stop with the initial process, as needs change as the condition progresses. Kallmyer advises those with dementia and their families to reevaluate plans periodically, based on the symptoms experienced by the person with dementia and changes in the lives of primary caregivers. That\u2019s why care counseling is needed throughout the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Looking Into Long-Term Care, at Home or in a Facility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People diagnosed with dementia and their families should start considering long-term care needs as soon as possible following the diagnosis, even if they plan to provide care at home initially, according to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Importantly, long-term care doesn\u2019t mean the person with dementia has to leave home and move into a facility. These services can also be provided within the home, by trained professionals, particularly if the person with dementia starts exhibiting behaviors such as aggression and wandering, as these can make the home unsafe for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, people who require full-time care can also move to an assisted living, nursing home, or residential facility if that\u2019s better for them and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Legal Documents You\u2019ll Need to Plan Appropriate Medical Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of care planning also includes how the person with dementia\u2019s medical care will be handled as they age and their symptoms progress. These decisions should be spelled out in \u201cadvance directives,\u201d which are legal documents that indicate your preferences and apply only if a person is unable to make decisions themselves. Advance directives guide doctors and other providers as to how to manage medical care for the person with dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Care counselors can also guide you and your family on the best approach for documents such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A living will, which lets doctors know how you want to be treated if you\u2019re dying or permanently unconscious and cannot make your own decisions about emergency treatment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A durable power of attorney for healthcare, which names a family member or friend as a \u201cproxy\u201d to make medical decisions for you in these circumstances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A do not intubate (DNI) order, which advises medical staff that you don\u2019t want to be placed on a breathing machine if you can\u2019t breathe on your own<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A do not resuscitate (DNR) order, which tells healthcare professionals not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other life-support procedures if your heart or lungs stop working<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Financial Matters: Covering the Cost of Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Care counselors can guide families as to best approaches for ensuring that a person with dementia has the resources to cover the costs of needed care. Care counselors can connect families with financial assistance programs, and guide them on how to make the most of Medicare and private insurance coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, they can advise them on the best way to approach important documents such as a will and a durable power of attorney for finances, which appoints someone (usually a family member) to be in charge of financial decisions for you when you\u2019re incapacitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. How to Get the House Ready<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Care counselors can also guide you on any home modifications that may be needed when a member of the family has been diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease or any form of dementia. This can include changes designed to minimize falls as well as reducing the risk for other potential hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. How and Where to Find Emotional Support for Caregivers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s disease or any form of dementia can take a toll emotionally. So can caring for a loved one with these conditions. That\u2019s why the Alzheimer\u2019s Association National Helpline provides emotional support for people with these diagnoses as well as their proxies and caregivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.caregiver.org\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Family Caregiver Alliance<\/a>&nbsp;can also connect caregivers to local public and nonprofit programs and services that provide emotional and other forms of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caregiver stress and burnout are common. Many caregivers also develop mental health problems such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/anxiety\/anxiety-and-depression.aspx\">anxiety and depression<\/a>. Care counseling can help guide families as to whether support is needed and, if so, the best places to obtain it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOften, we\u2019re just there to be able to talk and listen,\u201d Kallmyer says of the Association\u2019s helpline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The importance of that support is highlighted by research. In a study of nearly 500 adults who called the Alzheimer\u2019s Association\u2019s National Helpline,\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0738399120305243\" target=\"_blank\">published in the April 2021 issue of the journal\u00a0<em>Patient Education and Counseling<\/em><\/a>, callers reported improved mental health. In addition, within one week of their call, 70 percent had implemented action steps in place. More than 80 percent of callers reported action steps were \u201chelpful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/caregiving-for-dementia-key-steps-for-care-planning\/\">https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/dementia\/caregiving-for-dementia-key-steps-for-care-planning\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with&nbsp;Alzheimer\u2019s disease&nbsp;or another form of&nbsp;dementia, thinking about the future can be daunting, as there\u2019s a great deal of uncertainty. However, planning for how you and your family will manage life \u2014 and care needs \u2014 going forward is crucial, particularly given the progressive nature of the&nbsp;causes of dementia. Over time,&nbsp;dementia symptoms&nbsp;will make decision-making difficult or even impossible for the person who has it, so it\u2019s important to understand their values and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conditions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1195"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1197,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195\/revisions\/1197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}