As the Dallas-Fort Worth areas most experienced senior care advisors, we understand how uncertain adult children feel when searching for senior housing for a parent. One question we often receive is whether adult children should visit communities on their own or bring their parent along when touring assisted living communities the first time.
Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer to this one. But there are pro’s and con’s you should be aware of as you make this decision. [Read more…]
When an aging loved one needs senior living, adult children are often shocked to learn Medicare doesn’t pay for these often steep expenses. For some families, covering the cost of care without some form of assistance just isn’t possible. One frequently overlooked program that might help bridge the gap is the Veteran’s Aid & Attendance benefit. This program is designed to help veterans and their surviving spouses access the care they need.
Understanding whether or not a loved one is eligible and working your way through the application process can be discouraging for families. [Read more…]
Dear Paul:
My dad had a bad fall at home last weekend. Because he lives alone, it was several hours before anyone found him. He suffered a concussion and a fracture to his shoulder. He will be discharged from the hospital today and is headed to an inpatient rehab center for a few weeks of therapy.
During his rehab center stay, my wife and I will be trying to find a senior living community for him to move to when he finishes his therapy. We’ve been trying to get him to make this move for several years now without success. But I think the fall frightened him and he knows he needs a change.
My brother and sister-in-law live in Virginia where they recently moved her mother to a residential care home. I haven’t heard of these before but from what they describe, it might be a good solution for my dad.
Does the Dallas/Fort Worth area have residential care homes? Can we use my Dad’s Medicare to help pay for it? This is all really new to us. [Read more…]
Dear Paul:
My mom was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease about 18 months ago. Since then my father, sister and I have worked together to try to manage her illness at home.
Our challenge is that we all work full-time. So far we’ve been able to use home care aides to help during the daytime hours when none of us can be there. But lately my mom has started wandering and it often happens during the middle of the night when my dad is trying to sleep. Even though we have an alarm system on the house and a GPS watch that allows us to quickly locate her, it has just gotten to be too much. The three of us are exhausted from trying to take turns staying up at night to keep an eye on my mom. [Read more…]
If the older adult you love is struggling to maintain their independence, you might be struggling right along with them. While they might recognize that some type of help is needed, adult children aren’t usually very familiar with the ins and outs of senior care in Dallas. And being able to identify the warning signs that indicate a move is necessary isn’t always easy either.
From expired foods in the frig to unopened bills on the counter, here are a few red flags that can signal it is time to consider a move to a Dallas assisted living community. [Read more…]