Gradually, or sometimes suddenly, it happens… we can’t keep up with household chores, we can’t see the street signs to drive safely, we give up cooking or we can’t walk without holding on to the furniture.  And it begins, a nagging fear that we’re losing our independence.  In fact, loss of independence is the biggest fear among seniors.  So what is the typical senior response?  Pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and keep on going, of course!  Call in the kids to help out!  Unfortunately, the kids have spouses and children of their own.  And they have full time jobs, not to mention they live out of town.  It’s time for a new strategy.

Many seniors are finding the solution to remaining independent at home lies outside the family circle with paid caregivers.  Steve Everhart, president of The Senior’s Choice explains, “Most seniors find caregivers in two ways.  The old way is to run a classified ad or hire through a temporary service.  The senior bears all the “employer” responsibility for this kind of caregiver.  These folks are usually less expensive but there’s a lot of risk involved in hiring them,” Everhart says.

The downside is:

• It‘s difficult to find the right person.
• You are responsible for performing a criminal background check
• You are responsible for finding a replacement if the caregiver is absent
• You bear the burden for withholding payroll taxes, and providing state mandated worker’s compensation coverage.
• You bear the burden for liability problems like theft from or damage to your property.

The new way is to contract with a Companion Care Agency.  These private agencies provide “in-home, non-medical care.”  The number of agencies is growing quickly to meet the demands of a fast-growing senior population.  They provide a wide range of services including light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, transportation, shopping & errands, and assistance with personal care.  These one on one services can continue should the senior move into assisted living or even a nursing facility or hospital.”

Companion Care is usually available anywhere from a few hours up to 24 hours a day.  Payment is private pay and may be covered by long term care insurance policies.

Some questions Everhart suggests you ask a Companion Care agency:

1. Do they have references from other clients?
2. What services do they provide?
3. What training/experience do the caregivers have?
4. How do they supervise their caregivers?
5. Are the caregivers bonded and covered by workers compensation insurance?
6. What is the schedule for service?
7. What if I have a problem with a caregiver?
8. Does the agency have an emergency or after-hours phone number?
9. What are the financial arrangements?
10. Who owns the agency? Is it part of a larger organization?
11. Are the caregivers employees held accountable by the agency or  are they independent contractors accountable to no one?
12. Does the agency carry Professional Liability Insurance?

The Pros:

• Service is easily customized for each client’s needs.
• Extensive hours available.
• Staff is screened and supervised.
• Agency is responsible for all employer tasks like payroll, taxes, liability insurance, workers compensation, bonding.
• Agency is responsible for providing a replacement should the assigned caregiver fail to arrive or need a day off.

Everhart says, “This service is more expensive than independent caregivers but the right agency will provide the most customizable, reliable, worry free, in- home service available.”

by AnNita Klimecka, The Senior’s Choice, Inc.

We have a booth at the Seniors Expo being held at the wonderful Treasure Island Resort & Casino located in Red Wing, MN.  The expo is on September 16th and 17th from 9 am to 3 pm.

Please visit the Seniors Expo website for more information and to print out a valuable 1/2 price coupon.

Hope to see you there!

Lately in the papers and on the news, you may have seen incidences of elder abuse.  Tens of thousands of seniors across the United States are being abused: harmed in some substantial way often by the people who are directly responsible for their care, often in their own homes.

What is Elder Abuse?

 Elder abuse can take many forms.  These types of abuse are broadly defined as follows:

• Physical Abuse - Inflicting, or threatening to inflict, physical pain or injury on a vulnerable elder, or depriving them of a basic need.
• Emotional Abuse - Inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts.
• Sexual Abuse - Non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
• Financial Exploitation - Illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a vulnerable elder.
• Neglect - Refusal or failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care or protection for a vulnerable elder.
• Abandonment - The desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.

If you suspect an elderly neighbor or a relative is a victim of abuse, occurring within the City of Saint Paul, you can call the Ramsey County Adult Protection Service (RCAPS) intake line at 651-266-4012.  Alternatively, you may call the St. Paul Police Department at 651-291-1111 and a squad will be dispatched to take your report.  The police department and RCAPS cross report cases of elder abuse, notifying each other of cases of elder abuse.  Although the St. Paul Police Department does not currently have a designated Elder Abuse Unit, it is taking steps to formally create this unit in the very near future.  In the mean time, cases of elder abuse are investigated by multiple units.  The Family Sexual Violence Unit (FSVU) investigates cases of elder abuse involving physical, sexual, or emotional abuse as well as cases of criminal neglect.  FSVU can be contacted by calling 651-266-5676.  Financial Exploitation cases are investigated by the Fraud and Forgery Unit.  Fraud and Forgery can be reached by calling 651-266-5734.

(District 2 News, July 2009)

Additional information from the St. Paul Police Department-
http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=8944

“For seniors who worry about falling, suffering from a stroke or other severe life threatening medical episode when they are at home alone” said Barry Siebert, the owner of Graceful Living Home Care, “a non-response to a Safe Senior call may save their life.”

Safe Senior can also be programmed to make automated medication reminders.  Up to six medication call reminders per day can be programmed to remind seniors to take their medication on a timely basis.  Seniors can endanger themselves if they forget to take or take too much medication. Safe Senior makes the call as follows, “Hello, this is Safe Senior calling.  It’s time for you to take your medication.  Have you taken your (medication names)?” and if the senior says yes, Safe Senior thanks them and hangs up.

“Safe Senior really helps enhance and enrich the lives of seniors who wish to remain at home independently and at the same time, allows the senior to feel that someone is caring for them and looking in them on a regular basis without the feeling of being intruded upon.”  Siebert explained, “The seniors control the number of times and the times they want to be called.”

Safe Senior has a number of safeguards built into the system.  For instance, if a wellness call is not answered, up to three more calls at 30 minute intervals will be made before a call and e-mail is made to a listed relative or friend.

For more information about Safe Senior or to sign up for free service if you are a Twin Cities resident, please visit Safe Senior.