Should You Remove Your Loved One from Their Nursing Home?

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Uncertainty can breed fear, particularly when it comes to caring options for a loved one currently in a nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing the questions like how long this health crisis will last and will there be secondary, or even more waves of infection, give pause to those with loved ones in these vulnerable nursing home environments. Whether it is your mother, father, or spouse, you are considering moving; there is no right or wrong answer, only choices because all decisions come from a place of love. It is never wrong to try to help those you love to be better protected. Here are some things to consider about changing your loved one’s residence during this pandemic.

The truth is that bringing a cherished family member home is a complicated decision because it is both emotional and fraught with unknown consequences that have real-life ramifications about life and death. If you were to move your spouse or parent home, are you and is your home environment suited to caring for them? If they are on Medicaid, will they allow your loved one to be released and then reinstated in the future? Will there be room in the facility at the time when they need to return? Does your community provide services that can help you provide care? Does the job that you would do at home meet the same level of care as professionals in a nursing home? Will there be a lapse in medications or other necessities during the transition phase?

Before making plans to remove your spouse or parent from a nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) suggests you ask yourself these questions to help you make a sound decision based on your loved one’s wellbeing.

  • What are the benefits versus the risks of moving your loved one out of the facility?
  • What does your spouse or parent want?
  • Can you meet the caregiving needs of your loved one in your home environment? (this includes any specialized medical care, medication management, meals, bathroom and hygiene assistance, and time to engage your loved one in activities)
  • In bringing them to your home, are they still at risk of COVID-19 exposure?
  • How will you prioritize care if someone in your home becomes infected?
  • Can you currently do window or virtual visits with your loved one in the nursing home to decrease the problems associated with social isolation?
  • Will the facility readmit your spouse or parent if you change your mind?
  • Are there still valid reasons for having your loved one in a long-term care facility?
  • Does their current living facility have adequate staff and procedures to handle the issues associated with this pandemic?
  • Will your caregiving in the home match that of the professionals in a nursing home?
  • Do you have the time to dedicate to your loved one’s proper care?

Answering these questions should reveal whether you are leading with your heart or your head while considering moving your loved one out of their current care facility.

AARP’s position on moving your loved one into your home during the COVID-19 pandemic is in agreement with the experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC reports there is no one size fits all solution to this question, and each family must pursue their decisions based on recommendations from their health care providers and their unique circumstances.

Before discussing the option of moving your parent or spouse out of a nursing home, it is advisable to pose these questions with in-home family members as well as your loved one’s health care providers. In times of uncertainty, it is best to logically think through at home living scenarios both short and long term, as well as review the variety of steps the CDC has put in place for long term care facilities with regards to protecting residents and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The caregiving your loved one needs will be the best for them if you take the time to make an informed decision.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your particular situation, don’t hesitate to reach out. Please contact our office by calling us at (318) 255-1760.

The Elderly Are Re-Entering the Workforce

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Many of the 50-year-old and older workers are raising children and helping aging parents, and it is putting a strain on budgets. There are over 3 million seniors or near-seniors looking for full-time employment and millions more looking for part-time work. Seniors are finding that to make ends meet and have a financially secure retirement they need additional income especially now that people are living longer than ever before. The good news is jobs are available, companies are hiring “seasoned” workers, and there are programs to help those aged 50 and older find the type of work that is right for them.

If you are age 50 or more, the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) runs a program called BACK TO WORK 50+ that targets workers who previously worked at moderate income level jobs but who may lack the education level and computer skill sets that presents a barrier to employment in situations that lead to better economic security. There is also SCSEP, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which is the only federal program targeted to help older workers. AARP works in conjunction with SCSEP and provides employers with qualified candidates who are pre-screened for placement. These programs support the employer in finding a skilled worker at a low cost and allow the senior to bypass the interview process. Both of these programs will train seniors to give them the skills and confidence they need to find a job so that they can provide for themselves financially. According to AARP, senior employment is becoming so prevalent that by the year 2022, workers aged 50 or more will comprise thirty-five percent of the workforce.

If you are a senior with a college degree and solid computer skills, AARP can also help place you in a meaningful work environment. More than 500 companies nationwide have signed the AARP Employer Pledge “We believe in equal opportunity for all workers, regardless of age, and that 50+ workers should have a level playing field in their ability to compete for and obtain jobs. Recognizing the value of experienced workers, we pledge to recruit across diverse age groups and to consider all applicants on an equal basis as we hire for positions within our organization.” This pledge affirms the value of an experienced senior worker and many companies are on board. The belief is that a workforce that leverages talent from all age groups is a stronger workforce. Jobs AARP and other employer resources connect 50+ job seekers with employers who recognize the value of experience that comes with a more senior and seasoned worker. These companies who have signed the pledge are on the AARP job boards, in the job search tools, and even participate in online recruiting fairs.

As more seniors are becoming computer savvy, remote work opportunities are becoming more popular and mainstream. Companies do not have to provide a physical workspace and employees have no commute and no need to spend money on proper work attire; overhead is lower for the employer and the employee. Seniors can use the AARP tools to find legitimate online job prospects. If a senior prefers to work with people for socialization purposes as well as earned income, the senior living industry has excellent opportunities and needs workers. Senior living facilities management acknowledges the expertise, dependability, and worth ethic that is common in the mature workforce. Currently, there are high rates of staff turnover in senior living environments, and a senior employee can make a positive difference in the rate of employee retention.

There is an undeniable benefit to remaining active as you age and work is a significant component of that activity. Old notions of ageism are changing at precisely the right moment to help you create a better retirement living situation for yourself through additionally earned income. If you are 50+ and looking for work, take advantage of these national programs to identify the right job for you.  There is no better time than now to look forward to your own retirement needs and have the peace of mind that additional income brings.

It is essential to meet with an ElderCounsel attorney to ensure that you are increasing income without reducing benefits available to you. You don’t want to cross a threshold that would deny you a government benefit unless it would be financially beneficial.  Many components need to be considered to plan a successful retirement. Contact our office by calling us at (318) 255-1760 and schedule an appointment to discuss how we can help you with your planning.

The Challenges of Aging Alone

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For some seniors in the baby boomer generation aging brings with it new challenges in the form of solo aging. Solo aging is a senior who has no children and no younger (or healthier) family members to assist them as they age. As in generations before, baby boomers are living longer and healthier lives but for some there is no escaping the eventualities of disease like heart disease, arthritis, diabetes or dementia.  Others may require extensive care following a fall that results in a broken hip or other serious injury.

In prior generations when an aging senior needed assistance with activities of daily living they would typically enter a residential facility or be treated at home, often times with a younger family member to supplement their needs. In the case of the baby boomers however, healthy family members who can provide care are in shorter supply. Solo aging requires a modified approach to the requisite standard planning around the larger family system of previous generations.

The Pew Research Center found the rate of childlessness in baby boomers to be about 20% -double the number of previous generations. This childless statistic translates to one in five baby boomers having no adult children to help them when independent living becomes difficult or impossible. This solo aging segment of the baby boomer population is typically white, highly educated, reasonably affluent, and has a desire to remain living in the United States. Any of their immediate family that could provide care is often small in number and likely to live far away. These solo agers are fiercely independent and are accustomed to making their own decisions and will not let go of their self-determination easily.

Like most seniors, the solo ager prefers to remain in their private home. Living at home in the earlier years of retirement is often a suitable arrangement but over time the downward slope of mortal decline can lead to a number of dangerous difficulties. Incorrect management of medication, poor nutrition, isolation and loneliness, alcoholism and depression, dementia, and susceptibility to scam artists are just some of the problems that can become prevalent. Without the benefit of a younger family member who can “well check” them the solo ager is at an increased risk of becoming a victim of fraud, abuse, or more serious health decline. Moreover, when the time does come for care giving and/or relocation to a more suitable and safer living environment the solo ager will not be able to rely on an adult child to help them find qualified caregivers and appropriate living arrangements as well as orchestrate the physical downsizing and relocation to a new home.

What to do? Prepare and prepare early. Even if a solo ager is healthy it is impossible to predict the future. The unexpected fall or illness happens and more often than most people think. The solo ager needs to empower a third party, through proper legal documents, to act in a fiduciary capacity in the event the senior becomes incapable of making decisions. This includes a trusted friend, extended relative or even a professional fiduciary or private guardian.

There must also be legal protection in the form of a healthcare directive and estate plan or trust in place. Without the benefits that a traditional family support system brings the solo ager must pay strict attention to the details of their life planning and seek professional counsel to make proper arrangements. The reliance must shift from immediate family to legal professional counsel to ensure the solo ager is cared for in the manner they want should the need arise. While it may seem an uncomfortable discussion at first, the solo ager should be reminded they are maintaining life control by having legal documents created to reflect their own wishes. The solo ager can garner a sense of inner peace in their retirement years knowing their plans are properly in place and that the course of their life will reflect their desires.

If you or someone you know is a solo ager, we can help. Please contact our office by calling us at (318) 255-1760our office today and schedule an appointment to learn more.

Do You Understand an Advance Directive?

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Kevin stands at the door of Winnie’s nursing home room, tears streaming down his face. The medical staff just finished inserted a feeding tube into Winnie – an act Kevin knew she didn’t want. Unfortunately, Winnie couldn’t express her wishes due to advanced dementia, and she had no legal documents that expressed her wishes not to be fed by artificial means.  Kevin had no choice but to sit back and watch his wife go through a procedure she didn’t want.

The situation with Kevin and Winnie could have been avoided through the use of proper advance directive. An advance directive is actually a collection of documents. What that includes differs depending on your needs and wishes, along with what the law allows. However, it usually means at least a Living Will, and a Power of Attorney for Healthcare.

The purpose of this set of documents is to allow you to control what happens to your health care in case you cannot speak for yourself. If certain criteria are met, your doctors must consult with your advanced directive before making decisions about your care.

Usually, what this means is that two doctors agree that an individual is terminally ill, permanently unconscious, or at the “end-stage” of a condition. Once that happens, and the individual cannot express their preferences, doctors turn to the advance directive to figure out what the individual wants.

A Living Will determines what happens to an individual making it, unlike a Last Will and Testament, which determines what happens to their money and possessions. A Living Will describes what healthcare providers can and cannot do to prolong your life and/or ease your pain when you cannot express those preferences yourself. For example, do you want to be placed on a ventilator if you cannot breathe on your own? Do you want a feeding tube and IVs set up, and if so, for how long? Do you want to be an organ or tissue donor?

A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare lets you choose someone to make healthcare decisions for you when you cannot. They still must follow your Living Will, but they will be able to make decisions not explicitly considered by your Living Will, in accordance with the facts of the situation. In most states, there are “default surrogate consent laws” which allow family members to make treatment decisions on your behalf, but who is chosen to make these decisions and what they choose to do may not be in accordance with your wishes, as it hopefully would be with a Durable Power of Attorney.

Other documents may be part of an advance directive by law, or they may be worth including on your own volition. These include Do Not Resuscitate orders and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, among others. You might also consider an advance directive in case of a mental health crisis.

This is a difficult subject to consider, and it always seems like it won’t be necessary. But nearly 70 percent of Americans don’t have plans in place for a worst-case scenario, which means for some of them, decisions may be made for them with which they would not agree, if they had the capacity to choose. For that reason, it is worth thinking about implementing an advance directive even if it seems unnecessary now.

If you or a loved one would like more information about advance directives, please don’t hesitate to reach out contact our office by calling us at (318) 255-1760.