Care Link USA

If you have been taking care of a loved one who is approaching the end of their life, there are many things to consider in their last days.  Whether to continue pursuing last-resort treatment, how to comfort someone in pain, as well as whether to keep a person in a care facility or bring them home to spend their final days in peace are all questions you will face.  Hospice is an organization that provides care focused on increasing the quality, not quantity, of your days at the end of life.  Because it runs primarily on donations and volunteers, Hospice services are covered by Medicare, which comes as a great comfort during this difficult time. (more…)

As sad and unfortunate as it may be, there are many instances in an elderly person’s life when a nursing home is their best possibility. Rarely do people enter assisted living facilities simply because they want to. They do so because they (or their families) believe it is the easiest and safest option. If your parents have reached a point where living alone no longer seems to be a feasible option, you understand the confusion and turmoil that goes into making a decision about assisted living. (more…)

The options available to you as a caregiver are many, but the option that is right for you depends on the situation. If your elderly family member suffers from severe illnesses and needs constant care, an assisted living facility is going to be your best option. In less severe cases, there are less dramatic options available that will hopefully make life easier for both you and your loved one. (more…)

Let’s face it; caring for elderly loved ones is stressful. You love your parents and hate to see their health deteriorating, but at the same time you have your own life to lead. Trying to balance these two on one plate can easily become too much for one person to handle. The now common term ‘caregiver burnout’ refers to the negative physical, emotional, financial, psychological, and social consequences of trying to care for an elderly parent and handling other day to day stresses. If you reach this point in your care giving status, it is unhealthy for both you and the person you’re caring for. (more…)

There are over 2 million Americans living in nursing homes or assisted living homes in America today. The entrance of loved ones into these facilities is often looked down upon and certainly depressing, but it is also inevitable for many families. Assuming you are looking into placing a loved one in an assisted living facility, you’re probably struggling with the logistics of when, where, and how to approach the life changing move. Though a small comfort, many others are facing the same problem with you. Claire Berman, a renowned author, tackles many of these issues in her book, Caring for Yourself While Caring for Your Aging Parents. We highly recommend this book if you are beginning the process or see the need for care-giving assistance somewhere in the near future. (more…)

You should start looking into assisted living facilities before your parent is in need of one. While this may seem pessimistic—a bad omen predicting the future—in reality it is better to be prepared then caught off guard. What would happen if your elderly parent suddenly had a stroke and required assisted living, but you hadn’t taken the time to look into providers? Hospitals discharge patients relatively quickly even though they usually required extended nurse care, so it is important to be equipped with some knowledge on possible facilities. (more…)