In This Issue

	Respite Care
	If you answer yes to any of these questions, Hurley Elder Care Law can help
	Life Care Planning Goals
	The Nuts and Bolts Guide to VA Benefits

Respite Care

	Summer is the time for rest and relaxation, family vacations and trips to the beach. Everyone needs a break! Every caregiver needs a break. It may be for vacation, but it could also be to attend to personal business, surgery of your own, a child’s graduation or wedding or just some time to rediscover yourself. What are the options for dealing with the care for your family member? There are several respite care options.
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To attend our monthly Professionals’ Luncheon please call Louise Morris at 404-843-0121 or email her at lmorris@HurleyECLaw.com

If you answer yes to any of these questions, Hurley Elder Care Law can help.

		Has the elder been diagnosed with a mentally or physically debilitating disorder such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, stroke or a decline in functional capacity?
		Is the elder isolated due to the recent death of a spouse, or have family that either lives too far away or is too busy to provide adequate care?
		Is the elder soon to be discharged into a care facility or currently receiving in-home care?
		Does the elder have a variety of healthcare providers and need coordination and advocacy for quality care?
		Does the elder seem unusually concerned about costs of medication and services, indicating he or she may be having financial troubles?
		Does the elder have assets that fall between $50,000 and $400,000 – enough to finance a short stay in a care facility but not enough for an extended stay?
		Does the elder have a spouse whose financial needs must be considered in light of the elder’s medical condition?

Life Care Planning Goals

1. Meeting the elders’ immediate health care and long-term care needs.
2. Making sure the elder/family is making good health care and long-term care decisions.
3. Helping the elder/family sort through the maze of their long-term care options including residential options.
4. Identifying and accessing public benefits and resources to pay for care should the elder meet the qualifying criteria.
5. Help with asset management, including the burden of home ownership and personal property.
6. Providing the entire family the peace of mind that comes from knowing their loved one is monitored by a team that combines legal and financial expertise with specialized knowledge of the elder’s physical, mental and emotional health.
7. Ensuring the highest level of independence the elder can achieve, while ensuring safety.

Respite Care

“Respite” refers to a short time of rest or relief. Respite care provides a break from the typical care routine. Respite care also ensures that your elderly loved one still receives the attention that he or she needs. Respite care is something that every care giver should consider in order to remain physically, mentally and emotionally strong. Who uses respite care? Every long-term caregiver should use respite care from time to time. The best way to show examples of this is through case studies. I will start off with my own grandmother. She was the primary caregiver for my great grandmother (she lived to 100) for many years. At the same time, she also had a husband to tend to as well. Each time that my grandfather wanted to take a vacation, my grandmother made arrangements for my great grandmother to either have people come into the home as caregivers or she would send her on a “vacation” for herself to an assisted living facility. This way, my great grandmother was properly cared for and my grandmother could enjoy some time away from the stresses and strains of her caregiving role. Though my grandmother chose two types of respite services, there are a number of ways respite services can be provided. When choosing which may work best in a particular situation, it is important to consider the needs of the elder, the needs of the caregiver and the financial resources that are available. Respite care services are available through community organizations, private agencies and residential care facilities. The most common respite care services are adult day centers, in-home care and in-facility care. Adult Day Centers provide care outside of the home. Staff members lead planned activities, such as music, games and art programs. Transportation and meals are often provided. Some day programs offer “field” trips, visiting a podiatrist, hair dressers and other services that the care recipient frequently needs. Some also provide much needed daytime management of medications. This type of respite care is very helpful to those caregivers who work during the day and need to balance a job with care giving duties. Hours vary from center to center, but generally they are open from 7 to 10 hours per day, five days per week. Some offer weekend and evening hours. In-Home Respite Care offers many of same services that are provided through adult day centers, but they are provided in a one-on-one manner. In home respite could be just a few hours from time to time or could be provided on an around the clock basis for a short period of time from a few days to a couple of weeks. In-home respite care will take care of all of a loved one’s needs while allowing the individual to stay in the comfortable and well-known surroundings of home. In-home respite care is usually provided by an agency that is hired by the caregiver. There are some government programs that will help with in-home respite care. The key is to make sure that the aide who is brought in is able to provide all of the services necessary to appropriately care for your loved one’s specific needs. Sometimes in-home respite care is provided by other family members or unpaid friends or neighbors. Residential Respite Care The final option for respite care is a stay in a residential facility. Your loved one can stay overnight, for a few days weeks or even months. Overnight care allows caregivers to take an extended break or vacation knowing that the elder is in a supervised, safe environment designed to meet their personal needs. Plan in advance – make reservations and allow yourself time to gather the necessary documentation that the facility might require. This type of care is usually provided in assisted living facilities, but can also be provided in nursing homes. The cost of respite care can vary with the type of agency and the services needed but federal and/or state programs may help to pay for it. Long term care insurance may also cover some of the costs of respite care. The main thing to remember is that it is equally important to care for the caregiver and the elder. If the caregiver is not allowed to take a break from that role, at least occasionally, then he or she may soon face failing health as well. Most of us have never been trained to be caregivers, so stepping out of the role even for a short period can have dramatic effects.