Thank you for your inquiry! Your mother is fortunate that you are trying to be objective in regard to her health and safety. It’s not uncommon for siblings to disagree about the needs of an aging parent. Here are some useful options to help everyone have a better understanding of your mother’s needs: Education from knowledgeable sources is one way to help family members understand that they may be missing the warning signs that you are seeing. Take a look at the list of warning signs provided by the Mayo Clinic at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aging-parents/HA00082 Another nicely written list on this subject is available at: http://www.seniorcitizensguide.com/articles/health/ten_signs.htm You may also wish to employ the service of a Geriatric Care Manager. These professionals (many or most with medical or social service degrees) are experienced in overseeing the care of older adults and putting services into place when the individual or family needs assistance in maintaining care. A Care Manager can do an at-home assessment with your mother and write a plan of care for her, detailing her specific needs. To locate a care manager, visit http://www.caremanager.org/ You can also call us at The Senior Connection for further advice and resources to assist in meeting y our mother's needs. Our resource specialists are available Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm by calling 916-334-1072 or toll free at 888-334-3490. Best wishes to you and your family! Lisa The Senior Connection   [less]

Dear Jim, Thank you for your inquiry! There are two resources you should be aware of that will help in managing your parents care from a distance. The first is the Area Agency on Aging for their community. In most cases, the Area Agency on Aging for your parents community will be able to refer you with some insight to reputable service providers in the community. To find the Area Agency on Aging in your parent’s community, visit http://www.n4a.org/ A more thorough approach to managing your parents care from a distance is to employ the service of a Geriatric Care Manager. These professionals (many or most with medical or social service degrees) are experienced in overseeing the care of older adults and putting services into place when the individual or family needs assistance in maintaining care. A Care Manager in your parents area will have a more intimate knowledge of the local home care agencies and can monitor the quality of work provided. To locate a care manager, visit http://www.caremanager.org/ The Senior Connection staff is here to assist you with questions about your parent care needs. If you would like further information, please feel free to call any of our resource specialists Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 916-334-1072 or toll free at 888-334-3490. Best regards, Lisa Smith-Youngs Program Coordinator The Senior Connection 916-334-1072   [less]

Thank you for your inquiry, and congratulations on doing your homework about assisted living. It’s important to know that you or a loved one will be comfortable moving into a new home where care is provided on site. Just as in any other apartment building, ages vary in assisted living residences. What everyone has in common is that they need assistance with one or more activities of daily living, such as dressing, grooming, bathing or maybe just medication management. Typically you will find the majority of residents to be in their 70’s and 80’s. If you would like a list of all the Assisted Living communities in the greater Sacramento area, The Senior Connection can provide one for you. Just give me a call toll-free at 888-334-3490 and I can mail, email or fax you the list. Best regards, Lisa Smith-Youngs Program Coordinator The Senior Connection 888-334-3490   [less]

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is most likely a shock for everyone in your family, including you. Take time to get information on your father’s specific diagnosis to understand the disease realistically. A call or visit to your local Alzheimer’s Association is a good place to begin, with helpful people who either have a special understanding of dementia or personal experience with the disease themselves. You may also want to seek out support group(s) for both your father and mother so they can have the emotional and educational support of people facing the same dilemma. As the diagnosis progresses, it will be advisable to seek out care options and resources for your parents. For a list of services and resources for dementia sufferers and their families, call The Senior Connection at 916-334-1072.   [less]

In assisted living, residents typically need some form of help with activities of daily life, such as bathing, grooming, dressing and management of their medications. However: they must be able to transfer independently from bed to a chair or wheel chair. Assisted living /residential care communities vary in cost and size from individual apartments in large communities, to shared rooms in smaller “Board and Care homes. Since assisted living is considered “non-medical”, Medicare and Medi-Cal do not pay for this level of care. Sources of payment are SSI re-imbursement (if eligible), long term care insurance or private pay. The Senior Connection can provide you with a list of assisted living communities and a check list to guide you in your selection process.   [less]

If your mother is living on her own on a low, fixed-income, she may qualify for “In Home Supportive Services” (IHSS.) This program offers a subsidized home chore-worker program for low income elderly, based upon a needs assessment. To learn more, call Sacramento county IHSS at (916) 874-9471. In other counties, you may be connected with IHSS by calling your county’s Public Authority office. Private home care agencies, are licensed and bonded, and employ home care workers who can provide a variety of levels of service. Staffing ranges from professional “companions” who might assist your mother with laundry, light housework and grocery shopping, to nurse assistants who can help with personal care needs such as bathing and health maintenance needs. There is usually an hourly minimum and costs vary from $17 to $25 per hour. The Senior Connection can provide you with a list of these agencies as well as specific questions to ask when interviewing a potential home care provider.   [less]

There are affordable age-restricted apartments in the greater Sacramento area. Some simply offer lower, market-based rents. Others work with the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency and HUD to offer special rent subsidies to income qualified older adults. In some cases, rents are set as low as 30% of the senior’s adjusted gross monthly income. The Senior Connection can provide you with a list of affordable housing communities.  [less]