Indeed, in a study of 8,000 caregivers conducted by Home Instead (one of the world's largest home-care service providers for seniors), 91 per cent of family caregivers said they have episodes of feeling anxious or irritable, 73 per cent have disturbed sleep patterns and 56 per cent seem irritable more frequently. The Statistics Canada study also found that, when asked what would be most useful in letting them continue to help others, most caregivers replied that they would like occasional relief, especially those who combined longer hours of work with a high-intensity of caregiving.
Growth of the home-care industry
Fortunately, another result of the home-care trend has been a proliferation of organizations such as Galway's. While the costs for a full-time caregiver may still be prohibitive for many retirees, using these services to give family members some respite can be a very cost-effective solution. "The fee for our companion support is $19.95 an hour for a minimum of three hours," Galway says. "The services we can provide include making meals, doing the shopping and the laundry, providing help getting in and out of bed, and so on. If overnight companionship is required, our rate is $130 to $140 for a regular 12-hour shift."
Communication is important
While all these home-care services can go a long way towards relieving the burden on loved ones, many difficulties can be avoided or minimized through advance discussions.
A second study by Home Instead led its researchers to coin the phrase "the 40/70 rule" – "if you are 40 years old, or your parents are 70, it's time to start talking about the subject," says James Cooke, formerly of Home Instead in Etobicoke. "Waiting until the senior parent is 80 or older, when there is increasing likelihood of more severe health issues, can often lead to problems."
The Home Instead survey found that adult children have the most difficulty talking to their senior parents about independence issues, including leaving their home for a retirement residence or nursing home, as well as personal hygiene, financial matters and driving issues.
Further planning tips
While communication is critical, there are several other areas that should be addressed in planning for tomorrow's needs.
Jacqueline Figas summarizes these in a three-step action strategy:
1. Plan in advance for a medical emergency: "When an emergency arises and paramedics arrive, the individual may not be able to communicate clearly," Figas says. "Even if a spouse is present, that person may not have a clear and quick recollection of essential information because of the stress of the moment. For that reason, you should document all of the essential information – conditions, medications, family doctor and so on – so that the paramedics can grab the information and get off to the hospital immediately. And always wear any medical alert bracelet you may have."
Page 3 of 4 -- On page 4, Figas offers more advice to consider while planning your long-term care options.
