MAXIMIZING CAREGIVER RELIEF WHAT OUR POLICIES DO TO HELP BY NANCY A. DYKEMAN, CLTC, CSA FOR THE CORPORATION FOR LONG-TERM CARE CERTIFICATION AUGUST 24, 2011

OUR GOAL TODAY My Recent Caregiving Story to Share with you. What Others Tell Me They Are Going Through. Valuable Information for You to Know. Step By Step - What You Can Do. Resources For You. Q & A

OUR FAMILY’S STORY

CHICK’S RECOVERY WAS SLOW Four of Six Activities of Daily Living. Managing Narcotics and Other Medications. Watching Him Failing, Not Thriving. What Happened to Me, The Caregiver.

HIS LTCI POLICY Comprehensive Coverage 90-day of Services Elimination Period – at Home. $240/day Maximum Benefit (grown from $120/day). Lifetime Benefits. Care Coordination.

ELIMINATION PERIOD Assessment at Home. Out-of Pocket Expenses. On-going RELIEF! It Became Manageable and Tolerable.

OTHERS ARE SUFFERING

WHAT WE KNOW Caregivers are people who take care of other adults, often parents or spouses, or children with special medical needs. Some caregivers are family members; others are paid. They help with: Food shopping and cooking House cleaning Paying bills Giving medicine Going to the toilet, bathing and dressing Eating Providing company and emotional support

Caregiving is hard, and caregivers of chronically ill people often feel stress. They are "on call" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you're caring for someone with mental problems like Alzheimer’s Disease, it can be especially difficult. Support groups can help.

STRESS Sometimes stress is helpful – it can encourage you to meet a deadline or get things done. But long-term stress can increase the risk of diseases like depression, heart disease and a variety of other problems.

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID "Caregivers are part of a nationwide community of people who sacrifice a lot for others," says Susie Butler, acting deputy director, Partner Relations Group, Office of Public Engagement, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "We want caregivers to know they're not alone."

GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE PROGRAMS Caregivers for older Americans can also link to additional resources through CMS's sister agency, the Administration on Aging (AoA). On the AoA site they'll find the Eldercare Locator, which can point them to services in their own communities as well as national organizations, such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the Alzheimer’s Association and the Family Caregiver Alliance.

CAREGIVING AND DEMENTIA Spouses and family members giving care to a person with dementia are nearly twice as likely to have symptoms of depression compared with caregivers of non-demented people. They also have higher rates of chronic illness and are twice as likely to be using psychotropic medications for depression or anxiety than people who are giving care to someone without dementia. (Canadian Study of Health and Aging)

STEP BY STEP Step 1 – Read the policy brochure and Outline of Coverage to KNOW what the benefits will be. Step 2 – Visit with a homecare agency director, TOUR an assisted living community and tour two local nursing homes.

Step 3 – Talk with your customer and explain what is happening to caregivers and how a policy for HIM is really protection for HER and vice versa. Step 4– SHARE a story or two.

Step 5– Tell them YOU will be there to provide guidance when a claim is necessary. Know the resources in your community. Step 6 – Explain Care Coordination as the HEART of the policy with a real-live person to help with the claim, order an assessment, and put the people together to help relieve the caregiver.

Walk in Their Shoes Be Their Lifeline

RESOURCES FOR YOU Your Community Professionals. Online Searching. Continuing to Learn.

HAVING A PLAN “What’s Your Plan?” Understanding “The Plan.” You Can Be the Difference.

Your responsibility

Thank you and Questions.