Blog #4: WILDCARD

Currently my mother is going through caregiver’s syndrome. The funny thing about her condition is that she does not live in the same state with her mother. My grandmother has help with her dementia from many family members that live nearby. My dad shares the syndrome for similar reasons. When his mother was sick, he could not be with her as much because she lived in upstate Florida. She got sick to the point where she has to come to Orlando to get better medical care. She was diagnosed when she got here but the cancer was too far along to save her. One week later she died. My dad went to see her every day and night. He neglected his immediate family for the most part. At the age of 15, I understood that my father had to see his mother and she was terminally ill.

He feels that he has to be around his mother in law as much as his can in order to help my mom. He does not want her to feel like she is alone and he is by her side. I wish that my parents would give themselves a break and let the professionals take care of my grandmother. She is sick and I know they want to be with her as much as they can. But with the economy and how the world is, they cannot. Whenever my mother gets time off or vacation, she goes to my grandmother. I would like for her to go on a cruise or do something for herself because she is tired. She always thinks about others and never herself. 

Assisted Living Facility

In the first blog that I completed for this course, I discussed my grandmother’s battle with dementia. My mother and her sister refuse to put her in s nursing home out of fear that she would be hurt or mistreated. If my grandmother was in a different state of mind, I believe that she would enjoy an Assisted Living Facility. Most of them include 24 hour supervision, meal and snacks throughout the day and group sessions.

When I talk to my grandma on the phone, she complains to me that she has no one to be with. Her friends and family are far from her and she wants company. At the assisted living facility, she would be able to be around people her age and enjoy their fellowship. The assisted living facility provides exercise, social and religious groups, transportation, and even housekeeping. This type of LTC would keep my grandmother active and stimulated.

 My grandfather leaves the house and says that he can’t spend all of his time trying to entertain her. This really annoys me because he is her husband and should show true love. I feel that my grandfather has a bit of care givers syndrome. He is with her for most of the day and provides her with all of her meals and makes sure that she is comfortable. He needs a break and when he comes back I feel that he will be in a better mood and be a better husband to m grandma.

The only issue that my grandmother may have with this type of LTC is the independence. She is never really alone now that her dementia has progressed. I am afraid for her being alone. My grandfather would have to be with her. This in turn would relieve some of his stress and his caregiver syndrome. 

WILDCARD: Medicaid and LTC

Long term care can be paid for in various ways. Many people have the misconception that Medicaid is only used by people who are poor and cannot afford assistance.  According to the article, Medicaid helps millions of people of all ages who have disabilities and who need long term services. There is no straight solution to help all people who need long term care. Those who cannot afford it have to go without.  The different options for funding care include family caregivers, private long term care insurance, out of pocket spending, and Medicaid. Paying out of pocket can be very difficult because it draws down assets. Medicaid can help formerly middle income Americans.

The article goes into the cost that unpaid caregivers sacrifice. In 2007 in the United States, 34 million people 18 years or older provided unpaid care was at an estimated $375 billion (Fox-Grage & Redfoot, 2011). That amount was greater than Medicaid spending for both medical and Long term services. Family care givers put themselves at risk for becoming patients themselves due to physical and emotional stress of the care giving.

Private insurance pays for less than ten percent of the nations long term care. Medicaid has proven to be the better option for the elderly. About 7 out of 10 people turning 65 will need long term care services during their lifetime (Fox-Grage & Redfoot, 2011). In order to help the patients be able to pay for their average cost of living, Medicaid is there to be the medical financial cushion

Fox-Grage, W., & Redfoot, D. (2011). Medicaid: A Program of Last Resort for People Who . AARP Public Policy Institute , 1-4.

LTC to me

When I think of the term Long Term Care, I think about providing care for a person who cannot care for themselves due to some type of disability, ailment, or age. When older adults become sick and can no longer care for themselves, this is an option for them to receive the proper help that they cannot give themselves. If they have no care taker or someone to assist them in their home, choosing long term care in a facility would be a great option. Many people may believe that long term care is only for older adults. This is not true. Long term care can be provided for someone of youth and even a child who is affected with an illness that is terminal or life threatening. If their parents or guardian cannot provide the best type of care, a long term care facility would be taken into consideration.

I have not yet been personally affected with someone that I know being placed into a long term care facility. But I do believe if it is necessary for my loved one or close friend, I would go for it. Right now I have a grandmother who is living with dementia in South Carolina. She lives with my elderly grandfather who has diabetes. Besides his diabetes, he is in well health. He does his best to take care of her and himself. Due to the medicine that my grandmother takes for other health issues, she has no appetite. My grandfather has a hard time making her eat and she has been losing weight. She has a nurse and a therapist come to their home to check on her 3 times a week. They have been telling my mother and her sister that if this behavior continues, they will recommend her to be in a Long Term Care Facility. My mother and her sister do not want this so they talk to my grandparents everyday about the importance of my grandmother eating and taking her medicine. My mother feels helpless because she is all the way in Florida and she feels as if she has no control over the situation.

I agree with the nurse and the therapist. I would rather my grandmother have the attention that she needs and best a quality care. My mother and my aunt have the idea that long term health care facilities are not good. They believe that they all abuse the patients, make their conditions worst, and neglect them. But this is not true for many. I feel that they should investigate different facilities and find out for themselves the true benefits. Long term care does not have to be painted so negatively. There is a bright side and people who really care about helping those who cannot help themselves.