Life Resource Planning

Life Resource Planning Focuses on the Need for Eldercare

Certain diseases, disorders, accidents or injuries result in disabilities that last longer than a few weeks or months. Many of these become permanent problems and although the disabled person may eventually adapt to take care of himself, a caregiver is often needed. The location of where this care is given, either in the community or in an institution and whether the care is provided by informal or formal caregivers (professional and licensed providers) is dependent on the nature of the disability and the ability of the caregiver.

Chronic conditions resulting in permanent care might include permanent spinal cord or brain damage, disabling strokes, advanced congestive heart failure, various dementias such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, emphysema, various hereditary disorders such as Huntington’s Disease, advanced diabetes, obesity-induced joint failure, disabling amputation, chronic disabling pain caused by injury or diseases such as pancreatitis, advanced osteoarthritis especially of the back, advanced osteoporosis with stress factors, debilitating effects of diabetes, AIDS and a host of slow-acting incurable cancers.

Many of the above problems are more prevalent with advanced ages and as a rule, caregiving is a problem associated with aging. But many people of all ages often develop disabling conditions requiring care. And many of these are progressive forms of auto-immune disorders such as type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, lupus, ALS, muscular dystrophy, myesthenia gravis, and many more.

Informal caregivers are family, friends, neighbors or church members who provide unpaid care out of love, respect, obligation or friendship to a disabled person. These people far outnumber formal caregivers and without them, this country would have a difficult time formally funding the caregiving needs of a growing number of disabled recipients.

Constraints on the ability of an informal caregiver to watch over a loved one are:

• The amount of time needed to care for the disabled
• The need to balance a job with the demands of caregiving
• The need for medical supervision of the disabled person
• The physical demands of moving the disabled
• The issue of the dignity and privacy of the caregiver and the disabled over changing dirty diapers or helping in the bathroom with toileting and bathing.

Often an informal caregiver will attempt to provide this care perhaps out of love or a sense of obligation, but a better solution for everyone involved might be the use of a formal caregiver such as a home health agency or an assisted living facility. The nature of the chronic condition also dictates who gives care and where.

Many informal caregivers attempt to cope with care beyond their ability or expertise. Added to this pressure is the fact that the care recipient is often reluctant to give up the familiar environment of the home in favor of what might be better care and a more stimulating environment in an assisted living facility or even a nursing home.

Because of the challenges experienced by caregivers, whether they are aware of them or not, it is always advisable to bring in someone who has experience and knowledge in dealing with family caregiver situations. The most experienced and useful person for this job is a geriatric service specialist or care manager.

The geriatric service specialist or care manager is most effective when working together with an entire team of elder care experts and advisers. This group is called a “Life Resource Planning Team” and the process they use to provide eldercare support is called “Life Resource Planning“.National Care Planning Council. Brought to you by Scott Underwood “Alabama’s Reverse Mortgage Guy”. He can be reached at (205) 908-2993 in Birmingham.