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How to Help Seniors Move Past the Cost of Senior Care

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cost of senior care

The cost of senior care at home becomes more palatable when considering its value.

Many of today’s seniors were raised during the Great Depression. They lived through a time when the country was pinching pennies and cutting corners. Frugality was embedded in many very early on and frequently remains firmly in place for life, affecting how they view the cost of senior care.

So what exactly happens when a senior is in need of care at home, has the financial capacity to pay for the care, but will not spend the money required for the cost of senior care?

First, empathize. Understand that the person’s point of view is valid and based on past life experiences. If the senior seems to be resistant to the idea of spending money for the care they need, remind yourself of the emotions behind the behaviors. An additional layer of difficulty might be in simply accepting the need for care altogether, something that is above and beyond mere frugality.

Spend time shopping with the senior. Costs were considerably different years ago than they are today, for everything from a gallon of milk to a new house. If the older adult hasn’t had the opportunity to go shopping lately, go online to show them current pricing for items in general. Or check out this inflation calculator that shows you the value of $100 between one year and another. (For instance, $100 in 1950 is the equivalent of $1,166.59 today!) This will help if a senior is experiencing “sticker shock” at the cost for care services.

Plan ample time for conversations. The commitment to accept home care services is a life-altering one that frequently requires several conversations. Engage in discussions with an older adult concerning the cost-cutting measures they’ve proudly followed over the years. Utilize these strengths to compromise if needed on covering the cost for care needs. For example, it could be that instead of full-time care, the senior would accept a few hours of care each week for help with necessary tasks around the house. After the person is more comfortable with their caregiver and sees what a difference home care makes, they may be more responsive to increasing services.

Additionally, it could be helpful to engage assistance from a third party – a person the senior trusts and respects, for example, their attorney, religious leader, physician, or a close friend. Engaging in a conversation with this particular person about the advantages to be gained through a home care helper might help reduce any doubts about cost.

When a senior is ready to explore home care, get in touch with our home care experts at 954.486.6440. We’ll be pleased to discuss how our Fort Lauderdale senior home care and care throughout the surrounding areas can help and further explain the options/cost of senior care.

Is the Alzheimer’s Vaccine, Protollin, Close to Being a Reality?

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Protollin

Researchers are studying Protollin, an Alzheimer’s vaccine to help in the fight against dementia.

If 2021 will be recalled as the year for COVID-19 vaccines, perhaps 2022 will make its mark with a different kind of life-changing vaccine: an Alzheimer’s vaccine that can slow or prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The very first human trial of Protollin, delivered by way of nasal spray, is underway in 16 seniors between the ages of 60 and 85 with early-stage Alzheimer’s symptoms. The predicted outcome is to activate immune cells that will eliminate the beta-amyloid plaque believed to cause the disease.

Coming on the heels of controversial results of Biogen’s Aduhelm, the first new approved drug for Alzheimer’s in decades, the stakes are high. Aduhelm is an antibody infusion that at first seemed to fail in its goal of improving memory and cognition functioning, leading Biogen to discontinue clinical trials. However, several months later, there did seem to be a beneficial impact in a small group of participants, leading the FDA to approve its use – even if the results are not definitively clear.

Finding an effective treatment or preventative option is vitally important. The latest data show approximately 6 million Americans currently identified as having the disease. It’s also one of the leading causes of death in adults in the United States, with a steep incline in mortality rate of 88% between 1999 and 2019. And that figure might only be scratching the surface because it represents only those clinically diagnosed. We all know that people with cognitive impairment may have trouble with receiving an appropriate diagnosis, and they often are challenged by other medical conditions as well.

Researchers are hopeful that Protollin, as well as Aduhelm and other antibody drugs undergoing study, are putting us on a promising path forward. Jeffrey Cummings, a brain-science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, goes so far as to say, “It just feels like we have turned a corner.”

Our senior caregivers are helping older adults with Alzheimer’s every day, and we excitedly anticipate a point in the future when the disease is defeated. Until then, we’re here for you with creative, personalized care in order to make life the very best it can be for seniors with dementia.

It’s also very important for loved ones caring for someone with dementia to protect their own health by ensuring plenty of time for self-care. Our dementia respite care team is available to help you set up a schedule for regular time away – as much or as little as you want. We’re skilled in effective management of many difficult signs of the disease, including wandering, agitation, aggression, sundowning, and others.

Give us a call 24/7 at 954-486-6440 for a complimentary consultation to receive more information about how our professional caregivers in Fort Lauderdale, FL and throughout the area can help.