Friday, April 25, 2008

NEW GAS PRICES IMPACT CARING FROM AFAR

5 Million Americans are managing the care of elderly relatives from afar and the majority of these individuals are either retired or near retirement age.
Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, October 2005.

However, MetLife Mature Market and the National Alliance for Caregiving, concluded from a recent study in 2007 that the average age for a caregiver today is 46.

This further affirms the “Boomers” are impacting our economy since in 2005 studies stated the caregiver’s age was approximately 51 years old or older.

Furthermore, these younger individuals live at least 550 miles from their elderly relative and spending more than $600 a month on travel expenses or other expenses related to that care.

Unfortunately, the price of gas today has increased that amount considerably since 2004 when the amount for traveling expenses were so much more reasonable and thereby it was more practical at that time to care for an elderly relative.

Contact Main Line Elder Care Associates for a qualified care manager to help you with these duties, reduce your monthly expenses and relieve some of your stress. Contact us at www.info@mainlineeldercare.com or visit us at the web www.mainlineeldercare.com .

MLECA offers corporations assistance with employee/caregiver programs and we’re always just a call away 610.688.2667
 

Posted by HELEN C. HOPKINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES at 10:09:40 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Thursday, August 30, 2007

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SEEK HELP FROM A GERIATRIC CARE SPECIALIST

Are you asking yourself the following questions? If so, a Geriatric Care Manager at www.mainlineeldercare.com might be your answer or if you live further away check out this other database for other reputable national care managers in your area www.caremanager.org:

  1. Are my parents safe in their home?
  2. Are bills being paid on time?
  3. Should my parents be driving?
  4. Are my parents’ health concerns taking me away from my family and job?
  5. Are the problems that my parents are facing becoming larger and more complex than I can comfortably manage?
  6. What kind of help would increase safety while maintaining my parents’ dignity and independence?
  7. What kinds of assistance can my parents afford?
  8. What local resources might my parents’ benefit from?
  9. Does my employer offer problem solving training for employee/caregivers?

Most of these questions were adapted from the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. Also call (610) 688-2667 to speak with a Geriatric Care Manager. 

Feel free to search the databases mentioned above for more information about Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., www.mainlineeldercare.com.

Our Associates await hearing from you at www.mainlineeldercare.com. 610-688-2667

Author: Helen C. Hopkinson is CEO of Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for the disabled and elderly. She is a recognized leader in social changes and a former Executive Administrator for Angel Flight. She describes caregiving as a kaleidoscope with many changing parts and promotes support groups to encourage those with Parkinson’s disease, MS, cancer, DM, dementia, aging problems and other illnesses. She is currently in the process of lobbying for changes in funding for caregivers and looks forward to your comments via this blog.

“MLECA specializes in home healthcare management - we understand your problems”

MLECA is the recipient of the CitiCorp’s Boost Award for 2007.

Member, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. 

http://technorati.com/claim/j6whwmtk” rel=”me”>Technorati Profile

 

http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

hhtp://mainlineeldercare.com

Posted by HELEN C. HOPKINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES at 15:45:14 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc.,GERIATRIC CARE MANAGERS

MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES, INC. 

Geriatric Care Managers at Main Line Elder Care Associates understand how aging affects the tasks of daily living.

Our experts are also familiar with the ways this decline in health will affect other family members and how difficult it is to locate the necessary help.

Geriatric Care Managers will find the right plan for you to age at home.

Many families depended on MLECA for their short or long term needs.

Main Line Elder Care Associates is a highly respected company that has been winning corporate recognition and community awareness for providing distinctive and dependable services to the elderly and disabled in the Greater Philadelphia area.   

MLECA will help you reach your optimum goals because our staff consists of home health care management specialists that provide RN nurses, companions, home healthcare aides, counseling and various other medical specialties that will improve your “quality of life.”

Main Line Elder Care Associates is a leading Geriatric Care Management provider.

Care plans are exclusively computerized to promote maximum independence and dignity.

Comprehensive state-of-the-art evaluation programs enable us to provide you with an individualized program outlining recommendations that will also preserve your assets.

Main Line Elder Care Associates will personally interview the best possible home health care aide to meet your immediate needs.

Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., provides counseling and family mediation services to help with life transitions or to resolve family conflicts that may be hindering the way to a healthier or happier life.  

Long distance caregivers enjoy employing Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc. because our services were originally designed as a liaison between home health care services and the family.

Today, Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., extends these services to include the needs of employee-caregivers who require additional assistance whenever their job responsibilities take them away from their disabled partner or aging parent.

Many companies refer Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc. to provide valuable resources or bridge difficult situations for their employees because we understand how difficult it is to know whether safety is an issue, if services are appropriate or even necessary. Therefore, an independent care manager  evaluates and makes the recommendations needed to assure that proper care is available. 

MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES, INC. www.mainlineeldercare.com

“Specializing in Home Healthcare Management” 


              http://technorati.com/?sub=tr_searches-horizontal-ticker_t_js” class=”tr_searches-horizontal-ticker_t_js” style=”color:#4261DF”>View technorati.com

Posted by HELEN C. HOPKINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES at 21:08:34 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Thursday, July 26, 2007

The Granny Cams

Today, millions of elderly people live alone, many far from relatives and friends who would normally watch over them.

Main Line Elder Care Associates and the American Society of Aging and the National Council on Aging agree that there are substantial benefits to installing modern technology such as Granny Cams which helps someone at a distance tell how things are going with an elderly relative or friend in another state. 

Benefits of installing this system….

  • The passive support monitoring systems does not require the disabled or elderly to participate physically in their operation.
  • They can continue with their daily activities without any interruption.

However, this systems  requires motion senors be also installed to efficiently watch over your loved one and you will now have the opportunity to witness whether they are eating, sleeping and taking their medication properly.

Benefits of Main Line Elder Care Associates… 

  • MLECA suggests that you contact our care managers whenever you detect any problems.
  • Our Associates want to help you and will provide the best possible services available to meet your needs.

Please visit our website at www.mainlineeldercare.com.

Contact us at info@mainlineeldercare.com to learn more about these and other services that are created to support the disabled and elderly to remain independent in their homes for as long as possible.

Helen C. Hopkinson, J.D., President/CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc.

Recipient of CitiCorp’s 2007 Boost Award

 

Posted by HELEN C. HOPKINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES at 20:16:26 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Monday, June 11, 2007

Average American Woman

MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES, INC., WAYNE, PENNSYLVANIA: The average American woman can expect to spend 17 years caring for a child and 18 years caring for an elderly parent…

www.mainlineeldercare.com

610-688-2667

Wayne, Pennsylvania

Posted by HELEN C. HOPKINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES at 04:58:04 | Permalink | No Comments »

Awareness of the Early Needs Not Being Met by the Elderly or Disabled

The early needs are transportation, maintenance of the home, cleaning, unable to lift heavy object, poor nutrition and hygiene or mishandling of finances.

Main Line Elder Care Associates will meet with the family to discuss ways to manage the care for the elderly and together reach those goals that will enable the elderly to enjoy ”quality of life.”

www.info@mainlineeldercare.com

610-688-2668 to schedule a family counseling session.

Posted by HELEN C. HOPKINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES at 01:13:48 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Facts that effect the need for services

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING IN OUTSIDE HELP . . .

Main Line Elder Care Associates suggests you follow these easy steps to establish whether outside assistance is needed:

Evaluate the Health status, Marital status and children, living arrangements and Household status, economic dependence. income and poverty.

Recognize that there are two systems for care giving .

Informal - family, friends and neighbors

Today these caregivers provide for at least 80% of the care needs for those needing help while only 5% of the elderly actually reside in nursing homes.

Formal - means just about everything.

In general, the formal system supports the informal system. Or, in other words, these are services that may be provided on an intermittent basis. 

Our care managers suggest that you utilize an aide or companion along with a Geriatric Care Management Team to establish a solid relationship that will be there during all phases of transitions for the disabled and elderly.

Usually, this system allows the elderly to age in the comfort of their own homes and a much better win-win situation approach to health care management on the whole.

Common Pattern: the informal network is employed first and usually this is a spouse who provides the care, the children (typically the eldest daughter) may become involved as more of their needs increase but mostly this involvement generally increases upon the death of one spouse. Sometimes, this increase may be a slow process, possibly takes several years but a sudden health crises will definitely increase that involvement.

Good News - Life expectancy has dramatically increased.

People are living longer and “better”  - the majority of people 65 - 75 are healthier and financially more secure to enjoy life. They own homes and are capable of meeting needs, according to Elizabeth K. Keech, PhD, RN, College of Nursing, Villanova University 

Main Line Elder Care Associates recognizes that with increasing age also comes the accumulation of more illnesses, medications and increasing frailty as well as life changes.

Our care managers suggest that you ask a parent over the age of 80,

“Whom should you tell about your wishes?”

Fore more information contact www.info@mainlineeldercare.com

or call 610-688-2667

to arrange for an assessment.

Posted by HELEN C. HOPKINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES at 00:19:16 | Permalink | No Comments »