Family Caregivers Often Thrust Into Situations They Have No Training For, But Preparation Can Help
Communication, reporting and documenting, and infection control are major things to focus on when taking care of an ill family member.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Medical Know-How For The Family Caregiver
California law requires 120 hours of training, 20 of them hands on with real patients, to become a home health aide. But most people, family caregivers like you, are usually thrown into this work with little warning when a parent, spouse, friend or other loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, or is recuperating from surgery or other serious medical treatment. There’s simply no time for you to hit pause, enroll in caregiving course at your community college and learn what you need to know. (Sisson, 4/24)
In related news —
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Does Medicare, Medi-Cal Pay For In-Home Care?
For those age 65 and older who meet federal supplemental security income guidelines ($9,007 per year for an individual and $13,244 for a couple), the state’s In-Home Supportive Services program will tap a mix of state, federal and county funds to pay for up to 283 hours of home caregiving per month. Blind and disabled residents who meet the income guidelines but who may not yet be age 65 or older also qualify. The San Diego County Public Authority administers the program and uses social workers to interview each applicant and determine whether he or she is “unable to live at home safely without help,” assigning a specific number of hours that the program will pay to hire an “individual provider” to work in the home. (Sisson, 4/24)
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Adult Day Centers Offer Caregivers A Respite
A new daycare program for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients in Chula Vista is a miniature three-dimensional 1950s-style downtown designed to spark the long-term memories of its visitors. Called Glenner Town Square, the 8,500-square-foot village includes 13 storefronts surrounding a faux grass-lined park with benches. It’s built inside a light-industrial building with 24-foot ceilings on Main Street. (Kragen, 4/24)