Sometimes the support you need is right in your community.
Quite often, people are unaware that there are resources available to help make life a little easier for older adults and that help is right in their own community. Your Elder Experts offers a comprehensive network of services including Home Health and Homecare, Aging Life Care Management, Mental Health, specialty programs for older adults with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, and spiritual supports.
Your questions about community resources for aging people answered
My mother is becoming increasingly isolated. What community resources are available to help her?
It is important to understand why an aging parent is isolated. Is it because she doesn’t have transportation? Is she physically limited? Is she experiencing depression?
Many towns have senior centers that offer both transportation to the center and daily scheduled activities, including lunch. The JCC in your area may also have daily or weekly programming for older adults. If your mother is in need of support during the day and she has either physical or cognitive losses, then an adult day program might be appropriate for her. And, if you feel that your mother may be having difficulty coping with losses and other stressors in life, helping her find a social worker for an evaluation and possible ongoing counseling may be helpful.
Most people find caring for someone with dementia to be more than a one person job.
My husband’s Alzheimer’s is too much for me to manage on my own. Where can I get help?
Most people find caring for someone with dementia to be more than a one person job. There are many ways you can get support in caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Care partner support groups offer a compassionate environment in which to share your struggles, learn different ways of coping, and gather resources available in your community. The Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter (320 Nevada Street, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460) keeps lists of support groups and provides a helpful starting point. Respite care can come in different forms. If the care partner would benefit from scheduled time off every day or week, home care services can be arranged. If the care partner would benefit from a much-needed vacation, live-in home care or a short stay in a memory impairment unit of an assisted living facility is also a possibility. Often, consulting with a Care Manager from Your Elder Experts can help sort out the needs of both the person with dementia and the care partner in order to make current and future care plans.
If you or someone you care about is navigating challenges of aging, Your Elder Experts can help.
