Caring for the Elderly & Disabled, Arizona

Protecting yourself from your own family members…?

Yes, it’s true, sometimes as parents begin to age, family members start to take advantage of them… and each other.  You’d be surprised to learn how often family relationships implode as they try to take on the added responsibility of caring for aging parents or loved ones.

The elderly parents are not the only ones at risk either. It is essential to secure the assistance of a professional care manager before the situation gets out of control. A care manager can provide you with the tools and resources necessary to ensure the best possible quality of life for the care recipient as well as supporting family members.

Risk for family members…It may sound simple to take on the added responsibility of caring for an aging loved one, but you can get overwhelmed quickly. In some cases, caring for the elderly in Arizona is more than a full-time job and can jeopardize your individual health and well-being. It is easy for a seeming “easy” care situation to completely take over your life if you aren’t careful.

The added stress can also begin to dip into your pocketbook as well. Most adult children feel a responsibility to their parents and loved ones and find it difficult to ask for financial help. Before you know it, your gas bills will double, you’ll be buying their groceries and hiring babysitters for your own children so you can care for your parents. Sometimes it makes sense for the family members to quit their job and have the parents hire them as a caregiver in order to offset the financial burden.

Risk for the elderly care recipient…The elderly are prime targets for would-be scammers and charlatans, with the disabled and those suffering from Alzheimer’s especially vulnerable to fraud. It is important to protect your aging loved one from financial loss at the hands of these unscrupulous people. Surprisingly, many of these situations involve family members, close friends or even the family pastor on occasion. Your care manager can suggest ways to protect your family’s assets and preserve available funds for sustaining the lifestyle of the one needing care and attention.

Pay close attention to their bills and checkbook for suspicious expenses. Be careful when someone suddenly seems to show an uncharacteristic amount of attention to your elderly loved one. They may be up to something! Sometimes poor decision-making shows up first in spending habits, so make sure to pay attention to the warning signs.

For a family facing an inevitable elder care situation, the most mutually beneficial decision they can make is to hire a professional Care Manager to guide them as they make critical decisions while they plan and prepare for the future of their loved ones.