Family senior caregivers are “routinely marginalized and ignored within the health care system.” So says the latest report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. With around 18 million family members serving as senior caregivers for an older loved one, this report is alarming, as neglect of the caregivers can result in seniors at risk for harm due to uninformed, inadequate care.
Here’s what you should do to ensure you are seen, heard, and given the correct information and resources to help keep your older family member safe:
- Make sure your name and phone number are listed in your loved one’s medical records as an emergency contact.
- Tell your loved one’s physicians what you are and are not capable of handling with regard to his or her care.
- Be realistic when you set care expectations for yourself. For example, if you need to leave home for work for a period of time and your loved one may need care during that time, you will need to find a solution for that situation.
- Request training in the senior’s particular care needs, such as dressing wounds or catheter care.
- Find and access resources like disease-specific associations, the local Area Agency on Aging, and a trusted professional home care agency for supplemental/respite care.
It’s also essential to clearly understand HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations. There’s a common misconception that, as a result of HIPAA, relatives are unable to access their older loved one’s health records. The truth, however, is that if the older person has designated a family member to serve as durable power of attorney for healthcare information, it’s the duty of doctors and hospital personnel to share all medical records with that member of the family.
The final conclusion? Make certain you, as a senior caregiver, stand up for yourself and your loved one. Richard Schulz of the University of Pittsburgh recommends, “Advocate for your rights and make sure your caregiving contributions are recognized and supported to the extent they can be. You're an important person in the health care system.”
Contact Independence-4-Seniors, the top provider of home care for seniors in the Chicago area, at 630-323-4665 for additional tips about providing the very best care for your senior family member, and for support in filling in the care gaps with properly trained and knowledgeable in-home senior caregivers.