Resources for Caregivers - Alzheimer's

In my never ending effort to provide noteworty information for families and caregivers, I found this recent article in The New York Times. It provides resources on new advancements in technology to help caregivers keep their wandering loved ones at home. With the incidence of Alzheimer's growing at such a rapid pace, these devices or techniques may become extremely commonplace.

Resources and Technology to Help Caregivers Cope
By KIRK JOHNSON
Published: May 4, 2010


One Alzheimer’s wanderer in Arizona had lost much of his memory, but not, apparently, his interest in fashion: he never left the house without a beloved baseball cap on his head. So a trick the family used to keep the man around was to hide his caps.

Search-and-rescue experts who deal with dementia patients also recommend alarms on doors that sound when opened if a proper code is not entered, along with posters or wallpaper images that disguise or conceal doors. Sometimes a simple large, emphatic sign on every door saying “Stop!” will deter a wanderer.

Companies that make GPS devices are also starting to enter the growing Alzheimer’s market with products that look like wristwatches, and even shoes with GPS monitors embedded in the heels.

One company’s offering is at questguard.com/GPS-for-Alzheimers-Wandering_.html
A second is at brickhousesecurity.com/medicalalertbracelet-alzheimersdementiacare.html.
And a third is gpsshoe.com.

Lower on the technology scale, but widespread in its use around the nation, is radio frequency tracking. A nonprofit organization, Project Lifesaver, equips Alzheimer’s sufferers with wristbands. The group contracts with local government agencies to set up the service. To see if your community participates, contact the local sheriff, or the police or fire department.

Finally, the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit group for victims and their families, has established a 24-hour emergency response line in conjunction with local law enforcement, along with an ID bracelet program that identifies the Alzheimer’s patient — something he or she may no longer be able to do.
KIRK JOHNSON

I hope that you find this information useful. Many of our caregivers have years of experience in caring for people with advanced dementia. We also provide training for all caregivers on assisting patients with Alzheimer's and memory loss. Please call our office at 214-389-9401 to ask for help caring for a loved one and visit our website at www.hereforyouhomecare.com to learn more.

Thanks for reading. See you next week,
Jan

VA Benefit - Aid & Attendance

I want to tell you about a meeting we had last week. Chris had met a young man at a DAGS meeting whose father was opening a branch of his legal office in Dallas. They chatted a bit and then arranged a time for him to come visit at our office. So last Tuesday three memebers of the Ocker family came and told us about this wonderful benefit for veterans and their families.

A little known VA benefit called Aid and Attendance can be used to help pay for home care. We were aware of the benefit but had not realized just how much money was available. Currently only about 2% of the funds available for this purpose is being used. Our veterans deserve this money and we want to help make that happen.

Douglas Ocker, the patriarch of the family, is an attorney specializing in Elder Law, Probate and VA Benefits. His home office is in Corpus Christi, but his passion for helping veterans has led him and his family to expand. His son, Chris, is the Senior Veteran Advisor and his daughter, Dorotha, is the attorney heading up this new Dallas office.

As stated on the VA website:
The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisting living facility also qualifies.

To qualify for A&A it needs to be established by your physician that you require daily assistance by others to dress, undress, bathing, cooking, eating, taking on or off of prosthetics, leave home etc. You DO NOT have to require assistance with all of these. There simply needs to be adequate medical evidence that you cannot function completely on your own.

The A&A Pension can provide up to $1,632 per month to a veteran, $1,055 per month to a surviving spouse, or $1,949 per month to a couple.

Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation. This is where the Ocker law firm comes in. They can help you:
.determine eligibility
.apply for aid & attendance
.structure assets to qualify
.prepare application
.answer VA correspondence
.coordinate with assisted living
.coordinate with future medicaid

If someone in your family is a veteran or their spouse and needs help with activities of daily living please let us provide assistance. We can arrange a meeting to help determine eligibility to receive this life-long benefit. Call 214-389-9401 today for more information about this wonderful benefit and the in-home care we can provide to you or your loved one. Be sure to visit our website at www.hereforyouhomecare.com for all of the ways in which we can help keep you comfortable, safe and happy at home.

Thanks for visiting. See you soon,
Jan