The Caregiver's Journey

• Build a Partnership With Your Care Community: Six Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

  Is your loved one in a memory care community, or are you considering moving them into one? Understanding how to build a collaborative relationship with the care team is crucial for ensuring the best outcomes for your loved one. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that creating a true partnership with care community staff can dramatically improve quality of care and reduce stress for everyone involved. We recently spoke with James Lee, CEO and co-founder of Bella Groves, an award-winning memory care community. With over 17 years of experience in senior living and memory care, James has developed valuable insights on how to transform what is often an adversarial relationship between family caregivers and professional caregivers into a collaborative partnership. Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.org/35-build-a-partnership-with-your-care-community-six-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Assess the Overall Fit When looking for a memory care community, many families focus on practical aspects like location, price, and amenities. While these factors are important, James suggests that philosophical alignment and rapport with the management team are even more crucial for long-term success. When evaluating potential communities, James recommends shifting your mindset from "us versus them" to "us collectively versus dementia." This perspective can transform the relationship from the beginning. Tip 2: Embrace the Community Aspect Moving your loved one from home to a community setting represents a fundamental shift in their care environment—from one-on-one care to being part of a group. Tip 3: Acknowledge Your Role Has Changed When your loved one moves into a care community, your role shifts from being the primary caregiver to being a care partner working alongside professional caregivers. Tip 4: Recognize That the Diagnosis Will Progress A critical aspect of the care partnership is understanding that your loved one's condition will continue to change over time. In fact, by the time someone moves into a memory care community, they're often in the steeper part of their dementia journey where changes happen more rapidly. Tip 5: Acknowledge Your Grief The dementia journey involves ongoing loss, a phenomenon Sue calls "drip grief." As your loved one's condition progresses, you experience new losses almost daily—abilities that disappear, memories that fade, personality changes that emerge. Tip 6: Engage with the Community Caregiving Team The families whose loved ones have the best quality of life tend to be those who actively engage with the care team. This engagement goes beyond basic communication to building genuine relationships with the people caring for your loved one. Building a True Partnership Creating a collaborative relationship with your loved one's care community team isn't just about being nice—it's about achieving the best possible outcomes for your loved one with dementia. By reframing the relationship from "us versus them" to "us collectively versus dementia," you can transform what is often an adversarial dynamic into a true partnership. As James explains, "You are your loved one's expert, we are dementia experts. And the two together give us the best chance to get this right." Read More in This Blog here

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• Introduce and Integrate a Caregiver: Six Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

  Adding a new caregiver to your support team can be a challenging transition, whether they're coming into your home, assisting your loved one who lives alone, or joining the care team in a memory care community. This transition can be particularly difficult for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's or dementia, as changes in routine can cause confusion and resistance. If your loved one doesn't think they need help (and let's be honest, many don't), don't give up too quickly. Be patient and allow the process time to unfold. As one experienced caregiver shared, "He told the new caregiver for at least the first couple of weeks, every time she came, 'You need to go home.' She would just smile at him and say, 'Well, I'm not going home just yet.'"

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• How To Create a Care Plan: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

  Are you prepared for others to take care of your loved one? Do you have a care plan in place? Having a comprehensive care plan is one of the most important tools a caregiver can create — not just for emergencies, but for everyday peace of mind. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned the importance of creating a care plan for our loved one. We spoke with Amanda Lukoff, co-founder and CEO of Eleplan, about what a care plan is and how to create one that works for your unique situation. Amanda's journey to creating Eleplan was deeply personal. Her brother Liam, who has autism, is her "North Star" and the inspiration behind her career path, including going to law school for special education law. Through observing her parents' caregiving journey with Liam, Amanda recognized the need to capture all the knowledge that lived in her parents' heads so that others could provide care that truly honored who Liam is as a person. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://www.thecaregiversjourney.comDonate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaregiversJourneys/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/Email: [email protected], [email protected] Additional Resources Mentioned Episode 32: Navigating The Caregiver Hiring Process https://thecaregiversjourney.com/32-navigating-the-caregiver-hiring-process-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/Eleplan Website: https://www.eleplan.com/Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.com/33-how-to-create-a-care-plan-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias Takeaways Tip 1: Start with the Basics The first step in creating a care plan is to document the essential information that would allow someone to provide short-term care (even for just 30 minutes) while you step out. This includes: Emergency contactsMedications and dosagesHigh-level meal preferencesAllergiesRelevant medical conditions Tip 2: Outline Preferences and Daily Routines Beyond the basics, a good care plan should capture what makes your loved one unique—their preferences, personality traits, and daily routines. Your care plan should include: Likes and dislikesDaily schedule and routinesBedtime and morning ritualsBehavioral patternsEmotional triggers (both positive and negative) Tip 3: Document What to Do in an Emergency Crisis situations demand clear instructions. Your care plan should outline: What constitutes an emergency for your loved oneWhen to call 911 vs. other resourcesWho to contact and in what orderSpecial instructions for EMTs or ER staffLocation of important medical documents Tip 4: Collect Key Contacts and Documents Gathering important documents in one accessible location is critical for seamless care. This includes: Insurance cardsHealthcare directivesPower of Attorney documentsGuardianship formsMedical history and medication lists Tip 5: Keep Everything Accessible and Current A care plan is only effective if it's up-to-date and easily accessible. Amanda frames this with an important question: "Do I have a system that is as dynamic as the needs of my loved one and the ever-changing piles of documents and information?" Whether you're using a physical binder, shared digital documents, or a specialized platform like Eleplan, the key is having a system that makes updates easy and ensures the information is available whenever and wherever it's needed. Read More in This Blog

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• Navigating the Caregiver Hiring Process: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

  When the time comes to bring professional caregiving support into your loved one’s life, the process can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re hiring a caregiver for home care or to complement care in a community setting, understanding how to find, evaluate, and select the right person is crucial for both your peace of mind and your loved one’s well being. We are Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan, we’ve developed five essential tips for hiring a paid caregiver, based on real experiences and practical advice from caregiving experts. These insights will help you navigate this important transition with confidence and clarity. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://www.thecaregiversjourney.comDonate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaregiversJourneys/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/Email: [email protected], [email protected] Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.com/32-navigating-the-caregiver-hiring-process-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Episode 5: Home Alone https://thecaregiversjourney.com/leaving-your-care-receiver-alone-six-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/Episode 28: Home and Community Living Options https://thecaregiversjourney.com/time-for-a-change-home-and-community-living-options-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/Episode 30: Elder Law Attorneys https://thecaregiversjourney.com/they-know-what-we-dont-elder-law-attorneys-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/Episode 33. How To Create a Care Plan: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias https://thecaregiversjourney.com/33-how-to-create-a-care-plan-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementiasSupport the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Assess Your Loved One’s Needs Before you begin searching for a caregiver, it’s important to thoroughly understand what kind of support your loved one requires. This assessment will guide all your subsequent decisions about the type of caregiver, frequency of care, and specific qualifications needed. Consider these key areas when assessing needs: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)Medical NeedsHousehold Management TasksSafety ConcernsTransportation and MobilityCompanionship Needs Tip 2: Determine the Type of Caregiver and Frequency Needed There are three main categories of paid caregivers, each with different training levels and capabilities: Companion CareCertified Nursing Assistant (CNA)Skilled Nursing Tip 3: Understand Your Financial Resources Review Your Financial Resources Savings and investment accountsLong-term care insurance policiesRegular income sourcesFamily financial contributions. Explore Available Benefits MedicareMedicaidVeterans Benefits Consider Family Contributions Tip 4: Decide Between Agency or Private Hire When you work with a caregiving agency: They Handle Administrative TasksThey Provide Backup CoverageThey Offer Training and SupervisionThey Assume Liability Private Hire Benefits It’s Usually Less ExpensiveYou Have Complete ControlThere’s Often More FlexibilityYou May Find Through Word-of-Mouth Private Hire Challenges You’re the EmployerNo Backup CoverageLimited Screening Resources Tip 5: Evaluate potential caregivers thoroughly Key Questions for Interviews Scheduling and AvailabilityQualifications and ExperienceApproach to CareCommunication Style Background Checks and References Set Clear Expectations Especially for private hires, establish from the beginning that the arrangement is on a trial basis. Include Your Loved One When Appropriate Next Steps: Care Plans and Integration Develop a written plan Develop an Integration Strategy Read More in This Blog here 

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• They Know What We Don’t, Elder Law Attorneys: Four Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

  We don't know what we don't know. But elder law attorneys do, and their expertise can be transformational for families facing aging-related challenges. Whether you're dealing with a recent diagnosis, planning for potential long-term care needs, or simply trying to prepare for the future, understanding how and when to work with an elder law attorney can make all the difference in your journey. In this episode, we'll explore four essential tips for working with elder law attorneys, based on insights from Beth Prather, a board-certified elder law attorney with 32 years of experience, and Courtney Lovejoy, an elder law attorney with a Master of Laws in elder law. Their expertise in Medicaid planning, VA benefits, estate planning, probate, trust administration, and guardianship offers valuable perspective for anyone navigating the complex legal landscape of aging and caregiving. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://www.thecaregiversjourney.comDonate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCaregiversJourneys/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/Email: [email protected], [email protected] Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.com/they-know-what-we-dont-elder-law-attorneys-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned www.NAELA.org The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys website has a searchable directory. "They have a really good search function where you can type in your zip code and find elder law attorneys within a certain radius," Courtney notes.State-specific organizations: For example, Florida has the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (www.AFELA.org).Beth Prather: https://www.gskattorneys.com/attorneys/beth-a-prather/Courtney Lovejoy: https://www.gskattorneys.com/attorneys/courtney-van-emmerik-lovejoy/Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: How to Find an Attorney Who Specializes in Elder Law Finding the right elder law attorney requires more than just a quick Google search. Here's how to identify professionals with genuine expertise in this specialized field: Look for Specialized Credentials Professional credentials can be helpful indicators of specialized knowledge in elder law: Board Certification: IMaster of Laws (LLM) in Elder Law: Ask the Right Questions How many Medicaid applications did they file last year?What percentage of their practice focuses on elder law?Do they handle guardianships, Medicaid planning, or VA benefits cases regularly? Use Reliable Resources to Find Specialists NAELA.org:State-specific organizations: For example, Florida has the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (AFELA.org).Personal referrals: Tip 2: Prioritize These Legal Documents and Planning Tools Once you've found an elder law attorney, certain planning tools should take priority: Comprehensive Durable Power of AttorneyConsider Long-Term Care InsuranceLimit or Avoid GiftingAvoid DIY Planning Common DIY mistakes include: Adding children to bank accounts or property titlesGiving away assets based on outdated or incorrect adviceTrying to "hide" assets from Medicaid Tip 3: Understand Medicaid and VA Benefits Options A significant part of elder law involves helping clients navigate government benefits for long-term care: Tip 4: Use This Time to Address Other Important Legal Matters Review Beneficiary DesignationsCreate an Asset InventoryConsider Account ConsolidationAddress Healthcare Decision DocumentsBe Cautious About Adding Others to Accounts or DeedsDiscuss End-of-Life Preferences

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