As much as the word compassion is thrown around in healthcare, it’s not practiced as often as it should. Being compassionate comes once there is an ability to step into the shoes of those individuals that are receiving care and imagining how they must feel and how one would like to be treated if one was in their shoes. Imagine going from an independent individual with the freedom and ability to do anything you want to do having to depend on people for all standard typical daily activities that we take for granted. Imagine having to have someone help give a bath, feed one, change one or deal with incontinence or paralysis. It takes a toll mentally and it’s a tough adjustment. Everyone handles such challenges differently and there is a tendency to lash out or be non-compliant with assistance being offered. Rather than the caregiver being frustrated, one should be patient and offer encouragement. It is also okay to step away for a minute for composure and try again. In the end, the help is greatly appreciated even if said appreciation is not conveyed.

Primary caregivers and families want the best for their loved ones who need in-home care. We all love them and want them to get the best care. That said, providing on-going care can be both rewarding and challenging at the same time. Most especially for those who have their loved ones living with them. A lot of families and primary caregivers find themselves unable to disconnect when their loved ones start receiving homecare services. At Advanced, we try to educate them and point out the need to step back and allow the caregivers to provide the service needed. The point of the service is to allow the family member(s) to take a break and have a life of their own. Almost like allowing for a reset. Not taking the time for themselves, to live their own lives, enjoy time for themselves is draining, can lead to frustration, arguments, short temperedness, and resentment. This makes a difficult situation and dynamic even more complex. So, step away and

. We got this.

Most people don’t plan for the possibility that they might end up needing in home nursing care. There is the assumption that traditional insurances like Kaiser, BlueCross and other insurances will cover such care. That assumption could never be more incorrect. Traditional insurance does not cover non-skilled or personal care services. In the event that they do provide a few hours of service, it’s in conjunction with Skilled nursing and only for a short time. We recommend looking into what is called Long-Term care insurances. This insurance helps cover long-term care needs such as live-in services and personal care. Financial planners have this information, and it can be part of your portfolio. Companies that offer this insurance can also be found through community resources or online. So look ahead and plan ahead. Its only prudent to do so.