Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - CH - 27

WEIGHING OPTIONS

Families facing decisions about caregiving need to consider all available options, Locker says. Her practice tries
to help families work through the possibilities, including
having siblings split up the work or having parents pay
for care if they're able, rather than children providing it.
MetLife's report on caregiving costs offers similar
advice: "Both male and female family caregivers need to
be more aware of the long-term financial implications of
leaving work or dropping back to part time in order to
care for older relatives."
Locker advises giving caretaking a trial run.
"We try to counsel our clients on taking family leave,"
she says. "Take a short break from your job, do the caretaking and see how hard it really is."
For people looking to plan ahead for when they might
need caregiving or need to provide it, the Merrill Lynch
report recommends looking into long-term care insurance and designating savings for healthcare costs in
retirement. Experts also recommend having advance
conversations with family to discuss wishes and potential strategies in case care is needed.
With some planning, families can have a better shot at
a caregiving solution that works best for everybody, so it
doesn't simply fall to an overworked daughter. ■

QUALITY CARE FOR
ALZHEIMER'S AND
DEMENTIA
If caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's and dementia at home is not an option, the professionals at
Hartsfield Village's Memory Support Residence are
here to help. The residence offers compassionate
care for people with memory disorders in a monitored, welcoming environment providing both safety
and comfort.
"When searching for the right facility, families are
often overwhelmed with all the available options,"
says Brieonna Woods, LPN, QMCP, Memory Support
Residence director. "Our facility offers unique opportunities for residents to thrive with a variety of social,
cultural, recreational, wellness and fitness activities
that welcome family members to participate in their
loved one's care. These activities are also customized
to each resident's needs, keeping them engaged and
supported during the transition from independence to
assisted living."
Families can also rest assured that their loved one
has access to licensed nursing staff, needed services
and personal assistance 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. "Our staff is specially trained to care for our
residents' specific needs," Woods says. "They take the
time to get to know each resident, to understand their
needs and wants, so that person feels right at home."
Other amenities at the Memory Support Residence
include private furnished rooms, each with its own
private bath, a full array of meals and snacks, daily
housekeeping, laundering of linen and personal clothing, individually controlled heating and air conditioning
and an outdoor fenced courtyard with walking path.

WEBSITE

Hartsfield Can Help
To learn more about the opportunities
available at the Memory Support Residence
at Hartsfield Village, call 219-934-0580 or
visit hartsfieldvillage.com.

FAL L 2019

27
http://www.hartsfieldvillage.com
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2019 - CH

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