Welcome to Helping Families Cope HFCs D.I.Y.Starter Guide...Welcome to Helping Families Cope HFC’s D.I.Y.Starter Guide Relax, Your Day is About to Get Better! ... Category Company

www.HelpingFamiliesCope.org

Welcome to

Helping Families Cope

HFC’s D.I.Y.Starter Guide

Relax, Your Day is About to Get Better!


None of us Wanted to do this, but

Somebody has to.

• Taking care of an elderly or disabled

family member, although daunting and

exhausting, is also rewarding but not

without challenges.

• This guide is designed to answer questions

that will help your family succeed during

this time that we call “Helping Families

Cope.”


Topics

• Introduction

• So You’re responsible for their care?

• Where do I start?

• Housing

• Available Housing Options

• How do I Choose the Best Housing?

• What about Transportation to and from Doctor’s appointments?

• What about Family Members who “just don’t get it?”

• What do I say to people who just don’t get it?


Topics continued…

• What about Legal Help?

• Where do get more help?

• How do I overcome family objections?

• What are the Do’s and Don’ts?

• Can you give me some tips?

• What are the proven steps?

• Summary

• Where can I get more info?


Introduction

• Caring for a loved one who is elderly or disabled is nothing new. The concept of taking care of your parents is part of history, and in most cases inevitable.

• We feel that the more information the family has about elderly/disabled care, the better chance they have of succeeding in making the right decisions for their loved one. Keep in mind, every situation is unique.

• This guide will help answer questions for you and your family about setting up housing, transportation, dealing with family members, legal help and more.


So Your responsible for their care?

• Eventually, we all get old and progress into needing more care. This usually falls back onto family members who aren’t necessarily prepared for the mountains of paperwork and small often overlooked details like medications.

• Up until now it’s been hard to find all the resources like housing, transportation, family support and legal help all in one place.

• We’re here to help with our 4 decades of caring for the elderly/and or disabled.


Where do I start?

• You’ve already taking the first step by purchasing this guide.

• Every situation is unique, but they all have basic things in common.

• Use an assessment tool to help determine level of need. http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0101/p48.html

• Kingston Scales http://www.kingstonscales.org/cognitive-assessment.html

• Housing is usually the first need. Once you know where your loved one will be living things will start to come into place, so let’s start with Housing.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0101/p48.html

http://www.kingstonscales.org/cognitive-assessment.html




Housing

• Finding the right housing takes a lot of

time and money.

• What city will they live in?

• Is it close to their Doctor, Hospital etc…?

• How much can you afford?

• Does you loved one need partial care or

full 24/7 nursing help?


Available Housing Options

• In King County, WA the average housing cost for an elderly and/or a disabled person is $4,777 per month.

• DSHS Adult Family Home Locator https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/lookup/AFHPubLookup.aspx

• Agencies that help DSHS https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/agencies-help

• Veterans http://www.dva.wa.gov/veteran-homes/veterans-homes

https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/lookup/AFHPubLookup.aspx


https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/agencies-help









http://www.dva.wa.gov/veteran-homes/veterans-homes






How do I choose the Best

Housing? • Visit the facilities you’re interested in and ask questions.

• Interview the family of other residents.

• Keep in mind ages of the other residents and gender

• Similar interests

• Language barriers

• Meal plans

• Medication needs

• Accessibility for power chairs, wheel chairs, etc…


What about Transportation to

and from Doctor appointments? • This can be easy or hard depending on the physical

condition of your loved one.

• Taxi’s and Uber are fine if the patient is ambulatory.

• If they need wheel chair or person to person assistance

you’ll need something else like D.A.R.T., ACCESS, or

Hopelink.

• Typical transportation can cost around $30 each way to

go to the Doctor.

• Some retirement homes offer transportation


What about Family members

that “just don’t get it?” • No matter what your family situation is there will

probably people who “just don’t get it.” meaning they don’t understand what a traumatic live-changing transition is taking place.

• Communication is the key here.

• Set up a meeting with all those involved. Either in person or by conference call.

• Describe the current condition and the solutions.

• Don’t get discouraged if they “just don’t understand.”

• Offer the Doctor’s contact info so they can get the info first hand.

• You and your family will get through this.


What do I say to People Who

Just Don’t Get it? • Stay in control of the situation. Explain what is currently

going on with your loved one.

• Ask everyone for their feedback, anyone is a potential knowledge base when it comes to your loved one.

• We’ve found that close friends of your loved one are a great source for resources and information that your loved one has not shared with you or other family members.

• Go with your gut on what’s best for your family

• The support you’ll get will surprise you.


What about Legal help?

• This is where you, play a crucial role in the success of your loved one’s Finances.

• Is there an estate involved? Then Yes!

• Encourage family members to communicate their feelings.

• Seek Legal advice when needed.

• Initial consultations are usually free.


What are the Do’s and Don’ts?

• Don’t think you are alone

• Don’t make uninformed decisions

• Don’t re-invent the wheel use the established resources

• Do ask a lot of questions

• Do thank people for their input

• Do your Best! It’s all anyone can ask


Can you give me some tips?

• Over the last 35 years Helping Families Cope has lived this life through the trial and tribulations.

• We’ve learned the ropes and are here to help.

• Let us make your lives easier. You and your loved one will be glad you did.

• Murphy’s law seams to be accurate, just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do.

• Keep in mind that the people you contact for help do exactly that, help you through this difficult time.

• There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train.

• Your Day is about to get better!


What are the proven steps?

• Develop your plan

• Get Housing

• Process paperwork

• Account for all finances

• Keep Family members informed

• Use Established resources

• Seek Legal advice when needed

• Call for help when needed

• Trust Your Gut


Summary

• We feel Helping Families Cope is the perfect way to learn about what it takes to take care of an elderly and/or disabled loved one.

• Hopefully this guide has answered a lot of your questions on how to Help Your Family Cope by doing it yourself.

• Good Luck and Best Wishes for Success!

• If you feel overwhelmed by doing it yourself, please contact us and we will create a confidential personalized detailed plan to get you through this trying time.

• We are at your service to do it together as a team.


Where to Get More Information

• Please e-mail us with any questions or

comments. We’d love to hear from you!

[email protected]

Resources


Category Company Website Phone Number

Housing DSHS Adult Family Home Locator 360-725-2300

Housing A Place For Mom www.aplaceformom.com 1-866-276-9684

Housing Senior Advisor https://www.senioradvisor.com// 1-800-805-3621

Housing Veteran’s Admin http://www.dva.wa.gov/veteran-

homes/veterans-homes

1-877-838-7787

In Home Care Visiting Angels https://www.visitingangels.com/ 1-800-365-4189

In Home Care

Comfort Keepers http://www.comfortkeepers.com 1-866-202-5309

Transportation Hopelink https://www.hopelink.org/need-

help/transportation

425-869-6000

Transportation

ACCESS http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/

accessible/

253-553-3000


http://www.aplaceformom.com/

https://www.senioradvisor.com/

http://www.aplaceformom.com/






https://www.visitingangels.com/

http://www.comfortkeepers.com/

https://www.hopelink.org/need-help/transportation



http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/accessible/

http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/accessible/

Resources 2



Legal NW Justice Project https://nwjustice.org/get-legal-help 211 or 1-888-387-7111

Legal LawHelp.org https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/ 1-800-621-4636

Support Helping Families Cope www.HelpingFamilesCope.Org 1-888-555-1212

Support

Medicaid WA State https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-

and-community-services/medicaid

1-800-562-3022

https://nwjustice.org/get-legal-help





https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/

http://www.helpingfamiliescope.net/

https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/medicaid







Resources 3



Support

Family

Counseling

Family

Counseling

Resources 4



Financial

Counseling

Financial

Counseling

Other

Other

Documents

Welcome to Helping Families Cope HFCs D.I.Y.Starter Guide...Welcome to Helping Families Cope HFC’s D.I.Y.Starter Guide Relax, Your Day is About to Get Better! ... Category Company