Recognizing the Need for outside Help in Caregiving
Caregivers often don’t recognize when they are in over their heads, and often get to a breaking point. After a prolonged period of time, caregiving can become too difficult to endure any longer. Short-term the caregiver can handle it. Long-term, help is needed. Outside help at this point is needed.A typical pattern with an overloaded caregiver may unfold as follows:· 1 to 18 months--the caregiver is confident, has everything under control and is coping well. Other friends and family are lending support.· 20 to 36 months--the caregiver is taking medication to sleep and control mood swings. Outside help dwindles away and except for trips to the store or docto

Providing more options for seniors
POINT OF VIEW Project 2020yahooBuzzArticleId = window.location.href;-->BY JUDY LEITNER AND JIM KILLACKEY Comments 0Published: October 24, 2009Keeping Oklahoma’s senior citizens healthy and in their homes and their communities for as long as possible without needing nursing home care is a primary goal of Project 2020, proposed legislation that has the backing of

Understanding Long Term Care Planning
Mary is trying to prepare her son to avoid the mistakes she made with her husband Bill. Five years ago, Bill lost his ability to communicate due to Alzheimer's. He also suffered from heart disease and diabetes. As his caregiver, Mary was never quite sure she was making the right choices about his long term care and medical treatment. Eventually Bill needed life support and Mary agonized over how Bill really would have wanted his life to end since they had never discussed it.Bill died last year. So many things were left undone regarding his care.Mary has decided to plan for long term care and medical treatment before it happens. She has designated her son as her perso