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In turn, families can help nursing staff if they are
vigilant about their ability to connect and provide
useful, timely information.
Experts also counsel families to plan for the care
of their parents while they are still healthy. Grace
Lebow, co-director of Aging Network Services in Bethesda,
Md., said, "Pull the whole family together-including
Mom and Dad-and ask, 'What if something happens to Dad-what
should Mom do? What if we can't afford care? Who will
provide power of attorney? What if Dad can't drive?
What are the available social services?' "
Nurses who deal with long-distance caregivers agree
that it's difficult to handle the issues of aging, but
the burden grows worse with no support network. Often,
nurses will recommend a geriatric care manager to help
assess and devise a care plan for elders. For an estimated
$200 a month, this plan can help families create a strong
social network, providing social services in transportation,
shopping, medical and financial care.
Caring for the elderly puts a lot of strain on families
and medical communities, Lebow said. It is hard to face
the losses of aging, she said, but the biggest burden
occurs when we don't plan.
Like other experts, she agrees that if families come
together and are willing to change roles and make accommodations
in their lives, they can become resilient caretakers.
"The clearer one can communicate, the better the
caregiving experience can be," Wohlgemuth said.
Contact Pamela Stone at pamstone3@aol.com
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