- Until medical advances helped people live better and longer, eldercare was limited to the few people who managed to survive to see grandchildren born. Now people are living to see great-grandchildren born and in some areas of the world even great-great-grandchildren.
- Eldercare is about more than just deciding how to manage a parent or grandparent who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. It's about making plans before anything happens from a significant fall to a diagnosis of any disease. Sometimes those plans never get implemented. Sometimes they get modified by the elder's decisions, perhaps because the elder doesn't want to live alone anymore, but she is still healthy, for instance.
- There are many Eldercare Education Service providers who can help you make plans before a life-changing event, provide you with the information and resources you need if you find yourself coping with a loved one who has a health condition, and help you understand the rights and protections provided for your loved one by the Older Americans Act.
- Eldercare Education Service providers offer such things as newsletters that give insight into how other people are managing situations similar to yours, scam alerts you can pass on to your aging relative, a list of questions to ask in preparation for a discussion about their wishes (concerning, for instance, staying home, finances and transportation needs). They also offer coping ideas if you are the primary care provider for your loved one and, in some cases, they can even provide referrals for home-care help.
- Eldercare Education Service providers can be advocates for elders both through the legislative actions and in the courts. If you feel your loved one has been taken advantage of or discriminated against due to age, you can contact your local Council on Aging for help in determining what options are available to you. The National Council on Aging can help you navigate Medicare and Social Security changes as well as keep you up-to-date on legislation impacting elders.
- Because people are often left caring for a person who once cared for them, there are sometimes concerns that arise. These may include how to handle finances, doctor visits, transportation and living arrangements. The National Council on Aging frequently offers seminars (in person and virtual) to educate you and discuss difficult subjects. These can also provide you with an opportunity to meet people who may be going through the same issues and give you a chance to exchange ideas.
