In this episode, we talk with Beth Miller of CarePatrol about how families can go about finding the right care when needed. CarePatrol is a company that helps families understand the options available in senior care communities and helps you find the right fit for your loved one and their situation.
Beth tells us, "nine times out of ten, I get a call when someone is in an emergency situation. And that is never a good time to have to make a decision." She recommends getting in touch with an expert such as herself before an emergency so you can understand the various choices and be better able to make good decisions down the road.
She reminds us that it is very important to have a Power of Attorney in place. You can’t do a whole lot without that. Educate yourself on your family’s situation, your parent’s preferences for how and where they age, and understand their financial means so you can determine options such as a Medicaid spend-down without having to move your loved one.
Senior living is changing at an astronomical rate. Katherine's advice is to use a local placement agency such as CarePatrol. They are free to families and they personally tour the local facilities, they know the incident reports of each community, they know the culture and capabilities, and they can help you reduce the stress, time and frustration of looking for just the right place for mom, dad, or your spouse. It's not easy, but there is help.
