There are lots of moments in life where you know you need to find support resources, but you just don’t know where or how to begin.

This can be especially true when you are caring for an aging loved one and you are searching for a plan, for support and for ways to better manage it all.

Geriatric Care Managers can help your family do all of those things, and more.  These health care specialists will act as guides, advocates and resources for your family and will work in close collaboration with medical, legal and financial professionals to solve problems that individuals face as they age. They may hold a degree in nursing, gerontology, social work or psychology.

Here are some things to think about as you consider connecting with a Geriatric Care Manager:

When do you call?

Ideally, it is best to call before a problem gets out of control.  Realistically, many of us don’t recognize the need for help until a crisis arises.  Care Managers provide consultation services on demand.  Based on initial findings, they will make specific recommendations and, if asked, develop a plan of services to respond to immediate and longer term needs.

How do I find a Care Manager?

Local Care Managers can be found at Lliftcaregiving.com, and national website, caremanager.org., allows you to search for a Care Manager anywhere in the country by zip code.  Care Managers identified on this website meet rigorous eligibility requirements, including national certification.

What should be avoided?

Try to avoid working with people whose primary credential is that they took care of a family member and “just love working with older people.”  While their hearts may be in the right place, their skills and academic preparation for this complex work are not.

For more information about Geriatric Care Management, visit liftcaregiving.com.

Tricia Cushnie is the Chief Operating Officer and a Care Manager at Mature Options and Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

Being a family caregiver is a rewarding job in many ways.  But it is also hard work, both emotionally and physically.  And many family caregivers find that they need help to manage it all.

Sometimes it is a crisis such as the diagnosis or death of a loved one that affects our ability to manage on our own. Sometimes the stress is more cumulative and caused by caring for a chronically ill family member.

And while life transitions can be uncomfortable, stressful and overwhelming, the good news is that you don’t have to face it alone.

Signs that stress levels have reached a point where you may need the support of a mental health professional include:

• Muscle tension, sleep disorders, changes in appetite and rapid heartbeat
• Frequent colds, flu or allergies
• Memory problems, anxious or racing thoughts
• Moodiness, agitation and restlessness

Professionals who offer mental health services — psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors — must have a minimum of a master’s or doctoral degree, supervised clinical experience and be licensed by the state of Virginia. Many accept Medicare, Medicaid, and third party insurers; however, individuals may be responsible for a deductible or co-pay. There is also the option to pay privately.

A therapeutic relationship allows you to express feelings, gain insight, be listened to and understood, set short- and long-term goals and gain a sense of direction in the healing process.

For more information on managing stress and to find a mental health professional specializing in working with family caregivers, visit liftcaregiving.com

Christina D. Dhir, is Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Geriatric Care Manager with Lutheran Family Services  of Virginia, Inc. and Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

• Storyteller and listener
• Notebook to capture stories, memories and history
• Video recorder or smart phone
• Questions to prompt storytelling

Activity Instructions:

• Start the storytelling by telling a story yourself.
• Prompt stories from your loved ones past with statements or questions such as: Tell me about your brothers and sisters as kids. What was your first job? What was your first care? What did you like to do when you were a kid? How did you meet grandma or grandpa? Tell me about your parents.  Tell me what it was like during World War II.
• Be a good listener and keep stories going by encouraging your loved one with a statement such as, “Tell me more.”
• Record memories and read or play them back to your loved one now and in the future.

When it comes to being a caregiver, you may find yourself inundated with industry jargon.  One of the most common terms you may hear is “continuing care.”  Understanding exactly what this means (and doesn’t mean) will help you make good decisions more confidently.

What is continuing care? “Continuing care” describes the full continuum of care available to your loved one, including independent & assisted living, nursing & memory care as well as rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational and speech therapies.  Communities that offer a complete continuum of care are called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs).

Who is appropriate for continuing care? CCRCs can be great options for people who no longer want the responsibility of maintaining a home, who would enjoy the community’s activities and who want the peace of mind associated with knowing that as they age, they won’t need to move to a new campus to address progressing needs.   CCRCs also are a good fit for those suffering from short term memory loss or mobility limitations, as they would have all of their meals provided, assistance with dressing and medication as well as access to the community activities, 24/7 nursing care and the ability to transition to the on-site nursing center if needed.

What should we consider when evaluating CCRCs?

• Be sure to ask about admission criteria. Not all communities admit new residents at any level of care.
• Understand how care progresses. Ask if your loved one will need to move to a new apartment when transitioning from Independent to Assisted Living, or can they have Assisted Living services brought to their existing apartment?
• Evaluate the fee structure. Is there an entrance fee?  Some communities charge a substantial fee upon admission, guaranteeing care your loved one regardless of any changes in their financial position.  If that option doesn’t make sense for your family, there are communities that provide CCRC services without the entrance fee.

For more information on CCRCs and residential options for your aging loved one, visit liftcaregiving.com.

Susan Cantrell is Director of Marketing and Communications for The Hermitage and Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

There’s no place like home.  And for some, home is the ideal place to age.

Home health nurses can be an invaluable resource for many families, providing aging loved ones with skilled, home-based services that include:

• Patient Assessments,
• Disease Treatment Education & Prevention,
• Injections, Intravenous Therapy & Wound Care.

And all of this is administered in the comfort of your loved one’s home and in a way that is designed to minimize hospital visits.

When choosing a home health care provider, there are several important questions to consider:

• How long has the home health agency been in business? Working with an established agency will allow you to investigate their reputation and evaluate their track record.
• Is the agency properly licensed and certified? You can review home health licensure information at medicare.gov.  Understanding these credentials is critical because Medicare will only cover home health services if the agency is Medicare certified.
• Is the agency staff specially trained? The agency staff should specialize in the unique needs of older adults and utilize outcome based care programs.
• Does the agency create a personalized plan for each patient? By providing individualized care plans, a home health care provider is less likely to overlook important aspects of the patient’s needs.

For more information on home health services and to find a home health agency in your area, visit liftcaregiving.com.

Tony Skinner is the Manager of Clinical Practice and Quality Assurance at Gentiva Home Health-Richmond and Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

Does your loved one need a power of attorney?

YES! (and as soon as possible.)

At some point, and perhaps unexpectedly, your loved one could become unable to handle his or her affairs. Without a power of attorney, your family could face many unnecessary problems and expenses.

Starting the conversation with your loved one can be tricky.  There can be family dynamics at play as well as sensitivity around the topic.  Offering to go through the process together can help ease the tension, and helping your loved one understand the unintended consequences of not having a power of attorney in place can start you on the right path.

These “power of attorney essentials” will help you prepare for a successful conversation with your loved one:

• What is a power of attorney? This legal document gives a person —known as “the agent”— the legal right to make decisions on your loved one’s behalf in the event that he or she becomes unable to do so.  Choosing someone who is responsible, honest and intelligent is critical because the agent’s decisions are binding.

• Why should my loved one have a power of attorney? If your loved one becomes disabled and has not signed a power of attorney, the court will often appoint a conservator to make his or her decisions, and if that happens, substantial and unnecessary costs (such as bond premiums, attorney fees and court fees) may be incurred by your family.

• What other documents should my loved one have in place? In addition to a general power of attorney, which is primarily used to handle financial decisions, your loved one should also have a will and an advanced medical directive, which will appoint an individual to make health care decisions on his or her behalf as well as outline treatment wishes.

For more information about powers of attorney and financial planning, visit liftcaregiving.com.

Paula L. Peaden is an attorney with the law firm of Parker, Pollard, Wilton & Peaden and is chair of the Virginia Bar Association Elder Law Section.  Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.

April 15 generally means one thing: taxes. And in the spirit of the season, here are some tax tips from AARP that could help family caregivers save money.

There are three ways you can reap tax benefits as a family caregiver:

• You may be able to claim your loved one as a dependent, reducing your taxable income by $3,700.

• You may qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

• You may qualify for a deduction for money you spent on your loved one’s medical expenses and care.

Here’s how it works. To claim your loved one as a dependent:

• Your loved one’s gross income must be less than $3,700 (excluding Social Security or disability payments).

• You must be paying for more than half of your loved one’s expenses.

• Your loved one can’t be claimed as a dependent by anyone else.

The Child and Dependent Care Credit could be an option if:

• You have earned income.

• Your loved one can’t take care of himself due to mental or physical limitations.

• The recipient must be claimed as a dependent on your tax return. This option would provide you with a credit of up to 35 percent of the expenses incurred for dependent care, with a maximum of $3,000 (translating into a maximum $1,050 tax credit).

If your loved one’s gross income was more than $3,700, you cannot claim them as a dependent, but you might be able to take a deduction on their medical expenses if those expenses are more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.

For information, visit www.liftcaregiving.com.

Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

Life can change in an instant, and sometimes those changes can mean a new residential situation for you or your loved one.

If you find yourself needing to sell your loved one’s home, these tips can help lead to a speedy sale:

Maximize curb appeal. Mulch can help improve the look of a lawn immediately. To get started, vertically edge the beds with a flat-ended shovel to separate the turf from the mulched area, then remove and dispose of the dirt. When evaluating mulch options, we recommend using double-shredded dyed mulch, which is nontoxic, water-soluble and comes in a variety of colors that last almost a year.

Prune and plant. Making sure trees and shrubs have a clean, uniform appearance can make a huge difference in a home’s aesthetics. If there are gaps, consider planting similar-size shrubs to fill in open spaces, and be sure to include evergreen shrubs if you are listing the home in the winter. When creating a landscaping plan, we recommend nandinas because they keep their leaves and offer a splash of color. We also recommend using smaller, dwarf-type plants for foundation beds that are scaled for the size of the home. Remember that color from annuals, bulbs and window boxes will definitely boost curb appeal for open houses.

Check the systems. If the home has an irrigation system, make sure it is in proper working condition and is programmed correctly.

Maximizing curb appeal can be one of the easiest ways to increase overall interest in a home and get it sold quickly.

For information on how to keep your loved one’s yard beautiful and safe, visit www.liftcaregiving.com.

Gary Stockner is president of Stockner’s Nursery, and Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

Providing care for a family member who lives far away can be challenging. Concerns about your loved one’s safety, nutrition and health may seem overwhelming, and the inability to be with your loved one on a regular basis make it difficult for you to feel as though you are contributing.

Here are some tips to help you help your loved one from afar:

• Don’t be afraid to turn to others for help. Local family members and friends can provide companionship; neighbors can check regularly on your loved one; and community organizations often provide companion services.
• Make the most of visits.  Make appointments with your loved one’s physician, lawyer and financial advisor. Meet with neighbors, friends and other relatives to hear their observations about how your loved one is doing. Take time to connect with your loved one by talking, listening to music, going for a walk or participating in activities you enjoy together.
• Use technology. Care management tools can help families work together, regardless of geography.  From activity management to status updates and secure document storage, these systems can help families manage caregiving responsibilities as a team.

For more information about long distance caregiving and to sign up for Lift Caregiving’s free care management tool, Family Ties, visit liftcaregiving.com.

Katie Gilstrap is co-founder of Lift Caregiving.

Choosing a retirement community is a complex decision, and the research alone can be quite overwhelming, making the decision easy to postpone.

And with seemingly infinite options, the question for most of us is, “Where do I begin?”

Contacting a Senior Housing Advisory service is a good place to start. These professionals do the research for families, connecting them with senior living communities that meet their loved one’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs-while also fitting within their budget.

And the best news of all is that their service is free to the family.

When considering Senior Housing Advisors to support your family, be sure to ask:

• “What role will you play before, during and after the move?” Many Senior Housing Advisors will coordinate tours and serve as a liaison with the prospective communities to ensure a smooth transition; but others will simply make referrals online, leaving the families to navigate the tours and transition on their own. Understanding the levels of service the advisor provides will help you make the right choice for your family.

• “What percentage of communities do you work with in the area?” Senior Housing Advisors typically have referral agreements with communities in the region. Understanding the portion of the market the advisor actively works with will help your family better evaluate their level of expertise in the area.

• “How do you handle referrals to communities where you don’t have an agreement?” Many Senior Housing Advisors are compensated by the communities with whom they have agreements, so understanding their philosophy on making referrals outside of their network is very important —after all, you want to make sure your loved one transitions to a community that best meets his or her needs, regardless of whether the advisor has an agreement there.

Then, ask yourself how you felt about your interaction with the company. Did the advisor understand your needs? Would you feel comfortable trusting the recommendations?

For more information on Senior Housing Advisors and how they can help your family, visit liftcaregiving.com.

Lisa Hollier is a Certified Senior Advisor and the owner of Choice Connections of Richmond and Katie Gilstrap is the co-founder of Lift Caregiving.