Guest Post: 5 Places to Look When Seeking Dementia Care for a Loved One

By Ryan Hughes

It is absolutely heart-breaking to see someone you love suffering from dementia. When dementia strikes, everything changes. The one you love may not be able to perform simple tasks any longer or may lose the ability to solve day-to-day problems. Feeling like you’re on an emotional roller coaster is common, with all of the personality changea. Dementia is a disorder that cannot be handled alone. You need to get help. Here are five places to look when seeking dementia care for a loved one.

Begin with the Primary Care Physician
A proper diagnosis is key and it is important to eliminate any other possibilities. Dementia is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease and vice versa. Reactions to medication, thyroid conditions, and lack of certain vitamins can also cause similar symptoms. A visit to your loved one's physician is important to get a baseline status, health history, and a referral to a specialist. A battery of tests will be performed, including brain imaging and blood tests in order to gather comprehensive information.

Visit One or More Specialists
When dementia is suspected, a specialist will be the next step in order to get the specific care that is needed to deal with your loved one's disorder. Ask the primary care physician to point you in the right direction and do your own research as well. Expect to make the rounds as you visit psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, and doctors, who have made dementia their area of expertise.

Seek Online Sources of Assistance
You'll find a host of helpful resources online. The Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) has a great deal of information, including the Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregivers Center. There is a help line that is available at all times, as well.

Learn About Lifestyle Modifications
Many steps can be taken at home to assist your loved one who is dealing with dementia. Discover medications that are helpful in improving symptoms, providing your loved one with more clarity and peace of mind. You can also make changes in diet to promote cardiovascular health and brain functioning. Reduce the amount of red meat in the daily diet and include a great deal of fresh produce. Whole grains, fish, and foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for cognitive abilities. Your loved one also needs regular, physical activity to keep the blood circulating and maintain well-being.

Bring in Home Health Care Aides or Seek a Facility
If your loved one can no longer be independent, you can bring home health care aides into the home on a daily basis. However, you may find that moving your loved one to a facility is the best option for round-the-clock care. There are many facilities that specialize in providing care for dementia patients. You can ask the primary care physician and team of specialists for their top recommendations. The Alzheimer's Association and other online sources can assist you in narrowing your search in order to find the best in care for your loved one.

Dealing with dementia in a loved one is truly challenging. Fortunately, resources abound to help you in caring for a dementia patient. Don’t give up. There is always hope... and helping hands.

Methodist Homes (MHA.org.uk) is a Christian organization providing care, accommodation and support services for persons 70 and older throughout Britain.

Guest Post: Enhancing Senior Health with Yoga

By Shannon Lochwood

Yoga is often practiced by young people looking to maintain their health and improve their overall fitness level, and many older adults aren’t familiar with even the basics of yoga. However, that doesn’t mean that seniors can’t benefit from taking yoga classes or doing yoga on their own.

In fact, yoga has a wide variety of benefits for senior citizens – maybe even more than for younger participants. While certain types of yoga may not be ideal for seniors, there are forms that will be beneficial for seniors of all different levels of health.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Improved Flexibility

Decreased flexibility is often a common problem for older adults. While any type of regular exercise like walking, jogging or even playing a sport like tennis or golf can improve flexibility, yoga is one of the best activities to immediately improve flexibility over the entire body.

Increased flexibility will decrease the chance of experiencing a minor or major injury that could result in chronic pain, or worse, a broken or damaged bone.

Yoga may also be able to improve joint flexibility and decrease pain associated with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions like it.

Better Stability

Many injuries that affect seniors aren’t related to serious accidents – they’re related to minor incidents in the home, such as minor falls or simply tripping over something. Practicing yoga on a regular basis can help seniors improve overall stability to avoid those falls that can result in very problematic injuries on the wrong surface.

Sleep Quality

It’s commonly said that seniors need less sleep than their younger counterparts, but many seniors don’t really feel that way. A lot of seniors also feel that they have a particularly hard time falling asleep at night, especially if they’re taking any type of medication that may keep them awake or are experiencing chronic pain related to another condition.

Yoga may help all individuals that feel they have a hard time falling asleep, simply because the movements of gentle types of yoga are often relaxing. Yoga classes also focus on the relaxing aspects of the practice and may even incorporate meditation, which makes many seniors feel more grounded and comfortable after sessions.

If you do take up yoga partly to improve your sleep, consider scheduling classes in the afternoon or evening instead of in the morning or during the day so you’ll be ready for bed within a few hours of your class.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Mental Health

Yoga is known as a relaxing activity, especially if you take classes that incorporate meditation, and for many seniors that suffer from anxiety or depression, doing yoga regularly may help to alleviate or manage the problem.

While some seniors may be hesitant to try yoga with its “new-age” label, others jump at the chance. Seniors that often balk at trying yoga are sometimes the ones that benefit the most, as well.

If the benefits of yoga sound appealing but you’re just not sure about the activity, try to keep an open mind. You may find an activity that you really enjoy once you understand the basics, and. yoga classes can also be another way for seniors to socialize or discover new things in their city. Many major cities such as Los Angeles or Miami have yoga classes just for seniors.

Shannon Lochwood is a freelance writer and has contributed to several health blogs. She loves everything about health, mental and physical and loves to encourage people of all ages to try fun new ways to exercise into their daily routine.

Guest Post: Coping with Hearing Loss as a Caregiver

By Paul Harrison

When others depend on you, it is essential that you take the best care of your own health. If you are struggling to understand conversations or others complain that you have the television or radio on too loud, you may be suffering from hearing loss.

This can be due to many things, such as an ear infection or simply part of the aging process. The sooner you get it checked out, the better. If your doctor does diagnose you with hearing loss, there are plenty of things you can do to help you continue as a carer.

Find out as much as you can about your condition so that you are well-informed and can plan ahead. Your doctor will send you for a hearing test and may suggest hearing aids. These can take some getting used to at first, especially if you have been losing your hearing for some time. However, they will certainly help you to engage in conversation and avoid much of the isolation of hearing loss.

Tell your friends and family what is happening and tell them what they can do to help. Simple things like making sure they have your attention and looking at you while they are speaking can make a big difference, especially if you have begun to rely on lip reading. 

Things will be much easier for you as a carer if the person you are caring for is able to understand your hearing difficulty. You may be able to teach them some simple signs to make things easier for you. This is often not the case, though, especially with older people or those with short-term memory problems.

You can make things easier by turning off the television or radio when you are talking to them, and making sure you are face-to-face.  If there is a window or lamp behind the other person, the light may dazzle you and make it hard to see their face. Another thing that may make it harder to follow conversation is if the other person is holding their hands in front of their face while they talk. If they don’t understand why this is a problem, you could try holding their hand, or give them something to hold such as a drink.

Just as it is harder to hear people when you are tired, it may be harder for the one you are caring for to speak clearly and understand you, when they are tired. Encourage them to point to things to say what they need. Save important conversations for when you are both alert.

One of the major concerns of carers with hearing loss is that they will not hear if they are needed, making them worry about going in the garden or sleeping in case they cannot hear a call for help.

There are pager systems where a transmitter is placed in the person’s room. When it detects noise, or the button is pressed the pager will sound an alarm and vibrate. Some systems also have flashing lights. You can carry the pager with you around the house and garden and not worry about missing a call for help.

This system can also be linked to pressure mats and door sensors, which will tell you if the person you care for is out of bed or has left their room. You can also get pads to put in your pillow, which will vibrate to wake you when you are sleeping.

Other equipment is now available that can make your own life easier, including extra loud doorbells with flashing lights so you don’t miss visitors. You can even find amplified telephones with a loud ring and caller volume control, as well as specially designed mobile phones or hearing aids with wireless capability so you can take urgent calls when you are out and about.

Paul Harrison has been in the hearing industry for 20 years and has gained experience at both at manufacturer level and retailer level for hearing aids.  Paul studied as an audiologist in Cambridge and now through he company www.yourhearing.co.uk manages a team of hearing audiologists across the UK who support hearing loss sufferers with solutions to their hearing problems.

Guest Blog: Clutter and Elderly Care

By Linda Bailey

I have watched Momma cleaning all my life. My earliest memories were of Momma showing me how to clean something or cooking lessons, even though I was not old enough to participate. She sat me up on the counter as a toddler and showed me how to make a pie crust. It was Momma’s way to communicate with me. She was not a big talker and had grown up during WWII and had to be caregiver to her two siblings because Grandpa was at war and Grandma was at the factory. She held her family together and made sure that the house was always clean and the food they had was always well prepared.

I have literally never seen a person that could outwork Momma. She never stopped; even when we had company and we were all chatting it was almost impossible to keep Momma sitting down. A lot of family members got aggravated at her because of it, especially her momma and her sister because they loved to sit and chat. But when things got out of hand or someone had a problem Momma was the first one to be called to the scene! She could handle anything and not just handle it but handle it with love and kindness. She is also the godliest woman I know and she lives her love for God out through her life and in everything she does.

So, about seven months ago, when they told us that Momma had a blocked carotid artery that had to have surgery, we knew she would be just fine. During their investigation of the artery they also found that she had numerous other blockages that needed surgery: a triple bypass. A couple of days before they told us she needed surgery and was blocked up she was out cutting down a tree at my aunt’s house (who is six years younger than Momma’s 77 years) with a chain saw. Only five feet two inches, and was always as strong as most men.

Within three months, she has had two major surgeries and has been hospitalized for a severe urinary tract infection, which keeps coming back. She has lost thirty-five pounds and has lost her appetite for most foods and is mainly being sustained by a high calorie Boost that we have to special order. She is so very frail and tiny. I know that many of you will understand when I say that there are times I just want to ask “Where did my Momma go?” And all the times I complained that she would never sit down seem to be such a long time ago.

Since Momma was such a worker in the past, the clutter did not seem to be as recognizable. Yes, we knew she kept everything, growing up when she did and living in basements and having nothing made her a keeper of things. But when she was well she was busy cleaning out closets (because of the dust) but not really getting rid of anything. She would just move it all to a different spot. And now that she is unable to clean as she did before, things are noticeable and way out of hand. As a matter of fact, she had been in the process of cleaning out a closet in the upstairs hall and had left half of it in the hall before she went in for her surgeries. After coming home, there was no time to clean it up because of all her care needs.

One morning, I went in to see about Momma and she seemed to not know where she was or what was going on. I got very concerned and when she could not get up and walk, I called 911. When they arrived they had to bring special equipment up the stairs and one of the EMT’s complained about the clutter in the hall and asked me how long it had been there because it looked like a long time! It seemed to me that he was insinuating that Momma was not in a good environment. This is what spurred me into thinking about all the things that Momma was holding on to.

I began talking to my family about getting rid of some of the clutter. I am not the most organized person in the world myself. I am a minimalist myself because I can handle having a place for everything and everything goes back in its place. But when it comes to clutter and overflow I am completely overwhelmed. I have a daughter, however, who has absolutely no problem diving in and throwing out. Of course, we had to make sure it was okay with Momma. We knew what she valued, like pictures, keepsakes, etc., but there were things which we needed to ask her about and that is where it got a little tricky.

Since her surgery, she has trouble making decisions and even questions seem to overwhelm her. We made a decision to get rid of things we absolutely knew were going to be okay first and things we had questions on, we boxed up and put in storage. We made sure Momma knew that we were not getting rid of her precious keepsakes; we were just putting them out of the way so that she would have more room and have fewer items to collect dust. She hates dust so that made her smile.

We are counting on, by God’s great grace, Momma feeling better day by day and coming back to a place where she can thrive again. In the meantime, we saw the need to get a lot of the clutter gone.  We did not want to make her feel anxious or threatened by just discarding the things that she loved and cherished, though. We told Momma exactly what we were doing, and after collecting things, we showed her what we were going to give away or throw away and what things we were putting into storage. We did not want to go behind her back and make her feel as if we were not acknowledging her feelings. We wanted to honor her by getting her okay.

Momma still has her thoughts and desires and we do not want to take anything away from her. Sometimes, when people get older and sick, their children mean well but they just take over and act as if their parents are no longer even there. This can really be detrimental to an elderly person, making them feel even less like they have worth and value. And it makes them less likely to recover fully because sometimes it makes them feel like giving up because they are no longer able to make decisions.

I understand there are times when someone’s mind is foggy and they cannot understand or they are fighting you about getting rid of anything. In that case, it might be a good idea to just talk to them about putting it all in storage for them to look through later when they feel better. Letting them know that they are still in charge of their lives to a great degree is key in some people’s recovery. I know not every situation is easy but I do know that respect and honor go a long way on the whole.

Before you think, “How do you know how the elderly feel?” I will tell you that I have spent a great deal of time around my great grandma, grandparents, and my aging parents. I have loved the elderly all my life and have spent a lot of time sitting with them reading, threading needles, talking, or just listening. Your body may change, but your heart stays the same. I was also in a serious automobile accident and lost the use of both of my legs and right arm for quite a while. I was put into a rehab center for the elderly and I spent many an hour sitting and listening to their hearts. Many of them abandoned by their children because they were too slow, could not hear well, or were unable to get around as easily. Yet, they were still who they always were.

I am thankful for these experiences I have had with these precious older people because they have made me more understanding and more compassionate in my work of late with my precious Momma.

Author Bio

This post is contributed by Linda Bailey from housekeeping.org. She is a Texas-based writer who loves to write on the topics of housekeeping, green living, home décor, and more. She welcomes your comments which can be sent to b.lindahousekeeping @ gmail.com.

Guest Blog: The Special Needs of Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors

By Kristen L. Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, GNP-BC

Caring for a family member who has survived a stroke can be intimidating. Stroke can cause a myriad of problems from difficulties with walking and talking to bowel and bladder incontinence. Being a caregiver for someone who needs help with activities of daily living can cause a high level of stress over time. 

Rosemarie King, an expert in family caregiving of stroke survivors, found that there were specific areas  reported by caregivers as causing stress. These included interpersonal relationship issues, sustaining one’s self and family, and how well the stroke survivor is functioning. Stress can come from others not understanding your situation or from lack of support from family members and friends. 

Caregivers of stroke survivors are often married daughters who are balancing their own family responsibilities with the new role of caregiver. If there is a great deal of uncertainty about the survivor’s future progress and outcomes, this can add additional stress to the caregiver. Depression is reported in a majority of caregivers of stroke survivors. All of these factors lead to most family caregivers of stroke survivors experiencing what is known as caregiver burden or caregiver role strain (CRS).

You are more likely to have CRS if you have had issues coping with stress in the past, are caring for a person with more serious and complicated needs, and/or you haven’t had the opportunity to learn about stroke and its aftermath. This type of stress can lead to problems such as ineffective coping, relationship issues, and even your own health problems.

Some key signs that you are experiencing CRS include:

• Lack of time to meet your own personal needs.
• Increased emotional ups and downs.
• Withdrawing from your previous social life.
• Changes in leisure activities.
• Increased illnesses or health problems.

What can you do if you are experiencing caregiver role strain? First, recognize that it is normal to feel stress as you learn the role of caregiver. Feelings of stress and being overwhelmed may fluctuate and continue over the entire first year in this new role. You are not alone in these feelings. It takes time to adapt and adjust. You will develop unique ways to be more successful as a caregiver. 

Here are some additional areas to consider, with tips for avoiding CRS.

Education

• Learn as much as you can about stroke so you can understand what the stroke survivor is going through. The American Stroke Association is an especially helpful resource.

Support

• Find a stroke support group in your area.
• Recruit family members to help with the care or financial responsibilities.
• Let people in your faith community know about your particular needs and let them help.
• Hire professional caregivers to help ease the care burden.

Have Realistic Expectations

• While your loved one may not fully recover from stroke, and your life has changed, be willing to accept this.
• Set reasonable boundaries for what you can and can’t do as a caregiver.
• Realize that adjustment will take time for everyone.
• Remember that even small gains can be meaningful to the person who has survived a stroke.
• Consider yourself an essential part of your loved one’s recovery and adjustment to a new life after stroke.

Self-Care

• Allow yourself time alone, time to rest, time to be refreshed.
• Don’t neglect your own health, and let your primary care provider know about your caregiving situation.
• Consider hiring a reliable person to provide care while you run errands, go shopping, or take a vacation.
• If you feel you need help coping, seek professional guidance or counseling early in the process.

You can visit Dr. Mauk’s Boomer Blog at www.drmauksboomerblog.com for more educational resources.

Guest Post: Health and Wellness Tips for Caregivers

By Tara Heath

Whether you’re caring for a loved one or you’re a paid caregiver, the job of taking care of somebody on a regular basis can be taxing, both physically and mentally. While it’s important that you give your all when caring for another person, it’s equally important that you take the time to care for yourself.

Images courtesy of Flickr.

Taking care of your own health and making sure you’re leading a balanced life isn’t just good for you, either. It may also give you the ability to provide better care to others when they really need it the most.

Eat Right All the Time

As a caregiver you probably spend a substantial amount of time preparing healthy meals. However, that doesn’t mean that you always eat healthy meals yourself.

In fact, many caregivers tend to eat quick meals and rely on fast food, microwaveable meals, or packaged foods for their own dietary needs. Unfortunately, this can lead to weight gain and decreased health over time.

If you can’t find the time for three healthy meals a day at the family table, take the time to prepare nutritious food you can take with you. Salads, healthy sandwiches and even snacks like raw nuts or fruit are convenient and good for your body, and preparing them won’t take much time at all.

At the very least, plan one meal per day where you can sit, relax, and eat something freshly prepared to nourish your body.

In addition to eating right, getting at least 45 minutes of exercise each day is ideal.

Seek Support When You Need It

Caring for somebody in need is often very difficult emotionally. When you feel like you're in over your head, remember to express your feelings constructively and vent instead of bottling up everything. Not talking about your concerns may result in depression, as well as being too overwhelmed to function properly.

Seeking professional support may be necessary for some, but for others, simply reaching out to a trusted friend or loved one can be helpful. Speaking to somebody who has been through the same situation may also provide perspective on the issue.

Find Time for Hobbies and Relaxation

When you’re caring for somebody that needs a great deal of attention, you may find yourself falling into a pattern common to caregivers: spending every minute worrying about their health and happiness. While you might think that’s making you a better caregiver, the truth is that it could be negatively impacting your life and your ability to effectively care for somebody that relies on you.

To prevent this, devote at least a little time each and every day to things that you enjoy. The hobby that you choose is up to you. Simple things like reading a book, playing an instrument or simply listening to music can be genuinely helpful.

Look for hobbies and activities that are calming, not agitating. That may mean turning off the nightly news and putting on some soothing music instead.

Being a caregiver is a noble task, but rarely an easy one. If you’re feeling the pressure of the job or become too depressed, your doctor may have a few suggestions to get you back on track.

Tara Heath is a freelance writer in Southern California. She has spent time caring for her grandmother, and knows how demanding the job of a caregiver can be. She contributes health content to the Presidio Home Care blog. 

Guest Blog: Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others

By Virginia Cunningham

Anyone who has been alive long enough knows that there often are not enough hours in the day to accomplish the things that need to be accomplished. Even for those of us who are not in a situation where we’re tasked with caring for someone else, time management is tough, and we often struggle to take care of ourselves on top of all our responsibilities.

Add to that the full-time care for another person, and the likelihood that you are going to be able to care for both that person and yourself, is slim to none.

Yet, caring for yourself is actually one of the best things you can do for the person who is counting on you for their care. The healthier, happier, and more self-sufficient you are, the better things will be for them.

If you are a caregiver, there’s simply no way that you’re going to be any good to anyone if you’re constantly exhausted, irritable, unhealthy and unhappy.

Caring for yourself in that kind of life situation is tough, but it needs to be done. It might take some extra effort and some emotional adjustments. Although, ultimately, in the end, both you and the person you are caring for stand to benefit tremendously.

Here are a few ways to care for yourself while caring for another.

1. Controlling your worry – Often times, a caretaker is in the position of caring for a loved one, which can compound the anxiety several times over. Worry and dread about what is happening, or might happen to that person, tends to take over, which can add chronic anxiety to go along with the already demanding task of taking care of another person.

Recognize that worrying about them, though easy to do, does not help them or you. In fact, the more happy and carefree you seem to them, the easier it will be for them to accept your care and not feel guilty about it.

At the end of the day, you can’t control their illness or disability, or the eventual outcome of it, outside of faithful caregiving. Don’t waste time and energy worrying about something you can’t control.

2. Accepting help from others – When you have so many responsibilities piled on you, the temptation to fly solo without any extra help is usually pretty strong.

Most caregivers spend so much time having someone depend on them that they find it difficult, if not impossible, to depend on other people. Recognize that there are others who are willing to help you, and that it’s totally fine to take them up on their offers. If someone wants to bring you a meal, let them. It just means you will have more time to either devote to yourself or to the person you are taking care of.

Don’t take advantage of people. However, if those you love and trust are offering to help, don’t turn them down in an effort to be a superhero. Bless them by letting them help you.

3. Diet and Exercise – It’s tough under normal circumstances, so there’s no question that it’s going to be difficult if you’re working as a full time caregiver. It is still tremendously important.

The best place to start is with your diet. If you are currently making meals for someone, that means you are already in the kitchen, so instead of fast food, make something for yourself, as well. You can even just grab a few things for yourself at the grocery store like fruits, veggies and lean meats. That stuff is quick, easy, and can keep you going throughout the day. Yogurt and cottage cheese are also great choices for handy protein pick-me-ups.

Don’t buy into the notion that limited time means you can’t eat healthy; 15 minutes at the grocery store can have you set for at least a few days.

Image: Creative Commons sources

4. Pampering yourself – Remember, you are still a person with your own needs, wants and desires, so it’s not a bad idea to pamper yourself here and there. Just think about what you enjoy.

Maybe you like going out for ice cream, watching movies or would enjoy a nice spa day. Call up a friend and spend an hour or two getting a deep tissue massage and just enjoying some “me time.”

The Best Kind of Care

There’s only so much of yourself you can give, and rest assured, the best kind of care you can offer is from a position of strength. Make sure that the care you are giving does not cost you that strength. If it does, the quality of your care will decline and the benefit of those who are receiving it will decline, too.

While it’s generous and noble to help the helpless, make sure you always take the time to help yourself.

Virginia Cunningham is a freelance writer in Southern California. Her life can get busy caring for family, and she knows how important it is to make sure she is also taking care of herself. She looks for ways to do this each day. 

A is for Acceptance

You are caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s disease, who sometimes recognizes you as her daughter, but often thinks you’re her sister or maybe the neighbor next door when she was growing up. Now, you can continue to grieve for the loss of your “mother” as you knew her, and feel powerless about helping her in her present condition. Or you can accept this new person in your life, and see beyond the cognitive decline to the authentic self that lives inside her. In that place you can meet and embrace one another for fleeting moments or for a long-term relationship.

Few of us want to confront the reality that illness and death are an inevitable part of life. We live in a culture of denial, pushing away thoughts of our own and our loved one’s mortality. How can we learn acceptance in the face of fear and insecurity? How can we ever accept our own shortcomings: impatience, exhaustion and out- bursts? How can we bear the losses, pain and grief experienced by our patient, a situation over which we have no control? I recommend taking a look at the Big Picture.

We know intuitively some basic truths: we cannot have great joy without profound sadness. Every beginning has an end. Even more, we know we cannot be and do everything. Scale down those heroic gestures. Simply accept that you are only human. Feeling anger, sadness, confusion and resentment are natural responses. In some cases, you may have had to sacrifice your career, your sense of self-worth, active involvement in the community and life as you have known it. These losses can be heartrending for you. Affirm to yourself that you can and will overcome them.

When you open your heart to life’s possibilities and live fully in the moment, you can be better prepared for any eventuality. You can also be a more comforting presence for your loved one. When we learn, truly realize, that Now is all we have, we can let go of our illusions and efforts to be superhuman, and savor the magic of each moment. Try throwing your arms open and embracing the universe, just as it is right now. You can breathe a sigh of relief that you don’t have to change a single thing. 

This may not have been the experience you wanted, but it can prove to be of great value to you. You may not be the person you used to be, but you are more of the spiritual self you are meant to be.

From my book, "The ABCs of Caregiving: Words to Inspire You." To read  more, buy the paperback or get the Kindle edition on Amazon.com.

Guest Post: Applying for Social Security Disability as a Caregiver

By Ram Meyyappan

Social Security Disability Help

As a caregiver, you can help the individual you are caring for obtain financial assistance from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the form of disability benefits. However, if the individual is already receiving retirement benefits from the SSA, he or she will not be eligible to receive disability benefits.

Who Qualifies for Social Security Disability Benefits?

If the individual is unable to perform any type of work activity whatsoever and they have been unable to do so for at least one year (or their condition is expected to last one year or more), they may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. There are two programs that they could qualify under: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

SSDI

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is meant for individuals with a strong work history. In order to qualify for this program, the individual you are caring for must have worked five of the past ten years. This is because you need a certain number of work credits in order to qualify for this program.

For more information on SSDI, please visit: http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify2.htm

SSI

If the individual does not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI, he or she may be able to qualify for SSI. SSI is a needs-based program for low-income individuals. As of 2013, in order to qualify, the individual cannot earn more than $710 as an individual or $1,060 as a couple. They must also not have assets exceeding $2,000 as an individual or $3,000 as a couple.

For more information on SSI, please visit: http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/ssi.htm

Common Conditions that Caregivers Face

In its blue book of conditions that qualify for disability benefits, the SSA recognizes numerous chronic health conditions often dealt with by caregivers, such as Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Pakinsonism Dementia Complex, HIV, Multiple Sclerosis, Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s Disease, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and heart problems.

The main question the SSA will consider when considering whether or not you medically qualify is: Is your condition severe enough to keep you out of work for at least a year? The SSA outlines in the blue book exactly how severe each condition has to be in order to qualify for benefits.

For a complete list of conditions and how severe they must be in order to qualify, please visit the SSA’s blue book: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

The Compassionate Allowance Program

Often times, it can take more than a year to go through the Social Security Disability application and appeals process. Recognizing that waiting a year is not always feasible for individuals with an especially severe condition, the SSA instituted the Compassionate Allowance program in 2008. Currently, more than 200 conditions qualify for the Compassionate Allowance Program, which speeds up the application process. If the individual you are caring for has one of those 200 conditions, he or she will be approved within a few weeks if you are able to prove that the individual is both medical and financially eligible.

For more information on the Compassionate Allowance Program and a list of conditions that qualify, please visit: http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/compassionate-allowances

How to Apply for Benefits

You can apply for benefits on behalf of the individual either online (http://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/) or you can take them to your local Social Security office to apply for benefits.

When you go to apply for disability benefits, you will be asked to fill out a number of forms. These include the Adult Disability Checklist, the Adult Disability Report, and the Disability Benefit Application. Make sure you fill out these forms in their entirety and answer the questions asked with very detailed answers. The more information you can give, the better. You will also want to obtain copies of all pertinent medical records in order to support the claim for benefits.

In addition to gathering medical records, you should request written statements from the applicant’s treating physicians. These statements can weigh heavily in the decision as to whether or not to approve a claim. You will receive a decision regarding the outcome of the application approximately three to six months after you submit your claim for benefits. If the applicant is denied benefits, you should appeal the decision within 60 days of receiving the notice of denial.

Barriers to Overcome when Applying for Benefits

Most people generally find the application process to be rather confusing and tedious. You will have to fill out numerous forms and provide adequate medical/financial information. If you are uncomfortable going through with the process by yourself, be sure to seek assistance. You can visit your local SSA office and seek the assistance of an SSA employee when filling out the application. You can also consult with a disability attorney or advocate. There is no upfront cost to hiring an attorney. The attorney will only be paid if the individual is successfully awarded benefits.

You and the individual you are applying for should not get discouraged if the application is initially denied. Almost two-thirds of applications are initially denied. Most applications that are denied are eventually approved during the hearing stage of the appeals process.

Social Security Disability Help, founded in 2009, specializes in information on how to apply for disability benefits. The Boston-based organization also offers free case evaluations from a local attorney or advocate if the claimant would like to speak with one.