Find people to evaluate long-term care needs

If you need care, you may find it a hard topic to raise with others because it seems like a blow to your self-esteem, a subject that means you are really “old.” You may also be reluctant to begin a process of giving up some of your independence or surrendering full control over your life. Remember, the first step in getting necessary care is to overcome your reluctance to talk about it. Once the discussion has begun, you can use the information in this book to organize and choose the right kinds of care.

Here are some of the people you can turn to for help in beginning to evaluate long-term care needs:

• Your personal physician is often a good place to start, not necessarily to moderate discussions but to define your medical needs and refer you to others who may be helpful in making arrangements.

• Traditional word-of-mouth is still one of the best ways to begin tackling any new problem. Friends and neighbors whose opinions you trust, and who may have already faced similar situations, are often a good source of information. The people at your local senior center may know of sources for long‑term care assistance. These word-of-mouth sources often let you know of “unofficial” personal care aides who would not be available through more formal channels.

• A clergy member may be able to help directly or to refer you and your family to professionals who can introduce alternatives and coordinate planning.

• County family service agencies, Area Agencies on Aging, or other senior information and referral services are experienced sources that can provide direct access to specific care providers and help you develop an overall care plan. These agencies can direct you to a counselor or social worker who specializes in long-term care for elders and can help you begin your discussions and planning.

• If residence in a nursing facility is not absolutely necessary, many people make use of the services of a professional geriatric care manager to see what at-home and other supportive services are available and to organize care from different providers.

• If you or your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or a similar mental impairment, you can turn to organizations that specialize in providing information and referrals to people facing these difficult situations.