Blog

• 5 Simple Ways to Help Your Senior Trust a New Caregiver

  Nov 17th, 2020

  

  Some seniors, particularly those in the early stages of dementia, may have a hard time trusting anyone other than the family member they rely on most.  Yet being solely responsible for an elder’s care can quickly become a heavy burden for that family caregiver -- no matter how loving and committed he or she may be. Reliance on a single caregiver isn’t in the senior’s best interests either, since it can lead to isolation and in some cases, may even increase the risk of elder abuse.

• How to Obtain Guardianship—and When You Should

  Nov 2nd, 2020

  

  Realizing that your parent has become incapable of caring for herself or making reasonable decisions about her property is a heart-wrenching discovery. And if you postponed getting legal documents in place -- a power of attorney and living will -- your only option may be guardianship.

• Fingerprint Background Checks Are a Must for Caregivers

  Oct 8th, 2020

  

  If you’ve ever watched a crime drama, this scene is probably familiar. A beat cop hustles a criminal into the police station for booking. The intake officer records his name, takes a mug shot, tells him to empty his pockets—and then asks for his Social Security number. Right?

  Wrong. As every crime drama from Hill Street Blues to CSI has taught us, when someone is arrested for a crime, it’s the fingerprint that links them to it forever.  So why do some home care agencies rely only on Social Security numbers when screening caregivers? 

• Labor Day? Thanksgiving? When to Offer Holiday Pay to Your Caregiver

  Sep 2nd, 2020

  

  If you don’t have a holiday pay plan in place with your caregiver, this season is a good time to decide whether you’ll offer holiday pay throughout the year.

• How to Protect Your Senior from Financial Abuse

  Aug 18th, 2020

  

  Is your senior safe from financial abuse? You might be surprised. A report by elder financial services firm True Link Financial reveals that the extent of senior financial abuse is much greater than previously reported. Approximately 36.9% of Americans over age 65 are affected in a given 5-year period—at a cost of $36.5 billion a year.

• Can I Ask My Mom’s Caregiver to Vacuum the House?

  Aug 4th, 2020

  

  Two of the biggest advantages of hiring a private caregiver are control and choice. You and your caregiver simply agree to the terms of work – including services, hours, and pay rate – and get started. If the two of you can’t agree, you look for someone else.

• When Your Senior Needs Care, You Need a Support Network

  Jul 14th, 2020

  

  Finding care for your aging parent is a huge responsibility, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Can your mom age in place, or do you need to consider a residential facility? Should you hire a private caregiver or a licensed home health aide? How will you finance care?

• A Father Who Bridged the Gap

  Jun 21st, 2020

  On April 1, I decided I wanted to learn to play bridge. No fooling. The urge just came to me. It’s surprising that I never wanted to play before, since my dad was a champion collegiate bridge player. 

• Why We Started LeanOnWe

  Jun 17th, 2020

  

  People always want to know how we came up with the idea of LeanOnWe. Well, to make a bad pun, it was something that I literally fell into after being hit head-on while bicycling one autumn day in 2011.

• Pausing for Black Lives Matter -- and Moving Swiftly for Change

  Jun 5th, 2020

  

  When peacefulness turns hostile and when protests turn militant, we turn to the more than 1,000 home health aides, certified nurse aides, and other caretakers who are part of LeanOnWe’s network of private caregivers -- and we pause.

• Important: Take Steps Now to Make Sure Your Aide Can Travel During a Curfew

  Jun 1st, 2020

  

  As cities across America put curfew orders in place to calm civil unrest, you’ll want to take immediate steps to ensure your private home health aide is not barred from traveling to and from work.

• Do I Need A Nurse Or A Senior Caregiver?

  May 19th, 2020

  

  My mom needs help with putting in eyedrops. Does this mean I need a registered nurse or a senior caregiver? My dad has a Hoyer lift to transfer him out of bed. Should I find someone skilled or can a strong companion help him? 

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