Options abound for those in role of caregiver

Becoming a caregiver can happen in an instant, said Jim Appelquist, director of field services for the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging.

"All of a sudden a person has a stroke, and the son or daughter is forced into the role of caregiver," he said.

"They need someone to tell them what kind of help they need and who can help them," he added.

The Office on Aging is one of many agencies and organizations in the area providing information and services to caregivers in need of assistance.

Access Home Health, a full-service home health agency, offers free consultations, said co-owner Melanie Markham.

"People faced with caring for an older adult don't always know where to be-gin," she said. "So along with our other services we also offer resources."

Oxford HealthCare, an affiliate of Cox Health Systems, provides a free resource referral service, said Carol Combs, a so-cial worker in Oxford's central intake de-partment.

"The central intake department is a starting place," she said. After assessing the needs, "we do referrals to the Di-vision of Senior Services or other community resources, from the Office on Ag-ing to transportation and respite services, adult day care and Meals on Wheels."

Oxford also can refer people to support groups or tell them how to obtain medical equipment, she said.

The Southwest Missouri Office on Aging is a not-for-profit organization serving senior citizens in 17 counties, Appelquist said. Senior centers offer programs throughout the week, and a meal program for homebound seniors is available, he said. Seniors also can access or learn how to access services such as housework or transportation.

Legislative reauthorization

The Older Americans Act, a federal act designed to place more decision-making power at the local level, was reauthorized in November 2000, establishing the National Family Caregiver Support Pro-gram, Appelquist said. "The latest revision of the act allows us to help provide information, assistance, decision-making, problem-solving and respite care for caregivers."

In-home options

Oxford provides three types of care: home health, in-home service and health-care services.

Lloyd Markham, co-owner of Access Home Health, said Access is in a pilot program, called "Aging In Place," with Creekside Elfindale senior care facility and the Cox School of Nursing. One of four such pilot programs in the state, Aging In Place is designed to provide as many services as possible in the home, and in the most cost-effective way.

"By partnering with the campus and with Creekside, we can provide a health care package that covers almost everything that assisted living does, at an affordable cost," he said. "So it's cost-effective to the client, and they do not have to move."

Becky Lamar is the staff coordinator for Home Instead Senior Care, a non-medical, in-home care service.

"Our caregivers go out to the home and take care of what people are no longer able to do," she said.

This can include dishes, laundry, and light housekeeping, as well as providing transportation for errands and doctor's appointments.

"There are a lot of different reasons that they might need someone in the house," she added. Sometimes it's the person in need of assistance who ar-ranges for the help, she said, but about half the calls are from a relative or neighbor who is caring for the person and simply isn't able to do it all.

"A lot of what we're doing is supporting the caregiver or teaching them how to do the things that need to be done," Combs said.

Technological assistance

Sometimes technology can help ease a caregiver's burden. Access Home Health offers clients the MD.2, a computerized medication-dispensing device that has been available for a little more than a year, Lloyd Markham said.

"A lot of our patients were having trouble remembering to take their medications," he said.

Forgetting to take medications often can cause serious problems, such as dizziness, that can lead to a fall, he said. The MD.2 issues a reminder when it's time to take medications. If the patient does not push the dispensing button, the machine, which is tied to the phone line, will call one of four caregivers and continue calling until someone responds, he said.

"It's nice for people who are in their home but don't have a relative nearby to check on them regularly," Markham said.

The second generation of MD.2 is now available and includes a pendant the patient can wear, with a button to push in an emergency, he added.