Resources for Seniors and Family Caregivers in Oklahoma City

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

Family caregivers - those who take care of an older Oklahoman - do amazing work. As a Certified Senior Housing Professional - a real estate agent who helps those family caregivers and seniors in the sale of a family home and move to a new phase of life - I regularly come across folks who are engaged in this stressful (yet so important!) part of life.

Real Estate Services and Advice for Seniors and Family Caregivers in Oklahoma City

It's part of my job to know as much as possible about things that can make life a bit better and easier for both those caregivers and their loved ones. I wanted to use this blog post to provide information on some of the community resources available to family caregivers across Oklahoma.

The Lifespan Respite Grant Voucher Program

Respite vouchers help family caregivers in Oklahoma pay someone who has temporarily taken their place as a care provider. The Oklahoma Contracts and Coalition Unit of Aging Services provides vouchers to caregivers who are not eligible for other respite programs.

Contact:

Eleanor Kurtz

Programs Administrator

Phone:    (405) 521-4358    

Fax:       (405) 522-6738

The Voucher Respite Program

This is a voucher respite payment program for caregivers caring fulltime for older adults in Oklahoma with developmental disabilities.

Oklahoma Adult Day Services

Oklahoma City Adult Day Services is a community-based program designed to meet the needs of functionally impaired older persons, generally those aged 60 and over, through an individualized plan of care. The program assists participants to remain in the community, enabling families and other caregivers to continue caring for a senior adult at home.

ADvantage Services of Oklahoma

The ADvantage Program of the Home-and Community-Based Services provides Medicaid services to help people stay at home instead of going to a nursing home. The program assists frail elders and adults who have physical disabilities. The senior must first qualify for Medicaid.

Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Caregiver Support

National VA Caregiver Support Website

Oklahoma City VA Medical Center

If you're the family caregiver of a veteran in Oklahoma, the Veterans Administration provides a wide variety of resources to help not only the veteran, but also YOU - the family caregiver of a veteran. These include respite programs, the free, online workshop "Building Better Caregivers," and plenty of other assistance.


The caregiver Support Coordinators at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center are:

Sandra Nikkel: 405-456-5569

Kelly White, LCSW: 405-456-5556

Oklahoma Respite Resource Network

The Oklahoma Respite Resource Network (ORRN) is a partnership  of public and private agencies 

working to improve support for families and caregivers by increasing the availability of respite care for all ages, including older adults and seniors.

Please feel free to contact me, Judie Schwerdtfeger - a Certified Senior Housing Professional - for advice on the unique needs of seniors and their families when the time comes to downsize to new housing or a new phase in life.

OKC House for Sale: 11900 Kimberlyn Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73162

Cold Weather Safety Tips for Oklahoma City Senior Citizens

by Judie Schwerdtfeger

While we're clearly used to cold winter conditions in Oklahoma, the nasty temperatures recently have been especially painful. I thought it was worth a reminder that we all need to be extra careful and to pay special attention to the elderly in our communities. Please be kind and check in on your parents, senior family members, and older Oklahoma City neighbors and friends.

Contact Judie S. for Advice on Buying or Selling an Oklahoma City House

Tips on Senior Citizen Winter Safety 

Changes that come with aging can make it harder for you to be aware of getting cold.

Wear several layers of loose clothing when it's cold. The layers will trap warm air between them. Don't wear tight clothing because it can keep your blood from flowing freely. This can lead to loss of body heat.

Ask your doctor how the medicines you are taking affect body heat. Some medicines used by older people can increase the risk of accidental hypothermia. These include drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, or nausea. Some over-the-counter cold remedies can also cause problems.

When the temperature has dropped, drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Alcoholic drinks can make you lose body heat.

Health Problems

Some illnesses may make it harder for your body to stay warm. These include problems with your body's hormone system such as low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), health problems that keep blood from flowing normally (like diabetes), and some skin problems where your body loses more heat than normal.

Did You Know That:

Those over the age of 65 account for nearly half of all hypothermia deaths. As the body ages, the ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature decreases, creating an insensitivity to moderately cold temperatures. Seniors may not realize they are putting themselves at risk until symptoms appear. Symptoms of hypothermia include: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. If symptoms are present, immediate medical attention is necessary.

Fire Safety in Oklahoma City

Cold weather heightens the risk of house fires as we all strive to find more ways to stay warm. Here's what to avoid:

Never use a stove or oven to heat the home.

If using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.

If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.

Don't hook a generator up to the home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment someone wants to power directly to the outlets on the generator.

Oklahoma City House for Sale: 4124 Cherry Hill Lane, Oklahoma City, OK

Should Your Oklahoma Senior Citizen Parents Live Alone? How to Evaluate Their Safety During a Holiday Visit

The holiday season brings on family gatherings galore for many people in Oklahoma City. Maybe for the only time each year- especially if they live far away - younger family members spend lots of time with their senior parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents.

It's a time when those younger family members first begin to notice a decline in older loved ones. In fact, senior retirement communities and assisted living facilities across Oklahoma (from Moore to Harrah to Edmond) often notice an increase in inquiries from concerned family members after the holidays are finished.

Have Questions About Seniors and Oklahoma Real Estate? Contact Judie Schwerdtfeger for a No-Obligation Chat

As a Certified Senior Housing Professional - and an Oklahoma City Realtor who specializes in real estate services for seniors - I've spoken with many distressed family members who have confided their worries to me.

I've put together this list of things to look for if you believe that an older family member is facing safety issues while living alone.

6 Ways to Evaluate a Senior Citizen's Safety During a Holiday Visit

Medication:

Are they taking their meds as prescribed? Is their pillbox organized and up-to-date? if not, regular visits from a home health provider may be useful.

Housekeeping:

Housework and general maintenance is often the first thing to be neglected when an elderly parent begins to suffer a decline in health or mobility. Again, a senior health service that provides basic housekeeping may be helpful.

Loss of Memory or Other Cognitive Depreciation

As a family member, it's up to you to consider how serious this issue is. Obviously, some loss of memory and brain function is to be expected, so don't jump to conclusions just because Mom is forgetful. However, it's a trend that bears monitoring and you should pay attention to see whether the cognitive function loss is a serious safety issue or not.

Socialization

Do your loved ones have a strong support system like good neighbors and friends? If not, understand that seniors on the decline tend to isolate. Those with strong social networks are happier, healthier, and safer.

Safety Issues

Is your family member beginning to have trouble navigating their home? Are staircases, steps, and bathtubs posing a danger? What about throw rugs and strips that may be tripping dangers? Are there fire hazards in the kitchen?

Concerned family members can help alleviate some of these dangers, and a variety of age-in-place techniques (including either major or minor remodeling) can also serve to minimize threats in the household.

By User:Aude (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Nutrition

Is your loved one eating properly? Be sure and scan the refrigerator and pantries. Are they well-stocked? If not, your family member may be having difficulty getting out of the house and navigating the streets of Oklahoma City to make it to the grocery. Or, they may just flat out forget to. Home health providers may also be of assistance in this regard.

These are just a few of the points to consider if you worry that a loved one may be sacrificing safety in living independently. As a Certified Senior Housing Professional in Oklahoma, I'll be happy to offer you advice, answer questions, and help you understand options if you need to consider moving a loved one from one home to another.

Contact me here for a no-obligation chat.

Edmond, Oklahoma House for Sale

Contact Judie S. to Schedule a Showing

Oklahoma City Real Estate Agent Receives Senior Housing Certification

Judie Schwerdtfeger Recognized for Expertise in Senior Housing 

Awarded Prestigious Real Estate and Senior Housing Certification 

(Oklahoma City, OK December 3, 2013) – Having recently completed a rigorous two-day curriculum and extensive vetting, Judie Schwerdtfeger of Keller Williams Realty Elite in Oklahoma City has achieved the prestigious Certified Senior Housing Professional (CSHP) designation from The Seniors Real Estate Institute.

Awarded only to a select number of real estate professionals in any market, the CSHP designation equips senior housing professionals to serve the distinct needs of seniors and their families with an unsurpassed level of compassion, expertise and connectedness.

Demographic shifts and improvements in life expectancy have given rise to senior housing options that far exceed those of previous decades. CSHPs are not only in touch with the full range of options within their communities, they have the specific skills needed to help seniors to get where they want to go – unraveling the complexities involved in downsizing and selling a family home.

“Despite the fact that seniors are the fastest growing segment of the population, this segment of the market remains largely underserved,” noted Nikki Buckelew, Founder and President of the Seniors Real Estate Institute.

Buckelew, who has a graduate degree in gerontology, pointed to the fact that 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 60 every day for the next 18 years. At the other end of the senior spectrum, the 90-plus segment of the population nearly tripled over the past three decades, and is expected to quadruple over the next 40 years.

“Professionals such as Judie, have a clear vision of how the real estate market is evolving,” Buckelew added. “As such, she has sought out the training, the resources, and the access to trusted experts within the Oklahoma City market, in order to serve senior clients and their families at a high level.

For more information on the Seniors Real Estate Institute or the Certified Senior Housing Professional Designation, visit www.seniorsrealestateinstitute.com

Financial Questions to Ask Oklahoma City Assisted Living Facilities

When a senior citizen or the caregiver family of an elder begins to explore the possibility of moving a senior into an assisted living facility, a number of issues come to the forefront. Of course, there are the emotional and logistical challenges. But, of course, first and foremost may be the economic impact. What are the costs of moving Mom or Dad into an active retirement community? What will the contract look like?

Ready to Buy or Sell an OKC House? Contact Me for a No-Obligation Anaylysis

Over my career and training as an Oklahoma City Certified Senior Housing Professional in real estate, I've gained a plethora of knowledge in guiding clients to the assisted living facilities in Oklahoma that may be the best options for their care.

Here is a list of some fundamental financial and legal questions that a caregiver or senior citizen should ask the staff at an Oklahoma City retirement community or assisted living facility that they are touring.

By Ad Huikeshoven (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Disclaimer: Please understand that I am NOT a lawyer and this should NOT be construed as legal advice. You should undertake a consultation with an Indiana eldercare attorney before signing any contracts.   

1) What is the basic fee?

2) What services are included with that fee?

3) What are the additional prices for extra services or products?

4) What initial payment is required? Is a part of that refundable?

5) What fees apply if the resident is away from the community for an extended time (like during a long hospital stay)?

6) What is the policy on renters insurance?

7) When, why, and how often may fees be changed?

8) How much advance warning is provided in the event of fee changes and who is notified?

By Thomas Bjørkan (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

9) Is financial assistance available now or at any time?

10) Who is responsible for cleaning or repair should an accident occur?

11) What's the refund policy in cases of facility closure, ownership change, transfers, etc?

12) What are the behaviors or circumstances that may result in termination of services?

13) What are the rights of residents?

14) What are the grievance procedures?

If you're considering a move to an assisted living facility or need help navigating the complexities of a late-in-life move and the sale of a longtime family home, contact me anytime right here for a no-obligation chat concerning your options.

Edmond, Oklahoma House for Sale

Email Judie for More Information