Simplify The Process: A Care Coach Helps Navigate Care
Choosing the right type and level of care for a loved one is a big part of navigating care. Family members often struggle to make this choice. They want the best for their loved ones and worry about making the wrong decision.
If you care for a loved one, a care coach can be an expert guide and support you as you make care choices. In this blog, we’ll talk about common care options and how a care coach can help you:
- Understand medical jargon and health information
- Find resources to determine eligibility for care options
- Access financial planning resources
Are you interested in learning more about caregiving? Check this link to see if you have free access to the Trualta library of caregiving resources.
Care Types & Levels
If you have a loved one who cannot live fully independently, they need some level of care. Older adults, patients with dementia, and patients of any age living with a disability may need care. Appropriate care helps them manage activities of daily living, be safe, and manage medical care, from prescriptions to appointments for treatment.
After evaluating your situation and needs, a care coach can direct you to valuable care resources. These will help you make an informed decision about care. First, you’ll need to understand care options:
- In-home care. In-home care includes regular care from a family caregiver or professional, or a combination of the two, depending on the care recipient’s needs. Home care is guided by a care team and a care plan.
- Assisted living. In assisted living, your loved one lives with some independence in their own apartment. They benefit from care as needed.
- Nursing facility. Nursing homes are for patients with more serious medical needs. They offer round-the-clock medical care from healthcare providers.
- Hospital. Your loved one might need short-term hospitalization for an illness or injury. You’ll need to make a decision about care after the hospital stay.
- Rehabilitation facility. Rehab facilities typically offer short-term care, often after a hospital stay. They’re appropriate for patients in recovery from an injury or illness before they transition to another type of care.
- Memory care. Memory care is provided in residential facilities like assisted living or nursing homes for patients with dementia. It’s a specialized type of care and a secure place to keep someone with dementia safe.
- Hospice care. Choosing hospice can be particularly difficult. It’s typically for patients who have less than six months to live according to health care providers.
How A Care Coach Can Help You Navigate Care Options
A coach cannot make decisions for you. What they can do is provide assistance and guidance as you navigate the care options and help you gain more clarity as you make these difficult choices.
Explaining Medical Terms & Jargon
One of the most significant challenges family caregivers face when making decisions for their loved ones is the jargon. If you’re not a healthcare professional, it’s tough to understand the terms, acronyms, and jargon associated with care.
Your care coach can answer questions about these terms and their meanings. A coach will also direct you to appropriate resources and special caregiver events to help you learn more about many aspects of caregiving. They will evaluate you first through meetings or emails and then send you resources that match your unique needs.
Discussing Eligibility
Understanding the care options and what all the terms mean is only the first step in navigating care decisions. To make the best choice for your loved one, you also need to understand eligibility.
Your loved one may be eligible for some types of care and not others based on their insurance coverage. They may or may not qualify for the Medicaid program that allows you to become a paid family caregiver. There are a lot of confusing rules and eligibility requirements associated with these options.
Your care coach can provide reading materials and suggest events, like Trualta’s webinars, that will help you learn more about programs, services, insurers, and eligibility. They can discuss what you’ve learned and help clarify your care options based on eligibility.
Guiding Your Financial Planning
Another limitation you may face when navigating care is the cost of care. Considering finances means understanding your loved one’s insurance, government programs and eligibility, and the costs of various types of care.
If you struggle with financial planning, your care coach can provide valuable resources to help you learn. They can also recommend ways to access financial planning services and guide you to a qualified professional.
Next Steps
Navigating care choices is one of the most important aspects of caregiving. As your loved one’s needs shift and their lifestyle changes, their care type may also need to change. A care coach is an expert who can guide you through this process with empathy and compassion.
Does care coaching sound like something you might be interested in? Check if you have free access.
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