In Conversation with Leslie Sedille to Bring Her Insights on Navigating the Intricacies of Senior Care

As our population ages, the complexities of senior care have become increasingly apparent. Seniors and their families often navigate a labyrinth of options, regulations, and financial considerations to ensure their loved ones receive the care and support they need.

One of the primary challenges is the sheer variety of senior care services available, each with its own eligibility requirements, costs, and levels of care. The choices can be overwhelming, from in-home assistance and assisted living facilities to memory care units.

Compounding this is the fact that the specific needs of each senior can vary greatly, requiring a personalized approach to care planning. Further, the financial aspects of senior care can be daunting. Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and out-of-pocket expenses all play a role, and understanding the nuances of each can be a full-time job.

Seniors and their families must carefully weigh the costs and benefits of each option, ensuring they make the most informed decisions possible. It is where the expertise of professionals like Certified Senior Advisors becomes invaluable. They deeply understand the senior care landscape and guide families through the process, advocating for their loved ones’ needs and helping them navigate the complex web of resources and regulations.

In a world where senior care can seem like a maze, a CSA can be the guiding light that helps families find their way.

To shed some light on the same, we interviewed a home care industry expert to bring her perspective on navigating the intricacies of senior care.

Let us now delve into what she has to say about navigating the intricacies of senior care:

Question 1: What led or inspired you to become a senior advisor and an expert in geriatric care?

I started my career as an Activity Director. I hoped to get hired where I interned as a Music Therapist (MT), but there was a State hiring freeze due to 9/11. I quickly realized I could use the skills I learned as an MT to translate to working with seniors.

It was exciting and challenging as it was not my planned path in life. I had been around seniors a lot while growing up as my mom took me to play piano in nursing homes and assisted living communities. I loved it, and so did the residents.

I was very close with an elderly relative. We traveled to Egypt together while I was in college when she was 93. She inspired me, along with other seniors I had met along the way. While working in senior living communities, I noticed seniors were not a priority.

I witnessed those without families and even with families who did not care, and families who wanted to help, but there was not anyone truly listening to what they were saying and what they needed. Every senior’s needs are not the same.

Becoming a Certified Senior Advisor and Certified Geriatric Care Manager has given me more knowledge about other areas I was not as familiar with. I feel that it makes me a better advocate for seniors and their families, and hear their concerns, be their voice, and assist them with their needs.

Question 2: How to comprehensively assess a senior’s physical, cognitive, and social needs to develop a personalized care plan?

Every senior is different, and their needs are different. In creating a personalized care plan, consider their needs and interests and always treat them with dignity and respect. Communication is key.

Conduct a thorough evaluation. It involves discussing medical conditions and past hospitalizations and assessing any chronic conditions or medication management needs.

Assess the client’s needs. It may be a physical or cognitive ability in which the client needs a care manager. Listen to the client and their family members. What are they having trouble with? Ask the client to sign a HIPAA form with their physicians so you can speak to them.

Consider their emotional well-being. This can involve evaluating symptoms of depression, anxiety, or social isolation. If they have a caregiver, ask if they go out (if able to). Speak with the client about friends and family interaction. Have they lost touch with most of their friends and neighbors by choice? Embarrassed by their condition? Is that truly what they want or are they isolating themselves and suffering from untreated depression? Assess the senior’s social network, including family, friends, and community resources.

Assess their abilities to manage ADLs (activities of daily living). This includes bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. It helps determine the level of assistance required.

Assess the safety and suitability of the senior’s living environment. This includes evaluating accessibility, home modifications, and potential hazards. Do they have the equipment needed to safely navigate their home environment?

Ensure client can manage their finances. Refer to a financial planner or talk to the family member who is the POA (if one is designated) to determine if there are any resources available to support their care needs.

Question 3: How can caregivers address the challenge of caregiver burnout and how can clients’ families help?

Caregiver burnout is real, and many family members suffer from it. Home care can be expensive and unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of free services out there. Some families think they don’t need help and want to do all the caregiving themselves. Often it falls upon a spouse, adult child, or both to care for a family member.

Being a caregiver, especially for a family member, is extremely difficult. Not only are you responsible for making appointments, doing the daily household tasks, and trying to maintain your schedule, but you also have to care for an individual who needs your attention and assistance and depends on you 24/7.

Then, you have the emotions that go with it. You are watching a loved one decline, and that is difficult. No matter how realistic you are about the disease.

It becomes exhausting, and when it does escalate to the point where the caregiver gets too overwhelmed, they may get sick themselves. When someone is not getting enough rest and is stressed, worried, and anxious about how they will continue to care for an individual who will continue to decline, their immune system gets compromised.

The caregiver ends up getting sick and can’t take care of the individual they were caring for.

Families need to be realistic. Have a plan. Talk about a home health company helping part of the day to take some stress off of the caregiver at home.

Even a bath visit to assist with bathing would be a start. Talk to a few agencies to see which would be the best fit for you, and ask them about getting set up for when you need them. Do not wait until an emergency to make decisions. That is the worst time to be coming up with a plan. Families are never alone.

Question 4: In what ways can families help create a conducive environment for individuals with dementia?

I cannot stress this enough: research dementia. There are 100 different types or more. You do not have to become an expert. But learn what to expect and be realistic. It is not going to get better. Having the “Let’s make the time we have left as memorable as we can” mentality will help you better understand what they are going through and what to expect. Join support groups. You are not alone.

Families can help create a conducive environment by making sure their loved one living with dementia knows they are safe. Further, the families need to keep the individual living with dementia safe as well. Everyone is different and will present different symptoms. Make sure you have answers to the scenarios.

Do they wander? When? Do they use the stove? If so, do they need supervision? Do they still drive? How are you going to stop that in a dignified way?

Having a routine is very helpful for an individual living with dementia. Getting up around the same time every day. Having breakfast and lunch and doing their daily activities around the same time in the same order helps all involved.

They may talk about needing to get home for dinner, missing the bus, etc. It is common for those with dementia to “be in a different time in their life”.

They may not remember friends, coworkers, or family members. And that is difficult to deal with. Never say, “Don’t you remember?” They don’t. Saying that makes them feel bad and can intensify the depression they are already battling with.

Redirect. Do not fight. If you feel they may get agitated by your response, have a task ready for them to help you with. Accompany them in folding laundry, going for a short walk, or singing with them; something you know they will like to do. Whatever it is, it should be age-appropriate. They are still adults and should always be treated as such.

Families living with an individual with dementia can experience stress, sadness, anxiety, anger, and many more negative emotions. As a family member, go with the individual’s flow. If you are called a different name, do not correct it. Go with it. If friends want to visit, that is great. Explain the situation, and they have to go with it as well.

Question 5: What advice would you give someone looking to become a senior care advisor?

If you love working with seniors and are compassionate about helping others, become a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). The program gives you a wealth of knowledge, and the exam is very challenging but helps you grow as a professional.

A CSA can work in finance, home care, insurance, and other fields. Being a CSA creates a network of professionals you know are willing and capable of assisting seniors and their families.

When I refer a client to a fellow CSA in another profession, like an estate lawyer, I know they are in good hands.

After being a CSA for a while, if you want to be a care manager, look into the certifications for that.

Conclusion

Leslie Sedille, a Certified Senior Advisor, offers invaluable guidance on the complexities of senior care. Emphasizing personalized care, she underscores the importance of comprehensive assessments and open communication.

Leslie highlights the challenges faced by caregivers, advocating for support and respite. Her expertise in dementia care provides practical advice for families, emphasizing empathy, routine, and safety.

For aspiring senior care professionals, she recommends certification and a passion for helping others. Her insights offer essential knowledge for families and caregivers navigating aging.