CarePatrol of North Central Ohio can help you choose the right care for your elderly loved one, for free

By Patricia Nugent

Finding the best-fit care community for your loved one—from in-home to independent living, assisted care to memory care—can be a complicated and difficult undertaking.

“There is no playbook or blueprint on how to plan, evaluate and choose the right option,” says Anthony Coleman, certified senior advisor and owner of the local, family-run CarePatrol of North Central Ohio. Helping his grandparents navigate the difficult intricacies of eldercare several years ago gave him the incentive to get into the senior care arena.

“Oftentimes, families get overwhelmed and overloaded with information, which makes their decision even more difficult,” he adds.

Before taking the first steps toward looking at senior living communities, he recommends getting your legal affairs in order, including advanced directives and medical power of attorney.

“The goal of our consulting and placement services is to alleviate family burdens and give them peace of mind,” he says. “Free of charge, we offer a needs analysis and then we make recommendations that fit the client’s needs based on his or her unique circumstances. Being able to help people during this stressful experience has been extremely gratifying for us.”

Helpful Advice

Once you’re ready to start the process, Anthony offers these helpful tips:

• Conduct a needs assessment. How much care does your loved one require on a daily basis? Do they need help with meals, laundry, housekeeping, medications, bathing, grooming, ambulation or toileting? Do they have neurocognitive decline that is making it difficult for them to accomplish their activities of daily living without verbal cueing and support?
• Do a financial discovery. Determine monthly income, amount received from pension and social security. How much money is currently in their checking and savings accounts? Are there additional financial resources available like a 401k, IRA, annuity, stocks, bonds, etc.? Is there a life insurance policy? Is this a term policy or a whole life policy that has built cash value? Do they have a long-term care insurance policy? If so, can it pay for most or all of the care that is needed? If they do not have an immediate need for long-term care and haven’t purchased a policy, it may be something you want to explore. The Veterans Aid and Attendance Program is another great option to help pay for care. If the senior or spouse served in the armed forces during wartime, they may qualify for this benefit. Maximum annual benefits range from $14,736 to $27,192.

Differing Communities
“We hope people realize that not all communities are created equally,” he says. “They each charge differently, offer varying levels of care, and take on unique personalities. How a community is staffed with caregivers determines its care capabilities. Some communities are private pay only, whereas others allow Medicaid after being able to pay privately for a certain time period.”

Along with his wife, Angela, Anthony has personally toured these facilities, is keenly knowledgeable about their backgrounds and has already helped hundreds of seniors through their decision-making journey.

A recent client, Karen, has this to say about her experience, “CarePatrol was attentive from the first call, responsive throughout the process and continued to check in now that my mom has settled into her new home in the assisted living community. They listened to what was important to us and then helped guide us through this complicated maze. I would highly recommend this group of caring people to help you make the best decision related to your loved ones.”

Anthony says that the Covid-19 restrictions have spurred them to add new tools to their toolbox, and they’ve been able to arrange for online tours, Zoom meetings or “window” tours during the pandemic.

CarePatrol of North Central Ohio helps families in the following counties: Medina, Lorain, Wayne, Ashland, and Richland. Call 440-387-5180 or visit NCOhio.CarePatrol.com for more information.