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Frequently Asked Questions
Need house cleaning or yard work services?
Please call a professional in the field you need. Recommendations from friends can get you started. ElderCare does not provide these services nor make referrals.Need an Elder Law or Estate Law attorney?
ElderCare will be happy to refer you to a local expert. Give us a call.
Need to conduct an estate sale?
Need to sell a house?
If your elder has moved into a care facility, or has died, you may need to conduct an estate sale. Call ElderCare for recommendations. We can help manage the estate sale process. When it comes to selling a home that’s no longer needed,
ElderCare staff can take the burden off your shoulders. We work with local real estate professionals to get a home listed. We schedule cleaning and repairs to get the home ready for sale. We can handle the necessary paperwork for you as well.
Caregiver services: private provider or agency?
ElderCare Resources can refer you to both.
- An agency will ensure that you never have coverage gaps; is licensed and bonded; and provides oversight, but costs more.
- With a private provider, you can choose the caregiver with whom you feel most comfortable; but if he/she gets sick or takes a vacation, you’ll need to find a replacement.
In both cases, the caregiver may administer prescribed medication, cook light meals, do laundry, tidy up the house, and run errands or do shopping. |
What kinds of housing are available for seniors?
Take a look at our “Housing Options for Seniors”. It describes some of the levels of care available in our area. For more details, get a copy of “The Guide”, published by The Gerontology Institute of Sacred Heart Medical Center. Go to
www.laneseniorservices.com.
Is it time for a move?
Deciding when to move into a retirement home or care facility can be one of the hardest decisions a person and his family may face. See our questionnaire, “Do I need help?” If your answers suggest that, by living at home, a person cannot stay healthy and safe,
it may be time for a move. ElderCare can help with a formal assessment of the medical, financial, and family situation to help you make the final decision.
Who needs a Guardian?
Guardianship is assigned by the court. If a person is unable to make decisions in his/her own best interest due to severe cognitive or memory impairment, the court may appoint a guardian. Guardianship may be temporary, limited or unlimited. Most judges are very conservative about granting
guardianships. If the elder or disabled person contests the guardianship, costs can run to $15,000 or more. But guardianship is appropriate for a seriously impaired person. If you wish to seek guardianship over an impaired person, a consultation with a qualified attorney is the first step.
ElderCare staff is guardian for many elderly and impaired clients who do not have family willing or able to take on this serious responsibility.
Who needs a Conservator?
Also known as a Guardian of the Estate, a Conservator is appointed by the Court to manage the financial affairs of a person who cannot do so him/herself. There may be a Conservator but not a Guardian of the Person; there may be both. Conservatorship may be appropriate where a person cannot make
financial decisions, or comes into a large sum of money but is subject to impulsive spending or undue influence by family or friends. ElderCare staff has extensive experience acting as Conservator.
Note that a Conservator is not the same as an “executor”. The personal representative, also known as the executor of a will, administers the estate after a person dies. A conservator may perform this responsibility, if named to do so in a will or by the court.
ElderCare can serve in this capacity.
Who needs a Representative Payee?
Someone who receives public benefits, such as Social Security or Veteran’s Benefits, but has no mailing address, or cannot manage a bank account alone, may designate a Representative Payee to receive the money and then distribute it to the person, sometimes in several small payments per month. EElderCare
serves as Rep Payee for many clients.
Who needs a Trustee?
A trustee administers the money and property held in a trust on behalf of a beneficiary. A trust may be established even when there is no disability or incapacity in the beneficiary. The trustee must follow the directions in the trust as to how the money is to be used.
ElderCare staff serve as Trustee for various kinds of trusts.
What do I do if I think a senior or disabled adult is being abused?
Abuse can be physical, psychological, or financial. Abuse might be intentional, but could be the result of insufficient training by a family caregiver. Either way, it should be reported. Self-neglect by an elder should be reported, too.
ElderCare staff can help restore an abusive situation to a healthy one, for a senior and the family. First, a report should be made to the authorities. For information and reporting, go to the ODHS website:
http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/spwpd/abuse/def_signs.shtml
How do I apply for Medicaid?
You can schedule an eligibility assessment from Senior and Disabled Services by calling 800.441.4038. ElderCare staff can help you prepare for the assessment. We can also help you create a spend-down plan to use your remaining assets most effectively for your
situation.
Where can I find out about services available for seniors or disabled persons?
There are many businesses and public agencies that provide services to seniors and the disabled.
- Contact Senior and Disabled Services, an office Lane County. 800.441.4038
- Get a copy of “The Guide” from The Gerontology Institute of Sacred Heart Medical Center. Go to http://www.laneseniorservices.com or http://www.sdslane.org/default.htm
Who offers hospice services in the Eugene area?
http://www.peacehealth.org/apps/Services/Details.asp?ServiceID=62
http://www.cascadehealth.org/home_health_hospice/hospice/
What is a Family Consultation?
ElderCare staff can meet with family or clients in person or by telephone. A consultation with several key family members gathered together can often help a family understand a situation better and make consensus decisions. |
ElderCare’s Care Managers will find a way to help.
CM Donna Courtney, RN, takes Pete for some fun at a basketball game.
Assistance may come in unexpected shapes. |
399 East 10th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401 