Life Care Specialist...or "Elderly Care Consultant.." or End Of Life Doula (EOLD) roles all seek to assist people to face health challenges and declines in health and mortality...

As part of a group of caring individuals who have taken trainings to become an "E-OLD" or  End of Life Doula (a support person in terms of information and care, not as a medical, legal or social service professional), we share many ideas.

One that is coming up is about 'what to call ourselves' in terms of what people can readily understand, consider and accept to help us connect with them in a caring, non-medical, non-legal yet professional manner. Some may feel 'all of this information' is online or easy enough to find with help from a librarian, a doctor or senior center or attorney. That may be true and if people take time to 'do their homework or due diligence' they may cover the basics.

However there is not an easy way to know enough of what one needs to know in a timely way if one has not had time to plan. The support for family and caregiver team mambers can be hard to nail down. Ideally every community would have an ongoing network of support people who could be easily contacted.

Yet for many areas the resources may be few and far between, Since baby boomers are turning 65 in great numbers, the demand will likely be too high for most areas to keep pace with on a practical and outreach level.

Here is a post that I shared briefly about a few points for more people to consider...and whether it's help for a person, a family, a group of caregivers caring for one person or couple or other small number of people, or people working in nursing homes or assisted living places, finding help early and building a team of support up is a great idea.

All of it takes time and likely consultants will take some money. Checking into what a Legal Caregiver Agreement entails so the funds expended will suit the Medicaid guidelines is important. Following up with keeping a daily log of care and hours done by the caregiver are important (and are recorded generally by the caregiver and possibly verified by another person with signatures and a daily log.)

Having workman's compensation, social security and other fees withheld (done by a payroll company or accountant or other competent person) is likely a good idea. All of this is a general suggestion to help people start planning for 'what if's or if a situation develops with greater care needs. Checking with an elder law attorney about one's options is likely a very helpful step. Even if the consult may run 200-600 dollars etc (in 2019) the many critical points would be wise to know about in advance. Some expenses toward an elder's  or other person's medicaid spend down may not be valid if proper paperwork is not signed, notarized and kept (including receipts and so on.)

Being ready to keep a list of contact numbers, legal papers and requirements, receipts for payments and purchases as well as any cost of living expenses (housing, rent, transportation, heat, phone, bills paid) etc would be helpful for five years prior to a person needing medicaid. Some states have in-home programs allowing family or friends to care for a person and receive pay in the home setting. Again the high number of people needing help is something every state and area is likely tuning into, so it's a conversation and research topic everyone can help address.

Here is a post I put on about not only the 'end of life' issues and wording for people, but also referencing the idea that our planet earth needs out collective attention as well. Extinction Rebellion in NYC will be held on January 26th, 2019, a week after The Women's March on January 19th, 2019. Over 50,000 women (maybe 80 to 100K even with other marches happening around the country.)

Things are changing for women and the world..and many men are accepting everyone needs to be part of a solution. Many old models of 'winner take all' mentality is leaving our world in environmental peril. Let's pull together with permaculture ideas of helping people and the planet..and also find ways to work together in ways that 'conserve our human energy and use of fossil fuels.'

Steven Greer of the Disclosure Project offers a lot of insight in the real history of the United States and many other first world countries...Maybe there are more hopeful solutions than we have been allowed to consider to address our common concerns. Thanks for Making Time to tune into these issues as soon as possible as we seem to be 'on the clock.' Change will be easier as more people consider small steps then more collective efforts to improve matters for one and all, near and far,big and small.

Here's my FB post: EOLD work and consider using life care specialist as part of the description...many are saying 'end of life' is not really accurate in terms of our spirit continuing on...end of Mortal Life makes sense..yet again, some have some recoveries so want to reverence the many various ways of 'really dying' or letting go..and consider the spirit is still alive and well...and what that means to those in our care and communities at large.

The latter view gives a greater sense of hope and healing in many ways which may otherwise be missed or blocked by not allowing for such theories or input... I know that's a few topics but I share plenty more on livfully.org...big events coming up on NYC, The Woman's March on 1-19 and Extinction Rebellion on 1/26 could be good places to carry posters about the EOLD work too..lots of networking and info can help us encourage one another in our shared journeys as people and earthlings..