Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about senior living and care
We assist you with uncovering the best care and living arrangement for your loved one. When needed, we assist with moving your loved one into a safe and healthy community or home. We are knowledgeable about all of the options available to you based upon your financial resources, your geographic and healthcare requirements, as well as daily activities enjoyed and more. Our Senior Advisor can manage each step of your loved one’s transition to a new home and answer all of your questions throughout the process. They can also recommend professional services such as VA benefits assistance and elder law attorneys that may be necessary to assure a smooth transition.
Unfortunately, Medicare only covers short term, non-custodial care needs.
Please contact us any time about any question you may have. You and your family are facing life changing decisions and we are here to help.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.
Although PTSD is typically associated with combat veterans, victims of abuse or violence, survivors of disasters, or first responders, it can also affect caregivers.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or after a prolonged traumatic experience.
Types of events that can lead to PTSD include:
- serious accidents
- physical or sexual assault
- abuse, including childhood or domestic abuse
- exposure to traumatic events at work, including remote exposure
- serious health problems, such as being admitted to intensive care
- childbirth experiences, such as losing a baby
- war and conflict
- torture
PTSD develops in about 1 in 3 people who experience severe trauma.
The symptoms of this anxiety disorder are manifold and some people may experience a few or all of them.
- Increased Anxiety: If you’ve ever had a night terror then you’ll understand what this is like. Post-trauma stress can manifest in your psyche and put you on high alert – all night.
- Relive the Experience: For caregivers, this might mean you flashback to your loved one berating you during a time when they were sundowning. It may be feeling like you’ve lost them all over again. It could happen hand-in-hand with increased anxiety, where you’re suddenly on high alert and worried your loved one is wandering around the house.
- Physical Pain & Mental Anguish: Many caregivers suffering from PTSD report aches and pains that won’t go away. Additionally, many experience headaches and thoughts of hopelessness. They feel unable to move forward.
- Antisocial Behavior: Many caregivers detach from their families and friends, feeling numb, empty, and guilt-ridden. They may think about death and contemplate suicide.
The scary part about PTSD is that it can lead to suicide and that’s why it’s all the more important to be wary of what’s happening to you or your loved one. Everyone handles death differently, but if someone appears to be suffering some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, then it’s time to get professional help.
Anyone can develop PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans, children, and people who have been through a physical or sexual assault, abuse, accident, disaster, or other serious events—including caregivers. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 7 or 8 out of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.
The specific symptoms of PTSD can vary widely between individuals but generally fall into the categories described below.
Re-experiencing: Re-experiencing is the most typical symptom of PTSD. This is when a person involuntarily and vividly relives the traumatic event in the form of:
- flashbacks
- nightmares
- repetitive and distressing images or sensations
- physical sensations, such as pain, sweating, feeling sick or trembling
Some people have constant negative thoughts about their experience, repeatedly asking themselves questions that prevent them from coming to terms with the event.
For example, they may wonder why the event happened to them and if they could have done anything to stop it, which can lead to feelings of guilt or shame.
Avoidance and Emotional Numbing: Trying to avoid being reminded of the traumatic event is another key symptom of PTSD. This usually means avoiding certain people or places that remind you of the trauma, or avoiding talking to anyone about your experience.
Many people with PTSD try to push memories of the event out of their minds, often distracting themselves with work or hobbies.
Some people attempt to deal with their feelings by trying not to feel anything at all. This is known as emotional numbing.
This can lead to the person becoming isolated and withdrawn, and they may also give up pursuing activities they used to enjoy.
Hyperarousal (feeling ‘on edge’): Someone with PTSD may be very anxious and find it difficult to relax. They may be constantly aware of threats and easily startled. This state of mind is known as hyperarousal.
Hyperarousal often leads to:
- irritability
- angry outbursts
- sleeping problems (insomnia)
- difficulty concentrating
Other problems: Many people with PTSD also have a number of other problems, including:
- other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or phobias
- self-harming or destructive behavior, such as drug misuse or alcohol misuse
- other physical symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, chest pains, and stomach aches
PTSD sometimes leads to work-related problems and the breakdown of relationships.
Yes, for many people. It’s not simply physically exhausting, but emotionally, mentally, and financially draining as well. This is especially true for adult children who take care of parents with dementia or severe disability. Many of them feel an extreme amount of pressure and guilt to provide care but feel powerless to stop the debilitating condition of their parents.
Before having treatment for PTSD, a detailed assessment of your symptoms will be carried out to ensure treatment is tailored to your individual needs.
Your GP will often carry out an initial assessment, but you’ll be referred to a mental health specialist for further assessment and treatment if you have had symptoms of PTSD for more than 4 weeks or your symptoms are severe.
If you have PTSD that requires treatment, psychological therapies are usually recommended first. A combination of psychological therapy and medication may be recommended if you have severe or persistent PTSD. Your GP can refer you to a clinic that specializes in treating PTSD if there’s one in your area. Or you can refer yourself directly to a psychological therapy service.
Depending on the caregiver’s situation, that might mean private, group or family therapy sessions. Some other helpful remedies include meditation, physical therapy (massages), and EMDR (or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Some doctors may also recommend alternative treatments like acupuncturists, chiropractors, and Reiki masters.
Ultimately though, the best way to treat PTSD is to recognize the symptoms and exercise self-awareness. You may not be okay and it’s more than okay to reach out. Remember that “self-care” should always come first.
Zero. We are a free service to the seniors and their families. We are compensated by the senior housing community, if there is a move. Furthermore, we have no special arrangements or partnerships with particular communities, and are thus able to assess and recommend each choice fairly and honestly.
Cost varies greatly in the senior care industry, depending on factors like amenities and type of care—independent living, assisted living, adult family homes, nursing homes, or in-home care. Depending on rent and the level of senior care needed, your price could range: $3,000– $12,000 per month. Don’t be alarmed by the higher end, since that cost involves intensive specialized care. The best way to understand your costs is by contacting a Concierge Care Advisor.
Some things to watch for are if your loved one has experienced one or more falls, they’re forgetting to take medications, the yard and home look unkempt, they aren’t eating properly, or perhaps are no longer taking an interest in their favorite activities – note this could be a sign of depression as well. These are all signs that your parent may not be safe at their home any longer and would likely benefit from the social stimulation, prepared meals, and care available in an assisted living community or adult family home.
To help you determine if your parent should move into a community that provides care, take our Senior Living Assessment or contact a Concierge Care Advisor to understand your options.
The biggest difference overall in a company like Concierge Care Advisors is that unlike a senior lead processing company, our Senior Advisors meet in person with every family and senior they work with and hold their hand throughout the entire transition. We do this to ensure that your loved one has the best possible outcome with the community that you select together. Our Senior Advisors are able to provide this service because they’re hired specifically for their years of experience working with seniors and knowledge about all aspects of senior housing.
To get the best recommendations, you should always make sure that:
- Each community you consider has had a background check through the state (DSHS).
- The advisor personally knows the community and has actually been there and met the owner or management.
- You know exactly what the community offers in terms of type of care, food, transportation, and amenities.
- You have a plan for care if you believe you may run out of money. Concierge Care Advisors can and does often negotiate these types of situations with the community to ensure that your loved one will not be asked to leave for financial reasons.
It’s natural to dread this conversation—it can feel like betrayal or even belittling to your parent when they’ve been an independent adult for so long. Our advice: be gentle, do your research, and don’t expect everything at once. First, plant the seed in conversation, and don’t present this as a decision you’ve already made and are thrusting upon them. Ask them what they think of the future. Then, look for opportunities, such as when a parent has fallen and had trouble getting up, or complains of loneliness. Then, do your homework. Discover options that best fit your parent. This is where Concierge Care services can help you best. Finally, present your concerns and research to your parent, in a loving context of what’s ultimately best for their health, comfort, and happiness. See our blog article, How to Talk with your Parents for more in-depth advice.
Furthermore, Concierge Care Advisors can do a free home visit and help with the talk. We can be the objective professional to come in and provide advice. This takes the burden off the family, especially if the seniors are not safe.
Memory disorders pose real challenges for the person diagnosed and their caregiver—whether a trained professional or a noble family member. Keep a close eye out for issues like not taking prescriptions on time or financial mismanagement. Once they are diagnosed, you need to make long term decisions together, including legal, financial, and healthcare plans. Though the future may feel bleak, with proper care, there can still be times of joy and laughter. Concierge Care Advisors can help you develop a thoughtful transition plan for your loved one’s care.
Families often put off planning, hoping “mom will improve” and instead are faced with a crisis situation, such as a discharge from a hospital or skilled nursing facility, where the parent simply cannot return their own home safely. When you plan in advance, your options for a great community increase dramatically.
If you believe your loved one is no longer safe at home, the first step is to have a loving conversation with them about it. If they aren’t open to the idea, you may consider introducing them to one of our caring Senior Advisors at Concierge Care Advisors, who is professionally trained to assist with this conversation. When a decision to move forward has been made, there are many things to think about, and each situation is unique; however, common things to plan for are selling a home, understanding financial resources, learning what appropriate housing may cost, determining geographic location, as well as selecting a time frame to make a move. A professional Senior Advisor at Concierge Care Advisors can assist in all of these areas and assure a smooth transition for your loved one.
Stories of senior care neglect crop up from time to time – this is something Concierge Care Advisors absolutely screens for because everyone deserves dignity and respectful treatment, especially in their golden years. We perform rigorous background checks and health and safety audits on all of our partners, ensuring that they are taking appropriate care of their clients, and that their clients are thriving in their care.
Yes, Long Term Care insurance is available. However, just like with any insurance, the time to purchase insurance is before you need it. If you have previously purchased long term care insurance for a senior loved one and are now considering options, then we can make sure to help you find a community or home that matches your insurance benefits.
Yes, benefits are available. The VA provides supplemental income through the Veterans Pension to veterans and their widowed spouses. Then, veterans and spouses who require care and assistance may be eligible for an Aid & Attendance financial benefits.Veterans and spouses who are homebound may qualify for additional benefits.
As you might expect, navigating government benefits can be complicated. To help understand your options, contact a Concierge Care Advisor anytime.
Aside from personal finances, many people in this age group are eligible for VA benefits. Other common sources for financing elder care include Long Term Care insurance, pension benefits and Medicaid in the event of very limited resources. A Senior Advisor can assist by discussing various housing costs with you, and can also refer you to specialists and service providers for various benefits, such as VA and Medicaid.
Medicaid benefits vary by state, but may cover health needs such as: Long term care services including nursing homes and alternatives; home health services; or personal care services. The qualifications for Medicaid vary by state as well. Learn more about Washington State Medicaid.
Medicaid is a complex program. While we’re not Medicaid experts, we are knowledgeable and have helped thousands of others in your same situation. We can help you assess your options by contacting a Concierge Care Advisor.