Caregiving is a deeply rewarding yet demanding role that millions of people embrace, often juggling it alongside work, family, and personal responsibilities. Kelley Kennedy, Executive Director at At Home By Hunt with Silverstone Living, brings a wealth of experience in healthcare management and elder care. That’s why we reached out to her to explore how caregivers can find support, leverage resources, and make informed decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
Keep on reading to know her insights.
Taking on a caregiver role can be very fulfilling, but it can also be emotionally and physically demanding to the person providing care. Oftentimes, the caregiver is still working, and balancing their professional duties along with their caregiving responsibilities can become complicated. It can be stressful if the caregiver is in a workplace that is not supportive of their challenges.
Additionally, there is limited support and financial options available to caregivers for the work they are doing. It would be so beneficial to have added grants or funding for caregivers to be compensated for the care they are providing to their loved one(s), because the financial burden can be overwhelming.
And let’s not forget our professional caregivers. Providing care can be a difficult and often thankless job. We recognize that individuals who choose to enter the field of healthcare and caregiving do so for various reasons, and there is undoubtedly a need for these dedicated professionals. It may be more enticing for people to fill these roles if they are rewarded more for their hard work; if not with higher wages, then with other benefits and perks to maintain a positive work environment.
At Home By Hunt is a unique program that offers care management for our members while also providing a daily monetary benefit to assist with the cost of long-term healthcare needs as they arise.
Our team develops a rapport immediately with their members, which allows for preventative care and advocacy for the older adult who wishes to remain in the home they love. This program also offsets the continuously rising costs of healthcare, allowing people to preserve their hard-earned assets for retirement.
Planning is key! According to current statistics, approximately 70% of individuals aged 65 and older are expected to require some form of long-term care services (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022). It is essential to initiate conversations early with the individuals who are invested in your well-being or those you may care for later in life.
Knowledge is an important factor in planning. If you are aging, talk with your family and friends about what they believe their role will be if your health changes and you need more support at home.
If you are already a caregiver for your loved one, take the time to familiarize yourself with the resources and support systems available in your community. If you are struggling to find answers, reach out to your local “Service Link” or equivalent resource line or your local Department of Health and Human Services for guidance.
– Kelley Kennedy
There are often misconceptions about what insurances cover. It is quite common for older adults to believe that their existing health insurance is sufficient and will cover their needs as their health changes. This is not the case.
Health insurance plans, such as Original Medicare, secondary insurance, and Medicare Advantage Plans, typically cover short-term healthcare needs. Some of these short-term needs include hospitalizations, short-term rehabilitation, and even limited home care for a limited period, but these insurance plans will not cover them indefinitely.
Medical insurance typically does not cover the cost of long-term care placement in an assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility. This is why planning is important. People need to be aware of their options for covering long-term healthcare needs.
One of the hardest promises a person can make to their loved one is “I will never put you in a nursing home or other facility” or “I will always take care of you.” Life happens, and there are times when providing the necessary and appropriate care at home is no longer the safest plan.
Some of the major signs that facility-based care may be most appropriate is if the person is wandering outside of their home and requires continuous supervision, or if the person receiving care requires more than one person to assist them with their activities of daily living, such as no longer being able to transfer from bed to chair, or if the person requires total assistance with their care. If the caregiver is at risk of hurting themself while providing care, considering facility placement may be the next step.
There is also the financial burden of personally provided care if proper planning does not take place. Caregivers have their hearts in the right place! However, caregiver burnout is a real phenomenon that affects caregivers physically, emotionally, and financially. I have spent a significant portion of my professional career working in long-term care facilities, and it was always a gift to see a caregiver who had been caring for their loved one for an extended time finally be able to relax and enjoy being the person they were before taking on that caregiver role.
One of the most common comments I would hear from that caregiver is “Wow, it feels so nice just to be a (family member) again” or “just to be a friend again.” There was relief in knowing that the person receiving the care was now in a place where they would continue to receive the care they needed. There are times when facility-based care is the safest solution for everyone involved.
Kelley Kennedy’s insights highlight the complexities of caregiving and the need for proactive planning, workplace support, and innovative solutions. As she mentioned, by addressing financial, emotional, and practical challenges and embracing tools like technology and community resources, caregivers can navigate their roles more effectively. The future underscores a shift toward valuing caregivers, both family and professional, while empowering older adults to age on their terms.
Kelley Kennedy is a dedicated leader in healthcare management and elder care, serving as Executive Director at At Home By Hunt since May 2022. With prior experience as Director of Wellness at The Huntington at Nashua, a Life Care Community offering independent living, assisted living, and 24-hour healthcare, Kelley brings a deep understanding of caregiving and advocacy. Based in Nashua, NH, she is passionate about empowering older adults to age in their homes while supporting caregivers with innovative, practical solutions.
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