060 – Interview: Negotiating Family Caregiving Expectations After Hospitalization

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with caregiving expert Carol Levine, Director of the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund of New York and author of “Planning for Long-Term Care for Dummies.” In this episode, they discuss negotiating caregiving expectations with hospital staff and family members, including:

• Why it’s common for older adults and their family members to have different ideas of what kind of help is needed after a hospitalization
• How to better negotiate what you can and can’t do with hospital staff — or with an older loved one who’s being discharged home
• How Carol managed expectations once her husband required significant caregiving
• What to know about the new laws (CARE acts) that require hospitals to coordinate with family caregivers
• How drawing a “CareMap” can help
• Why it’s often worth getting a professional to help you discuss caregiving with family members
• How to make hospital discharge decisions if an older person has become confused in the hospital
• How family caregivers can reduce guilt and set healthy boundaries

Related episode: 

015 – Interview: Practical Advice for Family Caregivers & Next Step In Care

Related Resources:

• NextStepInCare.org Guides for Family Caregivers
  • NSIC Guide: Hospital-to-Home Discharge Guide
  • NSIC Guide: What Do I Need as a Family Caregiver?
  • NSIC Guide: New York State’s CARE Act
• AARP Report: Home Alone, Family Caregivers Providing Complex Chronic Care
• AARP Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act: Information & Map
• AtlasofCaregiving CareMaps