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Senior Care Services & Seminars

This information below comes from Harvard’s HR website, HARVie. Visit that site for the most up-to-date information on Harvard’s senior care services and workshops: http://hr.harvard.edu/senior-care-planning

Harvard Senior Care Planning Program

This Harvard service helps faculty and staff navigate the ever-changing demands of caring for an aging family member or other adult by connecting them with a professional senior care advisor (a licensed geriatric social worker who is an expert in adult and elder care). The program also provides referrals and access to vetted services around the country. Services are free of charge and include:

  • In-depth individual and family consultation: Professional guidance, planning, and ongoing support for the faculty or staff member and their family;
  • Customized action plans: Clear and actionable steps for caregivers and their families;
  • Facilitated family meetings: Siblings and other family members can clarify roles and  plan together; and
  • Access to national networks: Referrals to vetted providers across the U.S., including geriatric care managers, elder law attorneys, at-home care services, back-up care, senior housing, adult day programs, transportation, and Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Senior Care Planning staff will also negotiate on behalf of clients for preferred rates.

To reach the Senior Care Planning program, please go here or call 855-781-1303, and press 3 for Senior Care Planning.  Call hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm.

Harvard Senior Care Seminars

As part of this program, 10 elder- and adult-care seminars will be offered free of charge on the Cambridge, Business School, and Longwood campuses during the year, open to faculty and staff and their families. The schedule is posted below. Registration is required and is available through Harvard’s Training Portal.

A Proactive Approach to Caregiving: Guidance on Planning Ahead
Mom or Dad may be healthy and independent now so conversations about care needs down the road have been pushed to the back burner. But chances are you will find yourself in the role of caregiver at some point in the future. Planning ahead and communicating early and often with your parents can help avoid pitfalls down the road. Learn about strategies for proactive planning, options for care, and the cost of long term care. Most importantly, learn how to broach the topic of care preferences with a parent or loved one to decrease resistance and enhance the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Thursday, October 6, 2016; 12:00-1:00pm; 114 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, Room 406 REGISTER
Thursday, January 24, 2017; 12:00-1:00pm; 114 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, Room 406 REGISTER

Caregiving and the Holidays: What to do when a Visit to Mom and Dad Raises Red Flags
The holidays can be a wonderful time to spend with family. But over the course of a visit you may worry that Mom has forgotten how to make her famous pumpkin pie and Dad can’t seem to find the right words. During the holiday season, you might notice a shift in your parent’s behavior or cognition, which can lead to increased anxiety and fear increase. This seminar will help you identify what changes might be warning signs of decline and what steps to take to address those concerns.

Thursday, November 3, 2016; 12:00-1:00pm; 114 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, Room 406  REGISTER

Caregiving and Sibling Warfare
Siblings can be our best friends, toughest critics or partners in crime growing up. But once we’re adults, siblings can make caring for an aging parent challenging. One of the greatest sources of stress around caregiving is sibling discord. You think Mom needs in-home care, your brother’s focused on assisted living and Mom doesn’t want any help at all! Sound familiar? How can you and your siblings get on the same page, help Mom find the right care and not get entangled in simmering resentments from the past? Learn how to focus on the present, address sibling conflict, achieve consensus as much as possible, and manage your own stress.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016; 11:00-12:00pm; Longwood Campus, C-Building, Room C-114 Cannon REGISTER
Tuesday, May 16, 2017; 12:00-1:00pm; Harvard Business School, Cumnock 102 REGISTER

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: Caregiving Challenges and Strategies
There are more than 5 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and more than 15 million family caregivers who help them in the U.S. Within the next ten years, that number is projected to increase by forty percent. This seminar will review the different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and signs your loved one may have the disease. Despite the devastating nature of Alzheimer’s disease, there are supports out there that can make a difference and help you continue to connect with your Mom or Dad. Learn about caregiving strategies and types of care that can improve the quality of life for both you and your parent.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016; 12:00-1:00pm; Harvard Business School, Cumnock 220 REGISTER

Dad Wants to Do it Alone: When a Parent Won’t Accept Help
You’ve noticed concerns with Dad living at home and you’ve come up with the perfect plan to support him. There’s only one problem. Your Dad is refusing to acknowledge anything is wrong and he won’t accept help from anyone. Often loved ones are reluctant to accept help because it can feel like a loss of independence. This seminar will focus on supporting your loved one’s autonomy and offering beneficial care options in a non-threatening manner.

Thursday, February 16, 2017; 12:00-1:00pm; Harvard Business School, Cumnock 220 REGISTER

It Costs How Much? What to Expect when Paying for Senior Care
Sooner or later, everyone facing the difficult challenge of how best to care for an elderly parent comes up against the issue of cost. Most people are surprised to learn that a nursing home costs over $80,000 per year or that Medicare will not pay for long-term care. This seminar will review the costs of different care options, and explain how payers such as Medicare, Medicaid, veteran’s benefits, and long-term care insurance work. With this information in hand, you’ll be better equipped to make the decisions that are best for you and for your family.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017; 12:00-1:00pm; 114 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, Room 406

End of Life Caregiving
Most of us avoid discussions about end of life care for obvious reasons. Just addressing the topic can be profoundly sad and all the more frightening because it forces us to consider our own mortality. But times are changing. There is increasingly more emphasis on communicating openly about end of life care early on, so that we are not left adrift when faced with critical health care decisions on behalf of our loved ones. This seminar will address end of life care decisions and review what practical steps you can take now to prepare for the final journey.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017; 2:00-3:00pm; Longwood Campus, Countway Library, Minot Room (Rm 506) REGISTER

Mom Doesn’t Want to Move! – How to Help her Live at Home as she Ages
Ninety percent of seniors want to remain in their home as they age, but to do so safely you’ll want to make sure the appropriate supports are in place. This seminar will review how to support loved ones who want to remain in their home and what resources and home modifications are available to keep them safe –and give you peace of mind.

Tuesday, June 6, 12:00pm-1:00pm; 114 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, Room 406 REGISTER