It Has Been a Year Since We Filed for Aid & Attendance for My Father
By Melissa Howell
It has been a year since we filed for the Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit for my Father-in-law, John. He is still comfortably situated in his assisted living apartment and receiving good health care from the staff. An important document that our Veteran Consultant let us know about was a form called the “Eligibility Verification Report” (EVR) which VA sends at the beginning of the year and must be filled out every year in order to continue receiving benefits.
After my initial help with his original application John was the only one to receive co ...... Read More
Using Your Home Equity for Long Term Care
April 11, 2011
For many seniors the equity in their home is their largest single asset, yet it is unavailable to use unless they use a home equity loan. But a conventional loan really doesn't free up the equity because the money has to be paid back with interest.
A reverse mortgage is a risk-free way of tapping into home equity without creating monthly payments and without requiring the money to be paid back during a person's lifetime. Instead of making payments the cash flow is reversed and the senior receives payments from the bank. Thus the title "reverse mortgage".
Many seni ...... Read More
Downsizing, Organizing, Handicap Remodeling or Relocating
May 10, 2011
When Robert and Anne bought their family home thirty years ago, their plan was to live through retirement in this home. They had furnished their home with refurbished antiques acquired from their many trips together. It was one of their cherished antique coffee tables that Robert tripped over, breaking his hip. Now with his return from the hospital in a wheelchair, the overwhelming task of making their home accessible for Robert’s wheelchair and safe for both of them faced Anne.
Remodeling for wheelchair access, organizing home furnishings and daily living ...... Read More
Choosing Home Care Services That Meet Your Needs
March 9, 2011
Making the decision to hire a home care service to provide care for your loved one is an important decision and can, at the same time, be very difficult. If an illness or recovery from surgery requires nursing care or physical therapy, a physician may order skilled home care services that provide both skilled providers and personal aides. Your decision is then based on the obvious medical determinations made by the doctor. But what if you as the family caregiver must determine the extent of care needed without the help of a doctor?
Each home care situation is unique ...... Read More
Working with Elder Parents in Planning Financially for their Long Term Care
January 7, 2011
You may be taking care of elderly parents now or looking at that possibility in the near future. According to a report from USATODAY/ABCNews/Gallup Poll, 41% of baby boomers are helping take care of elderly parents by providing personal help or financial assistance or both.
If financial planning and long term care planning have not been done previous to the need for care, the burden falls on the caregiving family member. Decisions about how care will be paid for, who will be responsible for managing the estate as well as how the long term care will be given can cau ...... Read More
Somebody’s Sweetheart
February 7, 2011
The month of February and Valentines Day brings a celebration of love and stirs couples to rekindle feelings of romance and devotion. Not so different from young couples are aging seniors, celebrating memories of sweethearts and romance in days gone by. Sit a while with a senior couple and they will soon be telling you their romance story or listen to a widow or widower as they sing their favorite love song from their youth.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s can rob senior minds of many of these treasured memories, changing their personality and life style. ...... Read More
Choices for End-of Life Caregiving
November 5, 2010
There are many decisions to be made when imminent death is approaching for a loved one. Questions regarding what type of care, medical assistance and even physical location for their last days confront us.
If care at home has been given, should loved ones be moved to a facility or remain at home? If in a care facility should they be moved home for their last days? Will 24-hour care become necessary and more medical assistance be required?
If you are asking these questions, a Hospice service might be a good solution. Hospice can be provided to a person wh ...... Read More
The Perfect Holiday Caregiver: It�s all a state of mind
December 8, 2010
The holidays are always a wonderful time of year for family gatherings, reflection on what we have and the spirit of giving. The television is packed with specials showing relationships and families coming together for the holidays.
But the holidays can also be a time of stress and sadness for those who are caring for family members that are struggling with health problems, frailty, dementia and loss. Those who care for these individuals may feel overwhelmed, frustrated, depressed or resentful as they watch “perfect” families enjoying the holidays. Th ...... Read More
Getting Your Affairs In Order
August 9, 2010
If we had a crystal ball and could see into the future, we would not need to prepare ahead for end of life decisions.
James was 62 years old when a stroke made it impossible for him to communicate with his family. Neither his wife nor children knew anything about his financial or medical information. James had always taken care of things himself and left no written directives in his behalf. Besides having to locate important documents, the family was left to make their own decisions about James long term care.
The National Institute on Aging gives three ...... Read More
Helping Your Elderly Parent with COPD Related Depression
September 8, 2010
Experts say that over a million people in the United States have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a chronic lung condition that includes bronchitis, emphysema or both.
COPD affects the airways and air sacs within the lungs, which makes breathing difficult and can result in a person becoming less active over time. An elderly person who has COPD will easily become depressed, when dealing not only with breathing difficulties but other age related problems.
One example of COPD related depression is Martin, age 72. Martin had lived a busy ...... Read More
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