It is all too common that people think that they can put off creating a will until “later”. As recent events have shown, things happen we cannot anticipate. The advent of COVID-19 put many families in a situation they never anticipated – the sudden demise of a member of the family.
Aging in Place; Now it is Easier Than Ever
Stories about Covid infections in nursing facilities are all too common. This has expanded the feeling among families (88%) that they would rather find a way to care for relatives in their own homes instead of moving them into a facility. The deaths of nearly 200,000 long-term care patients and staff in the US has fundamentally changed the business of long-term care. This is the result of the fact that aging in place overwhelmingly seems to increasingly be the decision of choice. The pandemic seems to have highlighted the benefits of home care and it is likely that the trend of delivering long-term care in the home will expand.
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Seniors: Doctor Appointment “Dress Rehearsal”
Seniors generally take one of two approaches to doctor’s appointments. They either talk too much or say too little. If you are a caregiver for a senior, you can greatly help with the usefulness of the appointment if you act as a coach.
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TIA (Mini-Strokes): Bad News, but Maybe a Blessing
Let’s not bury the lead. No stroke is good. TIA’s however, when discovered and treated quickly, can help prevent a major stroke. In fact, doctors estimate that up to 15 percent of people will have a major stroke within three months of experiencing a mini-stroke.
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The Living Will
The living will is one form of Advance Directive that speaks for you when you cannot. They are generally written, although oral directives, properly witnessed, are legal, too. They are important should you or a loved-one become incapable of conveying your wishes due to illness or by being unconscious.
Treating Seniors: Risks vs. Benefits
While informed consent policies require health care professionals to make sure that patients or those who are acting on their behalf are comfortable with the suggested course of care. Making medical decisions is a challenging process that entails a thorough assessment of the risks and benefits of treatment. With informed consent, the burden increasingly falls on patients and their caregivers to ask the right questions to understand their options.
Who Should Handle Your Estate?
Deciding whom should serve as the Executor of your estate is not a decision to be taken lightly. The person you name will have an impact on your life and family’s future. Making a cavalier decision about this decision could have a negative outcome later.
Things Not to Say to Someone Who is Grieving
As we age, the loss of family and friends to death occurs with greater frequency. Knowing what to say – or what not to say – requires skillful communication. In this article, we deal mainly with the things people commonly say, but shouldn’t.
Speaking to a member of a bereaved family can be challenging and awkward. Yet, there are things that, however well meaning, can be empty at best or hurtful at worst. And, there are alternatives that more comfortably convey the same message.
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Collectibles in your Estate
The legacy we leave is not always money or real estate. Artifacts and collections have a value that goes beyond dollars and cents. The importance of hobbies and collections need to be given special consideration in planning an estate that includes baseball cards, comic books, video games, Beanie Babies, model trains, and Barbie dolls.
Respite Care is a Medicare benefit
Despite the broad availability of professional home care, a vast majority of home care is provided by family members. It can be exhausting work with rarely the opportunity for time off. Splitting shifts with other family members can help, but when the care is provided by a main caregiver, sometimes time away is vital to the health of the caregiver him or herself. Care for the patient in these situations is called “respite care”.