While the senior care industry is already preparing and bracing itself for an increase in numbers of the senior demographic, a new study shows that there might be even more to worry about. According to this study, upcoming generations of seniors might face a greater number of disabilities than previous generations which could compromise their mobility; creating a greater need for senior home care services and medical care services. With proactive planning, the senior care industry and other related services can brace themselves, and respond to a greater need in the industries before it’s even presented itself!

1. Caregivers can arm themselves with knowledge – with this study already circulating, professional caregivers and families with other generations alike can take this opportunity to become more knowledgeable. Professional caregivers can increase their knowledge about dealing with disabled seniors on a large scale, and families can take a long hard look at their prospective care options should this issue become a reality for their family

2. Organizations can improve personal mobility devices – new technology that can assist in the senior care industry is constantly becoming available on the market, but if  there is a greater need that’s upcoming, there’s room for further development and preparation

3. Studies can focus on preventative measures – increased numbers of disabled seniors, particularly if the boomer demographic is affected, could put a strain on the health care system. With this knowledge, health care professionals care work proactively to try and find preventative medicine or establish techniques that may reduce the likelihood that the number of disabled seniors will increase

Via: MedicalNewsToday

Image source: sxc.hu

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Many people think of Powers of Attorney the same way they think about their Will – something they will get done “eventually” because it will not be needed until “later.”

A Power of Attorney lets you pick the person (your “attorney-in-fact”) who will make decisions on your behalf if you cannot make or communicate them for yourself. While we often think this will happen toward the end of life, anyone, at any age, can have an accident or contract an illness that prevents him or her from making or communicating their decisions for a period of time. Without Powers of Attorney, a Court may choose someone – a Guardian for personal matters, or a Conservator for financial matters – to make those decisions for you. Not only might that be someone you would not have chosen, but your affairs might be in quite a bit of disarray before this legal process is completed.

Read the full article on Powers of Attorney

Marsha Goodman
Marsha Goodman, Attorney, PLLC
13236 N. 7th Street, Suite 4-238
Phoenix, AZ  85022
602.513.0300

Marsha Goodman Elder Law Firm

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Retirement doesn’t look like it used to; long gone are the days where seniors had the opportunity to claim Social Security around the age of 65 and put their working days behind them. Today, seniors are working into their 70s, 80s or 90s, because retirement just isn’t what it used to be and here are the factors that contribute to the changes that keep seniors in their careers later in life than ever:

• While the average age to claim Social Security Benefits is 63.9, many need additional income on top of it to be able to afford basic aspects of daily living, like housing and food

• Many seniors would love to retire and just focus on their family and relaxing, but based on the numbers of seniors aged 65 and older which are rising higher than ever before, this isn’t a reality for everyone. The number of older works, aged 80+ has had the most substantial increase at 67% to 500,000 Americans

• With people living longer, money doesn’t go as far as it used to, and as time goes on this might increase even more, keeping more and more seniors in the workforce longer than planned

• Government benefits, which were initially defined in 1940 certainly weren’t designed to support 30 or more years of retirement, which means seniors need a fairly substantial nest egg to make it through

Via: AARP

Image: elements4health.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Get your financial house in order

I took an application a few months ago with a 66-year-old couple from Tempe. They were both full of energy and had a good plan. A month later, the husband was diagnosed with cancer but with an 84% chance of beating it. On Friday, he passed away of unknown (as yet) causes. Her remaining income has now been reduced significantly because she loses the smaller of their two social security incomes.

How does she replace that? If that puts her income in the red will she be able to stay in her home? He didn’t have a pension but 70% of the men (mostly) who get pensions choose the retirement option that pays higher while they are alive but ends when the pass away. Do her remaining expenses get reduced much?

A good financial plan takes into account contingencies, even the case where one partner is no longer in the picture. I highly recommend people get it worked out in advance rather than waiting. Who wants to deal with financial problems while you are in the grieving process? While you are at it, get medical directives and funeral options handled. Who wants to have to make decisions on the fly about organ donation? Do it before something happens. And take a look at a reverse mortgage and see if you want to fit it into your plan as well. It could be the tool that makes it all work.

Dave Parker
602-750-8166
ParkerInReverse.com
Your Reverse Mortgage Resource

At The Lending Company

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Whether you are thinking about becoming active for the first time in your life, or looking to begin a regular exercise routine after recovering from an injury or health problem, there are some simple guidelines that all smart seniors can follow in order to ensure that activities are safe and beneficial.

1. Most men and women over the age of 50 need to consult a doctor before beginning a fitness program, so to be cautious about your health, get clearance first

2. Choose an activity/routine that you will stick with and enjoy. Work with a trainer, join a group class, invest in exercise equipment for the home, or exercise outside with a friend

3. Start off slowly, increasing the duration and intensity of activities as your fitness abilities increase

4. Listen to what your body is telling you, if it hurts or causes too much physical strain, then stop the activity

5. Set realistic short and long-term goals, which for seniors should be about improving overall health

6. Keep a journal about your fitness activities for health purposes and to keep you motivated

7. Ensure that you choose a well-rounded fitness routine that incorporates resistance training, cardiovascular activities, exercises that promote flexibility, and those that promote balance

8. Make sure you have the right equipment, particularly clothing and supportive shoes

9. Make simple lifestyle changes to promote further exercise, like parking farther away from the grocery store entrance, or doing more housework yourself

10. Reward yourself for working hard

Sources:

1. SeniorJournal

Image: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

When I first started practicing yoga in my early 50s, some looked at me like I was crazy thinking that I was causing damage to my body and that I was just taking it up because it was trendy. No, it wasn’t a mid-life crisis; I know that yoga has extensive health benefits to people of all ages, including improved flexibility, muscular strength and better cardiovascular health. Despite the fact that it’s trendy, I’ve also tried to explain to the naysayers that yoga has been around for nearly 5,000 years and has a number of top yoga masters who are older. K.S. Iyengar, founder of the most popular form of yoga practiced today is 90 years old, and the yogi that helped bring yoga to the United States also belongs to the boomer generation.

I’m so confident about the health benefits of yoga for seniors that I’ve even encouraged my care recipient, who’s in her 80’s to try out a beginners yoga class for older adults, and once she got past the initial skepticism, she too is loving it!

Sources:

1. AARP

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Q – My mother is very ill, and I know that she has debt that was acquired by her and my father before he passed away. Will her children be responsible for paying off her debt when she passes away?

A – In your mother’s case, any shared debt with your father, would have been passed along to her in probate; especially if she was the sole beneficiary of his estate (or all assets were shared). Children are not directly responsible for the debts of their senior relatives, however, debts owing may first be deducted from the senior’s estate before distribution during probate, decreasing or eliminating completely the assets left to beneficiaries of the will or trust because when creditors are unable to collect debts during a senior’s life, seniors remain responsible even after they are deceased. If after your mother’s death, her estate demonstrates insufficient assets to pay off her debts, the creditors will be forced to take a loss; however, you and your siblings will not be responsible for paying her debts.

The only other situations where the survivors of a senior’s family may be responsible for the debts, are if they co-signed on a loan, or guaranteed payment to a creditor.

Sources:
1. Lawyers.com
2. Money Tips
3. Wikipedia

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Talking to your senior parents about estate planning can be an uncomfortable subject, because many adult children don’t want to feel like they’re interfering with their parents’ personal affairs. Estate planning typically includes a legal will that outlines distribution of assets; a financial power of attorney which dictates who will look after a senior’s finances when they become unable; a medical power of attorney, the person responsible for carrying out a senior’s medical wishes; and a living will, which establishes a senior’s healthcare wishes if they become unable to speak for themselves. Discussing your senior parents’ estate early on with them ensures that you understand the role that they expect you to play after their deaths or during a medical emergency so that their wishes are carried out.

Talking to your elderly parents about estate planning becomes more important if they have not completed the necessary steps to protect their assets and secure their wishes. When approaching the topic of family estate planning, make sure that your siblings and immediate family members are involved so they don’t perceive your interests in your parents’ estate as self-serving. Ensure your parents understand you do not need to have the division of assets explained; it doesn’t matter how much they are planning on leaving you. What’s important is that they put the legalities in place to ensure they control what happens to their assets, even once they loose the ability to represent themselves.

Sources:
1. SeniorJournal.com   Robert Valentine
2. FamilyEducation.com

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

The Silver Haired Legislature, present in 31 states across the US, advocates the needs of aging adults, which includes providing guidance and support to their family members. One of the major issues that has been on the minds of the SHL relates to the sandwich-generation; those family caregivers who provide assistance to any aging relative, while raising their own young families and managing careers. Not only can providing care for an elderly parent or other relative take a physical toll on the lives of these Americans, but it can also carry a serious financial burden which only grows as life expectancy continues to rise. The Oklahoma SHL is trying to pass Senate Bill 725, which has been cleared by the Senate, but has not yet been heard by the House. This Bill will provide a tax deduction to families providing care and support for its elderly members.

Not only is The Silver Haired Legislature in many states focused upon legislation that will provide family caregivers financial support, they provide community resources through the Area Agency on Aging to help educate seniors and their families about rights, care issues, and other factors which can impact the lives of older adults. The Texas Silver Haired Legislature offers online courses for family caregivers; understanding that when balancing responsibilities, it’s important to offer educational resources which can be accessed at their convenience. These courses provide useful tips relating to care techniques, provide community support for common care-related issues, and makes them aware of the resources available.

Once per session, the elderly advocates of The SHL meet to discuss and vote upon which issues faced by older Americans that they will present to the Senate. First, however, the groups in each state reach out to the senior community to learn about what issues the population believes requires government support. Every year, when the SHL and Senate are in session, the Texas Senior Advocacy Coalition organizes Senior Day at the Capitol. This took place at The Capitol in Austin on February 10th. Seniors and their families were invited to attend independently or with the groups they’re involved with where they had the opportunity to mingle with representatives of the SHL and of the state legislature to voice their concerns and learn about senior living resources. Seniors and their families are also welcome to contact SHL representatives directly by phone or email, or approach other state advocacy groups which will present the issues before the SHL.

The Silver Haired Legislatures across the United States exist to represent the needs of older adults.  So Families, it’s time to get yourselves and the seniors in your lives involved in advocacy for senior welfare.

Sources: http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2007/pr20070925b.html
http://www.txshl.org/training.cfm
http://www.txshl.org/calendar.cfm

Home Care Central Phoenix and Home Care Greater Phoenix provides elder care and senior care in Phoenix. Call us today at 623-583-5868, 602-265-8228 or 480-991-3959.

It seems cruel to victimize seniors with fraud when they have limited resources and are the most likely to struggle with the state of the economy today. However, predators target the elderly just for this reason; because they are more vulnerable, they are more likely to agree to situations that may boost their financial standing or may trust more easily because they are lonely.

There are many types of scams that target senior citizens, some of which take place online by requesting a credit card or bank account number in exchange for goods or services that are never delivered. Other common types of senior fraud include sweepstakes scams and lottery prizes, investment fraud, “phishing” scams and fake charitable solicitations.

Seniors and their families need to be aware that there are people out there looking to pull the wool over the eyes of the elderly and take advantage of them. To remain safe from fraud, here are a few tips to help seniors keep what is rightly theirs and avoid the influence of criminals.

1. Beware of any sweepstakes or lottery that requires you to pay in order to claim your prize. By law, it should never be necessary to send money or make a purchase.
2. Never give financial information to a telemarketer who has called you. If you are interested in making a purchase from them, ask for a number to call them back after verifying their legitimacy. It is usually safe to provide information to an organization that you have called directly, but never give out your bank account, credit card or Social Security number if you get a bad feeling.
3. Before making a charitable donation, don’t hesitate to ask them how they use the money and if contributions are tax-deductible. If they are not willing to give out this information, they may not be a legitimate charity.
4. Remember these is no such thing as a risk-free financial investment, beware of organizations that guarantee huge returns upon your investment.
5. Make sure when hiring a contractor to do work around your home, that everything is put in writing and avoid working with those that show up at your door offering last minute specials.
6. If you are in a car accident, call the police if someone tries to bully you, claiming it’s your fault, before offering to pay them for the damage
7. Have someone watch your home if you are on vacation or staying in a nursing home.

If you would like to consult with someone from Home Instead Senior Care to provide more information about ways to prevent scams contact your local office at the number above.

Sources: http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/srfraud
 http://www.consumer-ction.org/english/articles/just_say_no_to_senior_scams/