You may have already heard that if you have elderly parents, you should talk to them about their finances. But do you know why? It’s not just to find out whether they have enough set aside to pay for long-term care, says elder-care advisor Carolyn Rosenblatt at Forbes.com. It’s also to get necessary information in case of emergency:
Imagine your parent with a stroke, unable to speak. Or your parent falls …Read more ›
Does your elderly parent need a little extra help or companionship … for (nearly) no charge? How about from a peer–someone who’s a senior too? Through a national program called Senior Companions, senior volunteers are helping people who aren’t much older than they are, reports The New Old Age. The blog describes one couple in New York who get help from a volunteer named John Antsy:
The Senior Companions program can’t …Read more ›
Bariatric toilets, more male caregivers, turning the tide on diabetes, and better nurse to patient ratios: we covered all of this and more in our latest #ElderCareChat on the future of geriatric care. Inspired by a recent New York Times article on emergency rooms dedicated to seniors (read it here), co-moderator Denise Brown of Caregiving.com (@caregiving) encouraged thoughtful dialogue among and creative …Read more ›
Mary says her mom’s Alzheimer’s disease has progressed. Mom doesn’t want to do much—even eat or drink. Mary tries to keep her active. An aide suggested hospice, but Mary’s afraid of giving up. What would you tell her?
Another Mary, registered nurse Mary C. Fridley, answers this question in her column Caregivers’ Corner. Her response: Moving your mom into hospice care isn’t giving up. It’s moving her to another care level. …Read more ›
If you’re thinking about having elderly parents move in with you, consider more than just whether you’ll all fit in the house, suggests an article from The Washington Post. Think about the surrounding community as well. For example, do you live near a bus stop in case your parent loses the ability to drive? Does your area have a good senior center? And then there’s the question of respite care. …Read more ›
Traditional continuing-care retirement communities are out of reach for many pocketbooks. But now, more and more CCRCs are offering off-campus plans that keep you in your current home—and with a heftier bank account. The Wall Street Journal reports:
Run by professional management typically affiliated with a conventional CCRC, these home-based care programs generally offer a variety of service packages, each covering at least a portion of the future cost …Read more ›