LIFE Pittsburgh, a nonprofit program that provides comprehensive and integrated care to seniors who may not otherwise be able to live independently at home, continues to provide care to their participants by keeping them safe in their homes during these uncertain times. While adapting the process at their Adult Day Health Centers to ensure the health of current participants, LIFE Pittsburgh also left enrollment open for new participants who would benefit from access to their essential programs.  LIFE Pittsburgh has been serving the elderly population in Allegheny County for over 20 years with a comprehensive program of support services that provide seniors the ability to maintain their independence in their homes and communities. The program model, known nationally as PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), provides the participants, family, caregivers, and professional health care providers the flexibility to meet those health needs with integrative care.Eligible participants must be 55 years old or older, live in the designated service area, meet the states medical requirements for nursing facility level of care, be able to live safely in the community, and be financially eligible as determined by the Allegheny County Assistance Office or be able to privately pay. Individual care plans are coordinated for each participant to assist in medical, social and daily living activities while focusing on providing care with respect and dignity as outlined in the Balanced Budget act of 1997 set forth by the National PACE association.A participant of LIFE Pittsburghs team may include a doctor, registered nurse, masters-level social worker, licensed therapist, personal care aid, or registered dietician in addition to the center manager and staff. Care for participants can be daily vital checking, solution focused health routines, communicating with family members the participants ongoing needs, surveying home accessibility, or providing transportation to appointments with their LIFE Pittsburgh wheelchair accessible van fleet.To learn more about eligibility and the process of enrolling, contact LIFE Pittsburgh at 412-388-8050 TTY:711 and ask for the Enrollment Department or visit their website, www.lifepittsburgh.org.  Editors Note:  This article was submitted by Deanna Guarnaccio, Outreach Supervisor, BS, CTRS at LIFE Pittsburgh.  To learn more about LIFE Pittsburgh visit www.lifepittsburgh.org or call 412-388-8050.

Making important decisions for aging parents can be a challenging task, but power of attorney (POA) can provide peace of mind and clarity in times of need. POA enables individuals to make crucial decisions on behalf of their parents, such as managing their finances or making medical decisions, when theyre unable to do so themselves due to age or illness.While it may be difficult to approach this topic with your parents, having these discussions early on can help ensure that you follow their wishes if their health changes over time. Starting the conversation with empathy and understanding can make all the difference.In this article, well explore how to obtain power of attorney for elderly parents and provide helpful tips on how to approach these discussions with warmth and care. After all, our ultimate goal is to ensure that your aging parents receive the best possible care and support.Whats a POA?According to the American Bar Association, POAs are legal documents, which vary between states, that provide a person, or several individuals, with the power to perform actions on behalf of someone else. The individual with a POA is an agent, whereas the principal refers to the person who is having their affairs managed by other individuals. Agents can only perform actions outlined within the POA document. Moreover, if someone agrees to a POA, they can still make their own decisions, providing they can still do so coherently. This means the agent cannot make exclusive decisions on behalf of the principal.POA TypesBelow is more information regarding the different POA types:General: For this POA, the agent can manage the principals affairs for a specific period, and the principal may revoke this at any point. These automatically finish if the principal becomes incapacitated and are common when an individual can still see to their affairs but prefers that someone else does this for them.Durable: These POAs continue after the principal becomes incapacitated and are more common when someone cannot manage their affairs. They can conclude in many ways, including once the principal dies or if the agent completes the conditions within the POA document.Springing: The terms in this POA dont take effect unless the principal becomes incapacitated. For this POA, the principal remains in control of their affairs until they lose capacity.Medical: These POAs allow agents to make the principals medical decisions. They last until the principal is competent and might also expire after a certain period mentioned in the document.Limited: These limit the agents ability to make decisions regarding certain tasks as outlined in the POA document, such as paying bills or selling a house. Limited POAs are usually temporary and end when the principal loses capacity.Why and When to Consider a POA For Your Aging ParentsHere are the common reasons why individuals may consider getting a POA:Finance issues: POAs enable individuals to continue paying their parents bills and manage their finances when their parents struggle to fulfill these obligations.Serious illness: Having a POA for an elderly parent can be helpful as it allows them to focus on getting better and reduces the stresses associated with managing their affairs.Memory issues: Individuals commonly obtain a POA to manage their parents affairs if they develop dementia. Its helpful to note that its necessary to obtain the POA before the parent loses their capacity.Surgery: When an elderly parent is undergoing surgery, it might be a good idea to obtain a POA so individuals can make decisions on their parents behalf and manage their affairs until theyve fully recovered.Frequent travel: Some elderly parents like to travel frequently, so POAs can be useful here for ensuring their affairs remain in order while theyre away.How Do I Choose a POA For My Parents?When considering a POA for your aging parents, there are several things to keep in mind. The most crucial factor is trust you must choose someone you can rely on to make decisions in your parents best interests and follow their wishes.While family members are often chosen for this role, its important to consider whether theyre the best fit. If you think an objective outsider may be better suited to the task, such as a lawyer, accountant, or financial institution, this is also an option, although it may come with additional costs.Before agreeing to be a POA for your parents, its essential to have a thorough discussion with them to understand their needs and preferences. Different types of POAs have different levels of responsibility, and its important to clarify what your parents expect from you. If your parents need help with medical decisions, for example, this will require more involvement than if they only need assistance with financial decisions.Finally, its essential to understand the financial implications of becoming a POA. Youll need to keep your finances separate from your parents and be prepared to justify any decisions you make to avoid legal issues.Choosing a POA for your aging parents is a significant decision, and its essential to approach it with care and sensitivity. By having open and honest discussions and seeking objective advice, you can ensure that your parents receive the best possible care and support.Contact Us To Learn More About Obtaining A Power Of Attorney For Your Elderly ParentsIf you have elderly parents, its understandable that discussing power of attorney (POA) may be a sensitive topic. However, starting these discussions as early as possible can bring peace of mind and clarity in the future.When approaching these conversations, its important to consider your parents health and well-being. Let them know that youre there to support them and that you will only use the POA powers if its absolutely necessary. Its a promise that can help reassure your parents that you have their best interests at heart.Additionally, it may be helpful to seek the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney. They can provide objective advice and alleviate any concerns that your parents may have. We understand that this is a difficult process, but we're happy to help. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about how we can assist you and your family.This article is a service of Sharek Law Office, LLC. We dont just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life and Legacy Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than youve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life and Legacy Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge. Please note this is educational content only and is not intended to act as legal advice.

It's important for your body to have plenty of fluids each day. Water helps you digest your food, absorb nutrients from food, and then get rid of unused waste. Water is found in foods, both solids and liquids, as well as in its natural state.With age, you might lose some of your sense of thirst. To further complicate matters, some medicines might make it even more important to have plenty of fluids.Remember, water is a good way to add fluids to your daily routine without adding calories.Try these tips for getting enough fluids:Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink water or other fluids.Take sips of water, milk, or juice between bites during meals.Add liquids throughout the day.Have a cup of low-fat soup as an afternoon snack.Drink a full glass of water when you take a pill.Have a glass of water before you exercise.Drink fat-free or low-fat milk or other drinks without added sugars.If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so sensibly and in moderation. That means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks for men.Don't stop drinking liquids if you have a urinary control problem. Talk with your doctor about treatment.Learn how to shift to healthier beverage choices.Editors Note: This article was submitted by John Morris, Community Relations Director at Ashton Commons Senior Living. He can be reached at 724-436-0070 or for more information visit their website at www. ashtoncommons.com.

These days, more and more young people are delayingif not totally foregoinga life that involves marriage and parenting. The lack of jobs, crushing student debt, multiple recessions, and the pandemic have pushed many young people into a life path that leaves little room for settling down with a partner and getting marriedand even less room for having children. Yet, for other young adults, staying single and childless is simply a matter of choice. Regardless of the reason, as more young adults opt for non-traditional lifestyles, the number of single childless households is likely to steadily increase in the coming years.While most adults dont take estate planning as seriously as they should, if you are single with no children, you might think that theres really no need for you to worry about creating an estate plan. But this is a huge mistake. In fact, it can be even MORE important to have an estate plan if you are single and childless.If you are single without kids, you face several potential estate planning complications that arent an issue for those who are married with children. And this is true whether youre wealthy or have very limited assets. Indeed, without proper estate planning, youre not only jeopardizing your wealth and assets, but youre putting your life at risk, too. And thats not even mentioning the potential conflict, mess, and expense youre leaving for your surviving family and friends to deal with when something unexpected happens to you. With this in mind, if youre single and childless, consider these three inconvenient truths before you decide to forego estate planning:1. Someone Will Have to Handle Your StuffWhether youre rich, poor, or somewhere in between, in the event of your death, everything you own will need to be located, managed, and passed on to someone, which can be a massive undertaking in itselfone that few families are properly prepared for. In fact, following a loved ones death, American families spend an average of 500 hours and $12,700 over the course of 13 months (20 month if probate is required) to finalize the person's affairs and settle their estate, according to the first annual Cost Of Dying report released this March by tech startup Empathy in partnership with Goldman Sachs. Look for additional articles in the coming weeks covering the Cost Of Dying and the new role Empathy is playing in the end-of-life industry.On top of the logistical complications involved with finalizing your affairs, without a clear estate plan, including a will or trust, your assets will go through the court process of probate, where a judge and state law will decide who gets everything you own. In the event no family steps forward, your assets will become property of the state.Why give the state everything you worked to build? And even if you have little financial wealth, you undoubtedly own a few sentimental items, maybe even including pets, that youd like to pass to a close friend or favorite charity.However, its rare for someone to die without any family members stepping forward. Its far more likely that some relative you havent spoken with in years will come out of the woodwork to stake a claim. Without a will or trust, state intestacy laws establish which family member has the priority inheritance. If youre unmarried with no children, this hierarchy typically puts parents first, then siblings, then more distant relatives like nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, and cousins.Depending on your family, this could have a potentially troublingand even deadlyoutcome. For instance, what if your closest living relative is your estranged brother with serious addiction issues? Or what if your assets are passed on to a niece with poor money-management skills, who is likely to squander her inheritance?And if your estate does contain significant wealth and assets, this could lead to a costly and contentious court battle, with all of your relatives hiring expensive lawyers to fight over your estate. In the end, this could tear your family apart, while making their lawyers richall because you didnt think you needed an estate plan.As your Personal Family Lawyer, we will work with you to create an estate plan that ensures that your assets will pass to the proper people, while avoiding both unnecessary court proceedings and family conflict.2. Someone Will Have Power Over Your HealthcareEstate planning isnt just about passing on your assets when you die. In fact, some of the most critical aspects of estate planning have nothing to do with your money at all, but are aimed at protecting you while youre still very much alive.Proactive planning allows you to name the person you want to make healthcare decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated and unable to make such decisions yourself. This is done using an estate planning tool known as a medical power of attorney.For example, if youre incapacitated due to a serious accident or illness and unable to give doctors permission to perform a potentially risky medical treatment, it would be left up to a judge to decide who gets to make that decision on your behalf. If you have a romantic partner but arent married and havent granted him or her medical power of attorney, the court will likely have a family member, not your partner, make those decisions. Depending on your family, that person may make decisions contrary to what you or your partner would want.And if you dont want your estranged brother to inherit your assets, you probably dont want him to have the power to make life-and-death decisions about your medical care, either. But thats exactly what could happen if you dont put a plan in place.Furthermore, your family members who have priority to make decisions for you could keep your dearest friends away from your bedside in the event of your hospitalization. Or family members who dont share your values about the type of food you eat, or the types of medical care you receive, could be the ones making decisions about how youll be cared for.To address these issues, you need to implement an estate planning tool that provides specific guidelines detailing exactly how you want your medical care to be managed during your incapacity, including critical end-of-life decisions. This is done using an estate planning vehicle known as a living will.Bottom line: If you are single with no kids, you need to create an estate plan in order to name healthcare decisions-makers for yourself and provide instructions on how you want those decisions made should you ever become incapacitated and unable to make those decisions yourself.3. Someone Will Get Power Over Your FinancesAs with healthcare decisions, if you become incapacitated and havent legally named someone to handle your finances while youre unable to do so, the court will pick someone for you. The way to avoid this is by granting someone you trust durable financial power of attorney.A durable financial power of attorney is an estate planning vehicle that gives the person you choose the immediate authority to manage your financial, legal, and business affairs if youre incapacitated. This agent will have a broad range of powers to handle things like paying your bills and taxes, running your business, collecting your Social Security benefits, selling your home, as well as managing your banking and investment accounts.Without a signed durable financial power of attorney, your family and friends will have to go to court to get access to your finances, which not only takes time, but it could lead to the mismanagementand even the lossof your assets should the court grant this authority to the wrong person.Whats more, the person you name doesnt have to be a lawyer or financial professional; it can be anybody you choose, including both family and friends. The most important aspect of your choice is selecting someone whos imminently trustworthy, since they will have nearly complete control over your finances while you remain incapacitated. And besides, with us as your Personal Family Lawyer, your agent will have access to our team as their trusted counsel should they need guidance or help.Dont Leave So Much At RiskGiven these potential risks and costs for yourself and those you care about, it would be foolhardy if you are single without kids to ignore or put off these basic estate planning strategies. Identifying the right estate planning tools is easy to do, and it begins with a Family Wealth Planning Session. During this session, us, your local Personal Family Lawyer will consider everything you own and everyone you love, and guide you to make informed, educated, and empowered choices for yourself and your loved ones.In the end, it will likely take just a few hours of your time to make certain that your assets, healthcare, and finances will be managed in the most effective and affordable manner possible in the event of your death or incapacity. Dont leave your life and assets at risk or leave a mess for the people you love; contact us, your Personal Family Lawyer to get your estate planning handled today.This article is a service of Sharek Law Office, LLC. We dont just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life and Legacy Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than youve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life and Legacy Planning Session and mention this article that you found on SeniorsBlueBook.com to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.