Articles - The Main Categories
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Caregiving
Social Filters Can Come and Go When Afflicted by Dementia
When working properly, our brains have a social filter. This is a thinking skill that most people have developed over time and can control without even realizing it. We all have unkind thoughts from time to time, but we do not always say out loud what we are thinking. Our social filter helps us use words and actions that show kindness and consideration to others. An example of this is when we get a handmade
Bridging the Divide When Honoring the Death of a Loved One
It’s a difficult time for you and your family. The death of a loved one or friend is often among the most stressful events in our lives. At a time when you are dealing with your own emotions and those of others, considering how to honor your loved one may feel daunting. Creating a unique and personalized event that reflects your culture and life experiences may be the way to memorialize your loved one or friend.
Caregiving Roles and Responsibilities
Family caregivers have concerns about managing multiple roles and responsibilities. These concerns include 1:1 care, emotional and social support, and care monitoring, coordination, and advocacy. Physical stress, worry, and emotional overwhelm are shared caregiver experiences. Information gaps exist in underestimating the type of information to manage disease progression and daily care needs. Other gaps include: identifying services, managing life changes, and navigating medical and legal responsibilities. Caregivers are uncertain where to turn to receive accurate,
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Elder Law
Why Would I Consider a Trust For My Estate Planning?
Everyone needs an estate plan, it doesn’t matter what your socio-economic circumstances are. A simple estate plan will typically contain at least three documents. This will generally include a durable medical power of attorney and a durable financial power of attorney. The other document typically found is a way to pass your property upon death such as a will. However, there are times when a trust might be an option in your estate planning instead
Do You Know What To Do When Someone Dies?
It is surprising that even though the one thing so certain in life’s cycle is death, many people don’t know what to do when that inevitable event occurs. Following is a short guide of what to do: At the time of death: Call 911, your local Coroner’s Office or your hospice professional if your loved one is enrolled with hospice. Call family members or friends and ask for help in notifying others. Look through
No One Plans to Fail
No one wakes up in the morning with a deliberate plan to fail, but I do believe many of us plan for failure by simply procrastinating because while we all know we will die it all seems so far off. Unfortunately, too often the unexpected arises, and families are left scrambling to figure out what to do for those they love. When my mother’s health became such that my father had to place her in
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Health at Home
Connecting With Relay Colorado
Making calls through Relay Colorado is liberating, enjoyable and convenient. Relay Colorado, a no cost, 24-hour service, allows callers who are deaf, hard-of -hearing, deaf-blind or those who have a speech disability to call anybody using relay services. All calls are confidential, and no records are kept. Relay Service-Dial 711 and call anyone, anywhere, anytime with Relay Colorado. The Communication Assistance (CA) will dial the other party’s number and the CA will relay the conversation
Medicare Advantage Plans and Non-Medical Home Care
Seniors have the option to “opt out” of traditional Medicare plans and “opt in” to a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans are rapidly growing because they offer benefits not covered by traditional Medicare including: eyeglasses, dental care, and non-medical home care. 2019 is expected to be the year in which this new benefit will be introduced and is expected to gain momentum with more plans offering the enhanced benefit over the next 2 to 3
Older Adults in Dallas
Seniors in Dallas/Fort Worth know they are lucky. Not only is this a great place to live, but here they have the ability to grow old without leaving their own homes or losing their independence due to home care agencies that provide caregivers and care managers based on customized care plans. Nearly 9 in 10 seniors say they’d prefer to keep living at home rather than move to a facility. Yet every year, thousands still
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Healthy Aging
Diabetes and The Eye
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among people between 25 – 74 years old. Half of people with diabetes are unaware they have it. Of those who are aware only 50% get appropriate eye care. Most people think that blood sugar levels are the most important risk factors for vision loss in Diabetes Mellitus. However, blood glucose control only accounts for 10% of the risk of vision loss in DM. Other factors such as
Changing the Life of Seniors, One Delicious Meal at a Time!
There are many options when looking for help for Seniors that desire to age in place. As we grow older, good nutrition is important but may cause a challenge to aging adults. Getting to the grocery store alone can be an obstacle, as well as having the mobility to actually prepare nutritious meals on a daily basis. Although some delivery services like Meals on Wheels are convenient, they are not customized to the individuals tastes
Brain Truths and Myths
Our understanding of the human brain has exploded over the last couple decades, yet many misconceptions still exist. Test your knowledge with the following true/false quiz. Answers are at the end. The human brain does not grow new brain cells or change its structure at a cellular level. “Use it or lose it” is an accurate phrase for our brain. Video games are bad for your brain. Younger brains generally work faster than older brains.
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Money
What is a Reverse Mortgage Loan?
A reverse mortgage can be used to turn a portion of the equity in your home into cash that can be used for many different purposes that may enhance and extend your retirement. If you currently have a mortgage, a reverse mortgage could eliminate your mortgage payment (taxes and insurance must still be paid, and the home maintained), and also allow you to access any additional equity (over and above your mortgage balance), to create
How to Preserve Assets When Faced With Long Term Care Costs
It is estimated that over 70% of people over 65 will need some type of Long Term Care(LTC) according to the US Department of Health & Human Services. Meet Charlie and Fran. They have three children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren…so far! They have hopes and dreams for their future generations and have worked hard to ensure their legacy is passed on. As they age, they realize that if either one of them needs
Home Equity and the Retirement Crisis
The constant consternation played out by retirees over the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is bewildering. People choose to struggle in retirement by completely ignoring the fact that they have equity in their home. Unlocking the equity in the home can greatly benefit the homeowner and make it possible to “age in place” more comfortably. A recent AARP Survey concluded that 76% of older adults prefer to age in place. Ultimately there is an impending
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Professional Services and Resources
Choosing Your Next Level of Care
Many times after a serious injury or illness, the need for additional 24-hour medical assistance is needed to help a person heal, properly rehabilitate and ensure that he or she is in stable condition before returning home. What most people don’t know is that there are different options when choosing a continued care provider after your primary acute hospital stay. Each organization can vary by the length of stay, therapy intensity and type of medical
Connecting With Relay Colorado
Making calls through Relay Colorado is liberating, enjoyable and convenient. Relay Colorado, a no cost, 24-hour service, allows callers who are deaf, hard-of -hearing, deaf-blind or those who have a speech disability to call anybody using relay services. All calls are confidential, and no records are kept. Relay Service-Dial 711 and call anyone, anywhere, anytime with Relay Colorado. The Communication Assistance (CA) will dial the other party’s number and the CA will relay the conversation
Medicare Advantage Plans and Non-Medical Home Care
Seniors have the option to “opt out” of traditional Medicare plans and “opt in” to a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans are rapidly growing because they offer benefits not covered by traditional Medicare including: eyeglasses, dental care, and non-medical home care. 2019 is expected to be the year in which this new benefit will be introduced and is expected to gain momentum with more plans offering the enhanced benefit over the next 2 to 3
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Senior Housing
Choosing Your Next Level of Care
Many times after a serious injury or illness, the need for additional 24-hour medical assistance is needed to help a person heal, properly rehabilitate and ensure that he or she is in stable condition before returning home. What most people don’t know is that there are different options when choosing a continued care provider after your primary acute hospital stay. Each organization can vary by the length of stay, therapy intensity and type of medical
What Do I Do Now?
“My Nurse Case Manager has told me that the doctors are discharging me and I need to be transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility.” Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF’s) are specialized health care centers that provide a wide array of therapeutic services to continue to make you well so that you can return to home as soon as possible. In today’s world, hospitals are places where only the most acute and unstable patients are cared for
The National Placement Referral Alliance – NPRA
The National Placement Referral Alliance – NPRA, is a national membership organization formed to protect family choice for older adults. They provide education, promote best industry practices to pursue ethical and professional responsibility in the communities their members serve. The NPRA provides a platform locally from which their members can express their views on industry practices, legislation, rules, and regulations. “At the NPRA, our driving force is to improve the processes for the nation’s senior
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View Articles by Edition
What is a Reverse Mortgage Loan?
A reverse mortgage can be used to turn a portion of the equity in your home into cash that can be used for many different purposes that may enhance and extend your retirement. If you currently have a mortgage, a reverse mortgage could eliminate your mortgage payment (taxes and insurance must still be paid, and the home maintained), and also allow you to access any additional equity (over and above your mortgage balance), to create
Choosing Your Next Level of Care
Many times after a serious injury or illness, the need for additional 24-hour medical assistance is needed to help a person heal, properly rehabilitate and ensure that he or she is in stable condition before returning home. What most people don’t know is that there are different options when choosing a continued care provider after your primary acute hospital stay. Each organization can vary by the length of stay, therapy intensity and type of medical
Connecting With Relay Colorado
Making calls through Relay Colorado is liberating, enjoyable and convenient. Relay Colorado, a no cost, 24-hour service, allows callers who are deaf, hard-of -hearing, deaf-blind or those who have a speech disability to call anybody using relay services. All calls are confidential, and no records are kept. Relay Service-Dial 711 and call anyone, anywhere, anytime with Relay Colorado. The Communication Assistance (CA) will dial the other party’s number and the CA will relay the conversation
What is a Reverse Mortgage Loan?
A reverse mortgage can be used to turn a portion of the equity in your home into cash that can be used for many different purposes that may enhance and extend your retirement. If you currently have a mortgage, a reverse mortgage could eliminate your mortgage payment (taxes and insurance must still be paid, and the home maintained), and also allow you to access any additional equity (over and above your mortgage balance), to create
Choosing Your Next Level of Care
Many times after a serious injury or illness, the need for additional 24-hour medical assistance is needed to help a person heal, properly rehabilitate and ensure that he or she is in stable condition before returning home. What most people don’t know is that there are different options when choosing a continued care provider after your primary acute hospital stay. Each organization can vary by the length of stay, therapy intensity and type of medical
Connecting With Relay Colorado
Making calls through Relay Colorado is liberating, enjoyable and convenient. Relay Colorado, a no cost, 24-hour service, allows callers who are deaf, hard-of -hearing, deaf-blind or those who have a speech disability to call anybody using relay services. All calls are confidential, and no records are kept. Relay Service-Dial 711 and call anyone, anywhere, anytime with Relay Colorado. The Communication Assistance (CA) will dial the other party’s number and the CA will relay the conversation