For more information on Senior Care Authority, Click Here.Winter is a wonderful time of year, and for most of us, it represents a chance to celebrate holidays and get together with family and friends. But the season can also be treacherous for senior citizens. Each year, roughly36 million falls are reported among older adults, resulting in more than32,000 deaths. Many of these accidents occur in areas where winter means cold, ice, and snow. Assisted living solutions may be the answer for some seniors and their families, but there are also ways you can keep your loved one safe without relying on assisted living. Here, well look at a few of them.Make Your Home a Safe OneIf older relatives are visiting for the holidays (or during any time of year), make sure your home is safe and accessible. To that end:Keep floors clutter-freeKeep exterior sidewalks clearRearrange furniture so people can comfortably move around itPut non-slip pads underneath rugsMake sure electrical cords are tucked awayTo keep stairs from becoming an issue, consider having your senior sleep on the first floor of your home. If not possible, make sure their room is close to the bathroom and use nightlights to help them navigate.Stick to a Healthy Diet and Stay HydratedThe holidays, with their cakes, candies, and other rich foods, are notorious opportunities for overeating. With that said, try to plan meals that leave room for enjoying favorites without feeling stuffed. If you're planning a big dinner for New Years Eve, for instance, consider serving a lighter lunch of salad or soup earlier in the day. Eating lightly is always a good idea anyway, but especially so for seniors who may be on medications or who have digestive issues.Drinking plenty of water is also a way for your senior to stay healthy during the holidays. Older individuals, in particular, need plenty of fluids throughout the day; dehydration can lead to hospitalization. Have water easily accessible at home, and keep bottled water in a purse or bag if you're running errands with your senior.Keep Cooking Communal but SupervisedCooking meals with your older family member or friend, especially during the holidays, can be a wonderful opportunity for you and your loved one to share memories and bond. But its a very good idea to give them less injury-prone tasks, such as organizing, prepping, or measuring ingredients. Keep chopping and cutting on your to-do list, and don't ask them to move hot or steaming items from one surface to another. Encourage them to do all cooking activities in a seated position.Keep an Ear Out for Noise LevelsMany seniors wear hearing aids, and while that can help them stay engaged, these devices can sometimes heighten background noise, making it difficult for your loved one to concentrate. Multiple loud conversations and background music happening simultaneously can cause seniors to withdraw from the conversation or festivities. If you notice this happening, bring the noise level down and try to create more intimate conversation spots away from crowds to help your loved one stay engaged.To find out more about assisted living solutions and other resources to help your senior stay safe, contact Senior Care Authority today!

As a parent, you will give your children many lovely gifts. A lifetime of presents may include everything from a birthday puppy to a college education, a trip to Disney to relationship advice.But the next time you want to give your children something special, consider pre-planning your funeral.There are many benefits to planning in advance. We count down the top six reasons families tell us pre-paid funeral plans are the best gift they ever received from their parents. 6. You get to choose exactly what you want.Pre-planning your funeral allows you to carefully consider your options and make the choices that ensure that your life is remembered and celebrated the way that you want. Even if you tell your family about your end-of-life wishes, they may not remember or agree. The only way to know for sure that you will get a cremation with a celebration of life by the lake or a New Orleans-style jazz procession is by planning in advance. My parents purchased prepaid funeral expenses many years ago. After all these years, when we went to use these services, everything was paid for, except the death certificates. (which was understandable.)Carol S., Medway, MA5. Your children won't have to find a way to pay for your funeral.You may not be able to shield your children from the emotionally difficult parts of a passing, but you can help ensure that they dont have to worry about money at the same time. In the days immediately following your death, your assets may be unavailable and life insurance can take six to eight weeks to pay. Without a prepaid plan in place, your children will be expected to cover all of your funeral expenses before funeral services. Pre-planningand prepayingmeans relief from that burden. Learn about monthly funeral payment options here. Having a burial arrangement is one of the greatest ways to let your loved ones know that just because you are no longer physically there you are still looking out for them and their well-being. Its the greatest gift you can ever give.Rayette A., Kent, WA4. Your family members wont need to worry about getting it wrong.Would Dad have wanted the hand-carved, solid mahogany casket? Would Mom have wanted every last member of her church to attend the funeral service? When plans aren't prepared beforehand, loved ones guessand then worry that maybe they got it wrong. Save them from doubt and anxiety over getting it right by planning in advance. From experience, it is really important to pre-plan your wishes ahead of time. When my Mother died it was so hard & such a shock to our family. My Father & I went down to Greenoaks & made all his arrangements, paid for them so when the time came for him it would be taken care of and easier for my Sister & myself. It was a true blessing an actual gift he gave us.Monica N., Baton Rouge, LA3. Your family wont have to face quick decisions.At the time of need, funeral arrangements are usually made in a couple of days. Even if you lay out your wishes in a will, your children can be left scrambling, since funerals often take place before a will is located or read. To protect your loved ones from facing hurried decisions during an already difficult time, plan your funeral in advance. Putting the details in writing not only ensures your wishes will be followed, but saves others from needing to make judgment calls on your behalf."My husband and I decided we will set up a pre-planning meeting for our desires when the time arrives. We would like whomever handles to have the same experience we had as its a very difficult time when one passes." Janice L., Las Vegas, NV Doing pre-need arrangements was a tremendous gift our dad did for us. At the time of dad's death, I was so heart broken and was so thankful dad had made all the tough decisions ahead of time. He didn't leave much for me to do. I was able to fall apart and grieve his passing.Debra B., Lakewood, CO2. You lock in todays prices and save money.One of the more practical benefits of planning your funeral in advance is financial. As the cost of living rises, so do the costs of funerals and burials. When you plan and pay in advance, you essentially lock in a price guarantee. For example, if you plan today and choose a casket that costs $2,000, you will never have to pay more than that for that casket, even if it doubles in price. Paying for things at current prices protects youand your childrenagainst inflation. Learn about how much cremations and funerals cost. "Both my parents had purchased a pre-paid cremation policy in 1984, which saved me a considerable amount of money related to today's prices."Beth C., Houston, TX1. Your loved ones can focus on remembering and healing.Perhaps often forgotten, but the top reason families tell us that prepaid funerals are the best gift they ever received is the emotional value of prepaying for a funeral.The days immediately following a death are emotionally difficult. Pre-planning your funeral, cremation or burial, documenting your wishes, and paying for arrangements give your loved ones the time, space and permission they need to grieve without having to make hundreds of funeral decisions. The time they might have spent making arrangements can be spent with family and friends, remembering a special life and beginning the healing process. 

By Tiffany Williams, Managing Executive, FineMark National Bank & Trust office at Shell Point Retirement CommunityIts common for grandparents to want to shower their grandchildren with gifts, including toys, clothing, trips, dinner outings, and even a little cash slipped in their pockets here and there. However, there can be important tax advantages in making lifetime gifts to grandchildren, such as funding for educational expenses, a first home, starting a business, or a life insurance program. The following are ideas for lifetime gifts you might want to consider for the long-term benefit of your grandchildren:Trust Gifts to Minors  an account in a minors name where a custodian has a fiduciary duty to manage the account until the minor reaches the age of majority, he/she will then have complete rights to the funds in the accountUniform Transfers to Minors Account  extension of Trust Gifts to Minors that allows items other than cash or securities to be considered giftsCollege Savings Plans  prepayment of qualified higher education expenses at eligible educational institutionsU.S. Savings Bonds  fixed rate of interest over a fixed period of time which are not subject to state or local income taxesLife Insurance  contract between the policy holder and the insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured personTax Free Payment of Tuition and Medical Expenses direct payments for someones educational or medical expenses are exempt from the federal gift tax, without regard to the annual exclusion limitationThe next time you feel like showering your grandchildren with gifts, consider making a long-term gift that will help provide financial security in the future. If you would like to discuss any of these options in greater detail, a good place to start is your trusted financial advisor or banking institution.Finemark National Bank & Trust has an office on The Island at Shell Point Retirement Community. If you have questions about this article, contact us by phone at (239) 461-5999.

Its great news if you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19! Now the question is: how can you keep yourself and others safe?Research on how the vaccine impacts the spread of COVID-19 is still ongoing; however, we have learned that there is some protection provided for fully vaccinated individuals. People are fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine; or two weeks after being administered one dose of the Johnson and Johnsons vaccine.According to the CDC, fully vaccinated residents and team members can:Resume pre-pandemic activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart except where federal, state, or local laws, rules and regulations require it.Travel within the U.S. without a test (either pre/post-travel).Travel within the U.S. without quarantining after travel.Travel outside the U.S. without a pre-travel test (subject to destination) but should get tested 3-5 days post-travel.Travel outside the U.S. without quarantining after travel.Do not need to stay away from others or get tested if you have been around someone with COVID-19 unless your workplace requires testing.Fully vaccinated residents and team members should continue to:Follow the state and local guidance.Wear a mask on all forms of public transportation.Get tested 3-5 days after arriving in the U.S. after international travel.Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms; get tested and stay away from others if you have symptoms.Discuss activities with your healthcare provider if you have a weakened immune system to protect yourself.As our communities start to open up, we will continue to follow best safety practices to keep all residents and team members safe. For current or potential residents who wish to get the vaccine and have not already, we are happy to assist with appointment scheduling and transportation.