Caregiver

Depression and Caregiver Blues Caregiving can be a lonely task. Day after day spent caring for another person can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion. With no one else to talk to, no one to appreciate the small sacrifices you make on a daily basis, it’s no wonder that depression is very common among… Continue reading Beating the Caregiver Blues

Your Caregiver Support Options Caregiving can be a lonely task. Just you and your loved one alone in the house, day after day. Aside from family, there are few others who are available to lend support, to pick up the pieces when you feel they are falling apart, and maybe no one around who truly… Continue reading Caregiver Support Groups

Your parents are aging If it’s been a while since you saw your aging parents, you may be shocked at how your mother’s health status has changed in such a short time. Did you always have to shout so loud to be heard? Or you may be stuck by the realization that your dad is… Continue reading Helping Aging Parents

Stress and taking care of someone Do you ever feel stressed, tense, and irritable for what feels like no reason? Do you get more headaches than you used to? Do you have a hard time getting to sleep? If so, you may be suffering from stress related to the difficult task of being a caregiver.   … Continue reading Caregiver Stress

Franchising vs. Going Solo The homecare industry is booming.  Why, you may ask?  Two key factors include our desire to remain in the comfort of our own homes as we age, and the aging of the population.   While the number of people age 65 and older has increased dramatically, life expectancy has doubled in the last century.  It… Continue reading Starting a Homecare Caregiver Business

By: Paula Tchirkow, MSW, LSW, ACSW Eight years ago, on New Year’s Eve, I visited a 97-year-old client at 2:00 p.m., giving me more than enough time to check in on her, and still get ready to ring in 1996. I finished that call at 3:00 a.m., in a hospital emergency room. My client’s heart… Continue reading What It Takes to Become a Successful Geriatric Care Manager 

A big concern for many seniors and their caretakers are the potential problems that may arise after the caretaker has left for the day.   Loneliness, boredom, and risk of accidents or medical problems are often feared at night.   Incontinence, navigation through a dark house, and fear of falling are all night-time issues that many seniors… Continue reading At Home Health Night Care

Many caregivers dedicate much or most of their free time to taking care of their elder family member.  In an increasingly mobile society where some family members have moved out of the general area, the remaining family member(s) have an increased burden and very little chance to go anywhere, do anything, or even have a… Continue reading Respite Care Services

Through better health and nutrition, people are living longer and able to live on their own.   But the ability to live longer and healthier lives doesn’t mean that there won’t need to be lifestyle modifications.  In American society, we have the tendency to view mobility (especially the ability to own and drive a car) with independence.   All… Continue reading Senior Transportation

By Geri Waters: As a former head of nursing for several senior care facilities and a state ombudsman over senior care facilities, I’ve had the opportunity to see senior care in the home and in institutions of all sizes with various amenities, budgets, and staff programs.  Each combination varies depending upon the administrative influence all… Continue reading Senior Care and Actively Involved Families

Denise ran into the house… “Hi Mom, gonna quick throw a load in the washer and get the dishwasher started.  Have you eaten yet?  If not I brought over a plate with some chicken and potatoes on it.  I know I am late, I’m sorry.  Only have a couple minutes until I have to pick… Continue reading Choosing Homecare for Seniors

Geriatric Care Managers provide a variety of services for seniors and caregivers.  A Geriatric Geriatric Care Manager generally provides a home assessment and then creates a senior care plan recommendation based on the interview. Of course, you are not obligated to implement any portion of the care plan, but at least you will have the necessary… Continue reading What is a Geriatric Care Manager?

Fraud is arguably the most prevalent scourge against seniors today.  That’s a pretty strong statement and there are certainly those that would argue that such a dubious honor more aptly belongs to any one of a number of various diseases or medical conditions.   All arguments aside, fraud is perpetrated at various levels on thousands of seniors a… Continue reading Fraud Against Seniors

By: Roger Braddock Age discrimination is one of the fastest-growing fields of law.  In 1999, the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) received 14,141 claims of age discrimination. By 2003, this number had grown to 19,124 though it had slipped from its all-time high in 2002 of 19,921 claims received.   While the overall number of claims has risen,… Continue reading Age Discrimination Claims – The Basics

An introduction to reciprocal wills A reciprocal will is what most married couples first think of when they start talking about creating a will. With a reciprocal will, each spouse’s Will is a “mirror image” of the other. If the combined estates of both spouses total under the federal maximum, this may be all you need.  This kind… Continue reading The “Reciprocal” Will

Understanding a Will The term “Will” is something that many people are familiar with, but seldom truly understand.  Ask the average person, and you will likely be told that the purpose of a last will and testament is to disburse property to heirs upon the death of the author.   While true, there are many other aspects to a last… Continue reading Last Will and Testament 

Financial planning for nursing homes BY: STUART R. MORRIS, ESQ., CPA, CELA, ELDER LAW ASSOCIATES, P.A. Do you plan to be in a nursing home?  Are you aware of the cost of a nursing home?  And how much money do you have saved for a nursing home, should you need to go there?  All questions that we should all answer. Older… Continue reading Medicaid and Nursing Home Planning

An introduction to durable power of attorneys A durable power of attorney (or POA) is arguably the most powerful instrument that you can create and is especially important in estate planning.  A POA is a relatively insignificant and informal document that allows another individual to legally act on your behalf.  A POA can be as powerful or long-lasting… Continue reading Durable Power of Attorney

Finding The Right Attorney Picking the right attorney is critical Making sure that you have the right professional for the job at hand is the first and one of the most important tasks that you have in getting any job done right.   When it comes to the legal profession, there’s no difference.  Finding the right attorney… Continue reading Elder Law & Legal Basics

As our loved ones age, their needs change and they may require assistance with daily activities, medical care, and other aspects of their lives. Navigating the complex world of senior care can be overwhelming, especially for family members who are unfamiliar with the available resources and services. That’s where a senior care advisor comes in.… Continue reading The Benefits of Hiring a Senior Care Advisor for Your Loved One