Guest BloggerUnderstanding Financial Powers of Attorney – Are They a “License to Steal”?
A financial power of attorney is a valuable legal document that ensures that your financial matters will continue to be handled – should you become incapacitated and unable to do so yourself. However, placed into the wrong hands, these documents can become a license to steal. Understanding Financial Powers of Attorney – Are They a “License to Steal”? In your power of attorney, you’re called the “principal” and the person you select to have authority over your finances is called the “agent” (or “attorney-in-fact”). A general power of attorney allows your selected agent to do everything that you could do with
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Kathy MacaraegSharing Caregiving With Siblings
Does your parent suddenly need care and you and your siblings are struggling with how to manage caregiving duties? While it can be difficult to figure out a system that will work for your family, once you create a plan that includes everyone, the burden will be lighter for all involved. Define the Caregiving Tasks Let’s face it. There is always going to be one sibling who lives closer or has more free time – or makes more free time – who will take the leadership role. That doesn’t mean that person has to do everything all alone. If you
Continue readingSurvival Guide for New Caregivers
Whether you saw it coming or not, caring for an aging parent can be a challenge. Your parent may have been on a gradual decline, giving you the opportunity to plan ahead and implement care strategies a little bit at a time; or your parent may have taken a fall and broken a hip, resulting in the need for immediate care. Whatever the case, jumping into the role of caregiver can be overwhelming. What steps do you need to take to ensure your parent is properly cared for? How can you fit it into your already full life? Where can
Continue readingNormal Caregiver Emotions
Guess what? You’re not alone. Anyone who tells you they are happy every minute of every day is probably lying. Not all caregiving tasks are fun and not all moments are pleasant. Negative Caregiver Emotions You may feel guilty feeling these emotions, or not want to express them out loud, but these emotions are totally normal and it is highly likely that every caregiver has felt them at one time or another. Resentment: Whether you resent the situation (why did my spouse have to get in an accident) or you resent the cause (if my mom didn’t smoke, she wouldn’t
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Kylie JohnsonHow to choose a home care provider
1. Write down all the care services needed Start by making a complete list of all the tasks you or your loved one needs help with. Once you have this list, you can decide whether you need one provider or a few with different specialties. 2. Screen over the phone first Next, call the companies that advertise the services you need and confirm that their employees can do everything needed. Use the list of questions from Eldercare.gov to ensure your loved one will receive quality care. 3. Interview in the resident’s home If a provider meets your standards after talking
Continue readingAssisted Living vs. Nursing Home vs. Home Care
How to choose the right living situation for your aging parent You have to consider several factors (finances, health care needs and preferences) when choosing where your aging loved one should live. Although seniors have many different living options, most people choose an assisted living facility, a nursing home or in-home care. Before making any decision about where your loved one should live, talk to them. Find out what they want their daily life to look like and what would make them happiest. Their ideal situation (retiring to Hawaii, for example) might not be feasible, but having an honest conversation
Continue readingChoosing Right Doctor for Aging Parent
The Importance Of The Doctor/Patient Relationship For Your Aging Parent One of the little known challenges with aging is that your doctor is also aging. At a certain point, your doctor that you know and trust will retire. Many of my clients encountered that issue and it was extremely hard for them to find the right doctor. If you are caring for an aging parent, at some point, they’ll need to start seeing a new doctor. If they have a chronic health condition, they may have to replace many doctors. Choosing Right Doctor for Aging Parent If you are healthy, you
Continue readingCaregiving Tips to Help Aging Parents Manage their Lives
If you are a caregiver to your aging parent, you know that you need to be organized to juggle everything on your plate. However, did you know that it will be beneficial to everyone involved if your aging parent or loved one is also organized? Many people think that once they retire, they don’t need to be organized anymore. The thing is, if you have appointments and rely on people to assist you, the more organized you are, the better off everyone is. A caree’s organization system doesn’t have to be as in depth as a caregiver’s system. They just
Continue readingWhen Roles Reverse: Talking to Parents About Alcohol
In every parent-child relationship, there eventually comes a time when roles reverse. It's a natural and inevitable extension of the aging process. The mom or dad who once changed your diapers, drove you to soccer practice, and applied Band-aids to skinned knees will gradually lose their mobility and independence, requiring greater help and supervision with their own health and safety needs. For the child who in turn is tasked with caring for an aging parent, navigating this new juncture can be difficult because it means taking a more directive role in relation to a grown-up who, in addition to having
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