ElderAuthority.com

Caregiver Tax Credit

It is tax season again.  Caregiver tax credits and deductions are available those who qualify.  Eligibility is linked to the filing status of the person needing care (the dependent)  and the taxpayer’s status.
Who is a Dependent?
For IRS purposes, a dependent must

Be a relative* such as a parent, spouse, step-parent, grandparent, sibling, cousin, aunt, uncle, or in-law.
Be a citizen or resident of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
Receive more than half support… More

ASSISTED LIVING HOMES & NURSING HOMES NOT THE SAME

Family Nursing Home Visit via ElderAuthority

There is a difference between an assisted living home and a nursing home.  If you are searching for a facility that will provide some level of care for a loved one, make sure you know the difference.  It will save you money and time. Most importantly, choosing the correct type of facility for your elder’s needs can make all the difference in his or her safety, health, and happiness.
UNDERSTAND ADLs
The ability of an elder to manage… More

MOVING TO ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IS TOUGH CALL

This video clearly shows the universal dilemma of whether to move an elder to assisted living.  It is clear and even-handed.
None of us expect to move our parents or move ourselves into an assisted living facility.  We look at every option before we choose that one.   Issues that can influence choosing an assisted living facility or not include the following:

Mental capabilities of resident
Safety of resident
Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) such as  grooming,… More

ELEGANT AGING VIA SUNRISE ASSISTED LIVING

Here are two lovely interviews featuring octogenarians looking back over their lives.  Dr. Bertha Williams is 83 and Toshihito Kadama is 86.  They speak to many of the milestones and emotions of aging:

Losses
Gratitude
Fear
Accomplishments
Life Experiences
Family
Sharing Wisdom
Honesty
Being Yourself
Personal Legacy
Giving Back, and
Being at Peace

Dr. Williams loves being 83.  I understand why when I hear her speak.
They are role models of the kind of elders we all hope… More

ASSISTED LIVING BUSINESS: A CRISIS AND A GOLD RUSH?

GUARANTEED DEMAND
One of President Obama’s former senior advisors was famously quoted as saying, “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.”  While it may not yet qualify as a crisis, the tidal wave of aging baby boomers now moving into their senior years will create a huge surge in the need for assisted living.  From a business standpoint, the assisted living business is shaping up to be another California gold rush.  There will be lots of people making lots of money.
What… More

FINDING A LIFE CALLING AT SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING

Andrea is a Care Manager.  After high school, co-op placement at Sunrise Senior Living turned out to be a perfect fit.   In this video she explains how she became interested in gerontology, got work experience, made great connections, went to college, and ultimately got a job she loves.… More

NURSING HOMES: MAKING DECISIONS

There is a lot of useful, unbiased information in this video interview with Dr. Robert Weech-Maldonado, professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Health Services Administration.  He focuses on decision-making when it is time for a person to move to an assisted living facility and or a nursing home.
Editor’s Note: I disagree with “placing” a loved one in a nursing home.  It makes a human being sound like a vase or a sofa.  We need… More

ASSISTED LIVING JOBS: GHOST BLOGGER

KEEP WORKING WHILE IN ASSISTED LIVING
I am constantly on the lookout for work that can be done by older people or those who live in an assisted living facility.  Some of the characteristics of good jobs are the following:
1.  Uses skills and experience best found in older population.
2.  Stimulates the brain
3.  Does not require commuting to a job site.
4.  Can be performed with some physical disability.
5.  Flexible hours
6.  Pays enough to be worth the trouble.
7.  No healthcare… More

RESEARCH ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES WITH GOOGLE

LOOK BEYOND THE THE PRETTY SETTING
I like the attached video because it shows you step-by-step how to use Google to research assisted living facilities for citations, violations, and inspection reports while sparing you from an infomercial.  While we tend to notice food, amenities, location, and services when we check out assisted living facilities, it is equally important to check out how the facility is rated by the state.
EACH STATE HAS ITS OWN SET OF REGULATIONS
Look at… More

WHEN A CONTINUUM OF CARE CONTRACT BREAKS

This week, I was shocked to hear that the assisted living facility at Buckner Retirement Village in Dallas, TX, would be closing on December 1, 2011.  I have no relatives living there, but having shepherded both parents through assisted living, I understand how this announcement shakes the world of residents, their families, and staff.
WHY A CONTINUUM OF CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY?
An older person enters the continuum of care as the physical limitations of aging demand additional… More