ElderAuthority.com

Every Day is Valentine’s Day for In Home Caregivers

We Are All Caregivers
Today is Valentines Day.  For most of my life it was one of my least favorite holidays because most of my significant others would either ignore it or panic under the pressure.   I felt guilty for wanting some acknowledgement of feeling.  I envied friends who received flowers, jewelry, and chocolates on Valentines Day. In my older age I have learned to recognize and show love no matter what day it is.  It is one of the best things about aging.
We Know When… More

What is Nightingale Syndrome?

Nightingale Syndrome is a non-scientific, non-medical term that is applied to a variety of situations. Nightingale Syndrome has been overly romanticized and can also be an excuse for patient abuse.
Florence Nightingale
Everyone seems to agree that Florence Nightingale is the inspiration for the term.  Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) came to prominence while serving as a nurse during the Crimean War, where she tended to wounded soldiers and revolutionized… More

Respect Stress Symptoms

Chronic Stress Takes a Toll
Last Friday, was a double whammy of good news.  The repainting and renovations for my new home (Phase 1) ended and the sale of the property to fund the extreme move from Dallas to Ann Arbor  was actually completed.  I realized that months of chronic stress, even good stress, had taken its toll when I could not even summon the energy to yell, “Wahoo!”  I just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for a week.
When the responsibilities of daily… More

NFCA’s Family Caregiver Forum

Caring for the Caregivers
One of the most devastating side affects of caregiving is the loneliness and isolation.  If you cannot get away to participate in a local support group, join a few online forums that focus on caregiving.  This kind of resource did not even exist ten years ago.  Today it is a real lifesaver.
NFCA’s Family Caregiver Forum is a place where all family caregivers can post questions, receive support and communicate with others. 4004 users are registered… More

Choosing In Home Care

Aging in Place
Eighty-three percent of Americans want to age at home. If the elder becomes frail and requires part-time or full-time support,  In Home Care is one option.
There are a number of factors that should be weighed. The functional status of the person being cared for is the most important factor.  Can care be provided in the home that will allow the elder to live with a reasonably good quality of life?  You should begin by considering the home environment, caregiver… More

Convert Life Insurance to Assurance Benefit (Long-Term Care)

What is the Assurance Benefit?
The Assurance Benefit is the exchange of a life insurance policy for a long-term care benefit plan at the time that long-term care needs to be paid.  The Assurance Benefit is a unique financial option for seniors:

No wait periods
No care limitations
No costs to apply
No requirement to be terminally ill
No premium payments.

Policy owners use their legal right to convert an in-force life insurance policy to enroll in the benefit plan and are able to… More

Medicaid 5-Year Look-Back (options), Part 3

Two previous posts covered the Medicaid Five-Year Look-Back Period as a high-level description and with the details everyone needs to know.  This post covers some of the options that may provide an alternative.
PERMITTED TRANSFERS

While most transfers are penalized with a period of Medicaid ineligibility of up to five years, certain transfers are exempt from this penalty. Even after entering a nursing home, you may transfer any asset to the following individuals without… More

ALZHEIMER’S BEHIND BARS

BOOMER PRISON POPULATION DOUBLES
In addition to swelling the ranks of every other aspect of society, more baby boomers are also going to jail.  Between 1995 and 2010, the number of those 55 or older being sent to prison doubled.
With an aging prison population and older folks doing stunts to join them, prisons are now also grappling with an issue the rest of society is also struggling with: the increasing epidemic of Alzheimer’s.
ALZHEIMER’S STATISTICS
Alzheimer’s… More

A SHIFT BACK TO HOME HEALTH CARE?

I admit to being old enough to remember when doctors actually made house calls.  Insurance, costs and culture pretty much ended that practice several decades ago.   But guess what’s coming back?
Healthcare costs in recent years have soared far beyond what most had anticipated, particularly when combined with the diminished government funding of Medicare and Medicaid.  Recognizing a shifting trend that is likely to become the future norm, some operators of nursing… More

SENIOR HOUSING OPTIONS: NURSING HOMES

If you or a family member requires 24/7 nursing care (also known as skilled nursing), moving to a nursing home is one choice, but not the only one.  The days of a parent making a child promise, “…to never put me in a nursing home” should be over.  A nursing home may be where you find the best care, quality of life, and safety.  Keep your mind open as you do your research.
NURSING HOMES
A nursing home provides constant nursing care for seniors with significant… More