Getting Older – What You Need to Know, The Basics About Planning Ahead

Enjoying retirement, traveling, spending time with family or exploring new activities and interests are part of growing older. But age can also bring with it anxiety and worry and some unique concerns about health and well-being and taking care of family. These concerns are usually grouped together in an area of law known as “elder law”.  The following is a thumb-nail of topics that an elder law attorney can help with.

Estate Planning

Estate planning is really caring for your loved ones, seeing that they are provided for, and making sure your property is distributed according to your wishes. This can be accomplished through a variety of techniques, including wills and/or living trusts.

Durable Power of Attorney

A person can appoint someone else to manage his financial affairs if he is unable to do so. This Durable Power of Attorney is a preferred way of providing for the proper management of one’s financial affairs in the event of incapacity.

Advance Directive for Health Care

A person can give health care instructions to his physician and name a person to make health care decisions, such as the selection of hospitals, doctors or type of medical treatment, if he is unable to make those decisions for himself. This is called an Advance Directive for Health Care. This document also allows a person to give specific instructions about life support measures.

Guardianship & Conservatorship

If a person becomes incapacitated and has done no advance planning, the only legal means by which even a family member can take care of that person is to petition the court for the appointment of a guardian and conservator. This process is an ongoing and court controlled proceeding that is time consuming and expensive. It is the least desirable way of property and personal management.

Medicaid

Medicaid eligibility rules are complex and ever changing. Strategies for long term care planning and asset protection are always in a state of flux. An elder law attorney can guide you and your family through the many challenging issues that arise as life circumstances change.

When the End Nears

Healthcare crisis management is one of the biggest reasons people seek out an elder law attorney.  But, the best time to find an elder law attorney is before a crisis. Advance planning avoids many problems, and helps achieve peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.

Article Provided by:
Kathy Belcher, McGinty & Belcher, Attorneys

Casting for Recovery – Coping & Moving Forward

Brookdale Senior Living and Casting for Recovery have teamed up together to assist women of all ages, and at all stages of treatment and recovery from breast cancer to learn new skills in coping with the diagnosis and providing help in moving forward to a healthier life.

Brookdale Senior Living, industry-leading owners and operators of senior living communities, has raised approximately $13,500 to date for Casting for Recovery, a national non-profit organization which supports women recovering from breast cancer in a program that combines instruction in fly-fishing, counseling, and medical information to build a focus on wellness instead of illness. Ten thousand dollars of this amount is a matching donation made by Consonus/VitaLife, Brookdale’s pharmaceutical partner for the Northwest region. Brookdale’s goal is to raise $100,000 in 2010 for Casting for Recovery.

In addition to fundraising events, Brookdale is working with local Casting for Recovery contacts in each region to form personal connections between residents and associates.  Local Casting for Recovery volunteers or fly fishing club members assist and connect with each community and its residents who embrace the cause, including casting sessions with associates and residents.

“We have found the relationships between residents and members of Casting for Recovery have been very beneficial to our residents,” said Sheila Garner, division vice president of operations for Brookdale Senior Living. “For both residents and associates, it helps fulfill the purposeful dimension and gives an opportunity for leading an Optimum Life.”

A way of life offered exclusively by Brookdale Senior Living at its communities for residents and associates, Optimum Life® focuses on six key dimensions – emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and purposeful.

For more information or to pledge a donation, visit one of Brookdale’s 12 communities throughout Oregon, or go to www.brookdaleliving.com or www.castingforrecovery.org.

Cooking For A Cure

It’s a fact. The lifestyle choices we make can dramatically influence our likelihood to prevent or deter the progression of cancer and other chronic diseases. Registered Dietitian Sarah Fronza says the recipe is simple. Eat plants. Manage stress. And get moving.

According to the Oregon Partnership for Cancer Control’s Breast Health Task Force, by the year 2030, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with some form of cancer over the course of their lifetime. The American Institute for Cancer Research estimates that overall, about one-third of cancers could be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, focusing on a low fat plant based diet, and exercising at least 30 minutes a day.

“We all have a choice in this,” says Fronza.

“It’s not only those with family history that should be concerned about chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes,” says Fronza. “Everyone can benefit from a healthy diet and regular exercise.” For cancer survivors, the benefits are even greater. “Cancer survivors are at increased risk for second cancers,” says Fronza. “Taking steps to reduce the odds of recurrence can greatly improve a survivor’s quality of life.”

Though the tenants to living healthfully are simple, people often need help in figuring out just how to do it. Exercise is often the easiest place to begin, since any movement at all is beneficial. Nutrition guidelines are however, sometimes more difficult to unravel.

“The field of nutrition progresses rapidly,” says Fronza. “We know a lot more about what the individual can do to reduce their disease risk just by changing their diet.” Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes have all been shown to have important nutrients and other disease-fighting substances.”

“I love the idea that people have control over their own health,” says Fronza. “I’m just a facilitator.

Article Provided by:
Sarah Fronza, Registered Dietitian at Wellspring in Woodburn
For more information visit iamwellspring.com or call (971) 983-5200.

Learning A Living

Oregon employers will benefit from the two five year grants the Department of Education awarded to Easter Seals Oregon. These awards could bring in new training and employment resources to Oregon at a time when economic conditions are stressing the capacity of employment and training funds. The project will serve persons living in the Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion and Polk Counties.

These funds will provide job seeking skills, computer training, direct placement services into permanent employment and self employment support to persons over the age of 40 with a documented disability. It also will serve as an important resource to our returning veterans who may no longer be able to work in their pre-service occupations.

The program is actively enrolling clients who desire the outlined services, and meet the program’ eligibility requirements, in addition to employers focused on diversifying their recruitment resources and staff.

Eligibility Requirements
•    40 years and older
•    A documented disability
•    A willingness to fully participate in the program
•    A commitment to becoming and remaining employed

Services
•    Job Search Skills
•    Job Leads
•    Networking Training
•    Employer Presentations
•    Job Placement Training and Development
•    Computer Classes
•    Life Skills Training

For more information:
Multnomah & Clackamas Counties, (503) 335-6161
Marion and Polk Counties, (503) 362-1572

When Is The Right Time To Move?

Most families struggle with this question. Sometimes the answer can be obvious, but it is not always that simple. Everyone wants to maintain an independent lifestyle, but if assistance is needed, it might be time to talk about alternatives.

Watch for these signs:

• Accidental falls due to loss of balance
• Memory lapses are a sign of health issues, an empty refrigerator means your parents are forgetting daily nutrition, and unopened mail indicates memory loss
• Hygiene issues like going days without bathing, piles of laundry, or wearing the same clothes for days
• Loss of interest in daily activities and a decline in socialization with friends and family

What type of community is most appropriate?  When it’s time to find senior housing for your loved one it’s easy to get confused.

Some options are:

• Independent Living provides basic services such as meals, housekeeping, activities, transportation, and social activities.
• Assisted Living is a state-licensed community that gives the basic services independent living provides, but also offers assistance with bathing, medication management, dressing, personal care, and typically have a full time registered nurse, certified med-aides, and caregivers 24 hours a day.
• Memory Care is a state-licensed residential care community that provides personal assistance for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia while maintaining a high level of independence and promoting privacy, dignity, and choice. The memory care program provides a daily structure that allows the residents to maintain their abilities and encourage the use of their remaining skills.

When determining which option is appropriate, ask yourself these questions:

• Do they need help basic activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, or walking?  If so, then it makes sense to move them to an assisted living community.
• Are they falling?  Falls can result in costly trips to the hospital and potentially put their life at risk if they’re unable to get help.  Independent living community on-site manager(s) monitors falls and are trained to assist a resident in getting up.  Independent living community’s on-site manager(s) have to call 911 if the resident cannot get up on their own.
• Are they experiencing memory loss?  This could be an early sign of health issues such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.  A memory care community has 24-hour staff who are always available for assistance and provide a safe environment for your loved one.

Article provided by Spectrum Retirement Communities, for more information call 888.516.2188 or visitwww.SpectrumRetirement.com

Talking to Your Family About Aging and Incapacity

The next time you have a family gathering, one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your family is to engage everyone in an honest and open discussion about aging and disability planning.  Many adult children and their parents think about the potential for incapacity, but the majority of them never bring up the matter with each other.

Top of the list of worries are money, financial management and health care decisions:

• YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION

  One of the biggest worries for parents and their children is money.  Parents and children each worry about whether the parents will have enough money so they can enjoy their retirement and, if necessary, pay the costs of long term care.  Maybe this is a conversation you also want to have with a financial planner to make sure you have covered all the bases.  A family discussion about this matter can take the fear and emotion out of this topic for both parents and children.

• WHO WILL HANDLE YOUR FINANCES IF YOU BECOME ILL?

  Decide who you want as your agent to handle your finances if you are incapacitated and how you want your finances managed,  When you have made these decisions, share this information with your loved ones.  And, seek out an experienced elder law attorney who can prepare a Durable Power of Attorney, a document that will specify your wishes and can be used by your agent for bill paying, managing your retirement and insurance benefits, and anything else that may be necessary.

• WHO DO YOU WANT TO HELP YOU MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS AND WHAT TYPES OF LIFE SUPPORT DO YOU WANT IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY ILL?

  Discuss these matters with your loved ones and put them in writing in an Advance Directive for Health Care. This document names the person you want  to make and communicate your wishes and addresses your choices concerning what type of medical intervention and life support you want if you are seriously ill.

Make this discussion  a family affair. Get everyone in on the conversation and on board with your wishes. By openly discussing and sharing your thoughts and concerns with your family, both you and your loved ones can learn how to face and plan for the challenges of aging together, without creating undue stress or burdens.

Article Provided by:
McGinty & Belcher
694 High Street NE, Salem, OR, 97301
Phone: 503-371-9636    Toll Free: 800-542-4320

How to Choose a Financial Advisor

How do you choose the right Financial Advisor? For starters, ask your friends, relatives and co-workers  whom they use. Then interview some of the people they recommend. What questions should you ask at such an interview? Consider these:

• What are your qualifications?
Make sure you are talking to someone who, at a minimum, has all the required licenses for selling securities.

• What type of experience do you have?
Find out how long someone has been a financial advisor, but don’t rule out a person with only a limited amount of experience — a new financial advisor frequently brings a great deal of enthusiasm to his or her work. A financial advisor’s longevity is less important than whether he or she has had experience working with someone like you — someone in your financial situation, with your goals and your investment preferences.

• What is your investment philosophy?
Try to learn if someone favors a specific style of investing or a particular class of investments. These styles or classes may be  well-suited for some investors but inappropriate for others. If you believe the person you’re talking to has a “one size fits all” mentality, you might want to look elsewhere.

• How will you communicate with me?
Financial advisors run their business in different ways, so there’s no one “right” way of communicating with clients. However, you need to feel comfortable that someone will always be available to answer your questions, review your accounts, evaluate your situation and make appropriate recommendations. If you are interviewing someone who has a partner or an assistant, find out whom you are likely to be communicating with, should you decide to become a client.

• What services do you provide?
Find out just how a prospective financial advisor can help you. For example, some people sell investments only, while others offer investments and insurance. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t need to be a “one-stop” shopper when it comes to  obtaining a wide range of services. In fact, you might want to ask a prospective financial advisor if he or she has developed working relationships with legal and tax advisors. This “team” approach can be quite beneficial to you, especially when you get into the area of estate planning.

Article provided by Edward Jones, for more information contact:

Caitlin M Kuecke
1661 Edgewater Street Nw # 140 Salem, OR  97304
(503) 375-7612

Ryan W Lawyer.
454 Lancaster DR Salem 97301
(503) 910-6951

Alzheimer’s – Recognizing The Symptoms

Every 70 seconds someone in America is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  As the 7th leading cause of death, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s is higher than ever.   With symptoms beginning at the higher risk senior citizens, 55-65, the disease symptoms and problems become worse as the patient ages.

Patients reaching these ages for Alzheimer’s complain about similar types and themes of symptoms. The patient may seem more irritable and uncomfortable in his or her surroundings. This may be a rare occasional onset, but rest assured that these are the main early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Progression of this may lead to increased confusion and override rational decision making. Still at the early stages, patients may complain about problems formulating proper words. This will also involve math problems, decision making processes for abstract situations, as well as loss of stream of consciousness and thought.
Patients who are suffering from early stages of Alzheimer’s may also have noticeable differences in their attitudes about things they once enjoyed, as well as changes in personality. This becomes more evident with the progression of the disease. Patients may seem apathetic and depressed about activities or thoughts that once made them happy and content. They may also begin to stumble during words and forget places and people that they had a vague recollection of. Again, it is important to note that at the early stages, occurrences such as these are rare and may happen infrequently. Progression to medium stages will disable the patient further, where more and more faces, places, and events will be forgotten to a greater degree.

Finally towards the end of the early stages of Alzheimer’s, symptoms may become evident in the personality of the patient suffering from the disease. The patient may be noticeably different in his personality, gaining new and weird behaviors. They may speak or act inappropriately, with this lack of judgment.

As the early stages of Alzheimer’s, it is important to make a checklist and record differences in activity and behavior. If one notices the patient in a more aloof and gloomy mood, reflective versus participatory in their activities (and over the age of 60) then it may be symptomatic of Alzheimer’s.  It is key to accept the changes in behavior and understand that paranoia, hiding, and irrational behavior are part of the suffering for both family as well as patient.

Article Provided by:
Alzheimer’s Network
503-364-8100
www.alznet.org

Aid and Attendance Pension

The Aid and Attendance pension benefit may be available to wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing-homes or assisted-living facilities.

Although this is not a new program, not everyone is aware of his or her potential eligibility. “Veterans have earned this benefit by their service to our nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. “We want to ensure that every veteran or surviving spouse who qualifies has the chance to apply.”

Many elderly veterans and surviving spouses whose incomes are above the congressionally mandated legal limit for a VA pension may still be eligible for the special monthly Aid and Attendance benefit if they have large medical expenses, including nursing home expenses, for which they do not receive reimbursement. To qualify, claimants must be incapable of self support and in need of regular personal assistance.

The basic criteria for the Aid and Attendance benefit include, but not limited to the inability to feed oneself, to dress and undress without assistance, or to take care of one’s own bodily needs. People who are bedridden or need help to adjust special prosthetic or orthopedic devices may also be eligible, as well as those who have a physical or mental injury or illness that requires regular assistance to protect them from hazards or dangers in their daily environment.

For a wartime veteran or surviving spouse to qualify for this special monthly pension, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service, one day of which was during a period of war, and be discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.

Wartime veterans who entered active duty on or after September 8, 1980, (October 16, 1981, for officers) must have completed at least 24 continuous months of military service or the period for which they were ordered to active duty.

If all requirements are met, VA determines eligibility for the Aid and Attendance benefit by adjusting for un-reimbursed medical expenses from the veteran’s or surviving spouse’s total household income. If the remaining income amount falls below the annual income threshold for the Aid and Attendance benefit, VA pays the difference between the claimant’s household income and the Aid and Attendance threshold.

The Aid and Attendance income threshold for a veteran without dependents is now $19,736 annually. The threshold increases to $23,396 if a veteran has one dependent, and by $2020 for each additional dependent. The annual Aid and Attendance threshold for a surviving spouse alone is $12,681. This threshold increases to $15,128 if there is one dependent child, and by $2020 for each additional child. Information is also available on the Internet at www.va.gov or from any local veterans service organization.

Article provided by:
COR, Care Option Resources
503-781-1695
www.CareOptionResources.com

In-Home Monitoring Technology Empowers Elderly

Most of us take self-reliance for granted, and it’s something we can’t imagine losing. Becoming dependent on others just to get through the day can have devastating emotional and physical effects. For an elderly person moving into a long-term care facility, it means a loss of self-sufficiency and leaving behind familiar surroundings and a home that holds a lifetime of memories. ResCare, a company with 30 years of experience caring for the elderly and disabled, introduced a unique service in 2006 designed to help seniors remain in their homes. Rest Assured® is a Web-based “telecare” system that offers round-the-clock, in-home monitoring and support services provided by specially trained caregivers that allows families to “check in” on their loved ones.

Peace of mind through technology
Using Rest Assured, caregivers are able to communicate face-to-face through touch screen computer monitors. Cameras are placed in the common areas of the home, along with two-way speakers and electronic sensors in bathrooms and bedrooms to support the individual while maintaining privacy. Family members can interact with their loved one, via computer, using the secure web site. The technology may seem imposing, but the hardware is virtually invisible after installation. A recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons found that older persons living alone felt comforted knowing that others were watching after them.

Individualized care
Rest Assured caregivers must have at least two years of direct care experience, 100 hours of training with the system and demonstrate a full understanding of the care protocols of each client. Staff members work with clients and their families to develop a care plan based on three monitoring programs: Family Support–Offers unlimited access, allowing individuals to be monitored by family, via computer, from anywhere in the world. “Drop-in” Support–A Rest Assured caregiver periodically checks the individual’s whereabouts, monitors medication and dietary intake, etc. Active Support–Provides for continuous, remote care if Drop-in Support is not enough.

Best care scenario
We all want our elderly family member to be safe and happy. Rest Assured makes it possible for seniors to live their lives much as they always have, secure in the knowledge that help is always there if needed.

Article provided by: Rescare Homecare
503-362-4948
www.rescarehomecare.com