Times are hard. With this economic condition, it is very important to use your money wisely. Spending less money means more savings for you. You can take advantage of all the discount privileges available to you. Many stores, hotels, theaters, restaurants, airlines and other establishments offer senior citizen discounts but do not advertise it. They don’t even give you the discount automatically, unless you ask for it. Make sure you ask, otherwise, you’ll miss out. Here are important Money-Saving tips for senior citizens. Tips that can potentially save you thousands of money annually. Shopping 1. Check the store if they have any Senior Discount Policy. This is getting popular nowadays. Some stores offer discounts on purchases made by seniors. Make sure you ask about it so you don’t miss out on any discounts. Remember, there’s no harm in asking. 2. Make a list and stick to it. Be sure to write down the things that you need before going to the grocery to avoid any unnecessary purchases. Be sure to update this list frequently. 3. Buy the store brand or the generic version. Most likely, the store brand is as good as the name brand. This will help a lot lowering your regular grocery bill. 4. Compare the price of items you buy in your local grocery with other stores in your area. You will be surprised on how much money you can save by shopping in the cheaper grocery store. 5. Do not go to the grocery when you are hungry, otherwise, you will end-up buying more than you actually need. 6. Sign-up for any free rewards program. You might not shop that much at that store, but you will accumulate points every time you do. Plus, the nice thing about this is that most likely the store would send you coupons and discounts as part of their promotions. 7. For online shopping, be sure to search the web for any online coupon codes and discounts before finalizing your order. There lots of websites out there that maintains a list of coupon and discount codes for hundreds of online stores. 8. Shop the clearance or bargain department, most online stores have this. Be sure to check if they have a free-shipping promotion (usually stores require a minimum purchase amount). Food and Entertainment 1. Prepare meals at home instead of dining out. It’s cheaper this way plus its healthier. 2. Dine-out only during special occasions. You will be surprised on the amount of money you can save. 3. Take advantage of senior discounts. Most theaters and restaurants offer discounts for Senior Citizens so be sure to ask. 4. Check the newspaper and the Internet for any restaurant coupons. Prescription Drugs 1. Always ask your doctor for the generic versions. It is much cheaper compared to brand name drugs. 2. Ask your doctor for several free samples. 3. Check the Internet for coupons. Some manufacturers provide coupons for their products. 4. Check with your pharmacy if they offer any Senior Citizen discounts or any discounts from organizations you belong to, like AARP. 5. Pill-splitting. Most of the time prescription drugs cost almost the same regardless of the dosage. As your doctor if he can give you a prescription for twice the amount of dose you need so you can split it in half before taking it. Be very cautious when doing this. Make sure to ask your doctor and pharmacist for advice before doing this. They should be able to tell you whether or not you can cut each pill in half before taking it. Vacation and Travel 1. Always check the Internet for the lowest plane fares. Sometimes, the Senior Citizen discount that airlines offer may not be the best deal. 2. Some hotels offer Senior Citizen discounts. It would be best to call and check with the hotel if they offer this kind of discount before making your reservation. It will also be wise to check the Internet for any on-going promotions for comparison purposes. 3. Take advantage of Senior Citizen discounts for car rentals and public transportation. Banks and Credit Cards 1. Call your bank and ask them for the best program that will suit your banking needs. Most of the banks now have no fees if you maintain a certain amount. 2. Call your credit card company and ask for an interest rate reduction. Most of the time, they will give you a lower rate. 3. Negotiate with your credit card company about waiving or lowering your annual fee. Most of the time, they would accommodate you, but if not, at least you tried. 4. Pay your bills online. It’s completely free and convenient. Plus it will save you money from postage. Home 1. Consider using fluorescent bulbs as this will save you up to 50% in lighting bills. 2. Be sure to turn-off the lights and other appliances when not in use to save money on electricity. 3. Replace your old appliances with energy efficient appliances. Look for the “Energy Star” label as you may be eligible to receive rebates, credits or sales tax exemptions just by buying qualified energy efficient appliances. 4. Have a yard sale to get rid of things you don’t need. As the popular saying goes: “Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Rule of thumb: Anything you haven’t used or worn for a year or so need to be given away. 5. Wash your hands thoroughly. Keeping your hands clean will prevent you from acquiring all kinds of bacteria and viruses. This will help save a lot on medical bills. |
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Money Saving Tips for Seniors and Others
The latest on drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease
There are currently five drugs approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: tacrine (not used because of toxicity to the liver), donepezil (Aricept), Rivastigmine (Exelon), galantamine (Razadyne), and memantine (Namenda). The first three are called cholinesterase inhibitors and have been around since the mid-1990s. All three medications are effective for mild to severe Alzheimer’s disease. There does not appear to be a difference in efficacy among the three medications. All of these treatments produce statistically significant effects but the effects are usually small. There are many clinical trials attempting to find more effective treatments. The trials are mostly developed around four strategies: reduce amyloids (reduce plaques), modify tau (reduce tangles), treat with antioxidants, improve ion regulation, reduce inflammation, and improve cholesterol regulation. Treatments to reverse or lessen the amount of amyloids (anti-amyloid aggregation) have been the main stay of clinical trials to date. The best known of these drugs is Alzmed. Unfortunately, trials have been a failure so far. For example, last year, the Lilly drug, semagacestat, terminated clinical trials because: (1) the medication did not slow the disease as expected, (2) the medication made cognition worse, and (3) the medication made treated patients less able to care for their personal needs. The other anti-amyloid strategy has been to develop vaccinations. These medications have also failed to live up to their promise and the original vaccine produced unacceptable side effects. The conclusion from this line of research is that removing plaques is not enough. The other, less researched approach is to halt or stop tangles from forming. The best known of these medications is methylene blue. Methylene blue improved cognitive scores but there were problems with the placebo group as the medication turns urine blue making blinding difficult. If your urine turns blue you know you are not taking a placebo. Attacking tangle formation is a direction for further exploration. Other strategies have also had discouraging results so far. Attempts to reduce oxidative damage have focused on lowering homocysteine with high doses of folate and B vitamins. A completed trial showed no benefits on cognition. The same findings are true for trials with vitamin E, ginkgo balboa and omega 3 fatty acids. Trials of anti-inflammatory drugs have also failed and these medications produce unacceptable side effects. Available trials of chelation therapies have not produced lasting benefits. Finally, a study of the effects of Lipitor (a statin or cholesterol lowering drug) also proved to be ineffective. Despite extensive efforts to develop treatments that modify the assumed pathology or pathologies underlying Alzheimer’s disease, most have proved unsuccessful to date (modifying the development of tangles is the exception). The clearest conclusion is that removing plaques does not appear to help and may do harm. This should question the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease. There are still many ongoing clinical trials but early identification and intervention is still the best way to protect your future. From an article by Dr. Bill Beckwith Ph.D. Dr. Beckwith is a neuropsychologist, speaker, and author of Managing Your Memory: Practical Solutions for Forgetting. |
Holiday Season Swindles - How to Avoid Them
The winter holiday season is prime time for scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting, overspent shoppers. Protect yourself from becoming a victim by being informed on how these frauds typically work.
Like most new scams, seasonal scams usually share components with their old counterparts, but often employ a simple new twist. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be on the lookout for the following three holiday schemes this year:
1) Holiday E-Card Scams
Electronic cards are a great, inexpensive way to stay connected to friends and family during the holiday season. The downfall of e-cards is that they require the receiver to either click on a link or install software in order to view the card. Criminals sending fraudulent e-cards to unsuspecting users often embed viruses, spyware, malware and trojans in these links and software.
How can you protect yourself? Common signs that you have received a problematic e-card in your inbox include receiving it from an unknown sender or generic sender (such as a “friend” or “relative”), spelling mistakes in the email or those with an attachment. To protect yourself, make sure you never open an email, click on a link, or download software from an unknown source. Never open an e-card that comes with an attachment and be sure you regularly install and update antivirus and spyware software.
2) Counterfeit Electronics
Purchasing discounted electronics online or via classified ads may seem like a great way to get a costly product at a reduced rate, but be warned that the promise of low-cost electronics often comes with the price of being ripped off. Cell phones, computers and gaming devices are only a few of the counterfeit electronic gadgets being produced and sold.
Counterfeit electronics may be less expensive and work relatively well, but they are often made with faulty parts, substandard circuitry and may pose a safety hazard. How can you protect yourself? The simplest way to avoid purchasing counterfeit electronics (while saving some money) is to look for seasonal sales at reputable electronic stores.
To find a trustworthy brick and mortar or online electronics dealer visit vi.bbb.org and search by “type of business.” When you purchase a product, make sure you understand the refund or exchange policy and get a receipt. To determine if an electronic device is legitimate or counterfeit, check the product, packaging and instruction manual to make sure it is CSA international certified, contains all its listed components (i.e. cables, batteries etc.) and that it hasn’t been damaged or tampered with.
3) Fake Charities
Holidays are the best time of year for charities to fundraise, and a great time of year for con artists to pull on the heartstrings of unsuspecting victims by pretending to represent a charity. Many fake charities mimic legitimate charities in their name, cause and services. How can you protect yourself?
Protect yourself by planning who you will donate money to this holiday season. If you decide to donate impulsively, write a cheque to the organization, not the person fundraising. Ask for a receipt with the name and contact information of the charity. Never give out personal or banking information and don’t fall victim to high-pressure fundraising tactics. If possible, research the charity before you make a donation.
For information on protecting yourself throughout the year, visit www.bbb.org/canada/ (Canada).
Article by Better Business Bureau, Reprinted with permission from Senior Living Magazine.
Like most new scams, seasonal scams usually share components with their old counterparts, but often employ a simple new twist. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be on the lookout for the following three holiday schemes this year:
1) Holiday E-Card Scams
Electronic cards are a great, inexpensive way to stay connected to friends and family during the holiday season. The downfall of e-cards is that they require the receiver to either click on a link or install software in order to view the card. Criminals sending fraudulent e-cards to unsuspecting users often embed viruses, spyware, malware and trojans in these links and software.
How can you protect yourself? Common signs that you have received a problematic e-card in your inbox include receiving it from an unknown sender or generic sender (such as a “friend” or “relative”), spelling mistakes in the email or those with an attachment. To protect yourself, make sure you never open an email, click on a link, or download software from an unknown source. Never open an e-card that comes with an attachment and be sure you regularly install and update antivirus and spyware software.
2) Counterfeit Electronics
Purchasing discounted electronics online or via classified ads may seem like a great way to get a costly product at a reduced rate, but be warned that the promise of low-cost electronics often comes with the price of being ripped off. Cell phones, computers and gaming devices are only a few of the counterfeit electronic gadgets being produced and sold.
Counterfeit electronics may be less expensive and work relatively well, but they are often made with faulty parts, substandard circuitry and may pose a safety hazard. How can you protect yourself? The simplest way to avoid purchasing counterfeit electronics (while saving some money) is to look for seasonal sales at reputable electronic stores.
To find a trustworthy brick and mortar or online electronics dealer visit vi.bbb.org and search by “type of business.” When you purchase a product, make sure you understand the refund or exchange policy and get a receipt. To determine if an electronic device is legitimate or counterfeit, check the product, packaging and instruction manual to make sure it is CSA international certified, contains all its listed components (i.e. cables, batteries etc.) and that it hasn’t been damaged or tampered with.
3) Fake Charities
Holidays are the best time of year for charities to fundraise, and a great time of year for con artists to pull on the heartstrings of unsuspecting victims by pretending to represent a charity. Many fake charities mimic legitimate charities in their name, cause and services. How can you protect yourself?
Protect yourself by planning who you will donate money to this holiday season. If you decide to donate impulsively, write a cheque to the organization, not the person fundraising. Ask for a receipt with the name and contact information of the charity. Never give out personal or banking information and don’t fall victim to high-pressure fundraising tactics. If possible, research the charity before you make a donation.
For information on protecting yourself throughout the year, visit www.bbb.org/canada/ (Canada).
Article by Better Business Bureau, Reprinted with permission from Senior Living Magazine.
Is Delirium Reversible?
I would like to highlight Delirium because it is an illness of particularly high occurrence in the senior population.
As a body ages, its ability to maintain ‘equilibrium’ when under physical or psychological stress can become compromised. Even minor changes that once were easily tolerated, (taking a medication for pain for example, or minor dehydration) may no longer be.
A toxicity or an infection develops in the body that may rapidly result a medical emergency. Delirium is so serious because of its rapid onset. Within hours, a senior who is living independently at home with no evidence of illness can become debilitated and disoriented in the extreme. A person experiencing a Delirium may even appear as if they have dementia to those who do not know them.
Major signs of a delirium are the fluctuations of alertness and orientation throughout the day. In one encounter with the person they may seem coherent and then in the next they may not know where they are or what year it is.
They may be awake all night restless and agitated and sleeping during the day (Day/Night reversal) and may experience visual or auditory hallucinations. The most common reasons a person may succumb to delirium are related to ‘Drugs’ or ‘Bugs’.
‘Drugs’: The addition of one or more new medications or a regularly used medication that accumulates in the body to a high level.
‘Bugs’: infections in the body - frequently these are urinary tract infections or pneumonia.
Treatment for Delirium
Delirium is a Medical emergency that is often under recognized and under treated. If left untreated, Delirium can lead to death. It is an acute illness that creates tremendous vulnerability in seniors if there is no family member or friend to advocate and explain that the behaviour exhibited is not ‘normal’ for them.
The great news, however, is that it responds to treatment often restoring the person to health quickly if treated promptly. To treat a Delirium, the underlying cause (the reason for the delirium) needs to be treated. Diagnosing and treating an infection or stopping any offending medications causing toxicity and rehydrating the body can put the person back on the road to recovery.
My advice to a senior in terms of prevention: Care for your body by remaining hydrated (drink at least one litre of non-caffeinated fluid each day) so that dangerous levels of your medications do not build up in your system and you do not put yourself at risk for infections.
This article has been provided by Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA. Laurie is a registered nurse who has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry since 1993.
As a body ages, its ability to maintain ‘equilibrium’ when under physical or psychological stress can become compromised. Even minor changes that once were easily tolerated, (taking a medication for pain for example, or minor dehydration) may no longer be.
A toxicity or an infection develops in the body that may rapidly result a medical emergency. Delirium is so serious because of its rapid onset. Within hours, a senior who is living independently at home with no evidence of illness can become debilitated and disoriented in the extreme. A person experiencing a Delirium may even appear as if they have dementia to those who do not know them.
Major signs of a delirium are the fluctuations of alertness and orientation throughout the day. In one encounter with the person they may seem coherent and then in the next they may not know where they are or what year it is.
They may be awake all night restless and agitated and sleeping during the day (Day/Night reversal) and may experience visual or auditory hallucinations. The most common reasons a person may succumb to delirium are related to ‘Drugs’ or ‘Bugs’.
‘Drugs’: The addition of one or more new medications or a regularly used medication that accumulates in the body to a high level.
‘Bugs’: infections in the body - frequently these are urinary tract infections or pneumonia.
Treatment for Delirium
Delirium is a Medical emergency that is often under recognized and under treated. If left untreated, Delirium can lead to death. It is an acute illness that creates tremendous vulnerability in seniors if there is no family member or friend to advocate and explain that the behaviour exhibited is not ‘normal’ for them.
The great news, however, is that it responds to treatment often restoring the person to health quickly if treated promptly. To treat a Delirium, the underlying cause (the reason for the delirium) needs to be treated. Diagnosing and treating an infection or stopping any offending medications causing toxicity and rehydrating the body can put the person back on the road to recovery.
My advice to a senior in terms of prevention: Care for your body by remaining hydrated (drink at least one litre of non-caffeinated fluid each day) so that dangerous levels of your medications do not build up in your system and you do not put yourself at risk for infections.
This article has been provided by Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA. Laurie is a registered nurse who has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry since 1993.
Can Depression Mimic Dementia?
There are a number of conditions other than dementia that also interfere with normal brain function. I would like to explore depression as it is experienced by seniors because a major depression can significantly affect thinking and mental processing to the extent that it can mimic dementia in many ways.
Fatigue, sadness and withdrawal used to be considered normal responses of seniors to aging. The common misperception was that as people aged they often ‘naturally became disconnected’ from the world. It is now recognized that depression is not a normal part of the aging process, and withdrawal is instead a symptom of serious depression.
Depression comes on gradually over a few weeks to months and if left undiagnosed and untreated a person can silently battle this debilitating illness for years.
Here are some of the most common experiences that seniors with depression may have:
Poor quality of sleep, often waking early in the morning (3:00- 4:00 am)
Feeling of exhaustion and desire to sleep all the time
Decreased appetite and weight loss
Tearfulness, worry or feelings of guilt over life events
Memory loss, poor concentration, impaired thinking·
Experience of pain may be heightened
Apathy
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
The stigma of the past may have been a barrier to reporting these changes but it should no longer be. There are good reasons for seeing a Doctor if you or a loved one are experiencing changes in mood, because the sooner these changes are evaluated, the earlier treatment can begin.
There are many excellent and effective treatment options that can be considered if depression is diagnosed. An improvement in mood permissions improvements in life quality … each day!
This article has been provided by Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA. Laurie is a registered nurse who has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry since 1993.
Fatigue, sadness and withdrawal used to be considered normal responses of seniors to aging. The common misperception was that as people aged they often ‘naturally became disconnected’ from the world. It is now recognized that depression is not a normal part of the aging process, and withdrawal is instead a symptom of serious depression.
Depression comes on gradually over a few weeks to months and if left undiagnosed and untreated a person can silently battle this debilitating illness for years.
Here are some of the most common experiences that seniors with depression may have:
Poor quality of sleep, often waking early in the morning (3:00- 4:00 am)
Feeling of exhaustion and desire to sleep all the time
Decreased appetite and weight loss
Tearfulness, worry or feelings of guilt over life events
Memory loss, poor concentration, impaired thinking·
Experience of pain may be heightened
Apathy
Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
The stigma of the past may have been a barrier to reporting these changes but it should no longer be. There are good reasons for seeing a Doctor if you or a loved one are experiencing changes in mood, because the sooner these changes are evaluated, the earlier treatment can begin.
There are many excellent and effective treatment options that can be considered if depression is diagnosed. An improvement in mood permissions improvements in life quality … each day!
This article has been provided by Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA. Laurie is a registered nurse who has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry since 1993.
Taking Time to Grieve
To remember and be remembered are natural human needs. Every senior has the opportunity to plan the final footprint she or he leaves on this earth. A way to ensure those wishes are known and respected, a senior can pre-arrange their funeral.
Recently, a friend died from brain cancer. Prior to his death, he was faced with the reality of finalizing his funeral arrangements, including picking out a casket for himself. By making these decisions, he gave a gift to our family.
Many of his wishes we were all in agreement with, but after he no longer had the mental capacity to give us guidance, our family started to disagree on some final decisions. This was mainly due to the clashing of ideas and perceptions from two generations.
It was causing major family conflicts. However, we always referred to his decisions. A lot of the disagreements were also due to the emotions surfacing and the individual ways that each of them grieved.
More than ever before, people are making plans for every stage of life, including their funeral. Seniors can give their families an immense gift by pre-arranging their own funerals.It spares the family from anxiety, expense and inconvenience at the time of a senior’s death. If seniors don’t pre-arrange their funerals, then loved ones are left asking what the senior would have wanted. It ensures that decisions that must be made are done so by seniors for themselves at a time when emotions of grief are not involved.
Funerals don’t have to be elaborate. It has been proven that when seniors pre-arrange their own funerals, they spend less on it than if a family member arranges a funeral after their death. Pre-planning helps prevent emotional overspending.
If funeral arrangements have not been made ahead of time by a senior, then his or her family is left with the added task or organizing it, and with that responsibility comes the related haste, indecision and stress. When a person dies, the family needs time to come together to mourn and heal. And as with a will, the funeral plan should be reviewed on a regular basis and updated when necessary.
It is amazing the amount of information that is required at the time of one’s death. A pre-arranged funeral planning guide can help seniors walk through the required information paperwork. It does not need to be completed at the time that the funeral is pre-arranged. However, it should be done while a senior still has the capacity to provide accurate information.
Sometimes, it is easier for a senior to write this information down on paper, rather than talk about it with a family member. After the planning guide is complete, it should be reviewed with the executor of the will, so your personal wishes are clearly understood. At the time of death, the completed planning guide is provided to the funeral director so that the funeral is carried out in accordance with a senior’s expressed wishes.Article by, Sharen Marteny, CPCA
Recently, a friend died from brain cancer. Prior to his death, he was faced with the reality of finalizing his funeral arrangements, including picking out a casket for himself. By making these decisions, he gave a gift to our family.
Many of his wishes we were all in agreement with, but after he no longer had the mental capacity to give us guidance, our family started to disagree on some final decisions. This was mainly due to the clashing of ideas and perceptions from two generations.
It was causing major family conflicts. However, we always referred to his decisions. A lot of the disagreements were also due to the emotions surfacing and the individual ways that each of them grieved.
More than ever before, people are making plans for every stage of life, including their funeral. Seniors can give their families an immense gift by pre-arranging their own funerals.It spares the family from anxiety, expense and inconvenience at the time of a senior’s death. If seniors don’t pre-arrange their funerals, then loved ones are left asking what the senior would have wanted. It ensures that decisions that must be made are done so by seniors for themselves at a time when emotions of grief are not involved.
Funerals don’t have to be elaborate. It has been proven that when seniors pre-arrange their own funerals, they spend less on it than if a family member arranges a funeral after their death. Pre-planning helps prevent emotional overspending.
If funeral arrangements have not been made ahead of time by a senior, then his or her family is left with the added task or organizing it, and with that responsibility comes the related haste, indecision and stress. When a person dies, the family needs time to come together to mourn and heal. And as with a will, the funeral plan should be reviewed on a regular basis and updated when necessary.
It is amazing the amount of information that is required at the time of one’s death. A pre-arranged funeral planning guide can help seniors walk through the required information paperwork. It does not need to be completed at the time that the funeral is pre-arranged. However, it should be done while a senior still has the capacity to provide accurate information.
Sometimes, it is easier for a senior to write this information down on paper, rather than talk about it with a family member. After the planning guide is complete, it should be reviewed with the executor of the will, so your personal wishes are clearly understood. At the time of death, the completed planning guide is provided to the funeral director so that the funeral is carried out in accordance with a senior’s expressed wishes.Article by, Sharen Marteny, CPCA
Long-Term Care Insurance Policies are Worth Looking Into
Since I am involved with seniors and the health care system, I am concerned about getting long-term care insurance for them.
I am sure that the responsibility for paying for a seniors’ care will increasingly fall to the seniors and their families. Even now many families do not have the financial resources to assist with the care of their elderly parents.
Future seniors should not plan to rely on their families to contribute to the cost of their care. The future seniors to whom I am referring are people who are currently 65 years of age and younger, although it is not too late for the current seniors to get long-term care insurance.
As with most types of insurance, the premium price increases as the person gets older. Also, the likelihood of qualifying for the insurance decreases as health conditions increase with age.
We are living longer and need to be able to deal with the financial burden for medical treatment, health care and quality of life. There is a real chance that we might need to enter a long term care facility or receive special medical attention, especially towards the end of our lives.
Depending on the level of care you may want or need, the cost may not be paid by your government health plan. Many families are now realizing the amount of care that an elderly parent requires.
As we age we should be prepared to have the resources to pay for our care whether it is in our home or in a long term care facility. There will also likely be fewer people available to care for us, so that may be another cost to get skilled people to care for us.
Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of the services and support necessary to maintain the day-to-day care should a chronic illness or cognitive impairment keep you from being able to perform the activities of daily living.
Some examples of the activities of daily living are dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring, continence and bathing. Or we may need continual supervision because of deteriorated mental ability. Homemaking services are meal preparation, cleaning and laundry.
Even if you do have family available to assist, many seniors do not want their children to help them with toileting or bathing. Care may be provided in the home, the community or in a facility that provides long term care.
A long term care facility has services performed by or under the continual supervision of a physician or registered nurse in the facility 24 hours a day. The long-term care facility must be the insured person’s primary place of residence while they remain physically dependent.
Various insurance companies offer long-term Care insurance, each with its own options. Now is the time to research long-term care insurance. Younger people should also consider this insurance as they would more likely qualify and their premiums would be lower.
Article by, Sharen Marteny, CPCA
I am sure that the responsibility for paying for a seniors’ care will increasingly fall to the seniors and their families. Even now many families do not have the financial resources to assist with the care of their elderly parents.
Future seniors should not plan to rely on their families to contribute to the cost of their care. The future seniors to whom I am referring are people who are currently 65 years of age and younger, although it is not too late for the current seniors to get long-term care insurance.
As with most types of insurance, the premium price increases as the person gets older. Also, the likelihood of qualifying for the insurance decreases as health conditions increase with age.
We are living longer and need to be able to deal with the financial burden for medical treatment, health care and quality of life. There is a real chance that we might need to enter a long term care facility or receive special medical attention, especially towards the end of our lives.
Depending on the level of care you may want or need, the cost may not be paid by your government health plan. Many families are now realizing the amount of care that an elderly parent requires.
As we age we should be prepared to have the resources to pay for our care whether it is in our home or in a long term care facility. There will also likely be fewer people available to care for us, so that may be another cost to get skilled people to care for us.
Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of the services and support necessary to maintain the day-to-day care should a chronic illness or cognitive impairment keep you from being able to perform the activities of daily living.
Some examples of the activities of daily living are dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring, continence and bathing. Or we may need continual supervision because of deteriorated mental ability. Homemaking services are meal preparation, cleaning and laundry.
Even if you do have family available to assist, many seniors do not want their children to help them with toileting or bathing. Care may be provided in the home, the community or in a facility that provides long term care.
A long term care facility has services performed by or under the continual supervision of a physician or registered nurse in the facility 24 hours a day. The long-term care facility must be the insured person’s primary place of residence while they remain physically dependent.
Various insurance companies offer long-term Care insurance, each with its own options. Now is the time to research long-term care insurance. Younger people should also consider this insurance as they would more likely qualify and their premiums would be lower.
Article by, Sharen Marteny, CPCA
How Do I Know if I (or someone I love) Has Dementia...and What Should I Do?
Q. How do I know if I (or someone I love) has Dementia … and what should I do?
A. If this article is of interest to you, I can imagine it is a worrisome question to be considering. For starters, don’t assume the worst because most memory changes associated with ageing are not due to dementia.
There are a number of conditions other than dementia that also interfere with normal brain function. For example, depression, medication toxicity and infections in the body sometimes affect us like dementia if left unrecognized and untreated.
Dementia is an ‘umbrella-term’ that describes a failure of the brain to function normally interfering with daily living. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. Memory loss, changes in mood and personality are commonly experienced and reported.
Here are some of the most common problems that people with early signs of dementia can experience:
It is important to know that dementia is not a ‘normal’ part of aging. If you or a loved one is noticing changes in brain function for any reason, there are good reasons for seeing a Doctor because the sooner these changes are evaluated, the earlier treatment can begin. If dementia is diagnosed, it has been found that early treatment does assist in slowing down the progression of the disease. There can be a temptation to hide these changes as for fear of becoming stigmatized or of losing independence too quickly, but as more is learned and shared by people living with dementia, we learn that it is very possible to live vibrant healthy and fulfilling lives with this disease, while also getting the support we require.
The Alzheimer Society is an excellent place to go for great information and to find a place of support on the dementia journey.
This article has been provided by Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA. Laurie is a registered nurse who has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry since 1993.
A. If this article is of interest to you, I can imagine it is a worrisome question to be considering. For starters, don’t assume the worst because most memory changes associated with ageing are not due to dementia.
There are a number of conditions other than dementia that also interfere with normal brain function. For example, depression, medication toxicity and infections in the body sometimes affect us like dementia if left unrecognized and untreated.
Dementia is an ‘umbrella-term’ that describes a failure of the brain to function normally interfering with daily living. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. Memory loss, changes in mood and personality are commonly experienced and reported.
Here are some of the most common problems that people with early signs of dementia can experience:
- Difficulty recalling most newly-learned information, especially recent events or simple directions
- Difficulty completing common tasks
- Difficulty with language such as speaking and using unusual substitute words in place of those that cannot be remembered
- Difficulty with activities that require planning, decision making, and judgment
- Difficulty performing complex mental tasks such as telling time from an analog clock
- Constantly misplacing things or putting items away in strange places
- Displaying changes in personality or mood
- Overall loss of initiative
It is important to know that dementia is not a ‘normal’ part of aging. If you or a loved one is noticing changes in brain function for any reason, there are good reasons for seeing a Doctor because the sooner these changes are evaluated, the earlier treatment can begin. If dementia is diagnosed, it has been found that early treatment does assist in slowing down the progression of the disease. There can be a temptation to hide these changes as for fear of becoming stigmatized or of losing independence too quickly, but as more is learned and shared by people living with dementia, we learn that it is very possible to live vibrant healthy and fulfilling lives with this disease, while also getting the support we require.
The Alzheimer Society is an excellent place to go for great information and to find a place of support on the dementia journey.
This article has been provided by Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA. Laurie is a registered nurse who has worked in the field of geriatric psychiatry since 1993.
Balancing Family Caregiving and Work
Approximately 70 per cent of the one million family caregivers in B.C. are balancing the demands of caregiving and working full or part-time. This can result in caregivers quitting their jobs, retiring early, cutting back on hours, turning down promotions and losing pension contributions. Employers experience higher absenteeism rates, more lateness and lower productivity. Here are some ideas that might help those juggling the demands of work and caregiving:
Talk to your employer, manager or human resource personnel about your situation and needs in regards to your family member.
Flexibility is essential for many caregivers to permit them to respond to emergencies or during periods of intense caregiving demands. Explore the options that are available in your workplace, such as flextime, a compressed workweek, reduced hours of work, job sharing, leave of absence, gradual retirement or working from home. Even if these options have not been used by anyone before, your employer may still be open to considering them now.
On the other hand, you may prefer to have a set work schedule so that you can plan for appointments and arrange for home support or respite.
There are likely other family caregivers in your workplace who are also facing challenges. Consider developing your own support group at work. Meet during the lunch hour to share your challenges and successes. Or you might want to set up something online where you can share resources, tips and questions with each other.
Compassionate Care Benefits are available through Employment Insurance for employed family members caring for a gravely ill relative at risk of dying within 26 weeks. These benefits consist of six weeks total compensation per terminally ill family member plus two weeks of unpaid waiting period. For more information, visit the Human Resources and Social Development Canada website at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/
Some employee benefits, such as extended health benefits and employee and family assistance programs, may extend to dependents and can help with family caregiving responsibilities. The workplace benefits available to you as a family caregiver may not be obvious or well known even to your manager. You may need to do some research, along with your manager or human resource department about what benefits and options are available and how they apply to your situation.
Article By, Family Caregivers Network Society
Reprinted with permission from Senior Living Magazine
Talk to your employer, manager or human resource personnel about your situation and needs in regards to your family member.
Flexibility is essential for many caregivers to permit them to respond to emergencies or during periods of intense caregiving demands. Explore the options that are available in your workplace, such as flextime, a compressed workweek, reduced hours of work, job sharing, leave of absence, gradual retirement or working from home. Even if these options have not been used by anyone before, your employer may still be open to considering them now.
On the other hand, you may prefer to have a set work schedule so that you can plan for appointments and arrange for home support or respite.
There are likely other family caregivers in your workplace who are also facing challenges. Consider developing your own support group at work. Meet during the lunch hour to share your challenges and successes. Or you might want to set up something online where you can share resources, tips and questions with each other.
Compassionate Care Benefits are available through Employment Insurance for employed family members caring for a gravely ill relative at risk of dying within 26 weeks. These benefits consist of six weeks total compensation per terminally ill family member plus two weeks of unpaid waiting period. For more information, visit the Human Resources and Social Development Canada website at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/
Some employee benefits, such as extended health benefits and employee and family assistance programs, may extend to dependents and can help with family caregiving responsibilities. The workplace benefits available to you as a family caregiver may not be obvious or well known even to your manager. You may need to do some research, along with your manager or human resource department about what benefits and options are available and how they apply to your situation.
Article By, Family Caregivers Network Society
Reprinted with permission from Senior Living Magazine
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