The holidays can really test a budget, especially for seniors living on a limited income in retirement. Seniors want to give the best to the family, but don’t need to go overboard when making purchases this holiday season. Families can use a few smart gift-giving strategies that will help members of all ages make a budget that they can stick to:
1. Setup a gift exchange – gift grabs and secret Santa gift giving can be used in families so each member of the family doesn’t need to buy for everyone. This can be done amongst the whole family, or just for the adult family members. With these gift giving structures, are family members get a gift (typically of equal value) and no one has to feel like they can’t afford to give
2. Set a limit – sometimes gift giving can become a competition amongst family members. Setting a limit, even if giving to multiple family members, can help to keep things under control
3. Buy family gifts – instead of choosing individual gifts, get something for the family. If they have a vacation planned, contribute something you know would be appreciated; or generally buy something that whole family would enjoy!
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The vast majority of Boston seniors already have a life insurance policy. What they may not realize is that they can sell their old policy and purchase a new one at a lower premium. In addition to saving some money, seniors will also receive new benefits that could be better than those from their existing policy. The following information provides some more facts about how Boston seniors can benefit from a new policy.
1. Settlements can provide seniors with ways to take advantage of some new policies that have new benefits and lower premium prices. It can be beneficial to use money that was gained from a settlement of an old policy to purchase a new one with better benefits.
2. Buying a new policy by selling an old one can lower the annual premiums and offer a new policy that will leave more cash in the pocket of the senior.
3. Using a life insurance settlement as a way to increase wealth and income, seniors are now looking into selling their old policy to get a better one at a lower price.
4. Though this new financial tool is not commonly used, more seniors are learning of the benefits that come with life insurance settlements. Financial advisors are urging seniors to take action and sell their existing policy. Not only will a new one provide better benefits, but it can also save the senior a lot of money on premiums and also provide cash back from the sale of the old policy.
It is common for a senior to make some mistakes financially, which is why it is important for seniors to share financial information with spouses and financial advisers. While it can be difficult to ask for outside help, Boston seniors will benefit from having someone help them with financial decisions so that mistakes will not be made. Many seniors who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s will experience financial problems. The following list provides 8 tips that can help.
1. Make sure someone else has access to online banking records. This is usually a family member of a financial adviser. By doing so, bank activity can be monitored to see if mistakes are being made.
2. Have a current list of all companies that bills are paid to. This includes utilities, mortgages, insurance and loans.
3. Reduce credit limits on credit cards and make sure others have access to credit-card account records.
4. Investment accounts should be made known to family members and spouses. When another person checks these records, they should be able to see how much is in the account and whether that is the right amount.
5. Tax returns should be filed by a professional. If possible, share the return paperwork with a trusted family member.
6. Have a list of all financial relationships. This means any company or individual the senior conducts financial transactions with.
7. Have important documents in place and accessible. Wills, insurance policies, deeds and any other important document should be accessible by family members.
8. A financial checklist will help seniors with Alzheimer’s stay on track. This will help them manage what bills to pay and will also keep them up to date on all account balances.
It is a known fact that most caregivers will make many sacrifices while they are caring for an elderly family member or friend. These sacrifices often interfere with the caregivers personal life. Most caregivers will not take time for themselves because they are too busy caring for another. The following information in about one caregiver who was rewarded for her great sacrifices.
A caregiver recently was the winner of a cruise giveaway from Home instead Senior Care. The cruise sets sail on January 3, 2011 and lasts for five days. The cruise is part of the Caregiver stress Management Cruise program.
Openseas Travel is working with Celebrity Cruise Line to award various caregivers for their efforts in making ultimate sacrifices to care for another elderly adult.
Free cruses are awarded to those who enter a drawing put o by Home Instead Senior Care. Winners of the cruise will be able to receive 40 hours of free care through Home Instead senior Care franchises.
Offering a free cruise is one way to pay tribute to those who take time from their own lives to provide care and services for elderly adults in need. This is one way that Home Instead senior Care takes time to notice the efforts of all caregivers and offer them a rewarding experience and time to connect with themselves and their family again.
When a senior has dementia, they will often need some help from family members. In some cases, a caregiver may not be able to be in close proximity to the senior who needs assistance. When this is the situation, it is possible to hire a caregiver that can be there daily to help the senior. The following contains some information on how long distance caregivers can make sure the senior is being cared for and their needs are being met.
1. Make sure to be aware of what services are needed. People with dementia may need assistance doing daily tasks. When visiting the home, be sure to notice what they can do on their own. This will provide a better sense of what kind of services could help.
2. Check the food in the refrigerator to make sure there is enough and that it is not spoiled. Watch how they function in the kitchen.
3. If the home is messy, they may need help maintaining the inside and outside of the home. Laundry can also be a chore for many seniors. Those with dementia will have even more problems. If the senior needs help with laundry and other things around the home, hiring a PCA can be beneficial.
4. Create a list of support contacts. This should include individuals and resources that can help coordinate care from a distance.
5. Keep a current list with names and numbers and note what kind of services they provide.
6. Keep in touch with their doctor so you will always be updated on medical conditions.
7. Make the best of physical visits. While visiting, make necessary appointments, talk with friends and other family members about how the senior is doing and make sure to make time to reconnect with the senior.
November is declared to be the National Family Caregiver Month. While we are all preparing for the upcoming holidays, those who are caregivers will continue making sure seniors are being care for and that their health is maintained. Being in the role of a caregiver is not an easy position to hold. It requires many sacrifices. These individuals go above and beyond and their efforts should be recognized.
1. The responsibilities of a caregiver are vast, There are many things that must be done while in this role. The amount of duties will depend on the individual in need of the care, but can include bathing, dressing, transporting to appointments, maintaining safety in the home, providing emotional support and coordinating care.
2. Many caregivers will be able to do a lot of these things from home, but there will be times that additional support and help will be needed. Many caregivers will seek help from nursing homes, assisted living facilities and in-home care providers.
3. The goal of all family caregivers is to make sure the senior receives the services needed to maintain health.
4. Since the month of November is a time to honor those who make sacrifices to be a caregiver, we should all take a few moments to say thank you to those who are caring for another.
5. Thanking a caregiver can be as simple as taking them to lunch or sending a letter of appreciation to let them know their efforts do not go unnoticed.
Professional caregivers can now take advantage of a great opportunity from the Home Instead Senior Care network. This provides of non-medical home care for seniors is offering free continuing education credits to caregivers. There are various courses in which caregivers can select from, all free of cost. The following list provides additional information on this unique program.
All CEUs are compliments of Home Instead Senior Care. The meaning for offering these free courses is to keep caregivers up to date on new medical breakthroughs and research.
The courses are done through a webinar. Caregivers will have to pre-register for the courses online. They typically last one hour and at the end of the course, caregivers will receive one hour of CEU credit. If a caregiver cannot be present for a webinar, there are recorded versions that are available.
These free courses are a way to thank all caregivers for their continued efforts in providing superb care to seniors in need.
The courses are available to caregivers who are licensed in a field certain boards, including American Occupational Therapy Association, Association of Social Work Boards and National Academy of Certified Care Managers. There is an additional listing of boards available at the Home Instead Senior Care website.
Protecting the environment is a concern for people of all ages. In fact, more seniors are getting involved in environmental activities. There are many things that can be done to help save and preserve the environment. These things can be done as a group activity and make for a great outing with grandchildren. The list below contains some suggested tips and ideas to help with the environment.
Try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Make note of the nature that surrounds you.
Plant a family tree. This makes for a great family activity and will help preserve the environment.
Nature walks are great for seniors who do not have mobility issues. Many seniors will enjoy walking and collecting flowers along the way.
Environmental protection programs are available in most communities. Not only will seniors be able to take part in saving the environment, but they will also connect with other seniors which is a great way to socialize.
Conserve as much electricity as possible. Make sure to turn out lights that are not being used and use timers when away. Saving power will help the environment in many ways.
Seniors can even develop their own environmental groups based on their interests. Gardening and tree clubs are a great way to socialize and enjoy nature at the same time.
During the flu season, many seniors will be affected. This means that those with a weak immune system will be at risk of having a long battle with the flu. Noticing symptoms early on is one way for seniors to take better care of themselves. It is also a great way to determine whether the illness is a cold or the flu. Below is a list that contains some information on symptoms of both.
1. Flu symptoms will include fever, sore throat, congestion, muscle aches and cough. Colds usually include a stuffy or runny nose.
2. There are different strains of the flu and seniors need to be aware of these as well. The swine flu shares many symptoms with the regular flu but patients will also experience vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Most will not develop a fever when they have a cold. With the flu, patients will typically run a fever between 100-102.
4. The flu will cause a lot of fatigue and will last for many weeks. Seniors with a weak immune system or chronic disease could battle the flu for more than a month.
5. Headaches are not reliable indicators of the flu or a cold.
6. Seniors with lung issues need to be cautious of getting the flu because it could turn into pneumonia.
7. A sore throat can be a symptom of colds and the flu, so seniors need to make note of other symptoms they have to determine what they have.
