Barbara is 86 years old and recently widowed. Her husband of 65 years handled all of the mail, bill paying and filing. Now, she is saddled with a pile of paperwork and bills that need to be paid. She is overwhelmed and realizes she needs help. But Barbara doesn’t have any nearby family who can assist her — her closest family member lives about three hours away. Barbara knows if [...]
It can be heartbreaking when one of your clients dies and leaves a grieving spouse behind. During this sad and often tumultuous time, it’s hard for some surviving spouses to know how to move forward amidst their grief. As you know, after a spouse dies, there are many tasks that have to be tended to. Luckily, they have you as an advisor who can point them in the right direction [...]
Although the vast majority of Americans (about 90 percent over age 65) want to stay in their homes to live out their golden years, unfortunately, it’s not always that simple. As time marches on and we age, homes that were perfectly functional to us can pose obstacles later on as our abilities decline. Think about when you were young and could bound up and down the stairs. As you age, [...]
Across the globe, nearly 40 percent of older adults (aged 60 and older) live with extended family who are there to assist them when they need it. But in the United States, older people are far less likely to live this way. In fact, only about 6 percent do, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. This leaves a large proportion of older adults either living on their own [...]
Maybe you’ve seen it in your neighborhood. A once-lovely home starts to show signs of neglect over months or years. A shingle or two might be missing from the roof, the yard is overgrown with weeds, algae is covering the siding and the front lights are not working. What appears on the outside is often a reflection of the inside of the home. Maybe the under-the-cabinet kitchen sink pipes have [...]
When was the last time you thought about how caregiving would be handled once you or your loved one’s health starts declining? It is an important question to ask yourself because more and more people are needing care in America as our population ages. Yet most of the care provided in the United States right now is by unpaid family members or friends. In fact, millions of individuals provide care [...]
When thinking of our loved ones aging in place, it’s tempting to think their home will remain clean and orderly and they will happily and safely live in it. Of course, life often gets in the way and messes and disorganization can result. Papers can start piling and items might not always get put away. Sometimes clutter accumulates on couches and sometimes on the floor. Either way, an out-of-place item [...]
Mike is 85 years old and has always handled his family’s money and bills. Unfortunately, Mike recently had a stroke, is in the hospital and incapable of paying the bills. His wife, Sarah, has never handled their money so doesn’t even know where to start. *********** Maria is 90 and has lived alone for the past 15 years. She missed paying a few bills in recent months and is now [...]
When thinking of living out our golden years, some of us may have grand plans like moving to a warmer climate or to a retirement community. But the reality is most of us want to remain right where we are. The vast majority — about 90 percent — of people over age 65 want to stay in their home for as long as possible, according to research by AARP. Additionally, [...]
Whether it’s been a while since you’ve seen your parents or you are able to visit them regularly, would you know if there was a problem with them living independently? You might not. Sometimes the signs are subtle and don’t fully arise until bigger problems occur. Early Action The best time to help your loved ones stay living independently is by catching problems in the early stages when they might [...]
