July is the month we celebrate independence. As we age, living life on our own terms takes on greater significance. Yet while everyone wants to be independent, the reality is, if you do not plan for it the price of independence becomes too steep for all involved. It is often adult children that are left with a HUGE mess. Consider this scenario. Mom and Dad retire and move to a [...]
When we think about safety for older adults, we often think of it in terms of the risks at home and how to eliminate falls. We focus on immediate hazard prevention such as improving lighting, adding grab bars and handrails. Removing items from high shelves and dark basements. All these things are necessary and important for successful aging in place. But safety for seniors goes beyond tangible tactics. Here [...]
What comes to mind when someone says the word “accessible” in the context of aging in place? Does it conjure up images of an institution? A sterile environment? An accessible home, when given the right foresight and consideration, can be just as “homey” as any non-accessibly transformed home. Sadly, however, either due to the fear of creating an unattractive environment or the natural tendency to ignore a decline in health [...]
Are you an adult child of parents (or a parent) who want to age in place — who don’t want to leave their home? Are you concerned because you are not sure if this is the best option for them? You’re definitely far from alone. As we’ve mentioned before, about 90 percent of Americans 65 and older wish to live out their golden years in their home for as long [...]
Katherine was a recent widow. After her husband passed away, his private caregiver, Amanda, convinced Katherine that she could continue to help her with whatever she would need. Katherine could function independently and didn’t really need assistance. But she wanted Amanda’s companionship. So Katherine continued to employ Amanda and allow her access to her credit card — feeling she could trust her since she took such good care of her [...]
No one likes clutter…but have you ever thought about the costs? As we grow older, clutter can seriously impact the lives of aging adults – financially, physically, mentally and emotionally. Americans collectively spend a whopping $2.7 billion every year simply replacing items that have been lost due to clutter or disorganization. Clutter can result in a number of financial consequences including: ● The loss of income due to the misplacement [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
