My sister opened the door of our mother’s nursing home room one afternoon just in time to see the nursing assistant hit her. It was a real haymaker that snapped Mother’s head back.
“Why did you hit my mother?” my sister asked.
“I asked her to sit up and she didn’t,” the young woman replied. Our mother was....
Medicaid Resource Assessment are an important tool to understand and utilize when one spouse is in need of long term care. A portion of the Medicaid rules is designed to protect the community spouse (spouse at home) from impoverishment and unnecessary dissipation of family assets. Only the institutionalized spouse (spouse in a facility) is required to have assets of $2,000 or less and a pre-
If you’re a caregiver, you may have already read articles about the importance of preventing burnout. Usually these articles include a suggestion to join a support group. Perhaps you’re reluctant to do so because you wonder what caregiver groups are all about and whether joining one would really help you. The overall goal of caregiver support groups is to enhance participants’ coping skills through mutual support and information sharing. Objectives may include:.....
Mary Lou Campbell believes every senior in Kentucky needs to know about the Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) services available through the office of Legal Aid of the Bluegrass. “I want people to know there is help,” said Campbell, who works in the Lexington office of Legal Aid of the Bluegrass. “It is frustrating to see people paying for things that we can do for free.”Campbell said SHIP provides information, counseling and enrollment assistance at no cost to seniors and disabled individuals, ....
The Bluegrass offers a great deal for residents and passers-
Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15 and continues until Dec. 7 this year. This is when you can enroll in or change Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements or Prescription Drug Plans. Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 years or older, certain younger individuals with disabilities and people with end stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant). Original Medicare, commonly known as straight Medicare, is the traditional....
The U.S. Census Bureau reports over the past decade the number of unmarried senior partners has increased by 70 percent. Seniors cohabit for many reasons. These include love and friendship, inheritance concerns and an anti-
Women who are maintaining healthy families serve as a litmus test for the economic strength of communities. Across her lifespan, a woman’s health status matters to herself, her family and to her community. While life expectancy is higher for women than men in most countries, a number of health and social factors combine to create a lower quality of life for women.
A power of attorney (POA) is a document that allows a person or organization to manage the affairs on behalf of another individual. Most people know at least this much about POAs, but not all POAs are created equally. They all appoint an attorney-
Model railroading is a wonderful journey through life. Since retiring, it has provided me an important ingredient in adjusting to these senior years. Specifically, it has given me the opportunity to utilize the talents I’ve accumulated over a lifetime. Creating a miniature world makes scale-
In a historic building adjacent to Cheapside in downtown Lexington, a group of women are making a difference in the lives of seniors and their families. Bluegrass Elderlaw is comprised of two partner attorneys, two associate attorneys, and three support staff. Carolyn L. Kenton founded Bluegrass Elderlaw in 2011. Before creating the firm, Carolyn had practiced by herself almost 20 years in an office sharing arrangement with her husband’s former law partners.
Many people feel like a vibrant spiritual life is out of reach. They aren’t even sure they want to reach for it. We hear friends talk about trusting God, having peace with God, even hearing from God. We have relatives whose lives are shaped in positive ways by their faith. Neighbors have confidence that they will live in a better world after this one. But, at least so far, what transforms others hasn’t convinced us. “Maybe,” we whisper, “God is for other people but just not for me.
Memory disorders are frightening and frustrating not only for the person suffering from them, but also their loved ones. Fortunately, Lexington has a unique program to help patients and their families and caregivers. More than five years ago, Greg Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., east regional president for Baptist Health Medical Group, saw the need for a more specialized, holistic, multidisciplinary approach for caring for people with dementia through his work that focused on memory issues.
Patrons of Legacy Reserve at Fritz Farm can hardly wait to move into their new homes this month. Some of them signed up over a year ago. “I chose Legacy Reserve as my future home for many reasons,” said Don Bayer, a retired Chicago Public Schools principal. “I was fascinated by the fact that it is going to have a heated saltwater swimming pool. I love to swim.” “We decided we wanted to live here the rest of our lives,” said Loretta Jones, another resident looking forward to moving in.
Many people in the United States with significant savings fear going broke in retirement, according to a recent survey. However, there are ways to live frugally to try to prevent that from happening.
1. Analyze your living situation. According to research, the cost of a home and home-
No one needs to be told the younger generations are attached to their technology. It used to just be computers, but now it’s smart phones. These days, if you want to stay in contact with your grandchildren – and sometimes even your children – you’d be wise to learn a few basic methods of keeping in touch in the digital age. A study released in 2012 by Microsoft and AARP called “Connecting Generations” found teens and their parents and grandparents are communicating more because of....
If you’ve lived in Lexington longer than five minutes, you know restaurants abound here. This list features local – not chain or franchised – eateries that are stand alone and have reasonable prices and, of course, good food. They are in alphabetical order. Brontë Bistro offers a nicely varied breakfast menu. The restaurant can be found inside Joseph-
Caring for an aging relative typically involves physical, psychological, emotional and financial demands that increase over time. If you have a parent or sibling in this role, it’s important to reach out and support them. This can be done even if you don’t live close by. If you live nearby Offer to sit with the care receiver for an hour or two while the caregiver runs errands, gets their hair done or attends a social event. Make this a regular practice.
We all know we need to save money, but many of us put off saving. We need to develop a rainy day fund. Having a “rainy day fund” gives you the peace of mind of knowing you are secure and better prepared to meet unexpected expenses. Bankrate’s Financial Security Index says 20 percent of individuals do not have any money saved. Only one person in five has sufficient funds to cover three months of expenses. Everyone should commit to saving even a small amount monthly.
Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has gotten simpler in recent years. Previously, people had to take a two-
One of the many things a couple should discuss before marriage is finances. Financial issues are among the top three leading causes of divorce in the United States, according to the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (www.institutedfa.com). It is important to know your partner’s financial stance as you enter into a serious relationship and definitely before getting married. Finances can make or break a relationship. Different spending habits, different financial goals and financial secrets....
How does a reverse mortgage differ from other mortgages? Why did one financial adviser call a reverse mortgage “an option of last resort”? Although private banks sometimes make reverse mortgages (often referred to as a home equity conversion mortgage, or HECM), these days most senior citizens apply for reverse mortgages through a government program administered through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Eligibility requirements include: .....
According to the National Funeral Directors and numerous other sources, the average cost of a traditional burial is presently $7,000 to $10,000. Traditional funeral services typically include embalming and dressing the body, renting the funeral home, holding a viewing, transporting the body via a hearse to the funeral site and purchasing the casket, a cemetery plot or crypt and a headstone or tombstone. Direct burials involve a simple burial container, no viewing or visitation and no embalming, but a memorial....
We, as elder law attorneys, are often asked to explain the differences between a legitimate asset preservation plan and elder financial abuse. The key factors to look for are the intent of the elder adult and the intent of the recipient, usually an adult child or children, who are involved in transfer of assets.
Infusion therapy involves administering medications intravenously by needle or catheter rather than orally. It is used when a patient’s condition is so severe that oral medications are not effective. Injections can also be delivered into muscles or epidural routes – the membranes surrounding the spinal cord. The medications can be antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, chemotherapy, hydration, pain management and parenteral nutrition.
Grandparents have always played an essential role in bringing up children, but nowadays, more people rely on their parents to help them with their kids. The unconditional love of grandparents benefits children in many ways. A grandparent’s love and warmth creates a special bond between both generations. Most important, it gives them a feeling of comfort and security.
Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? Phooey, it stinks! Forming and maintaining bonds with grandchildren long distance can be challenging and sometimes frustrating. Luckily, technology helps bridge the gap of physical distance.
The summer months provide the perfect opportunity to spend extra time with your grandchildren. Perhaps a week at Grandma and Grandpa’s house is something the children look forward to every year, but this summer, why not go on a little adventure? Road trips can create a whole new family experience, something the children will remember forever.
When seniors live alone, other people may have concerns about their physical or emotional welfare. Particularly if the senior has health problems or don’t live close by, a son or daughter may invite him or her to move in. If you receive such an offer, ask yourself the following questions and take time to honestly and thoroughly answer each one before making a decision.
Usually, having to take full parental responsibility for your grandchildren or other children not your own comes with little warning. Grandparents often cartwheel into a world of child neglect and abuse, court proceedings and drug addiction they never knew existed. Grandparents need fast, accurate answers to their questions. In sorrow and love they take in the little refugees created by military deployment, fatal accidents, incarceration or mental illness. However, 80 percent to 90 percent of the cases
Senior or Elder bullying is becoming a problem in the aging population. You may think your loved one is safe from such things, but it is being shown that bullying is becoming a problem in Senior Social and Living Communities. Elder Bullying and Elder Abuse are similar but are not the same thing. While Elder Abuse comes from someone in a position of power over the senior, Elder Bullying can come from senior peers as well, just as the children who are bullied at school.
Have you considered starting your own grandparent blog? Maintaining a blog can improve your life and skillsets in many unexpected ways. It will help you: Add Focus To Your Life. In the practical aspect, a blog becomes another (fun) responsibility in your life that needs caretaking and nurturing, but there is also a deeper aspect to a blog. Once you start writing about your life and the perspective that shapes it, you will become more intentional about who you are and who you are becoming.
With age, the body changes. Digestion isn’t as efficient. Your sense of taste may change due to medications or you may have problems chewing. A visit to the doctor will let you know you need to eat a balanced and healthy diet, combined with adequate exercise, and take other measures to age well.
If you’ve heard of the Rotary Club but don’t know any details about it, you’re probably not the only curious person reading this article. “Rotary is the largest and oldest service organization in the world with over 35,000 clubs internationally and 1.25 million members,” said Gerry Van Der Meer, president of the Rotary Club of Lexington. Rotary started over 100 years ago when several businessmen came together and decided to do some good in the world.
Though definitions and criteria vary, numerous studies of informal caregiving in the United States generally define a caregiver as an unpaid individual – spouse, partner, family member, friend or neighbor – who assists another person on a regular basis with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks. The caregiver feeds the care receiver if necessary. He or she helps the person dress each morning and undress and prepare for bed each night. A caregiver may help the care receiver use the bathroom.
Perhaps you, like many others, enjoyed playing ping pong, paddleball, racquet ball and even tennis earlier in life. Then as the years passed, those hips, legs, knees and shoulders gave way to aging. There is still hope for anyone Living Well 60+ in the golden years who wants to keep playing racquet sports, and it’s called pickleball. Pickleball combines elements of ping pong, badminton and tennis. In this game, two, three or four players use paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated....
Provision Living prides itself on creating an inviting environment where residents can flourish in all these aspects of life. Provision Living’s vision is “to create a radiant organization where people are loved, inspired and thriving.” Its mission is to become “the best place a senior adult has ever lived.” “The one thing that differentiates us is our approach to taking care of our residents,” said Barry Brinegar, Community Relations Manager. “Provision Living is committed to having the best....
The main way most American families save for the future is through private retirement savings plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs. These plans offer the opportunity to designate a beneficiary upon the death of the account holder. These designations allow the account assets to bypass probate and pass directly to the named beneficiaries. Often, individuals make these decisions when initially setting up the account and never reconsider them.
More and more older people are returning to school these days than at any other time in history. Longer life-
A will is the legal declaration of what a person wants done with his or her possessions after his or her death. The person making the will is called the testator. Generally, though there are exceptions, the will must be in writing and must conform to the laws of the testator’s state and nation. Usually, but not necessarily, it is written by a lawyer and witnessed by a notary.
More people in their golden years are hitting the gym these days. It is important to find a gym that meets your standards and expectations – one that you like and feel comfortable going to. The experience at the gym makes or breaks membership and plays a large role in your motivation and willingness to exercise. Before you sign up for gym membership, tour the facility to see what it has to offer. A gym whose front desk staff greets you cheerfully and who enjoy their job will make you feel comfortable....
Health screenings can be lifesaving. “Any individual of any age does better taking care of themselves before they get ill, but sometimes that is unavoidable,” said Lydia Jacobs, aging program coordinator with the Bluegrass Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living. “For the most part, with annual checkups, vitamins, eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and just being aware of your body, you will do better.” What kinds of screenings should you have?
Falls a real danger for people entering their golden years. One minute Amanda was coming down the stairs in her home. The next minute, she was lying face down on the floor at the foot of the steps. She remembered the fall; she recalled scraping her nose on the rough pile of the carpet, getting a kind of a rug burn and hitting her head. She could not get up because her limbs were weak and useless. A neighbor discovered her and called 911.
Perhaps one of the most special gardens on earth is in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Keukenhof Gardens is the international independent showcase for the Dutch floricultural sector, with a special emphasis on flower bulbs. Keukenhof is considered the royal supplier of flowers. It has almost 100 exhibitors who give their very best range of floweing bulbs for display in the park. With these bulbs, the garden designer creates a special design for each exhibitor.
Are you afraid to give a gift of more than $14,000 in any one year because you will have to pay taxes? Are you confident that making the $14,000 annual gift will keep you Medicaid complaint? If you ask an adult American how much they can give away each year without paying taxes, most will automatically respond, “$14,000.” It has become almost a part of the American DNA.
When the first Grandparents as Parents (GAP) conference convened in Lexington 15 years ago, the pleasant facilities of the Fayette County Agricultural Extension office on Red Mile Place were roomy enough to accommodate the 100 or so people who attended. Times have changed. The 2017 Bluegrass Regional Grandparents and Relatives as Parents Conference has outgrown several previous venues and continues to grow.
All taxpayers dread it: the possibility of being audited. An audit is not as common a practice as you may believe. Kentucky Planning Partners found in 2015, the IRS audited 0.8 percent of all individual tax returns. The IRS defined an audit as a formal review of a tax return to ensure information is being reported according to current tax law and to verify the information itself is accurate. It does not necessarily mean you have done something wrong.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue. CFS is often accompanied by other specific symptoms that persist for at least six months, according to the Mayo Clinic. This disorder is known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), post-
While it is difficult to talk about end-
The loss of a child is one of the most devastating experiences a parent may face. You are not only losing a child; you are also losing a piece of yourself, and your future will be forever changed. Compassionate Friends is an organization that supports families that have lost a child. Its mission statement says: “When a child dies at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope and support to every family....
As parents and other loved ones age, a prime concern is finding a place for them to live. Many senior housing options are available, forming a continuum of care that seeks to make the transition to each stage easy. You could choose to help your parents age in place in their own home, hiring home care personnel to help with daily living activities such as cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, taking medications and bathing. You might make modifications to the house, such as installing easy-
Nursing homes are inserting arbitration clauses into their admission contracts with more frequency. The Federal Arbitration Act (“Act”), 9 U.S.C. § 2, often questions the enforceability of such clauses. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that counsel advising nursing homes understand the laws applicable to the validity of arbitration clauses related to admission contracts and the finer nuances.....
Whether you are new to caregiving or have been at it for a while, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and worried about your ability to handle all the responsibilities involved in looking after a person with a long-
The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation, has released its 2016 Scorecard on Local Health System Performance (LHSP). This is the foundation’s second evaluation; the first report was released in 2012. This year the scorecard measures changes in local area performance over recent years. For most localities, this is anywhere from 2011 to 2014.
Many relationships have their ups and downs. No relationship is perfect. It takes a lot of work to sustain a relationship, and having a partner with a mental illness can have a significant impact. The National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) (www.nami.org) defines mental illness as a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feelings or moods. If you are living with a mental illness and are already in a relationship, you may wonder whether you should tell your partner about your mental illness.
Ever have an idea for a new product or a solution to a problem? Most people do, but they don’t know what to do with their ideas. That’s where the Inventors Network KY comes in. The Inventors Network Kentucky is a 501c3 non-
The subject of near-
While it is difficult to talk about end-
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You can create your own game and play however it works for everyone, whether in real time or back and forth through texts. Sto-
TEENS
Too cool and “in the know” is the motto for this bunch. Brush up on Internet acronyms and emoticon meanings to impress your older grandchildren with your hipness and ability to “get it.” Again, if they have a gaming console you should get one, too, if possible. Apps teens might enjoy include Scoodle Jam, a free cooperative drawing app for ages 13 years and up. It provides 18 scene starters and a blank comic strip and allows you to create your own scene by selecting a photo. The app can also be used for homework help, planning a trip or designing a project together. Chess.com can help develop kids’ strategic thinking skills. They can ponder moves for days or play through. Word With Friends is a fun vocabulary-
Perhaps you and your grandchild(ren) can start a blog together. Take turns picking a topic and then both of you can write your take on it and post. It can provide a lot of insight into stages of life and also offer a non-
Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right? Phooey, it stinks! Forming and maintaining bonds with grandchildren long distance can be challenging and sometimes frustrating. Luckily, technology helps bridge the gap of physical distance.
If you haven’t already employed social media and other online tools for your relationships, you should. Whether it’s texts with smart phones, live video calls that allow for interaction and document or game sharing or other social media platform, try to come up with an activity or game that keeps the kid(s) participating and playing. This could be trivia or something else that suits their interests. If the grandchildren have a gaming console such as a Wii, Xbox or PlayStation, get one yourself so you can play video games together while voice chatting. You’ll be the coolest grandparent ever in their eyes.
There are so many wonderful apps and social media platforms available it would be impossible to mention them all. Here are some that can help keep your connections strong, no matter the distance.
YOUNGER GRANDCHILDREN
When it comes to younger children, interactive is the name of the game. Play games, draw and read stories together.
ANGELA S. HOOVER
Staff Writer May/Jun 2017
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BUILDING A LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN
Scoot & Doodle is a free drawing and sketching app that can be used in Google Hangouts. Drawpile is another free app that allows children to share their art masterpieces with anyone in their network. It’s interactive so the receiver can add color to a drawing or an audio recording before sending the piece back to the sender. Draw Something is a drawing game app for i-
ANGELA S. HOOVER
Angela S. Hoover is a Staff Writer for Living Well 60+ Magazine
more articles by Angela S. Hoover