Why We Decided to Use an Agency Keeping mom at home is the core of our care plan. After dad died, I struggled with how to make that happen safely and affordably. Mom needs 24/7 live in help, but I needed to keep working. (Jump to Lessons Learned) Concerned about finances, I figured hiring someone directly (private pay) would be less expensive. And it can be. What I didn’t … [Read more...]
Change to Medicare Card Helps Prevent Identity Theft
Don’t keep your Medicare card in your wallet. 36 percent of people 50 years and older are the victims of Identity Theft. This “mature market” is the single largest group for all ID Theft. (Association of Mature American Citizens 1/14) (Jump to Lessons Learned) Guest contributor Nancy Sobin has addressed this issue before in an article on … [Read more...]
Caregivers Need Access to Legal Documents as Advocates for Parents
Are personal papers REALLY in order? For the entire 61 years of my parent’s marriage, their copy of the marriage license had the wrong date on it. (Jump to Lessons Learned) Proving that my mother had the right to anything in my father’s name: Social Security spousal benefits, retirement funds, even changing the electric and gas bill into her name required not only a copy of … [Read more...]
Smart Strategies for the HIPAA Privacy Law
Will I be able to talk to my parent’s doctors? When my father asked me to accompany him into the doctor’s treatment room, I had no idea the impact that had on my ability to discuss his health and care with his doctor. (Jump to Lessons Learned) My father’s primary care doctor and heart doctor were wonderful. Each visit began with a discussion of the New York Giants – gleeful … [Read more...]
Six Things to Know About Living Wills and Healthcare Proxy
Living Will and Healthcare Durable Power of Attorney: What is the difference? I felt secure in knowing that my parents each had a living will and had named my sister-in-law, a registered nurse, as their healthcare proxy. Little did I realize that even with these two documents their end of life wishes could be at risk. (Jump to Lessons Learned) A Living Will, also known as … [Read more...]