If you are on oxygen therapy, have you notified your power company? Often when the power goes out due to a storm it’s a minor inconvenience. For most of us, all we need is a few candles to see and board game or a book to pass the time. But when you’re caring for aging parents, a power outage can have serious consequences, especially if the situation escalates past a few … [Read more...]
What Is Your Caregiver Contract?
And I don’t mean the contract you sign with an agency. I believe that each relationship is built on a contract: Spouses, Significant Others, Parent/Child, even Friends. Informal and often unspoken, each contract defines interactions and expectations for the relationship. At the most basic level it defines what you are willing or not willing to do for one another. Imagine … [Read more...]
Stop Paying Those Medical Bills – Until You Are Sure Insurance Paid It’s Share
Every Statement Is Not A Bill. Imagine getting this advice from an Elder Law Attorney. And yet, that is exactly what Cathy Sikorski, Esq. colleague and friend told me in a recent conversation. “Excuse me, did I hear you correctly? Don’t immediately pay a hospital, doctor, physical therapist or any other medical provider bill?” Yes, yes you did. You need to do some … [Read more...]
Mom Has Dementia And Sexuality Is Still In Play.
Wait, What? Why? Parents and sexuality. Here are two words that adult children don’t want to put together or acknowledge. Add to that the word dementia and you go from TMI to complete disbelief and feelings that are incredibly difficult to process. I had the good fortune to hear Rebekah Wilson of Aging Care Coach, LLC present on just this topic: Sexuality in Dementia. … [Read more...]
For Persons Living With Dementia, Dog Therapy Is A Gift
This is Murphy, a therapy dog, and Anne, a person living with dementia.* As soon as Murphy was carefully positioned in her lap, Anne began gently petting her. Then she began to sing and rock her. Tears welled up in the eyes of Anne’s caregiver and mine. I had the privilege of participating in a Pet Therapy Community Class at The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). … [Read more...]