Q – My father passed away last year, and my elderly mother will be responsible for completing her taxes on her own this year. As this is a financial responsibility her husband normally handled, she doesn’t feel prepared. Are there services available to help seniors with tax preparation?

Tax time can be an overwhelming time of year for many seniors managing their money and finances, especially those who find themselves taking over the financial responsibilities from a spouse who has passed away. In order to ensure that senior taxes are accurate and that seniors receive the maximum number of benefits available to them when filing their taxes, the AARP and other organizations are providing free tax preparation services under the IRS sponsored Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE program) to help the seniors, aged 60 and older, manage their money. The AARP tax preparation services for seniors are free at most tax sites, except for a few locations where they are subsidized. The income tax preparation assistance for the elderly can help seniors prepare a number of important tax forms like Form 1040, Form 1040EZ, Form 1040 Schedule A&B, and Form 1040 Schedule D, as well as provide additional complimentary income tax counseling services.

Sources:
1.    AARP Money
2.    Suite 101, Lena

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Q – My father passed away last year, and my elderly mother will be responsible for completing her taxes on her own this year. As this is a financial responsibility her husband normally handled, she doesn’t feel prepared. Are there services available to help seniors with tax preparation?

Tax time can be an overwhelming time of year for many seniors managing their money and finances, especially those who find themselves taking over the financial responsibilities from a spouse who has passed away. In order to ensure that senior taxes are accurate and that seniors receive the maximum number of benefits available to them when filing their taxes, the AARP and other organizations are providing free tax preparation services under the IRS sponsored Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE program) to help the seniors, aged 60 and older, manage their money. The AARP tax preparation services for seniors are free at most tax sites, except for a few locations where they are subsidized. The income tax preparation assistance for the elderly can help seniors prepare a number of important tax forms like Form 1040, Form 1040EZ, Form 1040 Schedule A&B, and Form 1040 Schedule D, as well as provide additional complimentary income tax counseling services.

Sources:
1.    AARP Money
2.   Suite 101, Lena Gott

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Q – My mother is very ill, and I know that she has debt that was acquired by her and my father before he passed away. Will her children be responsible for paying off her debt when she passes away?

A – In your mother’s case, any shared debt with your father, would have been passed along to her in probate; especially if she was the sole beneficiary of his estate (or all assets were shared). Children are not directly responsible for the debts of their senior relatives, however, debts owing may first be deducted from the senior’s estate before distribution during probate, decreasing or eliminating completely the assets left to beneficiaries of the will or trust because when creditors are unable to collect debts during a senior’s life, seniors remain responsible even after they are deceased. If after your mother’s death, her estate demonstrates insufficient assets to pay off her debts, the creditors will be forced to take a loss; however, you and your siblings will not be responsible for paying her debts.

The only other situations where the survivors of a senior’s family may be responsible for the debts, are if they co-signed on a loan, or guaranteed payment to a creditor.

Sources:
1. Lawyers.com
2. Money Tips
3. Wikipedia

Image: debteradication.com

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Q – I’ve started to notice strange behavior in my mother, and suspect she might have Alzheimer’s or dementia. What do I do next?

A – If you suspect that an aging parent or relative has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, verify your suspicions against the 10 Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease to verify that what you’re seeing in your mother could in fact indicate Alzheimer’s or dementia, rather than just old age. Some form of memory loss, or slower thinking is not an uncommon part of the aging process, and this is often the first thing that those caring for the elderly look at when they have Alzheimer’s suspicions. If your mom doesn’t recall a name, date or other piece of information immediately when prompted, it doesn’t mean she has Alzheimer’s, as long as she remembers at a later time. If she can’t recall the information, and is never able to remember it, it may be indicative of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

If you suspect Alzheimer’s in an elderly parent, you can also talk to friends and family members to get their perspective. Have they noticed similar signs and symptoms that have concerned them? If so, it’s probably time to get your mother to see their doctor, who might refer them onto someone who specializes in geriatric healthcare. Also try to monitor how the changes in your mother are impacting her ability to live independently, so her safety is not compromised, and make the appropriate changes in the home.

With awareness and knowledge, you can help your mother live with Alzheimer’s.

Sources:
1.    Caring.com
2.    Carol O’Dell Caregiving Blog

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Knowing when your loved one is demonstrating signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s can be one of the first steps to establishing a medical diagnosis and determining appropriate senior care. Read on to determine if the senior in your life could be exhibiting symptoms of dementia.

1.    Memory Loss – everyone has brief memory lapses; it’s not unusual to forget the occasional name or date and remember it later, however, seniors with dementia may forget pieces of information that they are never able to recall.
2.    Difficulty performing familiar tasks – seniors with dementia may forget simple tasks, like how to turn on the stove.
3.    Problems with language – sentences formed by a senior with dementia may be hard to understand, they may forget words or substitute inappropriate ones.
4.    Disorientation – seniors with dementia may get lost when close to home because they are disoriented with time and place.
5.    Poor judgment – seniors may have trouble making decisions, or dress inappropriately for the weather.
6.    Misplacing things in strange places – seniors with dementia may put the milk in the bathroom or their keys in the fridge.
7.    Mood changes – often seniors with dementia have rapid mood swings for no discernable reason.
8.    Problems with abstract thinking – dealing with numbers may be especially difficult.
9.    Personality changes – seniors with dementia may become fearful, suspicious and paranoid or demonstrate behaviors unusual for them.
10.    Loss of initiative – seniors with Alzheimer’s may lack motivation on a regular basis; getting out of bed or getting dressed may require prompting.

Sources:
1.    Northwestern University
2.    Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

When you don’t like your doctor as a senior retrieving treatment or the family caregiver for an elderly relative, you need to try and do your part to strengthen the relationship between doctor and patient and then assess if your personal grievances are affecting the level of medical care you’re receiving.

If you feel your doctor isn’t listening to your desires regarding your healthcare; speak up and get directly to the point. If you don’t like the side effects of a medication you’re taking, tell them. If they don’t get the hint that you’d like to take a different medication, ask them exactly what other medications are available that would offer similar treatment. It’s also important to establish yourself as an equal, who plays a role in his or her own health; look your doctor straight in the eye, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to share your knowledge or concerns. If you find that your doctor still doesn’t listen to you or treat you with respect on a regular basis, it might be time to find a new doctor to take charge of your senior health issues.

It might be the right time to find a new doctor when:

1)    Your doctor doesn’t like it when you ask questions – a doctor should respect your knowledge and answer any questions you have.
2)    Your doctor doesn’t listen to you – a doctor should make time to address the concerns of every patient directly
3)    A doctor doesn’t speak your language – a doctor should explain your senior health issues using terms you understand
4)    Going to the doctor makes you feel down, even after you’ve left the office
5)    There’s a personal grievance – not everyone’s personalities click; if your doctor just doesn’t seem to like you, or you don’t like them; get a new one.

Sources:
1.   Carol O’Dell Caregiver Blog
2.    CNNHealth.com Elizabeth Cohen

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Knowing when your loved one is demonstrating signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s can be one of the first steps to establishing a medical diagnosis and determining appropriate senior care. Read on to determine if the senior in your life could be exhibiting symptoms of dementia.

1. Memory Loss – everyone has brief memory lapses; it’s not unusual to forget the occasional name or date and remember it later, however, seniors with dementia may forget pieces of information that they are never able to recall.
2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks – seniors with dementia may forget simple tasks, like how to turn on the stove.
3. Problems with language – sentences formed by a senior with dementia may be hard to understand, they may forget words or substitute inappropriate ones.
4. Disorientation – seniors with dementia may get lost when close to home because they are disoriented with time and place.
5. Poor judgment – seniors may have trouble making decisions, or dress inappropriately for the weather.
6. Misplacing things in strange places – seniors with dementia may put the milk in the bathroom or their keys in the fridge.
7. Mood changes – often seniors with dementia have rapid mood swings for no discernable reason.
8. Problems with abstract thinking – dealing with numbers may be especially difficult.
9. Personality changes – seniors with dementia may become fearful, suspicious and paranoid or demonstrate behaviors unusual for them.
10. Loss of initiative – seniors with Alzheimer’s may lack motivation on a regular basis; getting out of bed or getting dressed may require prompting.

Sources:
1. Northwestern University
2. Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

We know you appreciate everything that your long-term caregiver does for your aging family member, and believe that sometimes it’s appropriate to say thank you with a gift. If a family caregiver is responsible for senior care, sometimes the best gift to give them is a break. By providing them assistance with their responsibilities, they will have the opportunity to focus on themselves for a change. Everyone deserves a break; so offer to take your elderly relative shopping, prepare a meal. Another welcome gift for family caregivers is to pre-pay for a service that is typically an expense from their own pocket; buy a gift certificate for grass cutting, or house keeping to save them the expense.

If you want to show a senior caregiver hired from an agency that you appreciate them, first check with the agency for their policy on gift-giving. Many senior care agencies do not allow their caregivers to accept monetary gifts, but a small token of your appreciation; like flowers, a gift basket or a gift certificate for a nice meal can be great ways to say “thank you” to a long-term senior caregiver if they can accept the gifts.

Whether a caregiver who cares for an elderly family member is paid for their services or not, it’s important to remember how great their impact is on enhancing the lives of seniors; it doesn’t take much to say “thank you”, even if only in words.

Sources:
1. Area Agency on Aging
2. Caregiver’s Care Station

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

As a family caregiver, one of the best ways to prepare for the safety and comfort of your aging family member is to think about caregiving proactively. Many in-home accidents occur when families and seniors exercise reactive versus proactive thinking. Instead of reacting to potential hazards after accidents have already happened, caregivers need to think proactively and anticipate potential dangers to seniors that are present in their home, by installing safety equipment, removing tripping hazards, and evaluating the day-to-day tasks that are difficult for a senior independently.

However, proactive thinking by a caregiver doesn’t have to stop at home safety; even before your elderly family member reaches a stage where home care, family caregiving or residence in a long-term care home is needed, family members can be proactive and begin to discuss the senior’s wishes with regards to care assistance. When involved with the care decisions of an elderly parent, you can learn what role they would like you to play in a crisis and you can assist them in preparing the necessary legal paperwork required for making senior medical decisions. As family caregivers and concerned family members, it is our job to help plan for our seniors’ futures; by arming ourselves with knowledge and thinking proactively, we can ensure that they receive quality caring throughout their elder years.

Sources:
1. StrengthforCaring.com

2. Answers4Families.com

3. AARP: (Olympia Dukakis)

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.

Choosing the right caregiver to assist an aging family member at home requires that you understand the type of care they require. Two main types of home care are available; home care and home health care, and while the senior home care terms may sound similar, they have very different meanings.

Home care refers to non-medical in-home care for seniors. This type of elderly home care is provided by a professional caregiver who is not medically trained. Home care professionals, like caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, provide in-home assistance with non-medical tasks including:

• Light housekeeping
• Assistance running errands
• Cooking and meal preparation
• Medication reminders (but not administration)
• Transportation
• Home care assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
• Companionship for seniors

Home health care on the other hand, refers to home nursing care administered by a medically trained caregiver, nurse or doctor. Typically, home nursing care providers help a senior with their medical needs, although some home health care organizations may provide a combination of services that include some ADL’s assistance (bathing, personal hygiene) as well as more traditional medical care. Home health care providers are typically responsible for the following:

• Administering medications
• Changing bandages or attending to wounds
• Assistance with Activities of Daily Living
• Some light housekeeping (depending upon the service provider)
• Specialized care, like rehab and physiotherapy services

Source:   The Gilbert Guide:

Nursing Home Care Greater Phoenix & Nursing Home Care Central Phoenix gives Phoenix elders and seniors quality care at home. Call today 623.583.5868, 602.265.8228 or 480.991.3959.