Negotiating Senior Caregiving with Siblings

REPOSTED FROM CARE.COM

A 2009 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) reveals that almost fifty million Americans have served as an unpaid caregiver to an adult, often a parent. Sixty-six percent report that another unpaid caregiver helps with the role. Sharing caregiving responsibilities with family members alleviates the demands of assisting a loved one, but agreeing on who does what, when and how, can sometimes add to caregiving stress.

And when siblings are the caregivers, things can become even more chaotic. Sibling rivalry and decades-old arguments don't always go away because of an aging parent. Sometimes you can all work together harmoniously, but sometimes it takes a little planning and compromising. Read more...

10 Things Everyone Should Know About Medicare

Reprinted from US News and World Report

Almost all Americans who work pay into the Medicare system, but not everyone knows about the benefits they will become eligible for when they turn 65. Read more here.

New poll shows American attitudes toward aging and long-term care

Reprinted from The SCAN Foundation On April 24, the Associated Press - NORC Center for Public Affairs Research released the findings of a national poll on long-term care, funded by The SCAN Foundation. This poll surveyed Americans 40 and older on their attitudes, perceptions, and experiences around aging and long-term care issues.      Key findings of the survey include:  * Widespread misperceptions of the cost of long-term care, with most Americans underestimating the cost of nursing home care and overestimating what Medicare will cover.    * Nearly one-third of those polled would rather not think about getting older at all, and when prompted, a majority worry about losing their independence.    * Only 35% of Americans are setting aside funds to help pay for future long-term care needs.  * Family matters: 68 percent of Americans age 40 or older believe they can rely on their family in time of need. * Though Americans are concerned about issues of aging, nearly 60 percent have not taken the step of talking about long-term care preferences with their families.  * A majority of Americans across the political spectrum support public policy solutions for financing long-term care, with more than 75 percent in favor of tax incentives to encourage saving for long-term care expenses, and 51 percent in favor of a government administered plan.

Valley Care's art therapy instructor in the news!

Colleen Sherts, the art instructor at our adult day services centers, is featured in a lovely article in the Feb. 21st edition of the Sewickley Herald. See the article here.

Helping Aging Parents with Financial Matters

Reposted from MarketWatch.com

Make no mistake about it, there’s a large generational role reversal taking place in this country. Adult children are increasingly providing advice and counsel to their aging parents about a wide variety of financial and nonfinancial issues. And, they are being asked to answer questions about everything from Medicare to how to reinvest a maturing CD.

Knowing full well that you might be called upon to become a subject matter expert, if you haven’t already, we asked experts for some help.

Elder Wisdom Circle Offers Free, Anonymous Online Advice

Reprinted from Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

Elder Wisdom Circle is a web-based nonprofit service organization that pairs online advice seekers in their teens, 20's and 30's with a nationwide network of Cyber-Grandparents, aged 60 and up, who share their hard-earned knowledge and wisdom. Anyone with access to the Internet can request anonymous advice on topics and will receive a personalized e-mail response in return.  Go to: http://www.elderwisdomcircle.org/ to learn more.

High-tech Dwelling Could Change Elder Care

Reposted from The Washington Post

Viola Baez wouldn’t budge.

Her daughter’s family had just invested about $125,000 in a new kind of home for her, a high-tech cottage that might revolutionize the way Americans care for their aging relatives. But Viola wouldn’t even step inside.

Read the rest of the story here.