Tips and Health Information
No-Cost ways to preventing falls in the Home:
- Remove all throw rugs and scatter rugs that can lead to falls.
- Open blinds and curtains and raise shades during daylight hours to increase natural light inside the home.
- Place electrical, phone, and computer cords along walls where they will not trip anyone. To avoid risk of fire, do not run the wires under carpeting.
- Remove clutter from staircases and hallways to prevent trips and falls.
- Place energy efficient night lights in hallways and / or bathrooms.
- Remove shower doors and replace with shower curtains for easier access.
Assuring your disabled child's financial future is safe
Government programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can help defray some of disabled adults’ expenses. But SSI barely covers the rent in a group home; the federal monthly benefit is currently $637, with some states providing additional funds. Money you set aside can help save your child from a life of poverty. On the most basic level, it can provide extra funds to live comfortably and participate in hobbies. Or, if you plan early and well, it can fund a more comfortable lifestyle in a private-pay assisted living facility, where fees can run $3,000 a month.
If you don’t have a plan for your child, when you expire, then your child will become a ward of the state. The state will determine where they will live, who will take care of them and what type of lifestyle they will lead. It is not an ideal situation that a parent will want for their child. So what do you do?
1. Establish a trust. In order to qualify for government benefits such as SSI and Medicaid, your child can never show that he has more than $2,000 in the bank. A special needs trust allows you to set aside money for your child’s future expenses without putting his government benefits at risk. There is no limit to how much money a trust can manage. A trust is protected from creditors, including credit card companies, and cannot be considered an asset as part of a divorce proceeding if your child marries.
2. Name your successor. Every trust is managed by a trustee who determines how the money will be spent. In most cases this is a parent. But a trustee should choose a successor earlier rather than later. This way the trustee-in-waiting will learn what goes into managing the trust and will be ready to take over in the event of your illness or death. They have to have a good heart and an understanding of the child’s special needs.”
If your named trustee can be relied upon to look after your child’s well-being but isn’t good with the financial stuff, consider a co-trusteeship. A trust company is a good co-trusteeship, they can be hired to handle fiduciary responsibilities such as managing investments, filing tax returns, making disbursements and budgeting. In addition to naming a successor trustee, designate a successor guardian as well. The guardian is responsible for making medical decisions for the disabled person.
3. Create a letter of intent. Ensuring that your child’s daily needs are met after your passing is just as important as protecting his or her financial future. Compile a list of doctors’ names and medications as well as the names of friends and enjoyed activities. Outline your child’s daily routine so that the normalcy of daily life may be maintained.
If the plan is for your disabled child to move into a group home or other facility, make that transition happen before your death rather than after.
“When your child is in their 20s or maybe early 30s is the best time to place the child in an appropriate setting,” says Greenberg. “This is better than waiting until a parent dies, or needs to go into a nursing home themselves, and then all of a sudden you tell the child with the disability, ‘Oh by the way, tomorrow you have to live in this other place.’ That’s scary.”
4. Write a will. If you don’t have a will, you put your child’s benefits at risk. The courts will then likely divvy up your estate equally among your survivors with no accounting for your child’s special needs trust or the $2,000 rule regarding federal benefits. In your will, leave money to your child’s trust instead of obligating your other children to care for their sibling. This way your children feel like they can spend their inheritance guilt-free, and it also can help avoid disputes between siblings over who should pay for what care.
5. Consider a second-to-die life insurance policy. This kind of policy, which only pays out after the death of both spouses, is cheaper than a standard policy. And buy a policy earlier rather than later. The younger you are when you start, the cheaper your premiums will be. Remember to name the trust as the beneficiary.
6. Ensure that your child remains asset-free. Check over all your assets—life insurance policies, IRAs, annuities, pensions—and make sure your child’s trust and not your child specifically is named as the beneficiary, Greenberg says. Inform all family members to do the same and to make sure that they do not bequest anything in their will to the child directly, but rather to the trust.
7. Budget for your child’s future. The major factor in determining how much your child will need is figuring out where he will live. Private-pay assisted living facilities can cost $3,000 a month, but costs can be minimal if a family member offers to take him in. Estimate an annual cost and then multiply that by your child’s life expectancy.. For example, a person with autism has the same life expectancy as the general population—78 years. But the average person with Down syndrome lives to only 60.
Tips to help children communincate with their aging parents:
Gather Information - The more information and facts you have about your aging parents will help determine proper care.
Talk - Start a conversation. Discuss observations and concerns (Give Examples), ask and suggest good solutions.
Now - The present is the time to begin talking, before a crisis occurs.
Speak with Respect - Patronizing speech or baby talk will put older adults on the defensive and convey a lack of respect for them. Put yourself in their shoes and think of how you would want to be addressed.
Emphasize Independence - Look for answers that optimize strengths and compensate problems. Look for tools or caregivers who can help your parent maintain their strengths.
The Big Picture - Be aware of the whole picture. A messy house after a spouse has passed on is a sign of depression, not illness. She needs housekeeping help and socialization activities, not a doctors visit. Be aware of your parent's environment.
Ask for Help - There are many resources and agencies that specialize in helping your loved one lead a more independent life.
How do you know if your parents need help?
As people age, their needs and abilities change. They may have trouble getting around the house or difficulty driving. They may not remember things as easily as they once did. And adult children of aging parents may notice that Mom or Dad is having difficulty - with their finances, perhaps, or with personal hygiene.
The first place to begin is with an assessment. An assessment is a full review of a person's mental, physical, environmental and financial condition to determine his or her ability to remain safely independent. It identifies risks and helps determine options to reduce them. It's very important to involve your parents in the discussion and decision-making about their options.
How do you help your parents if they need help?
Although experienced professionals can focus on a more detailed assessment, below is a standard checklist that families may use to begin the process.
Physical health. Have they been diagnosed with any chronic disease? Or other diseases, such as bowel or bladder problems, heart disease, stroke, or cancer? Do they have hearing problems, excessive weight loss or gain, or difficulty walking? Make a list of health professionals they currently see.
Mental Health. Have they been diagnosed with any psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, or psychosis? have they been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia? Are they showing signs of confusion, disorientation or isolation? Mood swings or forgetfulness? Sadness or loneliness?
Medication Use. What medications are they currently taking? What is the dosage? How often? Include over the counter medications. Are they taking medication as directed?
Daily Living Skills. Are they able to dress, bathe, get up from a chair, use a toilet, climb stairs, use the phone? Do they know how to get help in an emergency? Can they shop, prepare meals, do housework and yard work? Can they safely drive?
Home and Community Safety. How safe is their neighborhood? Does their home have smoke alarms, and can they hear them adequately? Can they avoid telephone and door-to-door fraud? Can they maintain their house?
Support Systems. Do your older loved ones have frequent visitors or see friends? Do they go to a Senior Center, or get out of the house for other social reasons? Do family members live close by? Do they keep handy the names, addresses and phone numbers of key friends and family members who they can call in an emergency?
Appearance and Hygiene. How is their overall appearance? Hair clean? Teeth brushed? Shaved? Do they dress appropriately in clean clothes?
Finances. Can they live on their current income? Can they meet future needs with their current income? Are there any legal documents such as trusts, living wills, and / or durable power of attorney? Do they pay bills on time and make informed financial decisions?
Interests / Lifestyes. Do they engage in their favorite hobbies, read books, watch their favorite TV shows, exercise, play a musical instrument, go to religious services, keep up with friends? Are they still engaged in activities they have always enjoyed?
There are good assessment tools and professional consultants who can help you and your older loved ones decide when assistance in needed. Some hospitals and clinics offer geriatric assessment centers. Some city and county agencies on aging provide service. There are also independent geriatric case managers.
An assessment can lead to solving problems and allowing a parent to remain independent longer. It can result in fewer accidents and illnesses, a longer life, and a higher quality of life. it's not always easy to recognize when an older loved one needs help. Learning how to assess their needs will make it easier to know when, and how, to help.
What seniors eat?
Nutrition is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any age, a requirement that doesn't change as you get older.
Here are some dietary guidelines for older people, courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic:
- Seniors should get 1-1.2 grams of protein each day per kilogram of their weight. For example: A 150 lb person (70 kg) should get 70 to 100 grams of protein a daily.
- Seniors need 1,000 milligrams of calcium each day, and 1,000 units of Vitamin D daily.
- Seniors should take special care to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Seniors should take a multivitamin if their diet isn't balanced, they've been sick, or are losing weight.
