Seniors have wishes too.

For several years now, Aging with Grace has been a proud supporter of a wonderful organization whose mission is to honor and enrich the lives of deserving seniors through wish granting celebrations connecting Generations. Their belief is that it's time to say "thank you" by bringing smiles and joy into quiet, humble lives. They celebrate the life of someone special by giving a "thank you" they never expected in the form of a wish come true. Twilight Wish also honors seniors with formal certificates stating their life accomplishments. Cass Forkin, Executive Director, started the program after a life changing encounter with a group of seniors having lunch in a diner. We you encourage to visit their web site to learn more and get information on their DUTY program to begin making a difference in the lives of seniors today.

Caregiver Stress

Caregiver Stress

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It's Valentine Day

We want to wish all of our caregivers a Happy Valentine Day! We hope you take a few minutes for yourself as a reward for sharing your "hearts" with the ones you care for all year long. In case you don't hear it quite enough, THANK YOU for all you do.

We would love to hear about any special ways you celebrate the day. I for one will be having way too much chocolate.

"The Call" - Gail Sheehy

"The Call" is the shock that ushers us into the first phase of caregiving: Shock and Mobilization. A stranger's voice informs you that a family member has had a fall. Or your dad has gotten lost while driving and doesn't know where he is. Or you're told that your husband—like mine—has a tumor that is not benign. Read full article

Financial 911

Mom or dad is having medical problems; maybe she has taken a fall or he is in rehab following a hospital stay. But now, it is apparent that she cannot stay home alone. You’ve decided on home care or an assisted living facility where he can be safe. During all of the turmoil and emotional upheaval, the one thing you didn’t consider is how will she pay for the care that she needs?

Faced with this situation, there are 4 steps you should take. First, locate all of his assets. This is often not as easy as it seems. For whatever reason, seniors like to spread their assets among multiple financial institutions. The second step is to determine how much income she has. Check her annual social security and pension, if any, statements. Check his bank and brokerage statements for interest and dividends. If he filed a tax return, cross check it with the statements.

The third step is to investigate any sources of funds for which she may be eligible, e.g. Veterans/Widows Pension, Medicaid, state and county programs.

The fourth and final step is to prepare a cash flow projection in order to forecast how long his assets will last. You will need to make assumptions about interest rates and increases in cost of care over time.

Family Conversations with Older Drivers

We need to talk ....

For older adults, limiting driving presents practical problems and can cause strong emotions, from sadness to anger. Family members themselves may feel angry, frustrated, or guilty about depriving their loved one of the freedom of driving. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., and the MIT AgeLab developed information to help families initiate productive and caring conversations with older adults about driving safety. Read more