Build caregiving into your financial plan
MetLife recently estimated that the total cost to the economy in lost wages, pension and Social Security benefits for adults taking care of aging parents and other relatives is nearly $3 trillion. For individuals providing day-to-day care, typically women, the average lifetime economic hit they take is a whopping $324,044.The impact of eldercare on a woman’s finances, in short, can be ... READ MORE
So you want to retire to another state?
Sorry, snowbirds! Florida is no longer one of the most preferred states for retirees. That’s at least according to a new survey by Bankrate, which ranked states on a variety of different criteria, including cost of living, crime, taxes and the quality of healthcare services.The top 10 list they came up with is long on scenic mountain states and included only one traditional “Sun ... READ MORE
CCRCs offer a lifetime of housing and healthcare
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), or multi-level care facilities, assure their residents independent living as long as possible, and provide for assisted living and nursing assistance if or when it is needed.This type of living arrangement can be particularly useful to financially sound couples who are in need of different levels of care and who wish to maintain a strong... READ MORE
Adapt your home to be livable for years
As people age, many choose to stay in their current homes near friends, family, places of worship and other places that have become integral parts of their lives. This is part of a growing trend toward “aging in place.” The term applies to those who want to live as they have in their current home for as long as possible.As we age, our mobility and capabilities change. Steps can... READ MORE
She advocates for those in long-term care
In her first months on the job as Maryland state long-term care ombudsman, one of Steveanne Ellis’s first hurdles is making sure people know she exists. Ellis oversees the network of staff and volunteers across that state that help resolve resident problems in Maryland’s 230 nursing homes and 1,500 assisted living facilities.“We really want the residents and the staff to... READ MORE
Communities feature fur, fins and feathers
Through the nonprofit Pets on Wheels program, volunteers bring therapy dogs — dogs that enjoy human contact and have been trained to be at ease in all situations — to interact with residents of hospitals, nursing homes, schools, retirement communities and more.“My stress and anxiety just disappear when I’m playing with one of the dogs,” said Linda Schoene, a... READ MORE
Technology to help you stay independent
Though the vast majority of people want to “age in place” by staying in their homes as they get older, safety and health issues and social isolation can interfere with that plan. Fortunately, a growing number of state-of-the-art digital tools — including smartphones, GPS, voice activated and sensor technology — can better enable us to stay where we are indefinitely. With these ... READ MORE
Group homes offer individualized care
When Olney resident Jimmy Schrider suffered a stroke last year, his wife Barbara, 80, realized he would need extra care to maintain his quality of life. She felt that full-time homecare services would be too costly, and that larger assisted living communities didn’t seem to be the right choice for them, either. A social worker at her husband’s rehabilitation facility suggested nearby ... READ MORE
Housing 2024
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