By Gary Figiel, MD
Southeastern Geriatric Healthcare Group
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Depression is a serious life threatening illness, which without question increases the risk of mortality in elderly patients and is linked with increased mortality of residents in nursing and assisted living homes, along with other long-term care facilities.
By Tom Olsen
St. George Village
Roswell, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
What is a CCRC?
A "CCRC" is a Continuing Care Retirement Community, the most comprehensive retirement living option available to seniors in America today.
A CCRC combines the services of an independent living retirement community with an assisted-living facilty and a nursing home at a single location. More on CCRCs combine independent living with assisted living and nursing home care
By Ginny Helms
Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Of all the issues of aging, none has been more emotionally or medically challenging than Alzheimer's disease. And because we are living longer, the incidence of Alzheimer's is on the rise. More than 1,000 cases are diagnosed each day in the U.S., In Georgia alone, the Alzheimer's Association counts more than 160,000 cases. More on ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Significant Progress toward Prevention and Cure
By Phillip G. Sanders, MSHA, CPA
Georgia ElderCare Advisors, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
If you really want to understand what ElderCare is all about, talk to someone like Jeanette Johnson. In 1990, her husband, a Navy veteran of 24 years, passed away. In 2001, she suffered two strokes within 20 days. While many might have given up, the self-described "stubborn" Mrs. Johnson persevered. More on Finding the right ElderCare professional can make a difference in a life
By Gary Figiel, MD
Southeastern Geriatric Healthcare Group
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
This is the second most asked question from a patient's loved one: "Am I going to get it too?"
The most frequently asked question is: "What is the difference between Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Dementia?" More on My parent has Alzheimer's Disease - Am I going to get it too?
By Robert M. Bregitzer, CPA
Innovative Mortgage Solutions, LLC
Norcross, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
When Mildred Austin inquired about a reverse mortgage, she did not know much about them. "All I knew was that this could help me; I needed someone to explain it to me". After talking with a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Counselor, meeting with a reverse mortgage specialist, and discussing the options with her advisors, she decided that a reverse mortgage was her best option. "I was able to make needed repairs to my house, pay-off my existing mortgage loan and several medical bills and obtain a monthly check to supplement my social security. This loan has been a blessing." More on The Reverse Mortgage: Some Seniors Can't Stay Home Without It
By MaryAnn Brierly
ResCare Home Care - Magnolia
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
"Home care" is a simple phrase that encompasses a wide range of health and social services, These services are delivered at home to recovering, disabled, chronically or terminally ill persons in need of medical, nursing, social, or therapeutic treatment and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living.
This scene is all too familiar.
A parent comes home from the hospital after major surgery or after a serious injury from a fall, and the discharging doctor tells the family that the elder can no longer live alone safely.
Traditionally, a family member or a friend of the family provided long-term care at home. However, today often no family member lives nearby or no one can take time off from work.
Families should consider that Medicare will not pay for most long-term care services, including private home care, which are defined by Medicare as all personal care services such as bathing, grooming, meal preparation, feeding, and companionship. More on Thinking about home care? Remember that Medicare does not pay for everything and that agency quality varies
By Phillip G. Sanders, MSHA, CPA
Georgia ElderCare Insurance, LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
During the last several years, I have had the honor to address my colleagues at the AICPA's (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) National ElderCare conference in Phoenix, and to serve as a panelist at the day-long nationally televised symposium for ElderCare professionals in Dallas. The overriding message I heard from fellow CPAs and attorneys was the importance of setting into place NOW a long-term care plan — a plan that details how you will finance your and your family's future ElderCare needs. More on Experts Agree: Plan Now for Future ElderCare Needs
By Thomas P. Whitley, RMS, CPT
Great Oak Mortgage Corp.
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Stop for a moment and imagine what it would be like to live in your home and never have to make any more mortgage payments.
Or imagine, further, what it would feel like to know that your home can be a ready-made nest egg for your present and future needs.
These are not just some wish-upon-a-star dreams. This can be a reality for you - no gimmicks or misleading information. More on A reverse mortgage can help you keep your independence
By Emily C. Sanders, CPA
Sanders Financial Management
Norcross, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
As your kids leave for college and begin their lives as adults, your thoughts gently turn to your aging parents. Millions of baby boomers currently assist their aging parents with their finances. Complicating matters, many boomers must manage their parents' financial affairs long distance.
While the "Greatest Generation" who lived through the Great Depression and World War II has a reputation of being prodigious savers, the reality is that many live on a fixed income of Social Security or a smal pension. Besides the home, they have few assets. More on Start talking now about post-retirement
By Philip C. Benedict, CFP
Benedict Financial Advisors, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Raymond and Sally are what almost everyone wants to look like and act like when they pass their 80th birthday.
Sally still volunteers at the local elementary school and Ray is a landmark at the local golf club. They seem to have everything - good health, a fine daughter and son-in-law and three adorable grandchildren. Their lifestyle, while not extravagant, could not be considered modest either. More on Overspending is more than simply spending your children's inheritance
By Michelle Ettenger
Elmcroft of Roswell
Roswell, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Not too long ago, families had few choices for senior housing. If an elderly person was unable to manage in their own home or could not be cared for by his family, then the nursing home for the infirm and the most frail was the only housing option available.
Today, it is quite different. More on When is assisted living the right choice?
By Elaine Gunter, RN, BSN, CCM, A-CCC
Aging Resources, Inc.
Bogart, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Geriatric care management is modeled after case management, which began in the United States during the 1800s. As more and more immigrants came to this country to start a new life, churches and local communities were not able to provide adequate assistance to everyone in need. To help address this growing concern, social service agencies evolved to help clients find the most cost-effective services available to them, a revolutionary concept in its time that eventually led to the beginning of case management.
As our population continutes to age, families today are facing ElderCare issues unlike those dealt with by our parents and grandparents. Adults now find themselves not only caring for their children and grandchildren, but also responsible for planning for and dealing with complex ElderCare issues faced by their aging and often feeble parents and relatives - issues about which most of us have no prior training and little, if any, expertise. More on Geriatric care manager can be a valuable resource for families
By Lane Tharp, SRES, CSA
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
It is exciting to move to a more manageable home after years of maintaining a large home and yard. The choices for downsizing are much greater now than ever before.
Downsizing may involve moving to a smaller home, a ranch condominium, or even a larger home on a smaller lot. It may also involve changing your community from a single-family home in an established neighborhood to an apartment home, a golf or lake community, a retirement community, or an assisted living facility.
The savvy home seller will want to approach this transition with a plan so that the move goes as smoothly as possible. More on Get marketing know-how when you're downsizing
By J. Michael Bishop, JD
Smiley Bishop & Porter, LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Six months have passed since Betty's husband Joe died. Betty always let Joe handle the money matters. He had always been a savvy investor, but in the last several years, it had become obvious that Joe really was not on top of his game.
Now, Betty asked her daughter Sarah to help her look through the couple's financial papers. Things are a mess. There are piles of unopened envelopes from brokerage firms, mutual fund companies and banks. As Sarah opens the statements, she becomes distressed because the brokerage accounts have suffered some significant losses due to a downturn in the stock market or is something else wrong? How can she tell? More on Caveat emptor - Stockbroker fraud
By Jeff Bernier, CFP, ChFC, CFS
TandemGrowth Financial Advisors, LLC
Roswell, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
When was the last time you talked with an investment professional who didn't promote diversification? Stocks, bonds, cash, real estate, some international as well as domestic investments–it's called asset class diversification and it's a principle of sound investing. More on INVESTING: Avoiding Long-Term as well as Short-Term Risk
By Susan Bythrow
Parc at Buckhead
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
There's no place like home…
To so many of us, our home means security and independence. But, owning a home also means maintenance, constant upkeep, grass to cut, and a multitude of expenses to pay, including mortgages, taxes, insurances, and utilities, to say the least.
That's the main reason so many seniors today are choosing independent or retirement communities to hang their hats and say "there is no place like home."
More and more older adults today live an active lifestyle, and don't want to be obligated to maintaining a house.
Independent or retirement communities are designed for seniors who want to continue an active lifestyle without the burdens of owning a home, while being able to benefit from the abundance of services and amenities available. More on What's independent living really all about?
By Charles J. Hampton, Esq.
Charles J. Hampton, PC
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
You might have already gotten the pitch: Come for a free dinner and learn how to avoid probate. The sale is typically a living or revocable trust — transfer your assets now so when you die they will be distributed as you wish without having to pass through the probate court. More on FEAR FACTOR: Probate!
By Deborah K. Spitale, Attorney at Law
Jade Law Offices, LLC
Duluth, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
As our U.S. population grows older, more of us are asking the question, "What would happen to me if I become mentally or physically incapacitated? Who would pay bills and manage my assets?" More on Challenges of Incapacity: Check Out Powers of Attorney and Trusts
By Victoria L. Collier, Esq.
The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC
Decatur, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
On July 1, 2007, Georgia replaced the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and the Living Will with one, concise document called "Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care." More on Georgia Updates Its Confusing Advance Health Directives
By Debra A. Robinson, JD
Robinson & Miller, PC
Alpharetta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
Women, may we have your attention?
Women are so busy caring for others, they often forget to take care of themselves.
As a result, many women fail to properly plan for the distribution of their assets at death and fail to make their health care decisions in the event of incapacity. More on Women Often Fail to Plan for End of Life Decisions
By Stephen C. Andrews, JD
Bodker, Ramsey, Andrews, Winograd & Wildstein, PC
Atlanta, Georgia
Member of the national ElderCare Matters® Alliance, Georgia ElderCare Chapter
What do you do when you suspect that a loved one is being subjected to undue influence or other pressures to change their will?
Georgia law provides that a will must be freely and voluntarily executed. That is, a will may be invalidated if it is the result of “undue influence,” More on Are Your Loved One's Being Pressured to Change Their Wills?