What happens when you need to make changes to a will? First of all, congratulations on already having a will! But as life goes on you may change your mind about the particular provisions in your will. Minor changes to a will can be done through a codicil. A codicil is a legal instrument that modifies a previous will.
Continue reading “Making changes to a will – What is a codicil?”
CNBC reports that older Americans have been scammed to the tune of $3 billion annually. But what is the best way to help seniors avoid scams? Vigilance!
First, be aware of the threats seniors face from criminals and scammers. Identity theft is on the rise especially from computer programs. If you have aging parents, they could fall victim to the many of the sophisticated attempts to get personal information. Continue reading “8 tips to help seniors avoid scams”
The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP research and publish statistics and trends about millennial caregivers. The May 2020 report, The “Typical” Millennial Caregiver, gives insight into this new class of caregivers. Furthermore, in 2018, AARP published a fact sheet about how millennials are the emerging generation of family caregivers.
First, let’s understand who fits in the definition of “millennial.” According to the Pew Research Center’s article Where Millennials end and post-Millennials begin, millennials are born between 1981-1996.
Many of these caregivers are in their 30’s and are part of the “Sandwich Generation.” They are sandwiched between caring for young children and caring for aging parents.
Continue reading “Millennial caregivers – statistics and trends”
Being a long-distance caregiver is a challenge when you live in one state and your aging parents live in another. Or if you have a busy job that keeps you from hands-on caregiving. Or if a sibling is providing more local care and you can’t be there. And caregiving responsibilities are on the rise. According to AARP, nearly 1 in 5 Americans provide care to an adult. If you are a long-distance caregiver there is plenty for you to do to help your family.
Continue reading “10 ways to help as a long-distance caregiver”
When my father passed, he left detailed instructions about his finances and life insurance policies. As he was an organized man, this was not surprising. What was surprising was that he had 5 different life insurance policies. Instead of getting one large policy, he added policies as his circumstances changed and his income increased. This was not a bad idea but I kept thinking as I filled all 5 claims, “What if he hadn’t written down all this information?”
A little-known fact is that unclaimed life insurance is a huge problem. You may have applied for life insurance benefits to provide for your family and diligently paid the premiums. However, your policy could be lost, misplaced, or forgotten. If so, your beneficiaries won’t know to collect your life insurance benefits.
Insurance companies are not obligated to contact you about a life insurance policy they are holding, even if they learn that the insured has died. Therefore, if your family does not know what policies you have, they do not know to file a claim upon your passing.
Continue reading “Unclaimed life insurance? Don’t let your family lose benefits”
Are you a caregiver for your aging parents? At the very least, are you concerned about them as they age?
Oftentimes, children want to help their parents but the parents won’t communicate with them on what they need. When children want to help their aging parents plan for the future, they are met with resistance or “Brickwall Moments.”
Continue reading “When your aging parents won’t talk about their future plans”
Is it possible in the age of social distancing that we can also be a caregiver? Caregiving involves empathy and connection. You have empathy. However, maintaining a connection during mandated social distancing is difficult.
Social distance caregiving is similar to long-distance caregiving. Read this post for 10 tips for long-distance caregivers.
Continue reading “Social Distance Caregiving: Love in the time of Coronavirus”
The following is a guest post by byACRE to share information for the Sandwich Generation. We do not have any financial arrangements with byACRE and do not profit from them.
Continue reading “Help Aging Family Members by Discussing Mobility Issues”
Continue reading “First step in estate planning? Check beneficiary designations”
When you are a parent of young children, a “mother’s helper” can be a godsend. They help around the house or watch the children so the parent can get things done. Shouldn’t there be a “daughter’s helper” or “son’s helper”? Someone to help your aging parents with household tasks, errands, etc.?
As more seniors choose to age in place, Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) are on the rise. Although they are not qualified medical assistants such as home health aides, personal care assistants provide many helpful services.
Continue reading “Personal care assistant: Does your parent need a helper ?”