Tag: aging parents

Podcasts for Caregivers: 8 helpful caregiver podcasts

Podcasts for Caregivers: 8 helpful caregiver podcasts

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Podcasts for caregivers provide tremendous support. During your caregiving journey, you will have many challenges and questions. A great way to get help and advice is to listen to podcasts for caregivers. And you can even multitask! While you are doing household chores, exercising, or even resting you can access resources or get new ideas to help you.

Since caregivers have limited time, I find podcasts that give quick, actionable tips are best. To support caregivers, I have made a list of some caregiver podcasts that I have found helpful. Moreover, all the podcast hosts have life experiences with the challenges of caregiving. So they know what they are talking about!

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Checklist for a death in the family – what to do after a loss

Checklist for a death in the family – what to do after a loss

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A death in the family is one of the most stressful events you will experience. As you grieve, you face multiple administrative tasks. First, you must make final arrangements. Then you go through probate to settle your loved one’s affairs. And in between, you manage the many little details following a death. However, if you use a checklist for death in the family, you can manage all these responsibilities.

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How to Survive the Sandwich Generation – 10 Self-Care Strategies

How to Survive the Sandwich Generation – 10 Self-Care Strategies

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You know the emergency instructions flight attendants give about putting on your oxygen mask before helping your children? It is true about caring for others. If you aren’t healthy, you can’t help anyone else.

Brick wall moments – dealing with stubborn aging parents

Brick wall moments – dealing with stubborn aging parents

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Are you a caregiver for your aging parents? At the very least, are you concerned about them as they age? Wouldn’t it be lovely to help your parents without any objections?

As if!  What if you have stubborn aging parents?

When talking with your parents about aging issues and suggesting help for them you will most likely have many “brick wall moments.” This is when a reasonable suggestion or a suggestion made from a place of love is met with strenuous resistance, to put it mildly.

Either the parent puts up a brick wall and won’t entertain the idea. Or you will want to hit your head against a brick wall in frustration. Oftentimes, both are true.

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8 tips to help seniors avoid scams

8 tips to help seniors avoid scams

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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” →

When your aging parents won’t talk about their future plans

When your aging parents won’t talk about their future plans

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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.”

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Personal care assistant: Does your parent need a helper ?

Personal care assistant: Does your parent need a helper ?

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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.

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What is a living will? An explanation of advance medical directives

What is a living will? An explanation of advance medical directives

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A living will or advance medical directive is a legal document in which you declare, in the event of a terminal or end-of-life condition, to withhold or withdraw life prolonging measures.

This is important to determine what measures you want (or don’t want) to artificially extend your life. While this is an unpleasant decision to think about, it is more distressing to your loved ones. They will be the ones faced with these decisions. Especially if there is a difference of opinion among them. Of course, your loved ones want to do the “right” thing. However, there is often disagreement about what the “right” course of action is.

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Do I need an estate planning or an elder law attorney?

Do I need an estate planning or an elder law attorney?

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Estate planning is such a misnomer.

First of all, people mistakenly think estate planning is only for the rich. For example, you must have an ‘estate’ first to worry about planning for it.

Secondly, it has less to do with your ‘estate’ and more to do with protecting your family. If you are incapacitated or die, who will care for your loved ones?

It really should be called “family planning” because attorneys help you care for your family for when you are not there. Although “family planning” means something else entirely!

As if estate planning isn’t confusing enough – now when you look for a lawyer, you see many different titles: estate planning or elder law attorney. Even probate lawyer. Which is better for you? Do you need an estate planning or elder law attorney or a probate lawyer?

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Help parents downsize and keep the peace – 6 tips

Help parents downsize and keep the peace – 6 tips

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Want to help your aging parents downsize in preparation for a move? Tread carefully!

Recognize that this is an emotional time for them.  Your parents have spent a lifetime accumulating possessions so it may be hard for them to be objective. Be sensitive to their feeling and try not to be pushy. The whole process may take longer than you like. Unless you have a certain deadline such as a house sale, try to follow their timetable for getting rid of items.

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