Alzheimer's & Children

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

We continue with our ongoing Alzheimer’s educational series this month…

 When a loved one has Alzheimer’s, it affects everyone in the family including children and grandchildren.  It’s important to talk to them about what is happening.  How much info you share depends on the child’s age and their relationship with the sufferer.  Below are some suggestions for helping children to understand what is happening:

·         Answer questions simply and honestly.  For instance, you might tell a child “Grandma has an illness that makes it hard for her to remember things”.

·         Understand that their feelings of sadness or anger are normal.

·         Provide comfort by telling them they didn’t cause the disease.  Young children may think they did something to hurt their grandparent.

·         Don’t expect a child to help with care, and don’t ask them to babysit.

·         Spend time with the child so they don’t feel all of the attention is given to the sufferer.

 Often, a young child will observe how you interact with someone, and then mimic that.  Make sure that interactions are pleasant for both the child and the sufferer and you’ll likely see the child initiate the same type of behavior.  Above all, do not force a child of any age to spend time with the Alzheimer’s patient.  Doing so could make them resent the person.

There's no place like home - Tips

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

"The stairs are getting hard to climb."

"Since my wife passed, I just open a can of soup for dinner."

  These are just two common statements you may hear as someone ages.  What to do?  Planning ahead is hard, you never know how your needs might change.  Perhaps you don’t need help but know someone who does.  The first step is to think about what kind of help you would want. 

  So what’s available for in-home care?  Here’s a quick breakdown:

   Personal Care – This covers hygiene assistance such as bathing, washing hair, dressing, etc.

   Homemaking – Assistance with chores like housecleaning, grocery shopping, and laundry.

   Meals – Eating out is one option, but can be expensive.  Home delivered meals are another choice.  Assistance with in-home meal preparation is generally most popular.

   Health Care – This may cover anything from assistance for someone just released from medical treatment, transport to a Doctor’s appointment, to helping manage medicines.  There are also electronic devices designed to dispense your medicines.  Check out www.abledata.com for a great listing of assistive devices.

  Where to find help?  Obviously, if you’re reading this, you’ve made a good start.  Your Doctor or friends that have had the same experience can also be invaluable, as well as local Senior Centers or Council On Aging offices.

  Once you’ve chosen your services, check out www.govbenefits.gov or http://www.benefitscheckup.org/ to find out about any local benefits that may be available.  Finally, if you are a veteran, call our office to find out how certain benefits may offset your home care costs.

  The final tip!  Don’t wait until you have to make a choice.  Do a little planning in advance.  If you have questions, call us!

5 Important Points For Estate Planning

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC. Visit our website at www.lknhomecare.com , or call us at 704.909.7958

 Many people believe that a personal will is all they need to plan their estate.  In reality, there are 5 areas that need to be addressed.  Having your affairs in order takes away the burden that would fall upon family during an already difficult time.  The 5 areas that should be addressed are:

1. Will.  A will is a legally-binding statement directing who will receive your property at your death. If you do not have a will, the state will determine how your property is distributed.

2. Trust.  A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), holds legal title to property for another person, called a "beneficiary." Trusts have one set of beneficiaries during those beneficiaries' lives and another set -- often their children -- who begin to benefit only after the first group has died. There are several different reasons for setting up a trust. The most common reason is to avoid probate. If you establish a revocable living trust that terminates when you die, any property in the trust passes immediately to the beneficiaries. This can save time and money for the beneficiaries.

3. Power of Attorney.  A power of attorney allows a person you appoint, your "attorney-in-fact", to act in your place for financial purposes when and if you ever become incapacitated. In that case, the person you choose will be able to step in and take care of your financial affairs.

4. Medical Directive.  A medical directive may encompass a number of different documents, including a health care proxy, a durable power of attorney for health care, a living will, and medical instructions. The exact document or documents will depend on your state's laws and the choices you make.

5. Beneficiary Designations.  Although not necessarily a part of your estate plan, at the same time you create an estate plan, you should make sure your retirement plan beneficiary designations are up to date. If you don't name a beneficiary, the distribution of benefits may be controlled by state or federal law or according to your particular retirement plan.