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12 Helpful Apps for Caregivers Caring for an older adult can be rewarding, but it can also be extremely stressful. From not knowing if you’re doing the right thing, to coordinating your efforts with the rest of your family, it can get overwhelming at times. Luckily, technology is here to help. There are apps for your smartphone that can help you manage the daily stress of caregiving, and give you some much needed breathing room in your life.
A Warning About Online and Foreign Pharmacies It is no secret that medications are expensive, and prices for prescription drugs can change from year to year. Understandably, everyone wants to find the best deal for necessary medications. In an effort to find the lowest costs for medications, people often turn to online pharmacies or pharmacies from countries outside of the U.S.
Assistive Technology can help the Caregiver The life of a caregiver can be incredibly busy. When your loved one needs help with daily living tasks such as dressing, grooming, walking and eating, a lot of time and energy is consumed on these tasks alone. Add to that doctor’s appointments, medication management, housekeeping, grocery shopping, cooking and laundry and you wonder how to get it all done. And it’s nice to share some quality time with your loved one, not to mention taking care of your own needs!
Changes to the Marketplace Are you enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through the Marketplace? If so, have you experienced any life changes like getting a raise or gaining another member in your household? These are examples of the types of life changes that you have to report to the Marketplace when you are enrolled in a QHP.
Changing Relationships in Caregiving If you are caring for an aging parent, you find yourself in a role-reversal situation, taking care of the person who used to take care of you. It may feel awkward to be the one taking charge and making decisions for the person you call mom or dad. And conversely, your parent may be resistant to your help; either embarrassed or frustrated by their lack of independence or unwilling to let their “child” take care of them.
Choosing an Elder Law or Estate Planning Attorney who is Familiar with Medicaid Laws Choosing an Elder Law or Estate Planning Attorney who is Familiar with Medicaid Laws
Coordinating Medicare and Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance As Baby Boomers work past the traditional retirement age or go back to work after retiring, more and more people over 65 are trying to figure out how to coordinate Medicare with group health plan coverage through an employer
Dental Insurance vs. Dental Savings Plans If you or someone you love is looking to save money on the high cost of dental care, two available options include dental insurance and dental savings plans. These may sound similar, but they offer different types of benefits and have different limitations. There are pros and cons of each. It is important to know the difference between the two and choose a plan that is right for your individual dental care needs.
DHS Launches MyACCESS App The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recently launched the MyACCESS mobile app.
Driving and Aging Driving is a critical issue for seniors. Not only are many older drivers at a higher risk for road accidents, people over 65 are more likely to be seriously hurt in a vehicle accident.
Driving Retirement Being able to drive is more than just getting where you want to go. It is a symbol of freedom, independence and self-sufficiency. But it is important to consider what happens when declining vision, medication side-effects or a degenerative condition means your loved one is no longer safe to drive. Transitioning from driver to non-driver is a difficult decision. Planning ahead can alleviate some anxiety.
Elder Law Elder law is a legal specialty area focused on the specific legal needs of older adults. Elder law attorneys have a variety of expertise with trust and estate planning, Medicare, Social Security, retirement, guardianships, health and long-term care planning, public benefits including Medicaid, and many other issues affecting older adults. Not all elder law attorneys are familiar with every aspect of the law that may affect older adults. Some elder law attorneys may be well versed in estate planning and guardianships but not know much about Medicaid law.
Farmers’ Markets and FoodShare Congress created the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to improve access to nutrition for low-income individuals.
Free Security Freezes Coming Soon! Starting this fall, a new law will require the big three credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to let you freeze your credit report for free.
Guidance for Caregivers to Address Concerns Related Social Distancing Guidance for Caregivers to Address Concerns Related Social Distancing
GWAAR Precautions You Can Take if You Think Your Identity Has Been Stolen If something like this happens to you, there are steps you can take. Here are some things you can do if you suspect personal information has been stolen but do not yet have concrete proof of a theft:
Handwashing Tips Handwashing Tips
Home Improvement Project Ideas for Aging in Place Are you planning to stay in your home for as long as you can? If so, you’re not alone. According to research by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the AARP Public Policy Institute, nearly 90 percent of people over the age of 65 want to stay in their homes for as long as possible.
It's Time - Out-of-home Care One of the most difficult experiences a caregiver may face is considering an out-of-home placement for their loved one. Although we usually think that keeping someone in their own home is the ultimate goal, sometimes there is a point when staying at home may no longer be the best option. If you are wondering if it might be time to move your loved one to a continuing-care facility, you may find these questions helpful in deciding.
Lease Provisions that Will Void a Rental Agreement GWAAR Legal team outlines tenant rights
Medicare Hospice Benefits Hospice care focuses on comfort, symptom control, and pain relief for patients with a life-limiting illness. Services provided by the hospice team relate to caring for the individual, rather than curing a condition or disease. Support is available to the patient as well as family members and caregivers.
Medicare Provides Annual Doctor Visits, But Not Regular Physicals Did you know that Medicare pays for a “Welcome to Medicare Visit” and an “Annual Wellness Visit?” It is important to recognize that neither of these visits are physical exams.
Midyear Formulary (Covered Drugs) Changes Each Medicare drug plan has its own list of covered drugs (called a formulary). Many Medicare drug plans place drugs into different "tiers" on their formularies. Drugs in each tier have a different cost. During open enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries may pick a Medicare drug plan based on the drug plan’s formulary and what drugs are in each tier.
Need Help with Medicare Costs? Need Help with Medicare Costs?
New Medicare ID'S On The Way! The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will start mailing the new Medicare cards with the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) in April 2018.
New Mobile App for Public Benefits in Wisconsin Wisconsin DHS recently launched a new mobile application (app) for people to apply for and manage public benefits called MyACCESS
Pension Rights Project Serves the Upper Midwest Pension Rights Project Serves the Upper Midwest
Preparation Pays Off During the years I worked as a Caregiver Coordinator I talked with caregivers about home safety, caregiver burnout, self-care for the caregiver and also ways to prepare for the future.
Protect Yourself from Tax Season Scams Protect Yourself from Tax Season Scams
Reducing Holiday Stress It’s time for the holidays once again -- decorating, shopping, parties, family gatherings, presents, greeting cards…and the list goes on and on. While many people look forward to the hustle and bustle of the season, others see the holidays as a time of stress, chaos and sadness.
SSA Issues New Ruling on Benefits for Married LGBT Individuals The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on March 1, 2017, that it would reopen any decision to deny spousal or survivors benefits to a same-sex spouse based on same-sex marriage bans previously in effect.
Student Debt is Pushing Elders into Poverty Unfortunately, student loan debt is not a problem limited to Millennials. An increasing number of older Americans have defaulted on their federal student loans. These defaults can result in a portion of their Social Security retirement or disability benefits being withheld – known as an offset.
The Caregiving Rollercoaster Caring for an older adult can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride. Much of the time you are filled with joy and pride as you spend time with your loved one. Then there are times when you feel overwhelmed and stressed by the challenges of caregiving.
The Latest Medicare Scam Watch out for the latest Medicare scam— DNA/genetic testing schemes! Each year, the Medicare program loses $60 billion to fraud. The best way to reduce this figure is beneficiary education to prevent and reduce known pathways to fraudulent activities and unethical billing practices. The Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol staff have been hearing about DNA and genetic testing schemes in other parts of the country, and we recently learned that they are starting here in Wisconsin.
Tips for Diffusing Family Conflict Providing care for a loved one through a debilitating illness or at life’s end can create stress on individuals and families alike. Each family member has his/her own response to the difficult situation and will have varying levels of commitment to help. Each person handles stress, grief and change in their own way and will also have different ideas of what is best for the loved one needing care.
Tips for Visiting Someone in a Nursing Home Summer can be a time for travel, catching up with family and friends, and spending time outdoors. It can also mean more time and ability to visit loved ones in nursing homes.
Top 10 Scams Against Older Adults in 2017 The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging recently reported the top ten scams against older adults from 2017.
What To Do About The Equifax (or other) Data Breach The information released included people’s names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and even driver’s license numbers.
When Caregiving Ends When Caregiving Ends
When You Can’t Afford a Funeral It’s not unusual to avoid thinking about your death or a loved one’s death. The unintended result, however, is that you may not adequately plan for payment of your funeral, burial, or cremation.