Category: Legislative and Political Issues

Fundamentally Changing How We Think About Growing Older

Blog Post by Paul Hogan, Chairman and Founder, Home Instead, Inc.

Social Capital, Lifelong Learning

Greetings,
PaulHogan-FromtheDeskPHOTO

This issue was brought home to me when my colleagues who serve with me on the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Ageing and I developed a book, Global Population Ageing:  Peril or Promise?, to examine the successes associated with aging.

The book explores the ways global aging will reinvent how societies and economies work. In chapter seven, “Social Capital, Lifelong Learning and Social Innovation,” my co-authors and I call on researchers and policymakers to review how they describe and respond to aging trends. For example, a U.S. Federal report recently stated 42% of people in the U.S. over 65 have at least one functional limitation. The report neglected to reinforce that 58% are not functionally limited.

How the statistics are reported does not change the data, but the choice of words speaks to the perception that the senior years are a stage of burden and decline. In contrast, proprietary research conducted in 2010 by Home Instead Senior Care showed that 62% of men over 85 report no limitations to daily living.

The Marist Poll Organization, in research also conducted in 2010 for Home Instead, said younger generations–62% of the Millennials and 60% of Generation X–feel that people should be encouraged to continue working as they reach retirement age.

Our own U.S. government is an example of the graying of America. Among U.S. Senators, four are in their 80s, 23 are in their 70s and 36 are in their 60s.  Approximately 190 U.S. Representatives, or 43%, are 60 years old or older.

As a society, we cannot continue to promote stereotypes and cling to pessimistic assumptions about aging. A more virtuous response is to identify the opportunities presented to society at a time when many citizens are enjoying a longevity bonus. We have a tremendous chance to learn from the wisdom available from our seniors.

According to the Global Agenda Council on Ageing, “Current demographic changes require comprehensive responses. However, much of the discussion focuses on the challenges occasioned by an ageing society rather than on the opportunities. These negative scenarios need not be our fate; there are significant benefits to an ageing world, but they require smart policies. This Council focuses on healthy ageing and the discourse on ageing to facilitate healthy and participative living in age-friendly environments and to realize the social and economic potential of elders.”

By changing our thinking, we will change the face of aging. Won’t you join this mission? As always, I am available to listen to your feedback.

Sincerely,

Paul R. Hogan

Paul Hogan is Chairman & Founder of Home Instead Senior Care and, with his wife Lori, co-author of Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions

 

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No Comments by Mike Brunt on May 15, 2012
filed in Baby Boomer Age Wave, Legislative and Political Issues

What Happens to Your Digital Assets When you Become Incapacitated or Die?

Post by Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, with Draneas & Huglin, P.C.

Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

What do I mean by the term “digital assets?”  This term includes any assets in a computer-readable format and stored on a computer, server, or other electronic device.  Examples include websites:  Facebook, iTunes, Twitter, Flickr and similar accounts; documents and other information saved in the “cloud;” and bank, investment and other accounts accessed over the Web.

At this time, most people have no planning in place for what happens to these digital assets when they become incapacitated or die.  Currently, Oregon, like most other states, has no law in place that gives fiduciaries (trustees, conservators, or personal representatives) access to these digital assets.  I serve on a committee of lawyers that has developed a legislative proposal to pass a law that gives fiduciaries access to digital assets.  However, the process is complicated by the user agreements that a person electronically approves when the person opens one of these accounts.  You know, the window that pops up displaying the user agreement that you automatically click the “I Agree” button on without reading the agreement?

The story of Oregon Mom, Karen Williams, illustrates the problem of accessing digital assets after a death.  When her son died in a motorcycle accident in 2005, she found his password and emailed Facebook, requesting that the administrators maintain his account so that she could read his posts and comments by his friends.  Within two hours, Facebook had blocked his account.  After a two-year legal battle, Williams finally gained access to her son’s account.

Other reasons a fiduciary may want to gain access to an account include the removal of hateful or distressing comments that may be posted (this has been a problem on Facebook memorial accounts for deceased police officers) or a conservator for an incapacitated person may need to gain access to accounts in order to determine whether the person has been financially abused.

At this time, the legal authority of a fiduciary to gain access to these digital assets is far from certain.  In fact, state law makes it a criminal offense to access the computer accounts of another person.  I invite you to think about what you would like to have happen to your digital assets when you die.  I will keep you posted on the progress of the legislative proposal in future posts.

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200, Lake Oswego, OR,
(503) 496-5509, stephanie@draneaslaw.com, www.pegasusfiduciary.com

 

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2 Comments by jeanblackburn on April 4, 2012
filed in Elder Law, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Legislative and Political Issues, Senior Resource Alliance NW, Technology, Equipment, and Devices, Uncategorized

My Doctor wants me to sign a POLST form. What’s a POLST?

Post by Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, with Draneas & Huglin, P.C.

Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

Clients who visit my office for estate planning assistance frequently bring with them a POLST form that they received from their doctor.  They want to know if they should complete the form.  My answer to their questions will vary, depending on their health circumstances.

The acronym POLST stands for “Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment.”  Some form of POLST is available in the majority of states.  The POLST is designed to be used by individuals who suffer from a terminal or life-limiting illness.  The form allows a person to express his or her wishes with regard to receipt of:
1.   Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
2.   Degree of medical intervention; and
3.   Tube feeding.

For example, when a terminally ill person decides not to pursue life-saving treatment or opts for hospice, a brightly colored POLST will be posted in one or more prominent places in the residence (often attached to the front door of the residence and the bedroom door) to alert medical personnel to the fact that the person does not want to be resuscitated and that natural death should be allowed to occur.

To be valid, a POLST form must be signed by the individual’s attending physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner.  The POLST form becomes an official part of the individual’s medical record and may be registered with the Oregon POLST registry
(http://www.ohsu.edu/polst/programs/OregonPOLSTRegistry.htm).   The POLST follows the person wherever he or she receives medical treatment, be it in a healthcare facility, home or hospice center.

A POLST form is fully amendable.  Individuals can change their wishes at any time and are free to request medical treatment different from what is on the POLST form.  Further, individuals can grant a representative the ability to modify or revoke the POLST form in the event the individual becomes incapacitated.

The POLST complements the Advance Directive and is not intended to replace it or other estate planning (will, trust, power of attorney, etc.)  An Advance Directive is necessary to appoint a legal health care representative and provide instructions for future life-sustaining treatments.  The Advance Directive is recommended for all adults, regardless of their health status.  A POLST form should accompany an Advance Directive when appropriate.

For more information about the POLST, an extensive “Frequently Asked Questiions” page is available at http://www.ohsu.edu/polst/patients-families/faqs.htm.

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P>C> 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, http://stephanie@draneaslaw.com

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No Comments by jeanblackburn on February 6, 2012
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Elder Law, End-of-Life Care, Family Caregivers, Legislative and Political Issues, Senior Care Reference Materials, Senior Resource Alliance NW, Uncategorized

Oregon Transfer-On-Death Deeds: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Post by Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, with Draneas & Huglin, P.C.

Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

On January 1, 2012, a new estate planning tool became available to Oregonians–the Transfer-on-Death Deed (TODD).  The new law allows property owners to transfer real property (i.e., real estate) to one or more beneficiaries using a TODD.   The Deed must be recorded while the transferor is still living, but is revocable and does not take effect until the transferor’s death.  This means that the property owner can sell the property at any time during his or her lifetime, automatically revoking the TODD.

Bank accounts, certificates of deposit, investment accounts, life insurance and almost all other assets have long allowed the owner to designate a beneficiary and, thus, avoid probate.  Real property, often the largest asset a person owns, did not allow such a designation.  The new TODD is intended to allow for real property to pass after death without probate.

When used in the right circumstances, a TODD could save the estate money.

As an estate planner, I have several concerns about the use of  TODDs without first obtaining competent legal advice.  Some of these are:

1.  Potential for fraud and elder abuse.  An untrustworthy individual could influence an elderly property owner to sign a TODD in his or her favor.  Such a transfer may defeat the transferor’s estate planning objectives.  The persons who would otherwise have inherited the property would have to bring a court action to defeat the TODD.

2.  18-month Cloud on Title.  When an estate is probated, there is a four-month creditor claim period, and the State of Oregon must be informed of the probate proceeding.  At the end of the claim period, clear title to the property may be transferred.  If a TODD is used, the property may not be transferred for 18 months.  One of the reasons for this longer period is to allow the state of Oregon to learn of the property owner’s death and assert a claim against the property for monies the State paid out for Medicaid care.

3.  Multiple grantors may lead to inconsistent results.  If there are joint grantors, a surviving grantor may revoke the deed after the other grantor’s death.  The revocation may be inconsistent with the deceased grantor’s wishes.

A TODD may or may not be the best tool for you to use to transfer real property at your death.  Consult an estate planning attorney to learn if this option is right for you.

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, stephanie@draneaslaw.com

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No Comments by jeanblackburn on January 31, 2012
filed in Baby Boomer Age Wave, Education for Senior Providers, Elder Law, Family Caregivers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Legislative and Political Issues, Senior Resource Alliance NW

Who Gets the Tax Deduction When Decedent’s Personal Property is Donated to a Charity?

Post by Stephanie Carter,  Attorney at Law, with Draneas & Huglin, P.C.

Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

When I assist a personal representative in the probate of an estate, the question almost always arises:  Who gets the tax deduction when the decedent’s personal property is donated to a charity?

Most clients assume that the estate gets the tax deduction.  That is incorrect!  Instead, the receipt for the deduction should be passed on to the beneficiary.  So, look at the decedent’s will or trust to see who was gifted the decedent’s personal property.  If the decedent died with no estate planning in place, then you would look at the intestacy statute to see who inherits the estate.

It is also important to remember that a trustee or personal representative (“fiduciary”) should not dispose of personal property to anyone other than the designated beneficiary without authorization.  Sometimes this authorization is provided in the will or trust.
For example, the estate planning document may give the fiduciary discretion to sell personal property and give the beneficiary the proceeds from sale.  In other cases, the beneficiaries may jointly agree that certain items may be donated (e.g., those items that do not sell at an estate sale).

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, stephanie@draneaslaw.com

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No Comments by jeanblackburn on January 30, 2012
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Elder Law, End-of-Life Care, Family Caregivers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Legislative and Political Issues, Senior Resource Alliance NW

Lack of Estate Planning Sets the Stage for Conflict

Post by Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, with Draneas & Huglin, P.C.

Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

A surprising number of famous people have died without any form of will or trust to direct distribution of their estate.  This has often led to conflicts over the right to control the estate assets, including intellectual property, public image, and other money-producing assets.

For example, Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t have a will when he was unfortunately assassinated.  His estate, which is run now through a corporation established by his children, often struggles to determine what King’s wishes would be.  Decades after the civil rights leader’s death, his children are still trying to sort out matters related to his estate.

Reggae singer Bob Marley left no will when he died in 1981.  Over the past 30 years, the estate has been involved in multiple lawsuits.  Handling Marley’s estate was complicated by the fact that, although Marley died in Florida, he maintained his Jamaican citizenship.  Since Jamaica’s laws of intestacy were not as generous as Florida’s, his advisors decided to prepare an estate plan AFTER HIS DEATH that Marley’s widow then signed.

The Jamaican court sorted out the issue of the falsified will and removed Marley’s widow as administrator of the estate.  The court then had to resolve the issue of who had the right to use the singer’s name, likeness and image in commerce.  About 10 years after Marley’s death, the Jamaican Supreme Court decided that Marley’s heirs possessed this exclusive right.  The heirs include the widow and Marley’s children.  Unfortunately, the list of heirs does not incude siblings.  The estate is now suing Marley’s half-brother for using his image to promote a Miami music festival and restaurant, as he has done for many years.

Swedish author Steig Larsson, known for his Millennium series that includes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, also died without a will.  His estate passed to his heirs (brother and father with whom Larsson was not close) rather than his long-time partner, Eva Gabrielsson.  Gabrielsson has refused to release to the estate the partial fourth volume in the book series, has fought for her share of the apartment they shared, and control over Larsson’s literary estate, which she feels better prepared to administer than Larsson’s family  The dispute is still pending.

Although your estate may not be large, and you may not be famous, proper estate planning can help pass your estate to the next generation without the conflicts that occur when money and sentiment are involved.

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, stephanie@draneaslaw.com

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No Comments by jeanblackburn on January 30, 2012
filed in Communication and Relationships, Education for Senior Providers, Elder Law, End-of-Life Care, Family Caregivers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Legislative and Political Issues, Senior Care Reference Materials, Senior Resource Alliance NW, Uncategorized

Dispute Over Estate of Stieg Larsson Highlights Importance of Estate Planning

Post by Stephanie Carter, Elder Law Attorney with Draneas & Huglin, P.C.

Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

In November 2004, Stieg Larsson, Swedish writer and journalist, died suddenly of a heart attack.  Larsson became famous after his death through the posthumous publication of his Millennium Trilogy (“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest”).  Today, these books have sold more than 20 million copies in 41 countries and have been made into movies.

Larsson lived for 32 years with the architect Eva Gabrielsson.  They never married; they had no children; and he did not leave a will.  Swedish law makes no provision for common-law marriage.  Under the Swedish law of intestacy, Larsson’s entire estate was inherited by his Father and Brother, from whom he was estranged.

This disposition of Larsson’s estate sparked a bitter dispute between Larsson’s Father, Brother and Eva Gabrielsson.  Gabrielsson claimed that Larsson’s Father and Brother Larsson “were never a part of our lives” and that they are unsuited to handling his estate–including the valuable copyrights.

Larsson’s former workplace, Expo, owns the computer on which is stored the partial manuscript for the fourth book in the Millennium series.  Larsson’s Father and Brother own the contents of the computer.   However, Gabrielsson currently is in possession of the computer and has so far refused to hand it over.

Negotiations between the parties began in November 2009, but were broken off the following month when Gabrielsson announced she had declined a ”settlement” offer of about 2 million euros from Larsson’s estate (which is now valued in the tens of millions of euros).  The dispute remains unresolved.

 

Practical Application Under Oregon Law

The situation described above is unfortunately all too common.  The outcome under Oregon law would be similar to that of Sweden in this context. If a person dies with no will, the deceased person’s probate estate wil pass to members of his or her family in the order of priority listed in the statute.  If assets like bank accounts, certificate of deposit, and life insurance list beneficiaries, the asset will pass to the listed beneficiary.  If no beneficiary is listed, the asset becomes a part of the probate estate.

The problem also arises when a deceased person signs estate planning documents, but never updates them and does not regularly (every 3-5 years) check the beneficiary designations on assets that do not pass by will or trust.

It is very difficult when I have to tell a client that he or she will not share in a loved one’s estate because of outdated documents.  Do you have estate planning in place?  If so, how long has it been since you updated it?

Stephanie Carter, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, Stephanie@draneaslaw.com

 

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No Comments by conniemulligan on October 20, 2011
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Baby Boomer Age Wave, Education for Senior Providers, Elder Law, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Legislative and Political Issues, Senior Care Reference Materials, Senior Resource Alliance NW

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – Conference May 20

Blog Post by Deborah Letourneau
Program Coordinator - Washington County Department of Aging and Veteran Services

Dear Colleagues and Community Partners:
 
Please help to spread the word about the Third Annual Washington Co. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren conference. This is an important opportunity for those who are parenting the second time around to meet one another and share a day of fun and learning.
 
The event is co-sponsored by WCDAVS Family Caregiver Support Program and the Washington Co. Commission on Children and Families.
 
We have taken seriously past requests for an event for Latino grandparents, and for the first time presentations will be offered in separate English and Spanish sessions.  English and Spanish flyers are attached along with speaker information.
 
DATE:  Friday, May 20th, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
LOCATION:  the former Hillsboro PCC Center, 102 SW Washington St., Hillsboro
TO REGISTER:  Grandparents should call 503-846-3089 to save their space!
 
Printable Event Flyer
 
Thank you,
 
Deborah Letourneau
Program Coordinator
WCDAVS
503-846-3083
deborah_letourneau@co.washington.or.us

No Comments by Mike Brunt on April 5, 2011
filed in Family Caregivers, Legislative and Political Issues, Practical Tips and Resources, Technology, Equipment, and Devices

Study Links Paid In-Home Senior Care With Fewer Doctor Visits

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area


Link to White Paper: Paid In-Home Care: MORE CARE & BETTER CARE FOR SENIORS

This Home Instead Senior Care-commissioned research project—entitled the “Value of Caregiving at Home” study—examined the perceptions and experiences of U.S. caregivers for seniors by conducting a survey among adults (aged 18 and older) who were providing and/or arranging care for an older adult (aged 65 or older).

Listed below are several findings from the study:

  • As the number of older Americans rapidly expands, paid in-home non-medical care can play a vital role in ensuring that seniors receive necessary and appropriate care even though the U.S. healthcare system is stretched thin in funding and staffing – a problem that likely will become more pronounced in the coming decades.
  • In an especially significant finding, the study indicates that on average, seniors receiving paid in-home non-medical care experience fewer doctor visits each year. This has major financial implications for seniors and their families, the healthcare system, and the federal budget.
  • The use of paid in-home non-medical professionals has a major impact not only on the quality of care that seniors receive, but also on the number of hours per week of care that they receive.
  • The use of professional in-home non-medical care may help delay or even prevent the need for more formal medical care, thus taking significant pressure off the country’s resource-strapped healthcare system – especially hospitals and nursing homes.

 

Link to White Paper: Paid In-Home Care: MORE CARE & BETTER CARE FOR SENIORS

No Comments by Mike Brunt on March 23, 2011
filed in Clinical Insights for Elder Care, Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Legislative and Political Issues

Congress Endorses a National Plan to Combat Alzheimer’s

With Alzheimer’s Patients Growing in Number, Congress Endorses a National Plan

By PAM BELLUCK
Original Article Published in the New York Times: December 15, 2010

Congress has voted unanimously to create, for the first time, a national plan to combat Alzheimer’s disease with the same intensity as the attacks on AIDS and cancer.

The bill, expected to be signed by President Obama, would establish a National Alzheimer’s Project within the Department of Health and Human Services, to coordinate the country’s approach to research, treatment and caregiving.

Its goal, the legislation says, is to “accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, halt or reverse the course of Alzheimer’s” and “improve the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and coordination of the care and treatment of citizens with Alzheimer’s.”

The project would include an advisory council of representatives from agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Food and Drug Administration, the Indian Health Service and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Scientific experts, health care providers and people caring for relatives with Alzheimer’s would also be included.

“If you go to war, you have planning, planning, planning,” said Representative Christopher H. Smith, Republican of New Jersey, who co-sponsored the bill. “Well, this is a war on a dreaded disease. We need to bring all the disparate elements together for the greatest possible result.”

While the act itself does not authorize more money, one of the recommendations of the national plan “is likely to be for an increase in research money for Alzheimer’s,” said another co-sponsor of the bill, Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine.

“We spend one penny on research for every dollar the federal government spends on care for patients with Alzheimer’s,” she said. “That just doesn’t make sense. We really need to step up the investment.”

The legislation was driven by the rapidly rising number of people with Alzheimer’s — about 5.3 million now, and expected to triple by 2050. The cost of their care to Medicare and Medicaid was about $170 billion last year. By 2050, Ms. Collins said, it will grow to $800 billion a year, more than the military budget.

The House passed the bill on Wednesday, and the Senate last Thursday.

The advisory council would draft an annual report on federally financed programs involving research, treatment, nursing homes and home care, recommending which to expand or eliminate. It would also ensure that members of ethnic and racial groups at higher risk for Alzheimer’s be included in research and treatment.

Alzheimer’s experts said the effort could make a significant difference.

“What really makes this so powerful is that it takes us from a lot of small efforts going on locally to doing something in a coordinated way,” said Dr. Kenneth Kosik, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “If there’s one thing we know in science it is that to draw conclusions we need numbers, large-size populations to study.”

The national plan will reinforce efforts to detect brain changes that occur years before people develop symptoms of dementia, and to develop drugs to prevent or substantially delay symptoms.

“Dealing with symptoms only after the fact is not going to solve the problem,” said Dr. Zaven Khachaturian, a former director of Alzheimer’s research for the National Institutes of Health. Delaying symptoms for just five years, he said, “we will cut down tremendously” on the number of people who live long enough to develop Alzheimer’s.

Representative Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who co-sponsored the bill, said his mother had had Alzheimer’s. “We’re trying to create a sense of urgency so that we’re developing multiple pathways that ultimately might be successful,” he said. “We’ve done it with polio, we’ve done it with AIDS.

“It’s a unique disease to the extent that patients can’t lobby for themselves, and the person close to them cannot lobby because they’re home taking care of that person. There are no Alzheimer’s survivors.”

A version of this article appeared in print on December 16, 2010, on page A26 of the New York edition.

No Comments by Mike Brunt on January 17, 2011
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Geriatric Psychiatry, Legislative and Political Issues

Six Things to Look for When Visiting Elderly Parents

Blog Post by Lynne Coon, MS

If you live far away from your aging parents, the holiday season is often the one time you may see them all year. Enjoy your visit and use the opportunity to check to see how they’re coping.

1. The condition of your mother and father’s home. If things don’t look clean or you see stacks of paperwork, magazines, or other stuff sitting around this may be a sign that they’re not keeping up. Ask them how they’re doing. It might be a good time to explore whether they could use a housecleaner or are ready to move to a smaller living space.

2. Food in cupboards, refrigerator and freezer. How much food is in the cupboards and refrigerator? Are things outdated? Is the freezer full of frozen dinners? Food preparation is often one of the first things to fall by the wayside for an older adult.

3. Covert messages from friends and neighbors. If you have an opportunity to speak with your parents’ close friends and neighbors, listen closely for anything they may be trying to communicate. They may be torn between not wanting to meddle and feeling concerned so they may not give you direct information. If you suspect something is different about your parents ask friends and neighbors if they think anything is different. They may be looking to you for a signal that it’s okay to share their concerns.

4. How your parents are in social situations. Are they happy, present in the conversation, aware of what’s going on around them? Or do they look overwhelmed or confused? If your parents spend a great deal of time alone, being around a large group of people can be overwhelming. If they seem this way throughout your trip or no matter how small the group they’re around, it might be cause for further investigation.

5. Opportunities to interact with their medical professionals. If there’s an opportunity to tag along to a medical appointment do it. While HIPPA prevents medical staff from sharing information with you without your parents’ permission, if you go into the room when they see the doctor you can hear what’s being discussed and ask any questions you have. This might also be a good time to ask your parents for permission to talk with medical staff. (This requires that they sign a release specifically listing you as someone their doctor can share information with. Explain to your parent’s that it would be helpful to be able to talk to their doctor in an emergency.

6. Driving skills. Be a passenger in the car with your parent. Simply observe his/her comfort level behind the wheel, how she/he responds to traffic situations and if he/she shows any signs of confusion. You may need to allow for the fact that just you being in the car may make her/him nervous.

If you discover things that concern you, don’t jump to the conclusion that your parent is slipping. For example, in #1-#4 above, the changes you see may not be the result of your parents getting older and frail but of drug interactions or depression. Some next steps might be to discuss your concerns with your parents; find out what medications your parents are on and do your own research on drug interactions; encourage them to talk to their doctor about drug interactions or a depression screening; consider whether a neurological evaluation would be helpful; visit again, sooner rather than later if you have any concerns, and continue to monitor.

Enjoy your time with family this holiday season!

Lynne Coon, MS — counselor serving communities in the greater Portland metropolitan area including: Portland, Vancouver, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Tualatin, Beaverton, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, King City, West Linn, Wilsonville, Gresham, Troutdale, Scappoose, St Helens, Camas, Brush Prairie, Battle Ground, and Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Washington County and Clark County.

No Comments by Mike Brunt on December 14, 2010
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Communication and Relationships, Family Caregivers, Legislative and Political Issues, Practical Tips and Resources, Senior Nutrition and Health

Seniors and The Information Gap

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area

Information from Paul Hogan, Founder of Home Instead Senior Care

Seniors and The Information Gap

We live in an information age. As consumers and citizens, information directs the way we invest or spend our money, ultimately determining how we live out our retirement years. Information is a game-changer for seniors. That’s how I view the findings of Home Instead, Inc.’s white paper Seniors & the Information Gap.

Home Instead Senior Care®, the company my wife Lori and I founded, commissioned the research report to discover how well seniors and their adult children understand senior care issues. As senior care advocates, it did not surprise Lori and me that survey respondents generally:

  • knew little about senior care options
  • were misguided about how much those options cost
  • were poorly informed about the financial resources needed to cover senior care costs

 

For example, 71 percent of adult children and 66 percent of seniors could name only two senior care options. And, by a large margin, the two they named most frequently were the most expensive options. In contrast, the book Lori and I wrote, Stages of Senior Care, lists nine choices in the senior care continuum.

Other survey findings showed:

  • 50 percent of seniors said they have not planned for their futures
  • respondents think senior care services cost more than they actually do, except in the case of skilled nursing homes. Nursing home care actually costs about $78,000 a year, but the majority of adult children of seniors thought it costs nearly $20,000 less than that.

 

These knowledge gaps are costly – and not knowing one’s financial options could quickly deplete a lifetime of retirement savings. In human terms, this may lead to seniors leaving their homes for facilities when that option is not necessary.  Seniors prefer to age in their own homes, and with safe and affordable in-home care, seniors can remain in their own homes much longer than they would be able to otherwise.

The senior care information gap also poses a major challenge for public officials, social workers, health care professionals, community planners and families. A lack of reliable facts on aging could result in serious disruptions in U.S. society, health care services and the economy.

Our country stands to lose too much, so elected officials must derail this impending crisis and reverse the senior care information gap. I know private sector thought leaders could contribute invaluable pro bono consultation through a public-private partnership to ensure the information age pays special attention to the age wave.

Seniors & the Information Gap affirms my belief that, together, we can have a far-reaching impact in senior care education. That’s why my personal goal and my corporate motto are the same: To change the face of aging. I stand ready to assist your efforts on behalf of seniors.

Sincerely,

Paul R. Hogan

Paul Hogan is Chairman & Founder of Home Instead Senior Care and, with his wife Lori, co-author of Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions.

2 Comments by Mike Brunt on November 5, 2010
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Legislative and Political Issues

Caring for the Aging: Time to Create a New Model

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area

Content is direct text of a white paper written by Paul Hogan, co-founder of Home Instead Senior Care, and one of the nations thought leaders on how to make sure health care reform includes providing for the care of America’s aging population.

Link to full text of Hogan’s white paper:
Caring for the Aging: The Old System is Obsolete, Time to Create a New Model

Introduction

Rational, economical, sustainable reform of America’s healthcare system is a national imperative. There are many parts to achieving reform, but no plan will be complete if it fails to address the issue of providing for the care of America’s aging population.

Indeed, in view of the impending “age wave” of baby boomers that is descending upon the nation, it is not too much to say that senior care must be one of healthcare reform’s highest priorities. The current unstructured system for senior care evolved haphazardly during the 20th century and is hopelessly inadequate to the challenges that lie ahead. For decades, it consisted of what one might call a binary situation: You cared for mom as long as you could, then put her in a nursing home.

Today, a range of options has grown up, from seniors aging in their homes while they are supported by nonmedical caregivers who provide companionship and help with daily chores, to assisted living facilities, to nursing homes – with many choices in between.

Unfortunately, government regulations and financing have failed to keep pace with this dramatically changed landscape. It is necessary, therefore, as part of any healthcare reform plan, to develop a comprehensive national policy for senior care.

When properly done, the policy will maximize the choices that seniors and their caregivers have while keeping costs manageable for all the parties involved. It will insure that the care is safe and well-regulated. It will keep seniors fully informed about their many options. And it will strive to maintain a supply of caregivers that is sufficient to meet the
nation’s needs.

Link to full text of Hogan’s white paper:
Caring for the Aging: The Old System is Obsolete, Time to Create a New Model

1 Comment by Mike Brunt on August 31, 2010
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Legislative and Political Issues
At Home Instead Senior Care, we provide non-medical services to senior citizens in their own homes or apartments. Our services include companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, escorting to appointments, personal care, and dementia care. We help seniors maintain their independence and help them stay safe, healthy, and happy at home, wherever home may be.

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