Seniors ETC - In-home senior, parent, companion care, hospice support in Colorado

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” so uttered Benjamin Franklin in 1789. I’ll add another certainty:
a crook somewhere is looking for a manner of seizing your tax forms so that personal information can be stolen and used.

During tax season, ID thieves are looking for people to make careless mistakes concerning their tax information. Habits that we follow regularly can give thieves an opportunity to steal tax forms or copy information that they can use for ID theft. Tax time can already be painful; don’t make it worse by becoming a victim of ID theft. Here are some hints to keep your income tax response safer:

• Do not leave tax preparation information laying out at home—put everything away when you are not working on your taxes;
• Do not throw practice and duplicate forms away in your trash if they contain your Social Security number or other personal information—shred these forms;
• When you have finished your tax preparation, make copies of every form and store your information in a safe and secure place;
• Do not store tax preparation materials, like bank account numbers or Social Security numbers, on your computer;
• If you must send a check to the IRS, do not write your Social Security number on the check; consider filing and paying On-line;
• If you choose to mail your tax return, take it to the Post Office, stop your car and walk inside to deposit this information. Do not use a blue postal box to mail your tax return or leave this information sitting openly in your car for any length of time;
• Consider sending your tax return to the IRS by ‘Certified Mail, Return Receipt,’ so you will know it arrived and someone signed for it;
• Opt to have any tax refund electronically deposited into a bank account rather than having a refund check sit in your mailbox.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders, sleep problems are reaching epidemic proportions. It is now estimated to be the #1 health related problem in America. It costs $150 billion each year in higher stress and reduced worker productivity.

But what if you’re a caregiver? You can’t just change jobs, or sleep in when you are needed.

Carol O’Dell lays out some real solutions in her post 5 Signs of Dangerous Caregiver Stress and Sleep  Deprivation.

If you’ve ever found yourself zoning out, or not remembering why you entered a room, it may be time to change your sleep patterns.

Every year we start out with goals and resolutions for ourselves. But what about the one you are caregiving for? Start them out this year by making sure you have everything in place.

1. Do you have all of your new medical information together? December is a time for change; verify that you have all updated medical ID cards, and all medical and prescription program information together.

2. Are all of your loved one’s prescription purchased from the same place? If not, have a pharmacist review all medicines to help avoid adverse drug reactions.

3. Have your loved ones received their flu and pneumonia vaccinations? Its important to have these in place to prevent sickness during the next few months.

4. Have your loved ones received their annual checkups, both medial and vision? Make sure you request a hearing exam during their annual checkups.

5. Have your loved ones checked home security systems? Install fire and carbon monoxide alarms, check and replace batteries in existing alarms, and replace old alarms that are more than a few years old.

6. Is your parent’s home energy efficient? Have heating systems inspected and change air filters. Weatherize doors and windows. Install fluorescent light bulbs. Insulate pipes, both inside and out, and hot water heaters.

7. Is your loved one still driving? Verify when their driver’s licenses need to be renewed. Inspect their automobiles for safety and emission inspections. Verify auto insurance premiums and coverage.

8. Have your parents prepared and filed all necessary tax filings? Review all forms of income, and make sure you have everything in place for tax filing.

9. Are your loved ones on the DO NOT CALL registry? This is a good way to stop phone calls that may open up your loved ones to scam calls.

10. Have your parents completed a home inventory? List all important items and documents, and have the information in one secure place.

Currently over 20 million baby boomers are caring for their elderly parents on a part or full time basis, with dramatic annual increases forecast.

Are you one of them?

By 2010, over 40 million Americans will be over the age of 65. And a vast majority of them will either find themselves in a caregiving role, or requiring care.

The issues and choices each new caregiver will face is often overwhelming, and in some cases almost impossible to find answers for. Take a look at some of today’s top concerns:

In Home Care
As the population ages, the desire to help families and friends remain in their homes for as long as possible, or “age in place”, has created a dynamic industry and opportunities for home care and health care workers.

Three levels of in-home care are available: professional or skilled health care to help with medical needs after surgery or through rehabilitation; supportive care for people who need help with daily living items such as bathing, toileting or continence; and companion services for items like light housekeeping, meal preparation and transportation.

According to a study by MetLife of in-home caregiving concerns, over 1.3 million people were receiving some type of support in order to remain in their homes, and over 75 percent were living on a full time basis with their primary caregiver during the year 2000. This is one of the largest areas of expected growth because of the demand for being able to age in place.

Financial Assistance
The Silent Generation, or those born between 1933 and 1945 are bringing around a new way of looking at retirement. While they were born and raised to be fiscally conservative and employed at a time when many expected and received lifetime pensions, they are also learning from the Baby Boomers to value their lifestyles and independence.

With the Baby Boomers and future generations, no longer is pension and guaranteed retirement income within their grasp. Not only will the elderly be more strapped with rising costs, so will their caregivers face financial concerns related to their caregiving role.

Caregiving currently ranges anywhere from in-home companion costs of around $18 per hour, to adult day care fees of $61 per day, to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month for assisted living facilities. As the costs mount up, financial creativity will become the norm.

Future trends will see creative financial planning that will continue to allow existing funds to grow, yet also fund immediate living and healthcare needs. Things like reverse mortgages will become even more popular.

Employer Care Packages
According to the National Family Caregivers Association, more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year. And because a great majority of these caregivers are also holding down a full time job, the effects on employers are changing as well.

Employers are now offering family leave for time needed to deal with a sick family member. They are also beginning to offer seminars as a resource for working caregivers, and finding ways to be more flexible with their employees’ time.

Nobody expects to be a victim of crime or crisis.  Still, being prepared for the unexpected can pay off.  Here are some suggestions for recording vital information in case of a crime or emergency.

What’s In Your Wallet?
If someone stole your wallet today, what would you do?  While none of us think it will happen to us, the truth is that it might.  In case it does, make photocopies of the contents, including your driver’s license, other identification cards, passport, medical insurance card, and proof of auto insurance.  Do not carry your social security card in your wallet.Rarely are crime victims able to list the contents of a stolen wallet or purse.  But providing this information to deputies gives law enforcement a better chance of returning stolen goods to their owners.  Also, having copies of important cards can help get you through day-to-day necessities until the wallet is recovered or replaced.

Legal Papers
In the event of a fire or other natural disaster, the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management team recommends making copies of all legal papers, including: marriage license, proof of home/property ownership, vehicle titles, wills, insurance policies, bank account information and jewelry/valuable appraisals.  Keep these copies in a safe deposit box at your bank, or at another secure location away from the originals.

Yourself
If you have a medical condition, consider completing a “File of Life.”  The File of Life is a simple form that contains critical medical information that can assist medics responding to an emergency at your home.  To request a File of Life, contact the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management office at 303-271-4900.

Your Best Friend
Licensing reunites lost dogs with their owners.  A dog license can be traced 24 hours a day, every day of the year by an on-call animal control officer in any part of the county. The license database includes home and alternate phone numbers, a secondary person to contact in case of an emergency, as well as medical and dietary information on the dog.  For more information on licensing, visit http://animalcontrol.jeffco.us.

Cats are not licensed in Jefferson County.  However, both cats and dogs should wear an ID tag with the owner’s contact information.  Microchipping is also a good way to ensure your cat or dog’s safe return.

 Source: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office