Monday, August 29, 2016
Monday, July 11, 2016
Friday, July 8, 2016
Can Family Caregivers Reduce Hospital Costs? - Forbes
What are family caregivers worth? As the credit card commercial says, they are priceless. But they also have a financial value. And calculating that value is important as we consider ways to help them. For example, before Congress creates new government supports for family members who help aging parents or other relatives with disabilities, it will want to know if that assistance could reduce other government spending.There are lots of ways to figure what caregiving is worth. For example, you could calculate what it would cost if all those family caregivers were paid market rates for the personal care they provide. AARP figures the economic value of family care could be as much as $470 billion annually. Or you could try to calculate the lifetime financial sacrifice of a daughter who abandons her career to help a relative. By one estimate, the lifetime cost to a 50-something woman who quits her job to care for an aging parent can be as much $300,000 in lost wages and retirement benefits. Here is another way to measure the value of family caregiving: By providing badly needed support for relatives living at home, can the care provided by family members cut health care costs by, say, reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations? If they could, they’d not only improve the well-being of those they are helping, but they may also save government a significant amount of health care dollars.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Family Caregivers Programs and Support For Veterans
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| Injuries incurred by service members are covered by the Veteran Administration. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
How To Get Paid If You're A Family Caregiver
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| Janet Morris, Director of Bet Tzedek's Family Caregiver Program, with clients. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Dear Savvy Senior,
I have been taking care of my elderly mother for nearly three years and it’s taking a huge toll on my finances. Are there any resources you know about that can help family caregivers get paid?
—Financially Exhausted
Dear Exhausted,
To get paid as a family caregiver, there are various government programs, tax breaks and family payment options that may be able to help you, depending on your mom’s financial situation. Here’s where to look for help.
State Aid
If your mom is low-income and eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to get paid a small amount by the state. In 15 states, Medicaid offers a Cash & Counseling program (see cashandcounseling.org) that provides an allowance that can be used for various services, including paying family members for care.
If your mom is low-income and eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to get paid a small amount by the state. In 15 states, Medicaid offers a Cash & Counseling program (see cashandcounseling.org) that provides an allowance that can be used for various services, including paying family members for care.
Many other states have similar programs for low-income seniors, even if the person receiving care doesn’t quite qualify for Medicaid. To find out about these options contact your local Medicaid office.
Veterans Aid
In some communities across the U.S., veterans who are at risk of nursing home placement can enroll in the Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services program that allows veterans to manage their own care, including hiring and paying their own caregivers.
In some communities across the U.S., veterans who are at risk of nursing home placement can enroll in the Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services program that allows veterans to manage their own care, including hiring and paying their own caregivers.
Also available to wartime veterans and their spouses is a benefit called Aid and Attendance that helps pay for in-home care, as well as assisted living and nursing home care. This benefit can also be used to pay family caregivers.
To be eligible your mom must need assistance with daily living activities like bathing, dressing or going to the bathroom. And, her income must be under $13,362 as a surviving spouse — minus medical and long-term care expenses. If your mom is a single veteran, her income must be below $20,795 to be eligible. Her assets must also be less than $80,000, excluding her home and car.
To learn more see va.gov/geriatrics, or contact your regional VA office, or your local veterans service organization. For contact information, call 800-827-1000.
Tax Breaks
Uncle Sam may also be able to help if you pay at least half of your mom’s yearly expenses, and her annual income was below $3,900 in 2013 (not counting Social Security). If so, you can claim her as a dependent on your taxes, and reduce your taxable income by $3,900. See IRS Publication 501 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf) or call the IRS help-line at 800-829-1040 for information.
Uncle Sam may also be able to help if you pay at least half of your mom’s yearly expenses, and her annual income was below $3,900 in 2013 (not counting Social Security). If so, you can claim her as a dependent on your taxes, and reduce your taxable income by $3,900. See IRS Publication 501 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf) or call the IRS help-line at 800-829-1040 for information.
If you can’t claim your mom as a dependent, you may still be able to get a tax break if you’re paying at least half her living expenses including her medical and long-term care costs, and they exceed 10 percent (or 7.5 percent if you’re 65 or over) of your adjusted gross income. You can include your own medical expenses in calculating the total. See the IRS publication 502 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf) for details.
Family Payments
If your mom doesn’t financially qualify for the government aid or the tax breaks, can she afford to pay you herself or do you have any siblings that would be willing to chip in? After all, if your mom had to pay for home care services, the costs would be anywhere between $12 and $25 per hour.
If your mom doesn’t financially qualify for the government aid or the tax breaks, can she afford to pay you herself or do you have any siblings that would be willing to chip in? After all, if your mom had to pay for home care services, the costs would be anywhere between $12 and $25 per hour.
If she agrees to pay you, it’s best that you or an attorney draft a short written contract detailing your work and payment arrangements so every one involved knows what to expect. A contract will also help avoid potential problems should your mom ever need to apply for Medicaid for nursing home care.
Another payment option to consider is for your mom to adjust her will, so you receive a larger portion of her estate for providing her care. But to avoid conflict, be sure all family members are aware and in agreement.
Also, check to see if your mom has any long-term care insurance that covers in-home care. If she does, in some cases those benefits may be used to pay you.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Once Again I Find Myself Doing This With Zero Help
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Mesothelioma Center's Asbestos.com Website
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| Asbestos fibres - a single fibre is believed to cause mesothelioma (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Asbestos.com is a website and advocacy group that helps the victims of asbestos exposure and their loved ones. We connect our visitors with the resources they need to understand and fight asbestos-related disease, all at no cost. We research the latest data about asbestos and asbestos-related diseases to ensure an accurate, up-to-date site, and we maintain relationships with doctors and cancer centers to promote patient access to cutting-edge treatment.
Our free services include: providing literature on asbestos and related diseases; providing access to our on-staff nurse; matching patients up with qualified doctors in their area; managing a support group for asbestos victims and their families; helping veterans receive VA benefits for asbestos diseases; educating the public about Social Security disability and legal options; and much more.
Asbestos.com is part of the mesothelioma community, which has a blend of for-profit and not-for-profit websites and companies occupying it. We are a for-profit company. The site is owned by AMAG, LLC, based in Orlando and sponsored by The Peterson Firm. We think we do good work, much like other for-profit companies: Walt Disney World, Starbucks, UPS and Whole Foods. We like the fact that we're a business because we feel it gives us more opportunities to help people. Although we do understand the stigma that sometimes comes with a for-profit company, we are proud of the work we do and we trust the feedback of our users.
US Has the World’s Least Flexible Workplaces
Family Values? US Has the World’s Least Flexible Workplaces (via Moyers & Company)
The phrase “family values” has become a proxy for a suite of policy preferences championed by the religious right. But what would a set of policies that truly reflected the value of American families look like? A good place to begin in creating…
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Military Veterans as Nannies
When it made the news that a nanny agency specializing in placing military veterans as caregivers was opening up, there was a buzz of concern and interest amongst those in the nanny industry. To learn more about the Tactical Nannies program I reached out to Jonathan Gilliam, president and CEO of United States Continued Service, the parent company of Tactical Nannies. Here’s what he had to share.
eNannySource: I think when people first hear that military veterans are being sought out to provide nanny care they wonder two things: first, how do you reconcile the idea of being a combat veteran with a nurturing caregiver, and second, what about post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental issues?
Jonathan: I understand both of those concerns, and I think most people’s perception of the military is off the mark is many ways. With respect to reconciling a trained, military combat veteran, it is important to note the core elements that drive a person, male or female, to enter into military service. Those core elements are love of their fellow citizens and a desire to protect our freedoms and rights. The key words here are love and protect. Under the body armor and ammunitions is a human being who is serving at a level of selflessness that most people will never know without being in the military. This is easily translated into caring for children and protecting a family/home. Our pilot program includes several personality screening practices. Not only am I a former Navy SEAL, but I also served as a special agent in New York for eight years. I am associating with other agents to complete a background screening that gives us a complete picture of the personality and motivation of our nanny candidates, as well as making sure the underlying love and protective nature is at the forefront. I know it is unusual hearing those words from a trained warrior, but it is actually the basis for what we do.
PTSD is, as you pointed out, a major concern for many people. We understand that. In our screening process we will pay close attention to indicators of PTSD. However, the sheer numbers of veterans returning from duty overseas does not lend itself to an overwhelming percentage of PTSD sufferers. There just isn’t a lot of PTSD. What we see more often is the need for a “debrief” or time-out after returning from overseas. The awareness is so heightened in a war environment, that when you return, it takes time to turn it down. Reactions are quicker, attitudes are more assertive. But it is not PTSD the majority of the time.
eNannySource: You mentioned people’s views of the military are off the mark. Can you elaborate on what that means?
Jonathan: Unfortunately, many people in the American public see young enlisted people as dropouts that couldn’t make it anywhere else. This couldn’t be further from the truth in most cases. A high percentage of young people entering into military service have a drive to serve and a determination to succeed that cannot be met through college. Many of these individuals do in fact finish college after an initial tour of duty. Some take online classes, some night school and others transfer into the Reserves or National Guard and attend full time. Regardless, within two to four years of their entry into service, these young people have developed a core set of values and skills that propel them forward in life. Learning how to operate using Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and how to function in a team environment, it is driven into everyone that serves that you are a leader no matter what rank you hold. This part of the training is widely unknown or understood by the majority of employers and the American public itself.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Posted on Record For Pop
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| ROCHESTER, NY - NOVEMBER 3: The Eastman Kodak Co. corporate headquarters is seen November 3, 2011, in Rochester, New York. Kodak announced a loss of $222 million in the third quarter and has warned it's survival hangs on the sale of digital-imaging patents or raising money by selling debts. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife) |
As posted on the wall of the Eastman Kodak Company: "My father worked for Kodak for 36 years and authored over 200 US Patents during that time which he sold to the company for $1.00 with the understanding that he would get compensated for his efforts in the form of medical and retirement benefits and you bastards dare give yourselves huge bonuses then cut the medical and retirement benefits from his wife of 69 years, my mother? Shame on you and start running you pricks!"
Friday, September 28, 2012
Just now able to return 18 months almost since he passed....
Just a bookmark to mark the first time I've been able to return here...I now am able to go about a week at a time without thinking of him...but then I feel guilty as if I have abandoned his memory or whatever BS I run through my own head...I miss my Pop....and I'm tearing up so that's enough for today.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
It’s time for a new solution. It’s time for Caregiver Village.
The societal problem:
Despite millions of government dollars and hundreds of dedicated websites, family caregivers are in trouble. With over 60 million family caregivers in the U.S. alone, many caregivers become sick (with nearly twice the rate of chronic illnesses as their non-caregiving peers); they’re depressed (40-70% report significant feelings of depression), they face a significantly increased risk of stroke, and they’re frustrated, unable to find resources or solutions they need to help with the enormous burden thrust upon them. They’re also costly to our economy accounting for an estimated $33.6 billion in lost productivity.
The caregiver’s problem:
Family caregivers are exhausted, stressed to the point of illness and frustrated by their isolation.Caregiver Village’s virtual village creates a close knit community where caregivers can discover a sense of deep personal satisfaction – and escape – from the hard, intense work of family caregiving; while simultaneously learning how to handle their stress and building online connections with people in exactly the same situation as them.
It’s time for a new solution. It’s time for Caregiver Village.
An escape from worries; an innovative way to gain new skills.Games and episodic TV works because they provide escape. Caregiver Village engages caregivers for hours as they play an episodic game while they engage and learn. They return to play the next episode deepening their engagement and learning.
- Real support and connections. Caregivers need support. Caregiver Village creates an online ‘village’ environment where caregivers engage for hours as they interact with others while they and learn and escape. People connect based on common needs and interests in a place that becomes their own village of support and encouragement.
- The power of sharing. Caregivers need to share their story with others. Caregiver Village gives caregivers a means to share their story through the creation of an online journal, guided by supportive experts and well know real life authors. These authors host discussion groups and interact with village members. They help them share their own stories and they discuss topics of community interest.
- A treasure trove of resources. While Caregiver Village is an escape and outlet for stress, it is also packed full of valuable resources for caregivers. Over 1,000 resources, including courses, tip sheets, caregiving products and hundreds of links to disease specific resources are personalized to their needs.
- Advanced technology. Caregiver Village is not just a website. It is a technologically advanced product that uses the most modern technologies available - mobile technology, gamification, social networking, social media, web based course delivery and other advanced technologies - to solve one of the country’s most desperate problems.
Play the Caregiver Village Game. Change your Life.
It’s time to change this description of the family caregiver.
Family caregivers who are exhausted, stressed to the point of illness and frustrated may find it hard to believe that they can play a game and change their lives. But Caregiver Village’s virtual world of the website and the game, Village Chronicles, are designed to create a place where caregivers can discover a sense of deep personal satisfaction – and fun – from the hard, intense work of family caregiving.
Caregiver Village is built around solid concepts of game success: key design concepts that make games, especially web games with virtual communities, engaging and rewarding to billions of people today, including women (who compose about 40% of all gamers) and older adults (one out of four gamers today is over 50).
- It’s a game – its fun. Games work because they’re fun. They’re fun because they require focus and effort and result in achievements that are specific and tangible. The Village Chronicles virtual game is built to be fun. It requires focus, it takes effort to solve the puzzles (and the ultimate mystery of the story that continues episode to episode), and achievements are earned along the way. It’s a uniquely powerful way for family caregivers to learn better self-care, stress management skills and positive attitudes about their caregiving work.
- It builds community. Linking with other people helps us understand and achieve things we couldn’t possibly realize alone, in a way that fills a deep human need for connection and companionship. In Caregiver Village, neighbors help each other by providing advice, recommending resources and offering crucial words of encouragement and support. Groups – called “book clubs” in Village terms – are led by experts who can help guide, coach and nurture the strength of the individual and the group. It’s just more fun to be a part of a team.
- It facilitates sharing and affirms choice. In Caregiver Village neighbors use a time-tested technique of journaling their experience to reinforce the “choice” aspect of their work. It’s a way to express emotions, process difficult experiences and gain deeper understanding into the complex and challenging life of a caregiver, arriving at a re-affirmation of the choice involved in their work. Caregiver Village neighbors may choose to display this choice, too, in the form of a badge that proclaims, “I’m a Proud Family Caregiver – my time, my choice, my gift.”
- It’s loaded with tools. Mastering really challenging games often means acquiring an array of tools to help you succeed. For caregivers, tools can help them succeed, as well. Tools provided in Caregiver Village include information about books, organizations, products and services that can offer tangible support. It includes exclusive Caregiver Village tip sheets and online training courses that offer tricks and tips from the experts who have mastered the “game” of caregiving.
- Family caregivers provide well over 90% of all caregiving services in the U.S. today. It’s time to break the pattern of stress, sickness, despair and dysfunction that represents family caregiving today. It’s time, with Caregiver Village, to change the lives of family caregivers.
Join Caregiver Village and be a part of something BIG!
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