ConsumerAffairs.com recently reported on the International Banking Group for their claims of certificates of deposit earning above average interest rates. Claims hold that IBG has focused on the affluent elderly in California and Florida, with the company suspiciously taking down their website. Information is key when it comes to how a senior should proceed about financial investments.

• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is— One of the best questions a senior can ask is simply about the investment itself, questioning if the broker or product is registered with the state or national regulatory authorities. Be cautious of broker claims that their certificates of deposit (CDs) earn above average interest rates. Many companies trying to scam seniors will say the pay will yield much higher rates of return than normal.

• Be extremely skeptical of salespeople—Scammers target seniors by going door-to-door or pestering them with phone calls.

• Research, research, research—Check the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s list found at www.sec.gov/investor/oiepauselist.htm of unregistered entities with consumer complaints. Also, make sure you do not agree to an investment without consulting family and friends.

• If you have been scammed, all is not lost—Financial crimes against seniors often go under reported, with seniors feeling ashamed or they do not know where to report the company. To file a complaint against a broker or firm, visit www.finra.org/complaint. Read about a seller’s background, at www.SaveandInvest.org or call 888-295-7422. For more on brokers or firms, call 800-289-9999 or log onto www.finra.org/brokercheck.

Source: ConsumerAffairs.com

Image Source: sxc.hu

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Although Social Security premiums cannot legally be lowered, seniors will find themselves with shrinking social security checks over the next couple of years. For the first time in decades, there won’t be a cost of living adjustment on Social Security for the next 2 years, and since these payments won’t increase, seniors will find themselves with less money to survive on since premiums for Medicare Prescription Drug programs will increase marginally. With smaller social security checks, seniors will need to be more budget conscious than ever, and here are some money saving tips:

1. Set a budget: know how much money you have available to spend on a weekly basis, and keep a record of your spending so you ensure that you’re never overspending. Pay in cash, and then deposit any remaining money at the end of the week into a savings account

2. Smart shopping – create a shopping list and buy only what you need. Plan meals around items that are in season, and try out generic brand products over name brands for the savings

3. Think all unnecessary purchases over – instead of buying things you don’t need impulsively, wait 24 hours and think it over. More often than not, you will find that the temptation passes

4. Discounts – clip coupons or shop at stores that offer more discounts. Also be aware of places that offer discounts to senior citizens, like movie theaters, museums, and even grocery and retail stores

Sources:

1. MSNBC

2. Associated Content

Image: stltoday.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

When choosing a San Antonio home care agency to provide care for an aging loved one, it’s important that families know exactly what they’re getting themselves into. There are a significant number of agencies out there that can place senior care specialists in the home of a senior, and they come at all price points. However, don’t be fooled by some of the home care agencies that promise the world at a lower price, because you’ll encounter more complications than its worth in many cases that can compromise the level of care received by your loved one.

Many home care registries operate in San Antonio and around the country; but they’re not to be confused with licensed home care agencies. These home care registries hire their senior care specialists as private contractors rather than employees which can be convoluted when it comes to dealing with the taxes and legalities surrounding hiring a caregiver from a registry. While some of these home care organizations charge less strictly for connecting families with caregivers, families may be responsible for paying taxes, workman’s compensation and other aspects. Some home care registries do cover these costs, but since caregivers under their wing are licensed contractors only, there can be some serious legal and financial repercussions which can drain the family of all resources if a workman’s compensation claim is made after the caregiver has had an accident or injury on the job.

By hiring a caregiver from a licensed home care agency like Home Instead Senior Care, all caregivers are employees of the company, categorized as “nurses and other healthcare workers who travel”. Based on this categorization, fees might be higher, but Home Instead takes care of all of the dirty work; paying all taxes and fees, with no repercussions to the senior’s family should the caregiver have an accident.

It may be tempting during times of financial crisis to pinch pennies in all areas of life, but when it comes to senior home care, you get what you pay for; so if you want quality care with no legal ramifications, go with a licensed home care agency, and you’ll have no regrets.

Sources:

1. Gilbert Guide

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Whether you’re an older adult or a senior caregiver, you know that stress can be a regular part of your daily life. But while some level of stress might be normal, there are specific lifestyle factors that can leave you more vulnerable to the physical and emotional effects of stress, which can have and impact on your health.

The following factors can contribute to your stress vulnerability, and if they are part of your life, it’s probably time to make some changes and incorporate stress management techniques:

• You eat irregular meals, or do not have a regular, well-balanced diet

• You don’t engage in cardiovascular activities at least a couple of time per week, but ensure that they are safe for your level of physical fitness and mobility

• You rarely get a good night sleep of at least 8 hours per night

• You smoke or drink alcohol on a regular basis

• You have limited social contact, and don’t engage in social activities in your community or with your peers

• You lack a support system of family and friends that you can talk to about the things that are bothering you

• You refuse to talk with a professional when the stress gets to be too much

• You, like many Americans, are addicted to caffeine and consume multiple caffeinated drinks per day

• You find it impossible to find time to yourself, or feel guilty when you do so you never put yourself or your needs first

If the above sounds like you, you are putting your body and mind seriously at risk for stress related complications. You may suffer from a diabetes condition, heart condition, chronic fatigue, and even cancer.

Sources:

1. Medical News Today

2. Medicine Online

3. The American Institute of Stress

Image: www.gettyimages.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Q – My father was recently diagnosed with dementia. While we all saw it coming in a way, it has come as a shock, especially for him. What can we do to help keep him in positive spirits and cope with the emotional aspects that come with such a diagnosis?

A – While you may have suspected a diagnosis like dementia in your father’s future, actually hearing the words and having your fears reinforced can be shocking for everyone.

At this stage, your father may feel as though his mind and body are letting him down, and he may fear an inevitable loss of independence. In the early stages, your father should seek support from San Antonio community groups for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, and learn as much about his condition as possible. Planning early on for the future can also help ensure that his wishes with regards to care and medical treatment are met, if he reaches the point where he is able to voice what he wants. Encourage your father to create a living will, appoint a future Power of Attorney, and generally get his affairs in order. By researching care options in San Antonio, he can choose the best fit for him if it’s needed in the future. Encourage him to maintain his lifestyle, but refrain from activities that are too stressful or demanding.

Sources:
1. Alzheimer’s Society UK
2. DementiaGuide

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Q – I know my mother in San Antonio receives a lot of calls from telemarketers, and I worry that she might be exploited when they realize she’s a senior. Is there any way to make them stop calling?

A – Good news for your mother from San Antonio who can be registered for the National Do Not Call Registry established by the Federal Trade Commission in the United States which ensures that most telemarketers are blocked from calling her phone number. You can register your mom online or by calling in, and all you need is her name and phone number to add her to the list. After registering your elderly mother, she may continue to receive telemarketer calls for up to 30 days until the request takes effect. Some telemarketers will still be able to call, even if your mother is on the Do Not Call List, but only from those businesses that she has a relationship with, like the financial institution where she does her banking.

By registering your mother for the National Do Not Call Registry, you can sleep easy knowing that she won’t receive calls from telemarketers that might exploit her.

Sources:

1. Federal Trade Commission
2. DoNotCall

Image: Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Q – What should be included in a living will and should all seniors have them?
A – A living will communicates a senior’s wishes with regards to their healthcare, to ensure that family and medical practitioners carry them out once they no longer have the ability to voice what they want. Every senior should prepare a living will before their health comes into question, because unfortunately illness just can’t always be predicted.

When creating living trusts and living wills during the process of estate planning, seniors should understand their options and clearly state their wishes when different medical issues occur. In a general statement, seniors can include treatments they would consider having or prefer should specific medical issues arise (for example, chemotherapy to treat cancer); while general statements are not legally binding, doctors will keep them in mind when determining the course of treatment. Advance decisions and advance directives also allow seniors to refuse specific treatments and actions by a medical doctor; for example, refusing life support under any circumstance. When creating a living will, seniors should also appoint an advocate, which can be a family member or caregiver, to ensure that medical wishes outlined in the living will are abided by.

Having a living will ensures that all seniors have a voice, and play a role in their own medical care; even when they are not physically able to communicate their healthcare needs.

Sources:
1.    CNNMoney.com Gerri Willis
2.    Directgov

Image: eHow.com

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.

Prescription costs for seniors without healthcare and prescription coverage may find that their medication costs make up a substantial part of their daily living expenses, and during the recession an increased number of seniors may be choosing to go without their required medication to keep money in the bank.

According to a study completed by The Society of General Internal Medicine in 2001, pre-recession 8% of seniors were not taking some or all of their prescribed medication, as a result of the costs, when paying out of pocket without prescription coverage. With the Commonwealth Fund projecting that healthcare costs for seniors will be as great as $5,000 by 2011; funding medical and senior prescription costs is becoming increasingly more unaffordable for seniors without benefits living on a fixed income. During these tough recessionary times, many elderly people may be more fearful that their retirement income will not last; so they might be hesitant about taking on even necessary medical costs like prescriptions. According to Kenneth Schafermeyer, Director of Graduate Studies at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy “for some [seniors], it’s either eating, or paying the mortgage, or paying for healthcare” and that is an unfortunate reality of the economic situation today. Seniors are forced to make tough decisions that impact both their health and their livelihood.

Sources:  CourierJournal.com

Self-Restriction of Medications Due to Costs in Seniors Without Prescription Coverage

Home Care San Antonio provides senior care in San Antonio, Helotes, Leon Springs, Castroville, Pearsall, and Pleasanton. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care San Antonio at 210-614-1132.