Preparing for Retirement: Making the Most of the Future

If you are approaching retirement age or have already reached this point, it is important to make sure that you are prepared so that you can enjoy your retirement years. Many people put off planning figuring that they have time later when there are many things that they can do now. Just because you are old enough to retire does not mean that you have to quit your job and stay home. There are many people who continue working because they enjoy it. They may reduce their hours or they may stay full time to keep putting money into their savings.

Start Saving and Create a Budget

It’s hard to predict exactly how much money you will need to save to comfortably retire. There are a variety of online calculators that can give you an estimate and you can also talk to a financial planner. Set a budget so that you are spending your earnings wisely. Keep putting money away into a retirement or savings account. Take advantage of beneficial plans that your employer may offer. Figure out how much you can comfortably live on and make sure you are living within or below your means.

Know Your Benefits

If you are going to draw Social Security, make sure you know how it will pay out depending on your age and income. Before you withdraw money from a retirement account, check to see if there are any penalties for doing so. You want to maximize the return on your investments. Look into available benefits to know what you qualify for and how they will support you in retirement.

Prepare Your Home

If you know that you want to age in place, start making renovations before you necessarily need them. Spread costs out over time and make changes slowly. Consider updates that will make things more accessible and enhance mobility. Add additional lighting, grab bars, and hand rails. Make sure flooring is secured and consider slip-resistant options. Renovating leading up to retirement can allow you to get more enjoyment out of your free time once you do retire and live more comfortably.

Check Your Health

Healthcare costs can be expensive. Get regular screenings and checkups to detect problems early on. Staying fit and managing any ongoing conditions can allow to you stay active and healthy. You can focus on doing things that you enjoy.

Get Involved

It can be a big change to go from being fully employed to being retired. Your whole schedule and routine can be thrown off. Start getting involved in the community and with different activities early so that you have things to look forward to. This can keep you motivated and in good spirits. Some people choose to volunteer to keep their mind sharp and give back.

Retirement should be something that you enjoy, not something that you are worried about. Advanced planning can ease your stress and help you to make the most of the future. Looking into services you may need later on, such as financial planning or in-home care, can save you time later. You will already know where to turn when the time comes.

If you or a loved one are looking to maintain your independence but find that you need some extra support during the day, Always Best Care of the Cedar Valley can help. With a wide range of in-home senior care services, you can get the level of support you need while continuing to live comfortably on your own. For more information call (877) 292-2126 or visit our website today. Make the most of your retirement by being prepared.

Tips for Interacting with Seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease

Trying to communicate with a senior with Alzheimer’s disease can be frustrating for both you and them. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, people have trouble finding the right words to express themselves and may say things that seem to make no sense. They oftentimes have trouble understanding what you are saying to them as well.  Sometimes they will repeat the same thing over again or ask repetitive questions. Understanding how to more effectively interact with those with Alzheimer’s can make time spent together more enjoyable for both of you.

Be patient. It can take time for your loved one to come up with what they want to say and find the right words. They may lose their train of thought and need some prompting or direction. If you do not understand what they are trying to communicate, ask a follow up question for more information. Or ask if they can point to what they want. Sometimes even if they do use an incorrect word you can still figure out what they mean based on other clues.

Speak clearly and repeat yourself. Make sure that you are speaking in a clear voice at a reasonable level. You may need to speak a little more slowly to give them time to process what you are saying. If you need to repeat yourself, state what you said in the same way to avoid confusion. They may not have caught it all the first time.

Avoid arguing. Understand that with the Alzheimer’s disease, your senior’s ability to reason can decrease. They may say things that you disagree with but try to avoid correcting them. Simply move on to another topic. Arguing can make them more agitated and does nothing to improve the situation.

Minimize distractions. It can be easy for your loved one to get distracted by noises, movement, and other activities. Try to go somewhere quiet to talk so that they are better able to focus. This can also help them to keep their train of thought. However, you can use items as cues or reminders to trigger memories, support conversation, and promote understanding.

Stay positive. As their memory begins to fade, it can change their behavior. They are not intentionally being argumentative or disrespectful if they forget something. Focus on the positives and enjoy the time you are spending together. Share happy stories about things that are happening.

Be patient and supportive as your loved one speaks to show you care and are paying attention. Encourage them to continue trying to explain themselves as you listen quietly. Just because communication may be more difficult does not mean that the emotion and feeling are not there.  If your elderly parent is becoming more confused, they may benefit from dementia care through an in-home caregiver. The caregiver will be trained in how to work with individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s and support their needs and quality of life. Always Best Care offers high quality dementia care to seniors in the Cedar Valley. To schedule a consultation and find out more about how we can help, call (877) 292-2126 or visit us online.

Helping your Senior to Declutter their Home

As we age, we tend to accumulate a lot of belongings. We save sentimental cards and gifts, stock up on knick-knacks, acquire appliances and electronic devices, and inherit things from others. Eventually these things begin to pile up and take up space. This can become a safety hazard for elderly adults if it interferes with their ability to navigate their home or poses a risk of things falling. Also, should they downsize to a smaller home or move to assisted living, they won’t be able to take everything along.

Periodically helping your senior to declutter their Cedar Valley home can keep their belongings more manageable and reduce time spent on these activities later. Before you jump in and start throwing things away though, keep the following in mind:

Recognize it can be emotionally challenging to part with their belongings. Many things hold sentimental value and can bring up a variety of memories and feelings. Realize that it can take some time for them to come to terms with letting things go. Let them talk about different items and the memories they hold. Don’t force them to get rid of something. You can always come back to it later.

Start small and pick a single area to tackle first. As your loved one gets more comfortable with going through their things and determining what they can get rid of it will become easier. Be willing to negotiate. If they have multiples of the same item, see if they will pick one that means the most or is representative of the group.

Pass on or donate items that are in good condition. Perhaps another family member will appreciate pictures, knick-knacks, jewelry, or other belongings that hold meaning. It is a small part of their family they can keep with them. Ask your senior about donating other things so that other Cedar Rapids residents can benefit from them. If they know that they are helping someone in need it can make letting go a little easier.

Improve storage to keep things more organized. Once you sort through everything and reorganize, you may find that you have more space than you thought. Invest in clear plastic boxes, removable hooks, or other storage containers to give everything a place. This can also help your senior to put things back where they belong and reduce clutter in walkways and other common areas.

Be patient and realize that it took them a lifetime to collect everything, so you can’t expect to declutter overnight. As you help them downsize their belongings, it can make their home a safer place and make navigation easier. If your loved one does need a little more assistance as they age in place, consider investing in in-home care through Always Best Care Senior Services of the Cedar Valley. Our high quality, personalized elder care can give your aging parent the level of support they need. Call (877) 292-2126 or visit our website for more information.

What You Must Know About Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance can help to reduce the financial burden placed on a senior and their family in the event that they need more extensive and prolonged care in the future. However, there are many factors to consider when purchasing this type of insurance, so some careful research is necessary. Those who work in senior services advise elderly individuals and their families to consider the following points:

• Shop around: Prior to making a purchase, it’s important to get a sense of the various options available. Talk to different companies and compare their benefits. Don’t just go for the least expensive plan, as the kinds of coverage and the details of the plan matter too. A plan that doesn’t truly suit your senior’s needs is not worth any sum of money, no matter how seemingly inexpensive it is. 

• Make sure it’s all in writing: Written promises and guarantees don’t do much when it’s time to actually make use of the policy. According to those who work in senior care, Cedar Valley families should make sure that any statements that the company gives are backed up and verified in writing. 

• Ask questions for clarification: Minor details and phrases can completely alter the policy, so it’s important to have a solid understanding of the various components contained within the coverage. Some people feel embarrassed about asking questions about coverage, but there’s no shame in verifying total understanding. 

• Does the policy come with inflation protection? Your policy that pays $100 per day for nursing home expenses may sound great now. However, if your senior doesn’t need the coverage for years and suddenly nursing homes have doubled in price, then this coverage becomes virtually useless. Make sure that the coverage you purchase accounts for inflation. 

• Will the premiums continue to be affordable? Elder care services professionals explain that this is a major point to consider. Even if your elderly parent can afford the premium now, it’s important to verify that this will still be the case in the future, particularly if they’ll be living on a fixed income. 

Long-term care insurance can be a monumental help to seniors and their families; however, prior to making a purchase, it’s necessary to comb through the details of the policy carefully. Ensure that it will still be affordable and effective in the future before signing on the dotted line.