Bigger Checks for Bakersfield Seniors from Social Security

Most seniors rely on their monthly checks to live on. They are on tight budgets and will wait for these checks to come in order to pay bills and go shopping. While many seniors are enjoying their retirement, most would be very happy to see more money in that monthly check. Before you retire, make sure you wait until you have reached the normal age. If possible, work a few years more to maximize your benefits.

1.    The important key to maximizing social Security benefits is to wait until the normal retirement age. By retiring early, you will lose a percentage of the amount you would have gotten if you had waited a few more years.

2.    When seniors have reached the normal retirement age, they will not be subject to an earning cap. This means the senior will be able to continue to work without worrying about jeopardizing their current monthly income.

3.    Seniors who retire at the age of 62 will lose 25% of their potential Social Security income.

4.    Other forms of income, including pensions and dividends will not reduce the amount that is paid by Social Security.

5.    If possible, wait as long as you can before collecting benefits. For every year after the normal retirement age, the amount of benefits available to you will increase by 8%.

6.    It is also possible to take advantage of spouse benefits by having one spouse retire at the normal age and the other wait a few years longer. This will help to maximize income.

Yahoo Finance

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

It is common for a Bakersfield senior to make mistakes financially, which is why it is important for seniors to share financial information with spouses and financial advisers. While it can be difficult to ask for outside help, Bakersfield seniors will benefit from having someone help them with financial decisions so that mistakes will not be made. Many seniors who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s will experience financial problems. The following list provides 8 tips that can help.

1. Make sure someone else has access to online banking records. This is usually a family member of a financial adviser. By doing so, bank activity can be monitored to see if mistakes are being made.

2. Have a current list of all companies that bills are paid to. This includes utilities, mortgages, insurance and loans.

3. Reduce credit limits on credit cards and make sure others have access to credit-card account records.

4. Investment accounts should be made known to family members and spouses. When another person checks these records, they should be able to see how much is in the account and whether that is the right amount.

5. Tax returns should be filed by a professional. If possible, share the return paperwork with a trusted family member.

6. Have a list of all financial relationships. This means any company or individual the senior conducts financial transactions with.

7. Have important documents in place and accessible. Wills, insurance policies, deeds and any other important document should be accessible by family members.

8. A financial checklist will help seniors with Alzheimer’s stay on track. This will help them manage what bills to pay and will also keep them up to date on all account balances.

Money.USNews.com.com

End of Life Decisions

Terminally ill seniors battle their illness each and every day. This can be very exhausting and stressful, leading to many seniors wishing they would not live through their treatment. The right to die is a touchy issue, supported by some and opposed by many. Seniors should inform doctors and loved ones of their wishes, even if they are not supported. The list below provides seniors with some information associated with end of life decisions.

1. 84% of Americans believe seniors should have a choice whether they live or die when they have a terminal illness.

2. 22% of nurses and doctors feel that everything should be done in order to keep the senior alive, despite their wishes.

3. Seniors should put their wishes in writing. This is one way to make sure that doctors are aware of what the senior wants if they are unable to make decisions at any time during treatment.

4. Many Americans believe family members should have a say in the end of life decisions that pertain to a loved one.

5. In most cases, older women are more apt to discuss these wishes with family members. It is important for all seniors to express their desire about what should happen to them during the course of treatment for a terminal illness.

Source: Pew Social Trends

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

The International Banking Group has recently exemplified suspect business practice according to ConsumerAffairs.com. Amid the removal of their website and with several banks the company claimed association with denying even knowing IBG, the problem extends to seniors. With claims IBG was targeting the affluent elderly with investment schemes, seniors need to be even more aware of how a scam may be presented and where to report the broker or firm.

• 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 Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Many seniors are finding that retirement doesn’t come around the age of 60; some are finding themselves working into their 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s before they have the opportunity to retire. Here’s why retirement is coming later for many Bakersfield seniors:

• While the average age to claim Social Security Benefits is 63.9, many need additional income on top of it to be able to afford basic aspects of daily living, like housing and food

• Many seniors would love to retire and just focus on their family and relaxing, but based on the numbers of seniors aged 65 and older which are rising higher than ever before, this isn’t a reality for everyone. The number of older works, aged 80+ has had the most substantial increase at 67% to 500,000 Americans

• With people living longer, money doesn’t go as far as it used to, and as time goes on this might increase even more, keeping more and more seniors in the workforce longer than planned

• Government benefits, which were initially defined in 1940 certainly weren’t designed to support 30 or more years of retirement, which means seniors need a fairly substantial nest egg to make it through

Via: AARP

Image: elements4health.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Since she became retired and her mobility has declined, most of my mom’s favorite hobbies and activities have kept her confined to the home. Her love of crafts has her knitting, building dolls houses, painting ceramics and even beading jewelry (though this is becoming increasingly difficult as her eyesight changes).

Last spring, I began to notice that she just hadn’t been getting outside much; particularly since living in a condo in Bakersfield she has no garden to take care of and no pets to encourage her to step out of her home. . Her building has a public patio area, and with permission, we decided to setup a patio table and chairs to give her a surface to sit and do her crafts, while enjoying the fresh spring air and sunshine in Bakersfield. This year, I know that when her grandchildren come over to their grandma’s for a visit, they will love sitting out on the patio playing board games, cards, making crafts and socializing with their loved one because they won’t be cooped up inside when the weather should be getting them into the fresh air!

Sources:
1. Suite 101 Janienne Jennrich
2. Disabled World

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Talking to your senior parents about estate planning can be an uncomfortable subject, because many adult children don’t want to feel like they’re interfering with their parents’ personal affairs. Estate planning typically includes a legal will that outlines distribution of assets; a financial power of attorney which dictates who will look after a senior’s finances when they become unable; a medical power of attorney, the person responsible for carrying out a senior’s medical wishes; and a living will, which establishes a senior’s healthcare wishes if they become unable to speak for themselves. Discussing your senior parents’ estate early on with them ensures that you understand the role that they expect you to play after their deaths or during a medical emergency so that their wishes are carried out.

Talking to your elderly parents about estate planning becomes more important if they have not completed the necessary steps to protect their assets and secure their wishes. When approaching the topic of family estate planning, make sure that your siblings and immediate family members are involved so they don’t perceive your interests in your parents’ estate as self-serving. Ensure your parents understand you do not need to have the division of assets explained; it doesn’t matter how much they are planning on leaving you. What’s important is that they put the legalities in place to ensure they control what happens to their assets, even once they loose the ability to represent themselves.

Sources:
1. SeniorJournal.com   Robert Valentine
2. FamilyEducation.com

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Caregiving for Elders at Home

When grandma called me a work one day crying, saying she forgot where she put her keys… I knew instantly, she needed home care help. I could not be there personally because my job was very demanding and had 2 small children to care for.  So, I began the search for home care help for grandma.

I drove over to grandma’s that afternoon, and together we came to the decision that I would help her hire a caregiver. Together we decided to hire someone part-time from Home Instead Senior Care, and left it open to adding more hours as grandma needed more help. we talked about what she needed like help in the kitchen, grocery shopping, running errands and someone to take her to her weekly doctor’s appointment.

What is so wonderful is that I never hear fear in grandma’s voice. She has come alive because she knows someone is looking out for her.  Grandma’s lovely caregiver has been coming into her home and is doing a great job. This makes me have more peace of mind at work and I know that grandma is in  good hands.

Home Care Bakersfield provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Lamont, Tehachapi, Lake Isabella, Ridgecrest, Taft, Shafter, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Rosedale, Oildale, Kernville area. Call us today at 661-321-3235.

Family Matters-Legal decisions

If your loved one is approaching a point where you and your family members decide that they are not able to function independently anymore, you will have many legal issues to discuss. These are a few important points that need to be discussed:

* Who will be in charge of managing your senior’s personal affairs while they are still alive

* Who will manage their personal care, such as In Home Health care, and make medical decisions

*  Arranging for payment of long-term health care

* Protecting the family assets: making sure that the patient’s spouse are adequately protected

* The distribution of the person’s assets on his or her death.

Get an Attorney immediately. The maximum number of planning options will be available while the patient still has the legal capacity to make his or her own decisions. The question of their capacity can be a gray area, and needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

If you sit down and discuss these steps with your family before the actual meeting when these issues are discussed, it may alleviate some of the stress involved with discussing these sensitive topics. Being united is always the best way to help your parent, and to keep the peace while going through this difficult time.

Let us help you keep mom and dad at home!

Most family caregivers don’t do what they do because they think it will be easy or fun; they provide care because of their love for a senior and concern over their health. Caregivers will have an easier time coping with the challenges, if they have an understanding of what to expect.

Physical Challenges

• Caregivers may be responsible for most or all of the light and heavy housework, which can become trying especially when combined with their own responsibilities at home

• Caregivers often need to help seniors with limited mobility, which can involve lifting and moving them. If  a caregiver is not physically strong they may injure themselves or the senior

Mental Challenges

The challenges referred to here, are those that a senior’s mental issues may present to a caregiver.
• Caregivers may have to learn new skills to manage medications

• Caregivers often need to take responsibility over a senior’s financing

• Caregivers also need to make adjustments to a home for safety, and plan activities appropriate for the senior

Financial Challenges

• Caregivers may have to take on some form of financial obligation to assist the senior, since often senior’s with health limitations have used a lot of their funds paying for medical costs

• Sometimes caregivers, like their senior, may use a great deal of their savings and financial resources to fund healthcare or other costs related to senior care

Emotional Challenges

• Caregivers may find it difficult to deal with the physical and mental changes that come with a health decline of their beloved family member

• Family caregivers can feel conflicting emotions ranging from affection, frustration, anger, sadness and guilt

• It can also be a big emotional challenge to try and convince a family member to take caregiving help; or deal with the emotions that come with having someone rely on you fully

Source: http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec2/ch15/ch15a.html

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