|
When a loved one is nearing the end of life, the last things anyone wants to be distracted by are legal issues. Unfortunately, along with the emotional and psychological components of the dying process come many important legal and medical questions. Who is responsible for making health care decisions on the patient's behalf if the patient is unable to? Should the patient be given CPR if the need arises? Should the patient's organs be donated?
There are many tools available to avoid confusion around these issues that arise at the end of a person's life. The Mayo Clinic has put together a helpful tip sheet that describes these tools and outlines their purpose. The information in the Mayo Clini's tip sheet can help you or your loved one prepare for both unexpected and expected end of life situations.
To view the tip sheet click here.
For more information about how Visiting Angels can help care for your loved one at the end of life, please feel free to contact one of our Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
|
| 7/27/2009 4:54:48 PM |
|
One of the most important questions someone can ask when finding a company to provide homecare is, "Are your caregivers employees or independent contractors?"
This may seem like a very minor distinction. However, as this article from the New York Times explains, it is essential that care recipients understand what responsibilities they have if a caregiver is not employed by a full service agency. These responsibilities often include purchasing liability and worker's compensation insurance, tax witholdings, and verification of employment elligibility.
At Visiting Angels, we know that we may not be the right choice for every family. For instance, some people may prefer to hire a private caregiver because it provides them with more direct control over the caregiver. However, we also know that working with a full-service agency like Visiting Angels relieves the burden on a care recipient and their loved ones by taking care of taxes, worker's compensation, liability insurance and a host of other precautions.
For more information about our full-service homecare model and how we can help you or your loved one, please feel free to contact one of our Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
|
| 3/26/2009 4:24:34 PM |
|
It's no secret that the US economy is in the middle of a crisis. The news is filled with stories about businesses folding, layoffs, falling stocks and foreclosures. The message is clear: our economy is struggling and the future is uncertain.
There is one subset of the population for whom this is especially true. Older Americans are disproportionately impacted by the state of the US economy, leaving many of our seniors gripped with fear and anxiety. This generation who worked tirelessly to provide for their families and plan for a comfortable retirement is now facing an uncertain future.
Many factors contribute to the impact the economy has on our seniors. As stocks lose value, Older Americans watch their 401K funds deplete and questions rise about how to pay for life after work. Seniors who need to sell their homes to pay for long term care either cannot do so or their houses aren't valued high enough to cover the care they need. Inflation means that pensions don't go as far as they used to leaving many seniors on a fixed income. And this is just the tip of the iceburg.
The government is currently working on a plan to address the economic crisis. The current proposal is controversial, and our seniors are left wondering, "How is it going to help us?"
To address this question, AARP has put together this report, a detailed and clear analysis of what the proposed stimulus plan means to American seniors.
It's clear that there aren't any easy solutions to the current economic crisis. In the meantime, it is imperative that we all do whatever we can to support the most vulnerable of our population during this challenging time.
For more information about how Visiting Angels can help the older adults in your life, please feel free to contact one of our Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
|
| 2/16/2009 6:04:02 PM |
|
Long-term care is expensive. Whether it's in-home caregiving services, like those provided by Visiting Angels, or an assisted living community, many seniors in our community struggle to cover the extensive costs involved in maintaining a comfortable standard of living after retirement.
Long term care insurance is one option available to subsidize the cost of services like those listed above. However, as this article from the Contra Costa Times discusses, long term care insurance is an option that many hold off considering until it's too late.
If you already have long term care insurance and are in need of homecare services, Visiting Angels can assist you in billing your insurance company.
For more information please feel free to contact one of our Bay Area offices:
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties: (925) 552-6500
Marin and San Francisco Counties: (415) 499-1200
San Joaquin Valley: (209) 952-3585
|
| 12/8/2008 10:33:42 AM |
