Linden Square Assisted Living Center – Online and Social

What’s the first thing you do when you are looking to buy something? Head straight for the keyboard and Google it, Facebook it, or ask your friends, relatives and coworkers for recommendations. Why? Even if it’s something we’re somewhat familiar with, we want to know what to expect, and what people are saying about that product or service.

The Internet continues to be a vast collection of information about anything you would ever want to know. Furthermore, caregivers use the web to find information on care options and resources, and to connect with other people who have had, or are dealing with, similar experiences for support.

The past several years of research results indicate that caregivers are using the Internet for information more so than any other group. Pew Internet’s latest survey shows that 8 out of 10 caregivers have access to the Web, and 90 percent of those with Internet access use it to find health information for someone other than themselves.

Are you a caregiver searching the web for a beautiful, new, caring, and premier assisted living center for a loved one? Don’t look any further; Linden Square Assisted Living Center is currently under construction at 650 Woodland Dr. E, in Saline. We are a sponsor of the UMHS Housing Bureau for Seniors annual event, Senior Living Week. Stop by the Senior Living Week Expo at the Morris Lawrence Building on Washtenaw Community College’s campus on Friday, May 10th between 8:30am – 3:00pm. Or, if you can’t make it to the Expo, we will be hosting a workshop at our new facility on Tuesday, May 14th from 10:30am – 12:00pm.

Want to know more about Linden Square? Visit us at www.lindensquarealc.com, follow us on Facebook, or watch our virtual tour from a sister community, in Grand Haven, MI, Grand Pines Assisted Living Center.

Legal Issues for Seniors to Consider

Legacy Law Center is proud to participate in Senior Living Week once again this spring.  Each year, our law firm hosts a booth at the Expo, and we enjoy getting to meet a wide variety of attendees and other professionals.  Terrence A. Bertram, our firm’s senior attorney, will be speaking on some estate planning basics that everyone should know.

Legacy Law Center is a firm in Ann Arbor that particularly specializes in elder law and estate planning.  The specific areas of law we practice include wills and trusts; powers of attorney to cover both  health care decisions and financial and legal decisions; decedent’s estates; Medicaid and Veteran’s benefits counseling and qualification; and guardianship and conservatorship  law.  Additionally, we serve as probate mediators, or neutral parties trained in facilitating peaceful resolutions among family members about issues that arise in caring for an aging loved one.

Terry’s presentation will cover the types of documents that should comprise a complete estate plan, and how to go about making the decisions and elections required in your plan.  Many interesting things are currently happening in the estate planning arena, so Terry will also have his pick of an array of special topics to cover in his presentation.  I will address just two of them here.

One topic that is of perennial interest and importance is the need to have a valid health care power of attorney so that someone you trust always has the authority to make medical decisions for you in the event that you cannot.  Health care powers of attorney are a vital piece of your estate planning tool kit, yet statistics show that far too many people are still putting off executing this simple document that can save so much pain and uncertainty for your loved ones.

Second, since last October, we’ve been kept particularly busy by changes in the laws that govern powers of attorney in Michigan.  One of the main changes is a new requirement that your durable power of attorney have a signed acceptance page.  In effect, the person you nominate to act on your behalf, if you become unable to do so, now has to sign an agreement stating that they will act in your best interest.  Powers of attorney that were executed prior to October 2012 are still effective, but because banks and financial institutions are not required to accept them, we have recommended to our clients that they consider an update.

We are eager to participate in Senior Living Week 2013 and we hope to see you there.

What is Dementia Capable Care?

Dementia Capable Care is a memory care program that enables those living with Alzheimer’s/Dementia to thrive.

Alzheimer’s Prevalence Statistics

• Alzheimer’s affects 5.4 million people
• By 2050 it is expected to grow to 15 million
• People live with Alzheimer’s for 8 to 20 years
• By age 65, 1 out of 8 people are affected by Alzheimer’s
• By age 85, 1 out of 2 people are affected by Alzheimer’s

At Glacier Hills, we believe those with Alzheimer’s/Dementia can continue to lead a life of quality and one filled with purpose and joy. This is accomplished by engaging these individuals’ in meaningful activity by determining their best ability to function and matching the activities complexity with the individual’s cognitive ability.  The environment, the challenge of the activity, and the approach of our care team are all tailored to the individual resident’s stage of dementia to allow our residents to flourish.

Creating home, a place of purpose, safety, and belonging is accomplished through our focus on successful participation in meaningful life activities and through building loving, supportive relationships between our residents and our care team.

Our unique assessment process, along with our skills in knowing how to incorporate each resident’s identified stage of dementia and their own unique individuality into day-to-day life, creates an environment of wellness to fulfill our resident’s potential at every stage of their journey.

Glacier Hills is a proud sponsor of the UMHS Housing Bureau for Seniors annual event, Senior Living Week. Stop by and visit our table at the Senior Living Week Expo at the Morris Lawrence Building on Washtenaw Community College’s campus on Friday, May 10^th from 8:30am – 3:00pm. If you can’t make it to the Expo, we will be hosting a workshop and an open house at our facility (1200 Earhart Road, Ann Arbor) on Friday, May 17^th at 10:30am. Refreshments will be available after the workshop.

Senior Living Week – 2013

Random Acts of Kindness

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” –Mark Twain.

As you may or may not know, Random Acts of Kindness Week is coming up. There is even an organization that is dedicated to this cause. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation’s mission is to inspire people to practice kindness and pass it on to others. This seems so simple, yet so few of us think about it. This is a huge challenge, as we are all so busy, because we tend to get caught up in our own lives.

While we have an entire week, and an organization, dedicated to doing random acts of kindness, there are people out there who make kindness an integral part of their lives and practice it all the time. One example of those who do random acts of kindness all the time is caregivers to seniors all over the country. Caregivers provide care to others, giving their time and energy to those who need it. They provide not only physical support, but also emotional support. Women and men regularly take the time to go grocery shopping for seniors, take them to doctor’s appointments, and run other errands. They also provide emotional support when seniors just want to sit and talk; they provide a compassionate ear. Sometimes caregivers have a choice in the role they play to seniors; sometimes they do not. Here are a few facts about caregivers (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):

• There are approximately 34 million unpaid caregivers who provide care to those ill or disabled.

• An estimated 21% of households in the U.S. are impacted by caregiving responsibilities.

• Unpaid caregivers provide an estimated 90% of long-term care.

• The majority (83%) are family caregivers- family members, friends, and neighbors of all ages who are providing care for a relative.

I had the opportunity to witness the impact caregivers have on seniors while volunteering at a senior living community. The actions of these women and men would vary considerably. They would attend guest performances with seniors, making sure everyone was comfortably situated so they could get the most enjoyment from the event. Other times, caregivers would go on walks with the seniors, giving them a chance to enjoy some fresh air or just get some exercise. Additionally, I would observe them simply sitting with the seniors, reading, knitting, or watching TV. The action of merely providing company for the seniors made a significant and lasting impact on their lives. I was struck by the fact that while many of these actions were simple, they had a profound impact on the lives of everyone in the community. The caregivers’ time and commitment helped make the community feel like a home.

We see and experience random acts of kindness all the time, as it can take many forms. Caregivers to seniors are just one example. From the simplest random act of kindness, such as a smile, to the more involved, such as running errands, random acts of kindness can have a huge impact on the recipient, the giver, as well as everyone else.

What will your random act of kindness be this week, next week, and every week?

November is National Family Caregiver’s Month!

“National Family Caregivers Month is a time to reflect on the compassion and dedication that family caregivers embody every day…..I encourage all Americans to pay tribute to those who provide for the health and well-being of their family members, friends, and neighbors.”    –  President, Barack Obama

Every year, family caregivers provide $375-450 billion worth of uncompensated care for their loved ones.  Yes, you read right – Billion.  That’s almost twice as much as what is spent on formal home care and on nursing home services combined.

Consider the following:

• Over 65 million caregivers (29% of the US adult population) provide care for someone who is an older adult, chronically ill or has a disability.
• About 19%, or 43.5 million, provide care for someone over the age of 50.
• Over 55% of caregivers are employed and more than 37% share households with children or grandchildren under the age of 18.
• Roughly 66% of caregivers are female.
• 34% care for two people.
• While the average age of caregivers is 48, 51% of caregivers are between the ages of 18-49.
• Of those providing care for someone 65 or older, the average age of caregivers is 63, and 1/3 of those are in poor health themselves.
• For those caring for a parent, the total aggregate lost wages, pensions and social security benefits is nearly $3 trillion

The Housing Bureau for Seniors’ Housing & Caregiver Counseling program:

• Assists caregivers and seniors who need assistance with decision-making around housing options and long-term care services to support aging in place.
• Provides tools to evaluate the older adult’s functional, in-home supports and housing needs.
• Prepares the caregiver with tools to evaluate and analyze housing options, long-term care options and financial resources.
• Evaluates the older adults’ financial resources, housing and home safety and caregiving and social supports.
• Identifies contributing factors that will impact how in-home supports and needed housing will be paid for and how they will be accessed.
• Maintains information on senior-specific housing options in Washtenaw County.

If you are a caregiver and need assistance, please call us at 734-998-9339 or email housingbureauseniors@umich.edu.

Every year since 1997, Presidents have issued an annual proclamation.  Here are highlights from this year’s Presidential Proclamation:

Family members, friends, and neighbors devote countless hours to providing care to their relatives or loved ones.  During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize and thank the humble heroes who do so much to keep our families and communities strong.

Across America, daughters and sons balance the work of caring for aging parents with the demands of their careers and raising their own children. Spouses and partners become caregivers to the ones they love even as they navigate their own health challenges.

Mothers and fathers resume care for children returning home as wounded warriors. Friends and relatives form networks to support loved ones with disabilities. All of them give selflessly to bring comfort, social engagement, and stability to those they love.

Family caregivers have an immeasurable impact on the lives of those they assist, but their hours are long and their work is hard. Many put their own lives on hold to lift up someone close to them.

National Family Caregivers Month is a time to reflect on the compassion and dedication that family caregivers embody every day…..I encourage all Americans to pay tribute to those who provide for the health and well-being of their family members, friends, and neighbors.

Would You Know What to Do?

A few months ago my mom was visiting from out-of-state. She had been asking me for advice about a family member who was in a bit of crisis about their housing and finances when her phone rang. It was the family member we were talking about.

Mom put her phone speaker on, and I was able to counsel this relative about housing options, applying for early Social Security and encouraged them to act now (this relative had been indecisive for several years). Several months later, my mom informed me this relative had applied for Social Security and put in their application for a subsidized housing facility with a year+ long waiting list.

Most families don’t have a gerontologist in the family. But, seniors and their families living in Washtenaw County are fortunate. The Housing Bureau for Seniors (HBS) has an array of services to assist seniors to find and maintain appropriate living arrangements. For families in similar situations as we had, our Housing and Care Counseling program is for you.

Thanks to an Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation grant, family caregivers who live in or have an older family member living in Washtenaw County have a resource to support and enable them to make informed decisions regarding housing and long-term care needs.

Approximately 19% of the adult U.S. population (43.5 million) provides unpaid care for an adult family member or friend over the age of 50. Over 55% of these caregivers are employed and more than 37% share households with children or grandchildren under the age of 18.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of caregivers report needing more information or support with issues including:
• Long-term care needs (such as supportive housing and in-home supports);
• Keeping loved ones safe at home; and
• Choosing home care agencies.

The Housing Bureau for Seniors assists caregivers and seniors who need assistance with decision-making around housing options and long-term care services to support aging in place. Specifically, we:
• Provide tools to evaluate the older adult’s functional, in-home supports and housing needs;
• Prepare the caregiver with tools to evaluate and analyze housing options, long-term care options and financial resources;
• Evaluate the older adults’ financial resources, housing and home safety and caregiving and social supports;
• Identify contributing factors that will impact how in-home supports and needed housing will be paid for and how they will be accessed; and
• Determine if there are adequate financial resources and if there are private or public options to maximize resources.

If you’re a caregiver and have questions about an aging family member, give us a call! We can be reached at (734) 998-9339 or housingbureauseniors@umich.edu.