Spotlight on Volunteering

We so appreciate our RSVP and Experience Corps Volunteers who are busy making a difference in our communities. On January 8th, over 50 volunteers attended a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, enjoying a delicious meal prepared by Eli Whitney’s Culinary Arts students and listening to a presentation, “Aging in Grace”, by Attorney Cindy Cartier. 

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Caregiver Corner - Managing Guilt

One of the most frustrating things about being a caregiver is the guilt that most of us carry. What do we feel guilty about? We tend to feel guilty that we aren’t doing enough to help the person we’re caring for. We feel guilty that we sometimes resent the time we are spending as caregivers. We may feel guilty that we're not doing as much for the person we’re caring for as other caregivers are doing. Sometimes we feel guilty about things we’ve done or said in the past that we can’t take away now. We may feel guilty that we lose our tempers from time to time.

In essence, we’re guilty about being human! None of us is perfect. All we can do is our best with what we have to work. Whether were talking about our time, talent or treasure, each of us only has so much to give. Sometimes were spent. We’ve done all we can do that day and it might not be enough.

The best way to manage the guilt without being eaten up by it is to acknowledge it. It’s normal to feel guilty sometimes. Examine your feelings in the reality of the entire situation. Are you trying to be a good caregiver? Do you make sacrifices for the person you’re caring for? Would you expect people to do more for you than you’re doing for your loved one? Most caregivers are trying very hard to be the best caregivers they can be and they are sacrificing regularly and they wouldn’t ask anyone else to make more sacrifices.

The best way to manage guilt is to accept yourself and give yourself a pat on the back for all you are doing well.  

CHOICES - Long-Term Care

Almost 70% of people turning age 65 will need  long-term care  at some point in their lives. Many people think the phrase “ long-term care ” refers to an insurance policy. While insurance may be part of your strategy, long-term care   encompasses everything from long-term services and supports and finances, to where you will live and how you will navigate the system of legal, family, and social dynamics along the way.

Some of the factors that influence the need for long term care are Age, Gender, Disability, Health Status, and Living Arrangements.

The duration and level of  long-term care  will vary from person to person and often change over time.

Medicare only pays for  long-term care  if you require skilled services or rehabilitative care It does not pay for non-skilled assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), which make up the majority of  long-term care services . You will have to pay for  long-term care services  that are not covered by a public or private insurance program.

Medicaid pays for the largest share of  long-term care services , but to qualify, your income and assets must meet minimum state eligibility requirements.

Health Insurance: Most employer-sponsored or private health insurance, including health insurance plans, cover only the same kinds of limited services as  Medicare and if they do cover  long-term care , it is typically only for skilled, short-term, medically necessary care.

Just as there are many kinds of  long-term care services  and supports, so is there a wide range of costs for them. Although some people may qualify for a public program to help pay for these expenses, most people use a variety of options, including long-term care insurance , personal income and savings, life insurance, annuities and reverse mortgages to ensure they can pay for the care they require. 

If you are in need of long term care services and supports and want to know if your qualify for any public programs, contact the CHOICES program at 800-994-9422.

Did You Know?

These are statistics recently shared by Senator Slap in proposing a bill to protect older job applicants from age discrimination

Find out more - StopAgeismNow.com