Are Your Ducks in a Row? - Eldercare Services

Are Your Ducks in a Row?
     Preparing for the long life you want!

    Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC
            Founder of Eldercare Services
                   Walnut Creek, CA
                           &
        Chief Professional Officer – VillagePlan
                  National Coverage

Goals for Today
 Give you a check list – to have the
  long life you envision

 Prepare you for some of the changes
  associated with longer lives

 Get you thinking about your legal
  tools and end of life planning

We are living longer and that is
why those ducks need to line up!
Some stats...
     Baby girls born in 2000 &
      beyond are expected to live to
      be 100 – However, the over
      85 group is growing faster
      than any other age group!
      Will you live to 100?
     We are born, we live – but we
      just don’t die
     Quite often we are on a
      journey that can include some
      inter-dependency before we
      leave this life

www.EldercareAnswers.com                 © Eldercare Services 2016

What are the Elements and Tools
Needed for a Long Life?

  Knowledge of your wishes and values
  Research into options for support and or
   assistance should you require or desire them
  Legal documents to direct your wishes
  Financial resources to support your desired
   options
  An advocate who will act on your behalf
   should you not have capacity briefly or
   ongoing

www.EldercareAnswers.com                 © Eldercare Services 2016

Common Changes & Options
in Longer Lives

        Sensory                New             New
         Losses             Technology      Treatments

      Reduced                 Stay Fit       Join groups
     Stamina &             Exercise Daily   that promote
      Strength               Eat Well         wellness

                             Challenge         Learn
        Memory                               something
                               your
         Loss                                New - Stay
                               Brain          Engaged

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                                   © Eldercare Services 2016

Memory Loss

 Learn about the dementia’s – no fee
  classes and support groups in our
  offices and through the Alzheimer’s
  Association
 Get a good diagnosis
 Learn how to “communicate”
  effectively with someone who has this
  problem – Respect dignity & self-
  esteem

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                                   © Eldercare Services 2016

Who is providing care to aging
family members? – You!

 52 million care for an
  adult who is ill or
  disabled
 34 million care for
  someone over 50
 9 million care for
  someone with a
  dementia
 60% of family caregivers
  are still in the workforce
 78% of all care is
  provided by families

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                               © Eldercare Services 2016

If you become the “Caregiver”

Caregiving - Guidelines

 Don’t try to do it
  all yourself
                            Join a support
 Ask for specific           group
  help (hold a              Have a coach or
  family meeting)            mentor who is an
 Self-Care                  expert
  becomes critical          Learn to enjoy the
                             moment!
www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                             © Eldercare Services 2016

Becoming a Caregiver to
another?
Preparing                   Getting Support
 Learn about the            Take Classes
  illness?
                             If you are doing this
 Become an advocate          now…
  that asks questions            Take the AMA test
 Learn the “red flags”      Have a professional
  for the other person’s      to guide you
  health issues              Use Mindfulness

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                             © Eldercare Services 2016

Mindfulness-Based Stress
                Reduction (MBSR)

             • Formal Meditation
Kabat-Zinn     – Breath - focused
               – Open monitoring
               – Body scan
               – Attention shifting to
                 different sensory
                 modalities

Santorelli   • Yoga

                                         Philippe Goldin, PhD

   So, what do I need to do…
               …to line up all my ducks?

Planning for the “What Ifs” can
free you to live fully!
                            Look at your legal tools
                             annually
                            Can the person you request to
                             be your advocate still act in
                             that capacity?
                            Do you know a professional
                             who could help with major
                             decisions? Such as, a Certified
                             Care Manager/ Aging Life Care
                             Professional
                            Enjoy life freely knowing you
                             have dotted the “i’s” and
                             crossed the “t’s”
www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                                   © Eldercare Services 2016

Health Care Decisions -
Documents

  Advance Health
   Care Directives
  Durable Power of
   Attorney for Health
   Care
  POLST forms
  Conservatorship of
   Person

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                                   © Eldercare Services 2016

End of Life Discussions
                            Tell your
 Know your                  advocate where
  options!                   important
                             paperwork is
                             stored
 Communicate
  your values to
  those who will            Be sure to have
  make decisions             this conversation
  for you!                   with your PCP
www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                         © Eldercare Services 2016

Having The Conversation

 Family Meetings

 Prepare

 If this is hard
 bring in a
 professional

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                         © Eldercare Services 2016

Financial Decisions - Documents

                            Durable Power of
                             Attorney for Finances
                             – Short term and
                             “Springing”
                            Living Trusts
                            Insurance
                            Conservatorships of
                             Estate
                            Reverse Mortgage

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                          © Eldercare Services 2016

When the home is not safe and
others need to make decisions!
   Sometimes the             Start planning now
   judgment and
                             Let your advocate
   capacity to self-care
                              know what you want
   is impaired due to a
   progressive illness       Work with a
   like Alzheimer’s,          Certified Care
   Parkinson’s or a           Manager/Aging Life
   related disorder – a       Care Professional™
   move might be the
   only option (not bad
   just hard)

www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                          © Eldercare Services 2016

Options in
                       Senior Housing?
 Your Home with Support Options
         Care Management
         Villages
         Community Services & Technology
         In-Home Care
    Independent Senior Housing
    Life Care Communities
    Assisted Living
    Small Assisted Living Homes
 www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                                © Eldercare Services 2016

Entitlements

 Social Security
 Medicare                      VA – Aid &
                                 Attendant Benefits
 Medical/Medicaid
                                Local Services
 In-Home
  Supportive
  Services                       www.BenefitsCheckUp.org

 www.EldercareAnswers.com
                                                © Eldercare Services 2016

Resources

 Care Manager/Aging       Elder Law
                          www.NAELA.org
Life Care
Professionals™
                           Area Agency on
www.aginglifecare.org
                            Aging
www.VillagePlan.com       1-800-510-2020
                          www.eldercare.gov
 Entitlements
www.benefitscheckup.org
                           Eldercare Services
 Family Caregiving       www.EldercareAnswers.com
                          925-937-2018
www.caregiver.org

Questions?
   What questions do you have?

   Are your ducks lined up behind the
   “8” ball?

Presenter Contact Information

Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC
Founder of Eldercare Services
Serving the East Bay since 1989 with Personal
Assistants, Caregiving, Care Management and
Family Education
1808 Tice Valley Blvd.
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
(925) 937-2018
Linda@EldercareAnswers.com – Email
www.EldercareAnswers.com – Web & Blog
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