The New Year’s Resolutions Every Adult Should Make

The new year presents all of us with a chance to do better, prepare for the future and reaffirm our commitments. It’s also the perfect time to assess where you’re at with your future planning and caregiving.

Making a Will

Do you have a will yet? Even if you’re single or without children, it’s still important to have a will. Currently, 6 in 10 American adults do not have a will. In your will, you can specify who will be in charge of distributing your assets and how your assets will be distributed. Need a referral for setting up your will or updating the will of your parent or loved one? Contact me, and I would be happy to help!

Caring for Elder Parents

Caring for your aging parents can be a challenge, particularly if you live far away. What types of things should you think about when considering what help your parents might need?

  • Do your parents need skilled medical care?
  • Do your parents need help with personal care on a daily basis?
  • Do your parents need rides to doctors and appointments?
  • Do your parents need household modifications, like grab bars or ramps?
  • Do your parents need help with chores, like cleaning, shopping or cooking?
  • Do your parents need legal assistance or financial assistance?
  • Do your parents need a community or social group?

Senior Care Lifestyles can help connect you and your loved ones with valuable resources to fill all of your needs.

Improving Financial Literacy

Going through your finances isn’t very much fun, but you and the elders that you are caring for should sit down at least once a year to review your respective financial situations. When going through your finances, check the see the following:

  • Net Social Security income after Medicare deductions
  • Pension totals
  • Investment portfolio balance
  • Monthly annuity income
  • Savings account balances (and if they are jointly owned, who is the other owner?)
  • Checking account balances (and if they are jointly owned, who is the other owner?)
  • Certificates of Deposit (CD’s)
  • Other income
  • Value of home, if sold
  • Monthly prescription costs
  • Equity line of credit? How much is it for?
  • Reverse mortgage? How much is it worth?
  • Receiving Veteran’s benefits? What were the dates of service? Do you have copies of the discharge papers or the original discharge papers?
  • Long term care insurance policy? If yes, where is the policy? What is the policy number?
  • Life insurance policy? If yes, where is the policy? What is the policy number?
  • Supplemental healthcare insurance? If yes, where is the policy? What is the policy number?
  • Pre-paid burial? If yes, where?
  • Are the beneficiaries updated on all accounts?
  • Have you updated Power of Attorney for healthcare and finances? What is the date on the Power of Attorney? Do you have a copy?

You’re Never Alone with Senior Care Lifestyles

At Senior Care Lifestyles, we specialize in facilitating the connection between seniors and the right in-home care, assisted living and senior living communities. We have assisted hundreds of families with finding effective and affordable solutions for loved ones. Get in touch today by calling 410-977-3718!

Deborah Bakalich, Certified Senior Advisor®
Deborah Bakalich, Certified Senior Advisor®
Owner, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA®) & Assisted Living Placement Specialist - Senior Care Lifestyles, LLC provides compassion, guidance and recommendations to families faced with transitioning a loved one into Assisted Living, Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care, Skilled Nursing, Temporary Respite Care or a Continuous Care Retirement Community. Senior Care Lifestyles was founded in 2014 by Deborah Bakalich, a Certified Senior Advisor and graduate from both Towson University and Stevenson. Senior Care Lifestyles is uniquely positioned as a local (not National) Maryland based placement firm familiar with Maryland senior care facilities and in-state financial assistance programs for senior residents. They meet personally with each family to understand the seniors care needs including medical, personal lifestyle preferences, budget, religion and desired geographic location. They pride themselves in locally guiding and educating families through the entire maze of senior living options available and will schedule tours on behalf of the family and accompany the family on visits of communities. They are passionate and committed to finding the perfect match to call home and stays with the family throughout the entire process, every step of the way, until a decision is made, and the senior is safely moved into their new home. Senior Care Lifestyles can also provide the family with trustworthy, vetted, and reputable experts to assist with the transition for organizing, packing, moving, sale of real estate, estate planning, legal services, and determining eligibility for State, Federal and Veterans Benefits to assist with care costs. Deborah is a proud member of the Maryland Senior Resource Network (MSRN) where she has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s Organization, Society of Certified Senior Advisors, Mid-Atlantic Network Group and a member of the Business Opportunity Network (BON).

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