Caring for Caregivers

 

A recent article from Fifty Plus Advocate stresses the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves first. Good communication between the person being cared for and the caregiver helps. To read suggestions on how to take care of yourself, go to http://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/archives/11167

Leaving the Workforce to be a Caregiver

 

 

John Schall wrote in Forbes this month that 2 out of every 5 adults is a caregiver. Unfortunately women over 50 often have to quit working to care for a loved one.

See the article here http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2016/10/10/caregiving-is-forcing-women-50-to-leave-the-workforce/#24d17611364d

Caregivers Face Financial Hardship

Ann Brenoff has written an insightful article "6 Very Good Reasons Why Family Caregivers Need A Union--They are an unprotected (free) workforce and the nation could show a little more gratitude."

As a former caregiver I whole-heartedly agree with Ms. Brenoff. As she points out, caregivers often are not paid. Some caregivers incur expenses in their caregiving. They may have to give up their employment or work fewer hours due to "Family Responsibilities Discrimination." As a result, caregivers have reduced Social Security and other pension benefits and possibly lose health care benefits.

Read the full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/6-reasons-why-family-caregivers-need-a-union_us_580138b0e4b06e047594d864

 

 

Wellthy -- Virtual Caregiving Coordinators

 

According to Forbes, Wellthy, established by Lindsay Jurist-Rosner and Kevin Roche, is a platform linking caregivers with virtual assistants who provide expertise and advocacy, as well as performing some caregiving duties.

For information about the company click: Wellthy

Read the Forbes article here: www.forbes.com/sites/susanprice/2016/10/21/wellthy-has-raised-2-million-for-its-startup-helping-americas-66-million-unpaid-caregivers/#28288c2a31b1

Assisted Living Costs and Vets

This seems an appropriate time of the year to mention that veterans may be eligible for senior care benefits. Contact the Veterans Administration to determine eligibility at the VA's Health Benefits Service Center: (877) 222-VETS

I was a caregiver for my mother and one of her most vivid memories was the end of the Great War, which, of course, was what they called World War I. The war ended with an armistice that was to take effect at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. 

Mother was 7 years old and attending public school in Chicago. The boys wore paper hats to be soldiers. The girls wore white rags made from an old bed sheet tied around their foreheads. A red cross in the center of the headbands, made with iodine, completed their nurse costumes. The children all paraded around the flagpole in the playground that morning of November 11, 1918. Armistice Day, or as we call it, Veterans Day.