Getting it all together for 2013

Every year, our grandchildren come over for New Year's Eve. We have done some crazy things like letting them eat pizza in the bathtub! Here they are making something good to eat.  I love looking back at these pictures and realizing how much the children have grown. It also makes me realize how much I want to make sure that everything is there for them when they need it.

I offer this idea as the best resolution you can make for 2013—get all of your vital information together in one place. Get organized. Write everything down. Give one to each of your parents. Let our terrific book, Caring Is Not Enough, A Workbook for Emergency and End-of-Life Planning be your personal guide. It makes it all so simple. And practical. And inexpensive. And right.

Your parents will love you for it. Your children and grandchildren will love you for it. Your spouse will love you for it. And you? You will love yourself for making this one great resolution that you can really keep.

For once.

Top ten gift ideas for senior citizens

Got some last-minute shopping to do? I thought I'd share excerpts from this 2006 article from Anna Swan - these are still great ideas for 2012!

Also - I recommend Gold Violin to shop for seniors all year 'round. They have great products for independent living.

1.  Medical emergency notification system - For an elderly loved one who lives alone or in an isolated location, Life Alert, MedScope, or LifeLine is not only a wonderful gift - it could save a life! In some cases the cost my be completely covered by Medicare.

2.  Large-button cell phone - These large button cells such as the Jitterbug, make calling easier for the senior citizen, with a lighted display, large buttons, speed dialing, caller ID on a large visual display, and all the functions of a standard cell phone.

3.  Pre-paid pet exercising services - These services are especially appreciated during winter months and the heat of the summer when walking a pet may be dangerous for senior citizens.

4.  In-home hair appointment - Check with local barbers and hair dressers to see who will do in-home hair grooming for the elderly. You can pre-pay for the service and arrange the in-home appointment.

5.  Pre-paid lawn mowing - Call a local landscaper or lawn care professional and pre-pay for a season of general lawn care. This is also a service that is greatly appreciated in extremely hot summer months!

6.  Large-faced electric wall clock - As we age, our eye sight sometimes diminishes. Digital clocks can be confusing and hard to set. An electric clock has no battery to replace, and is easy to see from some distance.

7.  Flashing light doorbell or telephone - Designed primarily for the hearing-impaired, these devices can also benefit an elderly loved one who may not always hear the doorbell or the telephone ring.

8.  Large-button universal TV remote - As electronics strive to become smaller and smaller, they get increasingly harder for the elderly to use.

9.  Lap table - These tables (like the ones for laptop users) can be very handy for the elderly to eat meals on, keep track of things such as the cordless telephone, TV remote, and eye glasses.

10.  Zippered clothing with large zipper pulls - As we age, buttons and snaps may become increasingly harder to open and close. You can find large zipper pulls in the sewing section of most large craft or department stores.

Seniors and prescription medications

Here is a very, very important article from Mark Stibich, Ph.D.

Seniors take a lot of medications, and those medications, if not closely monitored, can interact and cause problems...big problems. In fact, around 4% of seniors are in danger of harmful drug interactions.

Let’s look more in-depth at seniors, medications and potential problems (and give some ideas about how to protect yourself).

How much medication are seniors taking? Lots. Almost all seniors (defined in the study below as anyone over the age of 57) take some kind of medication. To be more precise, 91% of seniors take some kind of medication regularly (81% of seniors take a prescription medication regularly). But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Click here to finish reading this very important piece.

Are your parents taking lots of medications? Do you think they take them as directed? Do you think they skip some now and then, due to the cost?

The Celtic Tree of Life

When I think of the Tree of Life, I think about family. I think about the fact that my husband’s family tree has been traced back to the mid-seventeenth century, and in some instances even beyond that.

I think about the fact that every two years there is a family reunion for his family and more than 100 people attend from all over the world. Then I think about the fact that my grandfather had 11 brothers and sisters and I have no further information about the family.

Family is so important.

The idea of the Tree of Life and the connection to the circle of life as a spiritual symbol as well as a physical one, resonates deeply with me.

I am Irish and have therefore chosen the Celtic Tree of Life as a symbol for my work. It gives me the feeling of bringing families together, something I have tried to do with my workbook. I hope you feel the same when you choose to give your family the best gift you can…peace of mind.

What's your favorite symbol or icon? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!

What's in your emergency go-bag?

My husband Jeff and his 99-year old Aunt Julia 

Even in this digital age, I feel it is so important to complete my workbook by hand and then store it in a secure, private place.

Having a well-organized, single point of reference (as a physical document) in your own handwriting will make the challenging task of handling your affairs, the way you want them handled, so much easier for your family. Designate one or two trusted family members or friends who will know where you keep your workbook.

Additionally, you'll want to copy the two charts in the workbook and put those inside your emergency “go-bag.” Having an accessible, lightweight go-bag filled with a few essentials that you can grab in an emergency is so important. Imagine if there was a fire or a flood and you had to evacuate quickly...what do you grab first? What is most important for you to have on-hand if your home and belongings were damaged?

On a separate note, I hope you’ll visit our new Resources page. The websites listed there, which are also included in the back of the workbook, can be extremely helpful for you and your family throughout your emergency, caregiving, or end-of-life planning processes. There are so many more organizations available to you for a wide variety of support and services. Search online or in a phone book to find your local senior center. Visit your city, county, or state website for information on local services for the disabled, the elderly, hospice care, and more.

Welcome to my new blog!

I’m very excited about the brand new 5th edition of Caring is not Enough—A Workbook for Emergency and End-of-Life Planning. We have worked hard to improve the overall formatting and organization, and we updated 150+ questions for you to answer.

Even if you’re young and healthy, even if you aren’t married or don’t have children, even if you’re reluctant to think about the end of your life or about being incapacitated…it’s vital that you purchase this workbook, fill it out, and update it as your life changes. It’s easy to do and you’ll sleep better at night, knowing your family will be completely “in the loop” when it matters the most.

Here is the workbook’s introduction:

During a time of crisis, there are many details that you and your loved ones will need to know. If you take the time now to record all this vital information in one easily accessible place, you can do so much more to ensure that your personal affairs are attended to, according to your wishes. 

Your thoughtful answers to the questions in this workbook will give you peace of mind and help preserve the estate that you’ve worked so hard to build. With clear documentation, you’ll be helping your designated family members work through your personal matters without creating additional stress for them. The workbook is organized so anyone can find the information they need quickly and easily. After you’ve printed out and completed your workbook, put it in a safe place and tell your loved ones where to find it. You may also wish to have it notarized. 

The Caring Is Not Enough workbook is a useful tool for people of any age, at any stage of life. Consider purchasing this bestselling workbook for each member of your family—it makes very difficult times just a little bit easier.