Protecting Our Seniors: Click Here to Report Scams / Robocalls & Learn How To Fight Fraud.
Protecting Our Seniors: Click Here to Report Scams / Robocalls & Learn How To Fight Fraud.
Check out our local Nashville, TN senior living resources. Contact us to set up your consultation!
Kara Claudette Wenger, Local Senior Advisors
Listen to our latest Boomers Today podcast and read through answers to common senior placement questions.
Boomers Today is our weekly podcast that helps educate families on resources available to the aging boomer population. Frank Samson, founder and CEO of Senior Care Authority®, interviews a different expert on aspects of what families face as the Boomers and their parents are aging. Subjects range from caregiver challenges, to legal matters, to financial considerations, to health and wellness topics and self-care.
Eve Adler is the Ambassador for Education and Outreach at the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation. She is a Health Educator, Registered Nurse, Registered Yoga Teacher, Qi Gong Practitioner, Health Correspondent, and Brain Longevity Specialist. Her diverse experiences in academia, healthcare delivery, health promotion, and media outreach have provided her with opportunities to work internationally with teams of healthcare partners and educators to develop wellness promotion programs and progressive pathways to higher education and employment.
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a Harvard trained and published neuroanatomist who is affiliated with the DePaul University School of Education. In 1996, Dr. Taylor experienced a major hemorrhage in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write or recall any of her life. It took eight years for her to completely recover. In 2008 her memoir My Stroke of Insight spent 63 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and her TED talk was the first to go viral. In 2021, Whole Brain Living was published.
Sunir J. Garg, MD is a Professor of Ophthalmology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. His clinical interests include advanced treatments for diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, complex retinal detachments, retinal vascular diseases, and surgical diseases of the macula and retina. In addition to authoring over 500 papers and book chapters, Dr. Garg serves as an editor for the Merck Manual, Editor-in-Chief of the American Academy of Ophthalmology ONE Network, and is on the American Diabetes Association Standard of Care Committee. For people in need of an eye exam but are worried about the cost, they should check if they qualify for a free exam with EyeCare America. This program offers comprehensive eye exams with volunteer ophthalmologists at little or no cost to the patient. People can check if they or a loved one qualifies at EyeCareAmerica.org
Carrie Aalberts, also known as Dementia Darling holds a Master in Science focused in Gerontology and over a decade of experience in dementia care. As Dementia Darling, Carrie has built a nurturing online community of over 60k followers, providing education, support, and a safe space for caregivers. Carrie’s goal is to enhance quality of life, encourage joy, and challenge the tragedy narrative around dementia and aging. She offers a plethora of services as a full time educator and advocate.
Dr. Mia Yang is a geriatrician, dementia specialist, implementing innovative programs and research to benefit frail, medically complex older adults with dementia and their families. She is the Director of Wake Forest GUIDE program, House Call Program, and physician liaison for the Memory Counseling Program. She also hosts her own podcast called Ask Dr. Mia, conversations on aging well.
Owner of a Seniors Helping Seniors home care agency serving residents from Delray Beach up to Lake Worth Florida. Seniors Helping Seniors is a peer-to-peer model and John's agency specializes in companion care. He hires active seniors with life experience and a passion for helping others and matches them with a local senior who needs help to ensure their day-to-day needs are met and they are living their best life. John is a Mental Health Counselor licensed in the state of Florida. He is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a board member of the Partnership for Aging in Palm Beach County.
Ben Souchek founded The Sierra Group, LLC more than 25 years ago to simplify the selling process for homeowners. Having inspected thousands of houses and purchased more than 600 properties, he understood the challenges facing sellers, especially when downsizing. After the 2008 market correction, he created Home Downsizing Solutions to provide a more complete solution for homeowners wanting to sell a house and downsize or move to senior living.
Jonathan Pontell is a writer, business/political advisor, cultural commentator, and entrepreneur. He’s the person who identified, and coined the name for, Generation Jones, and is considered that topic’s global authority. He’s discussed Gen Jones on numerous TV networks, including CNN, NBC, BBC and CBS. He’s advised world leaders about Gen Jones voters, including European Prime Ministers and U.S. Presidents. He’s advised numerous Fortune 500 corporations about Generation Jones consumers and employees, including three of the world’s 10 largest corporations. Educated at Cambridge University (UK), Jonathan is a life-long student, absorbing lessons in the over 100 countries he has traveled to.
Teresa Youngstrom is a seasoned Registered Nurse and Dementia Specialist. She has almost 40 years of Clinical and Leadership experience. She became intensely focused on Memory Care when it touched her own family. Teresa is a PAC Certified Independent Trainer under Teepa Snow. Her passion for improving the lives of people living with Dementia led her to start her own business in 2018, “A Better Approach to Memory Care”, where she provides staff training, family consulting, professional education and a podcast called, “Memory Care with Teresa Youngstrom.”.
Debbie Hampton recovered from an attempt to end her life, and the resulting brain injury to become an inspirational and educational writer. She has written for The Huffington Post, Posit Science, MindBodyGreen, and other well-known clients. On her website, “The Best Brain Possible,” she shares information and inspiration on how you can better your brain and life.
Dr. Kimberly Harms has been around the block in life. She has served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service, a dental school professor, a grief counselor, a death doula, a civil mediator, and many other prominent positions. She is an award-winning, best-selling author of the book, “Are You Ready?: How to Build a Legacy to Die For” as well as being an international speaker on the topics of grief, conflict and legacy planning. She has also suffered many personal losses, including the deaths by suicide of her mother and son and the death by broken heart of her husband after their son’s death. Her most important role now is mother to her two surviving children and grandmother to 6 precious grandchildren.
Below you'll find answers to the questions we get asked the most about Eldercare support. If you don't see the answer to your question below, please don't hesitate to ask us anything. We promise to give you an honest answer.
Safety is the number one factor for most families. Although most people would prefer to stay in their own home, there are significant reasons why that is sometimes not possible. In addition to safety concerns, social engagement, communal meals, scheduled activities and 24/7 supervision are some other good reasons to consider Assisted Living.
Often, it is a process and a series of conversations. Imagine yourself in Mom’s position and don’t try to force anything. A Senior Advisor can help you map out the strategy and even help you talk with Mom.
It varies from state-to-state, even county-to- county in the same state. Costs are usually based on a fee for rent and additional fees for care, based on how much assistance is needed.
The rule of thumb, at this writing, is that Medicare only pays for post-acute skilled nursing care, for a maximum of 100 days if certain requirements are met. Medicaid is a state-administered program. Some states have “waivers” that allow people to spend down their money and then stay in an assisted living facility when Medicaid goes into effect. Your Advisor will be versed in the regulations in your state.
If Dad was enlisted during a period of war (see VA website) chances are that Mom is eligible to receive his benefits. Talk to your Advisor for general guidelines and then contact your local VA office for more information.
The short answer is not necessarily. There are many factors to consider and every care situation is different. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can mean a variety of things. It is not necessarily a precursor to Alzheimer’s or other dementias. That said, dementia does not happen overnight and early stages are, in fact, a reason someone may have MCI.
Most likely not. A power of attorney does not give you the right to force someone to move. Usually this requires a Guardianship or Conservatorship. An elder law attorney would be your best source of advice. We can give you referrals to excellent attorneys specializing in laws relating to eldercare.
Hiring a local Senior Advisor or Patient Advocate is your best bet to having “boots on the ground” when your loved one lives far away. Interview several and find someone with whom you feel comfortable. We can help!
Most likely yes but as we stated above, programs vary from state to state. Home ownership is not typically considered when determining eligibility. If she is going to have to sell her home to pay for care, your best option is to consult with a Medicaid planning or elder law attorney. Again, we can refer you to someone competent and compassionate.
