Senior Care don’t procrastinate - plan By Karl Karch
Lexi Grogan’s Pet Sitting Service “Your pet becomes my pet while in my care, and I care a lot!” - Lexi (540-903-0437; lexig0892@gmail.com) On facebook as “lexi grogan’s pet sitting service” Prices: Dogs - $15 per canine per visit Cats - $12 per feline per visit
Celebrate & Enjoy Life art of aging expo By pam lake pell
Are You... Sick & tired of being sick & tired?
Better value, more love for your pet than if you kennel board him!
Having sleep problems? Constantly clearing your throat? Hypersensitive? Panicky? Sore Neck & Back? Anxious? Depressed? Fatigued? Morning Brain Fog?
After many years of procrastination, my wife and I finally updated our will, advance medical directive, power of attorney, and a few of-llife documents. My brotherother end-o in-law breathed a sigh of relief that, as godfather, he is no longer responsible for the care of our now 40-plus year-old children (that’s how long it’s been since our last will). As adults, we know we should plan for retirement and the end of our lives. But, more often than not, individuals and families fail to plan for the stage of life that comes between retirement and end of life. Preparing for your final years is much more than saving for retirement and writing a will, advance directive, and appointing a power of attorney. Questions to answer include: How do you plan to live the remaining years of your life? Where do you want to live? What is your plan for long-tterm care should you need it? Do you know the cost of long-tterm care? Is your plan flexible to changes that might occur over time? Does your family know about your plans and where information is kept? Research conducted by Home Instead, Inc. found that more than 75% of seniors feel more comfortable and more prepared planning for their funeral than their final years of life. While 73% have a written will, only 13% have made plans for their long-term care (in-home care, assisted living, skilled nursing, or hospice care) should they need it. This gap identified a critical need for resources to help seniors and their families better plan for their remaining years. For 68% of seniors, thinking about when they can no longer care for themselves is more frightening than the idea of death. And, if they have developed a plan, less than half have discussed their plans with their adult children. However, once the fear is overcome and plans are
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made and discussed with loved ones, seniors felt more responsible, prepared, proactive, and smart. And, after having the conversation with their adult children, 88% of seniors said it made them feel closer to their children, a huge added benefit. To address this gap and help seniors and their families understand the steps they need to take to plan for their final years, Home Instead, Inc. has developed an education program that offers planning resources and tips. The program is called Compose Your Life SongSM because planning the remaining years of your life is like composing the final bars of your life’s song. This program offers practical tips and helps guide you on how you want to orchestrate the final years of your life. There are also conversation starters to encourage seniors and their adult children to talk to one another and explore options for care, finances, insurance, and funeral planning. So, don’t procrastinate any longer. Start your rest-of-life planning now. Visit www.ComposeYourLifeSong.com to learn more. If caregiving is causing you stress, then visit www.CaregiverStress.com for additional articles to help in your caregiving journey.
Karl Karch is a local franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, a licensed home care organization providing personal care, companionship and home helper services in the Fredericksburg and Culpeper region.
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How quickly the time flies. The Baby Boomers now range in age from mid 50's to mid 70's ... celebrating 40 plus years since high school and college graduations... And boy, oh boy, don't we look and feel great - and we are rewriting all of the rules of aging! The Active Adult Life Style is in full swing. Aging actively, gracefully and with fervor & dignity occurs on individual, family and community levels. On Wednesday, June 13, Partners in Aging will host the twelfth annual Art of Aging – Life Begins at 50 Expo at the Fredericksburg Expo Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Partners in Aging is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life as we age in the greater Fredericksburg area by providing access to resources. The Art of Aging Expo showcases the many facets of aging and the active lifestyle. Today there are approximately 70 million Baby Boomers in the United States, many of whom still have living parents. Many of us continue to work well past the age of 65; many who have retired are finding other ways to channel our energy and efforts. Some are starting second careers, spurred on by hobbies or bucket list wishes. Others are investing their time by volunteering and giving back to the community. Yet others find themselves sandwiched into caring for their children and/or grandchildren, as many navigate the duties of caregiving for their spouses and/or parents. We Baby Boomers are a loud and proud generation. We believe in sharing our opinions, making our voices heard. We are large and in charge, and intend to redefine the rules of aging. Like a fine wine, we aren’t getting old, we’re getting better. We strive to make our community a better place for the generations to come. Boomers and Seniors have a wealth of knowledge and experience that continue to shape our society. The Art of Aging Expo provides the opportunity to visit over 100 sponsors and vendors. You can discover ways to get involved, volunteer and give back, and
learn about aging wisely. You can discover ways to broaden your horizons and knowledge, whether staying local or travelling the world. There will be over fifteen short courses, on various topics, throughout the day. There will be various health screenings and demonstrations, as well. Our Platinum Sponsor, Mary Washington Healthcare, will have "Connie the Colon" onsite, for education about the importance of screening for colon cancer. Short Courses cover topics that include: Organ & Tissue Donation for Boomers & Seniors; CRRL: Your Library More than just Books; Brain Health & Brain Games; Understanding Palliative vs. Hospice Care; Yoga Practices to Manage Stress; Hands Only CPR; Rock Steady Boxing & Living Well with Parkinson's; Forgetfulness: is it normal aging or early onset Alzheimer's?; AARP's Home Fit Demos include: Dancing with Olivia; Hand and Chair Massages ; Wegmans offers Healthy Cooking & Tastings and Ask Your Pharmacist; Custom Cartz golf carts (weather permitting) Screenings include: Diabetes, Glucose and BMI by Mary Washington Healthcare; Blood Pressure and Stroke Risk by Mary Washington Healthcare and Germanna Nursing Students; Vision and Hearing by The Lions’ Club; Bone Density by Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center Remember that each day is the first day of the rest of your life. Take charge of your life to age well, successfully, and with dignity. Take advantage of the riches we have locally and give back to add more value to our community. Join us on June 13th at the Art of Aging – Life Begins at 50 Expo… learn how we can age well together. Pam Lake Pell is the Area Manager for the Community Care Program with Encompass Home Health, Vice President of Partners in Aging & Chairman of the Art of Aging Committee.
Oral System Balancing –OSBcould be just what you need Visit www.drwaynewhitley.com & watch amazing video testimonies Call for a FREE consultation Dr. Wayne Whitley 540-847-1935
Bring a little sunshine to a senior’s life! Too many seniors feel lonely and isolated.
Donate to a Cancer Organization
YOU can make a difference by volunteering to visit a senior in the Fredericksburg area. Volunteer training is provided & no special skills are required. The Senior Visitors Program is a FREE community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
Helping homeless children and families in City of Fredericksburg, Counties of Caroline, Stafford & Spotsylvania 540 371 0831
Visit mhafred.org or call 540-371-2704
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