SERVING SENIORS Issue #1 2019
Oro Valley
Tr u e St or ies Lesson s f r om Tu cson Sen ior s Page 16
Est at es & Tr u st s Avoid t h ese m ist ak es Page 6
Th ou gh t For Th e Day
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"SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE 39
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WHO MAKE YOU FEEL GREAT, AND GIVE YOU POSITIVE ENERGY" 39
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Inside This Issue
Featured Article
Pass The Baton
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Estate Planning Tips
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Selecting Your Physical Therapist
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Sell Your Home For More
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Estate Sale Tips and Tricks
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Choosing The Right Community
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True Stories
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Recommended Services
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Interview with PCOA
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Understanding Alzheimer's
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Estate & Trust Tips from our favorite estate Article Title planning attorney 39 p. 6
Featured
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Inside Story
TIPS
Interview with the CEO:
In This Issue: - Sell Your Home For More!
Pim a Cou n cil on Agin g
- Select The Right Community 39
p. 22 39
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- Dealing With Depression - The Right Physical Therapy - Maximize Your Estate Sale
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When Is It Time To Pass The Baton?
?How will I know when it?s time to hand off responsibility for my financial affairs to you?? our client, Carol, asked me. At Mission Management & Trust Co., these questions are common for our trust team to hear. As a widow with no other family nearby who can help, Carol knows she will eventually need to make a wise decision to ?pass the baton,? and have Mission manage her financial affairs. Carol is not alone? these are common concerns for many older adults. Mission?s 25 years in the trust business handling a wide variety of client situations, has crafted a team versed in identifying cues that can help you recognize when, ?It?s time.?
by Susan Ernsky, President Mission Management and Trust Co. You might need assistance if you have: - Struggled to keep current with paying bills, keeping track of documents for tax filing, and generally staying on top of paperwork - Feelings of being overwhelmed - Occasional confusion when balancing your checkbook - Physical conditions or weakness that causes you to decide you need assisted living arrangements - Had a ?close call? with fraud when you gave your credit card number to a stranger over the telephone - A condition, such as macular degeneration, that prevents you from properly monitoring your financial accounts - Had someone observed that you are experiencing memory issues It is important to note that ?passing the baton? goes smoother if you do so when you can rather than when you must. Once a significant healthcare event occurs, you will be under physical and emotional stress, and decision making becomes more challenging. While spontaneity can be fun? the spice of life? this is one time when having a plan is in your best interest. BEFORE you think, ?It?s time,? give Mission a call (520-577-5559). We can help!
Wills, Trust COMMON ESTATE PLANNING ERRORS We interviewed our favorite estate planning attorney and asked her to share some common mistakes she often sees. Here are some of the ones she shared with us. Most families don?t receive their wealth through inheritance or winning the lottery, but rather through years of hard work and sacrifice. Here are five common estate planning mistakes that can ruin the legacy that you have worked so hard to build. 1. Failing to Plan: Over 70% of Americans have no plan in place, not even a basic will. Failure to plan simply means that you have implemented the court?s plan, and there are good reasons why this is the #1 mistake! 2. Unrealistic view regarding beneficiaries. Every person should ask themselves if their chosen beneficiaries will be mature enough emotionally and financially to handle an inheritance. If there is any doubt now, your estate plan should take these concerns into account to protect your beneficiaries from themselves. 3. Inadequate estate plan. Some families begin estate planning with a simple Will. However, as years go by and assets accumulate, a Will may not be the best option. Consider an option that allows you the ability to avoid living and death probate, provides restrictions on spendthrift beneficiaries, and offers asset protection and minimizes tax issues.
s & Estates
4. Failure to change the fiduciary role. Sometimes those we name as Personal Representative, Trustee, or Healthcare Agent may no longer be the best choice. Change in relationships, moves out of state, or health challenges may require our selecting someone else to fill these important roles. 5. Failing to update your estate plan. Too often, people allow their estate plan to sit on a shelf and collect dust. Life changes such as divorce, deaths, and births can have a significant impact on one?s original estate planning goals. An estate plan should be reviewed every 2 years to ensure that your choices are up to date with life?s changes.
For more information, contact: Wendy Harn, Partner & Attorney at Law Morris Hall PLLC. (520) 320-5100 or wharn@morristrust.com
Outpatient Physical Therapy Finding the right physical therapy option Quality outpatient physical therapy can make a big difference in your recovery after an injury or surgical procedure. Not every physical therapy option is the same, and your health and comfort may be impacted based on who you use. How do you know which option is going to be the best one for you? We interviewed Leslie Drawdy, Outpatient Physical Therapy Supervisor at Oro Valley Hospital for some advice. Here are some of the tips she shared with us.
Ask the right questions When you need outpatient therapy, it is important to find a clinic setting that is the right match for you. Don?t be afraid to call and ask questions about the staff and the environment, or schedule a brief tour of a few different clinics before deciding where to go. Here are a few key questions to ask: 1. Do you have a therapist that has experience treating my diagnosis? 2. Will I be working with one therapist or with several different people during each appointment? 3. Will my therapist be working with other patients during my appointment, or will they just be working with me? 4 . If I don?t feel comfortable working with the therapist that starts my care, can I ask for another one? You have the right to go to the therapy clinic of your choice. Finding the right fit will help you get the most out of your therapy. It?s about working with the right therapist in the right environment to get the best outcome! For more information, contact Leslie Drawdy at (520) 901-3580 or email her at leslie.drawdy@orovalleyhospital.com
Real E "Sell Your Home F
Interview more than one Realtor. Not all Realtor's are created equally, and some are much better than others. You want a listing specialist who will outperform the average Realtor. A listing specialist will be able to reach more buyers, generate more showings and sell your home for top dollar. In addition, they will have methods designed to reduce your closing costs and the fees you pay on behalf of the buyer. The difference in your net bottom line is significant! Ask the right questions. When you ask the right questions, the answers will clearly identify the Realtor you should hire. For example, consider asking ""what are common mistakes even seasoned Realtor's make that reduce the number of buyers who see my home"? Another question might be "What specifically will you do to help reduce both my closing costs and the expenses I pay on behalf of the buyer"? For a list of other questions to ask, visit www.teamkandoo.com
"Senior Real Estate Specialists, SRES"
Estate For More Money" "Attract more buyers to sell your home for the highest price. Keep your closing costs low and reduce what you pay on behalf of the buyer ".
Avoid common mistakes. Even the most seasoned of Realtor's make common mistakes that reduce the number of physical showings you have. If a prospective buyer does not see your home, they probably will not buy it. For example, most Realtor's will post 40+ photos of your home online. There will be photos of virtually every room, and some will not be flattering. Imagine a buyer needs to "weed out" a few homes while looking online because they do not have time to see them all. Do you want them to eliminate yours? This is why we use less photos and all of them are complimentary. We leave something to the imagination, which motivates the buyer to physically see your home. It is one way we sell homes other Realtor's struggle with.
520.344.3005 Bill Nordbrock
"Senior Real Estate Specialists, SRES"
Dale Slaughter
Preparing for an Estate Sale Preparing for an estate sale can be a daunting task. Using a reputable estate sale company has many benefits. They will save you a tremendous amount of time, and usually they will generate more income than you will doing it yourself at a garage sale. The first step is to decide which company you want to use. Do your homework and check trusted sources like the BBB, Google reviews and ask friends for recommendations. It is a good idea to interview more than one estate sales company, and be sure they meet you at the location of the sale. Ask the questions like: -
What happens to the items that do not sell? How do they determine the value of each item? Are there any out of pocket expenses you will incur? What if I want to keep some of the items? When can you do the sale? How much do you charge? How and when will I get my money? For more information, contact
Bertha and the Babes Estate Sales (520) 360-4277 or (520) 665-9221 www.berthaandthebabes.com
Tips and Tricks Here are a few tips to make your estate sale smooth: - If the home is vacant, notify the insurance company. They may not honor a claim if the home is vacant unless they are notified. - Before the estate sale company comes in to prepare for the sale, remove all personal items from the home such as, photos, letters, personal papers, family keepsakes and financial documents. - Have family members remove all items they wish to keep including pieces of furniture. - Be sure to keep the utilities turned on for the sale. They will need heating, cooling, lighting and running water. - It is helpful to keep the trash pickup going also, that will cut down on the cost of having trash hauled away. - Let the estate sale company determine what items are valuable enough to include in the sale, what items can be donated, and what is truly trash. - Share knowledge you have about items that may be of great value, such as an original painting. - Stay in touch with the estate sale company during the process, you are a valuable asset to the success of the sale.
Senior Transitions "Choosing the Ri Transition moves can be emotional When seniors make a transition into independent living, it can be an uplifting experience. It is very much like moving onto a cruise ship. There are lots of activities to choose from, great meals are provided for them and the social activity is invigorating. When seniors make a transition into assisted living or memory care, it may be a bit more difficult. Many times they are dealing with the loss of a loved one, health issues, loss of mobility or any number of other factors . Often times they are forced to part with sentimental personal property in order to downsize. Regardless of the type of community you are considering, it is important to find the right one for your particular situation. For independent living communities, consider factors like: -
Budget Location Types of activities and amenities Average age of the residents Quality of the food Does the community offer assisted living when you need it
For assisted living communities, you must also consider things like: -
Your particular care needs Do they accept your long term care insurance if applicable Arizona Dept. of Health Services citations and complaints Do they conduct background checks on employees Are their care plans effective and are the followed Visit Our Website: Serenity Senior Services
ight Community" Senior Placement Agents There are more than 400 senior living community options available in Tucson. Each one is significantly different from the other. The best option to find the right community for you and your needs to is work with a senior placement agent. Here are a few reasons why you want to consult with a senior placement agent. - Their services are completely free to you. - They understand the inherent differences of each of the communities. They will show you a few of the ones that meet your specific needs. - They know about the problem communities you need to avoid. With that said, there are many senior placement agents to choose from. Some are better than others. Look for placement agents who do this full time. Check their online reviews and interview more than one. TIP: If you can, move into an independent living community before you need assisted living. You will become aware of the community, the staff and you will have friends around you when the time comes to transition into assisted living. That can help.
Tom Pothoff & Danny Klein (520) 907- 1991
TRUE STORIES Th e Real Est at e Rip Of f An local Tucson widow decided to move into an assisted living community after her husband passed away. She contacted her estate planning attorney for guidance. The estate planning attorney connected her with a Realtor. The Realtor asked the woman what she thought her house was worth. The woman was not exactly sure, but replied "somewhere around $150,000?" The Realtor knew the house was worth significantly more. and offered to buy the house for $150,000. They wrote up the contract and the transaction closed. When the house was appraised, it appraised for nearly $300,000. Do you think the Realtor did anything wrong? Do you think the estate planning attorney would continue to refer business to this Realtor if he knew what happened? The widow had no idea what her home was worth. As it turned out, she gave a lot of her equity away. This is money she could have used for her continuing care. For a free opinion of what your home is worth, call the Kandoo Real Estate Team at 520.344.3005.
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Th e Tr easu r e Hu n t Mom had passed away and all of the kids were out of state. The estate planning attorney hired Bertha and the Babes to go through everything and prepare for the estate sale. As the staff was alone in the house, preparing the items for sale, they kept finding stashes of cash. Towards the end of the day they counted all of it. There was about $10,000 in cash! They contacted the attorney and made arrangements to hand over the recently discovered treasure.If you need help with an Estate Sale, call Bertha and the Babes at (520) 665-9221. Pr obat e Nigh t m ar e A wealthy, successful and educated business owner told his daughter for years "you have nothing to worry about. When I die, you are designated to be my power of attorney. You will have full control of all my assets". When the man died, the daughter found out that powers of attorney do not survive death, and was no longer valid. Everything had to go through probate. She lived out of state and this meant several trips to Arizona, and thousands of dollars in legal fees. For help with your wills, trusts and estates, call Wendy Harn at Morris Hall, (520) 320-5100.
Understanding Geriatric Psychiatry There are many mental health issues that impact the older adult population. Alzheimer ?s and neurovascular disease are usually diagnosed after the age of 70, and about one-third of dementia-free 70-year-olds will eventually develop the disease. Over half of the cases of major depression in the United States are experienced in later life. A recent study by the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that 27% of older adults requiring care had symptoms of anxiety that significantly impacted function. Another mental health issue with disproportional impact on this population is insomnia, with as much as 50% of older adults reporting difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep. Life events that can trigger an adjustment disorder such as retirement, illness, or the death of a spouse are common. There are many unavoidable factors related to aging that increase risk, but many interventions that can improve outcomes and quality of life. It may happen to you, and it will probably happen to someone you love. Imagine the hypothetical case of Louise. She had been married for almost 60 years when her husband became seriously ill. For the next few years, Louise was his primary caregiver. Eventually he passed away and Louise was left with an incredible sense of loss. Not long after that, Louise?s health began to fail. She developed balance issues and noticed the early onset of dementia. The fear of falling crossed her mind almost every day. Her children lived in other states, so she had to hire strangers to help her with daily activities. The day finally arrived when Louise was unable to drive her car anymore. The loss of independence was difficult to deal with.
As her dementia progressed, her vision began to fail, making it difficult to read and she fell more frequently. After a few years, Louise decided to move into an assisted living community. Downsizing forced her to liquidate most of her sentimental personal property. Her children seemed consumed with their own busy lives, and she often felt lonely. The thought of leaving the only home she had known for the past 40 years and moving into a new place full of strangers scared her. As this story illustrates, the developmental challenge of this stage of life is maintaining ego integrity in the face of traumatic loss and increasing dysfunction. Many people do not want to burden family or friends, so they try to manage this alone without emotional support. Developing a therapeutic rapport with a mental health professional is a great way to enhance your emotional support structure. Both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology are proven to be effective. When they are used together correctly, they provide the best results. Whether you are having an episode of depression following the honeymoon period of your retirement, want annual cognitive screening and education to delay memory loss, need to sleep better at night, need support grieving the loss of a spouse, or have a parent who is suffering from severe dementia and won?t stop hitting people, a good therapist can help. Find a therapist who offers mobile services as an option, so they can visit patients in the comfort of their own home, or in the community where they live. Does the therapist offer support over the phone? Finally, ask if they accept traditional Medicare or do they offer treatment options for private pay clients to work within their budget? Elijah Oster-Morris is a board certified Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, specializing in geriatrics. For more information, contact Elijah at elijah@azpsychnp.com , by phone at 520.977.1582 or fax 520.844.1058.
Recommended Service P
Serving Seniors Oro Valley is the only professional membership b membership. We do not accept members, for any amount of money, and Trust are mandatory, non-negotiable qualities required for mem perspective new member. Our members refer clients back and forth have heard from our clients. If the service is not good, we remove tha fee to appear on our recommended list. They are there because the carries a lot of weight with Serving Seniors Oro Valley. Mission Management and Trust Investment Management and Trust Administration (520) 577-5559 Bertha and the Babes Estate Sales Estate Sales (520) 665-9221 Serenity Senior Services Senior Placement Services (520) 907-1991 Southwest Sports and Spine Pain Management Clinic (520) 395-0512 Kindred at Home Home Health Care - Medical (520) 230-0279
Providers
Professionals You Can Trust
ased organization where quality service is the primary criteria for , unless they consistently deliver exceptional service. Honesty, Ethics mbership. We check background, online reviews and interview every h on a daily basis. We meet every month and share the feedback we at member from our network of referral partners. No business pays a ey are exceptionally good at what they do. As a consumer, your voice y. Here are some of the professionals we recommend. Oro Valley Hospital Outpatient Physical Therapy (520) 901-3580 Country Financial Insurance and Investments (520) 837-0303 Morris Hall PLLC Estate Planning Attorneys (520) 320-5100 Senior Home Care of Tucson Home Care - Non Medical (520) 355-4787 The Kandoo Real Estate Team Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) (520) 344-3005
Interview with PCO
Interview w CONTENT
OA
upcoming article
By Bill Nordbrock
with PCOA T PENDING
Family Care Tips
Family caregivers know first hand how fulfilling it can be to help their loved ones experience a higher quality of life. Yet they also know that providing care is not without its challenges, and this is particularly true when a senior loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer ?s disease. With Alzheimer ?s, the varied behaviors can ebb and flow throughout the progression of the disease, making it difficult for family members to know how to help manage them. Some of the common behaviors are: Wan der in g The reasons for wandering are as unique as each individual experiencing them. The person could be bored, in pain or discomfort, confused, depressed, agitated, or trying to meet a need, such as using the bathroom or getting a drink. Determining the underlying reason behind the wandering is, therefore, key to finding the best solution. If you suspect the senior is experiencing pain, contact his or her doctor right away for assistance. Distraction is often helpful in addressing a variety of other causes. Moving into a different room, or outside if weather permits, and engaging the senior in a favorite pastime is often an effective way to alleviate their propensity to wander. Supervision is key to keeping a wandering senior safe.
s for Alzheimer 's Su n dow n Syn dr om e As the sun sets, agitation and confusion may increase for those with Alzheimer ?s, making it difficult for both the senior and his or her family caregivers to get a much-needed restful night of sleep. It might help to limit late-day napping. Also try establishing an evening routine that is soothing and conducive to sleep, such as with quiet music, low lighting, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol. Try pulling the curtains and blinds closed to prevent the senior from noticing the darkness outside. An overnight caregiver allows family members to rest, while the senior is safe and engaged in comforting activities. Violen ce Agitation in a senior with dementia can quickly escalate to violence, leading to the potential for harm to both the senior and his or her family caregiver. To diffuse the stress, it?s crucial that family caregivers remain calm and reassuring. Becoming upset will only further aggravate the senior. Instead, plan ahead before the agitation begins. Keep several tried-and-true activities on hand that have shown success in calming the senior, such as looking at photographs and reminiscing, having a snack, or listening to favorite music. For more tips on helping a senior with Alzheimer ?s live the most comfortable, peaceful, and enjoyable life possible, call Tina Gillette at (520) 355-4787.