首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Taking Care of Parents Also Means Taking Care of Finances Denise Egebrecht needed a break. It had been three years since
Taking Care of Parents Also Means Taking Care of Finances Denise Egebrecht needed a break. It had been three years since
admin
2013-06-17
16
问题
Taking Care of Parents Also Means Taking Care of Finances
Denise Egebrecht needed a break.
It had been three years since her 86-year-old mother, Eleanor Schwartz, moved in with her and her husband in their home in Johnsburg, 111. Mrs. Schwartz has Alzheimer s disease (老年痴呆症) and has trouble moving around, so Mrs. Egebrecht helps her mother with her shower each day, makes sure she’s fed and takes her on small excursions (远足) to the mall in a portable wheelchair. The routine includes occasionally reminding her mother of what day it is and where she’s living.
Mrs. Egebrecht does all this while also raising her 8-year-old daughter Jaqueline and juggling a full-time job.
"My mom took care of me all of my life," says Mrs. Egebrecht. "Of course I’m going to take care of her now. She’ll live here as long as she’s able."
But money was an issue. For a time, Mrs. Egebrecht was out of work, having lost her job last year. Although her husband was still employed, without her salary she found it increasingly difficult to pay $ 180 a week for the adult day care center Mrs. Schwartz attends regularly.
Then, through the Family Alliance office in her town, Mrs. Egebrecht heard about a $1,000 "respite care (临时看护)" grant sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA).
Intended to give primary caregivers the break they so often need, the grant money must be used to pay for temporary substitute care, said Carol Steinberg, executive vice president of the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Mrs. Egebrecht applied for and received the grant, which meant her mother could continue to go to the adult day care center and Mrs. Egebrecht had time to find another job, which she has.
Mrs. Egebrecht is one of the growing numbers of Americans facing the financial squeeze that can come from caring for elderly parents.
About 30 percent of adult children in the United States contribute financially to their parents’ care, according to the Pew Research Center. On average these children pay $2,400 a year on everything from uncovered medical expenses to making sure the refrigerator is stocked each week. The money often goes to parents who diligently saved all their lives, but in the face of longer life spans and chronic illness, the savings just isn’t enough.
With all of the overwhelming emotional and medical aspects of caring for elderly parents, it’s natural to ignore the consequences of spending large amounts of money on them. But so often adult children end up ignoring their own savings and retirement accounts or, worse, go into debt, because they’re taking care of their parents, says Tim Casserly, a lawyer in Albany who specializes in issues of elderly care.
And if you jeopardize (损害) your own finances now, you risk putting your children in the same tough spot down the line.
One way out of this bind? Take full advantage of the hundreds 6f government and nonprofit programs and services geared to the elderly throughout the country. "There’s lots of help out there, but also lots of reasons why families don’t use it," said Mr. Casserly.
Some people may think their parents have too much money to qualify even though many of the programs are available to elderly people with incomes of more than $100,000. Or the parents may be too. proud to accept help.
What’s more, these services can be difficult and time-consuming to find. And it can be a challenge to deal with the paperwork and red tape, especially when you’re already overwhelmed by the daily demands of taking care of an older parent.
To help make the search for help easier, here is expert advice and several resources that will help you find what you need to take care of your aging parents.
THE FIRST STEP
Have the hard talk.
"So often I see clients who are in the middle of this situation but know very little about their parents’ finances," said Henni Fisher, a Brooklyn clinical social worker who specializes in geriatrics (老人病学). Your parents may be unwilling or unable to give details. Or you may be uncomfortable bringing up the subject.
"It isn’t easy making the transition from the one being cared for to the one giving the care," said Ms. Fisher.
But you can’t put the conversation off any longer. Reassure your parents that you’re not trying to take control away from them. You’re simply trying to make sure that they have everything they need and that you understand everything they want.
During this conversation, or series of conversations, be sure to ask about one of the largest expenses for older people: assisted living or nursing home facilities. Do your parents have long-term care insurance that can help with this exceptionally great expense? If they don’t, should they get it? (For more information, see our previous article "Getting Insurance for One’s Frailest Years.")
THE DOCUMENTS
You’ll also want to make sure your parents have the proper paperwork in place. In an emergency, you’ll need legal authority to act on your parents behalf. Make sure your parents have signed a durable power of attorney authorizing you or some other trustworthy person to take over financial decisions — including signing checks and paying bills — on their behalf.
And keep in mind these other necessary documents: A durable power of attorney for health care (also called a health care proxy) authorizing someone to make medical decisions when your parents cannot; and a living will outlining your parent’s wishes if life support is needed.
These forms may be available at your local senior center. Or, a lawyer who focuses on elderly issues can answer questions and help put this paperwork in place. To find one near you, go to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.naela.org). (If you live in New York State you may need a lawyer’s help sorting out a new 12-page complex power of attorney form, advises Mr. Casserly.)
HIRING AN OUTSIDER
Many families find relief when they hire a geriatric care manager. These consultants, which can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 an hour, will assess your parents’ situation, offer counseling and help you find the local services you need
So vital are these new professionals that my colleague Lesley Alderman will be devoting next week’s Patient Money column to tips on finding the right care manager for your parents’ situation.
In the recent three years, Denise Egebrecht has been busy______.
选项
A、looking after her sick baby daughter
B、helping her husband with the housework
C、taking care of her sick elderly mother
D、looking for a better job to support the family
答案
C
解析
这两句提到,自从她86岁的母亲搬到他们在伊利诺伊州约翰斯堡的家里,与她以及她的丈夫住在一起已经有三年了。母亲患有老年痴呆症,因此行动不便,所以艾洁布朗凯特夫人(Mrs.Egbrecht]每天都要帮她洗澡,给她喂饭,并用便携式轮椅带她到商场散步。由此可知,在最近三年内,艾洁布朗凯特都忙于照顾她年迈生病的母亲,故答案为[C],其中elderly对应86-year-old,sick对应has…disease…has trouble moving around。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/ZcM7777K
0
大学英语四级
相关试题推荐
Beautyhasalwaysbeenregardedassomethingpraiseworthy.Almosteveryonethinksattractivepeoplearehappierandhealthier,h
A、Threeyears.B、Almostfouryears.C、Twoyears.D、Threeyearsandonesemester.B
Theideaofafishbeingabletogenerateelectricitystrongenoughtolightlampbulbs--oreventorunasmallelectricmotor--
Mostconceptionsoftheprocessofmotivationbeginwiththeassumptionthatbehavioris,atleastinpart,directedtowardsthe
ThoughtsofsuicidehauntedAnitaRutnamlongbeforeshearrivedatSyracuseUniversity.Shehadahistoryofmentalillnessand
Mostpeopleoftendreamatnight.Whentheywakeinthemorningtheysaytothemselves,"WhatastrangedreamIhad!Iwonderwh
Whenyouhavetomeetsomeonefromadifferentculture,beprepared.Ifyouunderstandculturaldifferences,you’llbeabetter【
HowtoStartaBusinessAstheworstglobaldownturnsincethesecondworldwarforcesUKcompaniestocutdownthestaffat
Ourbrainshavebeenprocessingsophisticatedinformationviaoursensesformillionsofyears.Sowhyisitwearestill【B1】___
A、Heaskedtheprofessorforsomebooks.B、ProfessorMillerofferedmorehelpthanhehadexpected.C、ProfessorMillerwillnot
随机试题
下列食物中膳食纤维含量最少的是()。
患者男性,35岁,因车祸致外伤,会阴疼痛,排尿困难,不能行走,脸色苍白,送至急症。手术后支架导尿管应当留置的时间为
《中华人民共和国海洋环境保护法》规定:海岸工程建设项目的环境影响报告书经海洋行政主管部门提出()后,报环境保护行政主管部门()。
进行气密性检查时,在试验介质中加入体积分数为1%()。
因采购的货物技术复杂或者性质特殊,不能确定详细规格或者具体要求的,可以采用询价式谈判方式采购。()
真核生物以DNA为遗传物质,部分原核生物以RNA为遗传物质。()
新民主主义文化就是无产阶级领导的人民大众的反帝反封建的文化,即民族的科学的大众的文化。新民主主义文化是“民族的”内涵是()
Writeanessayof160~200wordsbasedonthefollowingdrawing.Inyouressay,youshould:(1)describethedrawingbriefly,(2
以下叙述中正确的是
数据库系统又进一步把对数据逻辑结构的描述分为两个层次:子模式和模式。子模式说的是从一个个具体用户(局部的)角度看到的逻辑结构,模式说的是从全体用户(全局的)角度看到的逻辑结构。这样,整个的数据库系统从面向用户这一端到面向计算机的那一端分作了三个层次:外部层
最新回复
(
0
)