Expert Home Care NJ - New Jersey Home Health

Family vacations are bonding experiences that make memories to last a lifetime; to encourage these important moments between grandparents and grandchildren Grandtravel specializes in unique vacations for this demographic. Recently partnering with the AARP, Grandtravel is offering $200 discounts to members of the organization, to take their loved ones, aged 7-17 on the trip of a lifetime to Alaska, Paris/London, Italy or New Zealand in 2009.

Grandtravel offers fully guided tours in small sized groups to families. Unlike with typical tour groups, guides are actually certified teachers, so the education component in visiting various destinations is enhanced. While the company mentions that this is primarily to cater for the grandchildren, this learning experience is great for seniors because it enhances their cognitive skills through their use of memory and recall skills.

Even if Grandtravel’s style of vacation is not for certain seniors, it doesn’t mean they still can’t enjoy their vacations with family. Whether they are vacationing in an assisted living facility or a senior rental community, grandchildren are always welcome for a visit; and having family members around can enhance the level of required care that’s being received while away.

With the holidays and New Year approaching, now is a good time for seniors to start making plans for 2009 and including loved ones in the process can make the experiences all the more special.

Sources: http://www.regencypacificinc.com/index.php?page=senior_vacations
               http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/travel/senior/resources.shtml

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors provides senior care, home care & live-in care for your aging loved ones since 1984. Please call us when your loved one needs help - 800-848-2336.

What does it mean to be a family advocate or caregiver? An advocate speaks up to protect the rights of another. He voices his concerns while intently focusing on protecting the health and safety of he and his family. He holds that vision dear to him. Especially in the oftentimes elusive world of medicine, it is absolutely imperative to become as educated as possible about the system you are in. Only then is the best care possible.

Today, doctors and nurses don’t have time to explain everything a family wants and needs to know about what is happening to their family member (the patient). Because of advanced technology changes in healthcare and the pressures of “Managed Care,” doctors don’t have the time to explain, in terms the family will understand, all that is happening to their family member as a patient in the hospital. Doctors are just too pressed for time.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors provides senior care, home care & live-in care for your aging loved ones since 1984. Please call us when your loved one needs help - 800-848-2336.

Family Caregiving Skills 

-Educate yourself regarding your loved one’s illness and/or disability.

-Communicate efficiently and succinctly with healthcare professionals.

-Recognize you are a healthcare consumer deserving quality healthcare.

-Embrace your importance as a member of the healthcare team.

-Always provide input and ask as many questions as needed.

-Pick your battles; don’t sweat the small stuff. Identify inconsequential matters and focus your attention elsewhere

-Be an advocate—speak up. The squeaky wheel usually gets the grease.

With a major role change such as the one associated with becoming a family caregiver, emotions can and will run the gamut. There are in fact five stages of grief that are widely accepted in the scientific community to occur as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance. Living and coping through each of these stages composes the learning framework for us to be able to adjust to witnessing someone we love fall victim to a debilitating illness.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors provides care for your aging loved ones since 1984. Please call us when your loved one needs help - 800-848-2336.

Americans Much More Worried about Retirement, Health Costs

Americans’ confidence in enjoying a comfortable retirement has dropped to its lowest level in seven years, according to the 18th annual Retirement Confidence Survey® (RCS) conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The percentage of workers who were very confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement decreased sharply, from 27 percent in 2007 to 18 percent in 2008, a decline of 9 percentage points and the biggest one-year drop in the 18-year history of the survey.

More than half of retirees (54 percent) say they are now more concerned about their financial future than they were right after they retired, a 14 percentage-point increase from a year ago (40 percent in 2007).

In addition, health-care costs are a big concern for retirees. Among those who left the workforce earlier than planned, more than half (54 percent) say they did so because of health problems or disability. Almost half of retirees (44 percent) say they have spent more than expected on health-care expenses.

New Jersey’s Expert Home Care for Elders and Seniors provides care for your aging loved ones since 1984. Please call us when your loved one needs help - 800-848-2336.

Resources for Seniors in New Jersey

Why live should New Jersey elders live within their means or live frugally? First, because it allows you to spend less than monthly income. You can use the difference to pay off debt, save or invest. Seniors in NJ have more options with a frugal lifestyle.

Look for used first. If you need something for your home or closet, see if someone you know has one that they don’t use or need anymore.  Try making a few phone calls to a family member or friend, or simply ask around. A senior we know was looking to purchase a laptop, and then found out his daughter was given a new computer laptop at work and no longer needed hers. If no one you know owns whatever you are trying to purchase, consider going online to freecycle.org or craigslist.org. Then look to buy used, at garage sales or thrift shops. You can find a bargain if you look around.

Read more Senior Care Savings Tips in New Jersey

Expert Home Care delivers home health services to seniors at home. We help seniors live at home safely and independently in New Jersey. Here’s more information on whether you should consider a will or a living trust for your estate planning in NJ. We can be reached at  (800) 848-2336.

NJ Seniors Seek Simple Wills

You probably have read and heard throughout your life that if all you is take care of your legal affairs, you should write a will. That’s great advice. Keep in mind that when you don’t make a will before your death, then state law will determine who gets your property - the bad news it may not be whom you would have chosen!

What might be worse.. is a judge may decide who will raise your children. In your will, you can make these decisions yourself. Forget the fancy trusts you’ve heard about: most people can get by with only a basic will.

Maybe all you need is a basic will, you can confidently use a good self-help book or software to make a legally binding will that:

• leaves your property to the people and organizations you choose
• names a guardian to care for your minor children if you can’t
• names someone to manage property you leave to minor children (yours or someone else’s), and
• names your executor, the person with authority to make sure that the terms of your will are carried out.

http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/FD1795A9-8049-422C-9087838F86A2BC2B/309/

When planning for a vacation, most seniors don’t put much thought into it. It’s our goal at Expert Home Care to help New Jersey Seniors and Elders travel safely and with care. Please call us when needing help at home (800) 848-2336.

Consider your travel style.

• Don’t end up doing something you don’t really want to do. Does the thought of a 10-day road trip bring a smile or a grimace?
• Is 17 hours on a plane to Australia blissful or stressful?
• Are you interested in a destination vacation or would you rather keep moving? Do you prefer swimsuits and shorts to regulation cruise wear like gowns and tuxedos?
• Check your passport. If traveling out of the country, be sure your passport is current. It will take at least six weeks to get a new one.
• Create an itinerary. Leave a copy of your complete travel information with friends or family.
• Be informed. The Internet is full of sites that offer unlimited information for travelers. Take virtual tours on the Web of places you want to visit, and get the most current travel guides to those areas. There are many companies that specialize in senior travel.
• Hotels and tour operators want your business. If you are considering a tour package, be sure the company is financially sound and well established. Know who you are dealing with before parting with your money.

By doing your research, you’ll ensure a positive experience for all involved. Bon voyage…

Home Care & Home Health in NJ - Call us for homemaker & personal care services, and live-in care - (800)848-2336.

Millions of older Americans love to travel and continue to do so. There are virtually no external limits on where you can go and what you can do. Here are some ideas to help you get the most out of your travels.

Choose your travel companion(s) wisely. With whom will you be traveling? If traveling with someone other than a spouse or partner, be sure you’re all compatible. You will spend a lot of time together, and flexibility is the key.

Be clear about the kind of travel experience you want. Do you want to relax, study, visit family and friends, volunteer, have an educational experience, or perhaps a combination of these?

Research the areas you will visit. Check seasonal weather conditions and the cultural climate. What time of year you will be traveling and how long will you be gone? Remember, when in Rome …

Know your budget. Are you looking for wonderful experiences on a modest budget or will it be first class all the way? Don’t underestimate costs. If on a tour, know what charges to expect. Read the fine print and ask good questions.

Be up-to-date on international currency exchange rates.

Consider your health. Do you or your traveling companions have health issues to consider? Plan ahead for any medical concerns that may need to be addressed along the way.

Be prepared to be flexible. How will you handle cancelled or delayed flights? Are you OK with eating as circumstances permit and adventurous about the kinds of food you will encounter?