Where: The Colony at Eden Prairie
When: Tuesday May 4, 2010
Time: 1-3 p.m.
All shredding will be done immediately on-site. Bring all of your papers documents and any mail you want to shred.
Refreshments will be Served.
Sponsored by:
Along Life's Path
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Neil Kingsbeck, Funeral Preplanner
Seversen, Sheldon Elder Care Attorneys
St. Joseph Sent Me
Twin Cities Senior Relocation and Transition Specialists
Liz Rosenberg, Massage Therapist
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Starting the Conversation with Your Parents
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Here are some tips to help you start a difficult conversation with your Mom or Dad. This may be about nursing home placement, funeral pre-planning or just obtaining health care at home:
1. Acknowledge the difficulty of the situation
Changing roles
Difficult subject
2. Look at the facts- be gentle and sensitive(if there is resistance back up and create a safe space before proceeding)
3. Ask questions- be curious- look for ways to have the senior control the conversation
4. Identify the outcome you are both looking for-the future you want to create. Be open to their thoughts and thinking outside the box.
5. Inquire into what would help the senior create the next stage of their life as the Best part of their life.
6. Develop concrete action items that don't overwhelm.
Remember, it takes courage, compassion and generosity to make a good conversation and a willingness to change your mind.
Provided by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors. http://www.csa.com
Monday, December 21, 2009
Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays to all my clients, colleagues and business associates. I wish you all the best in the coming year.
Watch Out for Illegal Insurance Practices
It is illegal for anyone to do the following:
• Pressure you into buying a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy, or lie
to or mislead you to switch from one company or policy to another.
• Sell you a second Medigap policy when they know that you already have one,unless you tell the insurance company in writing that you plan to cancel your existing
Medigap policy.
• Sell you a Medigap policy if they know you have Medicaid, except in certain situations.
• Sell you a Medigap policy if they know you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO, PPO or private Fee-for-Service Plan) (unless your coverage under the
Medicare Advantage Plan will end before the effective date of the Medigap policy).
• Claim that a Medigap policy is part of the Medicare program or any other Federal program. Medigap is private health insurance.
• Claim that a Medicare Advantage Plan is a Medigap policy.
• Sell you a Medigap policy that can’t legally be sold in your state. Check with your
State Insurance Department to make sure that the Medigap policy you are interested
in can be sold in your state.
• Misuse the names, letters or symbols of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Social Security Administration (SSA), Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), or any of their various programs like Medicare. (For example, they can’t suggest the Medigap policy has been approved or recommended by the Federal government.)
• Sell you a Medicare Advantage Plan when you want to stay in Original Medicare and buy a Medigap policy. A Medicare Advantage Plan isn’t the same as Original Medicare. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan you will be disenrolled from Original Medicare and can’t use a Medigap policy.
If you believe that a Federal law has been broken, call the Inspector General’s hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). TTY users should call 1-800-377-4950. Your State Insurance Department can help you with other insurance-related problems.
This information is provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors® (SCSA) www.csa.us and comes from Choosing a Medigap Policy 2009 at www.medicare.gov.
• Pressure you into buying a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy, or lie
to or mislead you to switch from one company or policy to another.
• Sell you a second Medigap policy when they know that you already have one,unless you tell the insurance company in writing that you plan to cancel your existing
Medigap policy.
• Sell you a Medigap policy if they know you have Medicaid, except in certain situations.
• Sell you a Medigap policy if they know you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO, PPO or private Fee-for-Service Plan) (unless your coverage under the
Medicare Advantage Plan will end before the effective date of the Medigap policy).
• Claim that a Medigap policy is part of the Medicare program or any other Federal program. Medigap is private health insurance.
• Claim that a Medicare Advantage Plan is a Medigap policy.
• Sell you a Medigap policy that can’t legally be sold in your state. Check with your
State Insurance Department to make sure that the Medigap policy you are interested
in can be sold in your state.
• Misuse the names, letters or symbols of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Social Security Administration (SSA), Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), or any of their various programs like Medicare. (For example, they can’t suggest the Medigap policy has been approved or recommended by the Federal government.)
• Sell you a Medicare Advantage Plan when you want to stay in Original Medicare and buy a Medigap policy. A Medicare Advantage Plan isn’t the same as Original Medicare. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan you will be disenrolled from Original Medicare and can’t use a Medigap policy.
If you believe that a Federal law has been broken, call the Inspector General’s hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). TTY users should call 1-800-377-4950. Your State Insurance Department can help you with other insurance-related problems.
This information is provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors® (SCSA) www.csa.us and comes from Choosing a Medigap Policy 2009 at www.medicare.gov.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
New Resources Available for the Twin Cities Area Seniors and Their Families
Twin Cities area seniors now have a new resource to help them age successfully. Barbara Grimm, CSA, with Along Life’s Path, recently completed a comprehensive course through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®. SCSA in an international organization that has trained more than 20,000 professionals to meet the changing needs of a growing senior population.
The explosion in growth of the senior population is one of the most important demographic developments of the 21st century. Two-thirds of the people who have lived past the age of 65 are alive today. In the
This demographic shift requires an educated response in how professionals work with senior and the challenges and opportunities they face. Barbara Grimm said: “With more people living longer, we are already beginning to see changes in how seniors function in our society, from retirees who choose to start a second or third career, to various forms of alternative senior housing and new approaches to diet, exercise and overall health care for seniors”.
As a CSA, Barbara Grimm will participate in continuing education that emphasizes ethical selling and business practices and volunteer service specific to seniors.
Barbara Grimm is a Daily Money Manager for Seniors. For a free in-home consultation, call 612/385-6446 or email
Monday, August 24, 2009
Facebook Fan Page
As you can see, I now am on Facebook and I wanted to let you know about my "Fan" page for Along Life's Path, Inc. If you go into Facebook on your account and search for Along Life's Path in the Search bar, you will find my "Fan" page. Please become a fan and watch for interesting articles, events and discussions posted there.
I hope to see you on Facebook and soon on Twitter.
I hope to see you on Facebook and soon on Twitter.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Costs of Eldercare
Did you know that more time is spent away from work for eldercare than childcare? It's true... Seniors now stay in their homes longer and approximately 90% of all care provided in the home is done by a family caregiver.
The average length of care-giving for an older family member is 4.3 years... More time than their younger children spend in daycare. Adult children often work full time, raise a family, maybe run a business and then haul children to sports and activities. Now add to that the time they spend taking care of their parents' homes, financial paperwork and doctor appointments. WOW!
The employers of adult children are highly impacted by the loss of time their employees are forced to absorb. In this time of financial hardship, adult children are often worried that the additional time spent away from work will cause them to lose their jobs or impact their future with the company.
What can you do? Nobody wants to neglect the loved ones who took such good care of us when we were young. And yet, aren't we entitled to have our lives too?
What is most needed is resources and a strong support system. Ask your employers if flexible time is an option for you. That will decrease stress for employees and employers. Having a flexible schedule allows you to make those doctor appointments during regular hours and only miss a few hours rather than calling in sick yourself to take Mom or Dad. If your employer is flexible, perhaps you can work earlier in the morning or later in the evening and still finish work on time.
Another good supportive tool is to do some research proactively. In other words, look for home health care agencies, attorneys, financial planners, daily money managers and other resources to assist you when you need help. There are many resources out there that will be happy to give you a free consultation BEFORE the crisis hits.
As a Daily Money Manager, I often help people find the resources they need. Even if they don't need my services now or in the near future, they may some day. And I would be happy to help them find viable solutions for their aging parents, aunts, uncles and/or grandparents.
Call me for a FREE consultation at 612/385-6446.
Or email alonglifespath@juno.com
The average length of care-giving for an older family member is 4.3 years... More time than their younger children spend in daycare. Adult children often work full time, raise a family, maybe run a business and then haul children to sports and activities. Now add to that the time they spend taking care of their parents' homes, financial paperwork and doctor appointments. WOW!
The employers of adult children are highly impacted by the loss of time their employees are forced to absorb. In this time of financial hardship, adult children are often worried that the additional time spent away from work will cause them to lose their jobs or impact their future with the company.
What can you do? Nobody wants to neglect the loved ones who took such good care of us when we were young. And yet, aren't we entitled to have our lives too?
What is most needed is resources and a strong support system. Ask your employers if flexible time is an option for you. That will decrease stress for employees and employers. Having a flexible schedule allows you to make those doctor appointments during regular hours and only miss a few hours rather than calling in sick yourself to take Mom or Dad. If your employer is flexible, perhaps you can work earlier in the morning or later in the evening and still finish work on time.
Another good supportive tool is to do some research proactively. In other words, look for home health care agencies, attorneys, financial planners, daily money managers and other resources to assist you when you need help. There are many resources out there that will be happy to give you a free consultation BEFORE the crisis hits.
As a Daily Money Manager, I often help people find the resources they need. Even if they don't need my services now or in the near future, they may some day. And I would be happy to help them find viable solutions for their aging parents, aunts, uncles and/or grandparents.
Call me for a FREE consultation at 612/385-6446.
Or email alonglifespath@juno.com
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