With Your Family in Mind

Foster Parent Appreciation Month in May provides a wonderful opportunity to honor and recognize the work of people making a difference in the lives of children in foster care.  It’s also a time to bring awareness to the great need for families to open their homes to these vulnerable children, especially older children and sibling sets of brothers and sisters who wish to remain together.

We frequently advise clients who are in “crises” mode due to a sudden medical emergency.  It is very difficult for the family when the senior hasn’t adequately planned for illness or incapacity.  The family often finds that they don’t have the legal tools or information needed to handle the medical and financial affairs of the ill senior.  Financial institutions, insurance companies, and medical professionals won’t speak to the family without proper legal authority.

Living independently is important to all of us, but especially to seniors. As they age, seniors face unique challenges, such as losing a spouse and elderly friends, changes in physical and mental abilities, and other general lifestyle changes that often occur during the golden years. Living in a comfortable and familiar environment becomes paramount to a senior’s happiness and feelings of well-being. As the relative, friend or caregiver of a senior, it is important for you to help seniors achieve this goal.

Workshop two: Last month I ran an article discussing the importance of being properly prepared for your divorce as well as options for a “Do It Yourself Divorce.”  The response was overwhelming-- the first workshop was a great success.  Many of you had questions about the first steps to take...

“Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry _______.”  If you’re like most people, you’re conditioned to automatically respond “alone.”  If you’ve suffered a devastating loss such as death of a loved one, divorce or breakup, you may be trying to cope with these and other unspoken rules.

Spring is an ideal time to put our legal and financial houses in order.  Here’s some housework you can do without straining your backs or dirtying your hands:
• Prepare a current asset and debt summary.  Label and store closed bank records.  Keep open-account records in an Assets File.  For each account, list the address and phone number of the branch, and the name of any account representative.

The month of May brings the celebration of graduation for seniors and often times the worry for their parents.  What’s next?  How am I going to pay for college?  My solution for the parents of high school seniors is do not give up on finding help.  Although you may have missed the deadlines for the first year, it’s not too late to get assistance down the road. 

Dementia is a loss of brain function that affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.  As we get older, most of us will experience some difficulties with memory.  We’ve all forgotten a name, where we placed the car keys, or why we walked into a room.  But this is normal forgetfulness, and does not necessarily indicate dementia.

“As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can’t see how it is.” – Ram Dass, Spiritual Teacher
According to experts at the International Center for Peaceful Shared Parenting, 80 percent of family court cases are described as low-conflict cases, 10 percent as moderate conflict cases and 10 percent as high conflict cases, with regard to custody.
For many couples that come to mediation, the parenting plan can be the most important long term issue addressed. 

Many power of attorney and health care proxy documents that were created years ago should be revised now as a result of a federal medical privacy law.  The law, known as HIPAA, generally prevents health care providers from disclosing your personal medical information to anyone other than you and someone you have named as your “personal representative.”

Caregiving might be a little less taxing this year because you may be eligible to declare your parent or other elderly relative as a dependent for a tax deduction, or to deduct their medical expenses from your taxes.
As you prepare your 2011 return, Visiting Angels has a few tips for determining your possible tax benefits.  Remember, these tips are guidelines only.  It is strongly recommended that you consult with a tax advisor before submitting your return.

On November 3, 2011, Penny Lane Centers’ Founder and CEO, Ivelise Markovits, was one of many prestigious women to speak at the 2011 Women’s Leadership Conference.  This is the second Conference held by the Public Works Women’s Leadership Council which aims to foster the personal and professional growth of all public works employees by providing educational and networking opportunities. 

Thanks for sending in great questions about the voiceover industry.  This month’s question is about looking for an agent.
Q:  At what point should I look for an agent? –Betty G., Silver Lake, CA

If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B medical insurance when you first became eligible for Medicare, you now have an opportunity to apply — but time is running out. The deadline for applying during the general enrollment period is March 31.  If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until 2013 to apply.

Being a successful communicator involves the ability to listen, comprehend and process information, respond and utilize appropriate social skills.  Nonverbal communication skills including use of appropriate eye gaze, body language, facial expressions, personal space and gestures are key to communicating successfully.  In addition, tone of voice also affects how a communicative partner perceives the individual and what they are trying to convey. 

With the condition of the housing market and over all state of the economy, more and more people are renting homes and apartments.  A number of them are former homeowners, who may have never rented as an occupant before.  The month-to-month tenancy is a great concept for tenants who do not want to be locked into a long-term lease. 

They’re sold over the counter at local markets and online.  The only requirement is being 18 or older and having not much more than pocket change to buy them.  Labeled as bath salts, potpourri, incense and other misleading, innocuous terms, these are actually dangerous synthetic drugs.  The makers of these drugs get away with it by labeling them as household products and slapping a “not for human consumption” label on them. 

The first question asked by those who contemplate filing bankruptcy is whether they qualify to file bankruptcy.  It would be nice if the answer were simple, or if there were a single formula to determine the answer.  Unfortunately, due to bankruptcy abuse in the past, Congress has devised several ways in which a bankruptcy case can be challenged and/or dismissed.  This article will discuss the issues regarding Chapter 7 filings, which are the most common type.