Unfit for work

The startling rise of disability in America

 By Chana Joffe-Walt

As far as the federal government is concerned, you're disabled if you have a medical condition that makes it impossible to work. In practice, it's a judgment call made in doctors' offices and courtrooms around the country. The health problems where there is most latitude for judgment -- back pain, mental illness -- are among the fastest growing causes of disability.

Hey! Guess What?

September is Alzheimer's Awareness month. Here are a few websites that will help you cope, and give you understanding about Alzheimer's. 

Alzheimer's Speaks

Alzheimer's Dad

Living-With-Alzhiemer's

Alzheimer's Association Blog

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Okay, maybe a Bible verse is out of context. That's alright. Did I get your attention? I hope so. The story of Mr. Zarifan has become all too common with veterans. No one seems to know anything about a VA pension that is available for veterans and surviving spouses that were not injured in the service. 

Exhausted Caregivers Must Give Themselves a Break

By DEAR ABBY

My suggestion to "End" would be to talk to a respite facility about giving her a "vacation" from her husband. I do this with my father twice a year. His appreciation for the care I give him increases greatly after being in a "home." He goes for only one week at a time, but it's long enough for me to miss him and for him to realize I'm not so bad after all.

Empower the Elderly

by Jerrod Robinson,

   

When your family begins elderly care planning, all aspects of their future life should be considered. Traditionally, care plans were built around a person's debt. Now, for higher living standards, caregivers prepare universal care plans that include any assistance needed for the adult's life. 

These care plans show different methods of creating a healthy lifestyle fitting the elder's personal needs and are made to offer various forms of assistance in the elder's natural environment. If the elder lives in a nursing home or a home health care facility these care plans focus on the need to offer homestyle care.

If the nursing home doesn't seem to be the right choice, an alternative to consider would be home health care, but whatever the choice there are always many key factors to look at during elderly care planning. Among the first is affordability. One example would be the cost of home care. While you may find it to be around $15 an hour in one location, fly to Colorado and you may be paying up to $26 an hour.

When considering costs, keep in mind that if affordable, the best decision would be to provide constant care for the elder. Decide if it's possible to have a care specialist make routine visits to plan meals, pay the bills, prepare medication, etc.

When you think about the wars our veterans have taken part in, it may alter your view of our elderly and the roles they play in our lives. Many of the wars past, even if not understood by later generations, took place to create the life we know today. They gave us our freedom to do many of the things we take for granted. Even though our veterans are remembered each year, there are still many other ways to empower these elderly citizens. 

As the elderly have acquired many things throughout their lives, it's easy for them to share those possessions with the ones they care for. We all have elderly family members who enjoy sharing with us the things they've been given and have earned in their life. As you grow older, you may not have a need for many of the things you've received during your lifetime, and a chance to give, and knowing those gifts may help or encourage someone else, provides a priceless satisfaction.

The elderly can provide you with so much more than realized. Spending quality time with someone from a past generation can enrich your life and give you the insight you need to avoid trials and possible heartbreaks. Elders can be a valuable asset in the planning of your future.

Most elderly understand that as you age, you go through various learning experiences that mold and shape you. Helping family and friends through their experiences is something that can lift them up while encouraging you as well and ultimately help to prepare and empower the next generation.