Home Health Care and Caregiving Journal

Groundhog Day

2008-02-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

WITHOUT A "SHADOW" OF A DOUBT

Today is Groundhog Day, and more than likely, by the time you read this article, Punxsutawney Phil will have already been rudely awakened from his winter slumber and made his prognostication for the next 6 weeks. Isn't it a wonderful world we live in, where, with all the advances in science and technology, we still put as much faith in a large, furry rodent to tell us what the weather will be like for the next month and a half, as we do in all the learned scholars of meteorology?

Regardless of Phil's prediction, we here in Arizona will still be enjoying gorgeous weather. And, we will direct our sympathies... and maybe just a little smugness... towards our friends and family who are living in the midwest. So, be sure to get out and enjoy what life has to offer... don't get caught sleeping it all away.

Seniors - Care for Your Pets

2008-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what will happen to your pets if you become incapacitated or after your death?

We certainly don't want them to be mistreated or euthanized prematurely. We may think that our friends or relatives will care for our pets if we can't. They might—but they might not.

What about creating a trust for our pets? Currently, there are 37 states and the District of Columbia that allow pet trusts. In 1995 Arizona passed Statute S14-2907 allowing pet trusts. It reads, “Trust is valid for up to 21 years whether or not the terms of the trust contemplates a longer duration. The trust terminates when no living animal is covered by the trust.”

Pet trusts are a fairly new tool in legal planning and functions the same way that a trust for humans does. The trust can be funded or not funded. The trust has a trustee, which is the person who looks after your pet.

If you want to feel comfortable that your pet is adequately provided for, you may want to consult an attorney about setting up a trust for the benefit of your pet or pets.

Driving - Remaining Mobile and Independent

2008-01-12T05:03:00.000-08:00

The New Year is a good time to review and make adjustments to keep our driving as safe as possible. Changes in hearing and vision can make driving both difficult and dangerous. Schedule a professional vision exam. Hearing also should be checked regularly by a health professional.

Safe driving also requires flexibility, and the ability to focus and concentrate. Conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease can also make driving more dangerous. If you have been diagnosed with these conditions, consult your doctor about driving.

Someday all of us as drivers will have to change our driving patterns. Not only are we accountable for our own safety, but we are responsible for the passengers in our cars, other drivers and pedestrians.

About Mother's Day

2007-05-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

IT'S MOTHER'S DAY soon, a day when we pay tribute to the women who gave us life. For most of us our mother holds a special place in our hearts for the love and sacrifices she has contributed to our lives over the years.

Mother’s Day is also a unique opportunity to celebrate all women. Oprah Winfrey says: "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother." This is a reminder that women enrich the lives of those they touch. Each of us has special talents and gifts that we can share and with love and support we truly can make a difference in each other’s lives.

This Mother’s Day I want to acknowledge my mother, mother-in-law and all the special women, some unknowingly, who have inspired and mentored me in my personal and professional life. Last but not least, a very most special woman to me, my daughter (my best girlfriend). She arrived as a gift and a blessing from above on the second Sunday of May, Mother’s Day, 27 years ago.

This Mother’s Day take time to look beyond this declared day, dedicated to mothers. Think about the special woman who may have inspired you or changed your life. They may not be your mother or even a mother, but they are a blessing to you.