Finding Sasha (Short Story) - 12/31/2014 10:24:13 AM
That was sweet. My brother lost his wife to a unexpected fall last March. Now, his only companion is Rocky, his golden retriever. Rocky is now 13.5, so he is a senior citizen and sometimes acts the part.
Yes, golden retrievers are priceless.
Ron
Good work today (Short Story) - 5/12/2013 4:36:53 PM
our most faithful companions in life
budd
Michael (Short Story) - 5/3/2013 7:51:43 AM
Brought tears to my eyes.
Ron
Michael (Short Story) - 5/2/2013 1:01:24 AM
a fine write of such trying times
budd
Looking for resources for those aging Part 2 (Article) - 11/18/2016 2:28:36 PM
Thank you, Ron.
I have worked with the elderly for a number of years. During this time, I would like to have change many things. Education on resources being one - this is not considered a positive promotion of Medicare or Medicaid. So it was not picked up on and this is a way I can give back to a generation which never had to look at these topics before.
I did not see any typo's and I use two websites which check for those and grammar. Please tell me where you saw them and I will correct immediately.
Marsha
Looking for resources for those aging Part 2 (Article) - 11/18/2016 10:10:32 AM
A very good article with very good information for elderly that are needing assistance. There is a huge hidden group of seniors out there too proud or too embarrassed to ask for help. Your article goes a long way in helping them find the help they need.
My mother had a very comfortable retirement with my father for 20 years by gradually consuming their assets (real estate) and his pension and Social Security. Unfortunately, he was in the hospital for four months, a month beyond the three month Medicare allowable limit, leaving them penniless before he died.
Fortunately, my sister had become an expert in the kinds of services you are describing that allowed my mother to stay in her apartment until she couldn't do it alone anymore about four years ago. She is now in assisted living at 91 provided for by state and county services.
There are a few typos that need to be corrected.
Ron
Looking for resources for those aging (Article) - 11/15/2016 6:10:32 AM
Ron
I want to Thank You for your insights into this subject. You were very well educated and sought even more as you began your adult life while already requiring help. It is not always the case, well educated regarding what resources are available. Thank you, again, for comments.
Looking for resources for those aging (Article) - 11/15/2016 5:54:47 AM
I am not a baby boomer. I was born prior to that surge of babies born as a result of World War II. My sister was born at the start and my younger brothers were born near the end. While my parents had Medicare and supplemental health insurance, my father's illness and hospitalization for four months preceding his death expended all their resources. My mother is now under state welfare and Medicaid in assisted living.
Medicine being what it is, people are living much longer. Most baby boomers will probably outlive their resources. Yet, they tend to retire much earlier for many reasons and start saving for retirement much later for many reasons. I have found that most people waste a lot of money in oversized homes, expensive cars and habits that range from drug use to sports fanaticism and other pastimes that keep them from saving for retirement. Many people think they can start and run a business--most fail. To get a case manager late in life to help them with their retirement is probably too late.
When I was partially paralyzed (mostly arms and hands) in surgery at 20 years of age, my biggest concern was employment. Once employed, I began saving for my retirement knowing that I would need more than the average individual even though my life would probably be cut short because of my paralysis… And, I soon found out that my paralysis would continue to advance and I would become more disabled with time. So, I lived a very frugal life, saving money anywhere I could and taking advantage of programs like my employment offering long-term care insurance that I was able to get without pre-existing conditions. I was unable to get short-term or long-term disability insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
Long story short, I worked until 69. I have been living in the same home for 33 years modified when I had to get in a wheelchair 24 years ago. At the same time, I had to hire help and now have one full-time assistant/caregiver and two part-time caregivers that I'm paying from my own resources and retirement. I continue to work full-time on my writing and publishing that makes no money and is a big expense. I am taking advantage of every opportunity to extend what little retirement money that I have through both government and private investment opportunities. I do not fear the future, I've adapted to it. I am healthy in spite of my disability so I may live into my 90s. If I do, I am projected to run out of funds. I hope that doesn't happen because I would like to give something to my beneficiaries. As a final note. I have never received any help from my family except for a brief rehabilitation period of about nine months at 21. I have offered to help my siblings a couple of times and am helping my mother, but it was refused.
Ron
