It’s enrollment time! What else should you do at this time
It’s Medicare Enrollment Time!
Even if you’re sticking with the same plan and the same benefits, or making changes to your Medicare supplemental policy, this is the time of year to make other changes.
Check your smoke alarm
Smoke and carbon dioxide batteries need to be changed yearly. If you need help, call a friend or family member. You may ask your local firefighters, who are happy to switch out alarm batteries.
Where your alarms are in the home is vital. The US Fire Administration has a saying: “Hear the beep where you sleep.”
Estate planning
Review, update or implement your will, power of attorney (POA), and medical advanced directives (also known as a living will).
Review your will to make sure your beneficiaries have not changed. And think about a revocable trust (also known as a living trust). A revocable trust, or living trust, avoids probate. Your assets pass to heirs quicker.
What is the difference between a medical POA and advanced directives? A living will lists what you do and don’t want medically when you are unable to make those decisions. In some states, the POA and advanced directives are listed on the same form. In others, there are two separate documents.
The loved one you picked to carry out your wishes must have a durable power of attorney (POA). You can list the appropriate person on the POA document (or the combined form in some states).
Asset protection
At some point, sixty percent of seniors over 65 need some form of long-term or nursing home care. The average long-term nursing care costs $6,000 to $9,000.
You may be able to rely on family, retirement savings, a long-term healthcare policy, or Medicare. The other option is Medicaid. To qualify, you must have very little in the bank and in assets.
Get advice for all of these changes. An elder law attorney recommended by someone you know can answer questions and prepare needed documents.
Fitness
If you’re already active, great! If not, make an early New Year’s resolution. See your doctor first and follow his/her recommendations. Then get moving. Staying fit is a great way to extend your mobility and engage with others your age.
- Gardening, dancing, swimming, Tai Chi, walking, biking and strength exercises are just a few ways to up your endurance, flexibility, balance, and strength.
Sources:
http://www.aarp.org/health-inusrance/info-08-2012/disability-insurace-do-you-need-it.html
https://www.polygenius.com/blog/is-long-term-disability-insurance-worth-it/
Surgery: How to Make the Most of Your Recovery
For seniors, there often comes a time when your doctor recommends surgery to improve your quality of life. Although many common surgeries for seniors (such as joint replacement in the hip, knee, or shoulder) are considered elective, there really isn’t much choice in the matter. The benefits, which include alleviating pain or increasing mobility, clearly outweigh the risks.
However, you do still have the choice of when to have surgery, and how to make the most of your surgery through your behaviors both before and during rehabilitation.
Get healthy first. The better physical and mental condition you are in going into your elective surgery, the faster your recovery will be. Consider this when picking a date for your surgery. It’s very important to have daily exercise, a healthy diet, and plenty of sleep in the weeks leading up to your surgery. Therefore, it’s better not to schedule your surgery during a time when you know it will be difficult for you to maintain those healthy habits before and after going under the knife.
Plan to manage post-surgery pain. You will no doubt be in pain following your surgery, particularly in the first few days. But the worst thing you can do is lie around in pain. Not only will you recover more slowly, but extended periods of lying still following surgery also puts you at a much higher risk of developing a blood clot. Go over your pain management plan beforehand with your caretakers and do your best to stay ahead of the pain during the days immediately following surgery.
Consider a rehab facility. You will probably be very antsy to get back home after surgery, but consider taking part in an extended senior rehabilitation program if it’s available. These programs will ensure that you are participating in your required physical therapy and building your strength so that when you do return home, you are much healthier and happier, and less likely to have an accident that will put you down for the count.
Follow all other instructions. After returning home from the hospital or rehab center, it’s very important to continue following doctor’s orders. Put your full effort into physical therapy and continue to do the exercises they recommend. It is the number one key to a successful elective surgery!
Even though it is a risk anytime you have surgery, you’re at a great advantage to have proper planning and an understanding of post-surgery expectations leading up to the big day. Whether before or after recovery, if you have questions, pain, or other issues, always contact your doctor for guidance.
If you have questions about Medicare or other senior health insurance issues, contact us at cfriedman@americanseniorbenefits.com.
Protecting Your House and Assets From Nursing Home Costs
Additional Information
This is a long form text area designed for your content that you can fill up with as many words as your heart desires. You can write articles, long mission statements, company policies, executive profiles, company awards/distinctions, office locations, shareholder reports, whitepapers, media mentions and other pieces of content that don’t fit into a shorter, more succinct space.
Articles – Good topics for articles include anything related to your company – recent changes to operations, the latest company softball game – or the industry you’re in. General business trends (think national and even international) are great article fodder, too.
Mission statements – You can tell a lot about a company by its mission statement. Don’t have one? Now might be a good time to create one and post it here. A good mission statement tells you what drives a company to do what it does.
Company policies – Are there company policies that are particularly important to your business? Perhaps your unlimited paternity/maternity leave policy has endeared you to employees across the company. This is a good place to talk about that.
Executive profiles – A company is only as strong as its executive leadership. This is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.