Florida - Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte Counties

  If youve ever been involved in building a house  or even if youve just heard about it you know that theres a well-defined process to be followed. But heres something to think about: Some of the same steps connected to constructing a home are the same as those needed to build an estate plan.             What are those steps? Here are some to consider:            Get the right builder. Unless youre an experienced do-it-yourselfer, youll probably have to hire someone to build a house for you. Of course, youll make your wishes known about what you want your house to look like, but youll be relying on the builders expertise. And the same is true with estate planning  youll want to share your goals and vision with a legal professional whos experienced in creating comprehensive estate plans.             Build a strong foundation. Every house needs a strong foundation isnt just a metaphor its true for every house thats built. And when you create an estate plan, you also need a foundation that includes whatever basic elements are appropriate for your situation a will, a living trust, power of attorney and so on.             Make the necessary additions. Even if youre pleased with your new house, you may eventually decide to make some changes, such as adding on a new bedroom or bathroom. And the structure of your estate plan may need to undergo some modifications, too. For example, if you drew up a will two decades ago, but havent looked at it since, it may be out of date especially if youve experienced changes in your life, such as new children or a divorce and remarriage. That'swhy its a good idea to review your estate plans at least every few years.             Protect your investment. Of course, when you build a new house, youll have to insure it properly. And while theres no actual insurance policy for an estate plan, you do have ways to protect it. For one thing, you need to make sure beneficiary designations on retirement plans, investment accounts, insurance policies and other assets are correct. These designations are powerful and can even supersede the instructions in your estate-planning documents. So, as mentioned, if youve had significant life changes involving your family, you need to ensure your beneficiary designations are updated if you want to protect how insurance proceeds, investments and other assets are distributed.            Watch for mistakes. Its unfortunate, but mistakes do happen in home construction. Water stains can indicate that water is seeping through cracks in the foundation. Or cracks in retaining walls and garage floors could be a sign that the concrete structures were installed improperly. Estate plans can also contain errors or bad choices. Some are inadvertent, such as failing to put intended assets into a trust, but others are done with the best of intentions, such as naming adult children as joint owners of your assets. Even if your children are quite responsible, this move could give their creditors access to your money. If you want your children to be able to step in as needed, you could find other methods, such as giving them power of attorney.             Following these construction techniques can help you create an estate plan that can last a lifetime and beyond.            Chad Choate III, AAMS828 3rd Ave WBradenton, FL 34205chad.choate@edwardjones.com941-462-2445 This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice.  You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

What happens when the roles are flipped?  One day your parents are independent, seemingly healthy, on their own, and enjoying life.  They come for a visit, take the grandkids to the park, and treat everyone to a nice night out for dinner.  Its a wonderful time and everyone has fun.  Sure, they have a few annoying quirks, and you feel like youre constantly repeating yourself to your mom, but you look past that during the week.  After all, its only for a short time and then everything will be back to normal.A month later your dad has an accident while cleaning out the garage and ends up in the hospital.  While in the hospital they see something suspicious in his lab work and immediately call Oncology for a consult.  Your Dad has been diagnosed with cancer and treatment is recommended immediately.  Your mom is home alone, and you dont worry too much about that, because you just saw her a month ago and shell be ok on her own.  The most important thing is getting dad taken care of.Mom doesnt drive any longer, so she has a friend taking her to the hospital to visit a few times a week.  A week goes by, and you get a call that your mom seems very different since the accident.  You ask a few questions and after the friend digs a little deeper, you learn Mom hasnt been taking her medications properly.  It also looks like she hasnt been eating much and you discover shes been living on tea and toast for over a week, and you become concerned for her safety at home.You quickly take some time off work to go visit dad, and stay at the house with your mom.  This is the moment everything in your life changes.  The house is a disaster, your mom has been wearing the same clothes and washing her undergarments out in the sink if she remembers.  You keep asking yourself, how could mom change so quickly?  You talk to your dad about mom at the hospital, he finally tells you what hes been hiding for years.  If hes by your moms side most people have no idea how much care and oversight she needs (including her own children).  You discover dad has been protecting his wife and doing everything from shopping, cleaning, cooking, and managing moms meds.  Suddenly you realize its been years since youve ever spent any time with either of them alone.  They are ALWAYS together and out of nowhere; you realize mom cant be alone and youll need to do something fast to help the situation.Just like that, your life is completely different.  Instead of worrying about taking care of your own children, you now must figure out how youre going to take care of your parents.  You take mom back home with you, dad stays in the hospital for another month and transfers to Skilled Nursing for rehab.  When hes finally discharged there is no way he can manage the house safely on his own, so he moves into your home too.  In 3 months, your parents went from what you thought was completely independent to virtually dependent on you for everything.These things happen all the time, and lifes pendulum can swing from one end to the other in an instant.  You are now the primary caregiver for both of your elderly parents, and your own children and you still have a spouse.  What you saw three months ago during their visit is an eternity away from what you see now.What do you do?  Where do you start?  Who can help?  You are NOT alone and there are people whose full-time job is to help those that find themselves in this type of situation.There are many wonderful resources and options available to people who find themselves in this situation.  AARP, the Alzheimers Association, Townsquare, Caring Connections, Department of Veterans Affairs, Medicare.gov, and Senior Blue Book just to name a few.Once you learn the options available that best suit your needs and the needs of your loved one, you can evaluate whats going to be right for you (and for them).  Is it in-home care assistance, adult day care, assisted living, downsizing of a home, an elder law attorney, or financial services?  You may need help selling a home, conducting an estate sale, moving to a new location, and generally changing everything you knew as normal as recently as a few months ago.  Many of these things youll be learning about for the first time and there are many people ready to help you.  You are not alone and the most important thing you remember is to also take care of yourself through it all.  An exhausted and overwhelmed caregiver is no good to anyone and is at risk of getting sick, burnt out, or depressed.  If you find yourself in this type of situation, never be afraid to ask for help! Town Square is quick to offer resources, please reach out to our center for more information about the resources available.

There are many types of home care available to make daily life easier for seniors and people with chronic illnesses. The key is to find out which form of care is the best fit for your needs. At Interim HealthCare of Sarasota County, we work closely with local families as they make these big decisions. Today, we'll explore the benefits of hiring a home health aide in Sarasota  and how you can tell if it's the right choice for you. Common Concerns and How a Home Health Aide in Sarasota Can HelpFirst and foremost, you probably wouldn't be looking into home care if aging in place wasn't a priority, either for you or for an elderly partner or relative. Receiving the care you need at home means retaining more of your independence and staying where you feel the most comfortable. If you or your relative need help with any of the following, a home health aide in Sarasota could be the best fit:Managing a medical condition Certain health conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes, dementia, and Huntington's disease may call for regular monitoring and medical care. Having a home health aide on hand means fewer trips to hospitals and clinics. It also means more one-to-one support overall.Performing day-to-day tasks around the home Whether due to age or illness, you or your loved one may not be able to perform some basic tasks. If cooking, bathing, tidying up, or simply walking around is getting difficult, a home care professional can help. Additional support for family caregivers Many families in Sarasota are providing some form of care for an elderly loved one. This may be manageable at first, but the demands of caregiving can soon get overwhelming. If your family is struggling with caregiving duties, you should seek outside support to keep everyone safe.Learn More About Our Home Care Services in SarasotaIt's not easy admitting that you need help to live comfortably at home, or that you can't cope with a loved one's care needs on your own.At Interim HealthCare of Sarasota County, we understand what you're going through. Our care professionals are here to support you and provide compassionate home care services across the following:SarasotaVeniceNorth PortPalmer RanchEnglewoodOspreyAnd throughout the surrounding areaCall us today at (941) 315-9966 to learn more about our home health aides in Sarasota. 

Keeping your mind active during retirement is critical to ensure you can enjoy your golden years for as long as possible. Seniors are susceptible to mental decline as they age, and keeping your mind active is the best way to combat losing your sharpness.Whether you are living independently, or enjoying St. Petersburg assisted living, here are a few ways to engage your mind during your golden years.Read and WriteReading is a lifelong habit to embrace. Reading can transport you to new worlds, teach you new things, and keep your mind engaged. Experiment with reading different genres, solicit book recommendations from friends and family, or even join a book club. Writing is another great way to engage your mind on a daily basis. It is a good way to reflect, put your thoughts down on paper, or engage your mind through storytelling. The best thing about writing is that there is no right or wrong way to do it. Try journaling, writing poetry, or even taking a writing class.Continue to LearnNo matter what age you are, you should never stop learning. One of the benefits of retirement is the additional time you have to spend on things you enjoy. Including learning in your regular schedule is an effective way to engage your mind.Consider reading a book on a topic you are not familiar with. Listen to a podcast or watch a video about a new topic. You can even enroll in a local class and learn a new language, an art form, or public speaking skills.Play GamesGames may not have a good reputation for stimulating brain activity in young people, but games have come a long way since the development of smartphones and other mobile devices. Today, there are an array of word games, number games, and other brain teasers that can engage your mind while also being fun.You can also try out new board games or puzzles with friends and socialize at the same time.Exercise The mind and body are closely linked, and keeping your body in good shape is an important part of engaging your mind. Studies have shown that daily exercise boosts mood, increases problem-solving skills, and improves overall cognitive health. Exercise does not have to include intensive activity. Gentle exercises you can try include:WalkingWater aerobicsSeated exercisesStationary cyclingTai chiA great way to build exercise into your daily routine is to find a partner or group of friends to exercise with. Consider enrolling in a class or joining a walking club.Stay Social Social interaction is a critical piece of overall health for seniors. People who do not get adequate social interaction may experience feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can lead to a number of negative health outcomes.It is important to build regular social activity into your routine. Social activity can be anything from having coffee with a friend to attending a game night to seeing friends at your walking club. Socialization doesnt always have to be in person, either. You can catch up with friends over the phone or video chat with family members at any time. Theres no right or wrong way to socialize, but engagement with others is critical to keeping your mind sharp.