6 New Year’s Resolutions for Senior Care

Dont Wait: Why End-of-Life Conversations Cant Be Put Off According to an article by Johns Hopkins Medicine, two-thirds of Americans dont have a living will or advance directive. Planning ahead can help reduce stress and uncertainty for both seniors and their loved ones. A lot of people dont know what an advance directive is, says Lectoria Byron, a social worker with our Mobile, Alabama program. So, its giving them that knowledgeinforming them of exactly what it is and how it can help them. That eases a lot of anxiety. We sat down with Lectoria and Registered Nurse & Case Manager Amanda Albright to find out why these decisions matter and how the PACE care model fosters them. What is an advance directive and why does it matter? An advance directive is a legal document that explains what kind of medical care you want if you cant speak for yourself. It usually has two main parts: A living will, which says what treatments you do or dont want.A durable power of attorney for healthcare, which names someone you trust to make medical choices for you. Imagine for yourself, Amanda says. Someone you love deeply is in crisis because somethings happened to youand they cant find your funeral plans, your bank statements, or your healthcare wishes. They wont have time to grieve because theyre forced to focus on the paperwork and decisions that could have already been made. How does PACE help with these difficult conversations? Both Lectoria and Amanda emphasized education and pre-planning as the biggest ways their team offers support. Lectoria and the other care team members talk about advance directives during check-ins that happen twice a year. We break it up into manageable steps so its not overwhelming, Lectoria says. In Alabama, we have a basic form that requires two signatures and two witnesses, and we help guide participants through it. If a participant requires legal guardianship or their request involves filing documentation in court, we help connect them with resources like free legal aid, Lectoria adds. She said the best way to approach the conversation is to keep it simple. When you dont work directly with death or dying, its hard to know how to begin, Lectoria explains. But it doesnt take special training. You start by asking: Do you know what an advance directive is? A living will? A power of attorney? Then we offer information and ask: What are your wishes? PACE also provides brochures and other educational materials to help participants review their options in their own time. Checking in every six months ensures these decisions remain a priority. What is the advantage of a participant having their PACE team facilitate the conversation? The PACE team consists of a primary care physician, skilled nurse, social worker, physical therapist, recreation therapist, occupational therapist, and a chaplain.   Amanda explains, The team approach keeps any one staff member from carrying all the emotional weight. And the participant hears a consistent message from different perspectiveseach member offering their own short summary or advice. That consistency builds trust and understanding. It gives a lot of credibility, Amanda says. PACEs structure also allows for something rare in modern healthcare: time. Were not seeing 16 patients an hour, Amanda says. We have the privilege to slow down and help people understand. That makes all the difference. Planning ahead for your care isnt just about filling out formsits about showing love, respect, and helping everyone feel more at peace. At PACE, were here to support you and your family through every part of aging, even the tough conversations.  To find out more about Mercy Life, their innovative care program for Seniors and the PACE program, contact them at 251-287-8427.

Sisters Pam and Paula both started their investment journey five years ago, each inheriting and investing $100,000. Although they chat frequently discussions about finances are rare, until today.Paula initiated the conversation, asking, Hows your investment account holding up with all this uncertainty?Pam replied, Despite the markets rollercoaster ride, my portfolio has grown by $22,000. My advisor assures me everything is fine, and I shouldnt make any changes. You know I prefer not to dwell on that stuff. What about you?Paula beamed, Mine is up nearly $57,000! Ive used some of it to support my daughters college expenses and renovated my loft to create more space for my art projects. She continued, My advisor employs a strategy that allows me to choose how much loss I want to be reimbursed for. This means my account grows more effectively new gains actually add to my portfolio value instead of just offsetting prior losses.Pams eyes widened in surprise, You get reimbursed for losses?Yes! Paula replied enthusiastically. Plus, I can profit even in a down market, and my gains grow tax-deferred, just like my IRA.Pam realized this could be the key to enhancing her own financial success. Paula, you had mentioned you were going to approach investing differently, and it sounds amazing! I wish I had asked you for details sooner. Id really like to speak with your advisor.Of course, Pam! Heres his contact information, Paula said with a smile.The conversation opened Pam's eyes to new possibilities. Inspired by Paula's success, she felt motivated to take action to improve her investment strategy.If you're curious about Paulas advisor and how you might benefit from a similar approach, just reply to this email!Looking forward to hearing from you!

If youve been paying attention to the housing market lately, youve probably seen a lot of noise. Are prices going to drop? Will mortgage rates ever come down? Is a crash coming?With so much uncertainty in the headlines, it's completely normal to feel hesitant about buying a home right now. But as someone who lives and breathes real estate every day, let me tell you this: Real estate has always been a long-term game, and its still one of the smartest investments you can make.What the Numbers SayAccording to the latest Gallup poll, Americans have named real estate the best long-term investment for the 12th consecutive year. Thats more than a decade of outperforming stocks, gold, and bonds in the eyes of everyday investors. And this years vote came right after a shaky month for the stock and bond markets, further proving just how resilient real estate is.As Gallup put it:Amid volatility in the stock and bond markets in April, Americans preference for stocks as the best long-term investment has declined. Gold has gained in appeal, while real estate remains the top choice for the 12th consecutive year.Even in times of uncertainty, real estate continues to earn peoples trustand for good reason.Real Estate = Steady, Long-Term GrowthUnlike the fast ups and downs of stocks or crypto, real estate tends to grow steadily over time. Yes, we may see some markets cool or experience short-term corrections. But if you zoom out and look at the big picture, the long-term trend remains solid: home values rise over time.If you plan to live in your home for several years or treat it as a long-term investment, the potential for wealth-building is real. You're not just buying a place to liveyou're building equity, creating stability, and investing in your financial future.Why Homeownership Still Makes SenseEven in a market filled with mixed messages, homeownership continues to be a powerful tool for building wealth. As Sam Williamson, Senior Economist at First American, put it:A home is more than just a place to liveits often a familys most valuable financial asset and a cornerstone to building long-term wealth.That's something I see every day working with clients, especially those who bought years ago and are now enjoying the financial stability and equity growth that real estate provides.What This Means for YouReal estate isnt about chasing quick winsits about building long-term security.So if youre on the fence about buying because of headlines or market jitters, I encourage you to look beyond the short-term noise. The numbersand historyconsistently show that real estate is one of the most reliable long-term investments you can make.If you want to talk more about how real estate can work for youwhether its a cozy new home, a low-maintenance 55+ community, or a smart investment property, Im here to help.Lets connect and start planning your next smart move