The Gift of Giving

Caring for a loved one can be one of the most rewarding things we do, but lets be honestit can also be expensive! The good news? The IRS does offer some tax breaks that can help ease the financial burden. While Im not a CPA (so be sure to check with your favorite tax pro), here are a few deductions caregivers might be able to claim.Caregiving Expenses That May Be Deductible Medical Expenses If youre covering out-of-pocket medical costs for Mom, including doctor visits, prescriptions, in-home nursing, or even certain home modifications (like a wheelchair ramp or walk-in tub), you might be able to deduct those expensesprovided they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Dependent Care Credit If Mom qualifies as your dependent and you pay for adult daycare or in-home care while you work, you may be eligible for this credit. Household Expenses If Mom moves in with you and youre covering a significant portion of her living expenses (food, utilities, etc.), those costs might contribute toward claiming her as a dependent. Aging-in-Place Safety Modifications The cost of installing grab bars, stairlifts, widened doorways, or other safety improvements to accommodate Moms mobility issues may qualify as a deductible medical expense. Dementia and Alzheimers Care If Mom has dementia, expenses related to memory care facilities, home health aides, or specialized treatment programs may be deductible if deemed medically necessary. Respite Care Taking a break as a caregiver is crucial. If you pay for short-term respite care so you can recharge, those costs may qualify as a deductible expense. Selling Moms Home: How to Avoid Capital Gains TaxesIf Mom is moving in with you or into a senior community, selling her home is often the next step. To avoid unnecessary taxes, heres what to keep in mind: Primary Residence Exclusion If Mom has lived in her home for at least two of the past five years, she can exclude up to $250,000 in capital gains ($500,000 if married filing jointly). Step-Up in Basis If Mom holds onto the home until her passing, heirs may benefit from a step-up in basis, meaning they inherit the home at its current market valuereducing or even eliminating capital gains taxes if they sell. Medicaid Considerations If Mom may need Medicaid assistance, selling her home could impact her eligibility. Consulting a financial planner can help avoid complications. As always, tax laws are complex, so consulting with a CPA or tax professional is the best way to ensure youre making the most of available deductions and avoiding surprises. I have an extensive network of professionals who can help you from CPA's and tax attorneys who specialize in senior care, to Medicaid Guidance Counselors, Dementia Practitioners or household organizers|downsizers|estate-salers and contractors who focus on aging-in-place renovations.  Reach out to me at Jude@JudeCreamer.com if I can suggest a professional to assist you with your particular area of need.  Happy tax planning!

If youve heard of the 6-6-6 walking trend and havent tried it, now is the time. The routine is simple, flexible, joint-friendly, and safe for most health conditions. If youre having trouble finding a workout that works for your schedule, your chronic conditions, and your weight loss goals, this might be a right fit for you. Walking has long been touted as the best form of exercise for disease prevention. Just walking over 3,500 steps per day has been shown to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and risk of death.Here is what you need to know about the 6-6-6 walking workout and how it can benefit you.The Method: 6-6-6 Walking Workout This easy title lays out the plan for you which is 60 minutes of walking at either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. with a 6-minute warm-up and cool-down. Your warm-up and cool-down are taken at a slower pace and help your body prepare for the workout and recover afterward.You spend most of the workout moving at a brisk pace to keep your heart rate elevated and benefit your cardiovascular system. The simple method and short duration is meant to work for people with tight schedules yet be challenging enough to provide a solid workout.One of the most appealing features of this method is its flexibility. You can choose a pace that suits your abilities and needs. The goal is to appropriately challenge yourself and elevate your heart rate, so there is no prescription for how fast you walk. For older adults and those with health conditions, this is key.Other benefits of the 6-6-6 walking trend is that you log over the 150 minutes of recommended exercise in a week when you do it for three or more days per week. And walking early or later in the day helps you get your workout in before your busy daytime routine begins or after it ends.Health Benefits of the 6-6-6 Walking WorkoutWalking boosts weight loss and cardiovascular health when you keep your heart rate in the fat-burning zone, which is 50-70% of your maximum heart rate. The cardio zone, which requires more vigorous activity and a higher heart rate is also great for cardio health but not as effective for burning fat in the short term.This means that by calculating your fat-burning zone and spending most of your 60 minutes at that pace can promote weight loss and keep your heart healthy. Many digital treadmills and smartwatches will calculate your fat-burning zone for you, letting you know when you enter it or move into another zone. But you can also calculate it for yourself.Calculate your maximum heart rate (MHR) by subtracting your age from 200.MHR = 220- [your age]180 = 220 - 40MHR for 40 year old = 180 Then calculate your fat-burning range by multiplying your maximum heart rate by 50% and then by 70%.Fat-burning zone (for 40 year old) = MHR x 50% and MHR x 70%Fat-burning zone (for 40 year old) = 180 x .5 and 180 x .7Fat burning zone (for 40 year old) = 90 and 126Fat-burning zone (for 40 year old) = 90 to 126 beats per minuteWhen you walk in this zone, youre burning more fat as fuel, which is more immediate and effective for weight loss. Additionally, this walking has a lower impact than running or other types of exercise, making it gentler for the long term and more accessible for many people.Other benefits of walking include:Reduces anxiety and depressionImproves gut healthImproves bone healthImproved cognition (thinking abilities)Improves sleepIncreases energy and staminaImproves memoryLowers blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterolReduces risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and some cancersHow to Start a New Walking RoutineTo get started with any new workout, you must want it. You must have some benefit in mind that makes it worth making a change and sticking to it. Perhaps youve recently been diagnosed and your doctor prescribes exercise for management. Or, maybe youve been gaining weight and are seeking a way to reverse the trend. You might also be motivated by the realization that aging increases the risk of many chronic diseases, and you know its time you were more proactive with your health. Whatever the case, find your motivation first.When you first start, begin slowly. You might find that an hour is just too long for the first day or week. Thats okay. Find what you can do and start there. If you can only walk for 10-15 minutes, its a starting point that you can build from. Plan to slowly increase your time.Other tips include:Dont skip your warm-ups and cool-downs. This gives your body time to adjust and makes your workout go more smoothly.When youre comfortable, try alternating your pace with faster and slower intervals. You can gradually increase the time you spend walking faster. This is only if your health allows.Try walking uphill or incline your treadmill to make the walk more challenging and burn more calories. Again, only if your health allows.If you get bored, try watching your favorite show on a device or listen to a podcast or audio book while you walk.Recap of the 6-6-6 Walking TrendThis workout recommends walking 60 minutes per day at either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. with a 6-minute warm-up and cool-down. When you adopt this workout method, you can reap many benefits like weight loss, improved cardiovascular help, better sleep, improved mood, and even diabetes prevention.Before you begin, be sure to find your motivation and experiment with your speed and interval walking when you need more of a challenge. If you find walking boring, try using a device and earbuds to occupy your mind with a favorite show or podcast.

Confused by your bladder symptoms? It could be an enlarged bladder, also known as a distended bladder. This condition is commonly overlooked, and you may even be given medication for overactive bladder unnecessarily. For some women, the problem is that your bladder has become larger than its usual size. As it enlarges, the walls thicken to compensate for being overstretched. While there are several causes, and a few of them are serious, often the condition is reversible and symptoms will subside. Heres what you need to know about enlarged bladder, including symptoms, causes, and how to treat it.What Are Symptoms of an Enlarged Bladder?Enlarged bladder symptoms are very similar to other bladder conditions, which is why you may be misdiagnosed or looking in the wrong direction for solutions. Doctors might also perform an ultrasound to determine the cause of your distended bladder. Symptoms can vary depending on the cause, but here is a short list of the most common ones:Constantly feeling like your bladder is fullDifficulty urinating or emptying your bladder (incomplete emptying)Having a slow urine streamLeaking urineAbdominal pain or discomfortWaking at night to urinateExperiencing symptoms of a UTI (but tests are negative)Its also possible to have blood in your urine, depending on the cause of the enlargement.Many women assume they have a UTI, because symptoms can feel similar. This causes confusion and frustration when test results show no infection.What Are Causes of an Enlarged Bladder?Its important to see your doctor if youre having any symptoms, because they must rule out a more serious cause for an enlarged bladder.Common causes include:Urinary retentionBladder obstructionBorn with itNeurological conditionsSome people are born with an enlarged bladder but dont present with symptoms until later.Urinary Retention and Incomplete EmptyingUrinary retention means you have difficulty getting a stream of urine going and therefore retain urine in your bladder rather than emptying it. This can become a serious situation if youre not emptying it often enough. If you cant urinate at all or are able to go very little, you should see your doctor immediately. Overfull bladders can backwash urine into the kidneys, causing kidney damage. Urinary retention can also cause overflow incontinence.Urinary retention is closely associated with incomplete emptying, which is when you expel plenty of urine but arent emptying completely. Both incomplete emptying and urinary retention can happen if you develop a habit of holding your pee for too long. As your bladder enlarges to accommodate the additional fluid, it becomes more difficult to release urine. You may then find yourself going more frequently, because you arent emptying when you go. All of this can also irritate your bladder, causing burning and discomfort like a bladder infection.Bladder Obstruction and Enlarged BladderA bladder obstruction commonly causes a distended bladder. When your bladder is obstructed, it has to work hard to push urine past the blockage. Over time, this additional pressure can make your bladder walls less elastic, essentially allowing it to stretch out or enlarge. Kidney stones and tumors. But if you can recognize and remove the obstruction early enough, you can prevent the enlarging of your bladder.Neurological Conditions Can Cause A Distended BladderConditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and paralysis can cause your bladder to retain urine and keep you from emptying it completely. Your nervous system is what controls your bladder, signaling when to urinate and when to hold it. Disorders that disrupt never function can negatively affect bladder function.Enlarged Bladder TreatmentsThe first step is to pinpoint and remove the cause of your distended bladder to prevent further bladder stretching. Its unlikely that your bladder will return to normal size after overstretching. But its possible to manage your symptoms and prevent continued bladder damage.Doctors will remove any bladder obstructions to treat your symptoms and keep your bladder from stretching further.If your bladder is enlarged due to urinary retention caused by a habit of holding urine for long periods of time, a doctor may instruct you to start urinating as soon as you have the urge. While you retrain your bladder by going immediately, you should also practice relaxing and emptying your bladder as much as possible each time. Dont rush. Over time, your bladder symptoms should subside, including any burning or UTI-like discomfort. Then you may hold it for reasonable amounts of time, but should not return to the habit of holding it for long periods. Continue to ensure that you are relaxed and emptying completely each time you go to prevent bladder irritation and frequent urination.In some cases, if the underlying cause of an enlarged bladder cant be removed and the situation is dangerous or negatively affecting your daily life, doctors may recommend surgery. This treatment, called reduction cystoplasty, will surgically reduce the size of your bladder and its capacity to hold urine.Enlarged Bladder TakeawaysDistended bladder symptoms can be uncomfortable, inconvenient, and frustrating. But its not usually a life-threatening condition. While your bladder isnt likely to return to its original size, symptoms are manageable.Be sure to see your doctor as soon as you notice its more difficult to urinate. This can prevent further bladder damage and ensure there is not a more serious underlying issue.TYE Medical offers premium incontinence products in a variety of sizes and absorbency levels. 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