Idaho - Boise and the Treasure Valley

First, if you are a Veteran, let me thank you for serving our great country. It is a privilege to provide this article in some way of showing my appreciation and gratitude for your contribution to our nation. We feel privileged to provide home care, as well as information for veterans who served our nation in its time of need. We provide you with the information to work through the paperwork to help you avoid potential pension claim delays. Our team will help guide you through the myriad of questions you may have regarding the benefits that you may be entitled to, including the VAs Aid and Attendance Program. Once you become an approved participant in a VA program, myself and the Comfort Keepers team will assist you along the way. You may be familiar with the VA Hospital and Long Term Care benefits, but there are other benefits which allow for services to be brought into your home. Certain VA credentialed agencies can provide the quality home care and companionship our veterans deserve. There are several veteran in home care programs for which an individual may qualify:Improved Pension Benefit ProgramHomemaker/Home Health Aide ProgramIn-Home Respite ProgramWho Qualifies? If you or your spouse served 90 consecutive days of active military duty at least one of those days during a U.S. declared war you may qualify or be partially qualified. Other qualifications include specific financial criteria and documented physical need, requiring assistance with at least 1 Activity of Daily Living, be Legally Blind, or Suffer from Dementia or Alzheimer's disease for example, but there are many other conditions that may qualify for the in home care.. The best way to find out is to have a credentialed agency provide a free assessment of your situation. To begin the application process, you will need:Original discharge certificateMarriage certificate (divorce papers from any prior marriages, if applicable)Death certificate of veteran (if applicable)Social Security numbers for the veteran and spouseIf you think you may qualify for one of the VA programs, you may contact our office, our any home care agency you choose, and once we have an accurate picture of your specific situation, we will advise you of your options. I look forward to serving you and your family, as you have protected mine. Written by Sonjia Yates, owner of Comfort Keepers, 208-895-8822 sonjiayates@comfortkeepers.com

Brushing and Flossing with Arthritis PainDECEMBER 18, 2020Our mouths need dental care day and night, and its important to find a way to make that happen. Brushing and flossing with arthritis in the hands can be painful, but avoiding daily care only leads to more pain. Ignoring oral health leads to gum disease, cavities, and even losing teeth.Lack of dental care can also be bad for the rest of the body. Theres more than one way oral health and joint pain are connected. Learn what joint inflammation has in common with gum disease and tips for an oral health routine that accommodates arthritis pain.ORAL BACTERIA, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, AND JOINT PAINResearchers have found a significant relationship between our mouths and our joints. One study found that the fewer teeth a person has, the greater their risk is for joint inflammation. Patients with fewer than 20 teeth had eight times the risk of swollen joints as someone with all their teeth!The National Arthritis Foundation writes that such stats are part of the growing body of research linking periodontal disease, or gum disease, with rheumatoid arthritis. Another study from the late 90s found that people with moderate to severe periodontitis face over twice the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than someone with even mild periodontitis.Periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis have this in common: inflammation. Inflammation in the body can lead to inflammation in the mouth. Likewise, chronic inflammation from gum disease can impact overall health, leading to higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels.Poor dental health increases the bad bacteria in the mouth. This can lead to bacterial infections in the blood stream, impacting the heart. Maintaining oral health will help preserve overall health and needs to be done even with arthritis pain.BRUSHING AND FLOSSING WITH ARTHRITISBrushing and flossing problems are so common for people with joint inflammation that the UK National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society has an entire webpage dedicated to dental care with arthritis.USE THESE TIPS TO EASE THE PROCESS OF BRUSHING AND FLOSSING:An electric toothbrush helps in two ways. It does the brushing work for you, and they tend to have a larger handle that is easier to grip than a traditional manual toothbrush.A variety of materials can also be used to wrap the grip of a toothbrush to make it larger and slip resistant. If gripping something tightly is an issue, there are toothbrush accessories made just for this purpose.Sitting while brushing lets you rest an elbow on the counter for support. And remember its still important to brush even if you have dentures.Hand-held flosser tools work well for flossing with arthritis as this presents different problems for those with joint pain or dexterity issues. Hand-held flossers range in size from the smaller interdental flossers, to flossers with long handles and disposable flossing ends!Another way to replace the string altogether is an electric flosser that uses water or mouthwash to blast the plaque away.Talk to your dentist to find what best suits your needs.Looking for more tips on health care as we age? Check out:Idahos Top Lists | Why Older Adults Love Idaho

PaperworkPaperworkWhat Should I keep? Sorting through the paperwork of a deceased loved one is a daunting task. It is important to know what to keep and what to discard. Here are some helpful tips.  Deeds, Titles and Vehicle RegistrationsDeeds and titles to property may not be obvious on the face of the document so it is important to read everything carefully. Keep anything that has a legal description (Lots and Blocks or Metes and Bounds), a vehicle identification number (VIN), contains the word title, deed of trust or warranty deed.  ReceiptsSome property does not have a title such as a tractor, farm equipment or certain recreational equipment. In such cases, keep the purchase receipts for this type of property. It will be useful if there is a question about ownership, the value of the property or the date it was purchased.  Bank RecordsSave all bank records and statements. These will be valuable if a dispute arises about ownership of an account, payments or distributions made from the account and to whom. Shred unused checks.  Retirement AccountsSave all statements and records pertaining to the decedents individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k) plans or pension plans.  Life Insurance PoliciesSave all life insurance policies.  Social Security Paperwork and Earning StatementsSave information about the decedents Social Security account or earning statements.  Cancel the Decedents Credit Card Accounts Nowadays, identity theft is a huge issue. Contact Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to report the death of your loved one. Request the credit report be flagged as Deceased. Being proactive prevents a lot of hassle later on.  Cancel all credit cards in the deceased persons name. Also, there may be questions about the credit card purchase of certain items or property. Save credit card statements until probate of the decedents estate is complete.  Documents that contain the decedents Social Security NumberIf you find any documents with the decedents Social Security Number and you make a determination that the documents are not going to be saved, make sure it all gets shredded.  Tax RecordsKeep the decedents tax records. There may be a question about real property valuation, exemption or other issues that can be resolved by information in a tax return.   Loan PaperworkKeep all loan paperwork including loans on property or a loan the decedent made to a relative, friend, individual or organization. This may show that there is outstanding debt or money owed to the decedents estate.  Business AgreementsSometimes people have business agreements that have been documented in writing. Such agreements may contain a succession plan, what should happen with business equipment or property, or what should happen upon the death of a business partner.  Military RecordsSave all military records just in case there are benefits owed to a survivor such as a spouse, dependent child or disabled child. Some benefits are dependent upon verification of military service during war time which occurred prior to the advent of computer records. This includes photographs taken during wartime.  Birth and Marriage CertificatesSave all birth and marriage certificates. Again, for certain benefits for survivors, such certificates may be needed.  Timeframe for Keeping PaperworkIt is advisable to keep these potentially important documents until the estate of the decedent is settled, at a minimum. Otherwise keep them at least seven years and longer if possible, especially if real estate is involved.  Contact Your AttorneyYour attorney will ask you pertinent questions and give you advice about what records to keep.  You should also review your own estate plan documents to make sure they are up to date and reflect your current wishes.  This article was written by Donna A. Schuyler, Attorney, who practices in the areas of estate planning, elder law, guardianship, and probate. Donna Schuyler Law, PLLC; elderlawboise.com. Phone 208-344-1947

Reverse Mortgages Offer FreedomYou deserve to enjoy your retirement years. A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)also known as a reverse mortgagecan help you find the financial freedom you need.Well cover the basics to help you decide if its right for you.What is a HECM and how does it work?A HECM is a federally insured reverse mortgage that offers borrowers more protection than non-HECM loans. HECMs use home equity to pay your outstanding mortgage while eliminating your monthly mortgage payments.* Depending on how much equity you have, a HECM can also provide extra funds as a lump sum or line of credit. Available to borrowers 62 and older (non-borrowing spouses may be younger) Available for primary residences Borrower retains full ownership Doesnt prevent the home from being passed to heirsLoan repayment is never more than the value of the property*Borrower must continue to pay property taxes, homeowners insurance and maintenance costs.Will HECM income affect my retirement benefits? HECM funds are considered loan proceeds, not income, so they wont affect Social Security payments. However, needs-based programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income may be affected.How can you use a HECM? A HECM isnt just for those experiencing financial hardshipalthough it can certainly help in those situations. These loans can also help those doing well achieve more.You can use a HECM to:Pay off existing mortgage and eliminate monthly mortgage payments*Pay for everyday living expenses and orPay for a home remodelCover health care costs and/or provide for in-home carePay for the trip of a lifetime Fund a grandchilds school tuitionFund investments and/or long term care policyThere are no restrictions on how you can use the fundsSilver divorceFund the purchase of a new homeWhat if Im ready for a new home?We also offer a HECM for Purchase loan that lets you buy a new home without incurring monthly mortgage payments. This is a great option if you need to move to a smaller home, find one that is single-level or upgrade to a home with room for family.Who repays a HECM loan? A HECM doesnt need to be repaid until the borrower (and non-borrowing spouse) permanently leave the home. In most cases, HECMs are repaid by selling the home once the borrowers no longer live there. Neither you nor your heirs will be responsible for repaying more than the value of the home. We now have new proprietary (non-government) reverse mortgage options (minimum home value $400K) available to borrowers age of 55+ with some very exciting new benefits!A reverse Mortgage can improve your life, but there are many considerations.  If youd like to learn more about how a reverse mortgage can help you or a loved one meet financial goals, contact us today. **This ad is not from HUD or FHA and was not approved by HUD or any government agency.**The loan is subject to foreclosure for failure to pay taxes and insurance to maintain the property and insurance and to comply with the terms of the loan.**Consumers remain responsible for property taxes, homeowners insurance, and home maintenance.