Idaho - Boise and the Treasure Valley

Reverse Mortgage Fund Your Golden Years 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 heirs       Loan 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 or       Pay for a home remodel       Cover health care costs and/or provide for in-home care       Pay for the trip of a lifetime        Fund a grandchilds school tuition       Fund investments and/or long term care policy       There are no restrictions on how you can use the funds       Silver divorce       Fund the purchase of a new home  What 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.  

How Misinformation Hurts Us As Americans we think we can beat anything. This includes of course, serious illness. No matter how aggressive our disease process is, often times, we decide to fight it. Even when end of life is near, we don't want to think about changing tactics and avoid having difficult conversations with loved ones. So we decide to go for one more surgery or one more round of chemo although a cure seems to be improbable. We decide that although we see death approaching, a trip to the hospital or physical therapist is still a better option. We think that if we just go, go, go, and fight, fight, fight, somehow, someway, well beat it. Sometimes we do but death eventually comes to us all. Maybe, just maybe, it might be time to take the gloves off, go back to the locker room, reflect on the good fight we've fought, and spend the rest of our time surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones. We've all seen the movie where the boxer keeps getting up after he gets knocked down repeatedly, and each time he gets up, he gets pummeled! We shout at the screen, Stay down! Don't get up, you're gonna get clobbered! And often times, he gets up, gets dealt one last knockout blow, and doesn't walk out of the ring alive. He could have lived longer, but getting up the last time killed him. Hospitalizations and physical therapy can go this way near the end of ones life. They have their place no doubt, but many curative measures end up killing people due to the body's inability to endure them. Life-limiting illness wreaks havoc on the human body. A surgery that a healthy person would be able to endure could end up killing someone who is battling a serious disease. Physical therapy is a God-send for the 28 year old NFL player who just shattered his knee but could end up being deadly for a 91 year old who is barely able to move or breathe. Its time to change the conversation about death and dying in America. Its time to stop pushing for invasive surgeries toward end of life, and to start advocating for comfort, pain management, and holistic support when we've run out of options to cure. This isn't giving up or throwing in the towel. This is approaching death differently. This is hospice. Brian Lenney, Patient Care Advocate Kristi Hartway Director, Business Operations kristihartway@harrisonshope.com

Its not about the destination Its all about the journey.A recent hospice patient was tired of being inside. He had cabin fever. During a visit by his nurse the patient was looking out his window admiring her Volkswagon convertible parked in the driveway. The last time he rode in a convertible, it was a VW, too. It was easy to read the memories on his face. One afternoon, on her own time, our nurse returned to the patients house. She helped him into the car and reclined the seat so that he could better see. She latched his seat belt and dropped the top on her VW. The day was sunny and the road filled with flashes from the past. They drove past places he had lived and churches he attended. They saw places his mother loved to visit. That day they drove back in time to recall a journey that had led to this very trip. After dinner out, our nurse took her patient home. He was exhausted, but the smile on his face after that ride will always be with her. Hospice is a journey through to the end of life. The goal is to treat patients with respect and allow them to live a full life during their last months. Hospice manages symptoms and pain. No hospitals, no beeping machines, no tubes. It is the end of life on the patients terms, with a helping hand to make the journey as fulfilling as possible. Hospice makes a difference in the lives of patients. A 2007 study that looked at Medicare beneficiaries with some of the most common diagnoses leading to death, found that patients who received hospice services lived on average, 29 days longer than those who did not receive hospice care. Hospice patients had 29 additional opportunities to enjoy their families, make a memory or share a smile. As hospice care providers, we strive to go the extra mile for our patients, in some cases literally. With deep roots in the Treasure Valley, we have served Idaho seniors for years and we understand they take personal responsibility seriously. We welcome your call to understand your family's unique needs and to help you make an informed decision for you and your loved one. Written by Devin Limb, Administrator United Hospice. dlimb@unitedhospiceidaho.com According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the median length of service in 2011 was 19.1 days, a decrease from 19.7 in 2010.This means that half of hospice patients received care for less than three weeks and half received care for more than three weeks. The average length of service increased from 67.4 days in 2010 to 69.1 in 2011.

We understand that budget is a primary consideration when you are making arrangements for home care and it is our expectation that you will shop around to find the best provider at a manageable cost. As you do, please consider the following points in order to ensure that you and your loved ones are protected and receive the best care possible.Do your homework.Before you make your first phone call, thoroughly consider what your care needs are. Make sure that you paint an accurate picture of the patients needs so that the right caregiver match can be made. *Do you a need a companion, or someone who can provide hands-on care? *Do you need assistance with cooking and light housework? *Do you need skilled medical assistance for things like blood pressure, blood sugar testing? Medication administration, wound care, tube maintenance? *Do you need a caregiver who can drive you to social events or appointments? *Is a memory loss diagnoses a factor or is the patient becoming confused? *Do you need a caregiver trained in a specialization such as hospice care or mobility needs? *Do you need a caregiver that speaks a particular language or is versed in sign language?Interview the agency.-In order to protect yourself and your loved ones from potential liability, be sure to consider the following when selecting a home care agency: *What levels of care are available? Are you licensed for medical care or only companion care? *Are your caregivers supervised by an RN? *Are all caregivers employees that are licensed, bonded, and insured? What happens if a Worker is injured in my home? *If there is a personality conflict or other problems, can a change be made? *What are your rates? Is there a minimum number of hours that I have to commit to each day/week/month? *What happens if my caregiver calls out sick or has an emergency? Will you send another caregiver of equal skill and experience? *Can I interview the caregiver before I commit to using your agency? Do you check references and can I get details of the caregivers experience and background? Can I get someone that has worked on similar cases? *What happens in case of an emergency? Can your caregiver provide hands-on help or do they need to wait for emergency services?Helpful Hints.*Before a new caregiver starts, write out a basic daily and weekly schedule. Include a list of likes and dislikes for food and activities. *Remember that you are the customer, do not hesitate to express your needs and give feedback, especially if you are dissatisfied or concerned. Caroline Moore, owner BrightStar of Boise.