Utah

Financially, times are tough. They are particularly tough for people who are trying to afford assisted living and retirement living. Typically, people have relied on their savings and the sales of their homes. Both of these have suffered in the past years. Most people have lost around 40% from their 401-Ks, and home values have also plummeted. Assisted living facilities average around $3,000 per month, although the cost can spread from $2,500 to $4,500 or even higher for dementia care. Retirement living is less, but with services such as meals, transportation and housekeeping, it can still end up being from $2,000 to $4,000 based on apartment size and services.Obviously, this is too much for someone relying strictly on Social Security alone to afford. There are government programs such as New Choices Waiver (state) and Salt Lake County Alternatives (county) that can help. If the prospective resident is a veteran or married to a veteran at the time of his or her death, there is also the possibility of the Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit. And, if the prospective resident owns a home, there are reverse mortgages. However, if none of these options exist, the only help may come from a future residents family. This is why it is crucial to financially plan for the different stages of life, involve all family members in the planning, and include some contingency plans just in case the economy tanks and takes your 401-K with it.If you're in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, find a financial planner to help you know how you should allocate the money in your 401-K and other money funds so that the risk matches the need. Start a rainy-day savings account and put as much as possible in it. Talk to your family regularly about money and care issues. Make sure that when the need for assistance arises, you're not left unprepared. If you're reading this article, its not too early, no matter what your age.Highland Cove Retirement 3750 Highland Dr.,  Millcreek, UT 84106 801-272-8226

#1 Act as a Disability Plan. A revocable trust provides protection during three phases: what happens while the trust maker is alive and well, what happens if the trust maker is alive but not so well, and what happens after the trust maker dies. Its during the second phase that trust really outshines a will if the trust maker becomes incapacitated, the disability trustee can step in and take care of things immediately and without court intervention.  This keeps the trust property under the control of a trusted family member or friend instead of a guardianship judge. #2 Keep Assets Outside of Probate. Probate is a time-consuming and costly court-supervised public process. A will-focused estate plan lands heirs squarely in probate court. A trust-focused estate plan allows the settlement trustee to step in and carry out the trust makers final wishes without any court involvement or oversight. #3 Keep a Minors Inheritance Outside of Guardianship. A minor who is named as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, IRA, or payable-on-death account will require a court-appointed guardian to manage the property until 18. On the other hand, a trust for the minor can be created in a revocable trust and named as the beneficiary of the policy or account.  This allows the client to decide how long the trust will continue age 25 or 30, or even the beneficiarys lifetime not just until 18. #4 Keep Final Wishes Private. A will filed for probate becomes a public court record, which means anyone, including predators and your competitors, can go down to the local probate court and read wills and other probate documents. On the other hand, a revocable trust is a private document that remains confidential during life and after death.

Neighborhood House Adult Day Services are open Monday Friday, 7:30 AM- 5:30 PM, and centers are located near downtown Salt Lake and Cottonwood Heights.Neighborhood House enriches, empowers and educates children and adults through quality affordable day care and support services. A sliding fee scale based on families ability to pay and door-to-door transportation service offer convenience and affordability for family caregivers.Programming focuses on the specific needs of aging and/or disabled adults. Engaging activities, consistent staff interaction, and regular meals can help older and disabled adults maintain their physical and cognitive health, while simultaneously providing valuable respite for their caregivers. Therapeutic recreation activities are designed to address social, emotional, physical, and cognitive domains, and experienced staff are supported by student interns from local universities and colleges. Other program features include field trips, music therapy, monthly service projects, and intergenerational activities. Individualized therapy plans are implemented upon enrollment and client progress is regularly evaluated. Additionally, we provide medication management, nutritious meals, and are the only adult day service program in Salt Lake County that contracts with Veterans Affairs for daytime supervised care.The average client at Neighborhood House is 80 years old, with age-related cognitive impairment, dementia, and/or other chronic conditions. Younger adult clients are cognitively challenged or physically disabled and benefit from supervised care on a temporary or permanent basis. Collectively, our clients are offered 11 daily activities - all of which are designed to promote independence, feelings of usefulness, social interaction, cognitive stimulation, and physical exercise. Intergenerational activities with Children's Center students integrate Neighborhood House adult clients into a larger population, further reducing social isolation and offering young children an opportunity to better understand aging or disabled adults in their surrounding community. To learn more about Neighborhood House, or to schedule a tour, visit www.nhutah.orgContact Information:Riverside Adult Day Center423 South 1100 WestSalt Lake City, Utah 84104(801) 363-4593Email: [email protected] Adult Day Center1580 East Vine Street (6100 South)Salt Lake City, Utah 84121(801) 277-3264Email: [email protected] Note: This article was submitted by Sarah Scott, MS, MBA. She is the Adult Day Services Director at Neighborhood House and may be reached at 801-363-4593, or by email at [email protected]

More than a year has passed since we first heard of Covid 19. The world has changed around us. What do we do now?This question is not something that is unique to you. It is a question that is on the minds of many these days.What can I do now?Do I need a mask still?Why are there still all these rules if we are getting vaccinated?This stuff just doesnt make any sense, you might think to yourself.You are not alone. I would bet if you can see another person from where you are right now, they probably have the same questions.My advice to you is to just get outside and enjoy life!The truth is that outdoors is one of the safest places to be related to the reduced risk of Covid 19 in the world today. And, I think we have all spent enough time indoors this past year.Get outside. Take a walk, a drive, play some golf or pickleball, or anything. Just get out and get a little bit of sun.Oh, and dont forget to try to do something with someone else!For most of us being with others brings us joy and happiness. So go be with other people. Havent we had enough isolation this past year?Something I would encourage each of us to do is to take time each day to recognize how much we enjoy the privileges we have today. When we do something take a minute to appreciate that and remember that not long ago, we couldnt get out and do these things.I make a point to be grateful each day and see how blessed I am to do the things I love to do. I try to be grateful for my good health, or that I can walk, or even that I can breathe on some days.The point is that recognizing the good in our lives each day helps us make the most out of the hard times. And this past year has brought most of us plenty of hard times.The world is your oyster, is a phrase that comes to mind here.Go out and open that oyster and you may just find a pearl inside. Some will find larger pearls than others. But Im pretty sure if you go out and crack open a bunch of oysters, you will end up with your own treasure of pearls.Time to get crackin!Article submitted by Daniel S. Short with Simply Seniors