Source: SeriousIllness.org

We usually associate the word “vaccine” with children. But vaccines play an important role in disease prevention for seniors, too. Because aging weakens the immune system, even common infections can cause serious problems for those over age 65.
The annual flu shot

The flu takes a heavy toll on aging bodies. Hospitalization rates for seniors surge during flu season. Really, what we call “the flu” is a constantly changing virus. Because there’s a new type circulating each winter, an annual shot is essential. That is true for your aging relative, but also recommended for any adult caring for a frail elder. For greatest effect, get the shot sometime in the October to December time frame.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Money matters are often intensely private. And no one wants to infringe on a family member’s independence. Yet it is through (sometimes expensive) financial mishaps that you may learn of changes in your parent’s memory and thinking.

Signs of a problem

Diseases that affect memory also tend to impair arithmetic skills and reasoning. That’s why money trouble can suggest the onset of dementia. Be alert for the following changes:

- Difficulty counting change or balancing a checkbook
- Frequent late payment of bills
- Confusion about banking transactions
- Unusual or repetitive purchases
- Accusations that others are stealing from them
- Investing in sweepstakes or other “get rich quick” schemes

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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If you worry about your charitable giving traditions disappearing after you’re gone, check out these tips on bringing your loved ones into the loop. With some open communication, you may be surprised to find that your favorite causes will be the recipient of your family’s support for generations to come.

Start the Conversation
To begin, set aside some time to talk at a family gathering, at a family meeting or, if necessary, through a conference call. (Try a website service such as www.freeconferencecall.com.) During this discussion, you should:

• Share your vision, goals and philanthropic ideas.
• Ask your children for their thoughts.
• Request that your children consider their role in your charitable giving plans.

Involve Your Children
After your initial conversation, follow up with each family member to discuss:

• The specific charities you support or would like to support.
• Volunteer opportunities with these organizations.
• Traditions that can be started with your family and, if your children are grown, with their own families.

Plan to Give
Once you establish your children’s interest in taking on philanthropic responsibilities, you can develop the appropriate strategies. This could include connecting them with the organizations you support or setting up trusts to carry out your wishes.

We Can Help
We are happy to tell you more about our mission and the many ways you can support Hospice & Palliative CareCenter. Just contact Ellen Coble at 336-331-1312 or ellen.coble@hospicecarecenter.org.

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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It is wise to be cautious about crime. But extreme fear traps some elders at home unnecessarily, undermining their quality of life.

If you are concerned about the person you care for, these tips can help you support your relative’s safety and address his or her anxiety.

The facts about seniors and crime show that

- fear is out of proportion. Older adults are the victims of crime far less often than are people in other age groups.

- violent crimes are uncommon. Seniors most fear assault and rape. But older adults are rarely the victims of such crimes.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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For most family caregivers, frustration and guilt are common, as is anxiety. These feelings are normal and reasonable under the circumstances. And it’s not realistic to eliminate negative emotions. Caring for an ailing family member IS emotionally taxing, especially in the case of memory loss.

But you can avoid amplifying a downer mood. According to stress and coping research, you can reduce your distress by concentrating on the present moment, the here and now.

To interrupt the downward spiral

– observe yourself. Practice noticing your thoughts and feelings. Get curious about your emotions. Explore them objectively, as though you were outside yourself. Your thoughts and feelings aren’t “you”; they are one part of your total experience.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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A durable power of attorney is your written authorization for someone to act for you in many financial and legal matters. This document will serve you best if it provides a broad range of authority, so be very careful in choosing your representative. And always consult an estate planning attorney on the proper creation and use of this powerful and trusted position.

	Request our free guide on what you need to ensure a complete and up-to-date estate plan.

You may authorize your power of attorney to:

• Pay for your support and care.
• Borrow money.
• Complete bank transactions.
• Manage property.
• Handle legal claims.
• Gain entry to safe-deposit boxes.
• Prepare and file tax returns.
• Deal with insurance and retirement benefits.
• Exercise stockholder rights.
• Contract for services.
• Make gifts to family and charitable organizations.
• Collect Social Security and other benefits.
• Exercise rights of the creator or beneficiary of a trust.

For more estate and gift planning information, contact Ellen Coble at 336-331-1312 or ellen.coble@hospicecarecenter.org.

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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For most family caregivers, frustration and guilt are common, as is anxiety. These feelings are normal and reasonable under the circumstances. And it’s not realistic to eliminate negative emotions. Caring for an ailing family member IS emotionally taxing, especially in the case of memory loss.

But you can avoid amplifying a downer mood. According to stress and coping research, you can reduce your distress by concentrating on the present moment, the here and now.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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One of every three older women is dealing with urinary incontinence. And one of every six older men. If your loved one has this problem, he or she is likely not talking about it. Not talking to you. Not talking to the doctor.

She may be embarrassed. Or he may assume nothing can be done.

In fact, urinary incontinence is a medical problem with many treatment options. Untreated, urinary incontinence is associated with

• social isolation. Fear of accidents often leads to withdrawal from activities outside the home.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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The Promise Partnership
A thoughtful and ongoing COMMITMENT to provide HOPE. For $30 a month, $360 a year, Promise Partners gain real ownership – ensuring that we will be here in the future to help anyone in our community who needs the compassionate end-of-life support.

By United Way Designation
You can choose to designate a specific charity to receive your United Way pledge dollars. Hospice & Palliative CareCenter is listed on the United Way pledge form as a choice for your designation.

By Company Matching Gifts
Many companies match charitable donations made by their employees. Your Human Resources Department should be able to provide you with the necessary forms. Please be sure to find out if this is true at your place of employment and send us the matching gift form to increase the impact of your gift.

Through Special Events
Hospice & Palliative CareCenter hosts several fundraising events each year. Click here for more information on ways to support Hospice & Palliative CareCenter.

Through Your Will and Other Planned Gifts
Your will is the cornerstone of your estate planning efforts – your most important legal document. Many of our supporters choose to name Hospice & Palliative CareCenter in their will. Bequests take many forms and require special language. For information on Bequests, Estate, Deferred, Planned Gifts or more. Click here for more information.

Gifts of Stock or Other Property
Many donors find it convenient and beneficial to make gifts of appreciated securities. You can also make gifts of other property such as real estate, life insurance, or retirement accounts. Please call us at 336-768-3972 to discuss your gift of property.

Instructions for Donation of Securities
Please call us at 336-768-3972 to discuss your donation of securities

Memorial or Honorary Gifts

Memorial gifts honor the memory of someone who touched your life in a special way. Many families name Hospice & Palliative CareCenter in obituaries or funeral notices as the preferred beneficiary of memorial gifts. Sample language is as follows:

The family requests that memorial gifts be made to Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

Another way to remember your loved ones is to purchase a plaque with your loved one’s name which will be permanently installed on the Remembrance Wall at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home on the Winston-Salem campus.

Honorariums provide a way to express appreciation for a living person. The person honored will receive acknowledgement of your gift. Honorary donations are a thoughtful way to remember a person on a special day or holiday.

HOW YOUR GIFT WILL HELP

In addition to providing hospice care, your gifts support needed programs available to our entire community. Most of these programs are available at no cost to anyone in the community. Your contributions support these programs, including:

• Grief counseling to anyone in the community who has lost a loved one
• Advance Care Planning so that end-of-life care choices will be known and legally documented
• Residential hospice care at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home for those who cannot be cared for in their own residence
• Education of healthcare professionals in the important areas of end-of-life care and pain or symptom control
• Complementary therapies designed to help patients and families experience the best possible quality of life

For more information on contributing to Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, please contact one of the following staff members at 336-768-3972 or 1-888-876-3663.

For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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Source: SeriousIllness.org

Technologies abound to help us stay connected with loved ones. There are also many options to support your relative in living independently. Here are some options in the areas of safety and health.

Personal safety and home security

• Personal medical alert: Wearable devices that call for help. Most require the push of a button. Some can detect a fall automatically. Others can be used even when away from home.
• Fall detection: Video systems that scan the bottom 12 inches of a residence. This protects privacy but reveals if a person has fallen to the floor.

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For more information about Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, visit http://www.hospicecarecenter.org!

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