Elder Resources - Make the Most of Them

As a caregiver, you may tap into federally funded resources for your elder, depending on availability. These elder resources could include Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the Veterans Administration. You can write, call, or email these departments, or visit a local branch office. Each one will send or give you information about what they have to offer and what your elder must do to qualify for the benefits.

I prefer to visit in person if possible since speaking directly with someone usually clears up the particulars of your case. If you do visit in person, make sure you go with your elder, and bring any paperwork you might need. It's always better to arrive with as much information as possible so additional trips will not be necessary.

Be sure to follow the exact instructions, which spell out who is eligible for what benefits, and how to prove eligibility. Original documentation is usually required including birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, a social security card, military discharge papers and a death certificate. You might first have to track down old documents and then fill out a lot of paperwork to obtain these elder resources, but the resulting funds are well worth the time and effort. It would be a shame to overlook hard earned benefits that would increase your elder's quality of life.

Once I had a client who had just been widowed and didn't know how much money she had or where it was. We quickly found her husband's insurance information and were also able to deal with the Social Security and Veterans Benefits paper work. We made charts and lists so that she could confidently deal directly with her newly hired team, including a financial advisor, a tax accountant, and a lawyer. It was wonderful to watch her go from being dependent and confused to independent with some organizational assistance and professional guidance. And the Federal benefits her husband had earned allowed her to live a comfortable lifestyle. The moral of the story is to make the most of elder resources, whatever they may be.

Marion Somers, Ph.D. (Dr. Marion) knows the elder care arena and provides a bridge for the generational gap with resolve, results, and respect. Dr. Marion's vision provides seniors and their caregivers timely, relevant, and valuable education, resources, products, and services for a better life. Her mission's universal approach to engage and promote elder care needs worldwide creates a positive difference in the lives of caregivers and their elders.

To learn more about elder resources and other issues, visit Dr. Marion's website, http://drmarion.com