Caregiver Tip of the Month

As we grow older, it often becomes difficult to use many everyday products because of arthritis and other conditions. For many people who need a little help to overcome those limitations, we have included a wide variety of supplies and accessories in our Daily Living Solutions section. Sometimes, however, your loved one may need other types of assistive devices to enhance the quality of their life and safely maintain their independence.

Visual impairments. Older people often suffer from macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy. They find it extremely difficult (if not impossible) to read cards and letters from their loved ones, critical information on medicine bottles, prescriptions, as well as newspapers, magazines and books.

The VideoEye is a low vision appliance that uses a special camera and computer monitor to greatly magnify reading material and other objects so they appear from 25 to 100 times larger. Because the viewing head (camera) is mounted on a precisely balanced spring arm, it can be moved easily within a 7-foot diameter with just a feather touch.

Instead of giving up activities they love because of deteriorating vision, VideoEye allows many people to resume reading mail, newspapers, magazines and books. Writing checks and letters, and doing crossword puzzles, once again becomes possible, as do sewing and crocheting, card playing, board games and even painting.

Because the camera can be pointed anywhere, VideoEye can be used for personal grooming; for example: clipping fingernails, finding and removing slivers, doing manicures and even applying fingernail polish. With the mirror attachment that's included, men can use it for shaving and women can use it to apply makeup.

For more information, visit the VideoEye website.

Other needs. We are frequently asked for information about unusual assistive and rehabilitation devices and equipment to meet the special needs of our visitors or their loved ones. While these requests may be for items that are "out of the ordinary" and may not be carried by most medical supply stores, our visitors can often find what they want in the AbleData.com website.

AbleData is a federally-supported project that provides information about assistive and rehabilitation equipment, including home health supplies and modification devices such as handicapped stair chairs (lifts). Its database contains detailed information for more than 25,000 products, including price and manufacturer, from domestic and international sources.

Our visitors ask ...

Q. Although assisted living sounds like the answer for my 87-year old mother (she is having a very difficult time living alone), Social Security is her ONLY source of income. She, of course, has Medicare and Medicaid, which I understand is quite useless in this situation. She has always made me promise that she would not be put in a nursing home; but the assisted living sounds like the answer for her situation other than very little income. Is there a solution?

A. Your mother's situation is a tough one, but she might have some viable alternatives to a Medicaid nursing home, at least for the short term.

Many seniors own non-income-producing assets that can be converted into a stream of income. Usually, their largest asset in this category is their home. If she does own her home, your mother could take advantage of that asset in 2 ways.

First, she could take out a reverse mortgage. Instead of paying a monthly mortgage payment to a lender, the lender would pay your mother a monthly payment for as long as she continues to live in her home. This additional income could allow your mother to hire a home health aide to provide the assistance she needs to stay in her own home. You can find more information about reverse mortgages at AARP | Reverse Mortgages: A Guide for Consumers. To find out what her home is worth, click on home valuations.

Second, your mother could sell her home. To produce an income, she could (1) gradually spend the money she receives, (2) buy a CD with the proceeds and take the interest out as additional income each month, or (3) purchase an immediate annuity to provide additional income each month. (Once again, to find out what her home is worth, click on home valuations.) This additional income might then be used in 2 different ways:

She could move in with you and use the additional income (plus the savings from her household expenses that she doesn't have any more since she sold her home) to hire home health aides when you are not able to provide the assistance she needs.

She might be able to move into an assisted living facility for awhile, thereby delaying her move into a Medicaid nursing home.

For more information, I suggest that you read our article, "Can You Afford Long-Term Care?" in our sister website, Today's Seniors.

Daily Living Solutions

— products for seniors —

As we grow older, it often becomes difficult to use many everyday products because of arthritis and other conditions. If you or a loved one needs a little help – or a lot – we've selected a group of practical and affordable solutions from our affiliated merchants to help overcome those limitations.

Whether you are looking for yourself, or to help an elderly senior continue living in their own home, you'll find a wide variety of supplies and accessories – raised toilet seats, safety rails, incontinence supplies, large-handle eating utensils, pain relief, diabetic supplies, pill splitters and crushers, big-button telephones, canes, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs – and much more.

Everything is sorted into convenient categories in our Solutions for Seniors section.

Caregiving – Finding the money for care at home

A variety of resources can help pay for care at home. We discussed these resources in some detail beginning with the May 2004 issue of this newsletter and continuing each month through the August issue. To review these newsletters, simply click on Archives and select the issue you want to see.

Caregiver Tip #2

Hiatal hernias are common, occurring in about one-fourth of people older than 50. According to the world-renown Mayo Clinic, if you elevate the head of your bed 6 to 9 inches, gravity will help prevent acid reflux (stomach acid moving up into your esophagus) while you sleep.

Bed risers are a very effective, yet inexpensive, way to raise the head of your bed. They were originally developed to increase the storage area under a bed. But, people with hiatal hernias often sleep better if just one riser is placed under each wheel or caster at the head of their bed. While the resulting tilt may look like you'll slide down the bed when you're in it, that doesn't happen.

For more information, click on sleep aids.

Our visitors ask ...

Q. What happens to my mother's debts when she passes away? Will I have to pay them off out of my own pocket?

A. Typically, the adult children of someone who passes away will not have to pay off the deceased person's debts. But, there are exceptions. For example, if you co-sign a mortgage or other type of loan with your parent, you will have to pay off the debt that remains when your parent passes away.

As a general rule, the estate of the deceased person is responsible for paying off their debts. All debts must be paid in full before any money can be paid to surviving family members. Thus, a child's inheritance can be reduced, or even wiped out. Also, if your parent was in a Medicaid nursing home, many states will try to recover the entire cost of their stay from their estate, again before anything can be paid to surviving heirs.

Recommended Reading and Videos

Many excellent books and videos can help guide you through the caregiving process. For our recommendations, including a brief description of each one, click here.

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is intended as a supplement, not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. More