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November 2012 Bulletin

News from The Benefit Specialists Corp.

From: The Benefit Specialists Corp. <sean.murray@telus.net>
Subject: News from The Benefit Specialists Corp.
Reply: sean.murray@telus.net

Dear sean,

 

We hope you enjoy the November 2012 edition of our bulletin.  Please feel free to

contact us if you ever have any questions or concerns, we are here to help!


 The Benefit Specialists Corp. Newsletter

 


    

                               November 2012


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How to choose a long-term care facility

Source:ww.rbc.com

  

It's hard - and it's complicated. Here's what to consider when evaluating a long-term care facility.

 

It can be one of the hardest decisions of all: to move a spouse, parent, or other family member into a long-term care facility. And in many provinces across the country - Alberta, Ontario, and B.C. among them - once you choose three long-term care facilities, you may be locked into those choices. So here's what to consider when developing your list:

 

Look into the types of facilities. With baby boomers aging, creative approaches to aging are being developed. There are facilities that operate more like hotels - with on-staff doctors, physiotherapists, podiatrists, and other specialists - as well as facilities that have developed tools and expertise to deal with dementia and other conditions. It's important to evaluate your loved one's needs and then look for the best match, with a view towards future needs as well.

 

Consider logistics. If you are making the decision for someone who lives at a distance, do you want them closer so that you can visit, or in their familiar surroundings? Will it matter to him or her where the facility is? Will anyone be able to visit and check in with them?

 

Consult. Ask your loved one what he or she would prefer, if possible. You can also ask his or her permission to speak with the doctor managing his or her care to make sure you understand what kind of care is required.

 

Get the basics by phone. Ask about prices (this may be set provincially in some case), vacancy, and care facilities. If you are considering paying for a private room, ask how many are available.

 

Find out the details of life within the facility. Don't be afraid to ask detailed questions - in person, over the phone, or via email. You'll want to know what kinds of care are available and common. How often will your parents see a nurse, or a doctor? Can they continue to see their family doctors? What other staff work in the facility and what are their qualifications? How are meals handled? How does the daily routine work - how much choice will your loved one have about when to get up, snack, and so on. What activities are available? How are personal possessions handled? What about extras such as hairdressing or trips to local stores?

 

Ask about links to other care facilities. If the facility is not designed to handle patients with specific needs, is there a process if a move becomes necessary? What are the links to local hospitals or other medical care facilities? What about alternative treatments, such as acupuncture?

 

Visit in person. Taking a tour of the facility will give you a great deal of information. Take stock of all your impressions, first and otherwise. Does the facility seem safe, friendly, and clean? Do there seem to be adequate staff, and is their attitude and demeanor professional? How does it smell and sound? Is it too hot or too cold? Do the residents seem generally happy and, where they seem able, engaged with their surroundings? Trust your instincts.

 

 

 

Why should I make a Will?

Source: www.helpguide.org

  

 It is a good idea for everyone to have a Will. Illness or accident could claim any of us at any time. People often have more assets than they think. For example, life insurance and pension benefits may be payable to an estate, or sometimes credit card contracts include accidental death benefits if airline tickets are booked on the card. Even if you don't have many assets, a Will is the only way to control who gets what you do have.

 

 

  Anyone with children should make a Will so that they can recommend a guardian for the children, and wishes about their financial needs and their upbringing can be addressed. Note: The naming of a guardian in a Will is not binding. Someone else can still apply to be the guardian of your children, and only the court has the final say. Naming a guardian in a Will, however, does ensure that a court will hear your opinion.

 

 

Only you know what you want done with your estate when you die and simply telling someone, or even more than one person, does not suffice. Your wishes need to be in writing.

 

Finally, your estate may end up being more complicated and expensive for your family to handle if you don't leave a Will, as a family member may need to apply for a court to appoint him/her as administrator.

 

 

Importance of an Advance Health Care Directive

 

 

While most people would prefer to die in their own homes, the norm is still for terminally-ill patients to die in the hospital, often receiving ineffective treatments that they may not really want. Their friends and family members can become embroiled in bitter arguments about the best way to care for the patient and consequently miss sharing the final stage of life with their loved one. Also, the opinions and wishes of the dying person are often lost in all the chaos.

 

It's almost impossible to know what a dying person's wishes truly are unless the issues have been discussed ahead of time. Planning ahead with an Advance Health Care Directive can give your principal caregiver, family members, and other loved ones peace of mind when it comes to making decisions about your future health care. It lets everyone know what is important to you, and what is not. Talking about death with those close to us is not about being ghoulish or giving up on life, but a way to ensure greater quality of life, even when faced with a life-limiting illness or tragic accident. When your loved ones are clear about your preferences for treatment, they're free to devote their energy to care and compassion.

 

 

End-of-life issues in an Advance Health Care Directive

 

 

Specific issues relate to the end of one's life. These include:

  • Whom do you want to make decisions for you if you are not able to make your own, both on financial matters and health care decisions? The same person may not be right for both.
  • What medical treatments and care are acceptable to you? Are there some that you fear?
  • Do you wish to be resuscitated if you stop breathing and/or your heart stops?
  • Do you want to be hospitalized or stay at home, or somewhere else, if you are seriously or terminally ill?
  • How will your care be paid for? Do you have adequate insurance? What might you have overlooked that will be costly at a time when your loved ones are distracted by grieving over your condition or death?
  • What actually happens when a person dies? Do you want to know more about what might happen? Will your loved ones be prepared for the decisions they may have to make?

Source: Family Caregiver Alliance

 

 

Creating an Advance Health Care Directive

 

 

Advance Health Care Directives and living wills are not complicated, but the content can be complex and should be thought through very carefully. It can be short, simple statements about what you want done or not done if you can't speak for yourself. It's important to discuss your wishes with family members, legal, health or other appropriate professionals when preparing such a document. It is particularly important to talk with everyone who might be involved about your wishes because in times of stress, others may confuse their own wishes with your wishes.

 

 

Most state governments have designed forms for people to complete on their own by filling in the blanks. While these are not usually mandatory, most states do require witnessing or other specific signing formalities. Anything you write by yourself or with a computer software package should follow your state laws. So, it's essential for you to know what the laws are in your state. While you are not required to seek legal advice to prepare an advance health care directive, it may be a good idea to do so to ensure that the actual instructions for your wishes are stated accurately. It has to be absolutely clear to be enforceable.

 

The information contained in this bulletin is for general information purposes only. The articles published in this bulletin have been collected by The Benefit Specialists Corp. (TBSC) and we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained.  Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.  In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits out of, or in connection with, the use of the information contained in this bulletin.  Through this bulletin you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TBSC.  We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Sean Murray
The Benefit Specialists Corp.
sean.murray@beneco.ca
(403) 547-5236

This email was sent to sean.murray@telus.net by sean.murray@telus.net |  
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