Archive for February 2010
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‘Grandparent scam’ hit local BC seniors
0 Comments | Posted by EldercareBC-R in Financial Planning
Better Business Bureau is warning senior citizens to be aware of an emerging telephone scam that is preying on grandparents across British Columbia. Click here for more details.
Seniors are certainly more susceptible to the wily ways of scam artists and financial fraudsters. We believe that they deserve to be looked after better – if you are a senior, or are helping a parent with their finances, and you want to make sure that you are making the most from the money you have, click here.
Assisted Living vs. Long Term Care
Assisted Living is a housing plus health option for individuals who need a little extra help. It includes affordable rental accommodation, hospitality services, as well as personal care services to individuals in need. Subsidized Assisted Living (accessed through the health authority) is primarily intended for seniors and those with physical disabilities. If you are living alone, isolated, and need help with meals and personal care, this may be an option for you. The subsidized rate for Assisted Living is 70% of After Tax Income (Taxable Income after deducting tax paid, the Universal Child Care Benefit and RDSP deductions). To read more about Assisted Living in the Vancouver Coastal Health area visit this site:
If you need more help than is available under the Assisted Living program then the case would be escalated to Long Term or Residential Care. The calculation of the subsidized Residential Care rate is 80% of the After Tax Income unless the After Tax Income is less than $16,500. If this is the case, the resident is allowed to keep $3,300 a year for their own expenses.
See: https://www.health.gov.bc.ca/exforms/commcare/1.6NEWfil.pdf for the current paperwork that is completed when applying for subsidized Assisted Living and / Residential Care.
Elder abuse is surprisingly common – 1 in 12 seniors in BC is abused. BC’s Adult Guardianship Act tries to protect adults from abuse, neglect and self-neglect. It defines abuse as deliberate mistreatment that causes physical, mental or emotional harm to the adult, or damage to, or loss of, their assets. Elder abuse includes intimidation, humiliation, physical assault, sexual assault, overmedication, lack of medication, censoring of mail, invasion of privacy, and denial of access to visitors.
The Canadian Bar Association has a web page dedicated to pointing seniors and their families in the right direction – click here. They also suggest contacting the BC Coalition to Eliminate the Abuse of Seniors.
There are often significant financial issues at the heart of abusive situations – we may be able to help.
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Preventing Caregiver Burnout
0 Comments | Posted by EldercareBC-R in Assisted Living, Residential Care
Tips and Support for Family Caregivers
Outside the world of paid work, the people most prone to burnout are caregivers – people who devote themselves to the unpaid care of chronically ill or disabled family members. The demands of caregiving can be overwhelming, especially if you feel you have little control over the situation or that you’re in over your head. For great ideas on minimising the risk and impact, click here.
The financial impact of being a family caregiver can also be dramatic – having to take time off work, paying privately and struggling to access the Assisted Living Program, paying for other carers, looking for tax opportunities, ………………. To find out more about our Elder Care Income Protection Assessment, click here.
