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Are you interested in current information about long-term care costs in your state?  Click HERE for the 2011 Market Survey from MetLife.
Many Boomers are thinking about their own long-term care options.  It is important to plan early and plan well.

Are you curious about how much you can expect to pay for long-term care?  The Long-Term Care Planning Tool from Medicare.gov can help you find out.  It is easy, quick, and confidential.
The "Elder Rights Guide for Older Alabamians," published by the Alabama Department of Senior Services, is a wonderful resource.  It includes essential information for Alabama's seniors and those who care for them.  View it HERE.
Take care of your Advance Directives for Health Care, for yourself and your loved ones.  Get the resources you need by clicking HERE.
AgeWell.com is a website sponsored by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Aging. The UAB Center for Aging is committed to improving the health and well-being of older adults through research, education, community outreach, and patient care programs. AgeWell.com provides a way for the Center for Aging to share with everyone information that reflects the best evidence available on living longer, but perhaps more importantly, living better.
ELDERCARE ALPHABET SOUP:  What's All This About ADLs and IADLs?

To determine what one is able to do independently, and what level of assistance may be needed, geriatric care managers and healthcare practitioners will often refer to "ADLs" and "IADLs."  What do these acronyms mean?

ADLs, or Activities of Daily Living, are the activities that are fundamental for self care.  They include:
  • Dressing
  • Eating
  • Toileting
  • Transferring
  • Bathing
  • Continence

IADLs, or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, are the more complex activities necessary for daily life management.  They include:
  • Phoning
  • Shopping
  • Food Preparation
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Transportation
  • Medication Management
  • Handling Finances

The fewer ADLs and/or IADLs one can perform independently, the more assistance he or she needs.  An early sign that an aging loved one may need some kind of assistance is that he or she is beginning to struggle with IADLs.  For this reason, IADLs are important for family members to understand and observe.
Are you Interested in understanding more about dementia?  See the Guide to Understanding Dementia from Johns Hopkins Medicine, by the Editors of Johns Hopkins Health Alerts.  It is brief but thorough, with practical, easy-to-understand information. 
Access our Planning Tool for Long Term Care Expenses to budget and plan for care, and to compare alternatives.  Click HERE.
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256-783-8891
866-758-7672 toll-free
  Specializing in Family Dementia Services
Read Beth Thames' column entitled, "Treating Seniors as Equals, On Their Own Terms" (The Huntsville Times, p. F11, November 20, 2011) about the work of Caring Strategies.
When is a hospitalization--not?

If you have Medicare, ASK!  Why does it matter?  Your hospital status (whether the hospital considers you an inpatient or an outpatient) affects how much you pay for services, and may also affect your admission to and coverage in a skilled nursing facility for rehab.  Learn more here.
Please visit again for information about upcoming events.
Driving and Dementia...A Worrisome Mix.  Find help from the Alzheimer's Association HERE.