Cindy shares lessons from caring for her parents in their later years to help others navigate providing home care for aging loved ones. She discusses the stresses of interrupting retirement plans, becoming an employer for caregivers, and threats to independence. Cindy emphasizes the importance of advance planning, both medically and financially, to ensure the best quality of life. She also highlights the emotional challenges and helpful resources available for home care providers.

2. Using her first-hand
experience of what she did
right and what she would
not do again, Cindy has set
out to de-mystify the legend
of the ‘Golden Years.’
This subject is an all-important one for every
age.
Cindy is eager to share all that she has
learned
– from the planning stage to the final stage.
We each need to learn what must be done
to assure the best possible quality of life

3. Celebrating 75th Wedding Anniversary in 2010
My parents each received doctor-prescribed special care during their final years
provided by the Visiting Nurses of Carroll County. One of these types of care was
the use of a portable ultra-sound machine to help my mother with her back pain.
When it fell into disrepair, it was a real loss for my mom and other patients.
As a result, it was decided to purchase a new machine for the therapy department
of Visiting Nurse Homecare and Hospice of Carroll County
with proceeds from the sale of this book.
“It gives me a great deal of pleasure
to know that other patients of Visiting
Nurses will now have the availability of
this great therapy – and it is a special
way to honor my parents.”

5. Mom and Dad made the promise to
each other that they would NEVER put
their spouse in a “nursing home” but
would provide home care - always.
Hint: “NEVER say NEVER”!
I learned a lot - and this is my attempt
to share those lessons with you so at
the very least, you and your loved
one(s) would enter a similar scenario
realizing what could lie ahead as you
take this very complicated and
sometimes extremely difficult path.

6. • Stress # 1 - This family obligation is interrupting the
retirement plans we have.
• Stress # 2 - Family members should not be home care
providers.
• Stress # 3 - Becoming a “never-before-full-fledged
employer”.
• Stress # 4 - Understanding the challenges of
being the recipient of home care –
the threat to your independence and control.

7. There are several types of agencies that provide in-home care.
Some are private businesses, and some are governmental non-
profit agencies. Both types have been important in the care of
Mom and Dad. In addition, there are other agencies whose
purpose is to assist with various needs while caring for someone at
home.
 County agency: Visiting Nurse, Hospice Care, Chaplin
 Health Equipment Business
 Private Employment Agency

8. The cost of in-home care is phenomenal –
prepare by saving, saving, saving - revocable trust,
annuities, life insurance policies, pre-paid funeral
services, retirement accounts and social security!
• Caregivers need to be paid, groceries purchased,
health and household bills paid and obligations
to government agencies met.

10. Type of Care Non-city of State, NH Non-city of State, ME
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)[
1 ] Year(s)
2015 cost: $ 92,163
Total cost for all years:
$ 92,163
2015 cost: $ 91,250
Total cost for all years:
$ 91,250
Homemaker Services
[ 168 ] Hr(s)/Week
2015 cost: $ 192,192
2016 cost: $ 194,114
2015 cost: $ 170,352
2016 cost: $ 178,870
Corresponding Costs
http://www.aarp.org/relationships/caregiving-resource-
center/LTCC/

11. There is no denying that providing care for one or
more parents is an emotional involvement,
encompassing the full range of family dynamics and
feelings.
There is a great commitment in agreeing to provide home care
for
a family member and it is accompanied by a full spectrum of
feelings, ranging from love and devotion, to stress and pressure,
to guilt and anger - and everything in between.

12. • No matter how long you have special assistive
needs for your parent while at home, there are
many extremely helpful resources that can
provide almost anything you would require –
sometimes at no cost.

16. A night-time motion sensor:

17. Smart Caregiver Motion Sensor and Pager
This device was

18. • If you haven’t done it already, please heed this
wakeup call and begin now to plan your
end of life care – or that of your parents
or relatives for whom you are responsible.
• Please do not procrastinate about this important subject.
None of us has that crystal ball that tells us how much
time we have left in this journey called life - and making
as many plans as possible to insure that our quality of life
remains the best possible through our final days is a
‘must’.

19. Think of this task as a gift—
one that you’re giving your loved ones as well as yourself.
Don’t wait—
start making your choices now
and discover real peace of mind.

21. THE
GOLDEN
DAZE
Available at White Birch Books at
$14.95
A portion of the proceeds from
the sale of this book is
donated to
Visiting Nurse, Home Care &
Hospice of Carroll County
the organization that played a
vital and important role
in helping to keep
Russell’s parents at home.
Thank you