CareGiving Navigator Posts
Practical guidance for adult children navigating an aging parent's care. Calm, sourced, and steady. From Ron Roel, author of The CareGiving Navigator.
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Caregiving FinancesHow Do I Help My Parent Choose a Medicare Plan During Open Enrollment?
Medicare open enrollment ends December 7. A step-by-step guide for adult children helping a parent compare plans, check drugs and doctors, and get free help.
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Emotional WellbeingHow to Recognize Caregiver Burnout Before It Breaks You
By Ron Roel, Author, The CareGiving Navigator | Yale University | Former Newsday journalist You didn’t notice when it started. You were just taking care of…
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Emotional WellbeingThe Guilt of Moving a Parent to Assisted Living: How to Decide from Their Needs, Not Your Guilt
Moving a parent to assisted living can feel like a betrayal. Here's what the guilt actually is, and how to make the decision from your parent's…
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Emotional WellbeingWhen a Parent Refuses Help: What to Do When the Obvious Next Step Isn’t the One They’ll Take
My mother resisted outside help for years. Three of her sons were nearby, she had her routines, and as far as she was concerned, the family…
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Caregiving FinancesMedicaid Spend-Down Without Panic: What Families Need to Know Before They Start
Most families come to Medicaid planning one of two ways: they’ve heard they need to “give everything away” before applying, or they’ve heard they can’t touch…
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Caregiving FinancesThe Sibling Money Conversation: Five Fair Ways to Split a Parent’s Care Costs
My brothers and I were lucky. We had the conversation early, before the bills got large and the resentments had time to calcify.
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Crisis First StepsThe First 48 Hours After Hospital Discharge: What to Do Before the Door Closes
The discharge planner walked into my mother’s hospital room with a calm, efficient air. “She’s going home tomorrow,” she said. “Do you have any questions?”
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Medical & LogisticalHospital Observation Status: What It Means for Your Parent’s Medicare Rehab Coverage
If your parent was in the hospital under observation status, Medicare may not pay for rehab. What it means, how to check, and what to do,…