Visiting Angels July 2018

Visiting Angels July 2018

July 2018

5274 Scotts Valley Dr., #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-430-0616 www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast 229 Reindollar Ave., Suite E Marina, CA 93933 831-392-0876

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After We’re Gone This past April, my mother-in-law passed away. The death of a loved one is never easy. To add to the stress of losing her, we were also faced with the fact that we didn’t know as much about her financial affairs and end-of-life wishes as we thought. Our family quickly learned the conversation we should have had with her before she died. The Importance of Getting Our Affairs in Order

There is a lot to unpack, but the sooner we get started the better, because it isn’t just seniors who need to be thinking about this. Young people also need to examine what they want at end of life,

My mother-in-law was a super-organized woman. After a career as an executive secretary, she labeled and filed everything and gave us copies of important documents we needed. As she became older, her organization became less accurate, and papers piled up that should have been filed. After she passed, we went searching for her life insurance policy and couldn’t find it. The file folder where we thought we would find it was empty. After hours of searching, we did find an insurance policy, but it was old and we weren’t sure if it was still active or had been cashed out. After many hours of searching, we were able to piece together how her insurance company was sold to another company and the name was changed, yet she never informed us of that “minor” detail. Had we had periodic reviews, we would have known. Talking about death and our end-of-life plan is not easy, but it is necessary and important to have an open, honest, and direct conversation with your loved ones about their wishes. What is outlined in our last will and testament? Are there financial accounts and insurance policies that need to be dealt with? Are there specific personal items we wish to leave to certain people? Who are our beneficiaries, and who needs to be contacted after we pass away? If we are in a serious accident or suffer a debilitating stroke, do we want to be kept on life support? Who will make medical decisions for us if we are unable to?

and how they want their wishes to be carried out. We never know when we may be faced with a serious illness or accident. It is so important to not plan everything in secret and leave your plans a surprise for your loved ones down the road. I know I want my family to be ready when I pass and know exactly what they need to do, rather than muddle through documents they’ve never seen before while grieving. After outlining our end-of-life plan, we should review it with our loved ones each year, or after any serious event or illness, making note of any changes and ensuring the plan is still in line with our wishes. Though my mother-in-law’s organization had gotten lax, she was still an orderly woman. We didn’t have as difficult a time as I have seen other families go through. Upon reflection, the process would have gone much smoother for us if we hadn’t failed to follow up with her each year. End-of-life discussions are not easy conversations to have, but they are essential to everyone understanding your wishes and providing peace of mind to your loved ones. Having these crucial conversations now can alleviate a lot of heartache in the future.

Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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DNR Orders, Proxies, and POLSTs

End-of-Life Planning Defined

DNR Order Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders demand a patient not receive CPR in the event of an emergency. Patients at the end of their life, or who suffer from an illness that does not improve, may elect to not be resuscitated if their heart stops. A physician must fill out a DNR order, so if you believe this is the right choice for you, speak with your doctor. POLST Another form filled out by a doctor, a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining treatment (POLST) serves as doctor-ordered instructions on what kind of care you are to receive in an emergency. This includes time spent on life support, feeding tube, antibiotics, requests to not be transferred to an emergency room or hospital, and pain management. These are just a few of the many details you’ll encounter when end-of-life planning. Take the time today to sit down, look over your options, and make sure you understand your options and have a plan that’s right for you and your family.

End-of-life planning isn’t easy. It takes a lot of energy and thought to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Because of how difficult the topic is, there are a lot of

details people overlook. Here are three important terms you need to be familiar with when working on

advance care planning.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document naming someone as your health care proxy with the legal authority to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so. Having a proxy is useful in the event you did not cover certain emergencies in previous advance planning, or you want someone to evaluate every situation or treatment plan individually. You need to choose someone who you trust to carry your wishes out, even if they don’t necessarily agree with those wishes.

These Malls Were Made for Walking

If you’re young at heart and looking to stay (or get) in shape this summer, consider taking a trip to the mall. No, not to pick up some hot new exercise product or dietary supplement, but to walk a few laps. Safe and convenient, “mall walking” has become one of the biggest trends in senior fitness. Cool in the Summer, Warm in the Winter This time of year, heatstroke can be a

are also outfitted with EMT kits in the event of a medical emergency. Squeeze in Some Shopping It is still a mall, after all. Why not check a few items off your shopping list or reward yourself with a new pair of sneakers? Getting things done as you exercise makes the experience that much more rewarding. Just

real concern when exercising outside. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a homebody. Because malls are spacious and climate-controlled, they make great year-round walking venues, especially when summer temperatures spike. You don’t even need to put on sunscreen! Rest Stops Abound While the average American shopping center isn’t as scenic as the Appalachian Trail, they are far more convenient. Replete with bathrooms, cool drinking water, and plenty of benches, the mall lets you focus on exercising and removes all of the “what ifs?” that come with aging. Most malls

remember not to overdo it. Carrying too many shopping bags can place undue stress on your back — and your wallet. You Won’t Be Alone Today, malls are the second-most popular places to walk in America, after neighborhoods. Mall walking has become so big that many communities and senior living centers have put together official groups to stride together. Your local mall may already open early to accommodate walkers. So if you’re looking to make friends in an active, fun-loving community, do some research. Chances are there’s a mall- walking club near you!

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PLAN FOR LESS HEARTACHE

Reach Out to an Estate Planning/Elder Law Attorney. There are lot of resources to help you get started with end-of-life planning, but the law surrounding death is complicated and can vary from state to state. An experienced attorney can help make sure your wishes are in line with the law and prevent a misplaced signature from revoking your son or daughter’s right to make decisions for you in an emergency. Keep the Conversation Going. End-of-life planning is not a “one and done” venture. Revisit your plan at least once every three years, or immediately after you experience a big life change, such as a marriage, divorce, or birth, to make sure your plan still matches your current wishes. Talk with your family members so they are aware of any changes you have made to your plan. Death can be sad and scary, but end-of-life planning doesn’t have to be an intimidating process. Sit down and start planning today so you and your loved ones don’t have to worry about it tomorrow.

How to Begin Your End-of-Life Planning

We will all die someday. It’s not fun to think about, but ignoring this reality only serves to create more pain for your loved ones after you’re gone. The grieving process is hard enough without your loved ones struggling to carry out the wishes you never told them you had. Planning for the end of your life is one of the kindest things you can do for your family. Here are a few tips to make the challenging process a little easier: Have More Than a Will. Having a last will and testament isn’t enough. Do your relatives know where to find your life insurance policies? Have you named a power of attorney to deal with financial matters? Did you outline what should be done if you cannot make your own health care decisions? You can find a list of things to think about beyond your will at everplans.com/ articles/end-of-life-checklists .

Pork Chops Balsamic

SUDOKU

Ingredients • 4 boneless pork chops • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 3 tablespoons raw honey • 2 cloves garlic, minced Directions 1. Heat oven to 400 F. 2. Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper. 3. In a saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme. 4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 5–6 minutes. 5. On high heat in an oven-safe sauté pan or skillet, sear the

• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste pork chops for 1–2 minutes on each side. 6. Brush chops with half of glaze and transfer to oven. 7. Roast 6–8 minutes. 8. Remove from oven and brush with another coat of glaze. Let cool 5–10 minutes and serve.

Inspired by paleoleap.com

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Personalized Homecare ... When You Need It ... From People You Trust!

5274 Scotts Valley Dr., #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 24/7 831-430-0616

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Scotts Valley Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday

www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast Home Care Organization #444700002

Inside

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The Important Conversations

Things You Need to Know About Advance Care Planning

The Benefits of Mall Walking

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What’s Your End-of-Life Plan?

Paleo Balsamic Pork Chops

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Local Events

Fun in the Sun Spend Some Time Outdoors This Summer

SUSTAIN SUPPER — A BENEFIT FOR THE HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT WHERE: Homeless Garden Project Farm, Santa Cruz WHEN: Saturday, July 14, 4–7:30 p.m. ADMISSION: $125 WEBSITE: HomelessGardenProject.org

ADMISSION: Free WEBSITE: Bargetto.com

Get ready to raise a glass of fine wine in celebration of local artists and musicians. The 30th Annual Art & Wine Festival will feature over 30 artists, musicians, and vendors in a weekend of culture, art, and wine. The festival is free, though wine tasting is available with the purchase of a $10 festival glass. Come show your support for local art and culture, and have a drink while you’re at it. SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE: ‘ROMEO AND JULIET’ WHERE: Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park, Santa Cruz WHEN: July 24 to September 1

Enjoy a taste of true organic farm fare as local chefs prepare a four- course meal of freshly grown foods. Dinner will be paired with special wines and accompanied by live music and guest speakers, including keynote speaker Congressman Jimmy Panetta. This event supports the Homeless Garden Project and its mission to help empower at-risk individuals in our community with job training and opportunities. 30TH ANNUAL ART &WINE FESTIVAL WHERE: Bargetto Winery, Soquel WHEN: July 21-22; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADMISSION: See website for tickets WEBSITE: SantaCruzShakespeare.org

Shakespeare’s greatest love story is best told beneath the stars. True love clashes with deep- seated hatred as Santa Cruz Shakespeare brings this iconic play to the beautiful DeLaveaga Park. Come see why “Romeo and Juliet” is still one of history’s favorite love stories.

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