Try: Purchase only bottom sheets designed to fit hospital mattresses to save money rather than full sets for use on home hospital beds

Materials: Bottom sheet

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Medical Physical, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile

Information: n/a

References: Clare absher no date money and time saving strategies for caregivers – part iii available at www carepathways com

Keywords: Bed sheets incontinence budgeting mattress bedbound bedroom

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Don’t keep large amounts of cash on hand don’t take money from your bank account just because someone tells you to never give out personal details such as your bank account number social security number or credit card number to any person over the telephone check your bank statement carefully each month if the cr has a trusted adult child consider requesting the bank to send a duplicate copy of the statement to that child so that another pair of eyes can check that there is no suspicious activity on your account buy a shredder and shred all unused credit card applications ask the bank to call you if any check over a certain amount is ever presented to that branch for payment beware of family members persuading you to sign deeds or assets over to them keep your checkbook and spare checks in a safe place financial or material exploitation is defined as the illegal or improper use of an elder dependent adult adult’s funds property or assets examples include cashing an elder dependent adult adult’s checks without authorization permission forging an elder dependent adult adult’s signature misusing or stealing an elder dependent adult adult’s money or possessions coercing or deceiving an elder dependent adult into signing any document e g contracts or will misusing conservatorship guardianship or power of attorney

Materials: n/a

Categories: Financial

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Financial abuse

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Be present the best way to make sure the cr is safe while in a nursing home is to visit often it is a fact that clients who have regular visitation from family and friends are less likely to be abused be vigilant abuse can be physical or emotional as how they are being treated or examine the cr physically learn to recognize symptoms of elder abuse this could verify neglect or abuse establish relationships with staff getting to know staff will lessen the possibility of abuse take time to get to know the people who are caring for your sick or elderly loved one reporting abuse do not neglect to report and suspected abuse immediately there are organizations and governmental agencies that will follow up on these claims consider hiring an elder abuse lawyer for advice participate actively when visiting the nursing home notice if there is something that needs to be done wash their face comb their hair if needed read a story or show family pictures to encourage and remind them of great times they had in the past have a visitation schedule get together with family members and set of a schedule of visitation so that the burden is not place all on one person this will also show much needed support to the nursing home staff

Materials: n/a

Categories: Financial

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Abuse

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Consider housing alternatives for example roommates offer companionship and helps the cr save money cr can find retired roommates and travel partners online consider trading in the high maintenance house yard for a condo or apartment in an active living community; somewhere where the cr can walk to shopping and entertainment look for ways to use public transportation when available talk to neighbors to see if there are opportunities to carpool try to find local markets within walking or biking distance consider using senior home exchange to save money when vacationing senior home exchange allows cr to swapp homes with people all over the world cr can even swap motor homes to keep medical expenses down learn how to stay healthy and fit get a gym membership or taking healthy cooking classes at a community college avoid using credit cards try to pay cash as much as possible to avoid having too much debt

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial

Information: n/a

References: over 55 budgeting tips just for you by dana anspach available at

Keywords: Budgeting saving money low income limited income

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Start a household budget and stick to it find a financial planner to help with investment retirement get and stay healthy eat healthy and exercise avoid credit card use and pay down balances as soon as possible stop giving handouts to family members apply for social security and other government benefits cr is qualified for don’t put off estate planning

Materials: Pen and paper

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial

Information: n/a

References: 7 money management tips for seniors by heather johnson 2008 available at

Keywords: Budgeting saving money income

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Make a budget by listing cr’s expenses and income so cr knows what money is coming in what money is going out this way cr can see what the difference is and where he can make cuts rank the items in the budget in order of importance for example rent mortgage utilities transportation medication are more important than entertainment cable restaurants and some clothing items cut back on the amount of non-food items cr uses shop with a list to prevent impulse buying use coupons either from the newspaper or go online to coupon sites or to the websites of the products cr uses buy in bulk if when possible

Materials: Pen and paper

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial

Information: n/a

References: budgeting tips for seniors on fixed incomes available at

Keywords: Budgeting saving money income

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Use the library for newspapers and magazine instead of buying subscriptions plan out routes for errands and appointments so cr can do more on one trip rather than making several trips watch gas prices in cr’s area don’t fill up the tank if it’s not necessary if cr is a veteran use their clinics and discounted medications to save money on medical expenses split a membership with a friend to discount stores like costco review household budget every few months and make changes as needed

Materials: Pen and paper

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial

Information: n/a

References: budgeting tips for seniors on fixed incomes available at

Keywords: Budgeting saving money income

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Take advantage of senior citizen discounts that businesses offer before the cr buys something he should ask the clerk if the business has a senior citizen discount make budgeting a challenging game get family members and grandkids involved in helping the cr look for ways to save money give cr choices for example cr can have both the starbucks coffee and an expensive glass of wine but not both on the same day avoid unlimited access to investment funds set up direct deposits from investments into the cr’s checking account this gives the cr a consistent paycheck and helps prevent overspending use government and nonprofit organizations to save on food costs for example benefit programs such as the one offered by angel food ministries allows the cr to get quality food for half the price this is not a need based program so the cr won’t have to go through any qualification process to use the benefit

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial

Information: n/a

References: over 55 budgeting tips just for you by dana anspach available at

Keywords: Budgeting saving money low income limited income

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Put all financial instructions in writing keep up to date records of all financial transactions in a safe place use direct deposit keep checks in a safe place don’t sign a blank check allowing someone else to fill in the amount the cr should never give someone his atm credit card or pin or social security number the cr should check his bank statements carefully for unauthorized withdrawals be cautious of joint accounts because both people have equal access to the money when in doubt about bank transactions contact the bank to stop payment on checks to flag or to put a hold on the account or to close an account before signing a power of attorney for a bank account general purposes or for financial management know and trust the person that named as the agent be aware that a power of attorney is a powerful legal document that can sometimes be used by untrustworthy people to legally steal someone someone’s money and assets check with an attorney or make an appointment with legal services before executing a power of attorney the cr should get to know his banker attorney and or financial advisor they can help detect changes or unusual activity that might signal problems if the cr needs help paying bills consider automatic bill paying services through a bank or hire a bonded professional if there is someone helping the cr with his personal finances or bill paying the cr should ask a trusted friend or professional to regularly review bank and other financial statements just say no to bogus prize offers travel packages get-rich-quick schemes and even pleas from unknown charitable or religious organizations in telephone solicitations the cr should never give his social security or credit card number over the phone question bills or notices for healthcare services that the cr does not understand report healthcare providers that have suspicious billing practices the cr should never give his medicare or medi-cal number to unauthorized providers or for free health care services do not attend living trust seminars seek assistance from a lawyer specializing in elder estate planning

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from how to prevent elder financial abuse by california advocates for nursing home reform 2008 available at

Keywords: Finances financial abuse banking power of attorney scams estate planning healthcare insurance medicare fraud legal

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Cg should be suspicious of financial abuse if he notices cr seems confused and executes a power of attorney cr’s bank activity is erratic unusual or not characteristic of the cr such as unusual withdrawals cr’s bank activity is inconsistent with the cr’s ability e g the atm card has been used when the cr is housebound there are changes in the cr’s property titles will or other documents particularly if the cr is confused and or the documents favor new acquaintances cg notices forged or suspicious signature on cr’s financial legal documents the cr doesn’t have necessities or amenities when he can afford them cr has recent new acquaintances particularly those who move in with the cr there is suspicious activity on cr’s credit card accounts or other financial accounts cr brings strangers with him to meetings or while he is conducting financial transactions cr doesn’t receive services that he has paid for cr starts behaving like a hoarder and carries all of his financial legal papers in large bags all the time

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from financial abuse of the elderly risk factors screening techniques and remedies by lori a stiegel bifocal vol 23 no 4 summer issue 2002

Keywords: Finances legal abuse hoarding

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed