Page 6 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - July 2019 - 26-07

Page 6 Senior Times - July 2019
Caregiver's
NEWSCHEDULE
CORNER
Senior Fit & Fun
INDEPENDENCE
Anne Clark, Special to Senior Times
are always assuring yourself a place for downtime? We all need downtime; a time that we do not have to think about others and we can let ourselves relax – this is how we “recharge” ourselves. Keeping in mind that it is not always about thinking the downtime has to be a lot of time, it can be as little as 10-15 minutes but it is necessary to make sure that it happens. Do you allow yourself time for you, to relax and do whatever it is that makes you happy and feeling recharged?
Time to recharge can be as little
as 10-15 minutes but it critical for the caregiver.
13 Locations
July is here already and at this time
of year, many of us are focused on Independence Day, parties, fireworks, air shows, family time, our Veterans, as well as other things. For family caregivers, there are two aspects I would like you to consider when it comes to independence, which is your independence as well as your person’s independence. You see I have witnessed family caregivers nearly killing themselves to do so much for their person and sometimes that person could be doing the tasks themselves.
BC YMCA Multi-Sports Complex
Urbandale-Christ UMC
Clarence Twp. Hall
Homer 1st Pres Church
Tekonsha Twp Hall
BC YMCA Studio 1
Hickory Hills Village
Battle Creek Eagles #299
NHBP Reservation
Village of Mill Creek
Marshall Trinity Episcopal
Athens – The Lighthouse
Albion – Forks Senior Center
Mon &Wed
Mon
Mon
Tues
Tues
Tues
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Tues
Wed
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Thurs
Thurs
10:00am
10:30am
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9:00am
10:00am
1:00pm
10:00am
1:00pm
11:00am
10:30am
1:30pm
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So this month try to focus on how you can become more independent, allowing yourself some “life” while also allowing your person to have some independence as well. Have a wonderful July – and Happy Independence Day!
For you, it really is allowing yourself to focus on how you can remain your own person while providing the level of care needed for your person. For your person it is allowing them to have the independence they deserve while mak- ing sure that they are safe. What makes this so difficult for many of us is we are helpful and want to be sure that we are providing the level of care that WE feel is necessary.
Many times, we as family caregivers tend to look at the person and all the ways they have lost their abilities rath- er than looking at all the abilities they still have. At times, we are overly help- ful when assisting others and many times it is not to the person’s benefit or to our benefit.
Your independence and your life as a family caregiver matter as much as the person you are providing care for so how are you making sure that you are taking care of yourself, living your life to the fullest that it can be, and that you
By: Vonda Vantil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
(Senior Fit & Fun is supported by the Calhoun County Senior Millage.)
Which then leads us to the person we are caring for. I am going to start with the question, how much you are doing for them that they could be doing them- selves? I do not want to imply that we should not help those we are providing care for; however, we want to be sure we allow them do whatever they can so that their quality of life and being engaged
in life is happening. I also know many times it takes less time and it can be easi- er to just do tasks ourselves, yet again we really want to help others be as engaged as possible. From personal experience,
I know it can feel like a double-edged sword but in the best interest of you and your person – help them to be as inde- pendent as they can be. We all would like that respect and dignity as a person.
AND THERE’S MORE ▼
Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention
(Funded by Calhoun County Senior Millage and CareWell Services/AAA)
Social Security Terms
Homer Public Library BC YMCA Studio 1
Mon 9:00am Fri 11:00am
In Plain Language
New For Family Caregivers
Caregiver Support Group
Meets Monthly • 4th Wednesday • 1:00–2:30pm
Kool Family Center/Senior Care Partners Meeting Room 200 W. Michigan Ave. Battle Creek
Free and Open to the Public
Family Caregiver Coach
Practical help to manage the challenges of caring for an older adult with a chronic illness and the issues of aging. Our family caregiver coach will help you identify solutions, manage stress and care for yourself while caring for another. Free. Funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Some of the terms and acronyms (an abbreviation of the first letters of words in a phrase) people use when they talk about Social Security can be a little con- fusing.
when you decide to take it.
If you take your retirement benefit at
Social Security employees strive to explain benefits using easy-to-under- stand, plain language. In fact, The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to communicate clearly in a way, “the public can understand and use.”
FRA, you’ll receive the full PIA (amount payable for a retired worker who starts benefits at full retirement age). So, FRA is an age and PIA is an amount.
If a technical term or acronym that you don’t know slips into the conver- sation or appears in written material, you can easily find the meaning in our online glossary at www.socialsecurity. gov/agency/glossary.
Social Security’s acronyms function as verbal shorthand in your financial planning conversations. If you’re nearing retirement, you may want to know what PIA (primary insurance amount), FRA (full retirement age), and DRCs (delayed retirement credits) mean. These terms involve your benefit amount based on
Once you receive benefits, you get
a COLA most years. But don’t expect a fizzy drink – a COLA is a Cost of Living Adjustment, and that will usually mean a little extra money in your monthly pay- ment.
Delayed retirement credits are the incremental increases added to the PIA if you delay taking retirement benefits beyond your full retirement age. If you wait to begin benefits beyond FRA – say, at age 68 or even 70 – your benefit increases.
If one of those unknown terms or acronyms comes up in conversation, you can be the one to supply the definition using our online glossary. Sometimes learning the terminology can deepen your understanding of how Social Security works for you. Discover and share more at www.socialsecurity.gov.
A community partnership of Bronson Battle Creek, Calhoun County Senior Senior Services, Battle Creek Family YMCA, Senior Care Partners PACE and Summit Pointe
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FOR MORE INFORMATION (269) 441-0948