Friday Five: The Cost of Being a Caregiver

The Friday Five is our weekly roundup of links to smart article and helpful resources across the Web.

1. We were very proud to have the executive director of the Casa de la Luz Foundation on a local talk show this week discussing the foundation's upcoming end of life conference and the importance of having the end of life discussion. Carol Clark gave a great interview on Tucson Morning Blend, and we were so excited to be able to share the message about the value and importance of end of life care.

2. Here's a nice blog entry we stumbled upon about making the decision to move your aging parent into your home. Aging Parents: Should You Move Mom or Dad In? can help you pinpoint the questions you should ask yourself before making this life-changing decision. It's important to think about from all angles, financially, mentally, and medically. It also reminds us the importance of planning ahead. It's much easier to follow an existing plan when in crisis, than to come up with a new plan during a crisis.

3. To follow up on the previous blog entry, read this article from Time magazine about the potential costs of an elderly parent moving in. Like many aging and elder-related articles these days, it's written by someone who's already thinking about the issues for their own personal life. "Is Your Elderly Parent Moving In? It Might Cost You" provides a handy checklist of questions for you to think about and to guide your discussion with your spouse and parents.

4. If having your elderly parent move in isn't the right option for your family (and it's OK if it's not), this long-term care calculator can help you estimate the cost of care in your state. The calculator is a tool from the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, and their website offers some great information for understanding, planning, and paying for long-term care.

5. If you are a family caregiver in Arizona, support might available to you from the Family Caregiver Support program. It is a federally funded program that offers support services to family caregivers. To be eligible, you must be caring for an individual over the age of 60 or you are over age 55 and caring for a child under age 19. There are some specific eligibility requirements depending on which situation you are in and the assistance you are seeking. Read the Arizona Family Caregiver Support FAQ or contact your local area agency on aging.