Lately, I have been working almost non-stop organizing the financial and legal matters for several new clients. It is hard for them to face this point and I try to make the transition from independently handling their own affairs to allowing The Caregiver Foundation to manage and control things as easy and dignified as possible. Often our Daily Money Management can mean the difference between some form of continued independence having to place their whole lives in the hands of a care facility. I took a short break just now and it dawned on me that this is a perfectly good analogy for Daily Money Management.
Most adults have to manage their own legal and financial affairs and the great majority of us do so with not a little irritation and anxiety. Tax season can weaken the knees of the strongest man and confound the most competent woman. Wouldn't you love to have someone step up to your checkbook and say "I'll do this for you! Take a break!" That is exactly what we do for Seniors and those adults who for other reasons find these tasks difficult. We come in and organize their records, identify critical documents, eliminate inappropriate spending and giving and help establish a budget that can be used to project their needs against their resources. We are saying to them "Take a Break!"
Aging brings with it changes, often some form of cognitive change. For a former bank president or a former farmer it can seem very demeaning to be told they are no longer capable or competent to manage their affairs. But if we approach them more gently, assuring them that our help allows them to "Take a Break", maybe the transition can seem less of a blow and more like a helping hand.
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