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Spotlight on
“SeniorS”
Compassion. Comfort. Caring. Since 1935 R. Michael Gallaway, President/Manager N.J. Lic. No. 4803 E. Haas Gallaway, Jr., Vice President/Director N.J. Lic. No. 2676 Bruce Wilber, Director N.J. Lic. No. 2797 Michael J. Badolato, Director N.J. Lic. No. 4976 BASKING RIDGE 908-766-0250 BERNARDSVILLE 908-766-0155 www.gcfuneralhome.com Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, Inc.Carol Cozewith & Ellyn Mantell
Interior Designers &
Professional Organizers
Senior
Assistants
Coordinating Your
Move to Senior Living
with Ease & Style
Carol: 908.313.6555
Ellyn: 908-883-0469
ellynmantell@aol.com Our service, SENIOR ASSISTANTS, provides support for those in need of moving to a new facility (or within their present facility,) designing a beautiful room or apartment, and staging their home for sale. Carol Cozewith and I rec- ognize that we offer a distinct and unique service, and as such are occasion- ally approached by other unique services which assist seniors. We often explore our mutual interest in a segment of the population that is growing annually, to see if and where our services will dove- tail. That is exactly what happened recently when we sat down with Hilly Berlin, CPA, and Barbara Kady, PA. Their business is PRINCETON FINANCIAL CARE SERVICES, LLC, and they manage finances for seniors and the disabled...a service that is invaluable and rarely known. I am sharing this with you, since the more aware you are of what is available for this very special segment of the pop- ulation, the better you will be able to help your parents or others in your life. In an ideal world, our loved ones would be able to care for their financial issues in the same way they always had, despite the aging process. They could go to the bank or financial institution, easily explain their needs and desires, deal with insurance agents, make investments, etc. But in the real world, the aging process takes its toll, and one of the most impor- tant tolls taken is that of being able to concentrate or oversee intensely demanding attention to detail, recording and reporting of such transactions, if necessary. Ironically, these same people may have had control of intricate finances at another time, but now struggle with basic calculations. They may receive checks from social security, pension checks, transfers from brokers or other monthly deposits, and these accounts can become extremely complicated... many times payments are missed, result- ing in late fees, cessation of important protection like insurance, duplicate pay- ments made, etc. Who is overseeing all of this? Ideally, family or close friends can monitor these transactions, but for today’s baby boomers, this may very well be an impossibility, and for many rea- sons. The senior may want the autonomy and independence associated with man- aging their finances on their own, or at least out of the vision of family members. Or the family doesn’t live close enough to be “hands on” with their parent. Or as boomers, we are just plain stretched very far, sandwiched between our children and grandchildren, and our parents...not to mention feeling totally overwhelmed attempting to stay current with our own ever-changing portfolios, transactions and financial activities! Just climbing our own mountain of new information can feel like an insurmountable prospect! Additionally, life circumstances change, and they can bring more financial issues to bear for the senior...retirement, death of a spouse, a move to assisted living can all have ramifications that require profes- sionals, and I wholeheartedly recom- mend providing professional services from those who have the heart and knowledge to aid our loved ones. Consider contacting Hilly and Barbara (609.730.0067) if this seems relevant to your parent or disabled loved one. We felt so comfortable with them and their desire, like our own, to support a seg- ment of the population that truly needs our attention and tender loving care. Between the work they do, as well as our own, we know that a very big part of the challenge for seniors...to be well cared and respected at this time of life will bring peace and comfort to all of us...as it should, as it should! A SERVICE FOR SENIORS By: Ellyn Mantell www.theconnectionsnj.com