From the Desk of Debbie Stewart:

Gift From The Heart

It may not seem like a big deal to us to let a mother, with several young children in tow, go ahead of us in the grocery store check out line, or to ask a co-worker how her ailing mother is doing, or simply offer a smile to a friend who looks like they really need one.

Yet we may never know how our one small act of kindness and concern might positively affect that person in a significant way. What may seem like a small gesture to us might actually have a profound and potentially life-changing impact on the recipient of our good deed.

Simple actions on our part can and do make a huge difference in the lives of others, whether a person is facing a major adversity or just having a bad day.

As we go about our daily routines, I encourage all of us to make meaningful connections with people with whom we come into contact. Take a few extra seconds to reach out and offer the Gift From Your Heart.

Sending love to each of you,
Debbie Stewart

Senior Connection
P.O. Box 11929
Prescott AZ 86304
(928) 778-3747 
www.SeniorConnection.us
Debbie@SeniorConnection.us

As Caregivers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that need to be accomplished for your loved one each day. While it’s easy to remain upbeat on good days, it’s the bad days that can leave you feeling confused, exhausted or resentful. At these times, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. 

Knowing what to expect can help tremendously in your ability to cope. Knowledge is Power! Each month in this newsletter we include one or more articles on topics relating to the joys and challenges of aging and caregiving.

Please let me know if you find the articles useful and what other topics you’d like to see.

It's always smart to stay physically fit, at every point in your life. But financial fitness is important, too. Are you doing everything you can to boost your financial well-being?

Regardless of your age or gender, you can still take some steps to improve your financial health, including these:

• Conduct an investment “check-up.” Getting a regular check-up is a key part of maintaining good physical health. And the same principle applies to your investments – you need to periodically assess their “vital signs.” Is your portfolio still appropriate for your risk tolerance and time horizon? Is it providing you with the income and growth potential you’ll need to maintain a comfortable retirement? Is it diversified enough, or do you own too many of the same investments? Even though diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against all losses, it can help reduce the impact of financial market volatility on your portfolio.

• Take preventive measures. Throughout your life, you probably take medicines as needed, and possibly vitamins and other supplements, in an effort to treat existing illnesses or prevent future ones. You also can, and should, take preventive measures to boost your financial health. For example, do you have a sufficient emergency fund? If your family situation has changed through divorce, remarriage or the births of new children, have you updated the beneficiary designations on your insurance policies? And have you taken steps to protect your financial independence – and possibly avoid burdening your family – by addressing the potentially huge costs of long-term care, such as an extended nursing home stay?

• Avoid unhealthy moves. Smoking, a sedentary lifestyle and excessive stress are all considered unhealthy for our bodies. But some activities are unhealthy for our financial fitness, too. Whether it’s the economy, tariff or trade war concerns, or market fluctuations, there is no shortage of headlines that could distract you from your long-term goals. Some investors try to avoid potential stock market declines by selling investments and moving to cash. But in order to time the market successfully, you have to get two decisions right: when to get out, and when to get back in. Getting one right is difficult, and getting two right is nearly impossible. Other investors may hold too much in cash, thinking they are avoiding risk. But this could actually increase the risk of not having enough growth in their portfolio to meet their goals or outpace inflation. When negative events occur, the media often use extreme language or highlight low periods in the past for dramatic effect. The key is, do these ever-changing headlines really affect your long-term goals? Investors have successfully navigated tough periods in the markets before. You’re better off focusing on your long-term goals and not the latest headline.
  
  Staying physically fit requires determination and work – and the same is true for maintaining financial fitness. But the effort you put into staying financially healthy can help you keep moving toward your financial goals.
  

Whether you are an adult child caring for an aging parent, a spouse or sibling providing care to a relative, or a senior caring for yourself, the information and products available via the www.SeniorConnection.us website are designed to improve your quality of life. 

THE
SENIORCONNECTION.US WEBSITE

   As caregivers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that need to be accomplished for your loved ones each day.
    Although hundreds of resources exist to help you, the hardest part can be finding what’s available. 
   Therefore, in addition to the Caregiver Connection newsletter, I am also pleased to make available to you several valuable resources via the “Senior Connection website.” This web-based one-stop Educational and Information center for Caregivers and Seniors is designed to save you time and money, as well as your sanity.
   The SeniorConnection.us website consists of a comprehensive Resource Directory, Articles on topics of relevance to caregivers and seniors, and informational Videos and Slideshows about agencies that offer help throughout Yavapai County.

SENIOR RESOURCES DIRECTORY

   The Resources Directory contains contact information for hundreds of local nonprofit, government and commercial agencies that provide helpful products and services to ease the life of caregivers. 
   Updated weekly, this searchable database will save you literally hundreds of research hours and connect you with nonprofit, government and commercial agencies that can help with every aspect of being a caregiver. 
   Categories include areas such as assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, in-home care providers, transportation, meal preparation and delivery, and financial assistance. 
   A search on one or more keywords results in all of the companies that provide a particular product or service. You can then print out the Profile of each agency that is of interest to you. 

   All on the website at: 
Senior Connection.us

INFORMATIONAL ARTICLES

Dozens of candid articles get right to the "heart of the matter," from both the Caregiver’s and Senior’s perspectives.

The Informational Articles section contains articles on a wide variety of topics relating to aging.

The articles are short and sweet, yet go directly to the heart of the matter of some of the most sensitive issues surrounding our fears and frustrations as caregivers.

No topic is off-limits and new articles are constantly being added to the website.

To read additional articles on a variety of topics, please visit the Articles section of the SeniorConnection.us website:

Articles

EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS

Educational Videos and Slideshows, narrated by recognized experts in the community, are posted on the website. Additionally, videos and slideshows featuring nonprofit and for-profit agencies that provide products or services to caregivers and seniors will be available at the website: 

Senior Connection.us