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Do you know whether your elder
files a tax return? Many don't, because they
have incomes low enough that they pay no
taxes. This year, if they want to qualify for
the rebate that our Uncle Sam is promising,
they will have to file. Important Note:
I'm told that if you claim an adult as a
dependent, that person is not entitled to a
tax rebate. If that person files, you could
lose your dependent deduction. I am not a tax
professional, so if you have questions about
this, check with the IRS or your CPA.
If you're up to your ears in alligators and don't have time to do a good job on your parents' taxes, or if you don't even feel comfortable doing your own, much less theirs, there's help. AARP's Tax Aid program is a free tax preparation and counseling service available to older taxpayers. AARP membership is not required. There are over 7,000 Tax-Aid sites around the country. Use the Tax-Aid locator to find one near you, or you can call (888) 227-7669 for site information.
From Food Stamps to help with
remodeling for disability, if you're looking for
assistance programs for a parent, one of the best
places to start is the
Benefits Checkup website. This site is a service
of the National Council on Aging. It's programmed to
take the information you plug in and to identify the
national and state programs you might qualify for. You
don't have to register, and you don't have to put in
any identifying information other than your state and
ZIP code.
Some nonprofit organizations provide financial assistance for hearing aids, while others may help provide used or refurbished aids. Contact the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders' Information Clearinghouse with questions about organizations that offer assistance for hearing aids.
With all the snow "events" happening for so many of us right now, outdoor activities are a bit limited. If you have snow on the ground, and you can find some that's still clean, here's an activity that will take your elder outdoors for a few minutes and give you something fun to do together when you come in. Make "Snow-Cream." We used to do this when I was little...
There were a few interesting comments about the subject of the last Newsletter, A Caregiver's Legal Obligations To A Parent. There's a link to the comments at the bottom of the page.
Until next time,
P.S. In case you missed them, we've also recently added the following articles for you: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Walk-In Tubs and Bath Lifts: When a Senior Wants A Bath, Not a Shower
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When
the weather gets bad in my part of Texas, the
electricity gets a little unreliable. Power failures
are something we simply expect, so flashlights are
stashed all over the house. Did you ever try holding a
flashlight for any length of time if you have
arthritis or carpal tunnel? It can get painful. I came
across this one recently, and it seems to do two jobs
well:
First, it illuminates both the ground and the path
ahead, so there's less chance of a stumble. Second,
it's easier to hold because it's well-balanced,
lightweight, and you don't have to grip it. All in
all, the 
