Betty Berry - Senior Advocate

By Betty Berry Wednesday, March 25, 2009   Q: I just received an e-mail from a friend that explained how a bystander could detect the possibility that someone was having a stroke and by doing so could perhaps save a life. I thought perhaps it might be a good item for your column.

A: Thank you for sharing. I too received an e-mail explaining how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. I will be glad to share what that e-mail said as it encouraged all who received it to spread the word.

Sometimes...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, March 11, 2009   Q: A family member has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and while hospice services are not needed at this particular time, I am beginning to think about them. What should I consider when selecting a hospice provider?

A: I commend you on preparing for future needs.

It is something most of us fail to do and then when faced with the actual problem must act in haste, sometimes requiring us to make ill-informed decisions.

Most Americans know...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, March 4, 2009   Q: My dad will be coming to live with me in my home. He has some problems with mobility, and I want to make the house as free from potential falls as possible. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do?

A: One of the added benefits of making your home safe for your dad is it will also be safer for you and the rest of your family, as anyone can take a tumble if areas are not well lit and free of clutter.

The suggested safety measures will be helpful...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, February 25, 2009   Q: I am a fairly recent widow and at a bit of a loss when it comes to issues concerning finances. I know I should be reviewing the legal papers we had prepared and do some planning, but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any suggestions?

A: When it comes to legal issues and making important decisions, I believe that many people, men and women, feel at a bit of a loss.

To ease into this complex subject, I would like to suggest you mark your...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, February 18, 2009    Q: Every day I seem to have a mailbox full of invitations to free seminars on living trusts and financial planning. I’m not really sure I need to be concerned with such topics, but if I do, would these seminars provide me with the information I need?

A: This is not only an excellent question but also a very timely one, since many people are now concerned about how, where and when to invest their money.

It also is one I would like more seniors to...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, February 11, 2009   Q: In the past I have had my taxes done at my local senior center. Will they be doing them again this year?

A: Yes, preparation of income tax returns is being provided again this year. Services started Feb. 1 and will run through April 15 and are for those 60 and over and for those under 60 whose income is $45,000 or less.

As in the past, taxpayers whose returns include Schedule E (rental income) or Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business ) are...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, February 4, 2009   Q: My parents are very private about their finances and personal records. Until now this hasn’t been a problem, but they are beginning to need my assistance and I don’t have the information I need to help them get the care and services they require. Do you have any suggestions about what would be useful for me to ask them to provide?

A: Your situation is not uncommon. We all are guilty to some degree about lack of planning for future situations.

Planning...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, January 28, 2009  Q: I am planning to bring my mother here to Thousand Oaks and beginning to look at various types of housing and frankly I am most confused. Is there any one place I can go to get this information?

A: Housing is a very complex subject. It is more than a place to live. Consideration must be given to cost as well as whether the person seeking housing can live independently or if some type of assistance is needed.

There are several organizations that...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, January 21, 2009 

Q: My friends and I have been discussing long-term-care insurance and have differing views as to whether we should or should not purchase such coverage. We don’t feel informed enough about other options or the selections needed to be made to purchase a policy. Can you provide some basic information?

A: The decision to purchase long-term-care insurance is very important and one that shouldn’t be made in a hurry. There is no right or wrong answer. Each...

By Betty Berry Wednesday, January 14, 2009   Q: My husband was considered disabled by his employer yet when he applied for Social Security disability he was turned down. Can you provide an explanation?

A: It is not unusual for a person to be turned down when first applying for Social Security disability. Perhaps Social Security just needs some additional information. I always suggest appealing the decision. You have 60 days from the time you receive the letter.

Not all disability programs are alike, and eligibility for various programs depends on that program’s definition of “disability.” Some programs will pay for partial disability or short-term disability. Social Security does not.

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