Author Archives: Pat Tarantino

Becoming a Paid Family Caregiver Through CDPAP

As America’s senior population continues to grow, more adult children than ever are taking active roles in their parents’ ongoing care. Helping a loved one with day-to-day errands, transportation and medical tasks is extremely rewarding, but balancing caregiver and personal responsibilities can be a challenge for even the most dedicated… read more

Home Care and Home Health Care: What’s the Difference?

More than 7.6 million Americans currently receive some form of in-home care, allowing them to live more independently and safely in their homes, rather than making a sudden move to an assisted living facility or other residential center. While there are a variety of in-home care options available to families… read more

Three Innovative Ways to Age Independently

New Developments to Help Live a More Independent Life Getting by on your own can be a challenge at any age, but age-related complications like illnesses or limited mobility can make remaining independent into your sunset years an even tougher task.  Fortunately, there are more services and products dedicated to supporting independent living than… read more

Healthcare 101: Service and Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support and Service Animals recently made headlines when a New Jersey woman unsuccessfully attempted to bring her Emotional Support peacock, “Dexter,” aboard a domestic flight.  While Dexter’s attempted cross-country flight made for great water cooler fodder, it also raised a number of questions about the distinction between Service and Emotional Support… read more

Health Care 101: What is a Power of Attorney (POA)?

February is National Wise Health Consumer Month and in an effort to help our community better prepare for whatever tomorrow might bring, we are dedicating this blog to explaining a simple but critical part of every older adult’s long term planning: Power of Attorney (POA). A Power of Attorney is a legal… read more

Managing Vacations as a Family Caregiver

Are You a Family Caregiver?  Here’s How Short Term Home Health Care Can Make Out-of-Town Trips Possible for You The holidays are a great time to visit out-of-town relatives, but for many family caregivers, the challenges of ensuring their loved one’s health and safety while on vacation can seem insurmountable…. read more

Are Granny Cams Legal in New York? An Updated Review

Granny cams have proven to be an invaluable tool for deterring and identifying cases of elder abuse in nursing homes and home care settings across the country, however there are important legal and ethical questions families must ask before introducing digital recording devices into an older loved one’s residence. SelectCare… read more