SH in the City

As a former franchise owner, I can now look back and see some of the misconceptions I had going in.

There will be a number of such stories - for legal reasons I will not mention which franchise.

I can be contacted at this email

The first misconception I had was that I actually owned and operated the franchise as if it were my own business.

We all know now that what had been happening in the past decade was a mirage. Ever spiraling stock prices and home prices was all a pyramid scheme - a financial game of musical chairs in which the music has now stopped.

We know about people losing their homes - some due to greed, some due to need, some due to ignorance, some due to all three.

But here's what all this boils down to:

Seniors having to work in their 70s or later despite having worked 2 generations already.

One of the major causes for seniors losing their independence is a fall.

Recently there have been several articles just in the San Francisco Chronicle about falls - these are horrifying but unfortunately a very real risk.

Having home care assistance available such as what <franchise name removed due to franchisor legal requirement> offers is just one of a number of ways to minimize this risk.

MoCA stands for Montreal Cognitive Assessment. It is a tool used to screen for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

MCI is different than normal aging - while symptoms of MCI are similar normal aging, those with MCI are 80% likely to suffer from a future dementia.

November 18 is National Memory Screening Day.

<Due to franchise directive, all mention of previous name must be removed> is pleased to offer free memory screenings at the Borders bookstore at 200 King street.

Just as you take a physical regularly, it is also important to take a 'mental' to see if you are at risk for dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Vascular dementia, or Frontotemporal dementia.

One of the many great learning experiences at the Alzheimer's Foundation of America - 3rd Concepts in Care conference was the presentation by Dr. Pierre Tariot of the Banner Alzheimer's Institute.

The full presentation is very long and technical, but here are some highlights.

All information contained here is to be considered for entertainment only and not as medical recommendations. Your Doctor is the one you should refer to for medical questions concerning what you are presented here.

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America held its 3rd annual Concepts in Care conference in San Francisco on September 18, 2008.

The opening speech by Eric Hall - head of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America

<Due to Franchise requirement, all mentions of previous organization must be removed> - doing our part

Thanks everyone for a fantastic first class: "Eating Well and Good Eating"

Here are the recipes, the pictures, and some useful notes from this first class in the Healthy Living in the Golden Years series.

Next class on September 18!

Our cooking class working materials - yum! Most items from Whole Foods new affordable '365' offering.

Please note that all information provided here is NOT from a tax-planning or estate planning professional.

You should consult a professional before acting on any information gained from this page.

Senior Helpers care can be tax-deductible as a medical expense once expenses beyond the 7.5% AGI threshold are paid.

There are restrictions, however, so consulting a professional is critical.

From the IRS publication 502 for 2007:

www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html#d0e1274

From the New York Times archive:

The Dillon families experience caring for the Dillon patriarch.

www.nytimes.com/2004/09/16/health/16goodbye.html

A wonderful sharing of how one family is doing their best to take care of their own, but also a good example of the sacrifices family caregivers go through.