LEADING SENIOR CARE EXPERT TO HOST FREE PUBLIC SEMINAR IN BIRMINGHAM

Recent Study Shows Planning For Senior Care Out of Sight and Mind for Most Adults

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Birmingham area seniors and their families are invited to attend a free seminar designed to explain the many care options available for today’s aging population. The seminar will be held Wednesday, June 2, 2010 from 4 p.m. -6 p.m. at the B&A Warehouse, 1531 First Avenue South. The featured speaker at the event will be Paul Hogan, co-author of the recently released book Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions.

A leading senior care expert, Hogan will review a number important topics including: financial planning for senior care, being a caregiver to an elderly parent, insurance options, and the state of senior care in America.

“With more than 78 million Baby Boomers on the verge of retirement, America is facing monumental social and economic challenges in the ways in which we care for our seniors.” Hogan said. “If families are not prepared, navigating the care continuum can become a complex process that sometimes involves misinformation and injects unwanted stress into our most important relationships.”

A recent Home Instead Senior Care survey showed that planning for senior care is out of sight and out of mind for most adult children and seniors alike. In fact, half of all seniors ages 65 to 75 have not thought about their own future care needs, and nearly a quarter of 35- to 64-year-olds could not name a single senior care option available today. Even more startling: both seniors and adult children have the misconception that Social Security and Medicare will pay for senior care, while many are unfamiliar with the costs of today’s care options.

"Senior care options have expanded almost beyond recognition in the last 20 years, yet most Americans are still only familiar with nursing homes or family care at home," adds Hogan. “With tens of millions of Boomers starting to retire, it’s critical that people start thinking about this.”

Hogan’s book, Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions serves as a comprehensive guide for the ever-expanding world of senior care, breaking down the process by addressing the shared concerns of seniors and their family members. Featuring more than 30 sources from the most credible major healthcare organizations, universities and nonprofit organizations, the book thoroughly explains each and every aspect of senior care, including the array of available care choices, being a caregiver, planning for your own future, aging in place, family and professional care options, how to chose an option and what to look for, financing care, insurance, legal matters, dealing with stress, communication and family relations.

Proceeds from the Stages of Senior Care will benefit the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, which provides financial support of activities designed to improve the quality of life of seniors.

Reservations for the June 2 seminar can be made at www.stagesofseniorcarebirmingham.eventbrite.com or by contacting the local Home Instead Senior Care office at 205-822-1915. The first 50 guests will receive a complimentary copy of Stages of Senior Care.