Welcome to 
The Golden View
January 2021 Edition

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

Meet Marie Zoromski
by Nicole Karberg, 
Community Relations Manager,
​24 Hour Care

Marie Zoromski is the Director of the
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Dubuque County; now part of AmeriCorps Seniors.

Marie Zoromski – so many adjectives that describe her. I asked our advisory council on what they thought a good adjective would be to describe Marie, this is what they came up with; Multi-faceted, Magnificently, Magically and Unequivocally Beautiful, as well as a Leader. 

Marie is the Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Dubuque County; now part of AmeriCorps Seniors. RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over. Seniors use the skills and talents learned over the years or develop new skills while serving in a variety of volunteer activities throughout Dubuque county. 

The focus of the organization is healthy futures, improving seniors’ social connections and improving their capacity to remain independent and in their homes. RSVP also serves the community in environmental stewardship, disaster services, and non-profit capacity building.

As the director of the program, Marie ensures everyone is happy, healthy, and safe. This pandemic has put a lot of stress on a lot of people; however, Marie has a way of handling peoples’ stress or frustration with a smile on her face. Not only does she make her volunteers feel like they are a viable part of our community, she works with each and every one to ensure they are comfortable in their volunteer position and makes them feel like family. With Marie as our director, our advisory council thoroughly enjoys taking care of our volunteers to make sure they feel appreciated and loved! 

For more information on how to become a volunteer, reach out to Marie! She is available Monday-Friday at (563) 589-2622.

Connie, one of many AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers

Getting Through Winter

Cold weather is here ... joining the coronavirus and the flu. Such a wonderful trio of events all at the same time.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says that temperatures this winter will be a bit warmer for much of the country, at least for the eastern portion. The other Farmer’s Almanac divides the country in a different way, with the north half of the country seeing the cold.

We didn’t want to go outside anyway, did we? This winter especially we need to do all we can to stay healthy. 

If you live in an especially cold area that’s likely to get a lot of snow and ice, find someone to take care of it and be sure you’re on their storm list.

Arrange for prescriptions to be sent by mail from
the pharmacy.

Stock up on batteries for flashlights, and consider getting a battery-operated radio. Remember to keep your cellphone charged at all times. One of the best things I’ve purchased this year is a pair of battery-operated lamps; some even come with a remote control and motion detector.

Try to stock up on heavy or large items from the grocery store, ideally from curbside pickup. A box of canned goods and extra toilet paper will keep you from having to scramble at the last minute.

Don’t try to save money by keeping the temperatures in your house too low. Seniors especially can get into trouble with hypothermia before we even know it. Aim for indoor temperatures of 68 F to 70 F, and put on a sweater!

One of the biggest things you can do to stay safe this winter is sign up with the seniors daily check-in, a phone call you’ll receive either from the town or senior center to make sure you’re OK. Or create your own phone tree with friends to check in every day. 

​© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Download the full copy of this month's Golden View:

gv_january_2021_optimized.pdf
File Size:	10625 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---

Features This Month!

Read about medical tips on our Health Page: Click Here

Take a look back with our pictures from "Down Memory Lane" on our Culture page: Click here

Read about all the events happening around the Tri-States: Click Here

​Get a Laugh from our Comics and Games on our Activities Page: Click Here

Financial Caregiving
by Thad J. Murphy,
​Pearson Bollman Law

Thad J. Murphy of Pearson Bollman Law

We tend to only consider the physical aspect of caregiving: medication management, bathing, feeding, assistance with daily chores, etc. However, the financial aspect of caregiving, e.g., paying bills, handling banking, investment and insurance accounts, preparing and filing tax returns, is equally crucial.

Per the AARP, there are 18.5 million unpaid caregivers in America helping adults over age 50 manage their finances. The responsibilities associated with financial caregiving can be complicated, and almost half of these caregivers lack the legal authority necessary to manage their loved one’s finances. 

A revocable trust can provide some much-needed relief to this complex situation. A trust is a legal entity designed to hold assets, including, but not limited to: cash in a checking or savings account, securities in an investment account, homes, and business interests. The creator of the revocable trust often names him/herself as initial trustee with authority to manage and distribute the assets in the trust. The creator will also name a successor trustee – the person or persons to take over management of the trust’s assets if the creator becomes incapacitated or dies. 

Thus, a revocable trust consolidates assets and provides the financial caregiver with the legal authority to manage and distribute the trust’s assets. The financial caregiver oftentimes has the option to name a co-trustee to assist with the management of the assets if he or she needs assistance. 

A grantor may set up a revocable trust only if he or she has capacity to do so; a financial caregiver cannot set up a trust on their loved one’s behalf. Thus, acting timely is of utmost importance.

As we come together this new year, whether in-person or virtually, consider discussing financial caregiving with your loved ones. Allow your loved ones to educate you as to their wishes, their finances, and the documents they currently have in place. A little discussion and planning today has the potential to save a lot of future frustration.

Thad J. Murphy is an attorney in the Dubuque office of Pearson Bollman Law, located at 1635 Associates Drive, Suite 103, Dubuque. The attorneys at Pearson Bollman Law practice in the areas of estate planning, probate/trust administration, special needs trusts, and elder law, which includes Medicaid and VA Pension Planning. If you have any questions or would like to register for one of our free workshops on estate planning, asset protection and elder law, please feel free to contact Thad Murphy at (563) 265-6971 or visit pearsonbollmanlaw.com and select “Events”. 

In these uncertain times, it is now more important than ever to have an estate plan that gives you and your family peace of mind. We are continuing to serve our clients by video conferencing or telephone meetings. In person meetings are not required.

Next Page