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Today's episode with Chris Cooper was value packed!\nIf you are currently a family caregiver, or about to become a family caregiver, you need to know about Fiduciaries, and what they do.\nA Fiduciary is responsible for the following:\n\n* Medical\n* Psychological\n* Social\n* Environmental\n* Legal\n* Financial\n\nWhat you might not realize is that Family Members are also responsible for those same areas. \xa0Many family members\xa0don't realize that they are responsible for all six areas, and tend to only focus on legal and medical issues.\nChris explains that the problems are not necessarily in areas #1 and #5, but are often in the other four areas. \xa0For example, people with Alzheimers often have depth perception issues, something which we don't normally think about. \xa0Their living space can be an environmental hazard. \xa0(See Episode 34 for tips).\nMany of the issues that baby boomers need to think about are alien to us, because we don't think about these things. \xa0Some of the problems arise when a family member is assigned the task of taking care of mom or dad, and the family doesn't agree. This is where a Fiduciary comes in.\nFiduciaries are trained to work with all six areas. Unlike family members, they've received training.\nChildren are often not prepared to do all of these things. \xa0We have our own lives to live. \xa0We have our own stresses. \xa0When a family member needs help, we get thrown into the pool, and get our “baptism by fire”. \xa0We don't often realize that our parent needs to be seen as an adult. We need to let them live their lives in dignity, and then we can live their lives in peace. \xa0Is it right for the children to sacrifice their lives for their aging parents?\nLicensed Fiduciaries come from all walks of life. \xa0Its many times “the Third Career”. \xa0Many are in their late fifteens and sixties. \xa0The median age is 58, but many are in their seventies. \xa0Their backgrounds are varied, but they have a common bond. \xa0They want to help protect seniors.\nChris said that sometimes abusers are\xa0a family member, but sometimes they are professionals (like financial advisers or caregivers).\nHaving a Fiduciary can help protect your family member. \xa0Many of these professionals are not trying to harm their clients, but they “don't know what they don't know”. \xa0Many are ignorant. \xa0They do not know what is in the best interest of their client now that their client's capacity has diminished.\n\n* Where is mom to live?\n* Can you uproot her\xa0without harming her?\n* How does the family get along?\n* Is there a neighbor bringing donuts to mom, who is a diabetic?\n* Do you need a guardianship?\n* How can you\xa0reduce expense?\n* Do you need an attorney?\n* How can you keep your privacy?\n\n* Is\xa0Lindsay Lohan's information public because she is being “conserved”?,\n\n\n* Can we take lessons from the past, and plan for\xa0our own retirement lifestyle?\n\nWho needs a Fiduciary?\n\n* Alzheimer's Patients\n* Disabled Adults and Children\n* Middle Class\n* Wealthy\n* People who need Long Term Care\n* Caregivers who are having issues within their own families due to the stress of caregiving\n* Family members who don't agree on care options\n\nPublic sources might pay for services that a fiduciary recommends. \xa0For example, Medicare might pay for family counseling. \xa0 \xa0The fiduciary can take a look at what is available under public services such as Veteran's Benefits, Medicaid or Medi-Cal, or other programs.