THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 12, 2021 Page 19 November is National Family Caregivers Month, honoring the many caregivers who attend to their family’s needs N ovember is National Family Caregivers Month, which off ers an opportunity to honor the countless family caregivers who work tirelessly each day to attend to their family members’ needs. Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) is pleased to provide aff ordable and accessible services needed by these caregivers through the agency’s Family Caregiver Support Program. “Through this program, hundreds of caregivers are helped every year,” said MVES Caregiver Support Coordinator Kathy Learned. “When a new caregiver signs up for the program, a support coordinator sets up an appointment with them to go over an individualized action plan. We understand that every caregiver’s situation is distinct from others which is why the plan is uniquely tailored to each caregiver’s needs.” According to Learned, this plan comes at little or no cost to the caregiver. During the meeting, the coordinator will discuss the diff erent kinds of services provided by MVES, such as one-on-one assistance, peer support groups, family meetings and community resources. MVES’ services range from support groups where a caregiver can form friendships with other caregivers to workshops focused on raising awareness to the issues a caregiver faces throughout their day. Many caregivers who have taken part in the program have befriended other caregivers who are in similar situations. The support group engages in thoughtful conversations about the diffi culty of being a caregiver and the situations they can face. It also brings awareness to common diseases so that the caregiver doesn’t feel alone in their journey. “Some services may be needed at the home that the caregiver may not have which is why we have adaptive home equipment to support the family. From bed rails to a shower curtain, MVES strives to meet an individual’s needs on an everyday basis,” said Learned. “We also understand that a caregiver may feel like their needs are delayed when taking care of others which can lead to a burnout. Therefore, we have services tailored to giving some relief to the caregiver. This assistance, if the caregiver is eligible, provides supportive services such as adult day health, companions, and helping fi nd private duty assistance. These services are just a phone call away.” To learn more about the Family Caregiver Support Program, visit the MVES website at mves. org/caregiver-support or call 781-324-7705. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@ advocatenews.net ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS....Enjoy all this 4 bdrm. RAISED RANCH has to offer. This home has been updated throughout. Open concept kit. w/ granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile back splash, lvrm. w/ large windows & beautiful water views of Hawks Pond. Dnrm. w/ sliders leading to a 45+ entertainment size deck that runs the length of the house, custom built grilling station & pvt. yard to enjoy all year. This home also has hrdwd. flrs. throughout. Main level has 3 bdrms. w/ plenty of closet space & updated full bath. Lower level offers additional living space, great for the extended family. Fmrm. & 4th bdrm. also has water views along w/ plenty of sunlight & new bow window in the bdrm. New ceramic tile bath w/ laundry hookup. New retaining wall along w/ new stairs & driveway, parking for 6+ cars. This is a great family home w/ so much to offer. Offered at $779,000 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. a y avvy S iorenniiooro a avvyavvy iori n r by Jim Miller How to Track Down an Unclaimed Life Insurance Policy Dear Savvy Senior, When my dad died, we thought he had a life insurance policy, but we have no idea how to track it down. Any suggestions? Searching Son Dear Searching, Lost or forgotten life insurance policies are very common in the U.S. According to a study by Consumer Reports, one out of every 600 people is the benefi ciary of an unclaimed life insurance policy with an average benefi t of $2,000. It could be like fi nding out you have a secret savings account. While unfortunately, there isn’t a national database for tracking down these policies, there are a number of strategies and a few new resources that can help your search. Here are several to get you started. Search his records: Check your dad’s fi nancial records or areas where he kept his important papers for a policy, records of premium payments, or bills from an insurer. Also contact his employer or former employer benefi ts administrator, insurance agents, fi - nancial planner, accountant, attorney or other adviser and ask if they know about a life insurance policy. Also check safe-deposit boxes, monitor the mail for premium invoices or whole-life dividend notices, and review old income-tax returns, looking for interest income from, and interest expenses paid, to life insurance companies. Get help: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners off ers a policy locator service (see NAIC.org and click on “Consumer” then on “Life Insurance Policy Locator”) that lets you run a nationwide search for insurance policies or annuities in the names of people who have died. There are also six state insurance departments (Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Oregon) that have free policy locator service programs that can help you search. To fi nd direct access to these state resources visit the American Council of Life Insurers website at ACLI.com – click on “Missing Policy Tips.” Contact the insurer: If you suspect that a particular insurer underwrote the policy, contact that carrier’s claim offi ce and ask. The more information you have, like your dad’s date of birth and death, Social Security number and address, the easier it will be to track down. Contact information for some big insurers include: Prudential 800-778-2255; MetLife Metlife.com/policyfi nder; AIG 800-888-2452; Nationwide 800-848-6331; John Hancock JohnHancock.com – click on “Lost or unclaimed policy form” at the bottom of the page under “Quick Links.” Search unclaimed property: If your dad died more than a few years ago, benefi ts may have already been turned over to the unclaimed property offi ce of the state where the policy was purchased. Go to MissingMoney.com, a website of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, to search records from 39 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Or, to fi nd links to each state’s unclaimed-property division use Unclaimed.org. If your dad’s name or a potential benefactor’s name produces a hit, you’ll need to prove your claim. Required documentation, which can vary by state, is detailed in claim forms, and a death certifi cate might be necessary. Search fee-based services: There are several businesses that off er policy locator services for a fee. The MIB Group, for example, which is a data-sharing service for life and health insurance companies, off ers a policy locator service at MIB.com for $75. But it only tracks applications for individual policies made since 1996. You can also get assistance at Policy Inspector (PolicyInspector.com) for $99, and L-LIFE (LostLifeIns.com) for $108.50, who will do the searching for you. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
20 Publizr Home