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FINANCE Tips for Caring
FOR A LOVED ONE
by Jill Ciccarelli Rapps, CFP®
Financial Advisor
S ometimes life can throw a variety of unexpected events
at us. When it does, coping with them in the best way
possible is very important. When a circumstance arises
that requires us to care for a loved one – whether it’s aging
parents or a spouse that has been injured in an accident – it can be
extremely challenging. However understanding how to best care for
a loved one is important and can help you and those in your life
carry on in the best way possible.
WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER
There are a lot of things that can make this more complex. From
your emotions to financial challenges to the simple fact that there
never seems to be enough time in a day,caring for a loved one can be
one of the most stressful things you have to do. There are some tips
that can help you. Here are some of the key things to keep in mind.
• Remember The Love – It can be easy to become so frustrated
by the situation that you lose your cool. Remember that the reason
you’re providing care is the love you and the person under your
care have for one another. The moments you’ve had together often
make it all worthwhile and many times just a moment for a hug or
another gesture to show how much you love them, can help reduce
your stress.
• Find the Positives – Even during the darkest situation, we
can train our brain to focus on some glimmers of light. Try to find
those flickers of the positive and focus on them. Doing so can help
you keep a more positive, upbeat mindset during difficult situations.
• Master Time Management – One of the biggest challenges
that you’ll have will be your time. Working, running errands,
providing care, and other steps throughout the day all take time. If
possible hire help to do the low value activities so that you can spend
your time where it is most important. We suggest for families that
they spend a majority of their time as quality time with their loved
one, laughing, sharing memories, spending time with each other is
what matters. If you have the financial wherewithal, hire help to be
sure medications are taken, doctor appointments are coordinated,
bathing and any other basic necessities are handled. This will give
you more energy to share positive moments with the person you
are caring for.
• Master Your Finances – Not only will providing care be
difficult in terms of time,but it can impact your finances significantly
as well. Now more than ever creating a solid budget is a must and
so is understanding other steps you can take towards improving
the overall financial health you have in place. Pay attention to your
finances to ensure that you don’t end up struggling with them later.
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• Get Help – There’s nothing to
be ashamed of when asking for a little
help from someone. There are so many
wonderful resources in our community,
seek and ask for help and support. Seeking
out help during this phase of your life for
the person you are caring for and for you, is
something that is well worth doing.
• Take Time For “You”– We know we
just talked about time management, but
there’s also something to be said for just
how important it is to take a little time out of the day for yourself.
Whether your time is used to go for a quiet walk, watch a movie, go
shopping, or just sit on the porch with a glass of wine and unwind
for a few, giving yourself some time is absolutely vital for your own
mental health.
AN UNQUESTIONABLE CHALLENGE
There’s no question that caring for a loved one can be challenging.
The tips above can help you with the process, but it is certainly
something that will take effort on your part – physical and mental.
Your financial team can help provide guidance during this time that
can help you and your loved one in the short and long term. If you
have questions, or would like to learn more about this topic, please
feel free to contact Ciccarelli Advisory Services.
Jill Ciccarelli Rapps, CFP®
www.CASMoneyMatters.com
Ciccarelli Advisory Services, Inc. is located at 9601
Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL (239.262.6577)
Jill Ciccarelli Rapps, is a certified financial planner and a trained
life coach and is a Partner of Ciccarelli Advisory Services Inc., a Family
Focused Wealth Management Firm in Florida and New York.
Ciccarelli Advisory Services, Inc. is located at 9601
Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL (239.262.6577)
Investment advisory services offered through Ciccarelli Advisory
Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser independent of FSC
Securities Corporation. Securities and additional investment advisory
services offered through FSC Securities Corporation, member FINRA/
SIPC and a registered investment adviser.
Life in Naples | March 2016