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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

AARP: Holidays a Good Time to Check on Mom and Dad

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Friday, December 7, 2012   

PHOENIX – Christmas and the New Year are just a few weeks away, and family visits during the holidays can be a great time to make sure mom and dad, or any older relatives, are doing well enough on their own.

AARP Regional Director Sam Wilson says there are four areas to keep in mind when making a visit to an elderly family member: their home, their driving ability, their health, and their finances. Wilson says you need to get a good look at how they're managing the activities of daily living.

"It's really important that they're able to assess and observe their loved one. So, whether it's taking care of themselves in the morning, getting dressed, or driving behind the wheel of the car, you really do need to spend some time and be very conscientious about seeing them doing their own activities on a daily basis."

Check for safety issues in the home, says Wilson. Look for dings and dents in their car and observe them driving. Also, see if they remember to take their medications, and make sure bills aren't piling up. AARP has some excellent tips online for doing all these things in a caring and non-threatening way, at aarp.org/caregiving.

It can often be difficult for adult children to have conversations with parents or older relatives about their finances. But Wilson says there are ways to do it without having to ask things like, 'How much money do you have?'

"You can approach it from the standpoint of, 'How are you doing in purchasing your prescription drugs? How are you doing getting around?' 'Isn't the price of gas really expensive?' You can have conversation-starters that don't necessarily focus on the individual."

According to AARP, there are 42 million family caregivers in the United States – and if you aren't among them now, you either have been, or will be. The holidays can be a great time to lovingly check on the welfare of older relatives.



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