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Questions 46-55 are based on the following passage.
A)Last July, Julie Baldocchi's mother had a massive stroke and was
paralyzed. Baldocchi suddenly had tobecome a family caregiver, something that
she wasn't prepared for. "I was flying by the seat of my pants," saysBaldocchi,
an employment specialist in San Francisco. Both of her parents are 83, and she
knew her fathercouldn't handle her mother's care. The hospital recommended
putting her mother in a nursing home. Baldocchiwasn't willing to do that. But
moving her back into her parents' home created other problems. Baldocchi,48,
ismarried and lives about a mile away from her parents. She has a full-time job
and has back problems thatmake it difficult for her to lift her mother. "I
couldn't do it all," she says. "But I didn't even know how to findhelp."
B)With help from the Family Caregiver Alliance, she eventually hired a
live-in caregiver. "But even if you planintellectually and legally, you're never
ready for the emotional impact," Baldocchi says. In the first two monthsafter
her mother's stroke, she lost about 30 pounds as stress mounted. More than 42
million Americans providefamily caregiving for an adult who needs help with
daily activities, according to a 2009 survey by the AARP.An additional 61.6
million provided at least some care during the year. And many are
unprepared.
C)While many parents lack an advance care directive, it's the most basic
and important step they can take. Thedirective includes several parts,
including: a durable power of attorney, which gives someone legal authority
tomake financial decisions on another's behalf; a health care proxy, which is
similar to the power of attorney,except it allows someone to make decisions
regarding medical treatment; and a living will that outlinesinstructions for
end-of-life care. (For example, parents can say if they want to be kept alive by
artificialmeasures.) "It's invaluable for the kids, because it's hard to make
those decisions for a parent," says JenniferCona, an elder-law attorney at
Genser Dubow Genser & Cona in Melville, N.Y. An advance care directive isthe
first line of defense if a situation arises, says Kathleen Kelly, executive
director of the Family CaregiverAlliance, which supports and educates
caregivers. Without an advance directive, the family will have topetition the
court to be appointed the parent's legal guardian, says AgingCare.com.
D)It's important for families to talk about long-term care so the adult
children know their parents' preferences,wishes and goals, says Lynn Feinberg, a
caregiving expert at AARP. But ifs not an easy conversation. Elderlyparents are
sometimes suspicious of their children's financial motives, says Susan John, a
financial planner atFinancial Focus in Wolfeboro, N.H. One client asked John to
hold a family meeting because they needed anintermediary to talk about financial
issues, she says. And when there are many siblings, the family decisionscan
become a three-ring circus with much acrimony, says Ann-Margaret Carrozza, an
elder-law attomey inGlen Cove, N.Y. Families who need information and help
sorting out disagreements can call on elder-lawattorneys, financial planners,
geriatric care managers and caregiver support groups. In February, AARP said
itwill offer its members a new caregiving support service through financial
services firm Oenworth.
E)Many families are unprepared for quick decisions, especially when they
find out that Medicare doesn't pay forlong-term care, Feinberg says. The median
cost of a year in a private room at a nursing home in 2011 was$77,745, according
to Genworth. And only those who have spent most of their assets can qualify for
Medicaidto pay for the nursing home.
F)Assisted living is another option. Residents can have their own apartment
to maintain some independence. Butthe facilities generally provide personal care
services, such as meals, housekeeping and assistance withactivities. Still, it's
not cheap: The national median cost in 2011 was $39,135, according to Genworth.
Assistedliving isn't covered by Medicaid.
G)If they have a choice, at least 90% of elderly parents prefer to stay at
home as long as they can, according toAARP research. But if the parents can no
longer safely live at home, it can be hard for children to move theminto an
adult care facility. There may be another option. Sometimes the home can be
modified so a parent canstay there. For example, Baldoechi put in a chair lift
for her mother. She also arranged for a home caregiver.
H) Family caregivers take over many responsibilities. One might manage a
parent's finances, while anothersibling will take the parent to doctors'
appointments and shopping. Those who move in with a parent take on asignificant
and sustained burden of care. Jan Walker moved into her mother's home in
Leesburg, Fla. After hermother, who is 83, had fallen, she wasn't able to get
around as well. Walker,55, has three brothers. But she isthe only daughter, is
divorced and has no children. "I always knew that this was the role that I would
have, andI guess my mind was prepared for it," says Walker, who now is a
full-time caregiver and works from home asa tutorial instructor for a digital
scrapbooking website. "When you get into the trenches, it's literally baptismby
fire," she says. "New things come up. It's not just about advance planning for
finances or medical care. It'severything," she says.
I) Carcgivers need to also watch their own health. "There is such a thing
as caregiver burnout," Cona says.Among female caregivers 50 and older,20%
reported symptoms of depression, according to a 2010 study onworking caregivers
by MetLife. "It's a hard job," Walker says. "But most worthwhile things are
hard. She wasalways there for me when I needed a helping hand. It's only natural
that I be here for her now."
根据以上内容，回答46-55题。
46、When elderly parents cannot live at home safely, their children can
change their home instead of sending them to an adult care facility.
47、To talk about long-term care is not easy because sometimes aged parents
are suspicious of their children's financial motives.
48、Besides advance planning for finances or medical care, family caregivers
take over many other responsibilities.
49、The difference between a durable power of attorney and a health care
proxy is that the latter allows someone tomake decisions regarding medical
treatment.
50、Baldocehi did not want to send her mother to a nursing home, but she had
difficulty taking care of her.
51、Over 42 million caregivers helped an adult with everyday activities in
the USA in 2009.
52、If a family needs information or help to sort out disagreements, there
are many people they can call on.
53、Caregivers should pay attention to their own health, or they may bum out
or.become depressed.
54、One will have to petition the court to be the parent's legal guardian,
if there is no advance directive.
55、The national median cost of assisted living in 2011 was $39,135 and it
is not covered by Medicaid.
答案解析：
46-55 GDHCABDICF |
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发表于 2016-12-4 13:33:19