Senior Care

Use this guide to find the help you need.

There are so many things to consider as you age – or as your parents do. These service providers help make the transition easier.

SPECTRUM FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Spectrum Investment Advisors helps clients invest for retirement, says James Marshall, president and founder.

“My belief is, the average American is retiring too early,” says Marshall, who says that by 35, you should have the equivalent of your annual income in retirement savings; by 45, it should be triple that income; by 55, five times; and by 67, eight times.

Marshall also recommends that retirees dip into no more than 4 percent to 5 percent of their retirement savings each year.

Marshall tells retirees to either volunteer or work part-time, to give their lives purpose and to avoid spending money.

RENT-A-DAUGHTER

This Brookfield-based business is an independent organization with experienced, compassionate caregivers providing personal care and household help for older, convalescing or disabled adults.

Rent-A-Daughter, started in 1985, supplies caregivers to clients in the Milwaukee area. Rob and Jean Henke bought the business in 2001. There are now 150 employees, 140 of them caregivers, who serve 140 customers.

“One of the things that sets us apart is the quality of our caregivers,” says Jean Henke. “We totally hire for heart.”

Most have been with the agency between five and 25 years, Henke says.

EYE CARE SPECIALISTS

Are you focused on a bright, productive future or a retirement clouded by vision impairment and loss of independence?

“As the number of people over age 50 has jumped, so has the incidence of age-related, vision-threatening diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration,” reports Mark Freedman, M.D., of Eye Care Specialists ophthalmology practice. “Many conditions can be treated more easily and effectively, [but] older adults often neglect eye care. In fact, up to 50 percent of all blindness in the U.S. is preventable if people pursue prompt diagnosis and treatment.”

THREE PILLARS SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES

Three Pillars believes a complete continuum of care is essential to allow residents to age in place.

According to Kelsey Pangborn, communication strategist, it provides:

A person-centered environment – Once you’re a resident, you’re family.

More bang for your buck – With independent, catered/assisted, memory, skilled nursing and wellness services, you avoid multiple admission fees, waiting-list payments and security deposit fees.

Less moving – The time when care needs increase is not the time to search for a new community, tour, or pack and move.

RESPECT CARE INC.

Bruce Masterson is taking a very 21st-century approach to caring for senior citizens.

In summer 2015, he and a partner began developing an app to help families find caregivers for aging relatives, and in 2016 they launched Respect and made the app available in Milwaukee. Users can watch videos of a curated choice of two or three caregivers and select one based on training, skills and client ratings.

Also in the works: A system for tracking a client’s vital signs and sharing them with a doctor. The app is available from Google Play, iTunes or a link on the Respect website, joinrespect.com.

OLDER ADULT SERVICES AT JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES

Jewish Family Services encourages independence and personal fulfillment for older adults. Through assessments, JFS helps them determine their needs in order to maintain a safe and stable environment.

Therapists at JFS’ state-licensed mental health clinic offer confidential counseling for those struggling with age-related issues as well as anxiety, depression, grief