Archive for January 2026
Real Help for Caregivers: Guide to state and federal programs
If you are a caregiver for your mom, dad, spouse or elderly loved one you are probably exhausted. You love your mom (or dad, or spouse). You want to take care of them. But it is a lot of work and you are drained and approaching burn out. Maybe you have kids or a job…
Read MorePatient Advocate Profile: Victoria de la Cruz, BSHA
Victoria de la Cruz is a patient advocate with more than 25 years of healthcare experience spanning clinical care, healthcare administration, and senior care coordination. As an Umbra advocate, she helps individuals and families of all ages navigate care transitions, coordinate services across providers, and make complex healthcare decisions with clarity and support. Victoria began…
Read MoreHow Do I Get Paid to Take Care of Mom?
Are you caring for an aging parent while also working full time, raising kids and running your own household? Perhaps you have wondered “how can I get paid to take care of mom, dad, or an elderly loved one?” You are not alone. More than 53 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member.…
Read MoreMedicare Costs Decoded: What You’ll Really Pay in 2026
You’ve seen the ads. A smiling person on TV holding up a big sign: “$0 premium!” Is that what Medicare costs? It sounds amazing. Free healthcare! But then you talk to your neighbor. She has Medicare. She tells you she paid $8,000 last year for medical costs. Wait, what? How can Medicare cost $8,000 if…
Read MoreMeet Barbara Gaynor, RN, LNC, BCPA
Barbara Gaynor, RN, LNC, BCPA, is a registered nurse and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. She has more than 25 years of nursing experience across hospitals, long-term care, home health, hospice, and case management. Barbara supports patients and families as they navigate the healthcare system and make confident, informed decisions. She is also a…
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