Page 18 - The Jewish Voice - December '22

Page 18, The Jewish Voice

LiFestyLes

Tip of the Tail Financial Focus with a financial professional on strategies for protecting
yourself from these costs.
The Guinea Pig As a Household Pet Avoid Becoming “Burden” on Grown • Create necessary legal documents. If something were
Children to happen to you, and you didn’t have the appropriate legal
Guinea pigs documents in place, your loved ones could be placed in a
can make a great By Sally Sima Stahl bind, both financially and emotionally. That’s why it’s a
addition to the Here’s an interesting good idea to create documents such as a durable financial
family. O ften statistic: Some 72 percent power of attorney, which lets you name someone to manage
thought of as an of retirees say one of their your finances if you became incapacitated, and a durable
easy to take care biggest fears is becoming power of attorney for health care, which allows someone to
of small pet for the a burden on their families, make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t make
kids, Guinea pigs according to a 2021 survey them yourself. You’ll want to work with a legal professional
have become more and more popular as pets for all ages. by Age Wave and Edward to develop the documents appropriate for your needs.
This new popularity is largely due to their individual and Jones. Both before and during • Evaluate your housing needs. As you enter retirement,
distinct personalities. They are very expressive and usually retirement, what steps can you may want to evaluate your living situation. Could you
very friendly. Although small, Guinea pigs can still require a you take to avoid burdening downsize to a smaller home, or perhaps a condominium or
lot of care. It is important to do your research before getting your loved ones in the future? apartment? Not only might you save money with such a move,
one as a pet. Here are a few suggestions: but you could also end up relieving your grown children
Guinea pigs are part of the rodent family. They are native • Build your retirement savings. The greater your financial of the responsibilities and hassles involved in clearing out
to mountainous regions of South America where they were resources, the less likely it becomes that you’d ever have to and selling your home should you become unable to do so
domesticated as long as 3,000 years ago. In the wild, Guinea count on your grown children for financial support. You may yourself during the later years of your retirement.
pigs live in small groups. Because of their social nature, have access to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan at work, so By taking these measures, along with others, you can
they are often more comfortable in the presence of other take advantage of it. Even with an employer-sponsored plan, go a long way toward maintaining your independence and
Guinea pigs when kept as pets. you also may be eligible to contribute to an IRA. In addition putting yourself in a place where you won’t burden your
Guinea pigs are best kept in well-ventilated, wire-sided to offering a variety of investment options, a 401(k) and IRA grown children. And that’s a good place to be.
cages with solid bottoms. They need adequate space to move provide potential tax advantages. And once you do retire, be This article was written by Edward Jones for use by
around. A hide box in the cage is important because all prey careful about how much you withdraw each year from your your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Edward Jones,
species need a secluded space to reduce stress that may lead retirement plans and other investments. Member SIPC.
to disease. Bedding should be shredded paper, recycled • Plan for health care costs. Once you are retired, health Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in
newspaper products, or aspen shavings. Do not use cedar care costs will be a significant expense. You may have all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D.
or pine shavings as they can cause contact or respiratory Medicare, but you’ll also want to consider your need for Jones & Co., L.P., and in California, New Mexico and
irritation. The enclosure should be cleaned at least two times supplemental health insurance to cover traditional medical Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency
a week. Poor sanitation can lead to foot, skin, and respiratory costs. And you’ll want to consider another potential health- of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of
infections. Water bowl and food bowl should be heavy to help related expense: long-term care. You may never need the New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency
prevent spillage and will need to be cleaned frequently. Sipper services of a home health aide or a stay in a nursing home, of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
water bottles may be best to reduce spillage. These animals but no one can predict the future. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors
are very sensitive to heat. They should never be housed in Medicare does not cover most costs for long-term care, cannot provide tax advice. You should consult your qualified
an area over 80 degrees fahrenheit. which can be quite high. In 2021, the annual national tax advisor regarding your situation.
Diet for a Guinea pig is fairly simple. They need a Guinea median cost for a private room in a nursing home was Contact us at (561) 748-7600, Sally Sima Stahl, AAMS,
pig-formulated pelleted diet, timothy hay, and ample fresh over $108,000, while the median cost for a full-time home 1851 W. Indiantown Road, Ste. 106, Jupiter, FL 33458.
vegetables. Guinea pigs that eat mostly pellet diets can health aide was nearly $62,000, according to a survey by
become overweight. Fruits and grains should be less than 10 Genworth, an insurance company. You may want to consult Lifestyles on page 20
percent of the diet. Guinea pigs lack an enzyme that leaves
them unable to synthesize Vitamin C so it is vital that Guinea
pigs be supplemented with Vitamin C daily. The best way to
supplement is to give ¼ of a 100 mg plain chewable vitamin
C tablet that can be purchased over the counter.
Guinea pigs are not vaccinated in the U.S. for infectious
disease. However, an annual exam should be performed by
your veterinarian that includes an oral exam and a complete Changing the way we
blood count. Guinea pigs are a prey species (this means find love, one date at a time.
they are hunted by other animals in the wild) and are very
good at hiding illness until they are near death. Routine
examinations may help detect abnormalities early.
In conclusion, when considering a family pet that doesn’t
need routine walks, Guinea pigs can be a great choice!
Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical Center
is dedicated to providing the best possible care for your
pets. With focuses on compassionate care in surgery,
physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative medicine,
extensive diagnostics, and emergency service, Palm City
Animal Medical Center combines exceptional medical
care with a caring philosophy for pets and their owners.
For more information, call 772-283-0920, visit www.
palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on Facebook Gift Yourself Love
at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.
This Holiday Season!
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