I have some experience with some of your questions, but not all. My mother was already hooked up with direct deposit, so I know nothing about that.

When my mother was first diagnosed with alzheimers, the first thing we did, while she was still mostly lucid, was set me up with power of attorney. If you haven't done that yet, you need to do so. Well, I'll qualify that, since I don't know what's wrong with your mother. She may be perfectly capable of making decisions. If you are her primary caregiver, I'd definately look into that, though, because you'll need it to get things done for her, in many cases.

As for the hearing aid, we went through a hearing specialist that was hooked up with an ENT doctor. They sold us on Phonics (If I remember it right.) I don't know about the other aids out there, but this one was way too technical for my mother, even without her having alzheimers. It was supposed to block out clutter noise. This aid was small, and fit inside her ear. I don't remember why, but for my mother, the kind that loops over her ear wasn't going to work for her. I wish it did, because those other ones were very easy to loose.

As for drug interactions, definately do your own research, including talking to the doctor and the pharmacist. When I asked Mom's pharmacist about the effect of grapefruit on Mom's medication, he was surprised by the question. I had learned through listening to a health related radio show about the effect grapefruit juice has on some medications. I guess no one had ever asked about that, even though that's one of those food items, mainly grapefuit juice, that has a strong impact on some medications. Anyway, the pharmacist looked it up, and luckily found that none of her meds interacted with grapefruit or the juice. I don't know if the pharmacy would have provided info along that line if her meds did react to such things, but judging from pharmacist's reaction, I doubt it.

There is a caregivers forum over on That Home Site part of Gardenweb. I didn't find it until after my mom died, unfortunately, but I did get a lot of help from the Alzheimers Association. Whatever is wrong with your mother, there may be support groups and/or associations that will have information to help you out.

Good luck, and God bless you. I still miss my mother. I even miss taking care of her.

Talk to your bank first:

I bet they'll know how to thread your way through the Social Security maze.

Do you have any friends or family who use VA Hospitals or benefits?

If so, ask him/her to find out what service VA uses for hearing aids; they know how to get the best prices for medical supplies.

SS prefers direct deposit. However, the payday does vary, depending on part of the month the birthdate is in, based on it being a certain day, such as the third wednesday of the month, because SS only sends payment on certain dates. SS office should be able to fix that up for you.

Yes, hearing aids can be like buying a car.....frought with pitfalls. Research through independent sources, and approach any hearing aid retailer with a skeptical attitude.

Actually, the pharmacy is supposed to record any known inhibitors to the medication, such as grapefruit juice with Lipitor. However, drug interactions themselves, you need both physician and pharmacy help on. As older people start taking a myriad of prescription drugs, to maintain various conditions, the possibility for negative interactions increases.

This is where I check out drug interactions, side effects, etc. for DH's Rx's.

http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=79140

And ask pharmacist to add directions on label as to "with meal" or "on empty stomach."

Suzi