FWIW: Mainzone Knowledge Network is a compilation of comprehensive newsbaskets.

The Difference Between Medicaid’s Lookback and Penalty Periods - AgingCare.com

The Difference Between Medicaid’s Lookback and Penalty Periods - AgingCare.com: The Difference Between Medicaid’s Lookback and Penalty Periods

Most people have heard that gifting an asset can cause problems if you later need to apply for Medicaid to cover a nursing home stay.

But what exactly are the rules you need to be aware of when helping an elderly loved one qualify for Medicaid?

Can You Cancel a Will? - AgingCare.com

Can You Cancel a Will? - AgingCare.com

Note that a well-drafted will should always include the statement “hereby revoking all prior wills signed by me,” or words to that effect. This is to make it clear that your new will is not deemed an amendment to an existing will, but is a complete replacement to any prior wills.

  K. Gabriel Heiser, Expert
Attorney, author, Medicaid asset protection planning

Tips for avoiding scams | Loving Hands Group

Tips for avoiding scams | Loving Hands Group: Scams are perpetrated by phone, mail, e-mail, text message, social media and door-to-door contact. Scammers are very good at making their targets feel guilty about saying no. They typically act very friendly, call you by your first name and pretend to care about your family and your health situation, while making you feel guilty for not trusting them.

Scammers also try to confuse you into accepting their offer. They will talk fast, avoid questions, give incomplete or confusing explanations and pressure you into accepting immediately. If you are not completely clear about and comfortable with what they are proposing, either say no or tell them you need time to think it over. Always consult with a trusted friend or family member before you decide.
--------------

Scammers are hard at work.  Apr 18 2015

Received a phone call from a man saying he was Michael Collins comptroller at Publishers clearing house. Notifying me I had won millions of dollars. All I need to do is call 866 996 5997 register my winners number, pay a delivery fee for something and PCH will show up and deliver a million dollar prize and car etc etc.  I was told the IRS had already taken out their 15%, but Federal Taxes were still owed.....

A quick check on the Net http://info.pch.com/consumer-information/tips-a-warning-signs and found this  was an on going scam.

If only I had won Glad I was online and could do vetting.


He was very very convincing


Dave

6 Online Resources to Start Advance Care Planning Conversations | American Society on Aging

6 Online Resources to Start Advance Care Planning Conversations | American Society on Aging
By Judy Thomas, JD {Q}It’s never too soon to start talking about advance care planning. Talking with patients and their loved ones—or even your own family members—and helping them plan for future medical needs is the best way to make sure their wishes will be respected.{EQ}

Options To Pay Off A Reverse Mortgage After Parent Dies | Bankrate.com

If the borrower was married, the surviving spouse might be able to remain in the home even if he or she wasn't a co-borrower, according to Sarah Mancini, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, a nonprofit advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.
That's important,
Mancini explains, because some borrowers remove a younger spouse from their home's title to secure a larger reverse mortgage, leaving that younger spouse vulnerable to eviction and foreclosure after the older spouse's death.

The rules that affect surviving non-borrower spouses are complicated, and surviving spouses and heirs may need to consult an attorney to interpret their rights and options if the spouse wants to continue occupying the property.

Mancini says,"There are serious legal issues, and possible grounds for a legal challenge if the lender forecloses while there is still a surviving spouse."

Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/pay-reverse-mortgage-after-parent-dies.aspx#ixzz3ekV3iYqn

Follow us: @Bankrate on Twitter | Bankrate on Facebook

Who Will Care For You When You’re Old? | Griswold Home Care

As more seniors turn to reverse mortgages, their adult children might well be puzzled or concerned about what will happen to that debt when one or both of their parents eventually dies. At that time, questions about how to pay off the loan will need to be resolved -- and relatively quickly.
rrower dies

If the borrower was married, the surviving spouse might be able to remain in the home even if he or she wasn't a co-borrower, according to Sarah Mancini, an attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, a nonprofit advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.

That's important, Mancini explains, because some borrowers remove a younger spouse from their home's title to secure a larger reverse mortgage, leaving that younger spouse vulnerable to eviction and foreclosure after the older spouse's death.

The rules that affect surviving non-borrower spouses are complicated, and surviving spouses and heirs may need to consult an attorney to interpret their rights and options if the spouse wants to continue occupying the property.

"There are serious legal issues," Mancini says, "and possible grounds for a legal challenge if the lender forecloses while there is still a surviving spouse."

Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/pay-reverse-mortgage-after-parent-dies.aspx#ixzz3ekV3iYqn Follow us: @Bankrate on Twitter | Bankrate on Facebook

Managing Stress - Visiting Nurse Service of New York

Managing Stress - Visiting Nurse Service of New York: Stress Management Tools

Symon also recommends incorporating relaxation techniques. These tools can be very helpful to people coping with long-term stress, such as caregivers, she says.

Pausing to take a few deep breaths slows down the heart and sends a message to the brain that you are calm, which releases hormones to counteract stress. Exercise, such as taking a walk, will also help.

But there's another technique that you might not think of: Do something you find enjoyable. “One of the most important things we remind our clients to do is to make sure they find ways to bring joy into their lives,” she says. “You might get a moment to yourself and think it would be a good time to pay a bill. But instead try to incorporate something that brings you joy. You can’t get rid of the stress, but you can do things that will help to decrease it.” So call a friend, spend time with a grandchild, or find a favorite TV show or movie on Netflix.

Getting the Family to Agree on a Care Plan - AgingCare.com

Getting the Family to Agree on a Care Plan for an Older Adult - AgingCare.com: Generally, disagreements about money—who is in charge of it and how it will be used

Eldercare Resource Services - Helping You Help Your Loved Ones

Home: ElderCare Resource Services is a Geriatric Nurse/Social Worker partnership that assists families in investigating, assessing, and recommending the medical and non-medical resources required for the care of Seniors. We are strong advocates for our clients, delivering the information and resources necessary to make them the best consumers and ensuring their relative the best possible care. We are Geriatric Care Managers Linda Sullivan RN and Debbie Gitner Licensed Certified Social Worker.

Senior Living Technology Blog

Tools to Keep Your Staff and Residents Happy with Built-in Support
Jerry Grove
Apr 8, 2015
Seniors are not prepared to leave their cell phones, tablets, e-readers, or laptops behind. Dependable high-speed wireless Internet is the bare minimum expected of senior living communities catering to a leisure lifestyle.
Along the same lines, seniors don’t want to depend on their son-in-law or a staff member to help install the latest application or fix a bug. Communities catering to residents should have built-in resident support personnel in place that can get a senior’s technology running in no time.

Why We Need To Get Rid Of Senior Centers

Why We Need To Get Rid Of Senior Centers    Kerry Hannon

Time to Make Centers Multigenerational
That’s why I say: Let’s get rid of senior centers.

I’m not suggesting abolishing places for older men and women to get together and to learn things. I’m suggesting turning traditional centers into places where young and old spend time together.

This idea is actually catching on.

 Kerry Hannon is a contributor to Next Avenue and
has spent more than 25 years covering personal finance for Forbes,
Money, U.S. News & World Report and USA Today. Her website is kerryhannon.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerryhannon.

GlobalCollect Data Breach Factsheet

GlobalCollect Data Breach Factsheet

4 Key Things to Know about Trusts and Medicaid Planning - AgingCare.com

4 Key Things to Know about Trusts and Medicaid Planning - AgingCare.com

 There are many types of trusts that can be helpful in protecting your assets while allowing you to qualify for Medicaid. This article is a brief overview of the things you need to know when setting up a trust.

It must be irrevocable: An irrevocable trust cannot be altered or amended, and are thus the only type of trust that offers any benefit for Medicaid planning.

“Uncompensated Pending Medicaid Beneficiary Payment Relief Act,”

A3928

An Act providing compensation relief to long term care facilities when Medicaid eligibility determinations are delayed, designated the “Uncompensated Pending Medicaid Beneficiary Payment

     1.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall make an advance payment to a nursing facility, an assisted living residence, or a comprehensive personal care home licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), at the facility’s request, whenever the facility is providing uncompensated services to one or more residents whose eligibility for Medicaid has not been determined more than ninety days after an application has been filed.  Any such advance payment shall not exceed fifty percent of the estimated amount due for the uncompensated services.  No later than 30 days after any such application is granted and payment has been made to the facility, or after any such application has been denied, the commissioner shall:  provide reimbursement for any balance due to the facility; or recover any advance payments made on behalf of an applicant deemed ineligible for Medicaid by reducing any payments due to the facility.

     2.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program.

     3.    The Commissioner of Human Services shall, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt any rules and regulations as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

     4.    This act shall take effect on the first day of the fiscal year next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for > the implementation of the act.

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STATEMENT

     This bill, designated the “Uncompensated Pending Medicaid Beneficiary Payment Relief Act,” would provide payments to certain long term care facilities for residents who have applied for Medicaid but whose eligibility has not been determined more than 90 days after the initial application.  The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to make advance payments to a nursing facility, an assisted living residence, or a comprehensive personal care home, at the facility’s request, whenever the facility is providing uncompensated services to one or more residents whose eligibility for Medicaid has not been determined more than ninety days after an application has been filed.  Any such advance payment would not exceed fifty percent of the estimated amount due for the uncompensated services.  No later than 30 days after any such application is granted and payment has been made to the facility, or after any such application has been denied, the commissioner would be required to:  provide reimbursement for any balance due to the facility; or recover any advance payments made on behalf of an applicant deemed ineligible for Medicaid by reducing any payments due to the facility.

BayPath Elder Services | Caregiving MetroWest

Caregiving MetroWest –is a program of BayPath Elder Services, Inc. information, resources, and support for MetroWest caregivers.
The site offers Information on all aspects of caregiving; "Caregiving is a complex and demanding undertaking. There are many elements involved in the caregiving role, and we’ve assembled some helpful information on a variety of areas of importance to caregivers.}

BayPath Elder Services, Inc
BayPath Elder Services, Inc. administers programs offering  home care and related services enabling people to live independently and comfortably in their homes while promoting their well-being and dignity.
Many BayPath services are free, others are based on one's ability to pay, and some are offered on a fee-for-service basis.
 “This non-profitcorporation is organized to plan, develop and implement the coordination and delivery of services and supportive programs   for persons sixty years of age and over unless otherwise restricted by conditions of grants or contracts, in the City of Marlborough, and the townships of Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Dover, Sherborn, Natick, Framingham, Wayland, Sudbury, Hudson, Northborough , Southboro ugh and Westboro ugh , Massachusetts. The corporation shall endeavor to assist older persons to obtain services including but not limited to information and referral, homemaker and chore assistance, housing services, health maintenance and rehabilitation, nutritional services, legal and advocacy assistance , transportation, emergency assistance, and whatever medical or supportive services may be needed to prolong the life and well - being of older persons in the community and to prevent premature institutionalization.

Speed Dating for Seniors – A "Must Read" Article

Speed Dating for Seniors – One of Those "Must Read" Articles | Senior Housing Forum

Normal aging vs dementia | Tips for coping with normal age-related memory difficulties

Normal aging vs dementia



Tips for coping with normal age-related memory difficulties:

• Keep a routine
• Organize information (keep details in a calendar or day planner)
• Put items in the same spot (always put your keys in the same place by the door)
• Repeat information (repeat names when you meet people)
• Run through the alphabet in your head to help you remember a word
• Make associations (relate new information to things you already know)
• Involve your senses (if you are a visual learner, visualize an item)
• Teach others or tell them stories
• Get a full night's sleep

Worry if the crystal ball talks back! | LinkedIn

Worry if the crystal ball talks back! | LinkedIn

How private payers detect EHR-enabled fraud - FierceEMR

How private payers detect EHR-enabled fraud - FierceEMR

http://www.fierceemr.com/special-reports/much-improper-billing-well-concealed

Memory Lapses That Are Normal - Mary A. Fischer is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor to AARP The Magazine.

{Paraphrased Quotes, snips from article}
Brain freezes happen to most of us, to different degrees, as we age.?..... If your lapses aren't disrupting your life, there's no need to be actively worried, experts say.
Your lapses may well have very treatable causes. Severe stress, depression, a vitamin B12 deficiency, insufficient sleep, some prescription drugs and infections can all play a role.

Types of normal memory lapses that are not signs of dementia.
1. Absentmindedness
Focus on what you're doing or thinking in any given moment, and you'll head off a lot of these lapses. If you find yourself in the middle of one, retracing your steps, mentally or actually, can help.

2. Blocking
You know the word you're trying to say, but you can't quite retrieve it from memory. It usually happens when several similar memories interfere with each other.
If you find yourself stuck in the moment, try to remember other details about the event, name or place, which often will trigger the memory you are searching for.

4. Fade Out
The brain is always sweeping out older memories to make room for new ones. The more time that passes between an experience and when you want to recall it, the more likely you are to have forgotten much of it.
Events we discuss, ponder over, record or rehearse are recalled in the most detail and for longest periods of time. So one of the best ways to remember events and experiences — whether everyday or life changing — is to talk or think about them.
{END QUOTE}

Protect YOURSELF From Frigid Winter Weather - AgingCare.com

How to Protect YOURSELF  From Frigid Winter Weather

Chilling temperatures and treacherous snow and ice can terrorize the elderly and their caregivers during the winter months. 

 

Here are a few things to keep in mind to help keep seniors safe during the frigid season approaches:

Protect Senior From Frigid Weather - AgingCare.com

Questions To Ask Before Hiring An In-Home Caregiver

6 Questions To Ask Before Hiring An In-Home Caregiver

What are the agency’s rules of operation? Some
agencies require you to book a minimum of hours per week. Some provide
services 24/7; others go off-the-clock in the early evening.
Find out the agency’s cancellation policy and what backup procedure
it has in place if the caregiver doesn’t show. On a similar note, ask
how many caregivers will be assigned to your loved one. McVicker
believes two is the ideal number; more than that might create a
confusing lack of continuity, but having only one aide available could
lead to a gap in care, she said.

public health requirements for long term care facilities. Nursing Homes

Quoted from:http://tinyurl.com/pmmrher December 14, 2013 Long Term Care Facilities: Are You Being Treated Right? By CzepigaDalyPope LLC

The Code of Federal Regulations (herein either “the Code” or “CFR”) is a codification of rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Title 42 of the Code, Part 483, addresses public health requirements for long term care facilities.

Part 483 specifically addresses, among many other issues, the following:

Resident rights (§483.10) Admission, transfer, and discharge rights (§483.12) Resident behavior and facility practices (§483.13) Quality of life (§483.15) Quality of care (§483.25)

Most of the fundamental questions you have will be addressed, at least in part, in the sections cited above. Section 483.10, as one example, addresses resident rights and specifically provides for what a facility must do regarding issues that range from providing, for inspection, a resident with his or her medical records within twenty four hours of request, to prominently displaying information about how to apply for and use Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

Section 483.12, as one other example, lists the six permissible reasons to discharge a resident from a long term care facility. It is important to note, there are no other reasons for discharge beyond these six, any other purported reason for discharge that is not listed in §483.12 (a)(2) is a violation of Federal law.

6 Reasons for Discharge

The transfer or discharge is necessary for the resident’s welfare and the resident’s needs cannot be met in the facility
the transfer or discharge is appropriate because the resident’s health has improved sufficiently so the resident no longer needs the services provided by the facility
The safety of individuals in the facility is endangered
The health of individuals in the facility would otherwise be endangered
The resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or to have paid under Medicare or Medicaid) a stay at the facility.
The facility ceases to operate

For those who live in long term care facilities, it is your home and you are entitled to certain rights within it. For those of you who visit a loved one in a long term care facility, if you begin to question whether your loved one is being treated appropriately, simply go online, type into Google “42 CFR 483,” and start getting your questions answered.

A trial attorney who handles these types of matters, can give you lots of help,
however,
you would be surprised how effective Federal law is when properly cited during discussions with facility administrators and staff.

Posted in: Elder Law and Nursing Home Litigation

Decrease Identity Theft Risk with MySSA Account - AgingCare.com

Decrease Identity Theft Risk with MySSA Account - AgingCare.com What can you do to prevent an identity thief from tampering with your MySSA account? Create a MySSA account. By creating your MySSA account you are preventing an identity thief from doing so using your information. Opt-out of MySSA. If you are not very computer savvy (or you prefer not to have online access), then you can contact the SSA and opt-out of the MySSA program. Doing so prevents you (or an identity thief) from being able to set up an online account in your name. This is a great option for those taking care of their aging parents. Living in an ever-more-connected digital world means that there are always going to be certain security risks surrounding our personal information. However, you can reduce some of that risk for you and your family simply by setting up a MySSA account or opting out of the MySSA program. Carrie Kerskie, Expert Author, speaker and identity theft expert

Cyber Seniors Documentary } expanding the use of technology by seniors

Cyber Seniors Documentary

Upload CyberSeniors_Participants_Handbook_nc.pdf

A humorous and heart-warming documentary directed by Saffron Cassady Video

Help Spread the Word

Join the ‘Cyber-Seniors - Connecting Generations‘ Campaign

homeability.com

homeability.com

Tips, Tricks & Technology for Living at Home at Any Age

Legal Plans and Alzheimer's Brochure - brochure_legalplans.pdf

Legal Plans and Alzheimer's Brochure - brochure_legalplans.pdf 



Good stuff from Alzheimer's Assoc

California, Arizona, Florida - Senior Care Authority ORG

Assisted Living in California, Arizona, Florida - Senior Care Authority



Senior Care Authority™ is a free assisted living, dementia and residential care placement service providing hands on quality assistance throughout the selection process.

Is Little the New Big? – An Interview with Mark Maxfield the President of The Cottages - Senior Living Industry Information & Commentary

Is Little the New Big? – An Interview with Mark Maxfield the President of The Cottages - Senior Living Industry Information & Commentary

Elder Community Care | Marlborough, MA 01752

Elder Community Care | Marlborough, MA 01752

Elder Community Care a team of trained social workers & mental health clinicians

Elder Community Care is a network of agencies working together to serve elders in their own homes. We provide comprehensive assessment and counseling
services to elders and their families in Metrowest. We provide comprehensive assessment, counseling and referral services.

Need In Home Care for a Senior? 10 Tips to Find the Right Caregiver - OpenPlacement Community | OpenPlacement

Need In Home Care for a Senior? 10 Tips to Find the Right Caregiver - OpenPlacement Community | OpenPlacement

 7)    The Interview – Here are a few items you should discuss:

        Where did you get trained? What past experiences have you had? Do you have any specialized training?
        What did you like or dislike about previous caregiver jobs?
        Why did you choose to be a caregiver?
        Are you willing to perform the following duties: ____? (See #5)
        My loved one has this specific issue (arthritis, dementia, diabetes, etc.). How would you help him/her with this condition on a daily basis?
        Here are the wages and benefits I am offering. You will/will not get holidays off and holiday pay. Do you have any questions or concerns?
        Most importantly, trust your inner voice. You need to have peace of mind and if you don’t, then you will always be uncomfortable and worried.

- See more at: https://www.openplacement.com/community/blog/need-in-home-care-for-a-senior-10-tips-to-find-the-right-caregiver/#sthash.x3FqFOTp.dpuf

What are person's forgotten active online accounts.

I discovered WebCease, Inc. 917 SW Oak Street, Suite 403 Portland, OR 97205 888.399.2768.

Here is what founder and CEO Glenn Williamson says:

WebCease identifies active online accounts instructs on the different options for retrieval, closure or memorialization in accordance with the policies of each site.

Digital assets include a person’s electronically stored content and online accounts, such as emails, photos, music, social networking profiles, career information, and blogs. They can have an emotional, sentimental, or monetary value. Digital assets usually fall into four main categories: Financial, Personal, Social, and Loyalty Rewards.

According to Pew Research, a recent survey conducted in January 2014 found that 87% of American adults now use the internet. Everything from emails to shopping to travel planning to social networking to photo sharing and more consume our online lives. Dozens of digital accounts can be created during a person’s lifetime. What happens once we are gone?

“If everyone planned you wouldn’t need our stuff. But, only 50 percent of people have a will and 90 percent don’t think about digital assets,” said founder and CEO Glenn Williamson.

WebCease, Inc. helps heirs, executors, trustees and administrators find online accounts that are digital assets for the estate of the deceased

--

http://www.webcease.com/about/about-webcease

Senior Safety Tips and Guide

Senior Safety Tips and Guide



Terrific !! presentation by By: Melina Druga.

 Clear and to the point

Medication Management in Disaster Planning | caregiver.com

Medication Management in Disaster Planning



A family disaster plan
can be of valuable assistance to every member of the family.
In order for it to be effective, however, it needs to
encompass all aspects of your current living situation. When
considering a home or family disaster plan, it is easy to
overlook medications and the special needs of family
members. Instead of waiting for an event to occur, think
ahead to these important areas:

11 Skills Your Great-Grandparents Had That You Don’t

11 Skills Your Great-Grandparents Had That You Don’t

Medicare Available For Chronic Conditions, But Word Slow To Get Out | Lawyer For Seniors

The Law Offices of Osofsky & Osofsky 

The Osofsky Law Firm is a boutique Medi-Cal planning, Elder Law and Estate Planning firm in the East Bay Area.

{Q} Unfortunately, even though the Jimmo settlement is more than a year old,  we find that many healthcare providers are unaware of the end of the old “improvement standard”.  As a result, many seniors still experience premature Medicare coverage terminations because they are not improving.  This is especially problematic for person suffering with Parkinson’s disease, ALS, heart disease and stroke.  The good news, however, is that advocacy on your part can play a big role in correcting premature coverage terminations.
If you receive a notice that Medicare coverage is about to terminate, consider an immediate appeal.  Talk to your husband’s doctor and ask for a written chart note that continued therapy is necessary for your husband to “maintain” function and/or to “slow further deterioration”.  To further aid you in your appeal, download the excellent Self-help Packets available for free on the website of the Center for Medicare Advocacy at www.MedicareAdvocacy.org, or by calling 860-456-7790.  Individualized Self-Help Packets are available for denials of outpatient therapy, home healthcare, nursing home, and the misuse of hospital “observation status”. {EQ}

Room-by-Room Home Safety Checklist

Room-by-Room Home Safety Checklist

Most people want to remain in their homes as they age, but that means making sure home is a place safe from hazards that could jeopardize well-being and independence. Use this checklist to do a thorough home safety audit. Get Home Safety Checklist »

Share this checklist:

Brought to you by:

Home Instead Senior Care Phone: 866-765-0585 Email: info@homeinsteadinc.com

Tools Every Caregiver Should Add to Emergency Plan - AgingCare.com

Tools Every Caregiver Should Add to Emergency Plan - AgingCare.com



 Gloria Huang, social engagement specialist for the American Red Cross

Huang suggests that people taking care of elderly loved ones consider adding a social media component to their emergency preparedness plan.
"So many people are using social media as a way to communicate,
including emergency agencies, the Red Cross, etc.," she says. "If we're
putting all the information out there, it can be a good way to get
official reports on what's going on in your area."


The key, says Huang, is picking the social media resources that work best for you and your loved one.


Twitter probably isn't a go-to resource for seniors and their
caregivers, and a Facebook post is by no means a substitute for dialing
9-1-1. But, there are some simple (and free) downloadable tools that can
make useful additions to an existing response plan:

• Emergency (free): directly dials the numbers for 4
  primary emergency services, including: police, firemen, medical and
  general. Also allows you to send an SMS text to request help that
  includes your current location.
  
• First Aid by American Red Cross (free): offers treatment instructions for burns, bleeding, broken bones, etc.
  
• Hurricane by American Red Cross (free): allows
  you to keep an eye on the weather conditions in your area and offers
  instructions on how to stay safe during a storm. Additional features
  include: a feature that turns your phone into a flashlight or emergency
  beacon, a directory of Red Cross shelters in your area, and a program
  that allows you to update your Facebook status, notifying others that
  you and your loved one are safe.

Community Transportation Programs- Helping with Dignity and Caring

Community Transportation Programs- Helping with Dignity and Caring : Community Transportation Programs -
Helping with Dignity and Caring
By Sandra Ray, Staff Writer
(Page 1 of 2)



 There are a multitude of programs available to help the elderly and disabled reach appointments, go shopping, and perform other tasks associated with daily living. Not all of these are easily accessible or easy to find. The requirements often range from proof of age or disability, to income, as well as stating that no other transportation means are available. It is easy to become discouraged with the process and give up interacting with the community at large.

Independent Transportation Network (ITN):

The Independent Transportation Network (ITN) has
developed a viable model program that can be readily
duplicated across the United States, helping to solve
some of the transportation woes that communities are
facing today. Started in 1999 as a result of research
sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration, AARP,
and the Transportation Research Board, the Maine-based
non-profit offers the program to seniors and individuals
with vision impairments.

While the other person is talking

Do not formulate your answer while the other person is talking.

People who don't listen decide how they are going to respond before you even stop talking. Don't be afraid to pause for five or ten seconds to consider, validate,  the what the person is saying.

Doing so demonstrates that you listened carefully and that you are giving them the courtesy of a thoughtful reply. If you actually give a thoughtful reply, no one will remember that it took you nine seconds to start talking.

 Repeat what the person is saying before you answer.
Never make the mistake of taking five minutes of a {person's} time answering a something s/he did not say. First, validate  the point by saying, "If I understand you correctly, you want to know (Repeat, validate, what the person is saying) Is that right?"

If necessary, allow the other person to clarify what they are saying. Only start your answer when you are 100% certain you understand what the person is saying.

It may seem like a waste of time to do this, but you will be demonstrating your ability to obtain and understand feedback.

Alice 105.9 - Timeline Photos

How much electricity does your appliances use?

Bartholomew County REMC:

Bartholomew County Rural
Electric Membership Corporation is an electric
cooperative located in Columbus, Indiana.

How much electricity does your appliances use?

 Take a look at what you can do for just a few pennies with the help of electricity:
 Use a 75-watt lamp for 14 hours for about 7 cents
Refrigerate food for a day for about 20 cents
Operate a window fan for about 1 cent an hour
Cook a meal on an electric range -using all the burners and the oven - for about 84 cents an hour.
 Use the self-cleaning feature on your oven for a total of 35 cents.
Wash a load of dishes in a dishwasher for about 7 cents

 What Does it Cost to Run My Appliances?

The appliance use chart above shows the most commonly used appliances and office equipment in homes, the average wattage of that equipment and the estimated average cost.

To calculate the exact use of your appliances, or for those not listed in this chart, use the following formula:

amps x volts = watts
watts x hours = watt-hours
watt-hours / 1000 = kilowatt-hours (kwhs)
kwh x .10 (10 cents) = estimated cost of using appliance.

Look for the serial plate on the bottom or back of the appliance. It lists the power used in terms of watts (120 watts might be written 120 w) or amps and volts.

For a larger appliance such as a water heater, remember that it is only running when it has clicked on and is actually heating water. The time your water heater is on varies according to how much you do laundry, take baths, or run the dishwasher. But, let's say your water heater is on for 3 hours on a particular day (the national average):

4,500 watts x 3 hours = 13,500 watt-hours
13,500 watt-hours / 1000 = 13.5 kwh
13.5 kwh x 10 cents = $1.35

There are several things you can do to use electricity more efficiently.

You will find that your electric furnace, air conditioner and water heater will make up the greatest percentage of your electric bill, so these are the areas in which to concentrate your energy management efforts.

What is health care transparency

What is health care transparency?

{Q}There is no correlation between cost and quality. Prices for medical services can vary greatly - even for the same procedure, in the same area, within the same network.{EQ}

cloud-based software helps employers gain control over health care spending.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1769895 Until very recently, health care in the United States was delivered behind the secure walls of a fortress that kept information on the prices charged for health care and the quality of that care opaque from public view.

Over time, enormous and ever-increasing amounts of money have disappeared behind the fortress walls. Much good undoubtedly was done for patients entering the castle in search of succor. 

But it has been nearly impossible for prospective patients thinking of entering the health care system to know what they or someone else will have to give up in return for whatever care they will receive from the inhabitants of the fortress.
 in a recent article in The Journal of the American Medical Association, imagine a department store whose customers are blindfolded before entering. A shopper might enter the store seeking to buy an affordable dress shirt and a tie, but exit it with a pair of boxer shorts and a scarf. Sometime later, he would receive an invoice, whose details would be incomprehensible to him, save for one item: a dollar amount in a framed box with the words: “Pay this amount.”


http://tinyurl.com/kuzfyok {Forbes} {Q} Mr. Sonenreich is quoted from an appearance on public radio affiliate WRLN with this provocative commitment:

“We’d be willing to put our prices to all the insurance companies out in public and we would welcome that kind of transparency of everyone in the marketplace.”

He’s not talking about “chargemaster” rates here. These are the contractual rates that the hospital has negotiated with the insurance companies.{EQ} know, the secret ones. Here’s    commitment. I’ll publish (or link to) those rates when they do become public.{EQ}

Denial: When it helps, when it hurts - Mayo Clinic

Denial: When it helps, when it hurts - Mayo Clinic

Refuse to acknowledge a stressful problem or situation

Avoid facing the facts of the situation

Minimize the consequences of the situation

In its strictest sense, denial is an unconscious process. You don't generally decide to be in denial about something. But some research suggests that denial might have a conscious component — on some level, you might choose to be in denial.

Common reasons for denial

You can be in denial about anything that makes you feel vulnerable or threatens your sense of control, such as:

• A chronic or terminal illness
• Depression or other mental health conditions
• Addiction
• Financial problems
• Job difficulties
• Relationship conflicts
• Traumatic events

What would convince a doctor to refer his patients to YOUR assisted living facility? | Blog | Illumination Analytics | Health Reform for Assisted Living Communities | Better Healthcare and Lower Cost

What would convince a doctor to refer his patients to YOUR assisted living facility? | Blog | Illumination Analytics | Health Reform for Assisted Living Communities | Better Healthcare and Lower Cost: What would convince a doctor to refer his patients to YOUR assisted living facility?
March 1st, 2014



 Dr. Steven Fuller

It always surprised me that not a single marketer offered me the one thing that would have made me choose THEM in a heartbeat:  metrics.  The one feature that would have made the greatest impression is the one thing I was never shown…some type of HEALTH PROFILE, anything that demonstrated they understood and were committed to the huge responsibility of managing my patients’ health.
Here are just a few things that I wanted to know and whose answers would have made a lasting and very positive impression and would have resulted in my referrals:
    I wanted to know the types of chronic health conditions and medications that are currently managed in this marketer’s AL so that I could have an idea of what the health environment was like.
    I wanted to know whether an AL could manage my patient with heart failure or lung disease or severe arthritis or chronic pain or depression and who is taking 8 different medicines at different times of the day.
    I wanted to know whether a facility somehow differentiates or adjusts its staffing to account for the Risk Level of individual residents – that is, does it care for residents with many health needs any differently than it does for residents with only minimal needs.
    I wanted to know WHO is managing the health of all the residents.  Are these caregivers educated about the kinds of health conditions my patients have and the medicines they take?  And how do the caregivers keep track of and become informed of all the health needs that they are managing?  This is a huge task when caring for so many people.
    I wanted to know whether the AL PROACTIVELY manages the health needs of my patients, or do they just wait until my patients get sick before intervening or sending them to the ER.  And how can the AL demonstrate its answer to me?



{He developed Illumination Analytics specifically for Assisted Living Communities in order to enhance health management and provide objective measures of care excellence in this setting.}

Jumping for Joy in the ER: When patients have clear advance directives by Monica Williams-Murphy, MD | It's OK to Die

Jumping for Joy in the ER: When patients have clear advance directives by Monica Williams-Murphy, MD | It's OK to Die:



<Q>“What’s going on out there?” the “leaving” doctor asked me in a curious manner.
Before I answered him, I called out, “You guys come listen to this. This is a success story!”
As you might imagine, a small group of curious Emergency Department staff had crowded around me in attempts to understand the commotion.




Speaking in low but excited tones to maintain HIPPA compliance, I gushed the following story:
“So, I just walked into room 48 to see Mr. Bronson. He’s an 85 year old man with COPD who had arrived in respiratory distress and the respiratory therapists had already started BIPAP because the patient arrived on his own machine and it wasn’t doing any good. So, here’s the kicker… he was too short of breath to even speak a word and when I listened to his lungs, I heard no air movement. There was no one in the room family-wise whom I could turn to for a discussion of next steps (meaning no surrogate decision maker). Just as I started to feel a twist developing in the pit of my stomach, assuming that I might have to intubate him without understanding his own personal wishes, the nurse whips out a piece of paper from behind his home med list and starts waving it at me.”
“Voila!” She said smiling, “I know that you would want to see this.”
With two steps in her direction, I was across the room and pulled it from her hand like a young child getting her first mail. <EQ>

An Optometrist Explains Cataracts

An Optometrist Explains Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding on the lens of the eye that can impair vision. The disorder is commonly associated with aging. In fact, more than 50% of all Americans over the age of 65 suffer from cataracts. Advanced Eyecare Center, an optometrist clinic in Torrance knows that aging however, is not solely responsible for cataracts. While aging may be the principal factor behind cataracts, it is not the only factor that can lead to cataracts.

A guide on how to cut out cable television

A guide on how to cut out cable television: Cable bundle bills that include phone, Internet, and TV can range from a $60 per month deal to upwards of $200 a month. But decreasing that cost is easily achieved by cutting cable out completely. Your bill has the possibility of going from $150 to $30 a month. But how do you still watch major network shows? With an antenna.

Free Information Download on Stroke

Free Information Download on Stroke: How Do I Know It's a Stroke?
bigstock-Asthma-Disabled-Senior-6268943.jpg
Top 5 Signs of a Stroke
Preview of Your Free Download on Stroke

Approximately 795,000 people in the United States have a new or recurrent stroke each year (American Stroke Association [ASA], 2012a).

Here are some signs and symptoms:

SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause (National Stroke Association, 2013)


Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Post Stroke Rehabilitation available with FREE download.

How to Report Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation | LinkedIn

How to Report Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation | LinkedIn: How to Report Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation

Russell Forkey Attorney at Russell L. Forkey, P.A.

How to Report, Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation:

In addition to reporting the financial or other abuse to non-participating family members,most states have agencies to which elder financial and other abuse can be reported.

Medicare to Cover More Mental Health Costs - NYTimes.com

Medicare to Cover More Mental Health Costs - NYTimes.com: The Medicare change follows new regulations issued last month by the administration for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which expanded the principle of equal treatment for psychological illnesses to all forms health insurance. But that law does not apply to Medicare.

“Hopefully, older adults who previously were unable to afford to see a therapist will now be more likely to do so,” said Andrea Callow, a policy lawyer with the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

Aging & Driving: Making Informed Decisions That Support Independence & Safety | Griswold

 Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013  Griswold Home Care
Aging & Driving: Making Informed Decisions That Support Independence & Safety
By Christopher G. Kelly, MEd Senior Care Advice

aging and driving“It is easy to say, ‘just give up the keys’. It is important for me to stay active, and if I don’t drive I am stuck in the house forever. I can’t live that way.” – Quote from older adult driver

Avoid Getting Sick from Your Food | National Institute on Aging

Avoid Getting Sick from Your Food | National Institute on Aging: Avoid Getting Sick from Your Food

For an older person, a food-related illness can be life threatening. As you age, you have more trouble fighting off microbes. Health problems, like diabetes or kidney disease, also make you more likely to get sick from eating foods that are unsafe. So if you are over age 65, be very careful about how food is prepared and stored.

 For recommended refrigerator and freezer storage times for common foods, download our Storing Cold Food tip sheet (PDF, 75K).

Your Seniors Net Worth

Your Seniors Net Worth: http://www.eldercareteam.com

Unless your parent is single (or divorced or widowed) and has few or no assets, you will have to know his or her financial situation before you can make long term care plans. Except for those with very low income and almost no assets, in the United States long term care is primarily a private pay affair. How do you know what your parent can afford?

You calculate their net worth, and look at where the money is. Is it in a place where you can access it easily, such as a bank account? Will it be "liquid" within a matter of months or a few years, such as in a CD? Will your parent take a large loss if you have to liquidate something prematurely, such as stocks or bonds? Are most of your parent's assets tied up in real estate? You need to know this before you can make some important decisions.

Use the Senior Net Worth Estimator to begin your calculations. With this information you will be able to plan realistically and productively. Remember that for a host of reasons it makes most sense to use your parent's funds before your own when paying for care.

Download the Senior Net Worth Estimator

Quick & Easy Tip: Help A Senior Who is No Longer Driving | Ensemble of Care Café

Quick & Easy Tip: Help A Senior Who is No Longer Driving | Ensemble of Care Café: It’s hard to imagine a day without our cars to get us where we need to go.

Think about the mature adults in your life–maybe a neighbor or friend, mom or dad, grandma or grandpa–who are feeling lonely and cut-off from the world because they just aren’t getting around like they used to. Many times, older adults stay home and remain isolated when they stop or limit their driving.

Take a minute to think about how you would get to the places you needed to go if you could not use your car this week. Oh my, this takes a bit of planning doesn’t it? What if you need to haul some groceries home? Wow, there may be some loopholes you never thought out!

If you want to lend a helping hand to a senior in your life, here’s one way you can help out that is fairly quick and easy. Simply fill out the chart we’ve prepared below and hand it off to your someone special. We’ve created a sample to guide you. Let us know how they liked it!

EC_Logo_Horiz_wtag_FNL

(800) 974-1323 | Lake County | EnsembleofCare.com
Local Transportation Options Worksheet

10 Things You Need to Know About Debts After Death, Part 2

10 Things You Need to Know About Debts After Death, Part 2: 10 Things You Need to Know About Debts After Death, Part 2 of 2
October 18, 2013 By Kathryn Flanigan

piggy bank on cash  When a loved one dies, do their debts die with them? The answer is, it depends. Following are the second 5 of 10 things you need to know about debts after the death of a loved one:

Wait to distribute assets. No assets from the estate should be distributed until all debts are settled. If assets are distributed and there is not enough left in the estate to handle outstanding debts, the heirs could become responsible for the debts.

Work with a probate attorney.  When it comes to questions about debts after death, the law can be complicated in community property states like California.  It is best to contact a probate attorney for help.
The Flanigan Law Group provides Southern California residents with personal attention for estate planning, administration and litigation legal services.  When disputes between families, arise, they are very successful in resolving legal estate issues quickly and efficiently while preserving financial and emotional resources.

Links | GeriPal - Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog

Links | GeriPal - Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog: Home


Links
We are populating a new list of links for national geriatrics and palliative care organizations (in addition to the blog role that is on our main page). Let us know if you have other sites that you think should be on this list!

Jewish Family Service of Metrowest (JFS) social, health and community services to people in need.

Our Services | ElderCare: Home

We provide a wide range of services to the elderly, helping clients maintain independence and self-esteem, address present needs, and plan for the future. Caregivers need support too! You and your family members have enormous demands on your time and energy. We'll help relieve your worries. Guidance, support, and concrete services are provided at the highest personal and professional standards, helping your relative age with dignity.


Here is a great article on the growing elder care crisis in America today and how Baby Boomers are now the primary caregivers to their aging parents. Click here to read more.

Our Mission
Nuestros Servicios
Care Management
Home Care
Healthy Partners
Friendly Visitors
Guardianship
Patient Navigator

Services | Metrowest Accounting and Tax Solutions :: Babineau CPA, LLC

Services | Metrowest Accounting and Tax Solutions :: Babineau CPA, LLC: Babineau CPA offers a complete range of accounting services. Some of our clients engage us for “full cycle” bookkeeping: recording cash receipts and disbursements, reconciling bank statements, preparing payroll and preparing monthly financial statements. Other clients hire us for part of this process. We work with each client on an individual basis to develop custom solutions for a common goal: creating and maintaining an accounting system that allows the clients to efficiently and profitably operate their business.

Our firm can prepare financial statements for use by banks, investors or simply to help business owners manage their business.
Tax Preparation, Planning and Representation

We prepare federal and state individual, partnership, corporate and fiduciary income tax returns for clients all over the country. Our goal is to see that our clients pay the legal minimum amount of tax.

Besides assisting clients with federal and state tax filing requirements, we also offer tax planning services. We help clients project potential future tax liabilities, develop strategies for minimizing tax burdens, and plan for adequate cash flows to satisfy tax debts.

Caregivers' Newsbasket Blog

Caregivers' Newsbasket Blog: Caregivers' Newsbasket Blog

Ish's, Ishmael's, Knowledge Network: News, Articles. Items of interest to Carers and Caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's Disease and ElderCare

inflatable moving and handling and bathing equipment

About - Mangar | Mangar - - page.php: Established in 1981, Mangar International is a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of inflatable moving and handling and bathing equipment. We are an award winning company who serve a global healthcare market.

To enable people to retain their independence and dignity
To reduce strain and injury risk for carers

We achieve these by designing products and rehabilitation equipment for disabled and elderly people to help with everyday tasks such as getting in and out of bed, taking a bath, and lifting a fallen person from the floor.


 Elk Inflatable Emergency Lifting Cushion  approx: $2300.00

Elk Lifting Cushion

The Mangar Elk is a lifting cushion designed to lift a person from the floor with the help of only one person

An Interview with Jaime Estremera-Fitzgerald about Area Agencies on Aging

An Interview with Jaime Estremera-Fitzgerald: Jaime Estremera-Fitzgerald: Area Agencies on Aging were set up to oversee the whole older Americans Act system, which is really to keep having support and services available in every county in America for seniors and their caregivers as they age in place. That’s the key. And the mission has always been to keep people at home for as long as possible, with dignity and independence.

The new designation of Aging and Disability Resource Centers speaks to a whole national movement of bringing together all the pieces that older Americans are involved with as they age. And many Americans in this country have children that are disabled, who themselves have aged quite a bit. They may even be seniors. And guess what? The seniors, the parents or family members are now older themselves and they’re developing problems and needs.

Coping with Death for Carers and Professionals

Coping with Death for Carers and Professionals: Coping with death is something we have to learn to do.....

Grief and Sympathy is written by , Elizabeth Postle (usually known as Betty). The site  is built and edited by Lesley Postle .

When you join the caring professions, whether as a nurse or a doctor, a paramedic, or a police officer, you are going to have to accept that you will come across death in your line of work.

Your roles are some of the most rewarding in the world, and you will gain immense satisfaction working in the caring professions. But coping with death is something that we have to learn to do. It is not easy, but by supporting each other, we can learn to deal with it and stay positive.
sunrise

There are many emotional highs and lows in our jobs. When someone recovers or is rescued from a dangerous position, you will feel on top of the world. Other days, you will have some terrible lows when someone dies or is badly injured. You will have to cope with many grieving relatives and people in shock. It is never easy.

Secret price codes can save consumers big bucks at major retailers

PI.PRICECODES18G.jpg (JPEG Image, 750 × 704 pixels) - Scaled (83%)

 Secret price codes can save consumers big bucks at major retailers

Interior Organization | Clear the Clutter and Simplify Life

Interior Organization | Clear the Clutter and Simplify Life

 Interior Organization is a Professional Organization Firm providing organizing services and products to residential and commercial clients in the Greater Detroit Area.  Our goal is to provide exceptional Professional Organizing services to our clients by restoring function and accessibility to spaces both small and large. We help put the joy back into places that have been a source of stress or disfunction.

 Holly Amato holly@interiororganization.com

Marlborough, MA. Create A Better Day Café

Caregivers' Newsbasket Blog: Create A Better Day Café will be held the 4th Sunday of each month from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
at Pleasantries Adult Day Services 195 Reservoir Street
Marlborough, MA.
Call Tammy for more information at 508-335-1968

 Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer's or other dementia?  Create A Better Day Café encourages socialization with other caregivers and loved ones where you can just be yourself. This is a wonderful opportunity to get out with your loved one and have an enjoyable afternoon.  It's a time to step out of the daily routine, leave the disease at the door, and enjoy a positive experience in a supportive environment.  The afternoon will consist of conversation, music, arts, games, refreshments, and most importantly, laughter. There is no cost.  It is open to anyone at any stage of the disease process accompanied by friends, family, and loved ones.

Nursing News: Nurses Setting Up Primary Care Practices | LeAnn Thieman

Nursing News: Nurses Setting Up Primary Care Practices | LeAnn Thieman: If the proposals, which face opposition from some physicians’ groups, succeed, the number of states allowing nurses to practice without any type of physician supervision would increase from 16 to 30, in addition to the District.

The legislation being proposed could spur tens of thousands of nurses to set up primary-care practices that would be virtually indistinguishable from those run by doctors. The last big legislative push of this type, a state-by-state effort that began in the late 1980s, sputtered by the early 1990s. This time, however, the campaign is being coordinated nationally by the Nurse Practioners Association and other nursing groups and is getting a critical boost from state officials concerned about the 2010 health-care law’s looming impact on the availability of doctors.

Beginning in January 2014, about 27 million uninsured Americans are expected to get coverage under the law, contributing to a projected shortage of about 45,000 primary-care physicians by 2020, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Caregivers' Newsbasket Blog: Your 3M Resident Monitoring (RM) system will no lo...

Caregivers' Newsbasket Blog: Your 3M Resident Monitoring (RM) system will no lo...: Misplaced Trust: 3M adds insult to injury . . . | Senior Housing Forum : “ in the absence of qualified maintenance and support. Specificall...

Driving Miss Daisy North Shore / North Burnaby Team | “Through the door” Personalized Transportation & Accompaniment Service

Driving Miss Daisy North Shore / North Burnaby Team | “Through the door” Personalized Transportation & Accompaniment Service: “Through the door” Personalized Transportation & Accompaniment Service. We offer our clients independence, security and peace of mind. We are a part of an award-winning Corporation which was founded in January 2002 in Alberta by Bev Halisky and expanded its services to BC, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Driving Miss Daisy Corporate Website

Discussing Homecare with Your Loved One | Living Assistance Services

Discussing Homecare with Your Loved One | Living Assistance Services:
Discussing Homecare with Your Loved One
May 21st, 2013

Here are three questions for you to consider…

1) How do you help your elderly loved one get past family customs and cultural beliefs, to accept assistance in their homes?

2) How do you tell your loved one that you and your siblings are concerned about them living alone at home?

     3)    How do you help them keep their independence without appearing to be interfering in their lives or making decisions for them?


These are issues that will not go away with time. To the contrary, everyone involved should be proactive about such complicated topics. With advance planning, and open and frank discussions within the family, the problem-solving process can work quite well. However, it will take some concerted effort on the part of you,

read more
 Discussing Homecare with Your Loved One | Living Assistance Services:

5 Things You Need to Know When Your Loved One is in ICU

5 Things You Need to Know When Your Loved One is in ICU

By Susan Montminy, MSN, RN and Meredith Dodge, MSN, RN

read full story

It is the middle of the night and the phone rings. Your family member has been in a car accident and is rushed to the hospital. He is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU). You race to the hospital and are met by the intensive care doctor. All you hear is “critical, unstable, and surgery.” Later, as you sit out in the waiting room, you wonder, What can I do to help my loved one through this?

This article contains key information on assisting family members survive when a loved one is in the intensive care unit. Communication, decision making, multi-disciplinary meetings, pain/comfort, and sleep are discussed. Hopefully, knowing this information will help you and your loved one have a positive experience and survive your time in the ICU.

Communication

Thorough communication is the best tool that you have when your loved one is in the ICU. You are going to be overwhelmed with information from many different people. Here are some tips to help you understand everything that you are being told.

• Write everything down. During this stressful time, it is difficult for you to process all of the information you are given. If you write everything down, you can read it at a later time and absorb what you are reading.
• Have someone with you. If you have a second set of ears to listen to what you are being told, then you can discuss it afterwards to be sure that you heard everything that was said.
• Nurses are excellent resources and can assist you in many ways. If at all possible, make sure that the nurse is present when having discussions with the doctor. The nurse can help to explain medical terminology or translate what was discussed so that you can understand it better.
• Keep an open line of communication with your nurse. Nurses are patient advocates and can help make sure that the patient’s wishes are carried out. Communicate openly and honestly with your loved one’s nurse; let him or her know your questions and thoughts. Nurses can better assist you if they know what you are struggling with.
• The Internet is not always the best resource. While looking up information on the Internet may be helpful for you to better understand certain things; the internet can be overwhelming because it has so much extra information on it. This extra information can leave you confused and stressed; often the worst case scenarios are included in your search results. Listen to what the doctors are telling you about your loved one. They are looking at the entire picture, not just the specific disease or injury.

The bottom line is that open communication with all members of the healthcare team will help you to better understand what is going on with your loved one.

Downsizing: Tips for Seniors Moving to a Smaller Home | Orange County Active Seniors

Downsizing: Tips for Seniors Moving to a Smaller Home | Orange County Active Seniors: By Austin Kilham, Caring.com author

If you’re a boomer or even a little older, your kids have likely grown and moved on to their own homes. Maybe you’re feeling like an empty nester, or maybe taking care of a large house is feeling harder and you’re looking to simplify your life. In either case, you may be considering downsizing to a smaller home or even an independent living community.

Moving is always stressful, and it can feel even more so when you have to condense your life into a smaller space. The process can be emotionally and physically challenging as you decide what to keep and what has to go. We spoke with Donna Quinn Robbins, CEO of Ultimate Moves and author of Moving Mom and Dad, for insights into how to make the process run smoothly.

Have a plan. It’s important to be organized, says Robbins. “If you’re not organized, everything is scattered: You’re scattered, the house is scattered.” Make a list of everything you need to do and p

World in Pictures, April 24, 2013: Solar powered plane over San Francisco and ships collide in Canada - Wales Online

World in Pictures, April 24, 2013: Solar powered plane over San Francisco and ships collide in Canada - Wales Online

Meet the 45 Senators Who Blocked Background Checks | Mother Jones

Meet the 45 Senators Who Blocked Background Checks | Mother Jones: Meet the 45 Senators Who Blocked Background Checks

Eldercare Services for Veterans

Eldercare Services for Veterans

Senior Care Answers: When is Memory Loss More Than Old Age?

Senior Care Answers: When is Memory Loss More Than Old Age?

 One of the early signs that many family members notice is difficulty with financial or other tasks which require "complex thinking".  You have to compare this to a baseline (i.e. if your Dad always handled the bills and checkbook, but has now begun missing payments) and "getting scammed" is not always an indication of dementia.  However, these indicators may warrant some changes, before bigger problems occur.
Some signs to watch for if you are worried about memory loss (these can also go hand-in-hand with physical impairments or other senior care issues):

• Spoiled food in the refrigerator, difficulty preparing meals or dealing with appliances properly, forgetting to turn off the stove.
• Missed appointments, trouble remembering dates and managing tasks and to-do's.
• Significant changes in appearance and personal care.
• Significant changes in household maintenance/care and cleanliness.
• Medication misuse (signs might include unfilled prescriptions, pill bottles in disarray, inability to explain what a medicine is for or when/how it is to be taken).
• For more signs, grab a free copy of our "Warning Signs" evaluation checklist:

MyAgingFolks - Support for Caregivers. Senior-Care Answers. Expert advice.

MyAgingFolks - Support for Caregivers. Senior-Care Answers. Expert advice.
 

FREE -  Support & Answers for senior care and elderlaw questions

About MyAgingFolks.com

Professional eldercare advice for your loved one is our #1 concern
 

     MyAgingFolks.com is a resource for adult children finding themselves in the challenging role of caregiver for an aging parent.
      Our services are all designed to support family caregivers involved with eldercare issues. Whether the help you need is advice, an expert answer, a service recommendation, a financial or legal decision, our network of independent professionals (e.g. geriatric care managers, doctors, nurses, Medicare/Medicaid specialists, financial advisors, physical therapists, lawyers, etc.) can help you thrive in your role as caregiver.
      MyAgingFolks.com is independently owned and operated. We are neither affiliated with nor accept advertising from insurance companies, residential facilities, or health-care services. You can rest assured that your selection of a professional at MyAgingFolks.com is a person who best matches your needs. 

---Professionals: Connect with Caregivers Near You

--
Information collected content from various Internet sources and consolidated on Ish's Knowledge Network http://tinyurl.com/4qqekc6 

We have no control of how you may use information you get from this site and does not attest to the validity of any information found within. Much of this information comes from third parties (Google.com, Bing.com). Use advice your own risk. Our goal is to print only valuable information and advice.
 

Power of attorney: It’s easily abused - Elizabeth O'Brien's Retire Well - MarketWatch

Power of attorney: It’s easily abused - Elizabeth O'Brien's Retire Well - MarketWatch: It’s a standard part of estate planning. It’s also, according to experts on elder fraud, a license to steal. It’s the power of attorney, a legal instrument designed to give a trusted individual the authority to handle financial or health matters for the person creating it.

As their own parents grow older—and, in many cases, lose the capacity to make their own financial and medical decisions—growing numbers of baby boomers are beginning to wrestle with the intricacies and pitfalls of the power of attorney. And of course, the day may not be too far off when they themselves may have to trust someone else with those powers. “They have great value and opportunity to misuse,” said Randy Thomas, a former police officer in Columbia, South Carolina who lectures nationally on elder financial abuse.


Estate plans usually involve what’s known as a “durable” power of attorney. These allow the trusted individual—legally, the “agent”—to retain power of attorney even when the person who created the document—the “principal”—has become incapacitated. A general power of attorney expires when the principal has lost capacity; these are usually limited to a certain transaction, such as a real estate closing or the license-plate example above. All powers of attorney expire when the principal dies

Old age should not be approached with horror | Carers Chill4us

Old age should not be approached with horror | Carers Chill4us: Old age should not be approached with horror

A new report provides a passport for older life that does not treat over-60s as liabilities

Thursday 14 March 2013


Ageing is no longer an orderly chronological process; anarchy rules. Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

Ageing is a strange and foreign country described mostly in negative terms in guide books for those whom, much to their surprise, find themselves lost in its hinterland, often unsuitably dressed and without a compass. A youth-obsessed society that makes a mint from mining the alleged horrors of growing older – all sag and no sagacity – has locked us into a set of taboos that means millions of us are moving from middle age into possibly decades of allegedly unproductive, dependent, parked-up old age without sufficient armament or attitude of mind to challenge prevailing prejudices. Except that today we may literally have been thrown the semblance of a lifeline.

From Grief Comes A Mission To Make Estate Planning Less Daunting : NPR

Estate planning may seem like a pain, but imagine the mess you leave to those managing your affairs if you don't draw up a will or get life insurance.

"It takes really just a few hours now, rather than a pile of hours and thousands of dollars to do it later when you really need it done," says Chanel Reynolds, who created a website geared to help people get their affairs in order.

Her site — which is a NSFW riff on "get your stuff together" — features a checklist and templates for some key documents, including a will, living will and power of attorney.

April fools in February? – US News and World Reports 2013 Best Nursing Homes Report | Senior Housing Forum

April fools in February? – US News and World Reports 2013 Best Nursing Homes Report | Senior Housing Forum: April fools in February? – US News and World Reports 2013 Best Nursing Homes Report
 27 February, 2013 by Steve Moran |

april-fool
 http://seniorhousingforum.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/april-fool.jpg


Here is Steve Moran's  take after reading the article and browsing the list:

• US News & World Report has done a shabby job of reporting.  In fact, they didn’t do any serious reporting or they would have been more cautious about equating a 5 star rating with the highest quality care.
• It confirms that the 5 star system continues to be flawed.  This is not to say it has no value, but I would argue that at best, it’s value is primarily as a early detection tool to identify and rule out terrible nursing homes.
• The one reliable conclusion you can draw from the list is that the highly rated skilled buildings are experts at getting a high rating 5 star rating.
• There are some really great skilled nursing buildings in California and other states that don’t have a 5 star rating.  In fact often these buildings take on patients with complex problems and get terrific results, but because those patients are complex it hurts their star rating.

 an invitation to a twitter chat about the report.    join the conversation.

The editor of the report also responded to the article in the comments and you might want to check that out.

Here is the information you need to join the conversation
Date: Thursday, March 7
Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST
Hashtag: #BestNursingHomes
Host: @USNewsHealth

What To Do After You've Been Hacked | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

What To Do After You've Been Hacked | Gadget Lab | Wired.com: What to Do After You’ve Been Hacked

By Mat Honan
03.05.13
6:00 AM


Reset Your Passwords
Immediately change the password on the affected service, and any others that use the same or similar password. And, really, don’t reuse passwords. You should be changing your passwords periodically anyway as a part of routine maintenance. But if you’ve just been hacked, it’s now more urgent. This is especially true if you reuse passwords, or use schemes that result in similar passwords (like 123Facebook, 123Linkedin, 123Google).
“Password reuse is one of the great evils and its very hard to prevent,” says PayPal’s principal scientist for consumer security Markus Jakobsson. Sites can set up password requirements — for example a character length or that a password include symbols and numbers — but they cannot force people into not reusing the same or similar passwords. “It’s very common for people to use similar or the same password but it’s very rare for people to realize that it creates a liability for them to do it and that they need to change their password after they’ve been hacked.”