New England Pension Assistance Project at the University of Massachusetts Boston, a federally funded organization that works to connect retirees with lost pensions.
Top Scams That Target Seniors
By Ken and Daria Dolan, Dolans.com
{ Ken and Dana ask you to Please be sure to share these senior scams with your friends and loved ones so they don't become a victim.}
Seniors are one of scam artist’s favorite targets. More than 25 million seniors were victims of fraud last year according to the Federal Trade Commission. Seniors become targets because they are easy to reach by phone, are often home during the day, often live along, and are often more willing to talk to strangers.
The Dolans
Jamie Koslow, AOL
Today, personal finance experts Ken and Daria Dolan of Dolans.com expose seven top scams that target seniors. Even if you aren't a senior yourself, keep reading and warn the seniors in your life about these scams.
Scam No. 1: Reverse Equity Mortgage Scam
Thanks to the stock market meltdown and housing collapse, many Americans in their 60s and older do not have a lot of savings on which to fall back. Many of these folks are wondering whether a reverse equity mortgage is right for them ... and scammers smell an easy target. The FBI recently issued a warning that reverse mortgage scams have skyrocketed. Since 1999, reverse mortgage scams have increased 1,300%!
Plus, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that many reverse mortgage "counseling programs" being offered are in fact shills for lenders looking to rip the elderly. Of the 15 organizations the GAO investigated undercover, not ONE conveyed unbiased, sound information about reverse mortgages.
A reverse equity mortgage may be an effective way to generate income in retirement, but you must carefully consider all of the pros and cons and be sure you are working with a legitimate company.
More From The Dolans:
* 10 Smart Money Moves for 2010
* Top 10 Tips to Avoid Scams
* Money "Deals" You Should Refuse
Scam No. 2: Fake E-mail From the Social Security Administration
There are many variations of these fake messages circulating, but they all claim there is something wrong with your Social Security benefits and that convince you to click the link provided to clear up the problem. Here's a sample:
"Due to possible calculation errors, your annual Social Security statement may contain errors. Use the link below to review your annual Social Security statement."
The scammers have done a good job making these e-mails look legitimate. They use a ".gov" e-mail address as all government sites use. Some messages even contain the Social Security Administration logo, making them look very official.
Don't fall for it! These e-mails are NOT from the Social Security Administration. Their sole purpose, as with most e-mail scams, is to trick you into sharing important information that will help the scammer steal your identity, access your bank account or otherwise cause you financial harm.
The Social Security Administration does NOT contact consumers through e-mail, period.
Scam No. 3: Impersonating a Grandchild in Trouble
This one is really low. Let us tell you what happened to Rose, who lives in a seniors' community in Pompano Beach Florida, to show you how this one works. Rose received a phone call one afternoon from a young man saying "Grandmom, I need your help, my car just broke down and I need some money to get it fixed."
Recognizing the voice wasn't one of her grandson’s, she assumed it was her granddaughter's boyfriend. "Brian is that you," she asked. "Yea Grandmom, it's me Brian," he replied. "I need your help -- do you think you could send me some money?" Then he asked for $1,000!
Now, Rose is a smart lady and wasn’t quite sure who she was talking to, so she said she probably wouldn't be able to help. "But Grandmom, it's me Brian," pleaded the man on the phone, "I really need your help."
Another popular variation on this scam is the scammer claiming they are in jail and need bail. Wait, it gets worse! If the scamster actually gets money, they'll have a second person call pretending to be a police officer, who will claim there are extra charges for property damage or fines and ask for more money!
The typical take on this scam is about $3,000! Be smart like Rose ... NEVER give out personal bank account info over the phone or send money through a wire service at someone else's request.
Scam No. 4: Home Repair Scams
This scam targets seniors who live at home -- often elderly women who live alone. A nice guy shows up at your door and offers to do some handyman projects around the house -- could be gutter cleaning, for example.
But once these scammers gain the person's trust, they trump up unnecessary work that needs to be done and charge huge amounts of money for it. They might claim your roof needs repair, or that they saw a problem with wood rotting on your porch. Police call these fake home contractors "woodchucks." We expect a slew of home improvement scams targeting seniors to crop up now using the President’s "Cash for Caulkers" program as an excuse to get in the door. Be vigilant!
Scam No. 5: Prepaid Funeral Scam
A funeral can be one of the most expensive purchases you will ever make. A typical funeral costs about $6,000, but costs can go as high as $10,000. To spare their families from expenses and decision-making during this emotional time, a growing number of people are pre-paying their funeral expenses.
The idea is that you pre-pay for your funeral and those funds are held in escrow, in a trust or used to buy life insurance that would cover funeral expenses when you die.
But pre-paid funeral scams swindle millions of dollars each year. In the worst scams, people take your money and run. In others, you simply get sold an expensive package that costs much more than you need to spend. The last thing grieving relatives need is to find out you were ripped off and there is a large unexpected funeral expense with which to deal.
Scam No. 6: Medicare Fraud Scams
Medicare users are a favorite scam target. Some scammers offer seniors free medical products -- all they have to do is give them their Medicare number. Another common ploy is to tell a senior that their Medicare card has expired and they need to provide their Medicare number to get a new one.
In both scenarios, the scam artist steals that number and uses it to complete a form, obtain certification from an unauthorized doctor, and bill Medicare for reimbursement.
Never provide your Medicare number to someone over the phone. And never sign incomplete insurance forms or provide blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services.
Scam No. 7: Investment Scams
Although seniors aged 60 or older make up just 15% of the U.S. population, they account for 30% of investment fraud victims, according to the North American Securities Administration Association.
Here are some typical investment scams to watch out for:
· Ponzi scams that promise HUGE returns. We saw a commercial on TV offering an investment that would pay a 40% annual return for MANY years! C’mon folks .. .that just doesn't pass the sniff test!
· Financial "advisors" who prey on widows and widowers -- be very wary of anyone who contacts you offering to help you with your finances soon after your spouse dies. There are unethical people looking to take advantage of you during this emotional time!
· Free investment seminars hosted by some "investment pros" over lunch or dinner. Chances are you will get the hard sell while you are there (or endless phone calls afterwards) for speculative, inappropriate investments.
· High yield investment scams. At a time when many seniors could use some extra money, unscrupulous advisors are peddling products that have the highest yield -- and promising you safety of your investments that just isn’t true.
· Annuities -- there's a special place in hell for people who profit from selling an 83 year old on fixed income an annuity that's not appropriate for him ... "it’s the same as a CD" they say. Thanks to their fat commissions, far too many annuities are sold to people who shouldn't own them. Be very wary of annuity pitches.
Please be sure to share these senior scams with your friends and loved ones so they don't become a victim. And be sure to follow our simple scam prevention tips to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Retirement Communities Feel the Effects of the Economic Downturn
Financial problems have been mounting at a number of assisted-living and continuing-care communities, forcing some facilities into bankruptcies and inflicting new worries on residents and their families who thought their life plans were comfortably set.
In recent weeks, Erickson Retirement Communities, which manages 19 continuing-care retirement communities in 11 states, declared bankruptcy. Sunrise Senior Living Inc. posted a quarterly loss of $82 million and announced plans to sell off 21 of its assisted-living communities. Nationally, small retirement communities are raising prices, changing the way they operate, selling themselves off to bigger chains, or getting out of the business altogether. Many companies say they can’t make a profit—or even succeed on a nonprofit basis—in an environment that combines the high cost of caring for elderly residents, restrictive Medicaid budgets, tight credit markets and few residents willing and able to pay top dollar for their care.
When a facility fails, it can have myriad effects on its residents. The good news is that no one gets kicked to the curb—at least not right away, however, fees can skyrocket, making the facility unaffordable, at which point facilities can kick residents out for nonpayment.
"Sarah Palin is worried about Death Panels but many Alaskans are worried about Palin Care. During her tenure from 2006-2009, 277 elderly died from the poor management under her command! The Anchorage Daily News reported about this story last July, the situation in the state’s Medicare and Medicaid funded in-home elder care program became so bad that the federal government had to step in and force Palin to make the necessary improvements."
"In one 2 1/2 year stretch, 227 adults already getting services died while waiting for a nurse to reassess their needs. Another 27 died waiting for their initial assessment, to see if they qualified for help."
http://ow.ly/169ijf
Home is meant to be a sanctuary of safety and comfort, but adults over the age of 65, safety hazards in a home pose a serious threat to their health and independence. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that half of all falls in older americans occur at home and every 35 minutes, someone in this population group dies as a result of their injuries. All patients need to take special safety precautions to ensure a safe living environment. Most accidents in the home can be prevented by eliminating hazards. This checklist can help you and your family identify potential safety hazards in your home.
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Recommended reading
What Starbucks Taught Me About Senior Care
Posted by Matt Johnson on Tue, Dec 08, 2009 @ 07:50 AM
Making reading accessible wherever you are
The kReader Mobile from knfb Reading Technology is a major advancement in portability and functionality of print access for struggling readers and those learning a second language. Developed under the direction of Assistive Technology pioneer Ray Kurzweil the kReader Mobile software package runs on a multifunction cell phone and allows users to snap a picture of virtually any document, including mail, receipts, handouts, memos and many other documents. Our proprietary document analysis technology determines the words and reads them aloud to the user. Reading in other languages is available, along with translation between languages. This is a truly portable solution to reading on the go, allowing users to read what they want wherever they happen to be.
Just when I thought it was finally time for me, the inevitable phone call came, shattering my well-planned life. My elderly parents needed me. A new chapter of my life was beginning, one for which I was totally unprepared. I did not know that I was now embarking on a ten year journey—taking care of my mom and dad.
For most people this phone call comes because Mom has fallen and landed in the emergency room with a broken hip. But my parents are not normal. My father had just sent $68,000 in cashier checks to Canada because he received a phone call saying that he had won the Canadian Lottery.
We midlife daughters may be totally prepared for child rearing, but we are thoroughly unprepared for caregiving aging parents. How can we be so naive as to think that we will not have to take on this new job with all of its conflicts and emotions?
Gifts for Seniors on Your List....and perhaps as hints for family members who might not know what you would like to have.
Some nursing home residents instantly warm to their roommates, much like college freshmen who lucked out in the roommate draw. But for many, the adjustment can be profound. <snipped>
Nursing home roommates also bring special challenges. Roughly 80 percent of residents have some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, which causes memory lapses and sometimes delusions and paranoia. Between feuding roommates, a misplaced sock can turn into a larceny investigation; late-night snoring can become a sensory assault. Roommates can quickly get troubling reputations as “the roamer,’’ “the bathroom hog,’’ or “the attention-seeker.’’
Early intervention by trained staff is important to defuse tensions - even ward off physical confrontations.
--A 2004 study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers, among others, was one of the first to identify this problem, finding that in one year, Massachusetts nursing homes reported some 300 cases of serious injuries, including fractures, cuts, and bruises, because of violence from fellow residents.
Researchers say the best way to maintain safety in a nursing home is to offer strong day-to-day enrichment programming, which engages the residents. And creative solutions often reduce conflicts.A study published last year found that “calling out or making noise’’ was identified as one of the most frequent triggers for “resident-to-resident aggression.’’ Dr. Mark Lachs at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, a coauthor of the study, said these conflicts are ubiquitous in nursing homes.
--
Elder-care advocates note, however, that Massachusetts regulations prohibit a nursing home resident from being evicted from a room for just any reason; the staff must identify safety or health issues. A nursing home “is a home,’’ and a person’s bedroom is a key part of that home, said W. Scott Plumb, senior vice president of public policy at the Massachusetts Senior Care Association.
Geriatric medicine cuts across all diseases that contribute to the functional problems an older adult might have. An older patient typically goes from one specialist to another, with each doctor treating a single problem, but often not looking at the patient as a whole. The patient may receive treatment, but quality-of-life goals are rarely discussed.
In contrast, the geriatrician often sits with three (or more) individuals: the patient, the patient’s spouse, and an adult child. Together they present a medical history and, often, a list of medications prescribed by different doctors. Medicare pays the geriatrician a small fraction of the true cost spent with the patient, taking a history, examining the patient, ordering appropriate tests, making a diagnosis, and developing a treatment plan. Following the visit, the geriatrician reviews laboratory studies, talks to family members and other doctors, organizes rehabilitative and social services, completes applications for supportive housing, renews medications . . . and gets paid nothing for this work.
Ironically, geriatricians actually save health care dollars by planning ahead; avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations, tests, medications, and treatments; reducing hospitalization and surgical complications; shortening lengths of stay; and facilitating the safe transfer of patients to appropriate rehabilitation settings and care at home. President Obama’s health care bill would, at least, require Medicare to cover counseling sessions so that physicians can develop appropriate care plans with their elderly patient
Private duty home care agencies are companies that provide home care aides, companion care, homemaker services and may provide nursing services in the client's home or place of residence. "Private duty" means private pay. In other words, no government monies are used for the cost of care. The most common methods for covering the cost of private duty home care is through long term care insurance benefits, out of pocket, or other types of savings arrangements.
Great Web Resources for Seniors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona
AGING IN-PLACE OR AGING-IN-NO-PLACE
AgeLab researchers, in collaboration with the MIT Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, are conducting an assessment of available services to baby boomers and older adults in suburban areas. Using geographical information systems (GIS), researchers are identifying the disconnect of where we live and the access we have to stores, doctors, recreation, and related activity centers.
MIT Agelab developing "new ideas to improve the quality of life for older adults and those who care for them".
http://web.mit.edu/agelab/about_agelab.shtmlAging: A Global Opportunity to Live Better
The world's population is aging at a staggering rate. The 50+ population is the fastest growing segment worldwide and predicted life-expectancies are at a historical high.
- An American turns 50 once every seven seconds.
- Within the next few years, 50% of the European Union's population will be 65+.
- By 2030, in Italy, retirees will outnumber active workers.
- By 2050, the median age in Thailand will rise to 50.
With advances in medicine, public policy and technology, people are not only living longer, but many are living better. Today's older adults are more educated and engage in more activities than previous generations, including work, leisure, learning, etc. The modern face of aging is one that expresses vitality and commands a greater quality of life. We must look at the demands of this population with open minds to new opportunities for innovation. Innovations from government, business, and research created for the older population will ultimately benefit all ages. An aging society is the opportunity to invent the future of healthy, active living.
Snyder said, “I really worry these companies are taking advantage of the average consumer’s concerns about their own health.’’
It wouldn’t be the first time products boasting brain benefits surged in popularity before research raised questions about the claims. The makers of “Baby Einstein’’ in September announced refunds after studies found that the popular videos didn’t actually produce baby geniuses. The product was hyped for more than a decade for its perceived ability to improve infants’ vocabulary.
Now, a growing chorus of researchers is calling for more and better studies of the brain games marketed for people heading toward the other end of the age curve.
“Many of the products may not be ready for prime time, but the science is still developing,’’ said Joe Coughlin, director of the MIT AgeLab, a center that designs and develops new products for adults over 45.
Coughlin believes some carefully designed brain games may be useful in keeping specific skills sharp. Right now, he’s evaluating the effectiveness of a computer software product that is marketed to baby boomers to help them sharpen driving skills by improving focus, reaction time, and memory. While Coughlin is optimistic that some brain games may be proven effective, he is less convinced that Americans will have the fortitude to stick with them
Conversations about retirement, making friends, sharing advice, living your dreams, discussing traveling. A online meeting place for those who have retired and for those thinking of retiring. What better place to discuss retirement than a group such as this one.
Think of this group as a retirees people to people network for you!
Anybody can view group content
Viewers can request an invitation to join
Only members can post and participate.
Messages from new members are moderated to limit noise.
This is not a forum for sales pitches and product commercials.
Web 2.0 – Story Telling By the Flickr of the Global Campfire
As digital storyteller Huw Davies often tells novices: "What you need to be able to do is: open a file, do what you want to it, then save it somewhere where you'll be able to find it later."
A Guide to Digital Storytelling PDF
These guides are written for those helping others to make digital stories but most of the guidance is still relevant if you're making your own story.
Introduction
The Ideal Digital Storytelling Venue
Briefing Participants
Finding the Story
Getting the Story Down on Paper
Refining and Completing the Story
Tips on Publishing your Story
Any List for Digital Storytellers
Equipment checklist
Ten things to show someone who has never used a computer before
Taking Digital Photos
Audio and Voice Recording for Digital Storytelling
How to Edit your Digital Story
Sharing Digital Stories
About NFCA
The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships and life stages to help transform family caregivers' lives by removing barriers to health and well being.National Family Caregivers Month November 2009
NFC Month is organized annually by the National Family Caregivers Association as a time each year to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers. "This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month,"said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and CEO.
The Caregiver Story Project: The NFCA "Caregiver Story Project" is an opportunity for family caregivers to share their caregiving journeys and to learn from and help one another. We are especially interested in caregiver experiences related to the financial strain of caregiving and any difficulties you have had with the healthcare system, including frustrations coordinating your loved one’s care with all of the many healthcare professionals with whom you are involved.
E-Communities: Connecting family caregivers directly to other family caregivers in their own cities and states to share information and resources.
Conference Themes
Recognized experts in the field of aging will lead plenary sessions and concurrent workshops, discussions, demonstrations, and experiential activities in four general theme areas:
* Life Transitions
* Creativity
* Wellness
* Community
Under those general themes, leaders and attendees will explore sub-themes including lifelong learning, intergenerational learning, spirituality and religion, technology, diversity, public policy, international developments, life planning, civic engagement, encore careers, and others.
Locating elderly home care service becomes an easy job, if you take the help of Internet. You can also ask your friends and colleagues about the numerous types of services available with home care. But it would be sensible, if you hold a conversation with your elderly loved one before taking the service of elder home care. With this conversation, you will be able to know about the preferences of near one and avail the service accordingly.
It is a pity that many senior citizens are moved to nursing-homes or hospitals, who might just require helping hand in running daily tasks of life. The solution to this type of problems lies in the hand of elderly home care services. Senior citizens, who need non-medical support, are also benefitted from this service. Senior home care services can provide a substitute to long-term care.
Since, in most of the cases working persons are unable to give adequate time, the variant services of the senior home care service works as a good alternative. These services include light housekeeping, meal preparation, errands and shopping, respite care, meditation assistance, hygiene assistance to name a few.
The longer period senior citizen spends time at their own home, they will stay healthy both physically and mentally. Take advantage of elderly home care to ensure a better life of your elderly loved one.
Tyler Moon is an expert in article writing and internet marketing. She regularly contributes articles on various topics like security services, birth announcements etc.
Senior Health Care Services
Safe.. go to www.annualcreditreport.com. NOT freecreditreport.com
{don't be} fooled by those clever commercials for freecreditreport.com with the goofy guy playing a guitar complaining about how his life is messed up because he didn’t check his credit report.
But the Federal Trade Commission has received many complaints from consumers who were misdirected from the official site. Every consumer is entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
In an effort to help keep consumers from ending up on imposter sites or falling for promotions for free credit reports that aren’t really free, the FTC is seeking public comment on proposed rules. You have a chance to weigh in.
Deirdre R. Wheatley-Liss is a shareholder of the Law Firm of Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard, P.C., with offices in Parsippany and Toms River, New Jersey. She concentrates her practice in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Business Planning and Tax Law.
New Case Clarifies Transfers to Disabled Children Exeception to Mediciad Penalties
Her blog has long list of lawyers' blogs.
Uninsured, and with no training in health care, Kate Bicego seemed an unlikely candidate four years ago to staff a hot line that connects callers to care. But the eager young recruit from rural Illinois had passion, curiosity, and fluency in Spanish, which is critical for what she’s doing now. The 28-year-old runs the hot line at Health Care for All (800-272-4232, 617-350-7279, www.hcfama.org), a large Boston-based consumer group that helps roughly 3,200 callers a month navigate an increasingly complex health care system. As consumers face a dizzying array of choices and rules
A 2008 long term care study done by Prudential insurance has some surprising information regarding the costs of care for services needed as we age. This is information is important to assist in making plans for the “golden years”.--
The study shows that the average cost of a nursing home can exceed $70,000 a year for a semi private room. A break down of the daily charges is $194 per day. A private room can exceed $79,000 a year or $217 a day. These costs will, of course depend on the area of the country you live in. Some areas will be more and some less. It was also noted that there has been a 7% increase in the cost of living in a nursing home over the past 2 years. Nursing home costs have had an increase of over 30% in the past 5 years.
Assisted living facilities have seen the greatest increase in costs over the past 2 years. The average for living in an assisted living facility rose to nearly $39,000 per year. This is an average daily charge of just over $100 per day.
There was an average of a 15% increase in rates for the assisted living facility that provide care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
In -home care has had the smallest increase rate of all the service providers. The rate of in-home care has had an increase of 5% over the past two years and only 17% over the past 7 years.
The average cost for a certified nursing assistant providing in-home care is $21 per hour. The services provided by a certified nursing assistant are bathing, dressing and care provided under the supervision of a register nurse. These services are ordered by a physician and generally covered by insurance. These services are only provided intermittently and for a limited amount of time.
The 2008 Genworth Financial study of cost of care also covers the non skilled in home care. This is a growing segment of the in-home care services, as many individuals want to remain in their homes as long as possible.
The average cost for homemaker services is $18 an hour. The rate of these services has increased by 4% over the last year. A homemaker provides companionship, light housekeeping duties, assistance with cooking and running small errands.
In- home care also provides home health aides. These individuals are able to provide basic assistance with personal care, but are not permitted to perform and medical tasks.
The average rate of a home health aide is $19 an hour. This is an increase of 3% over the past year.
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This lengthy article is well worth the read. http://ow.ly/15YGwf
NOTE: they show average values, you will find costs in your area may differ wildly.
Elder Care Residential Services
Mailing address:
610 Cypress Street
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
805-473-7400
FAX: 805-473-4704
Cell: 805-452-3225 9am TO 5pm Pacific Time
info@eldercareresidentiaservices.com
More than 10 million people currently need long-term care services, a number that's only expected to grow as the baby boom generation ages. But most families whose elders can no longer care for themselves have to scrape to find a solution.
The cost of nursing homes averages $70,000 a year, and a home care attendant runs about $29 an hour. Medicare only covers temporary nursing home stays. Middle-class households have to go through their savings before an elder can qualify for nursing home coverage through Medicaid.
The new proposal is called the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, or CLASS Act, and passing it was a top priority for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. The Obama administration also has said it should be part of health care overhaul legislation.
In return for modest monthly premiums while they are working, people would receive a cash benefit of at least $50 a day if they become disabled. The money could be used to pay a home care attendant, purchase equipment and supplies, make home improvements such as adding bathroom railings, or defray the costs of nursing home care.
Welcome to GetPharmacyAdvice.com
This blog is run by two pharmacists – me, Nova Simpson, and my best friend in the whole world, Cate Sibley.
Luckily for you, Cate and I both work in the retail pharmacy environment. That means that we know all the aggravating, frustrating, and mind-boggling questions that are on your mind and we created this blog to answer those questions.
A retail pharmacy is one of the most challenging and fast paced environments to work in. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare workers available to you and we hope now that you know about GetPharmacyAdvice.com, you will use our blog to your advantage and visit us as often as you can.
You are more than welcome…in fact…we encourge you to please email us with your questions. We are here to help you and Cate and I are well aware that due to the fast pace of the retail pharmacy, your questions as a patient can go neglected or unanswered.
No matter how you currently feel about your pharmacy, please now consider us your personal pharmacists. We care about you and we want to help you.
As far as we know, GetPharmacyAdvice.com is the only blog of its kind. http://www.getpharmacyadvice.com/
I am sure everyone has experienced a “counseling” session at a busy retail pharmacy - The pharmacist tries to explain everything the patient wants/needs to know in 30-60 seconds, while the phone is ringing off the hook, technicians are asking questions and three other pharmacy guests are standing around listening.
The Diabetes Health Care Crisis
People with Diabetes Don't Have Access to Adequate and Affordable Health Care
* Health insurance policies don't cover basic diabetes needs and reward crisis care, not the continuous care needed to prevent a medical crisis.
* Pre-existing condition exclusions prevent people from enrolling.
* Health insurance premium surcharges for diabetes drive premiums above what individuals and small businesses can afford.
* Medicaid eligibility limits leave many low income people unable to access health insurance.Health Insurance Options 65 and Above
The following options may be available to you.
Medicare
Medicare provides health insurance benefits to persons 65 and older, persons under 65 who are disabled, and individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).Medicaid
Medicaid provides medical care to certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources.TAA Tax Credit
TAA is a tax credit available to workers who have lost their jobs or whose hours of work and wages have decreased as a result of increased imports.Prescription Assistance
Medigap
Most pharmaceutical companies have established patient assistance programs to help uninsured individuals get the medications that they need to stay healthy.
Medigap policies are available to Medicare-eligible individuals. They can be purchased from private health insurance carriers and provide benefits that are otherwise not included in Medicare Part A or BAdditional Resources:
- Health Reform Task Force Recommendations
- Health Care Insurance Options for People with Diabetes
- Discrimination Based on Diabetes
- Coalition of Health and Consumer Advocates' Joint Statement on Delivery System Health Reform and Chronic Care
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts and supports research on brain and nervous system disorders. Created by the U.S. Congress in 1950, NINDS is one of the more than two dozen research institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH, located in Bethesda, Maryland, is an agency of the Public Health Service within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NINDS has occupied a central position in the world of neuroscience for more than 50 years.
More than 600 disorders afflict the nervous system. Common disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and autism are well-known. Many other neurological disorders are rare-known only to the individuals and families affected, their doctors, and scientists who look to rare disorders for clues to a general understanding of the brain as well as for treatments for specific diseases. Neurological disorders strike an estimated 50 million Americans each year, exacting an incalculable personal toll and an annual economic cost of hundreds of billions of dollars in medical expenses and lost productivity.
The mission of the NINDS is to reduce the burden of neurological disease—a burden borne by every age group, every segment of society, and people all over the world. To accomplish this goal the NINDS supports and conducts basic, translational, and clinical research on the normal and diseased nervous system. The Institute also fosters the training of investigators in the basic and clinical neurosciences, and seeks better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders.
Basic research pursues an understanding of the normal and abnormal structure and activities of the human nervous system. The knowledge gained from this research creates the foundation for diagnosing and treating brain disease. Some important areas of NINDS basic research include: biology of the cells of the nervous system, brain and nervous system development, genetics of the brain, cognition and behavior, neurodegeneration, brain plasticity and repair, neural signaling, learning and memory, motor control and integration, sensory function, and neural channels, synapses, and circuits. The great challenge of modern neuroscience is to translate the remarkable findings of basic science into useful therapies for those who suffer the devastating effects of neurological disorders. To facilitate this translation, NINDS supports many specific research projects and research resources that accelerate preclinical therapy development.
Clinical research applies directly to mechanisms of the diseases of the nervous system which can then be translated into disease detection, prevention, and treatment, such as studies of brain imaging techniques, trials to test new drugs, and development of novel therapies such as stem cell implants and gene transfer. Some key areas of NINDS clinical research include: neurological consequences of AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors, developmental disorders, epilepsy, motor neuron diseases, muscular dystrophies, multiple sclerosis, neurogenetic disorders, pain, Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, sleep disorders, spinal cord injury, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.
Most NINDS-funded research is conducted by extramural scientists in public and private institutions, such as universities, medical schools, and hospitals. NINDS intramural scientists, working in the Institute’s laboratories, branches, and clinics, also conduct research in most of the major areas of neuroscience and on many of the most important and challenging neurological disorders.
Crucial Conversations
So, here’s the big question. What can you do to make handing in his car keys something your father wants to do? Or something he is at least willing to tolerate?
Answer: Don’t equate taking away the keys with helplessness, boredom, and the complete loss of independence.
Kerry Patterson is author of three bestselling books, Influencer, Crucial Conversations, and Crucial Confrontations. Read the rest of his answer to this very important question here. http://ow.ly/15X2Vp
The Retirement Community website has a extensive directory of subjects retirees will want to browse: Active Adult Communities, Adult Day Services, Assisted Living, Alzheimers Care, Continuing Care, Home Care and Hospice Care, Independent Living, Senior Centers, Choosing a Retirement Community, Driver's Licensing, Medicaid Regulations by State, Property Taxes By State, Retirement Glossary, State Elder Affairs Agencies, Taxes By State, and Types-of-Senior-Housing.
Everyone has the occasional memory lapse. But sometimes it’s not caused by the natural aging process.
The mission of Second Wind Dreams® (SWD) is simple: through the fulfillment of dreams and the offering of innovative educational opportunities to caregivers and communities, SWD seeks to change the perception and experience of aging, empowering elders to age with dignity, hope and joy.
Second Wind Dreams focuses on those living in eldercare communities or in hospice care. These are our seniors who need our assistance most. Family support may be non-existent, money can be at a premium, especially for our Medicaid supported seniors, and these senior adults are often our frailest— the ones who need a dream fulfilled.
Senior Living Directory. Covering the continuum of care and beyond, we offer the most up-to-date detailed listing information on the following types of Senior Housing Options:
* Retirement Homes
* Manufactured Homes
* Golf Communities
* Active Living Communities
* Independent Living Communities
* Alzheimer’s Care Communities
* Memory Care Communities
* Dementia Care Communities
* Long Term Care Facilities
* Nursing Care Facilities
* Skilled Nursing Care Facilities
* Rehabilitation Care Facilities
As a gateway to retirement living, RetirementHomes.com offers information and services for seniors, families, directors, vendors, job seekers and health professionals
Memory "Shakespeare called memory "the warder of the brain," charged with keeping watch over an individual's personal account of being..."
The Johns Hopkins White Papers are a series of in-depth special reports written by some of the nation's leading doctors, all specialists in their respective fields. Each White Paper summarizes the very latest research and findings from all of the major medical journals, in easy to use language for the lay person to understand. We currently have thirteen different titles.
Research on memory continues to grow. Every year, investigators learn more about the causes of memory problems and how to prevent and treat them. We review the past year's advances in the understanding of memory disorders like Alzheimer disease, and discuss how people who care for patients with dementia can cope better with day-to-day difficulties.
KnowItAlz is an Alzheimer's resource focused on the caregiver. We give caregivers the opportunity to get current information, participate in a community and gain additional insights about caregiving for someone with Alzheimer's.
More than 26 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease, and a recent forecast says the number will quadruple by 2050. At that rate, one in 85 people will have the brain-destroying disease in 40 years.
Alzheimer's disease not only affects the person who has been diagnosed, but almost always also impacts the family members and friends who become caregivers. Caring for an Alzheimer's patient can be emotionally, psychologically and financially draining, and a support system often difficult to find. As the disease progresses, caregivers often find themselves cut off from friends, other family members and regular social activities.
In addition, most caregivers have the additional responsibilities of full time jobs and caring for a family of their own, as well as the responsibility of caring for a parent, spouse or other loved one. As a loved one begins to experience the many often difficult behavioral changes, even the most dedicated caregivers will struggle with guilt, resentment or frustration, at some point in their role as caregiver. Finding a balance is critical.
KnowItAlz.com provides, information and useful Alzheimer’s related resources, but more importantly a community of caregivers to providing the necessary support as you take on this difficult, yet often rewarding journey.
Our content is a combination of information from experts in both the Alzheimer’s and geriatric fields, as well as “real life” experts like you who have first-hand experience as a caregiver. Our goal is to build a community that connects caregivers to the information that can help them at every stage, as well as the opportunity to see the lighter side of caregiving—and yes, there is one!
The KnowItAlz Group was founded in 2007 by Kathy Hatfield and Nancy Hatfield.
Ways to Honor Our Grief:
* Take some photographs. See the beauty in vein-riddled hands and silver-white hair. There’s a sense of beauty that comes with aging, I liken it to the beauty and intricacy of a spider’s web. Even when the photographs reveal the ravages of time and disease, there’s something important about acknowledging today–just as it is.
* Dig out some old photographs–baby pictures, grade school, high school, the dating years, wedding photos. Remember who your loved one is–and was. Create a bridge by taking note of each decade, each life event. Display these photos so when grief comes, you can ease its sting by acknowledging what an amazing life journey they’ve had–and you’ve had with them.
* Write letters and share what you’re experiencing. Even if no one ever reads them, you need to write them. Grief is like a suitcase we carry with us–and if we have a place to put it–our thoughts, our worries, our memories–when we write them, we ease our own emotional load.
* Talk to those who share your experience. Call your sister, a cousin, or a friend who has been through a similar situation. Knowing that someone will listen to you, someone you can reminisce with, confide in–makes our grief bearable
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Carol O'Dell's blog speaks to caregivers around the country. Carol offers suggestions, ideas and insights that will help others.
While Carol's blog is supported by Dakim Brain Fitness, Carol is not blogging to promote the Dakim company or products..
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified a tool, the "Getting-Out-of-Bed (GoB) measure" to assess motivation and life outlook in older adults. The study, which appears in the October issue of the /i>Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, shows that the tool has the potential to be an easy-to-use measure to bolster motivation and thus, improve health behaviors and outcomes in the growing population of older adults.
Wheelchairs, Walkers, and a Too-Narrow Bathroom Door: 4 Ways to Widen A Bathroom Doorway
If your bathroom doors are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker, count yourself lucky. Most aren't, and families do come up with the most ingenious ways to get their disabled loved ones into the bathroom. Moving is a last resort, but some seniors eventually do that, too. There several are ways to make the bathroom door accessible that don't require a moving vanThe ElderCare Team! Resources for senior caregivers, articles, resources, books and fellowship with caregivers all around the country.The site is dedicated to helping everyone involved in - or who will some day be involved in - caring for an aging adult
NEW YORK - Reverse mortgages may be the next subprime crisis, according to the National Consumer Law Center.
Some of the same US lenders that helped drive the real estate boom with loans to home buyers who could not afford the payments are now targeting senior citizens, the center said. Brokers, who are given financial incentives to sell the loans, may be making misleading claims, according to a report titled “Subprime Revisited,’’ released yesterday by the Boston-based NCLC.
“This market is designed to serve seniors, so when we find abuses cropping up and migrating from the subprime market to the senior market, that sounds an especially loud warning bell,’’ said Rick Jurgens, an advocate at the NCLC who contributed to the report.
Reverse mortgages enable people 62 and older who are looking for extra cash to use the equity in their homes and receive lump-sum payments, periodic checks, a line of credit, or a combination of the three. Lenders are repaid from the sale of the home when the borrowers die or move.
<snipped>Kohl and McCaskill released a government report in June that said some lenders falsely market reverse mortgages as “lifetime income’’ and sell mortgages coupled with other financial products, such as annuities, even though Congress banned so-called cross-selling in 2008.
The center’s study recommended enhancing borrower counseling prior to taking out a loan and holding lenders and brokers to a suitability standard.
Beverly Parsons, LGSW
Licensed Graduate Social Worker
Beverly is a caregiver, who has spent the last decade finding solutions to the thorny and often very difficult and unclear issues that caregivers face. She is a licensed social worker who has 10 years of geriatric care management experience working with caregivers and aging families.
Beverly draws on 30 years of personal and professional training to provide a unique approach of psychotherapy for caregivers and elders, using self-awareness, working with emotions, conversation and presence. Beverly is an adjunct faculty member at the Community College of Baltimore County, Elder Care. She was a research assistant at the National Institute on Aging and was trained by the Alzheimer’s Association as a group facilitator. She is trained in Elder Mediation to assist families in the decision-making process concerning aging issues.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AgingFamilies
An excellent Read:
Carol D. O’Dell’s "Keys to Dealing with Difficult Alzheimer’s Behavior”
Carol is a Jacksonville University graduate, a family advisor at Caring.com She is alo syndicated on OpentoHopeCaregivers.com. visit her website is www.caroldodell.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/caroldodell.
An engaged patient plays an active role in his or her care. Or, as e-patients.net founder “Doc Tom” Ferguson said, “e-Patients are Empowered, Engaged, Equipped and Enabled.”Trust yourself.
We who’ve become e-patients don’t wait for our providers to tell us everything; we get it in gear, we ask questions, we do what we can to help.
You know more
than you think you do.
FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials
Changes Affect Testimonial Advertisements, Bloggers, Celebrity Endorsements
The Federal Trade Commission today announced that it has approved final revisions to the guidance it gives to advertisers on how to keep their endorsement and testimonial ads in line with the FTC Act.
The notice incorporates several changes to the FTC’s Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, which address endorsements by consumers, experts, organizations, and celebrities, as well as the disclosure of important connections between advertisers and endorsers. The Guides were last updated in 1980.
Under the revised Guides, advertisements that feature a consumer and convey his or her experience with a product or service as typical when that is not the case will be required to clearly disclose the results that consumers can generally expect. In contrast to the 1980 version of the Guides – which allowed advertisers to describe unusual results in a testimonial as long as they included a disclaimer such as “results not typical” – the revised Guides no longer contain this safe harbor.
The revised Guides also add new examples to illustrate the long standing principle that “material connections” (sometimes payments or free products) between advertisers and endorsers – connections that consumers would not expect – must be disclosed. These examples address what constitutes an endorsement when the message is conveyed by bloggers or other “word-of-mouth” marketers. The revised Guides specify that while decisions will be reached on a case-by-case basis, the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service. Likewise, if a company refers in an advertisement to the findings of a research organization that conducted research sponsored by the company, the advertisement must disclose the connection between the advertiser and the research organization. And a paid endorsement – like any other advertisement – is deceptive if it makes false or misleading claims.
The following services may be available in your community (if your so lucky):
1.
The care must have been provided for one or more qualifying persons. A qualifying person is your dependent child under age 13. Additionally, your spouse and certain other individuals who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care may also be qualifying persons. You must identify each qualifying person on your tax return.
2.
The care must have been provided so you – and your spouse if you are married – could work or look for work.
3.
You – and your spouse if you are married – must have earned income from wages, salaries, tips, other taxable employee compensation or net earnings from self-employment. One spouse may be considered as having earned income if they were a full-time student or they were physically or mentally unable to care for themselves.
4.
The payments for care cannot be paid to your spouse, to someone you can claim as your dependent on your return, or to your child who is under age 19, even if he or she is not your dependent. You must identify the care provider on your tax return.
5.
Your filing status must be single, married filing jointly, head of household or qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child.
6.
The qualifying person must have lived with you for more than half of 2008.
7.
The credit can be up to 35 percent of your qualifying expenses, depending upon your income.
8.
For 2008, you may use up to $3,000 of the expenses paid in a year for one qualifying individual or $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals.
9.
The qualifying expenses must be reduced by the amount of any dependent care benefits provided by your employer that you exclude from your income.
10.
If you pay someone to come to your home and care for your dependent or spouse, you may be a household employer. If you are a household employer, you may have to withhold and pay social security and Medicare tax and pay federal unemployment tax. For information, see Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide.
For more information on the Child and Dependent Care Credit, see Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. You may download these free publications from IRS.gov or order them by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Preparing the Home for an Alzheimer's Patient
Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient at home can be difficult. In taking the proper steps to become a successful caregiver, it is essential that you prepare your home for your loved one's arrival. Likewise, if your loved one's Alzheimer's is mild and they still live on their own, it is important that you ensure that their living environment is safe.
Not only must space often be reorganized, but every room in the house that your loved one will be using should also be made as accident-proof as possible. There are many basic guidelines that can be followed in order to provide safe and effective caregiving in the home.
In order to ensure a thorough approach, a room-by-room checklist can be very helpful. The following guidelines can be used for the caregiver's own home if the loved one is living with the caregiver, or for an elderly loved one's home.
Creating A Safe Home. Santa Clara Signal staff writer, Anne Marie Mills
One of the simplest modifications involves creating a “barrier-free” home. According to Santa Clara Signal staff writer, Anne Marie Mills in her article, “Is Your Home Safe?” what this means is that the home has no barriers prohibiting people with disabilities to freely navigate the home. For example, a person in a wheelchair needs to have door opening sizes increased from the basic 29 inch to 30 inch width to as much as 36 inches to 42 inches. Carpets need to be commercial-contract carpet similar to the type used in banks and office buildings, rather than the traditionally thicker home carpets so that a person in a wheelchair or using a walker will have no problem walking on them.
In addition, there are three other key areas of focus for modifying your home for your elder--lighting, the bathrooms and home furnishings.
They offer a comprehensive
Home Safety Evaluation Checklist .
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This evaluation can be used to determine if someone is safe living home alone given the current state of the home.
Any NO response indicates an area of concern. NO responses do not necessarily mean that the person can no longer remain at home, but do indicate areas in which the home may need to be modified or where assistance should be brought in to ensure safety.
If the care recipient is unable to perform a task independently mark NO; if a caregiver is available to assist with the task mark CAREGIVER. This will help determine whether the care recipient is safe without a caregiver present.
A: Having an emergency plan is extremely important, especially when a substitute caregiver occasionally takes your place in the home.
*The 911 number for emergencies ( medical, fire, police )
*The physician's number ( emergency and office number )
*The name and number of the hospital the physician / patient prefer
*The number of the home health agency, if one is currently making visits to the home
*The Poison Center phone number
*The number for medical / oxygen supplier, if used
*The caregiver's phone number
In a series on the basics of Aging in Place remodeling. The issues are:
1. Getting in and out.
2. Moving around with in the house
3. Safely getting into and out of bed and getting to clothing storage
4. Safe use of the bathroom including ergonomic caregiving
5. Preparing and taking meals
6. Home office function
7. Entertainment- TV, music, reading, guests
8. Enjoying the outdoors
All these issues are not priorities for every client, household or house. It is always important to spend our resources wisely....making sure the problem we set out to solve is taken care of by the work we have done.
Posted by Aging in Place Guide blog
Louis Tenenbaum 's Aging in Place empowers older citizens with Choice and Control, Dignity and Independence - the essentials of happier homes, better lives and more economical housing and care.Louis Tenenbaum is one of the nation’s leading authority on Aging in Place. He has years of experience helping individual families, builders/developers and communities set the stage for folks to remain safe and comfortable in their own homes.
Contact: louis @ louistenenbaum.com
