Pleasantries Adult Social Day Services

Pleasantries Adult Day Services - Home Page

Pleasantries is an Adult Social Day Services program located in a comfortable residential home at 195 Reservoir Street in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Pleasantries has beautiful views where guests can enjoy nature by taking walks, fishing, gardening, and having a picnic with their peers.

Moving Aging Family Member into Your Home .. sure?

Joy Loverde addressed Moving Aging Parents into Your Home on the EldercareABC Blog

Joy's information is applicable if you were to substitute "Aging Parents" with Brother, Sister, In law, Relative. What can start as a loving arrangement can turn very sour as we age and what was done on a handshake is hammered by fading memories, assumptions, and unforeseen changes in the needs of everyone.

Verbal contracts are bound to be regretted. After you read Joy's excellent article do not do anything until you have had a family meeting with a elder affairs attorney and review every point she raises. Then put the results in writing with signatures of the principles and your attorney. There is nothing so difficult as a house guest who comes to live in your home without a written agreements, who won't accept consequences of lifes changes, your health needs, your needing to relocate, selling your home and all the emotional, financial and other dynamics of living together.

Don't skip any of Joy's questions or suffer the consequences. They are available on line.

Dave Mainwaring.
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Moving Aging Parents into Your Home Are you sure?
Sep. 17th, 2009 By Joy Loverde

"When times are tough, like they are now, sometimes well meaning caregivers of aging parents insist that their parents Moving aging parents, eldercare, senior helpmove in with them without full consideration of what can happen. The most serious stories include elder abuse and neglect, the fastest growing crime in America today. The arrangement of sharing one’s home with aging parents often stirs ambivalent feelings for everyone involved."

"We mean well when we ask our loved ones to move in with us; but we may not realize the potential negative consequences – emotionally, financially and otherwise. For example, if parents move in and contribute to the cost of remodeling the house to accommodate their needs, do they gift their portion of the house to the caregiving child? How do siblings feel about this financial arrangement? Should parents have a contract in which they pay the children for caring for them? How does this living arrangement affect a person’s eligibility for Medicaid?"

"I’d like every caregiver who is currently thinking about this under-one-roof lifestyle for them and their aging parents to take a deep, deep breath and proceed cautiously and slowly. If you have already exhausted the multitude of senior-housing options I offer in my book, The Complete Eldercare Planner, and you have made the decision that combining households is the best option, then promise me before anything else that you’ll take a family consensus as the final checklist before the move."
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She is 1000% on target when she said:
The arrangement of sharing one’s home with aging parents is not for the faint at heart. If you succeed, you are beating the odds!

The Diabetes Health Care Crisis

http://oregoneldercareservices.com/?p=712

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

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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
Most pharmaceutical companies have established patient assistance programs to help uninsured individuals get the medications that they need to stay healthy.

Medigap
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 B

Additional 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

Mass. Medicaid program has no job requirements for personal care attendants.

Home-care system leaves elderly at risk, auditor says - The Boston Globe
By David Abel
Globe Staff / October 15, 2009

Massachusetts state program that oversees home health care services for about 18,000 elderly and disabled residents is vulnerable to fraud and has employed personal care attendants who have committed felonies, including manslaughter, assault, and threatening to commit murder, according to a report released yesterday by the Office of the State Auditor.

The report also noted that the Mass. Medicaid program is one of only four out of 238 programs nationwide with no job requirements for personal care attendants.

The audit drew criticism from state health officials because it surveyed only 30 patients, whose cases had been previously reviewed for fraud by the federal government.

But State Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci said the findings illustrate why the state should establish job requirements for attendants, including training, education, and criminal background checks, which nearly every other program in the country requires.

“What we have found is that there are serious problems in the program,’’ DeNucci said in a phone interview. “We have to strengthen protections for vulnerable people. I think it’s very important.’’

The report also found that 14 of the 30 patients had hired attendants who either had been convicted of a felony or a court had found sufficient evidence to find them guilty. Of the 82 attendants who worked for the 30 patients between 2004 and 2008, seven had been in prison, 12 were involved in violent crimes, nine had been convicted of drug offenses, 10 committed robbery, nine had restraining orders against them, and four had outstanding warrants.

In all, auditors found 41 acts of violence, 29 crimes of theft, and 26 drug crimes, including heroin distribution and trafficking cocaine in a school zone.

State Representative Barbara L’Italien, an Andover Democrat and former attendant, introduced a bill this year that would allow patients to run a free criminal background check on attendants they hire, create an online database to help consumers find attendants, and establish a surrogate program to help those who cannot oversee attendants on their own. The bill has yet to emerge from committee.

“David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.

IF women only knew how to get their due from retirement

Women and Retirement

Linney Frank Bailiey wrote this piece as part of the 2009 The Irvine Foundation California Politics and Policy Fellowship program administered by New America Media.

Hounsell, 62, A Georgetown University trained lawyer, she runs the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, or WISER.

"Frequently, Hounsell said, women are unaware of their rights to some of their spouse’s retirement income, or they don’t want to appear greedy by pursuing it."

For more information, visit www.wiserwomen.org.

--

"New America Media is the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate of 2000 ethnic news organizations. Over 51 million ethnic adults connect to each other, to home countries and to America through 3000+ ethnic media, the fastest growing sector of American journalism."

"Founded by the nonprofit Pacific News Service in 1996, NAM is headquartered in California with offices in New York and Washington D.C., and partnerships with journalism schools to grow local associations of ethnic media."

http://ow.ly/15Psog

Aging In Place Technology Watch

About | Aging In Place Technology Watch

"Laurie M. Orlov, a tech industry veteran, writer, speaker and elder care advocate, is the founder of Aging in Place Technology Watch, a market research firm that provides thought leadership, analysis and guidance about technologies and related services that enable boomers and seniors to remain longer in their home of choice. In addition to her technology background and years as a technology industry analyst, Laurie is a certified long-term care ombudsman in Florida"

--
Categories

* Aging in Place Tech business potential
* assistive technologies
* cognitive and brain fitness
* communication devices
* computers and internet
* contribution and legacy
* dementia care technologies
* games
* games, fun and fitness
* healthcare
* home and remote monitoring
* medication management
* product snapshots
* telehealth and telemedicine

http://www.ageinplacetech.com/user/register

Everyone Over 80 Should Be On Facebook

3 Reasons Everyone Over 80 Should Be On Facebook
from
HealthBridge's In-Home Care Blog

"HealthBridge's In-Home Care Blog covers all aspects of family caregiving support - How-To Articles, Caregiving Tips, Alzheimer's Care and more."

"1. Long Lost Connections Return. It's true. As soon as you sign up for Facebook, you reconnect with someone from high school. If your graduating class consisted of ten kids, I'll guarantee at least one of them sends you a friend request on day one. People love connections - especially long lost connections. A reconnection with an old friend or an out of touch relative will make your loved one's day."

"2. Baby Pictures. Octogenarians have grandkids and great grandkids. The fact is, most new parents nowadays haven't "developed" a picture in a decade. The pictures of their kids aren't in albums on shelves, they're in albums online. Each time the great grandkids do something cute, their parents post the pic on Facebook for their friends. Your loved ones will absolutely love to check in every day and see the new pictures."

"3. Facebook Promotes Brain Health. Well, not just Facebook, but new and interesting activities do improve the brain. As we've written about before, octogenarians who spend time on new activities ward off mental decline better than others. It's likely that Facebook and the internet will be a new, challenging activity for your mom or dad...which is a good thing. They'll have a compelling reason to return (did I mention baby pictures) and they'll stay sharp while they learn."

"So, open up Facebook and help your loved ones create an account. While you're at it, become a fan of HealthBridge. Our online elder care community has over 200 members now, which goes to show you, Facebook is not just for kids anymore."

"Are your octogenarian loved ones on Facebook?"
--
NOTE:

"HealthBridge is a Dallas Home Care company designed to help your family simplify the care of your aging loved ones by providing dependable caregivers and impeccable service."

"HealthBridge simplifies senior care by providing families with a library of home care resources including the Dallas In-Home Care Guide. "

Pain In ederly often undiagnosed

Pain In People With Dementia Often Undiagnosed

Laurie Wang
University of Alberta how to identify when an elderly person is experiencing pain - and receive treatment sooner rather than later.

The University of Alberta's Cary Brown, PhD, has a new tool to help. She has developed an online workshop and toolkit for caregivers, health-care providers, family members and friends of people with dementia.

The researcher from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine created an evidence-based website with a narrated presentation on pain and dementia, a downloadable resource pack for family members, a downloadable pain log and a facilitator's toolkit with background material, a planning guide, promotional material and supplemental information for organizations who wish to put on a workshop.

The online workshop and toolkit are available at: http://www.painanddementia.ualberta.ca

"Private" Insurance companies are denying coverage for ostomy supplies

reason given is that medical supplies are not covered and ostomy supplies are medical supplies.
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http://www.phoenixuoaa.org/OstomySupplies.html

Health insurance is often paid for, at least in part, by contributions from one's employer or family member's employer. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act governs coverage by such policies, but coverage of ostomy supplies is not mandated. It is left up to individual states to determine what will or will not be covered within that state. There is only one state, Connecticut, which has a law mandating coverage of ostomy supplies by all comprehensive medical plans sold in the state.

There are three main types of health insurance plans: preferred provider plans (PPOs), health maintenance organization (HMO) and traditional or indemnity plans. Whichever type of plan you have, if you are not a Connecticut resident, there is no guarantee ostomy supplies are covered or that coverage will continue.

If your insurance is provided through an employer, it is likely that it is a standard policy and the employer is totally unaware whether or not the policy covers ostomy products. This is probably also the case if you obtain your insurance through some other group or association.

Coverage Cancelled

In recent years, insurers are advising their plan holders that they are no longer going to pay for ostomy supplies. The most common reason given is that medical supplies are not covered and ostomy supplies are medical supplies. Usually, when the insured explains the necessity of ostomy supplies, they are not met with much understanding.

The most that they achieved was a delay before the insurer stopped paying for the supplies. Often, the insurer has suggested that when the contract is next renewed, the employer could have a "rider" added to the policy that would add ostomy coverage; this would, of course, be at an additional cost.

Even when the insurer is made aware of the situation and is sympathetic, getting something done to correct it seems to take years rather than months!

When coverage is not coverage

There are also a number of ways in which some insurance plans theoretically pay for ostomy supplies, but in effect this coverage is of no or minimal benefit:

High Deductibles : In some cases, there is a deductible specifically applied to medical supplies or to durable medical equipment, orthotics, prosthetics and medical supplies (DMEPOS). If you do not use much in the way of other DMEPOS items, the deductible may be higher than your annual expenditure on ostomy products and the insurer will therefore pay for none of them.

Designated Suppliers L Some plans restrict beneficiaries to one or two suppliers with whom they have negotiated low payment levels. This can also mean that only a restricted range of products is available.

High Co-Payments: Some plans not only have a high deductible, but may also require a high co-payment on each order of ostomy supplies.

Utilization Restrictions: Sometimes, plans restrict usage to levels well below what is allowed by Medicare and what many people need each month.


Low Fee Schedule : Historically, the fees paid by private insurers for ostomy products have been close to the fees paid by Medicare. However, some policies are now paying as little as 60% of Medicare fee levels. In such cases, the cost to a supplier would therefore be higher than what the insurer would be paying for them.

For one insurer, there is not a single supplier within a whole state that will be willing to supply at an insurer's payment levels. The only reason for an out-of-state company to provide ostomy products under such circumstances is that they are a 'loss leader' that enables them to also supply other products that are more profitable. This, plus their distance from their customers, means that they are unable to support people who have recently had their surgery and need to try different product samples and often will only provide only the cheapest ranges of products!

Ms. Jacobson's article titled, Medical Issues and Terminology in Long Term Care

Medical Issues and Terminology in Long Term Care

Shay Jacobson, RN, MA
Lifecare Innovations, Inc.
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
630-953-2155
www.lcius.com

If you would like to read Ms. Jacobson's article titled, Medical Issues and Terminology in Long Term Care, visit the ElderCare Matters Library at www.ElderCareMatters.com/library.

Boston Examiners examine hundreds of topics. http://www.examiner.com/boston

Elder care book review - Family in The Attic by Elizabeth R. Pettiford

“Family in The Attic” is an amazing book and really should be required reading for anyone who has a senior parent, perhaps living alone, but beginning to find it too difficult to keep up their home and their own care. As families of such senior family members find themselves faced with total bewilderment of what to do and where to go, there are many great resources out there to help you...

Financial Matters | The Alzheimer's Association

Financial Matters

The cost of providing long-term care for a person with dementia can be very expensive. Many people assume that government programs, such as Medicare and others, will pay for it. However, it is individuals and families that typically pay for services out of their own pocket.

To reduce the financial stress that can come from paying for care requires advance planning.

Gather financial and legal documents

Carefully go over financial and legal documents. Getting a handle on existing expenses, assets and income can help you identify any necessary documents that are not in place.

Gather documents such as:

* Wills
* Medical and durable powers of attorney
* Bank and brokerage accounts
*Deeds, mortgage papers or ownership statements
*Pension and other retirements benefit summaries
*Social Security payment information
* Stock and bond certificates
* Monthly or outstanding bills
* Insurance policies


Ways to cover the costs of care

A number of financial resources may be available to help cover the costs care:

Insurance – includes government insurance programs such as Medicare and Medigap; disability insurance from an employer-paid plan or personal policy; group employee plan or retiree medical coverage; life insurance and long-term care insurance. After symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear, it is usually no longer possible to purchase many types of insurance.


Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Medicare covers inpatient hospital care, some doctor’s fees, some medical items and outpatient prescription drugs. The program also provides some home health care, including skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy, under certain conditions. It does not pay for long-term nursing home care.

Medigap insurance fills gaps in Medicare coverage, such as paying for coinsurance. The more expensive Medigap policies may cover additional items.

Disability insurance provides income for a worker who can no longer work due to illness or injury. An employer-paid disability policy provides 60 to 70 percent of a person's gross income.

Long-term care insurance typically pays for the costs of most care settings, include nursing homes. If the person with dementia has a long-term care policy, carefully review it to see if Alzheimer's disease is covered, when can benefits start being collected and what kind of care the policy covers.

Life insurance can be a valuable source of cash. The person with dementia may be able to receive a part of the policy's face value as a loan, called a viatical loan, that is paid off upon the person's death.

Retirement benefits – includes individual retirement accounts (IRAs), employee-funded retirement plans, such as a 401(k), 403(b) and Keough.

Personal savings and assets – includes stocks, bonds, savings accounts, real estate and personal property, such as jewelry or artwork.

Government assistance – includes Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for workers under age 65; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Medicaid; veterans benefits; and tax deductions and credits, such as the Household and Dependent Care Credit.

Social Security Disability Income is for workers younger than 65 who qualify for benefits. To qualify, the person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability. Generally that means proving that the person with dementia is unable to work in any occupation and the condition will last at least a year or is expected to result in death.

Supplemental Security Income guarantees a minimum monthly income for people who are age 65 or older, are disabled or blind, and have very limited income and assets. To qualify for benefits, the person must meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability.

Medicaid pays for medical care for people with very low income and assets levels. It also pays for long-term care for people who have used up most of their own money, under most circumstances. The person with dementia should be very careful about giving away assets to family members to qualify for Medicaid. Strict laws govern this area.

Community support – includes local support services at low or no cost, such as respite care, support groups, transportation and meal delivery.

Taxes and Alzheimer's Disease (26 pages)

National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information
This government site presents the different types of long-term care as well as how to plan and pay for the care.

Alzheimer's Association National Office 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601
Alzheimer's Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization

24/7 Helpline: 1.800.272.3900

Caring for Alzheimer's | The Alzheimer’s Association

Caring for Alzheimer's

No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there's no one approach to caregiving. Your responsibilities can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning.

Handling these duties is hard work. But by learning caregiving skills, you can make sure that your loved one feels supported and is living a full life. You can also ensure that you are taking steps to preserve your own well-being.

In this section:

* Daily Care - activities, communication, eating, bathing and more.

* Behaviors - agitation, repetition, hallucinations, sundowning and other behaviors.

* Safety Issues - home safety, medication safety, driving and wandering.

* Coping - strategies for caregiver stress, changing relationships, grief and loss, and getting respite.

* Caregiver Stress Check - take the quiz and get personalized resources.

* Free guides -
CareFinder Guide http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_16447.asp

ElderCare & Alzheimer's Care at Home

Welcome | ElderCare & Alzheimer's Care at Home

Alzheimer’s Care at Home! Having spent over seventeen years helping families keep their loved one at home, I’ve decided to start this blog to share some of the things I’ve learned along the way. When someone you care about has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia or any other type of memory impairment, every day is a new challenge. Some days are good - some days are bad. I hope that although I don’t have all the answers, you will find something here that helps getting through each day, each week and each year, a little easier!

University of Florida AlzOnline | Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online

AlzOnline : Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online

AlzOnline believes that throughout your caregiving journey you will have questions related to the many aspects of caring for a loved one. We want to help meet these challenges by providing quality caregiver education, information, and support.

Improving the quality of life for family caregivers and their aging parents

Blogs - As Our Parents Grow Older

As Our Parents Grow Older

Alzheimer's Finding the humanity and love in Alzheimer's care

www.bigtreemurphy.com - Finding the humanity and love in Alzheimer's care.

Finding the Humanity and Love

in Alzheimer's Care

For families facing the ethical, emotional and physical care issues of Alzheimer's Disease.

Using Usual Items To Do Unusual Tasks by Beverly Bigtree Murphy, MS, CRCR

Using Usual Things

Finding the products one needs to meet the changing needs of a loved one facing long-term care doesn’t have to be as difficult as one might think. I found, during the many years of home care of my husband, that I didn’t always need to get the high-tech expensive products advertised in catalogues and medical supply places, and more often than not, by using a little creativity and ingenuity, I was able to take common items and make them do uncommon things.

Google mapping feature track locations

Google Maps gains tracking feature - The Boston Globe

The Latitude program, a feature in the mobile version of Google Maps, will work with wireless devices in 27 countries. A wife could use it to see if her husband is on the way to meet her at a restaurant.

The company is counting on Latitude to help expand beyond Internet searches and raise its profile in social networking

Aging in place Steve Maas Globe Correspondent

New programs help elderly stay in their own homes - The Boston Globe

“Most of us have raised our families here. It’s a wonderful community. Why would we want to leave?’’ says Bliss, a native New Yorker who moved to Newton in the late ’60s. “What attracts so many of us is that we’re used to having a lot of say in our lives, and we don’t see why that should be different when we’re 75, 80, 85, or even 90.’’

Residents in Wellesley, Wayland, and Lincoln are organizing similar intentional communities, or villages, as they are often called. Meanwhile, the not-for-profit Carleton-Willard Homes Inc., which owns a retirement village in Bedford, has established a separate division to coordinate an intentional community serving residents in Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, and Lincoln.

The communities intend to supplement, not replace, existing services, such as those provided by councils on aging. They aim to fill in the gaps and offer the personal attention and relationships that are lost as family and friends die or move away.

“This intermediary organization is more like a club, a church, or temple than a government,’’ says Janet Giele, vice president of Wellesley at Home and a retired professor of sociology at the Heller School at Brandeis University. “We are so oriented as a society toward a market, the grocery-shopping approach. You go in and get what you want. The nature of human caregiving is not a grocery-shopping experience. It’s a sense of mutual obligation, of loyalty, of friendship, or a word we never use, love.’’

Launched by Boston’s Beacon Hill Village in 2002, the aging-in-place movement has spread to some 40 cities and towns across the United States. While the evidence is only anecdotal, it has benefited from the downturn in the economy. Because they have trouble selling their homes, some seniors have put off buying into retirement communities, and ravaged stock portfolios make it difficult for them to afford the fees.

By contrast, many intentional communities charge well under $1,000 for annual membership. As much as possible, the communities enlist volunteers to provide services, drawing on students, community and church groups, and the members themselves.