Senior Living Information Blog

Where have all the doctors gone?

On Wednesday night I had the extreme please of listening to Dr. Cheryl Woodson speak about the upcoming "Senior Tsunami".  I found it very interesting that if Washington doesn't fix Medicare, then the Boomers are really going to suffer.  Apparently Medicare (when it does pay) only pays .40 cents on the dollar.  Geriatric doctors whose patients almost always have Medicare can not afford to keep their practices open unless they also except younger patients as well.

With the amount of people that will be moving to Medicare in the next few years gets closer, the problem gets bigger. 

Dr. Woodson recently spoke to the New York Times about this as well and the whole informative article can be found here:  When Medicare Falls Short
 
Aside from the Medicare issue, she mentions that caregivers really need to take care of themselves and one of her keys to caregiver survival is: Don't put your head in the sand, Ostriches get their backside shot off all the time.  Very true.  Here is the link to her other keys to caregiving. 

Photo courtesy of Funny Ostrich Pictures (gotta love the internet)

Alzheimer's Awareness Stamps at USPS

Just picked up a few sheets of these on Monday... they look awesome.

To raise awareness of issues surrounding this dreadful disease and to draw attention to the importance of the caregiver, the U.S. Postal Service will issue 65 million 42-cent Alzheimer's Awareness stamps nationwide beginning on Friday, Oct. 17.

The post office hopes to draw attention to the causese of the disease, the impact it has on individuals, caregivers and society and how research may eventually lead to treatments that prevent or halt the progression of the disease...

Want to stay sharp as you get older?

Don't we all?  I read somewhere that as soon as you turn 30 your brain function decreases.  Guess that explains why I can't remember what I already wrote when my laptop shuts down by accident and doesn't save the blog post I already typed...

My friends at the Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter & Central Baptist Village have partnered up for a free workshop about brain health, appropriately titled: "Now What Was I Saying?" 

The workshop is an hour and a half and is designed for "boomers" and/or other healthy older adults who want to keep their memories sharp for as long as possible.

The informative and interactive program focuses on how our memory works, normal age-related changes vs. serious memory problems and the tricks and techniques to stimulate and challenge the brain.

Here are the details, and write them down so you don't forget:

Tuesday, November 11 2008 (and don't forget to honor our veterans on that day as well!)

2pm-3:30 pm

Location: Central Baptist Village, 4747 N. Canfield Rd, Norridge, IL

To register for this free program call 847-933-2413 or register online here.

Divided We Fail

Visit  www.dividedwefail.org to join with millions of other Americans to support candidates who will give us action, answers and accountability on health and lifetime financial security. We need to elect leaders who will end the gridlock in Washington and get things done.

Join us in our cause by pledging to:

• Vote for candidates who will ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care.
• Vote for candidates who will ensure that all Americans have peace of mind about their long-term financial security—with a real plan of action, and a real commitment to the American people.
• Vote for candidates who are specific about what they’ll do and how, and who stop speaking in generalities.

Use your vote to deliver the message that the time to address these problems is now.

We believe that candidates owe us action, answers and accountability, and they must commit to delivering long-term, lasting solutions if elected.

Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Question:  What is an Ombudsmen?

Ombudsmen advocate on behalf of residents and their families in long-term care facilities.

The ombudsmen also intercede on behalf of individuals and groups to ensure that they receive the benefits and services to which they are entitled and that their rights guaranteed by law are protected and enforced.

For more information, contact the Department on Aging Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966

e-mail: ilsenior@aging.state.il.us or visit www.state.il.us/aging/1abuselegal/ombuds.htm.

This contact information and an informative poster should be posted in every nursing home in the state.

Additional Help with communicating with your parents

Join Belmont Village at Geneva Road for a Two Part Lecture Series

1. Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

“Having the Tough Talk”
How to navigate and successfully conduct difficult conversations with your loved ones regarding the acceptance of supportive senior services.

Presented by Janet Brown and Terri Parrilli, Geriatric Care Manager from Wisdom Eldercare

2. Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

“Aging and the Brain: A Presentation on Cognitive Functioning and the Aging Proces”
Discussing the behavioral aspects and effects of cognitive decline including those caused by strokes, TIA’s and Alzheimer’s disease and the strategies to improve cognitive function.

Presented by Dr. Gregory Malo, Board Certified Neuropsychologist and Dr. Randy Summerville, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Please call Cathy Raymond at (630) 510-2522 to RSVP.

Light dinner and refreshments will be served. 

Free "teleseminar" on how to talk to your parents

HOW TO TALK WITH YOUR PARENTS ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES IN THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES

Barbara at AgeWiseLiving is offering a free teleseminar that I felt a lot of my readers might need.  Here is the information:

So many people have contacted me (Barbara) for advice on how to talk with their parents about their financial situation. They told me they tried to talk with them in the past but were unsuccessful so they put the conversation off for "another day". Now they realize they have to talk . . . and they have to talk now!

I absolutely agree! This is the time for clear, calm, logical conversation. But where to start? And how do you keep the discussions calm, cool, collected?

Don’t worry . . . . This is not a "gloom and doom" teleseminar. In fact, quite the opposite! This teleseminar is all about helping you and your aging loved ones communicate effectively so together you can

Determine where they are today

Make good critical decisions

And work together to successfully plan for the future

Join this month’s no-charge AgeWiseLiving teleseminar and learn how!

“Attending” this NO CHARGE teleseminar is easy and convenient!

At 7p EASTERN Time
Wednesday, October 15th
Just relax, put up your feet, and call
(269) 320-8400 ~ Conference Code: 742785#

"See" you then!

A Sterling Event

On Saturday, Oct 4, my husband and I attended the 4th Annual "A Sterling Event" in Chicago.  The event raises money for A Silver Lining Foundation which was started 6 years ago by Dr. Sandy Goldberg.  This is a picture of us with Dr. Sandy and her husband, Greg.

A Silver Lining Foundation provides:

    * easy access to cancer resource information
    * quality of life assistance during treatment and beyond
    * cost free mammograms and follow up diagnostic testing

Their chief initiative is to ensure that financial circumstance doesn't get in the way of accessing quality cancer related healthcare services. A Silver Lining Foundation makes sure that no one falls through the cracks.

Keeping Seniors Warm This Winter

My friend Mark Schmidt sent this to me the other day and I thought I should share it:

As the weather starts to turn cold and natural gas prices keep rising, many seniors are worried about keeping their house warm this Winter.  Fortunately, there are several programs available to those who qualify that can provide help.

First, if you are having trouble paying your heating bill, you should call People's Gas (866-556-6001) or North Shore Gas (866-556-6004) to discuss payment plan options.

In addition, there are some assistance programs that might be able to help you:

LIHEAP: This Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will help customers pay their outstanding bills, reconnect their service, and keep there home's energy on.  LIHEAP is available for those living at or below 150% of the poverty level:

A family size of 1 must have income of $15,600 or less
A family size of 2 must have income of $21,000 or less

* for each additional family member add $5400

To apply for LIHEAP, contact Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) at 800-571-2332.

Share the Warmth:  This is a grant of up to $200 for those who qualify to help offset the costs of heating the home.  Call the Salvation Army at 773-725-1100 or visit www.keepingUwarm.com for more information.

EHAP: The Emergency Housing Assistance Program provides grants for repair or replacement of heating units, roof repair, and other energy conservation activities.  To get more information on EHAP, call 311.

Anybody interested in applying for one of these programs should do so IMMEDIATELY!   Funds often run out shortly after becoming available due to the overwhelming demand.

Too many seniors are not aware of the help that is available to them.  Please spread the word about these programs so that everyone can stay warm during the cold Winter months!

Thanks Mark!!

Mark Schmidt
Reverse Mortgage Specialist
773-504-9633

Long Term Care Financing Reform - a white paper

In a recent New York Times editorial piece, Kathryn Roberts, PhD, CEO of senior housing provider Ecumen, shed light on the importance of long term care finance reform, and why today’s candidates are shying away from this discussion.  In the midst of all this financial discussion, we can't forget how much long term care is going to cost this country in a few years...

The whitepaper, “Long Term Care Financing Reform: An Incredible Opportunity for Candidates Who Desire Positive Change in America” Download long-term-care-financing-reform.pdf, explores the reasons candidates have ignored this issue, and what needs to change in order to ensure the quality of life all Americans deserve.  Feel free to download a copy (its a PDF file) by clicking on the link!  I found it to be very interesting.