Senior Living Information Blog

Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) is now live in Chicago

The Salvation Army is now open for business with their PEARLS program. PEARLS is the Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding Lives. This is a short term, in-home treatment program designed to reduce depression in physically impaired and socially isolated seniors.

PEARLS uses problem solving, social and physical activation and increased pleasant events to reduce depression.

This is a behavioral eight session program which takes place over a period of 15 weeks, with follow up phone calls for 3-4 months following completion.

There is no fee to the client.  (Medicare may be billed, for those clients who have it.)

An appropriate client for PEARLS will be suffering from minor to major depression and able to engage in an empowering, structured, problem-solving behavioral program.
PEARLS is not psychotherapy, but could lead to referral to counseling or other services.

Paula Christiansen, LCSW will be accepting referrals for PEARLS. All clients are screened for the program. When we receive referrals which are not appropriate for PEARLS, we will make every effort to provide alternative referrals.

She can receive referrals and inquiries by email,Paula_Christiansen@usc.salvationarmy.org fax (773 275-6288) and phone (773 433-5735.)

How Health Care Reform Affects Seniors a free guide

Recently the The Society of Certified Senior Advisors published a new about the new health care reform bill and its affect on our seniors.

This guide was created in order to answer some of the most often-asked questions about the new health care reform bill, titled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law last t year. Each year the bill is slated to roll out new provisions that affect individuals, businesses, insurance companies, health care providers, and the government.

While it is possible that the bill will be modified over the years, whether by lawmakers or by the courts, it is important to understand the approaching provisions and what they mean now. The topics covered within include:

• How will my Medicare benefits change?
• What happens to my Medicare Part D coverage?
• How are my income taxes affected?
• What new assistance is available for long-term care?
• How are seniors protected against abuse under health care reform?
• Is there a timeline for when all of these take effect?
• Where can I go for more information?

To get your free copy of the guide please visit www.csa.us/SeniorsHealthCareReform

 

Congress Passes National Alzheimer's Project Act

Congress on Wednesday (12/16/10) passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (N.A.P.A.), which would create the National Alzheimer’s Project for the coordination of government efforts in preventing and treating the disease, along with establishing a national strategy for defeating Alzheimer's. President Obama is expected to sign off on the law.
 
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America called the law’s passage a “victory both for families struggling with this disease each day and for organizations striving to make a difference.”
 
“The disease currently afflicts more than five million Americans, and that number is likely to double in the coming years,” said Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, in a release. “The passage of this Act will help to ensure we confront this challenge with an aggressive and coordinated national strategy. I look forward to implementing the legislation's provisions swiftly and effectively.”

Over the last few years, the Alzheimer's Association has been the leading voice in urging Congress to pass the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA). The National Alzheimer's Project Act will create a coordinated national plan to overcome the Alzheimer's crisis and will ensure the coordination and evaluation of all national efforts in Alzheimer's research, clinical care, institutional, and home- and community-based programs and their outcomes. Alzheimer's advocates were instrumental in moving NAPA through Congress. The Alzheimer's Association's more than 50,000 e-mails, nearly 10,000 phone calls and more than 1,000 advocate meetings led us to the historic legislative victory for the Alzheimer's community.

To read more about the chronology and the work that went into helping pass this law, visit the NAPA section of the Alzheimer's Association website here!

 

 

Please be aware of Medicare Scams as $250 rebate checks get sent out!

We recently received this message from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigans office.  I also posted an article in the Chicago Sun Times about it on our facebook page.  (Photo from the Sun Times article)

How does the Medicare scam work?

The recent mailing of $250 rebate checks to participants in Medicare’s drug program has given
scammers a new opportunity to take advantage of seniors and other Medicare recipients. In this latest
scam, Medicare recipient receive a call from a con artist claiming to be a Medicare representative. The
scammer then tells each recipient that they need to provide personal information, such as their Social
Security number and bank account number, in order to receive their rebate check. In reality, the
scammers need this information to gain access to the recipient’s bank account and empty it.

What are the rebate checks?

The $250 Medicare rebate checks are part of the recently enacted health care reform package, and are
intended to help close the coverage gap (or “doughnut hole”) in Medicare’s prescription drug program.
The checks are mailed automatically—you do not need to provide any personal information to receive
them. The first of these tax-free checks were mailed the second week of June. Additional mailings are
scheduled to go out as more recipients hit the doughnut hole, so remain alert in the months ahead!

What should you do?

Never give out personal information over the phone, unless you initiated the call and you know the
person with whom you are speaking. Remember—con artists will stop at nothing to steal your personal
information, and often devise new scams to exploit the confusion surrounding changes in public
benefits programs.

If someone posing as a Medicare representative attempts to solicit your personal information, you
should report them immediately by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call
1-877-486-2048.

Also, if you believe you’ve been a victim of a Medicare scam, please contact the Illinois Attorney
General’s Senior Consumer Fraud Hotline at 1-800-243-5377 or 1-800-964-3013 (TTY) to file a
consumer fraud complaint.

Help spread the word! Education is the best prevention!

Caring for seniors: free panel discussion and presentation in Crest Hill

Mark your calender for next Tuesday night.  Willow Falls Senior Living Community is hosting a panel discussion and presentation on caring for seniors. 

The expert panel will include:

• physician
• nurse
• attorney
• social worker
• Alzheimer's professional &
• financial planner...

The topics to be discussed:

• caring for yourself and or a loved one
• caring for your parents
• Alzheimer's and memory loss
• advanced directives
• nursing homes, rehab, assisted living, independent living and home care options
• veteran's aid and attendance benefit
• paying for care

WHEN: Tuesday, June 15th at 6PM

WHERE: Willow Falls Senior Living Community, 1691 Willow Circle Drive, Crest Hill, IL

RSVP: 815-725-5868

President Obama to Join Seniors for Tele-Town Hall Meeting on Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON—On Tuesday morning, June 8, President Barack Obama will participate in a national tele-town hall meeting at the Holiday Park Multipurpose Senior Center in Wheaton, Maryland with senior citizens to discuss the Affordable Care Act and efforts to combat senior scams and fraud in advance of the first mailing of the $250 “donut hole” rebate checks.   In addition to attendees at the Senior Center, seniors across the country will be able to participate in the town hall meeting by phone.  The President will be joined at the town hall meeting by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and representatives of the following organizations:

AARP
AFL-CIO
AFSCME Retirees
Alliance for Retired Americans
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
American Federation of Teachers Program on Retirement and Retirees
American Postal Workers Union Retirees Department
B’nai B’rith International
Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
Communications Workers of American Retiree Division
Easter Seals
Families USA
International Union of Painters & Allied Trades – IUPAT
Medicare Rights Center
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
National Association of State Units on Aging
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs
National Association of State Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs
The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged 
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
National Council on Aging
NCCNHR – The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
OWL- The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
SEIU
Service and Advocacy for GLBT Elders
Workers United

These organizations – which together represent over 40 million seniors across the country -- will be organizing satellite town hall meetings across the country to dial in and participate in the President’s event, which will be broadcast live on C-SPAN.

Tuesday, June 8 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (eastern time zone) Please note the slightly earlier start time: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will take questions from the audience until the President arrives closer to 11:30 a.m.

Individuals interested in asking a question of President Obama or Secretary Sebelius can call in during Tuesday's town hall at 1-800-837-1935, pass code: 80272058. 

Website to View Town Hall: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live

What if your parents need money? Great article from Cincinnati.com

An estimated 38 million Americans provide care to an aging relative. The president's proposed budget for 2011 adds $103 million for programs that help elderly adults stay in their homes through in-home services, transportation and other support programs.

via news.cincinnati.com

Alzheimer's triples health care costs

In a March, the Alzheimer's Association put out their newest "2009 Facts & Figures."  One of the most startling points was that total healthcare costs are more than three times higher for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias than for other people age 65 and older.  There is an increased need and usage of hospitals, nursing homes and other health and long-term care services. Families caring for people with Alzheimer's struggle to survive the recession as states deal with budget shortfalls. 

With family members providing care at home for about 70 percent of people with Alzheimer's, the ripple effects of the disease can be felt throughout the entire family.

To read the article and report : New report says Alzheimer's disease and dementia triple healthcare costs for Americans age 65 and older

Diversity and Aging Conference

AARP Invites You To A Free ½ Day Consumer and Community Session
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 – 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Marriott Hotel
540 N. Michigan Avenue, Fifth Floor
Chicago, IL

Come and Learn about programs and services available to 50+ individuals

Panel presentations on:

·                    Social Security
·                    Medicare and Medicaid Services
·                    Chicago Department of Senior Services
·                    Illinois Department on Aging Services
·                    LGBT Programs and Services
·                    Disability Programs and Services
·                    Indian Elders Programs and Services

Round Table Discussions Topics:

·                    Assistive Technology
·                    Mental Health Services and Programs
·                    Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders
·                    Employment
·                    Grandparents
·                    Volunteering

Resource Tables ♦ Free Box Lunch ♦ Space is Limited

Confirm your attendance to Carmenza Millan  cmillan@aarp.org or 312-458-3605

Free Resource Center in Rush University Medical Center (Chicago)

The Anne Byron Waud Resource Center is located on the 4th floor of the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center. 

710 S. Paulina, Suite 438, Chicago, IL 60612

This service, offered by Rush Generations offers skilled and compassionate professionals that can support you with health, aging and caregiving concerns.

Education & Support

• ongoing education and support groups
• Benefits CheckUp - determines program eligibility in IL and nationwide
• Information on diagnosis & treatment options
• caregiving training & resources
• planning for future care needs
• community referrals and info
• physician referrals and info
• medicare and insurance information and guidance
• brochures on community resources
• books & videos on a variety of topics
• nutrition and exercise information
• complementary and alternative medicine options
• FREE computer class
• & more...

Call 800-757-0202 for more information!