NANA? GRANNY? PAWPAW? NEW BOOK CELEBRATES GRANDPARENTS NAMES

Categories: Gifts, Grandparents, Resources

Almost as soon a grandparents-to-be hear that a blessed event is imminent, they inevitably wonder how they will be tagged. Not long after a name is bestowed upon the child, a name for the grandparents will be determined.

A new book, The New Grandparents Name Book: A Lighthearted Guide to Picking the Perfect Grandparent Name by Lin Wellford reports on more than 700 monikers that grandparents carry.

Many grandparents are content with the traditional, no-fuss “Grandma” or “Grandpa.” Others select a name that honors their cultural heritage.

Author Wellford encourages new grandparents to celebrate their new role by choosing something unique. While many little ones lisp out a pet name or mangled version of a traditional name that then sticks, Wellford says there’s nothing wrong with staking out your own preference. She suggests that it’s both entertaining and easy to select your own name. She asks, “How many times in your life do you get to name yourself?

This small gift book contains suggestions, offered in a way that makes the search for a fitting grandparent name a bit of an adventure. Also included are brief accounts of how various grandparents acquired their names, along with sayings sure to charm new grandparents.

Do you have a unique name that your grandchildren call you or you called your grandparents we’d love to hear it!

NEW YORK TIMES: Why Hire a Geriatric Care Manager?

Categories: Caring For Elderly, Planning, Resources

The New York Times has added a regular feature called The New Old Age. It is an ongoing journalistic effort to help adult children, caregivers and seniors themselves understand the changing world of retirement, longevity and the life of elders. It is described as a blog about health, finances and relationships between parents and the adult children caring for them. The section continues to grow in popularity with readers. It aims to provide a place for readers as well as reporters to explore the challenges and delights of aging. It also updates readers on the ever-changing health care scene and helps them to navigate through it.

A recent article was headlined, “Why Hire a Geriatric Care Manager?” In it, the writer Jane Gross tells her personal story. She explained that she and her brother hired a geriatric care manager to assist with issues with their elderly mother. Ms. Gross confesses that at first, this felt like an extravagance, but that the care manager helped the adult children to resolve a series of complex problems to their satisfaction. She described the geriatric care manager as both a “blessing” and  ”lifesaver.”

The article continues with comprehensive information on everything from what circumstances are most suitable to using a geriatric care manager to explaining how a geriatric care manager can be especially helpful for families that are separated by distance.

A geriatric care manager is not only able to help you with your questions but also creating a plan for the future.  A geriatric care manager can be a great resource and help in the pre-planning stages of life for children who’s parents are nearing that turning point in age.  They are there not only to help the aging but their children as well!

What would you look for in a geriatric care manager.

Understanding Medicare Part D

Categories: Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicare Part D

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage insurance provided by private companies that are approved by Medicare.  Part D was designed to help people with Medicare to lower their prescription drug costs and to protect against future costs.  A prescription drug plan will also all you greater access to medically necessary drugs.

When you first become eligible, it is important that you enroll. This will keep you from paying a penalty cost later.

You become eligible when you turn 65. You can join during the three months before you turn 65, your birthday month and the three months after.

You have two ways to join the Medicare prescription drug coverage plan.  The first is by adding it to your Original Medicare Plan or some Medicare cost plans, private fee-for-service plans, and Medical savings account plans.  The second way is to join an HMO or PPO plan that includes Part D coverage.  You will usually pay a monthly premium. It will vary according to the plan you choose.

If you are in the Original Medicare Plan, you may add Part D coverage.  Most recipients pay a separate premium or yearly deductible.

If you are in the Medicare Advantage Plan, you likely already have Part D coverage. A few plans do not include a drug plan; therefore, you may need to add Part D to those plans.

After joining, you will receive a membership card and materials via mail.  You will pay a co-pay, co-insurance, or deductible when you use your card.

Some Part D plans have a “coverage gap.”  A coverage gap means when you have spent a certain amount of money, you are responsible for paying the entire cost of prescriptions while you are in the gap until you reach the out-of-pocket limit.  After you meet the out-of-pocket obligation, you will only have to pay a small co-pay or co-insurance for the remainder of the calendar year.

Understanding Medicare Part C

Categories: Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicare Part C

Medicare Part C is also known as the Medicare Advantage Plan. It combines your Part A and Part B options to cover all medically needed services. You will continue to have Medicare rights and protection; these plans are regulated by the federal government.

Advantage Plans, (like HMOs and PPOs) are private Medicare approved health plans for eligible people. When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you are still in Medicare. The difference is that private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare provide this type of coverage.  In most cases, Part C is a lower-cost alternative to the Original Medicare Plan, and providers usually offer extra benefits and include prescription drug coverage (Part D ). These plans can often save you money since out-of-pocket costs are generally lower than with Medicare alone.  Your costs vary by the services you use and the type of policy that you buy.

Part C plans often have networks, which means that you must use the plan doctors or go to certain hospitals.  These plans help you coordinate and manage your overall care.  Part C includes specialized care for people who need a large amount of health care services.

Medicare Part C plans eliminate some Medicare co-payments and deductibles, just as a Medigap insurance policy does. Medicare Part C plans provide coverage for some gaps in Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. For that reason, if you enroll in a Medicare Part C plan, you don’t also need to buy a Medigap policy.

Most Part C plans already include prescription drug coverage (Part D).  If your plan offers drug coverage, you have to take it.  If you have a stand-alone drug plan, and your Medicare Advantage Plan already has one, you will not be able to keep the Part C coverage.  If you already have a prescription drug coverage, then you may choose a plan that does not have the drug plan included.

If you find yourself needing medical attention while traveling out of your plan coverage area, you will still be covered for emergency or urgent care services.

ATTENTION Seniors with Cancer or Undiagnosed Illnesses: Have You Heard of Mesothelioma?

Categories: Cancer, Mesothelioma, Resources

From the early years of the 20^th Century until the late 1970s, asbestos – now a known carcinogen – was considered one of the best insulators available. Because of its incredible heat-resistant properties and its inexpensive cost, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials found many uses in workplaces around the country in industries that included shipbuilding, oil refineries, chemical plants, railroads, power plants, auto factories, and many others.

During those decades, myriad Americans – mostly men – went to work in those industries, encountering asbestos on a near-daily basis, knowing nothing of the effect the naturally-mined materials might have on their health. Exposure to asbestos was commonplace – especially in the shipyards which built vessels during and after World War II – and despite the fact that there was already evidence that asbestos was toxic, those who worked in plants and factories during that era were never warned that they were in danger.

Today, the result of this cover-up about the dangers of asbestos is a senior population that has been touched by asbestos-caused diseases, most notably the cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that often takes seniors by surprise, not appearing until decades after exposure occurs. That’s because the disease has a very long latency period. The time between exposure to this cancer-causing agent and the appearance of symptoms can be as much as 50 years, sometimes even longer. Therefore, those who worked with asbestos in the 60s and 70s could still be harboring the disease.

Mesothelioma takes its biggest toll, of course, on the person diagnosed with the disease. A very difficult cancer to treat, mesothelioma causes severe symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, fluid in the chest, and weight loss. Conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation have historically proven to do little to stop the spread of the cancer, which is usually already advanced by the time it is diagnosed. In addition, diagnosis is often delayed because the disease carries symptoms that might be confused with heart disease or less serious ailments and, often, a connection with asbestos is not immediately made.

In addition to taking its toll on those who develop the disease, mesothelioma is also tough on caregivers and others close to the victim. Mesothelioma patients demand a lot of care due to the seriousness of the disease, its rapid progression, and the fact that symptoms of the disease can seriously impact the patient’s quality of life, keeping him/her from carrying on with everyday tasks. That puts a lot of responsibility on the caregiver and other family members.

In addition, the disease can cause severe financial burdens, especially if all medical expenses are not covered by insurance. Spouses or other family members must also deal with end-of-life issues, which can cause an insurmountable amount of stress. Because of the responsibility involved, it’s a good idea for caregivers to seek support outside their home, often with groups of others who are dealing with the care of an individual with the same disease or a geriatric care professional. For more information, please visit Mesothelioma.com, there are many online groups and forums to converse with other caregivers and people with mesothelioma.

Thank you to Jennifer from Mesothelioma.com for her writing of this guest blog!

Understanding Medicare Part B

Categories: Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B is a medical insurance provided by the federal government to eligible beneficiaries. The coverage provided by Part B includes medically necessary doctor’s services, outpatient care, preventative services and most other services that Medicare Part A does not cover such as some physical or occupational therapies and some home health care services.

Though many services and products are covered, keep in mind that Part B is still not a 100% insurance coverage plan.

Most people have to pay a premium for Part B. The premium is usually deducted from a Social Security, Railroad Retirement or Civil Service Retirement check. The Part B premium can also be paid every quarter through the electronic payment option, or Medicare Easy Pay. (To sign up for the Medicare Easy Pay plan, call Medicare toll-free at 1-800-633-4227) Premiums are based on income.

Part B helps cover medically necessary services. Preventive services include exams, lab tests, or screening inoculations that prevent, manage, or diagnose a medical problem.

• Glaucoma tests once per year if performed by a legally authorized eye examiner.
• Bone mass measurement every two years or as medically necessary.
• Lab Services such as blood tests or urinalysis
• Colorectal cancer screenings to find any pre-cancerous growths. Tests may include:
  (a) annual fecal occult blood test
  (b) flexible sigmoidoscopy (every four years)
  (c) screening colonoscopy (every ten years)
  (d) barium enema (every four years)
• Diabetic screenings for those with high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, obesity, or high blood sugar.
• Diabetic supplies including monitors, test strips, lancet devices, and therapeutic shoes.
• Diabetic self-management training if prescribed by physician
• Cardiovascular screenings to help prevent heart attack or stroke. Screening consists of testing triglyceride, lipid, and cholesterol levels every five years.

Home health services include limited reasonable and only medically necessary part-time care and services such as skilled nursing care, physical or occupational therapy, home health aide service, speech language pathology, and medical social services.

Medicare Part B also includes home use medical equipment and supplies such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, and oxygen equipment.

Eyeglass coverage is limited to one pair of glasses and standard frames after cataract surgery. Flu shots are covered one time per year during flu season. Three hepatitis B shots are covered for those at medium or high risk.

Other services include:

• Chiropractic services if it is to correct one or more of the bones that has moved out of place in your spine subluxation
• Ambulance services if any other form of transportation would endanger your health.
• Blood received during outpatient visits or another Part B covered service.
• Clinical trials may be covered if it will help to diagnose, prevent, or treat diseases.
• Ambulatory surgery center fees for approved services.
• Emergency room services for severe injuries, illness, or any time you believe your life is in danger.
• Hearing and balance exams
• Mammograms
• Dialysis
• Pap tests or pelvic exams
• Mental health care
• Medical nutrition therapy
• Hospital services
• Occupational therapy
• Outpatient surgery service and supplies
• Limited prescription drugs
• Practitioner services
• Physical therapy
• Prosthetic devices
• Transplant services

This is meant to be an overview and informative blog on Medicare Part B.  All situations and some irregular instances may occur.  The best way to have the most accurate information is to consult with a professional geriatric care manager.

Understanding Medicare Part A

Categories: Health Insurance, Medicare, Medicare Part A

Medicare does not cover everything, nor does it cover the total cost for many of the supposedly “covered” services and medical supplies. Coverage amounts are based on which Medicare plan you have.

Most Americans do not have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A.  All those Medicare taxes that you or your spouse paid during your working years will cover this. Claims for the Medicare Part A plan are covered by private insurance companies that act as agents for the federal government in processing and paying Medicare claims.

Think of Medicare Part A as a type of hospital insurance provided by Medicare. This coverage includes inpatient care in hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and critical access hospitals.

However, Part A does not include long-term or custodial care.

Medicare Part A helps cover only medically necessary services, including hospital stays. That includes a semi-private room, meals, general nursing, and miscellaneous hospital services and supplies. Inpatient care in critical access hospitals and mental health care (up to 190 days lifetime maximum) are also covered and hospital stays must be at least 3 days (72 hours). The time for the hospital stay begins the first midnight after admission and does not include any hours on the discharge date.

Nursing home or skilled nursing facility stays must be related to a diagnosis during the hospital stay. The coverage is limited to a maximum of 100 days in a benefit period. The first 20 days are paid in full, and the remaining 80 days require a co-payment. Medicare Part A will not cover long-term care, non-skilled, daily living, or custodial activities.

If you meet specific requirements, you may also be eligible for hospice or home health care. Home health services include skilled nursing care, physical or occupational therapy, home health aide service, speech language pathology, and medical social services. It can also includes certain home-use medical equipment, like wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, and oxygen.

Hospice care is for the terminally ill who have six months or less to live. Medicare does not cover all Hospice care services, but does cover some, including pain relief and symptom control drugs, medical and support services, and grief counseling. Care is provided by a nearby, Medicare-approved Hospice caregiver who makes home visits.

This blog is meant to give some insight into Part A of the Medicare plan and does not mean that everything stated will be covered in all circumstances.  For consulting on your situation and to gain a better understand of Medicare and what action to take, I welcome to opportunity to assist you, deborah@seniorlifemn.com!

Understanding Medicare

Categories: Health Insurance, Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that began in 1965.  Many people were as skeptical of this new government intervention then as now.  Yet Medicare has provided health care coverage for millions of Americans allowing them to obtain the medical treatment that they would not have been able to afford otherwise.

Medicare is administered by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and states are not involved in the administration of the program at all.  Rules governing Medicare are uniform across the U.S.; payment rates vary from one region to another due to what is calculated as “reasonable and customary” fees.

Eligibility and enrollment in Medicare are handled by the Social Security Administration.

Those eligible Medicare are:

• people age 65 or older
• people under age 65 with certain disabilities
• people of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

A packet of enrollment materials is sent to an eligible person prior to their 65^th birthday.  The “Initial Enrollment Period” (IEP) is a generous 7 months long:

• two months prior to the month of the person’s 65^th birthday
• the month of the person’s 65^th birthday
• two months after the person’s 65^th birthday

If a person does not enroll during their IEP, a penalty may be assessed for the months they could have been enrolled but were not.

A good resource to learn more about Medicare A, B, C and D, and supplemental insurance plans is Health Care Choices, a publication of the Minnesota Board on Aging Senior LinkAge Line.  You may access a copy online at www.mnaging.org or at www.MinnesotaHelp.info.  Other Medicare resources are www.Medicare.gov and the Medicare & You handbook.

Get to know about Medicare eligibility and benefits – for yourself and your aging loved ones.  If you need assistance understanding what you’ve read, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433.

Read on for more in-depth information about each part of Medicare.

• Medicare Part A
• Medicare Part B
• Medicare Part C
• Medicare Part D

Planning For The Future Can Help Ease The Transition.

Categories: Caring For Elderly, In-Home Care, Long-Distance Care, Planning

In June 2002, I became a long-distance caregiver for an elderly aunt and uncle who live in Iowa 225 miles away from my Minnesota home.  They were 82 and 84 and alone.  Several years earlier they had asked me to be the executor of their estate, financial power of attorney and health care power of attorney designee to which I had agreed.  When my aunt, the healthier of the two, was hospitalized with a life-threatening incident, I was called.  As my aunt healed in the hospital, I found my uncle to be suffering from dementia.  His macular degeneration added to his confusion and mine.  It was quite apparent that his lovely wife of 50+ years had been covering up his changed behavior.

Eventually my aunt was released to transitional care and then to home; but, we were faced with a dilemma:  caring for her husband was a contributing factor to her illness.  My aunt needed time to heal and her husband needed care.  After prolonged conversation, they agreed to go – kicking and screaming – to an assisted living facility.  That was the beginning of five years of unhappy living.  Today they are both in a long-term care facility, my uncle in a dementia unit and my aunt, also suffering from dementia, in a general care wing.  My aunt is still resentful of each day of life.  They have spent the last five years living the life someone else chose for them.*

During this time, my own parents were aging.  True to form, they were planning and preparing for the future.  When they sold the family’s acreage, they threw a party providing the family an opportunity to say good-bye to a home filled with memories and love and lots of food.  We all gathered on a weekend to share stories, shed tears and laughter.  The next weekend we returned to move our parents into their new apartment.  We never returned to the acreage; we didn’t need to.  We had closed the door on the past.

Since that move my parents have chosen to move again and currently live near me in Minnesota.  It was their decision again.  They thought they needed to be closer to my sister and myself so “if something happened” it wouldn’t be a hardship on us.  They wanted to be near their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  But more importantly, they wanted to live their lives the way they chose not as someone else decided for them.  After all that’s the way they’ve lived their 65 years of marriage having wed at the early ages of 15 and 18.  They are now settled into a continuum of care community where they are heavily involved in life.  They play cards and dominoes; they volunteer at the delicatessen and anywhere that’s needed; and they sign up for almost every social event offered.

My father made the statement that he believes he is happier than he has ever been in his life.  My mother commented that she couldn’t imagine returning to small town living now that they have experienced the excitement of the “big city.”  At 80 and 82, they feel life has been good to them.  It has been, and they helped plan it that way.

During their transition, I changed careers.  I left my position as a corporate trainer and founded a geriatric care management company.  The lessons I have learned from the experiences of these two couples taught me volumes about aging and the stress on caregivers.  I continue to tell these stories of creating a plan for living before life creates a plan for you.  Thinking about the future doesn’t insure a life exactly as planned, but it can provide a valuable roadmap to those given the loving opportunity to care give.

• I wrote this story several years ago in response to a story on the late night news.  Since that time both my aunt and uncle have passed away.  My uncle passed quietly in 2008 following an ice cream cake celebration of his 89^th birthday and their 72^nd wedding anniversary.  My aunt passed away peacefully in 2009.