Education

Got this email, and thought I should share it:

We really need your help TODAY.  Please be sure that all of you call your senators today and most importantly, spread the word through your list serves, emails, Facebook, Linkedin, twitters - anything you do to communicate with people.  Too often legislators say ... we just never heard from people about whatever the issue might be at the time.  This time, let our senators hear from everyone loud and clear that we want them to support long-term services and supports in healthcare reform.

In conjunction with other groups, the National Family Caregivers Association is supporting the national call-in day TODAY.   Please call your senators toll-free NOW at (866) 459-2036 and follow the voice prompts for your name and state. You will then be directed to one of your senator's offices. Once you have delivered your message to one office, ask to be connected to the office of your other Senator.

Here is a sample script you can use:

Hello. I'm a constituent, and I'm calling to ask Senator X to support including long-term services and supports in health reform. Long-term services and supports are frail seniors' primary unmet care need, and the cost of care for many families is unaffordable. Financing home and community-based services can save Medicaid dollars and improve economic growth. Please let Senator X know that I called to urge him/her to support including long-term services and supports in healthcare reform. Thank you.

AARP Invites You To A Free ½ Day Consumer and Community SessionTuesday, June 9, 2009 – 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Marriott Hotel540 N. Michigan Avenue, Fifth FloorChicago, ILCome and Learn about programs and services available to 50+ individualsPanel 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 ServicesRound Table Discussions Topics:· Assistive Technology· Mental Health Services and Programs· Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders· Employment· Grandparents· VolunteeringResource Tables ♦ Free Box Lunch ♦ Space is LimitedConfirm your attendance to Carmenza Millan cmillan@aarp.org or 312-458-3605

Shopping for assisted living is not like shopping for a car. However, many times people are amazed at the cost of assisted living. Sort of a 'sticker shock'.You cannot just look at that one big number. You should look at what you are spending now to stay at home and just may find out that the monthly amount is much higher.I have attached a worksheet that you can print out and compare costs.Download COST OF LIVING COMPARISON WORKSHEET

I just learned about a new service for seniors who need transportation. And transportation is one of the major keys to independence. Some people cannot drive and become isolated. Some continue to drive even when they probably should not. This could be a viable solution for some seniors.Fact: More than half of non-drivers 65 or older stay home on any given day partially because they lack transportation options.The program is community based and community supported. There is an annual membership fee of $50 for an individual, and then you order a prepaid account card based on the estimated usage. They are estimating about $10 a ride.Rides are available 24X 7 in private cars so it is like riding with a friend, not riding in a taxi. You do not pay cash, and you do not tip. Drivers are trained professionals. Anyone over the age of 60 is eligible. And if you are low-income they do have a few "Road Scholarships" available. Families and friends can also buy gift certificates that can be used for the rides.Another alternative is that the senior can trade their car in for rides. (As well as receive a possible tax deduction.)It is just starting here in Chicago so they currently only serve the north side.For more information, visit their website at ITNChicagoOn a complete side note, I decided to post a photo of the pothole(s) on Lake Shore Drive that cost me $400 after I ran over it. In this city at this time of the year, leaving the driving to someone else just to save on car maintenance would be worth it! Be careful when exiting south onto North Avenue...

Our very own Kerry Quirin was featured today in her local paper, the Downers Grove Reporter. I am very excited of course because it only goes to show what wonderful people I get the honor of working with every day. You can link to the entire article below below.Resident works to offer free services to seniors.*photo taken by John Cox, Downer's Grove Reporter

On May 5th at 1 pm (central time)  Dale Carter will be telling her story from the moment she got the emergency call about my mother through her 10 day visit there.  She wants people to hear it because it is a positive story and her mother found a new life in a retirement community 5 miles from her original home.  I referenced Dales story in one of my previous blog posts because I liked it so much

The show is on Blog Talk Radio and will be hosted by Viki Kind.  There will also be a recording of Viki's interview with Dale after the show in case you can't make it and would really like to hear a great story.  The topic title is "When you get the call that your parent is sick"

I read about the her story on her blog, but I am looking forward to hearing about it on the 'radio'.

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to visit a very special memory care unit.  The program focuses on women in the early to mid stages of dementia. The day is filled with purposeful programs that are especially meaningful to women.

The ladies made breakfast and invited some friends from the community in to share.  There was a lovely host, Dottie who made sure you were happy and not without food and drink.  The ladies peeled a lot of bags of oranges so we could enjoy some fresh squeezed juice in addition the the ham&cheese and chocolate croissants that they made.  I really shouldn't have but I had a chocolate one.

They figured that between all of them, they had over 1000 years of combined wisdom that they could share with the rest of us.  They picked their top 15 words to live by and I want to share them here as they are so special and right on!

1. If you don't succeed, try try again.
2. Be nice to everybody and help other people
3. Never say never
4. If you don't use it, you lose it!
5. You got to have faith
6. Find the right man
7. What goes around comes around
8. You don't hate people because they're a different color
9. It's not polite to point
10. Pray for everybody before yourself
11. Don't sass your mother back!
12. Have a good time, but don't do anything I wouldn't do
13. Always tell the truth
14. Have good behavior and be a good listener
15. Love everybody

I did not bring my camera, but I am hoping that someone does send a photo from the event that I can post up here. 

The ladies made the place cards and the thank you cards with the words of wisdom on them for each of us to take home.  They wrapped up the day by singing two songs for us.  It was truly an honor to be welcomed into their home.

Pet Support for Seniors is on a mission to assist low income seniors to keep & care for their pets. These seniors are isolated, frail & living on fixed income and struggling to keep their animal companion due to lack of money or resources. Its a shame to hear that seniors who benefit from the companionship of their pet might have to choose between food for themselves or food for their pet.They kind of make me think "meals on wheels for cats, dogs & birdies.."The not for profit organization is relatively new but as they grow they hope to add grooming and vet services.What a great group to know about and maybe even get involved in. (They are in Chicago)Currently, PSS has partnered with several social service agencies inand around the Chicago area to distribute pet food to the seniors theyserve. They are providing food for cats, dogs and birds. With your help, they can expand our work to other agencies and provide grooming andveterinary services in the future.Pet Support for Seniors is 100% volunteer run and supported by generous donors who share a dedication to their mission.

Allfinancial donations assist our program in covering overhead costs,purchasing pet food, assisting with veterinary and grooming servicesand assisting in expanding our services.

Donations can bemailed to: P.O. Box 300114, Chicago, IL 60630-0114. On-line donationsare also welcome. Donations are tax deductible.

To date PSS has delivered

1,827 pounds of dry dog & cat food

2,144 cans of wet dog & cat food

60 pounds of bird food

50 pounds of cat litter

Other Assistance They Have Provided

$400.00 in vet care assistance.

Transportation for 10 round trips to vet appointments.

In-home dog walking and pet feeding

Article in Sunday's Chicago Tribune about one of our partners, Pathway Senior Living!

Several new, affordable assisted-living buildings are set to open in the Chicago area as Illinois expands its program to provide a low-cost alternativeto nursing-home care. That's good news for seniors who need some helpbut who don't need round-the-clock supervision.  Click for the rest of the article.

In February I had a chance to tour a local assisted living community with Marianne for one of her clients. 
Marianne Kwiatkowski, MSN, APRN-BC, GNP is Vice President and Care Consultant for MDM Care Management in Chicago.

I had a chance to sit down after our tour and ask her why a family might need to hire a geriatric care manager.

Timely article I found.  Having some issues with this in our business.  Some communities we work with are able to offer a bunch of move in incentives because of the amount of people they currently have living there. 

Some of the communities we work with are doing better than they were at the same time last year.  Our business has been up for 09 so I can understand.  These properties are less willing to "negotiate" or even give an incentive that they were able to offer last year.

So while I still think its good to ask what they can do - do not expect or assume that every property needs to offer the discounts.  Some of them are full enough (since assisted living is a need driven business.)

Here is a related article I found online "Demand for Assisted Living Limits Discounts, but Incentives Exist"

Not that I am trying to give my company a shameful plug, but it is nice to work with a senior placement referral service.  We are up on who has what offers, and our service is free, so that is a win win situation. But we aren't going to suggest you go with the one with the free month's rent if the other place really is a better fit for the type of care that you need.

I was so excited to stumble upon this blog today.  It talks about one daughters experience with transitioning her mother into her home of 30 years to a retirement community.  The changes that she talks about with her mother are the changes we often see first hand.  I wanted to share one post in particular that I really enjoyed.

It is a list of the top 10 changes she has seen in her mother since her move to the retirement community.  Awesome!

I cannot count the number of times a family has done their homework and investigated their best options and then (out of guilt?) decide that now is not the time to move.  They almost need to wait for a crisis (or excuse) to happen to make the move.  But sometimes, by that time, its too late and because of the crisis they are no longer suitable for the assisted living they selected.

Here are some reasons why you should move sooner rather than later:

1. Security & peace of mind knowing staff is available to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
2. You can still control the move and decide where you want to go and what you want to bring
3. Enjoy new opportunities to socialize and share experiences with other seniors and their families
4. Participate in programs and activities
5. Enjoy the convenience of consistent availability of good quality food without the hassle of shopping and meal preparation

As difficult as it is to find affordable living arrangements for seniors, it can be even more difficult to know who to trust.

It seems almost daily the news is filled with horror stories about senior living centers where caregivers provided poor or under adjusted care for their residents.  It’s scary to have to put your trust in people who you barely know and enable them to care for loved ones and family.  Follow a few simple tips how to find a facility you trust and keep everyone involved in the know.

Remember: there’s no substitute for firsthand experience.

It stands to reason that a good senior living facility will put you in touch with people who use their services.  Make sure that if these are families of those already living in the facility that they have the opportunity to speak with you outsides of the confines of the facility.  There are always people who are willing to give you clear, trustworthy feedback to all your questions if you know where to look, and if at any time you feel like it is a chore to communicate with a specific facility or potential caregiver this is not a good sign.

There should be no confusion about simple questions about things like meal times, quiet times, activities and the ratio of caregivers and staff to patients.  Remember – every question is important and if they don’t have time to answer them, will they take the right amount of time to give your family member or loved one the care they deserve?

Check the net.

Websites like www.angieslist.org and other internet based web reviews are a great place to start as well.  Many of them don’t allow anonymous reviews and offer certified data collection practices.  Remember that any reviews could possibly be influenced and have common interest in the places they are reviewing.  Take everything you learn with a grain of salt and remember that your gut instinct is always something to pay attention to, if the price is too low or the deal too easy that may be a red flag.

Talk to an expert.

Many times the primary care doctors of elderly patients can be a fantastic resource to find nursing homes and care facilities.  Most doctors have been in exactly your shoes and know the stresses and worries associated with finding credible, safe facilities.  Although financial limitations may unavoidably affect your choice, talking to experts and as many people as you can will help give you perspective and direction in your search.

Pick one willing to go the extra mile to work with you.

A facility going out of its way to communicate and make certain your questions are answered may be a sign that they will go the extra mile for the patients they care for as well.  Always beware of the difference between someone trying to inform you versus someone trying to convince you.  In most cases the latter may be betrayed after multiple subsequent visits reveal a waning effort in communication.  Be savvy and don’t expect to find the best facility overnight.  These are important decisions and with time they will become more fully illuminated so that you can make the best decision.

This post was contributed by Karen Sampson, who writes about the masters of public health in USA. She welcomes your feedback at Karen.Sampson1120 at gmail.com 

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 60612This 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!

The average assisted living resident needs help with 3 or more ADL's (activities of daily living)

The average resident is an 80-something woman

They do not need highly skilled care

They would benefit from socialization

Those that might be unsafe in their own homes.

But of course each situation is unique.  We have certainly helped people who are much young or much older.  Males, females and couples... and never under estimate the power of socialization on the mind and well being of someone. 

This is an ironically unforgettable video I found on You Tube. It was funded by the Art Council of Wales.  Haunting.

Since we only specialize in Chicago I thought I would include this nice chart of pricing from across the country.  It appears that pricing has gone up regardless of the recession but that could be because assisted living is very need driven.

Chart of Senior Living Rental Rates Nationwide

Nancy just received this beautiful hand written note which I wanted to share:

Dear Nancy,

Thank you for the expertise you provided in selecting a home for my aunt.  The Park seems to be a perfect fit.  Adeline has done very well this first month and I am so grateful you pointed out independent living.  I will keep your card to refer others to your service.  I've already pointed a few people your way.

Thanks again and have a great spring,

Barb B.

Thanks for sharing Nancy! 

Read this in an article from the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

People with Alzheimer’s are high consumers of hospital, nursing homeand other health and long-term care services, which translates intohigh costs for Medicare, Medicaid and millions of families. As familiesstruggle to survive in a deepening recession and states grapple withbudget shortfalls, Alzheimer’s disease threatens to overwhelm themboth.

Read the whole article at the Alzheimers Association website.