Education

I have been searching for blogs by people that have had to go through the difficult decision to move a parent into an assisted living community.  Reading these blogs is like talking with our customers who face this every day.  I know that for every one person that has written about their experience on a blog there are 500 people that have done it at the same time.

Here is what I have found so far, that I really think show the emotions, thought processes, etc.

1. Dean talks about his personal situation with his mother.  I like how he lists out the options, paying a caregiver, moving her in, ask the community for assistance or move to assisted living.  However, I wish that we had the same prices here in Chicago that he is looking at in South Carolina.  

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 pmLocation: Central Baptist Village, 4747 N. Canfield Rd, Norridge, ILTo register for this free program call 847-933-2413 or register online here.

Visit www.dividedwefail.orgto join with millions of other Americans to support candidates whowill give us action, answers and accountability on health and lifetimefinancial security. We need to elect leaders who will end the gridlockin 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 ofmind about their long-term financial security—with a real plan ofaction, 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 ifelected.

Question:  What is an Ombudsmen?

A Swedish word meaning citizen’s representative, a Long Term Care Ombudsman is an advocate who seeks to resolve complaints on behalf of people who receive long term care services.

Every resident of any long-term care facility in Illinois have rights.  Some of these rights are: 

The right to refuse treatment.
Freedom from chemical and physical restraints.
Right to express grievances without fear of retaliation.
Right to participate in the planning of your care and treatment.

Anyone (current residents, relatives and friends of residents, employees of long term care facilities for example) can all contact their Ombudsman if they think someone’s rights are being violated.

The services are confidential and free.  The Ombudsman with investigates and works to resolve complaints. 

If you know someone in a facility who is not receiving the care that they should you can contact the Ombudsman on their behalf.

The Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior Help Line is 1-800-252-8966. You can also click here for more information on the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.

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.

Join Belmont Village at Geneva Road for a Two Part Lecture Series1. Wednesday, October 15th, 20086:00 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 Eldercare2. Wednesday, October 22nd, 20086:00 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 PsychologistPlease call Cathy Raymond at (630) 510-2522 to RSVP.Light dinner and refreshments will be served.

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 testingTheir 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.

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 lessA family size of 2 must have income of $21,000 or less* for each additional family member add $5400To 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 SchmidtReverse Mortgage Specialist773-504-9633

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.

Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly to Host Oct. 4 Seminar on End-of-Life Issues...If you have questions about end-of-life planning, turn to Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) for help. “Are You Prepared? A Seminar on End-of-Life Issues,” will feature a panel of experts who will answer questions about legal issues, senior services, hospice and burial options.“Part of celebrating long life includes planning for that last chapter in your life,” said Simone Mitchell-Peterson, LBFE executive director. “Our aim is to tackle topics that often go unaddressed and can affect quality of life down the road.”Examples of end-of-life issues that often get overlooked include:· Creating a family tree – In addition to making a will, family trees help alleviate potential legal disputes among family members by clarifying how people are related.· Hospice care – Hospice care is not just for the dying. Many lives are enhanced by this care, through services that help them become more active.· Support networks – Many hospices will also assist in funeral planning so the family does not have to do all of the work alone.WHEN: Sat., Oct. 4, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.WHERE: LBFE, Chicago Chapter, headquarters – 355 N. Ashland Ave, ChicagoCOST: Registration for non-LBFE members is $15; free for membersRSVP: Reservations required. Call 312/455-1000 by Sept. 25 to reserve your space. (my guess is that date has been suspended as they just sent me the information on this event today!)FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (312) 604-7234

According to a recent article in McKnights Long Term Care News & Assisted Living, the cost of care is going up... by leaps and bounds.The article is below:assisted living facilities are charging an average of 13% more than twoyears ago, while nursing home operators have hiked prices 7% over thesame time span, according to a new nationwide survey.The average daily cost for assisted living residents is $3,241 permonth, or about $108 per day, according to the 2008 Long-Term Care CostStudy, which was released by Prudential Financial on Monday. It was thelargest jump among long-term care providers surveyed.Average rates for a private nursing home bed, meanwhile, rose to$79,810 per year (or about $6,650 per month or $222 per day), thesurvey showed. Annual rates for semi-private rooms were about 11% lessthan private rooms. That equates to about $70,810 per year ($5,900 permonth, $197 per day).Geography played a familiar role in calculations, with Alaska($183,595), New York City ($160,965) and Stamford, CT ($148,920),ringing up the biggest bills for private nursing care, while Louisiana($48,180) Kansas ($53,655) and Missouri ($55,845) billed at the lowestrates.Prudential teamed up with LifeCare, an independent "adult care"services provider, to conduct the telephone survey of 1,613 long-termcare operators from November 2007 to January 2008.

Just got my Sept/Oct 08 edition of the AARP magazine. I immediately opened to page 93 where they have their 2008 AARP Voter's Guide. They concluded that Obama's policies were better suited to help seniors.Every night I have been watching the DNC. Never have I been this excited and motivated to vote for president. So I wanted to see which candidate was going stand up the most for seniors.I also went to each candidates site to try to find where they stood on seniors issues. On Obama's website it was easy to find and even included a version that you could download and pass out. On McCain's site (once I weeded through the first page of negativity and fear) I was hard pressed to find information specifically on seniors. I had to search under health care and the sanctity of life... no real big issues made toward seniors. Which is odd considering he is one. But then again he has 7 homes so I don't think he is worried about he and his wife are going to pay for long term care.(To be fair, I don't think the Obama's will either) - but the rest of us WILL! So lets educate ourselves! In all these speeches they talk about thinking about our children's future when making this vote. But I am thinking about my parents future and my future as well.(photo by Leo Henton)

I received an email about this yesterday, and I am going to send a card this week. Thought you might want to too!Here is the info:It’s the classic love story. My mom was the high school cheerleader and my dad was the quarterback for the football team. I remember reading the inscriptions in their High School yearbooks and they were the perfect couple. They married at an early age and had the standard three children. All was well in their world and life progressed.In 1981 my father was diagnosed with chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis. The symptoms were mild, at first and then as the diagnosis suggests, became more progressive. For the last 15 years my father has been bed ridden and fully dependent on mom’s care. Interestingly, Mom has been dependent on Dad’s spirit.Through this whole ordeal, my parents have stayed true to their faith, their commitment and their love for each other. This has been a mutual love affair that has unfolded before me and has taught me so much.Three weeks from now, they will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! They have equally split the “for better and for worse” times of their lives and I would love for them to receive a record number of cards to recognize their commitment. If you feel moved to participate in honoring their dedication please send a card toWilliam and Carol Leff1930 Geronimo TrailMaitland , FL 32751

Last Thursday I met with Dr. Sandy Goldberg at the NBC Tower in Chicago to record my first every podcast. Dr. Sandy asked me about Senior Living Experts and some of the issues involved in finding assisted living. You can listen to the NBC 5 Better Health podcast here!

If you have been diagnosed with early stage and/or early onset memory loss, we need your help. 

For many years the Alzheimer’s Association has provided quality programs for professionals, family members, and care partners of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other, related dementias. 

Now, we need to hear from you.  We recognize the need to expand our programs and services for individuals who have themselves been diagnosed with early onset and/or early stage memory loss.  Our first step in this effort will be to conduct focus groups so that we can develop programs and services that meet your needs.

The focus groups will take place the week of September 8th of 2008 in several communities served by the Greater Illinois Chapter.  If you are unable to participate in a focus group, there will be limited opportunities for individual interviews. 

Please feel free to contact Nicole Batsch, Director of Early Stage Services, directly at (847) 933-2413 with any questions.

Definitions:

Early or Young Onset:  Individuals diagnosed with any type of dementia prior to the age of 65.

Early Stage:  Individuals diagnosed with any type of dementia at any age with mild impairment due to symptoms of the disease process.

Both Early Onset and Early Stage individuals should welcome participation (i.e., no pressure by family members or professionals to participate), must be aware of their diagnosis, and have sufficient language and comprehension skills to participate fully in the focus groups.

In the past year, Alzheimer's has risen from the 7th leading cause of death to now being the 6th and someone is diagnosed every 71 seconds as opposed to every 72 seconds like last year.

Hmmmm....

This is my 6th year walking in the Memory Walk - where funds raised go toward helping support caregivers in the community. 

Feel free to sign up your own team and raise money, and if you are so inclined, feel free to donate money towards my team! I gotta ask and ask again!

I just spent 45 minutes searching iphoto for one single photo of me at the walk the past five years and they seemed to have all disappeared as if I was never there, except for the photo in the far left hand corner of the blog....

Unfortunately, this event has been postponed as of 8/25/08 and they will reschedule it in just a few weeks - stay tuned...On Tuesday evening, Sept 16th Plymouth Place is hosting one of my favorite speakers/authors/gerontologists/friends.. Cheryl Kuba will be speaking about "Navigating the Journey of Aging Parents without Driving off a Cliff"Make this a joy ride! Learn how to put on the breaks before you go over the edge as you celebrate your parents’ lives. Find common goals for both of you as they journey through their last chapters of life. Down shift and turn challenging elder care roadblocks - guilt, denial, role reversal - into speed bumps. You will discover how to heed the warning signs and gain insight into your loved one’s lifestyle changes as he or she grows older. Discover ways to stop driving through the fog of elder care. Pull over. Help is on the way.Refreshments will be served at 6pm and Cheryl will begin speaking at 6:30 followed by a Book Signing at 8:00 PM. (See where I plugged the book on the right >>>>>)Please RSVP by Sept. 10th: 708-482-6511Plymouth Place, 315 N. La Grange Rd., La Grange Park, Il 60526Not only is Cheryl entertaining and informative, but its also worth it to get a look at Plymouth Place which is now open after their construction. It is one of the most beautiful communities that I have seen.

I can't remember someones name. I lost my keys. Where are my glasses?According to a new study, 1 million older people slip from normal memory to mild impairment, much more than previously thought. (That number does not include the 1/2 million that will be diagnosed with full blown dementia a year)For an article about this study in the Chicago Sun Times click here.

Yesterday there was an article in the Chicago Tribune (front page!!) about a study that suggests a new approach to caring for Alzheimer's patients.  I think the only people this was news to were the ones who have never cared for or worked with people with the disease.  While I am sure there are still a lot of nursing homes out there that don't have the time or money to train their staff - but they should know to never speak to a patient as if they were a child. 

Regardless, the article did interview some people that I know and have worked with so its still worth sharing.
Here is the link to the article: "A new approach to caring for Alzheimer's patients"

Hopefully I will have plenty of comments to make/ and new things to learn this week as they are hosting the 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer's disease here in Chicago right now...

While researching the average age of people living in assisted living I came across this definition on the National Center for assisted livings Website and thought I would share it here.Assisted living provides relatively independent seniors with assistanceand limited health care services in a home-like atmosphere. Assisted living services include 24-hour protective oversight, food, shelter, and a range of services that promote the quality of life of the individual.The philosophy of assisted living emphasizes the right of the individual to choose the setting for care andservices. Assisted living customers share the risks and responsibilities for their daily activities and well-being with a staff geared to helping them enjoy the freedom and independence of private living.Assisted living is licensed by state governments and is known by s many different names including the following: residential care, board and care,congregate care, and personal care. Assisted living care is not a substitute for but rather a complement to nursing facility care.Because there is no common definition for assisted living facilities, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact number of facilities. However, it is currently estimated that there are 36,000 assisted living residences nationwide. The "typical" assisted living customer is 85 years old. Three quarters of assisted living residents are female. About 68 percent of assisted living residents need assistance with bathing and almost half need help with dressing.Sounds right to us as we have helped people from age 50 - 100 but usually right around 85..and usually with some sort of memory loss as well. Not always, but pretty common.

Comments from someone who JUST moved his wife after being her primary caregiver for years... The decision was extremely difficult and there were many tears and much second guessing. Here is the report 5 days later: (Names changed of course!)Some good news to tell you about Catherine. She is adjusting to her new home wonderfully !!She still has her bad moments, but her aides tell me that she is happy most of the time.She seems to be the youngest person in her unit. I know that she is the most physically able. Most of them are in wheelchairs or use walkers. Not Catherine. She was up dancing to some 1940 music when Mike [son] and I walked in. She danced up to us...knew us ...and gave us a tour of the place.She was a little sad when we left.This good news has lifted a huge burden from me. I now sleep through the night for the first time in eight years.