Your Elder Law Attorney Expert

BIOGRAPHY:

 

Kyla Kelim is an elder law attorney and principal of Aging in Alabama, an elder law firm, in Fairhope, Alabama, and prolific regional and national speaker, dedicating her practice to topics of interest to seniors, their families, caretakers and professionals assisting them, to protect their life’s work.  Mrs. Kelim provides consultation and advocacy for older Americans, their families, caregivers and professionals. The firm and aims to protect their clients' life's work by proactive planning and assisting those in need due to catastrophic illness or injury as they navigate the often treacherous administrative schemes of nursing home Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Ms. Kelim provides consultations throughout the Southeast United States. She is a prolific speaker and has practiced in Alabama and Florida for more than 20 years. Ms. Kelim earned her B.S. degree from the University of New Orleans and her J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

 

She lives in Fairhope with her husband, Patrick and their two boys, Payton and Pierce. 

 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

 

Speaking engagements for 2012:

 

·        Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid 2012, NBI Seminars, national CLE all day course, February 2012

·        Medicaid Update 2012, NBI Seminars, national CLE all day course, June and November 2012

·        Fundamentals of Elder Law, live all day seminar, Pensacola, FL, November 2012

·        Alabama Medicaid Update 2012, NBI Seminars, teleconference, August 2012

·        South Carolina Medicaid Update 2012, NBI Seminars, teleconference, August 2012

·        Sandwiched In:  Taking care of your parents, your children and your business without losing your shirt, a roundtable seminar presented by the Women’s Business Center of South Alabama, Spanish Fort, Alabama, and Gulf Shores, Alabama, October 2012

·        Estate Planning Seminar:  End of the year tax tips:  Giving and Receiving: A Holiday Tale, hosted by The Haven no kill shelter, Thomas Hospital, Fairhope, Alabama, November 2012

·        Simple Truths About Aging, Presented at the Mobile Area Senior Citizen Center, December, 2012

 

 

Speaking engagements for 2013:

 

·        Advanced Elder Law, NBI Seminars, national CLE all day course, March 2013

·        Estate Planning Seminar: hosted by The Haven no kill shelter, Fairhope, Alabama, March 2013

·        Protecting your Assets while Qualifying for Medicaid, NBI Seminars, all day course, April 2013, to be re-aired November 2013

·        Estate Planning Seminar: Protecting your intentions, hosted by The Haven no kill shelter, James P. Nix Centre, Fairhope, AL  April 2013

·        Planning for Dual Eligible Medicare/Medicaid, NBI Teleconference, June 2013

·        Estate Planning Seminar: hosted by The Haven no kill shelter, Fairhope, Alabama, July 2013

·        Estate Planning Seminar: hosted by The Haven no kill shelter, Fairhope, Alabama, November 2013

·        Advanced Elder Law, NBI Seminars, Birmingham, Alabama, December 2013

 

Speaking engagements for 2014:

 

·        The Sandwich Generation: How to take care of your parents without losing your mind..and your business.  Women’s Business Center, Inc., Quarterly Quorum, Mobile, Alabama, January 2014

·        Top Elder Care Strategies, NBI Seminars, all day course, April 10, 2014

·        New Medicaid eligibility requirements under the ACA, NBI Seminars teleconference, April 15, 2014

·        Medicaid planning, M.Lee Smith, August 15 2014

 

 

Sample of presentations:

 

·        Medicare issues

·        Long term care planning

·        Medicaid qualification

·        Protecting your estate plans

·        Preserving your home

·        Preparing a care plan

·        Coordinating benefits

·        ACA planning

·        Elder protection laws

·        Consumer protection

·        Estate planning demystified

·        Protecting the disabled

Crabby Old Man!

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte , Nebraska , it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. 
One nurse took her copy to Missouri.

The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based 
on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.


Crabby Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . . . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . . . . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . .. . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . . and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man .. . . Look closer . . . see ME!!

Information on Hypothermia from National Institute on Aging

 

 

National Institute on Aging

Hypothermia: A Cold Weather Hazard

Edgar is a retired mailman. Every winter there are a few snowstorms in Virginia where he lives. One day last year the temperature hovered around 10°F, and a snowstorm left 2 feet of snow on the ground, causing the power lines to snap. The temperature inside Edgar's apartment quickly dropped to 55°F. When his neighbor checked on him the next day, Edgar was confused, and his speech was slurred. He was taken to the emergency room where a doctor examined him. It turns out Edgar had hypothermia.
Almost everyone knows about winter dangers for older people such as broken bones from falls on ice or breathing problems caused by cold air. But, not everyone knows that cold weather can also lower the temperature inside your body. This drop in body temperature is called hypothermia (hi-po-ther-mee-uh), and it can be deadly if not treated quickly. Hypothermia can happen anywhere—not just outside and not just in northern states. In fact, some older people can have a mild form of hypothermia if the temperature in their home is too cool.

What Are The Signs Of Hypothermia?

When you think about being cold, you probably think of shivering. That is one way the body stays warm when it gets cold. But, shivering alone does not mean you have hypothermia.
How do you know if someone has hypothermia? Look for the "umbles"—stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles—these show that the cold is a problem. Check for:

• Confusion or sleepiness
• Slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing
• Weak pulse
• Change in behavior or in the way a person looks
• A lot of shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs
• Poor control over body movements or slow reactions

Taking Action

A normal body temperature is 98.6 °F. A few degrees lower, for example, 95 °F, can be dangerous. It may cause an irregular heartbeat leading to heart problems and death.
If you think someone could have hypothermia, use a thermometer to take his or her temperature. Make sure you shake the thermometer so it starts below its lowest point. When you take the temperature, if the reading doesn't rise above 96 °F, call for emergency help. In many areas, that means calling 911.
While you are waiting for help to arrive, keep the person warm and dry. Try and move him or her to a warmer place. Wrap the person in blankets, towels, coats—whatever is handy. Even your own body warmth will help. Lie close, but be gentle. Give the person something warm to drink but stay away from alcohol or caffeinated drinks, like regular coffee.

The Emergency Room The only way to tell for sure that someone has hypothermia is to use a special thermometer that can read very low body temperatures. Most hospitals have these thermometers. In the emergency room, doctors will warm the person's body from inside out. For example, they may give the person warm fluids directly by using an IV. Recovery depends on how long the person was exposed to the cold and his or her general health.

How Do I Stay Safe?

• Try to stay away from cold places. Changes in your body that come with aging can make it harder for you to be aware of getting cold.
• You may not always be able to warm yourself. Pay attention to how cold it is where you are.
• Check the weather forecasts for windy and cold weather. Try to stay inside or in a warm place on cold and windy days. If you have to go out, wear warm clothes including a hat and gloves. A waterproof coat or jacket can help you stay warm if it's cold and snowy.
• Wear several layers of loose clothing when it's cold. The layers will trap warm air between them. Don't wear tight clothing because it can keep your blood from flowing freely. This can lead to loss of body heat.
• Ask your doctor how the medicines you are taking affect body heat. Some medicines used by older people can increase the risk of accidental hypothermia. These include drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, or nausea. Some over-the-counter cold remedies can also cause problems.
• When the temperature has dropped, drink alcohol moderately, if at all. Alcoholic drinks can make you lose body heat.
• Make sure you eat enough food to keep up your weight. If you don't eat well, you might have less fat under your skin. Body fat helps you to stay warm.

Health Problems

Some illnesses may make it harder for your body to stay warm. These include problems with your body's hormone system such as low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), health problems that keep blood from flowing normally (like diabetes), and some skin problems where your body loses more heat than normal.
Some health problems may make it hard for you to put on more clothes, use a blanket, or get out of the cold. For example:

• Severe arthritis, Parkinson's disease, or other illnesses that make it tough to move around
• Stroke or other illnesses that can leave you paralyzed and may make clear thinking more difficult
• Memory loss
• A fall or other injury

Staying Warm Inside

Being in a cold building can also cause hypothermia. In fact, hypothermia can happen to someone in a nursing home or group facility if the rooms are not kept warm enough. People who are already sick may have special problems keeping warm. If someone you know is in a group facility, pay attention to the inside temperature and to whether that person is dressed warmly enough.
Even if you keep your temperature between 60 °F and 65 °F, your home or apartment may not be warm enough to keep you safe. For some people, this temperature can contribute to hypothermia. This is a special problem if you live alone because there is no one else to feel the chilliness of the house or notice if you are having symptoms of hypothermia. Set your thermostat for at least 68 °F to 70 °F. If a power outage leaves you without heat, try to stay with a relative or friend.
You may be tempted to warm your room with a space heater. But, some space heaters are fire hazards, and others can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has information on the use of space heaters, but here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Make sure your space heater has been approved by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Choose the right size heater for the space you are heating.
• Put the heater on a flat, level surface that will not burn.
• Keep children and pets away from the heating element.
• Keep things that can catch fire like paint, clothing, bedding, curtains, and papers away from the heating element.
• If your heater has a flame, keep a window open at least one-inch and doors open to the rest of your home for good air flow.
• Turn the heater off when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working.
• Put a carbon monoxide detector near where people sleep.
• Keep an approved fire extinguisher nearby.

Is There Help For My Heating Bills?

If you are having a hard time paying your heating bills, there are some resources that might help. If your home doesn't have enough insulation, contact your state or local energy agency or the local power or gas company. They may be able to give you information about weatherizing your home. This can help keep the heating bills down. You might also think about only heating the rooms you use in the house. For example, shut the heating vents and doors to any bedrooms not being used. Also, keep the basement door closed.
If you have a limited income, you may qualify for help paying your heating bill. State and local energy agencies, or gas and electric companies, may have special programs. Another possible source of help is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This program helps some people with limited incomes who need help paying their heating and cooling bills. Your local Area Agency on Aging, senior center, or community action agency may have information on these programs.
Plan ahead for the cold weather. Make sure your furnace is working, and you have a warm coat, hat, and gloves in the closet. If necessary, get help with shoveling the ice or snow. Being prepared will help ensure a safe and warm winter.

For More Information

Here are some helpful resources:
Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
1-800-638-2772 (toll-free)
1-301-595-7054 (TTY
www.cpsc.gov
Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)
www.eldercare.gov
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline (NEAR)
1-866-674-6327 (toll-free)
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
1-202-872-0888
www.n4a.org
For more information on health and aging, contact:
National Institute on Aging
Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225 (toll-free)
1-800-222-4225 (toll-free/TTY)
www.nia.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/espanol
To sign up for regular email alerts about new publications and other information from NIA, go to www.nia.nih.gov/health.
Visit NIHSeniorHealth (www.nihseniorhealth.gov), a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine. This website has health information for older adults. Special features make it simple to use. For example, you can click a button to have the text read out loud or to make the type larger.
National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
July 2010

Publication Date: July 2010
Page Last Updated: February 13, 2014

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Touching Hearts Educational Presentations

At Touching Hearts Senior Care, we believe in education, that is why our caregivers go through extensive professional training as a caregiver.  We train our caregivers in Alzheimer's and Dementia and every month we have professional training for our staff to cover different concerns relating to our elderly population. 

When I developed our training program, I realized the public at large had a lot of questions about aging -  many individuals do not know what to do when our elders get in a crisis and need help.  I get calls every day from someone asking me for help.  I am blessed to be here and available to help, and this is why I have developed our menu of education presentations. 

We like to go visit skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, independent living facilities, senior centers, church ministries, civic group and any one interested in our elderly and how they age in place.

The following is a list of our Education Presentation available.  Please feel free to contact me at 251-445-4204 to schedule a presentation, all our presentations are free with the exception of the 5 Wishes which does have a cost of $5.00 for your book.

Kind Regards,

Gina Germany, CSA, CDP

MENU OF EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS

FALL PREVENTION

IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION

WHY WE NEED HOME CARE

(Sandwich Generation)

HOW HUMOR REDUCES STRESS

AREA AGENCY ON AGING

FIVE WISHES PRESENTATION

MEDICAID/VA ELIGIBILITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING VS ASSISTED LIVING

HOW TO AVOID ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE

HOW TO TALK TO OUR ELDERLY ABOUT DIFFICULT ISSUES

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA

Who is Touching Hearts Senior Care?

Touching Hearts Senior Care is a privately owned company that specializes in offering aid and assistance to seniors to help them maintain their independence.  THSC provides in-home non-medical services to seniors and those with disabilities.  As such, THSC's caregivers can help with anything ranging from light housekeeping and laundry to bathing and dressing needs to incidental transportation.  The caregivers may also assist with medicine reminders and meal preparation.  All THSC caregivers are thoroughly screened before hire and are licensed, bonded, and insured.  Caregivers are available for the above services for time frames ranging from one hour to around-the-clock care.

THSC also specializes in Elder Care Case Management.  With these services, THSC Case Managers are able to help older adults and their loved ones with all of the following:

CARE MANAGEMENT

As Elder Care Managers, Touching Hearts Senior Care works with older adults and their loved ones to develop a plan of care and services that promotes autonomy and independence, and keeps them safe.   We assist with Long-term Care Policy Reviews, Asset Protection Planning, Alabama Medicaid Exempt Trust Accounts, and Medicaid/VA Eligibility.

FAMILY MEDIATION

We work with the older adult and his or her loved ones to facilitate communication and informed decision making.  This process can help avoid expensive and emotionally taxing court involvement.  Voluntary mediation can help families confidentially settle disputes concerning:

·        Care assessment and assignment of responsibilities

·        Living arrangements

·        Who should be appointed power of attorney, health care proxy, etc.

·        How finances should be managed

·        Estate and trust planning and administration

DAILY MONEY MANAGEMENT

We encourage individuals to remain in control while receiving the right amount of support in an effort to avoid errors that could potentially lead to both financial loss and loss of independence.  We can assist you or your advisor with any of the following:

·        Paying bills and resolving billing discrepancies

·        Identifying need to create or update important legal documents

·        Inventorying documents and data for monthly budget and year-end tax planning

·        Negotiating with creditors

MEDICAID AND VETERAN'S BENEFITS

We can help in accessing public and private benefits and entitlements, and can answer the following questions:

·        How can I qualify for Medicaid and still protect my home and assets?

·        How do I possibly avoid Medicaid spend-down and understand look-back periods?

·        What is a Medicaid Exempt Trust and how does it benefit me?  (Available in Alabama only)

·        Do I understand VA benefits and what is Aid & Attendance?

·        Do I understand what my long-term care policy provides?

PATIENT NAVIGATION

Have you or a loved one just been released from the hospital?  We can help you identify and prioritize your unique needs such as utilizing employee benefits and health and long-term care insurance claim reconciliation.

 

Questions?  Please contact Certified Senior Advisor Gina Germany

Phone 251.445.4204  Fax 251.445.4205

3263 Demetropolis Rd., Ste., 10 Mobile, AL 36693

gina@touchingheartsseniorcare.com

TOUCHINGHEARTSSENIORCARE.COM

Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Support Group

Gulf Coast Dementia Services (GCDS) is a non-profit supporting individuals and their families who suffer from Alzheimer’s and Dementia. 

 

One avenue GCDS provides assistance to individuals and their families is by our Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group. 

 

Our support groups are designed to provide educational, emotional and social support for family and friends of individuals suffering from the disease.  We encourage individuals to share their experiences and ask questions they may have to help develop solutions to their concerns or challenges.

 

All information, discussions, and situations are strictly confidential.

 

Meeting information:

The third Tuesday of each month at Touching Hearts Senior Care’s offices located at 3263 Demetropolis  Rd., Ste. 10, at the Quadrangle Business Center, Mobile, AL  36693.  For more information, please contact Gina Germany at 251-421-4888 or 251-300-0250.