Tuesday, August 25, 2015

TOUCHING HEARTS SENIOR CARE

CERTIFIED DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS

The caregivers you see in the above photo have passed the Care and Compliance Dementia course tests with 80% or higher. This training course includes the following segments:

Introduction to Dementia
Sundowning
Medication in Dementia Care
Encouraging Good Nutrition & Hydration
End of Life
Aggressive Behaviors
Sexuality & Promoting Dignity
Assisting with ADLs
Therapeutic Interventions & Communication
Wandering and Elopement
Health Complications
Positive Physical Approach and Hand under Hand techniques

After a caregiver completes these courses, they understand Dementia, know how to recognize the disease, and know how to respond appropriately to a person with Dementia.

Alabama is still falling short on resources for individuals with Dementia, and there is a huge need for education for the public at large. Many people do not understand Dementia, and think it is the same as Alzheimer's. Many people do not know how to recognize Dementia, and think their family member is just mean or uncooperative; nor do people know how to approach someone with the disease.

Touching Hearts Senior Care is taking caregiving to the next level by providing this comprehensive Dementia program to its caregivers. The caregivers study for 6 months to 1 year to complete the 12 segments to qualify for their certificate. The staff and caregivers at Touching Hearts take this disease and the training very seriously, and are moving forward to be recognized as the experts in the community on Dementia.

If you are interested in getting more information on how to become a Certified Dementia Caregiver or if you are needing assistance with care of a loved one with Dementia, please call 251-445-4204.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Identity Theft Prevention Information

Information provided by the Federal Trade Commission

In the course of a busy day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, change service providers for your cell phone, or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don’t give these transactions a second thought. But an identity thief does.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years-and thousands of dollars-cleaning up the mess the thieves have made of a good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims of identity theft may lose job opportunities, be refused loans for education, housing or cars, and even get arrested for crimes they didn’t commit. Humiliation, anger, and frustration are among the feelings victims experience as they navigate the process of rescuing their identity.

The following are some tips on how to protect your information:

· Read your credit reports—you have the right to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies, or you can try www.creditkarma.com

· Read your bank, credit card, and account statements and the explanation of medical benefits from your health plan. If a statement has mistakes or doesn’t come on time, contact the business.

· Shred all documents that show personal, financial, and medical information before you throw them away.

· Don’t respond to email, text, and phone messages that ask for personal information. Legitimate companies don’t ask for information this way. Delete the messages.

· Create passwords that mix letters, numbers, and special characters. Don’t use the same password for more than one account.

· If you shop online, use websites that protect your financial information with encryption. An encrypted site has “https” at the beginning of the web address; “s” is for secure.

Red Flags of Identity Theft

· Mistakes on bank, credit card or other account statements

· Medical Benefits mistakes from your health plan

· Your regular bills and account statements don’t arrive on time

· Bill collection or notices for products or services you did not receive

· Calls from debt collectors for debts that don’t belong to you.

· A notice from the IRS that someone used your social security number

· Mail, email or calls about accounts or jobs in your minor child’s name

· Businesses turn down your checks

· You are turned down unexpectedly for a job.

Protect yourself and your identity. For more information, please visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft

Monday, March 2, 2015

VA TO IMPOSE THREE YEAR LOOKBACK PERIOD IMMINENTLY! By Kyla Kelim

BREAKING NEWS! VA TO IMPOSE THREE YEAR LOOKBACK PERIOD IMMINENTLY!

Under current law, Veterans and their spouses are entitled to a much needed stipend, Aid and Attendance, to offset the rising costs of their healthcare needs and avoid nursing home placement. The current monthly needs amount of $2,120.00 for married veterans and $1149 for surviving spouses are in jeopardy.

The Veterans Administration recently released new regulations that are currently subject to a period for public comment. One of the proposed regulations will impose a three year “look-back period”, similar to that imposed for Medicaid benefits, upon Veterans. What this means is that those veterans who are able to get benefits, have sacrificed by serving during wartime and have counted on the VA to fulfill their promise to take care of the Vets and their families, will find it difficult, if not impossible, to qualify for the benefits without substantially eroding their personal savings. Monies transferred would result in a period of ineligibility for benefits, up to a TEN year period.

It is important to note that Congress has made several attempts to have this type of rule put into place in the last several years but political pressure has stranded the unpopular measure. The agency is under no such pressure.

I encourage EVERYONE to immediately review their plans with an elder law attorney in order to avoid being disqualified for much needed benefits. You should also call or email your Congressman immediately to let them know that this regulation, which will impoverish those that have sacrificed, should not go into effect. You can find your congressman here: http://www.opencongress.org/people/zipcodelookup.

Suggested text should be:

RE: Loan Guaranty: Adjustable Rate Mortgage Notification Requirements and

Look-Back Period, 80 Fed. Reg. 4812 (January 25, 2015)

Dear Congressman (or Senator):

I am aware that the Veterans Administration has issued regulations that are now undergoing a period of public comment. I am outraged that the VA will impose regulations that are designed to impoverish our Veterans after their years of service. The regulations are not carefully constructed to ensure the Veteran and his spouse are not left impoverished, quite the contrary. In addition, there are no hardship provisions, no provisions to leave property for the Veteran’s disabled children, and goes further to impose a draconian 10 year penalty.

This is not the way to treat our Veterans. All this is being done without the input of our elected representatives and I am outraged. I am requesting that these regulations be withdrawn and that the Veterans Administration keep their commitment to honoring and serving those who have already sacrificed so much for our freedom.

Signed, Your name

Please call Aging in Alabama with any questions, always a free telephone consultation: (251) 281-8120 or (855) ELD-RLAW.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Finance & Consumer Resources

Finance & Consumer Resources

Into Reverse with Caution: Details about Reverse Mortgages

In the past, you handed over a monthly payment to your mortgage lender. Now there's a mortgage product, aptly named, that reverses the payment process. In a reverse mortgage, the lender pays you an amount of money that depends on your age, your home's value, and the loan's interest rate. To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must be at least 62 years old, have equity in your home, and your home must be your principal residence. If more than one person owns the home, the youngest owner must be at least 62.

Under this plan, you make no monthly loan payments as long as you continue to live in your home. Ultimately, the loan—including the amount you borrowed, plus interest and any loan fees you rolled into the loan—will be paid off when you or your heirs sell your house.

Who could benefit?

Borrowers perhaps best suited to a reverse mortgage are those who are seeking financial security. They have plenty of money in their house, but they can't afford a home equity loan because they'd have to make monthly payments. They're on a fixed income. Being house-rich and cash-poor, these borrowers often face difficulties in meeting ordinary living expenses, medical bills, home repair costs, and property taxes. Selling their home seems the only way to make ends meet. A reverse mortgage offers another option.

However, there are tradeoffs and pitfalls. Opting for a reverse mortgage is a complex, often difficult decision.

Things to Consider

Your house may be the biggest asset you have to pass on to your heirs. But in a reverse mortgage, the payments you receive come from your home's equity. Your heirs will get less of that asset, based on how much you end up borrowing against your home equity. Only you can decide how important this issue is.

Keep in mind, too, that reverse mortgages come with sizable fees that may be as much as 5% to 6% of the home's value. You can roll these fees into the loan. Still, that increases the amount you'll borrow and adds to the amount of interest you'll pay. Because of the high fees, reverse mortgages aren't a good option if you think you'll be selling your home in the next couple of years, advises Bronwyn Belling, reverse mortgage specialist with AARP, Washington, D.C. "You want to be sure you're going to stay in the house," she says, "so you can amortize those fees over a longer period of time. Then the effective cost to you is less.” “Also," Belling adds, "it’s better to consider this type of loan when you're older, rather than younger." You can borrow a larger percentage of your home's value based on your age, or the age of the youngest borrower among the home's owners.

Still other factors affect how well this loan will work for you. Typically, reverse mortgages are adjustable-rate loans, with a lifetime cap. Interest rates can climb. Your home's value can change, as can your health and your ability to continue living in your home. All of these, Belling points out, "ultimately drive what the real costs of a reverse mortgage are to you in the end." You'll also need to find out whether receiving this money will affect your Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Much to learn

Which type of reverse mortgage is right for you? In the U.S., the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), which is federally insured, is the most common. More than 95% of reverse mortgages are HECMs, according to Belling. Another type is Fannie Mae's Home Keeper^®.

Other key decisions include: Do you want your money in a lump sum, as monthly payments, as a credit line to draw on as needed, or some combination of these?

All U.S. prospective borrowers who wish to apply for a HECM must talk to an independent, objective housing counselor who works for an agency (some charge a fee) approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Belling concludes, "For some people, a reverse mortgage is not a good idea. For others, it's a godsend."

—By Dianne Molvig

Home & Family Finance Resource Center

http://hffo.cuna.org/331/article/930/html

Friday, March 14, 2014

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

Saturday, March 8, 2014

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!!

Friday, February 14, 2014

Information on Hypothermia from 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