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In This Issue
· Book Review: Stages of Senior Care
· Medicare Physician Pay Cut
· Challenges in Treatment and Care at Life’s End, Lecture presented by Robert L. Fine
· March Calendar
· Mental Aerobics
Contact Kay
kay@kaypaggi.com
972.839.0065
Fax: 972.907.3799
Directions to the Support Group
The group meets at 421 Custer in Richardson, the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany. This is on the west of Central. Take the Arapaho exit; turn left at the first light (Custer). Stay on Custer, go past condos on both sides, pass 1st Methodist on the left, and turn right into the parking lot at Epiphany. There are 2 main buildings. We do not meet in the sanctuary; we meet in the other one. Come in the double doors, not the glass door off the patio (the note on the note that says otherwise is for daytime visitors when the secretary is there) We are usually the only meeting in the building. Look for the large room with a circular sofa and fireplace. See you at 7PM.
The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships and life stages to help transform family caregivers' lives by removing barriers to health and well being. Visit NFCA at www.thefamilycaregiver.org.
MENTAL AEROBICS
What Do You Know about MONEY?
The missing element is each phrase below is a coin or a unit of currency.
1. Brother, can you spare a ______?
2. _______ from Heaven.
3. _____ ______ legs.
4. Shave and a haircut, ______.
5. Not worth a plugged _____.
6. ______ of flesh.
7. Baby _____ piano.
8. _______ Rogers.
9. March of ______.
10. ______ wise and _____foolish.
11. What this country needs is a good ______ _______ cigar.
12. _______ master.
13. The Almighty ______.
14. I found a ____ ____ baby in the _____ & _____ ____ store.
15. _____ante.
(Answers below)
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ELDERHUMOR
A woman went to the emergency room, where she was seen by a young, new doctor. After about 3 minutes in the examination room, the doctor told her she was pregnant. She burst out of the room and ran down the corridor screaming.
An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was. After listening to her story, he calmed her down and sat her in another room.
Then the doctor marched down the hallway to the first doctor's room. "What the hell's wrong with you?" he demanded. "This woman is 63 years old, she has two grown children and several grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?"
The new doctor continued to write on his clipboard and without looking up said,
"Does she still have the hiccups?"
Answer to Mental Aerobics:
1. Brother, Can you spare a DIME?
2. PENNIES from Heaven.
3. MILLION DOLLAR legs.
4. Shave and a haircut, 2 BITS.
5. Not worth a plugged NICKEL.
6. POUND of flesh.
7. Baby GRAND piano.
8. BUCK Rogers.
9. The March of DIMES.
10. PENNY wise and POUND foolish.
11. What this country needs is a good 10 CENT cigar.
12. GRAND master.
13. The Almighty DOLLAR.
14. I found a MILLION DOLLAR baby in the 5 – 10 CENT store.
15. PENNY ante. |
Next Support Group Meeting is Monday, March 8
7- 8:30 PM
421 Custer, Richardson
The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
ELDERCARE SEMINAR BEGINS ON MARCH 24
This is a 4-week non-credit course at Richland College taught by Kay Paggi. The course is designed to prepare adult children for future eldercare, or enhance current caregiving knowledge. It covers types of information you need to be more comfortable with the role of caregiver, and how to find more information quickly as you need it, and strategies on reducing Guilt.
In the first class you will receive a Glossary of ElderSpeak that defines terms used among eldercare professionals and concepts involved in aging, as well as suggestions for improving communication with your care receiver to improve the caregiving relationship for both of you. You will also be given a template for a basic eldercare assessment.
The second week covers normal physiological aging so you can distinguish between normal age-related changes and those that are NOT normal. You will pick up some tips on how to affect your own aging. This class will have information about fall prevention, and a basic housing assessment. You will be given a facility rating sheet to use as you visit communities that will help you make the best choice the first time; this can save you money by preventing a poor choice.
The third session covers medical conditions, and medications that are not recommended for older adults. It continues with how to find a physician for an older person, and discussion of financing medical care with Medicare, Medicaid, MediGap insurance, and HMO’s and Advantage plans. You will take home a medical assessment.
The last week covers information on legal documents and financial information. You will take home a check list of needed documents. The class ends with a discussion of end of life care, DNR's, and suggestions on how to say good-bye.
To enroll, call the Emeritus Dept at Richland College at 972-238-6147, or go online www.rlc.dcccd.edu/boomers. You can view the Spring Class Schedule on the left panel and find ‘Concerned About Your Aging Parents’ Course # EMEZ 1000 83905. To register for the course online, you must have previously taken a class at Richland. The cost is $40 for everything - What a Deal!
Richland College is located at 12800 Abrams Rd in Dallas, 75243. This is north of 635 on Abrams, or south of Walnut, east of Greenville. There is a map and driving directions on their website.
Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions,
by Paul & Lori Hogan
This book will be helpful to those providing care to older adults across a wide spectrum of needs. It is a basic caregiving guide that could ease the burden of care for many years and in many differing care situations. The authors had previously developed a concept called the ‘40-70 Rule’ a guide to how to start the conversation about future care needs. This guide is available free online at www.4070talk.com. After initial introductory chapters, the book begins with a chapter set at the beginning of the caregiving journey with the care receiver living independently in the community. There are suggestions about how to make the environment safer and guidelines about the costs of these safety measures, and a discussion about the pros and cons of remaining in one’s home. At the end of the chapter there are valuable online resources.
The book follows this format of discussion of issues, pros and cons, cost, and resources for caregiving scenarios as they become progressively more challenging from assisted living to the end of life. The Hogan’s’ are the founders and owners of the home care agency Home Instead. I expected the book to be biased in favor of remaining at home with in-home assistance. I was wrong. The book fairly presents the problems and expenses involved in staying in one’s home alongside other options and their problems and costs, with discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of each possibility. The resources at the end of chapters are thoroughly researched.
The book continues with discussions of funeral options and expenses that may be especially valuable for families of modest means or with family members living far from the care receiver. There are chapters on financing care, complicating issues, and an excellent chapter on taking care of the caregiver.
I highly recommend this book, and will include it as a resource for everyone in my Eldercare/ Caregiver classes. It is available at Amazon for $12.89, with a 4 1/2 star rating.
MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAY CUT PUT INTO EFFECT
A 21.2% pay cut for Medicare physicians takes effect today after a Senate bill that would have prevented it failed to gain enough bipartisan support. The House had passed the bill the day before.
The bill contains a 30-day delay of the Medicare physician pay cut, as well as a number of provisions extending unemployment benefits that also expired over the weekend. During negotiations, retiring Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) repeatedly blocked the bill, arguing that its $10 billion price tag was too much of a burden on the already massive federal budget deficit, according to the Associated Press. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could choose to withhold payments to Medicare physician until a solution can be found. It would be a remedy that physician groups favor because they then would avert having to later refile claims that were paid at a lower rate if a fix to the payment formula is decided upon soon, which many observers expect.
If this bill goes into effect, many physicians who currently see older adults may decide to withdraw from Medicare.
MARCH CALENDAR
Monday, Mar 8, 7-8:30PM, Caregiver Discussion group meets at 421 Custer in Richardson (the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany). There is always chocolate to help us cope. Bring anything else you need plus encouragement for others.
****Tuesday, Mar. 9, 6:00 Reception, Lecture begins at 7PM. ‘Challenges in Treatment and Care at Life’s End, Lecture presented by Robert L. Fine, M.D., F.A.C.P., Director, Office of Clinical Ethics and Palliative Care, Baylor Health Care System.
Do NOT miss the opportunity to hear Dr. Fine. His last name is not a misnomer. He is an outstanding physician who not only is direct and kind, but:
Improves planning for life’s end,
Assists in analyzing the right time to let go of medical technology,
Addresses the possibility of a sweeping change in attitude by accepting death as a spiritual experience,
Human condition tells us to run away at the end of life. However, there are alternative paths for consideration. Experts in the palliative care field:
Assist patients and families in exploring options,
Offer planning tools to overcome challenges,
Bring healing and focus on comfort,
Meet goals and wishes of the patient.
This FREE event is sponsored by C.C. Young as part of the Mind Body & Spirit Series. Location: The Point, Center for Arts and Education n the Campus of C. C. Young, 4847 W. Lawther Dr., Dallas, TX 75214
Seating is limited. Please register today, (214) 841-2834 or ccy@ccyoung.org
Thursday, Mar 11, 2:30-3:30PM, BRAIN PLAY begins at Richland College for a 6-week session. This course is designed to help stamp out Flabby Brains. Join the class for some Mental Aerobics and grow a few new dendrites. To enroll go to http://www.richlandcollege.edu/emeritus/ and click on the Registration Info on the left panel or call 972-238-6146 or 6147. Fee is $18.
** Remember that Texas citizens over age 65 may get a tuition waiver for 6 credit hours per semester! There are plenty of excellent credit courses at Richland that you can take for free. To get on the mailing list for Emeritus booklets, call 972-238-6958 (Janie) or send an email to ricemeritus@dcccd.edu.
Thursday, Mar 18, 3:00PM, Dallas Area Gerontological Society presents ‘Urogynecology’ by Dr. Shayzreen Roshanravan hosted by
Treemont Retirement Community, 972-661-1856
5550 Harvest Hill Road, Dallas, TX 75230
Saturday, Mar 20, 3:30-5:00PM, Tea 4 TWO at the Chocolate Angel. Please invite your friends and family members to attend. All proceeds will benefit the Texas Women's Outreach (TWO). TWO serves the community and women of diversity by assisting them in their time of need, while maintaining their dignity. Registration is available online www.texaswomensoutreach.com. $25 per person.
Chocolate Angel Cafe
635 W. Campbell Road, Suite 310, Richardson, Texas (at Nantucket)
For more information call Barb Gatti at 214-909-3448.
Wed, Mar 24, 7-9 PM, Eldercare Seminar begins at Richland College
Coming Up:
Monday, May 3, Belle Tones, a community handbell choir, plays at The Legacy. If you are nearby, please join us for a remarkable performance!
Monday, May 10, the Belle Tones play at Treemont Retirement.
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