Posted by Amy Criger on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 @ 03:30 PM
Compulsive hoarding impairs mobility and interferes with basic activities, including cooking, cleaning, showering, and sleeping.
Helping people who hoard understand how their problem interferes in living the life they desire can be a powerful motivator, especially as it pertains to being able to live independently.
Here are some sensitive solutions to help:
- Don’t use judgmental language. Like anyone else, individuals with hoarding will not be receptive to negative comments about the state of their home, their character, or their possessions (e.g., “What a mess!” “What kind of person lives like this?” “This is nothing but junk!”).
- Use motivational language. In communicating with people who hoard about the consequences of hoarding, use language that reduces defensiveness and increases motivation to solve the problem (e.g., “I see that you have a pathway from your front door to your living room. That’s great that you’ve kept things out of the way so that you don’t slip or fall.”)
- Don’t try to persuade or argue with the person. Efforts to persuade individuals to make a change in their home or behavior often have the opposite effect—the person actually talks himself into keeping the items.
- Highlight strengths. All people have strengths, positive aspects of themselves, their behavior, or even their homes. A visitor’s ability to notice these strengths helps forge a good relationship and paves the way for resolving the hoarding problem (e.g., “I see that you can easily access your bathroom sink and shower.” “What a beautiful painting!” “I can see how much you care about your cat.”)
- Attend to the meaning of important objects. Attention to objects with sentimental meaning or memorabilia from past experiences and life events can assist in establishing and maintaining the trust necessary for continued work addressing a hoarding problem.
- Focus the intervention initially on safety and organization of possessions and later work on discarding. Discussion of the fate of the person’s possessions will be necessary at some point, but it is preferable for this discussion to follow work on safety and organization.
Professional organizers, trained home care aides or nurses, and geriatric care managers can also provide help with de‑cluttering and organizing. Contact American Companion Care at (913) 390-6300 to learn more.
Posted by Jeff Herman on Mon, Jul 26, 2010 @ 04:11 PM
The recession is helping at least some people prosper despite tough economic times – scammers preying on consumers who are looking for ways to earn money. NCL's Fraud Center has just released its annual Top Ten Scams report, and the news for consumers is that scammers are going after those of us hit hard by the economy in 2009.
The report, which is compiled from consumer complaints submitted to NCL’s Fraud Center, looks at trends in Internet and telemarketing fraud in 2009. What the report finds is startling.
“Consumers are looking for ways to supplement their income or learn new skills,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “Unfortunately, fraudsters know this all too well and they target vulnerable consumers with business opportunity or scholarship-related scams.”
Older Consumers Falling Prey
NCL's Fraud Center has also noted a link between age and vulnerability to fraud. In 2009, consumers in the top age groups—56-65 and those over 65—made up a larger portion of fraud reports than in the previous year, increasing by about 2 percent versus 2008.
Advocates fear that older consumers may not be as quick to check out a company’s bogus claims on the Internet, where many scams have been exposed by previous victims or watchdogs. NCL urges relatives and caregivers to pay special attention to older family members who suddenly start exhibiting the signs of having fallen victim to a fraudster.
These signs include a sudden inability to pay monthly bills, unusually heavy volumes of junk mail or telemarketing calls, or a reluctance to discuss repeated large payments to “a friend.“ Consumers concerned that an elderly friend or relative is a fraud victim should contact their local consumer protection office or state attorney general.
Top Ten Scams of 2009
- Fake Checks 42.01%
- Internet: General Merchandise 24.87%
- Prizes/Sweepstakes/Free Gifts 9.57%
- Phishing/Spoofing 7.17%
- Nigerian Money Offers (not prizes) 2.88%
- Business Opportunities 2.02%, Franchises/Distributorships 2.02%
- Advance Fee Loans, Credit Arrangers 1.82%
- Internet: Auctions 1.17%
- Friendship & Sweetheart Swindles 1.00%
- Scholarships/Educational grants 0.95%
Fake check scams—in which fraudsters lure in their victims with phony mystery shopper jobs or sweepstakes “winnings,” asking their victims to cash realistic-looking checks and wire a portion of the proceeds back to the scammer before the check bounces—continued to be the most frequently-reported scam to NCL’s Fraud Center, making up 42 percent of all complaints. Internet merchandise scams, fake sweepstakes, phishing, and Nigerian money offers remaining unchanged as second through fourth most-reported scams, respectively. Business opportunity scams and scholarships and educational grant scams, which were not top ten in 2008, became the sixth and tenth most-reported scam in 2009, respectively.
This year, NCL's Fraud Center saw a spike in complaints related to bogus business opportunities and scholarship grants. Clearly, scammers know how the economic environment is affecting consumers, and they are profiting from it.
How the Scams Work
In a typical business opportunity scam, the victim is promised unrealistic or “guaranteed” profits in return for a significant up-front investment in a business – such as magazine stands, vending machines, or Internet kiosks. Though the profits almost never materialize, the victim still loses their initial fee and the scammer disappears. In a scholarship or educational grant scam, the victim pays a fee to the scammer in return for promises of a “guaranteed” scholarship award or generous financial aid package, which never come to fruition.
With many consumers making efforts to improve their education level or skills in order to make themselves more marketable in a tough economy, scammers are taking advantage. With state and local consumer protection budgets cut to the bone by the recession, it’s even more important for consumers to stay vigilant to avoid falling victims to these frauds.
Read the full report, which includes a breakdown of telemarketing and Internet fraud, locations and ages of victims, and further analysis here.
Sources:nclnet.org
For additional reading:
Tips to Protect Against Elder Fraud: Part 1
Tips to Protect Against Elder Fraud: Part 2
Tips to Protect Against Elder Fraud: Part 3
Posted by Amy Criger on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 04:47 PM
Elder financial abuse costs older Americans more than $2.6 billion per year. Follow these three steps to identify and protect against elder fraud.
- Recognize the “red flags” of fraud.
- Recognize the signs of victimization and how to help.
- Inform and educate on how to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls and mailings and how to deal effectively with telemarketers.
The 3rd step in fighting telemarketing fraud is to...
Inform older people about how to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls and mailings they receive...
and how to deal effectively with telemarketers.
- Avoid getting on sucker lists. Don’t fill out contest entry forms at fairs or malls—they are a common source of “leads” for con artists. Ask companies with whom business is done not to share personal information with other marketers.
- Eliminate junk mail. Use a service such as Tonic Mailstopper (precycle.tonic.com) to stop junk mail from being delivered.
- Know the “Do-Not-Call” rights. Under federal law, a telemarketer can be instructed not to call a number again. Call 888-382-1222 or register online at DoNotCall.gov.
- Know who the telemarketing company is. If it’s an unfamiliar company or charity, check it out with the state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau. Check out a business online at BBB.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews.
- Screen calls. Use an answering machine, Caller ID, or other services available from the phone company to help determine who to talk to and who to avoid.
- Have a plan for speaking to telemarketers. Before the phone is answered, know what questions to ask or what to say. Be polite, but firm. Hang up if someone refuses to answer questions or any “red flags” of fraud are detected.
- Know that a phone number may be collected. When a company is called, the number from which the call is placed can be displayed through Automatic Number Identification (ANI). If the call is about an account with the business, this enables the customer service representative to pull up appropriate records and provide help faster, but ANI can also be used for marketing purposes. Ask what information is being collected and tell the company if you don’t want to be put on a marketing list.
Posted by Amy Criger on Wed, Jul 14, 2010 @ 04:31 PM
Elder financial abuse costs older Americans more than $2.6 billion per year. Follow these three steps to identify and protect against elder fraud.
- Recognize the “red flags” of fraud.
- Recognize the signs of victimization and how to help.
- Inform and educate on how to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls and mailings and how to deal effectively with telemarketers.
Stay tuned for Part 3 coming later this week.
The 2nd step is to...
Recognize when older people have been victimized or may be in grave danger and know how to help them.
Seniors may be in trouble if they:
- Receive lots of mail for contests, “free trips,” prizes, and sweepstakes or literature from foreign countries;
- Get frequent calls from strangers offering great deals or asking for charitable contributions;
- Make repeated and/or large payments to companies in other states or countries;
- Have difficulty buying groceries and paying utility and other bills;
- Subscribe to more magazines than anyone could normally read;
- Receive lots of cheap items such as costume jewelry, beauty products, water filters, and knick knacks that they bought to win something or received as prizes;
- Get calls from organizations offering to recover, for a fee, money they have lost to fraudulent telemarketers.
If you are trying to help an older person with a telemarketing fraud problem, don’t be critical. It could happen to anyone—con artists are very good at what they do.
Encourage them to:
- Report actual or attempted fraud to the National Fraud Information Center, 800-876-7060. That information will be transmitted to law enforcement agencies;
- Change their phone number if con artists call repeatedly; and,
- Change their bank account or credit card numbers if they have fallen into the hands of thieves.
Posted by Amy Criger on Mon, Jul 12, 2010 @ 03:20 PM
Elder financial abuse costs older Americans more than $2.6 billion per year. Follow these three steps to identify and protect against elder fraud.
- Recognize the “red flags” of fraud.
- Recognize the signs of victimization and how to help.
- Inform and educate on how to reduce the number of unwanted sales calls and mailings and how to deal effectively with telemarketers.
This week we are going to examine each of the three steps to help protect the elderly against fraud. Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3.
The 1st step is...
Helping older people recognize the “red flags“ of fraud:
- A promise to win money, make money or borrow money easily;
- A demand to act immediately or else miss out on this great opportunity;
- A refusal to send written information before agreeing to buy or donate;
- An attempt to scare the victim into buying something;
- Insistence on wiring money or having a courier pick up a payment; and,
- A refusal to stop calling after being asked not to call again.
Seniors need to know that:
- It’s illegal for companies that operate contests or sweepstakes to ask one to pay to enter or claim a prize or even suggest that chances of winning will improve if there is a purchase;
- It’s illegal for telemarketers to ask for a fee upfront to help get a loan if they guarantee or strongly imply that the loans will be made;
- There is no reason to give a credit card number or bank account number to a telemarketer unless a payment is actually being made with that account; and,
- If payment is required before getting detailed information about the offer, it’s probably a scam.
Posted by Amy Criger on Fri, Jul 09, 2010 @ 03:31 PM
If you're concerned about your parents -- whether they can safely care for themselves -- you need to become aware of the warning signs. Take the time to learn what they are, and what you can do by joining us for a free educational seminar at Santa Marta.
“Knowing When Your Parents Need Help” will be presented by Natalie Schneider, Certified Geriatric Care Manager.
Tuesday, July 13 and Thursday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Santa Marta, located at 115th Terrace and Pflumm. Reserve your space today by calling 913.323.7110 or visit
www.SantaMartaRetirement.com
Or check out the event on Facebook:
Knowing the Signs Your Parents Need Help Event
Refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there!!
Posted by Amy Criger on Fri, Jul 09, 2010 @ 10:09 AM
This information was shared with us by Samantha Shepherd from Shepherd Elder Law Group, LLC
During the month of March, and after much debate, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law. This new legislation, commonly referred to as "health care reform," made sweeping changes to health care as we currently know it, including the introduction of new programs aimed to assist older Americans with long term care.
Medicare Improvements
Preventive benefits. Older adults will no longer have to pay out of pocket for preventive care services such as cancer and diabetes screenings. Effective January 1, 2011, all deductibles and co-insurance for preventive benefits will be eliminated. Medicare recipients will also receive one free annual wellness visit.
Dual-eligible subsidy improvements. Those seniors who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (called "dual-eligibles") and are enrolled in home and community-based services waiver programs will no longer have to pay cost sharing for their Part D prescription drugs.
Reduced government subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans are run by private insurers as an alternative to traditional Medicare. Historically, private insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans have received subsidies from the government for entering the Medicare market. As a result, care for people in Medicare Advantage plans costs approximately 13% more on average than care for people enrolled in traditional Medicare. Under the new legislation, subsidies to private insurers offering Medicare Advantage programs will be frozen at the 2010 levels. Then, cuts averaging 12% per year will be phased in over the next six years to bring payments closer to what traditional Medicare spends to provide medical care.
Planning Note: Individuals currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan may see reductions in their covered services in the near future and should review their coverage closely in the coming months.
Prescription Drug Help
Closing the doughnut hole. The coverage gap in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, often called the "doughnut hole," will be completely closed by 2020. Currently, this gap begins when a beneficiary's total prescription drug costs reach $2,830. Beneficiaries must pay the next $3,610 in prescription drug costs themselves, then catastrophic coverage begins.
Under the new legislation, beneficiaries who fall into the doughnut hole will receive a $250 rebate in 2010. Starting in 2011, they will receive a 50% discount on name-brand drugs and other discounts on generic drugs. These discounts will increase each year until 2020, when beneficiaries will be responsible for 25% of the cost of drugs until the catastrophic limit is reached. This 25% co-pay is the same percentage beneficiaries pay for initial coverage under Part D.
Planning Note: The "doughnut hole" will be gradually reduced until completely closed in 2020. Rebates and discounts on prescription drugs begin this year. Contact us to learn about other programs that may provide assistance with prescription drugs and other out-of-pocket medical expenses.
More In-Home Services Provided by Medicaid
Incentives to encourage in-home Medicaid services. Under the new legislation, states are given more incentives to offer home and community-based services. One incentive is offered under the "Community First Choice" option. With this option, states that did not offer these types of services previously can begin to do so by amending their state Medicaid plan beginning October 1, 2011. Those states that offer home and community-based services under the "Community First Choice" option will receive an increase in Medicaid matching dollars for the cost of the program. States that already offer home and community-based programs are also eligible for increased Medicaid matching dollars if they submit an application that includes a detailed plan and budget for increasing the use of non-institutional care. For a five-year period beginning in 2014, states will be required to extend the same spousal impoverishment protections currently provided to spouses of nursing home residents to spouses of individuals receiving home and community-based services.
Planning Note: The Medicaid qualification rules are complex and change often. It is important to consult with an elder law attorney to discuss planning options and to understand what programs provide the most benefits.
Long Term Care Insurance with No Health Limitations
Government-operated long term care insurance program. Beginning in January, 2011, Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) will be available to working adults. While premiums and benefits have not yet been set, an individual must be enrolled in the program for 5 years and maintain the minimal work requirements for 3 of the first 5 years of employment. Premiums will be deducted automatically from the individual's paycheck and are expected to range from $150 to $240/month depending on the age of the enrollee (with decreased premiums available to persons with low income). The $50/day minimum benefit can be used to pay for personal care needs, medical equipment and in-home care.
Planning Note: Not everyone who pays a premium for 5 years is eligible to receive benefits. During those five years the employee must have earned the equivalent of a quarter of coverage under the Social Security program and paid premiums for at least 24 consecutive months.
Conclusion There are a number of provisions within the health care reform legislation that can provide significant benefits to seniors and their loved ones. However, it will be months and years before many benefits are fully realized, if at all. This new legislation and the need for it brings to light the potential financial crisis that many seniors may face once long term care is required. It is vitally important for individuals to create a long term care plan that covers how care will be obtained, how it will be paid, and who will act on behalf of the individual in the event of incapacity.
To comply with the U.S. Treasury regulations, we must inform you that (i) any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this newsletter was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of avoiding U.S. federal tax penalties that may be imposed on such person and (ii) each taxpayer should seek advice from their tax advisor based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances.
For more information:www.shepherdelderlaw.com
Posted by Amy Criger on Thu, Jul 01, 2010 @ 04:43 PM
Article Written by: Natalie Schneider, CMC.
As babies develop you can notice significant changes from one day to another. It is not uncommon for a baby who is crawling one day to get up the following day and start walking. Conversely as seniors age the signs of decline are very subtle often they go unnoticed unless there is a significant event such as a stroke.
Read the list below. If you notice your senior is exhibiting any of these signs or symptoms it may be time to consider taking action to avoid a serious injury caused by a fall.
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Poor eyesight: When was the last eye exam? Eyesight must be as sharp as possible to maintain health for many reasons avoiding falls is one of them. Can the senior see what is in the path to avoid tripping over an obstacle?
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Furniture walker: Does your senior lean on furniture, walls or countertops while ambulating?
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Arthritis of the feet, knees and hips. How stable are the joints used for walking?
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Shortness of breath: Does your senior have trouble breathing while walking? Hyperventilation causes light headedness.
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Medications: Sometimes medications can cause "orthostatic hypotension". OH is the sudden drop in blood pressure upon rising either from the bed or a chair which leads to severe light headedness.
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Poor balance: Agility and balance decrease with age. Does your senior stumble while walking?
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Acute Illness: Seniors do not rebound from illness easily. When your senior is acutely ill ensure their safety by keeping someone at the home around the clock until you are certain falling is not a concern.
If you notice any of these problems consult with a geriatric care manager for direction in care. There are many resources available to help with decreasing your seniors fall risk. Take advantage of them and keep your senior healthy!
Here are some fall prevention safety tips for you to consider:
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Consider removing or altering tile floors. This can be an expensive project but realize whatever drops on a tile floor breaks. Seniors often do not have the bone structure to tolerate a fall on a tile floor leading to severe fractures.
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Make sure the path to the bathroom is illuminated enough for your senior at night. Do not evaluate this during daytime hours. Conduct your evaluation at night by watching your senior navigate from the bed to the bathroom and back again.
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How safe is your senior while taking a shower? Falling in the shower is the number one cause of falls for seniors.
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Does your senior have to navigate any steps or stairs at the home? Can this be done safely?
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If you don't feel qualified to evaluate the safety of your senior ask the doctor to arrange an evaluation by an occupational therapist. This is usually covered by health insurance.
About the Autor: Natalie Schneider, certified geriatric care manager, has worked with the elderly for over a decade as a registered nurse and as a geriatric care manager in the Kansas City metropolitan area. She owns and operates American Companion Care Kansas City's most responsive agency. For more information regarding elderly senior management you may contact her via email at natalie@americancompanioncare.com
Posted by Amy Criger on Mon, Jun 28, 2010 @ 04:24 PM
There are many reasons why it may be difficult to age in place, but if you plan well for normal age related changes, you improve the odds significantly that you can stay safely in your home for a lifetime. This article provides some tips and tricks to make your home safe for normal age related changes such as problems with balance, flexibility, poor arm strength, and mobility challenges.
Limited Reach
- Cabinet shelves no more than 18 inches deep
- Closet organizer to reach belongings
- Closet rods that pull down to a comfortable level
- Front-loading clothes washer and dryer
- Cooktop with easy-to-reach controls at the front
- Electrical outlets 27 inches above the floor
- Hand-held shower in bathroom
- Kitchen and closets with pull-down shelving
- Lazy Susan to reach things stored on deep shelves
- Microwave oven no higher than 48 inches above the floor
- Oven doors that swing to the side
- Pull-out shelves in the kitchen
- Side-by-side refrigerator
- Sink controls on the side
- Upper kitchen cabinets 48 inches from the floor
Poor Hand and Arm Strength
- Automatic garage door opener
- Cabinets and drawers with D-shape handles
- Smooth countertops so heavy pans can slide across them
- Doors with lever handles
- Push-button controls on appliances
- Rocker light switches
- Sinks with lever faucet handles
- Special hardware to make drawers slide easily
- Spray hose to fill pots on the stove
- Dishwasher eight inches from the floor
Trouble Walking and Climbing Stairs
- Smooth, slip-resistant floors
- Knee space under sinks, so someone can sit while washing
- Knee space under the stove, so someone can sit while cooking
- No area rugs
- Ramp to front door with handrails on both sides
- Stairs with slip-resistant surface
Trouble Bending
- Elevated toilet or toilet seat
- Lower kitchen cabinets 6 inches above the floor
- Sink no more than 6 inches deep
- Countertop that can be used while sitting
Balance and Coordination Problem
- Bath seat in the tub or shower
- Transfer bench or lift for bathtub
- Walk-in shower or tub with door for walk-in
- Grab bars near the bath and toilet
- Handrails extended beyond the top and bottom of the stairs
- No stairs to bedroom or bathroom
- Phone in the bathroom
When care is needed, American Companion Care can help, not only with a qualified caregiver, but by coordinating community services so living at home longer is possible. We can also provide a free in-home safety assessment and make recommendations for comfortably aging in place.
See also:
Aging In Place Challenges: Low Vision and Hearing Impairment
Posted by Amy Criger on Fri, Jun 25, 2010 @ 02:03 PM
There are many reasons that aging in place may be difficult for some, but if you plan well for normal age related changes you increase your likelihood of success significantly. Here are some easy improvements you can make to your home at any age to prepare for the two most common age related challenges: low vision and impaired hearing.
Limited Vision
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Edge of counters that are a different color than the top
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Edge of each step in a color that stands out
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Well-lit stairs
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Steps that are a different color than the surrounding area
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Increased wattage of light bulbs
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Lights in all closets
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Well-lit outside walkways and entrances
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Stove controls clearly marked and easy to see
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Stove with different colors to tell which parts are hot
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Under-the-cabinet lights over the kitchen counter
Hearing Impairment
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Dishwasher is ultra-quiet to reduce background noise
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Increased volume on phones
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Smoke detectors with strobe lights
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Doorbell with flashing light when rung
When care is needed, American Companion Care can help, not only with a qualified caregiver, but by coordinating community services so living at home longer is possible. We can also provide a free in-home safety assessment and make recommendations for comfortably aging in place.