through the eyes of a Wisconsin-Based Senior Care Advisor…

As a Senior Care Advisor based out of Appleton, Wisconsin, I find that many of my senior clients and their families are unclear about the differences between Medicare and Medicaid. While my expertise of these programs is basic, I am knowledgeable on how they work in relation to the people my team and I at CarePatrol serve; those who are needing support with their daily activities and/or personal cares. They are considering assisted living or home care, or they are wrapping up a rehab in a skilled facility and are unsure about next steps. In an attempt to clear up some of the misunderstandings of what insurance will and will not cover, I wrote up 5 basic things that I wish every family understood about Medicare and Medicaid.

1. Medicare is the government-sponsored health insurance available to senior citizens who qualify based on their age and to others based on their disability. Just like private insurance, this is health care coverage. There are some wellness benefits and some acute care benefits.
2. Medicaid is government – sponsored insurance designed as a safety net for those who are unable to afford other insurance coverage or who have significant ongoing care needs that are not covered by health insurance, and the person does not have more than $2,000/$3,000 in assets (excluding the home in which they live and 1 car).
3. Medicare will pay for short-term rehabilitation in a skilled care nursing home. This most commonly follows an acute care hospitalization to trigger an authorization by Medicare. A short-term rehab can last from 7-120 days. Most Medicare insurance providers will quote the 120 days of eligibility, but in reality most people we see are granted about 2-3 weeks of rehabilitation in a skilled facility.
4. Medicaid is a wonderful safety net to ensure that nearly all American’s can receive the care that they need. However, the providers who accept Medicaid are limited, and those who do accept often limit the number of people who are on Medicaid due to the relatively low reimbursement rates.
5. All seniors, whether on Medicare or Medicaid will have options for their medical and their long-term care. However, just like in our everyday lives, those with the best coverage and ability to pay with personal funds/equity will have access to the most and the best quality care options.

Do you have questions about long-term care and how to pay for it? Call your Fox Cities CarePatrol Senor Advisor team at 920-428-0827 carepatrol.com

I never had much opportunity to be with the residents but loved talking with them when I could.  One morning I decided to go and introduce myself to the gentleman that I noticed in the dining room the night before. He graciously invited me into his apartment and the first thing he said was, “Kim, I have Parkinson’s.” This gentleman was very comfortable and knowledgeable talking about his disease.  He explained that he has had this disease for over 20 years and it is getting harder for him now to do the normal daily tasks. I thanked him for helping me understand. I felt inspired when I left and blessed to have learned about his condition. He had a wonderful sense of humor and continued to demonstrate incredible perseverance. From that moment, I felt a need to become an advocate for people with Parkinson’s. 

April is Parkinson’s awareness month.  This special month allows us to become educated in this life changing disease and learn the many symptoms that impact a person in their daily life. My advocacy has led to Parkinson’s support groups along with an annual awareness event called Pitching for Parkinson’s.  Please take a moment this month to learn more about Parkinson’s. A great resource is the Wisconsin Parkinson’s Association.  If you have any questions regarding the Parkinson’s support groups or Pitching for Parkinson’s reach out to me at kpatterson@carepatrol.com   

 Kim Patterson

The history of social work is long and deep. The stories of our profession are not that of just social workers, but the communities they serve, the lives they changed and the policies they drove. Our history, our stories are that of civil rights activists, social justice warriors, human rights champions, family advocates, suffragists and community leaders.

I have worked with the senior citizen population for 38 years. Prior to my real life work career, I was fortunate to travel to England through college for my internship. What an amazing experience. I supported an area of the city. No specialty..seniors, children, housing..you name it, the variety was exciting. Upon returning to the USA, I gravitated to senior citizens as I graduated from college.

What an amazing journey it has been and continues to be. From skilled nursing to independent living in all different roles, it has been very impactful and I hope I have made a difference in people’s lives as they have in mine. The families and their family member are seeking some “senior living guidance” and it is nothing short of a blessing to be able to be on the journey with them. Meeting them, knowing them, knocking down walls on their behalf and for their benefit can include a number of emotions from stress to success and ultimately improved quality of life. It is a very rewarding feeling to assist them on their journey & every journey is different.

The characteristics of a social worker will vary, but social workers are sincere, empathetic and a never ending resource and support to the people they strive to help. Social workers need to initiate some tough conversations, mediate, support all and listen.

As a Senior Care Advisor working for CarePatrol, it is nothing but rewarding because I can assist seniors and their families when helping them find safer senior living. A difficult and personal decision for some, an exciting challenge and relief of household burdens to others.

CarePatrol is there for you. We are on the journey with you. There will be peaks and valleys, tough decisions, emotional and exciting changes happening all at once and we are there to help!

Kristen K. Marshall, BSW, CADDCT, CDP

Planning for Your Loved One’s Future

Have you decided it’s time for a serious family discussion about your loved one’s needs? Perhaps you’ve seen some early warning signs that cause concern, such as physical limitations or changes in behavior. You’re not alone; it’s estimated that more than half of all seniors will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetimes.

Reasons to Hold a Family Meeting

Talking about next steps is a difficult conversation, but the sooner family members and caregivers can discuss options, the better care your loved one will receive, which needs to remain the focus of any meeting. Some family members are often unaware of changes taking place. A meeting can bring concerns to light, and bringing everyone together to discuss roles and options can alleviate the pressures placed on certain individuals. Talking about issues, sharing information and discussing ideas will almost always be beneficial when conducted appropriately.

Determine Who Should Attend a Family Meeting

The first person you need to include is your loved one. Even if issues such as dementia, physical limitations or reluctance exist, his or her choices and dignity need to be upheld and respected. Ultimately, it’s your decision and that of your loved one, but don’t purposely exclude them. Others to invite include your loved one’s close family members or friends, personal caregivers, neighbors or a trusted religious advisor. Be inclusive but try to limit the group to no more than 10 people.

But You Don’t Know My Family!

There are often family divides — both geographic and relational — that make a meeting challenging. Planning a meeting around a holiday gathering or special family event may be a good option and, if necessary, video chat apps can help to overcome travel limitations. Family conflicts are often the most difficult challenge to overcome. When requesting the meeting, it may be appropriate to acknowledge that tensions exist, but stress putting aside personal agendas to focus on your loved one’s needs. There is no perfect resolution, and compromise will be necessary. Focus on the future, not past hurts.

Create an Agenda and Assign Roles

A family meeting should not be a free-for-all. Assign a facilitator, note taker and timekeeper, and arrange a comfortable meeting place with snacks and beverages. Share an agenda with attendees in advance and allow for feedback. There will be multiple opinions about what’s most important, so start by asking your loved one about his or her main concerns. Consider discussing the pros and cons of staying home rather than only talking about leaving. Include ground rules in your agenda: show respect, agree that it’s ok to disagree and avoid verbal attacks or criticism.

Family Meeting Follow Up

After the meeting, send out notes to those involved and those who couldn’t make it. Remind everyone about tasks that may have been assigned. Set a time for future meetings to address any changes that may warrant intervention. As part of the initial meeting, you should have discussed a back-up plan in the event your loved one suddenly is no longer able to stay at home. It’s important to research and visit potential retirement communities in advance and to get put on a waiting list so you’re not forced to make a rash and uninformed decision, and remind your loved one that being on a waiting list doesn’t require moving in when your name comes up.

Ask for Help

Rallying around a loved one for a common purpose can actually ease tensions among family members and strengthen relationships. A helpful tip may be to include an objective third party who has expertise in elder care, either to help plan in advance or as part of your meeting. Some charge and others, like CarePatrol, are a free service. One of their Certified Senior Advisors can help you explore solutions and provide options for the future, whether it’s in-home care or assisted living.

According to AAA, nearly 83 percent of older drivers report never speaking to a family member or a physician about their safe driving ability. In addition to expression a hard time initiating the conversation, 15 percent will only do so after a traffic accident has occurred.

If you’re still driving, here are some things you can do to keep yourself safe on the road!

1. Get your eyes and ears examined yearly

To drive, you need good vision and hearing. Even if you think nothing has changed from the previous year, schedule appointments with the optometrist and the audiologist annually.

2. Manage your prescriptions

Taking your medications appropriately is important to maintaining and managing chronic health conditions. If you take them incorrectly, you can increase the risk of side effects that could impair your ability to drive. Also, if you’re on more than one medication, and more than one talks about dizziness as a complication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

3. Be active

Being fit and staying active are important to your overall health, however, when it comes to driving, it can help keep your motor-functions in tip top shape making it easier for you to react to situations and drive defensively.

4. Update your driving skills

True, you’ve been driving for many years, but there are many local organizations that offer driving skills assessments for seniors age 65 and older. You will most likely pass with flying colors, but it will give you an indication, hopefully before an accident occurs, that you might need driving assistance.

For more information on the study by AAA, visit https://newsroom.aaa.com/2018/08/older-drivers-talking-driving-safety/

When we first start working with families and seniors, the first thing we hear is “We can’t afford assisted living”, but when we start putting things into perspective, they realize just how much they can afford it.

Before we start touring with our clients, we look at doing an analysis to determine what you can afford. This is something you can easily do on your own. Here’s how!

Step 1: What are my housing costs? Gather together your housing costs for the month. Include expenses like your utility costs, what you spend on maintenance such as snow removal, landscaping and yard care, etc. Don’t forget about preventative maintenance costs such as your furnace inspections. Also take your property tax and divide that by 12 for a monthly average.

Step 2: What are your monthly utility costs? Every month you are paying utility bills for heat, electric, water, sewer and even in some cases garbage pick-up. Get those bills together and figure out how much you are spending every month.

Step 3: How much are you spending on groceries? Most of the time you don’t consider this an expense to factor in, but most assisted livings offer a meal plan. Some you can opt out as well, but it’s important to consider those costs when determining what’s all included in your monthly assisted living expenses.

Step 4: What are your income sources? The reason we suggest looking at each source is that you might be bringing in more income than you realized when you factor in such things as pensions, 401(k), investments, social security, long-term care insurance. If you are selling home, how much are you anticipating getting, how long will you need it to supplement your income?

Once you’ve got all of your numbers, add together steps 1-3. This will give you a total on what you’re currently spending on housing costs. Reviewing your income sources, taking into consideration other factors such as health and age, you’ll be able to use that information to determine what you can afford each month. If you’re still unsure, reach out to a Certified Senior Advisor for assistance. Some charge, others, like CarePatrol are a free service. Together we can find you an option that fits within your income while meeting your care needs.

Whenever you go to the doctor’s office, they ask about your advanced healthcare directives. Prior to any major medical decisions, you are asked about your advanced healthcare directives. When you are planning your estate, your lawyer asks you about your advanced healthcare directives, yet many people don’t have one. Most don’t plan because they feel they are too young or they don’t understand what an advanced healthcare directive is.

Here are five things you need to know about having one:

1. You are never too young The moment you become a legal adult you are in charge of making your healthcare decisions. Completing an advanced healthcare directive ensures that your wishes are carried out if you can’t make them.

2. Review your directives every year. Circumstances in your life change. You might get married, you might get divorced, you might change your mind on who you want as your Power of Attorney to carry out your advanced directives. You might change your mind on what procedures you want and don’t want. Take the time to review your advanced healthcare directives every year.

3. Know your state’s activation policies. In Wisconsin, a power of attorney is not allowed to make healthcare decisions or inquire about your healthcare with your physician until it is activated by a statement of incompetency that must be signed by two physicians. It can also be reversed when you are able to make your own healthcare decisions again. With every state being different, you want to consult with a local expert if you have questions.

4. You don’t need an attorney to complete one. An elder care attorney is well versed in everything you need to protect yourself and your assets, however, when it comes to completing your advanced healthcare directives, you do have additional and sometimes FREE options. You can contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Office, complete the forms the doctor’s office provides, or arranged to work with a Certified Senior Advisor. Here in Northeast Wisconsin, the Fox Valley Advance Care Planning Partnership can provide you with documents, guidance, and seminars on filling out the documents at any time. Their number is (920) 997-8412.

5. They don’t cover everything. When it comes to your advanced healthcare directives, that is all the paperwork covers. It doesn’t determine your financial power of attorney or manage your estate if anything