Archive | April, 2013
Bed Rest and Its Effects on the Body and the Mind
Tuesday, April 16, 9:30-10:30am
“Bed Rest and Its Effects on the Body and the Mind”
Dr. Voyko Kavcic of the Institute of Gerontology
Part of the Wayne State University IOG
Colloquium & Professional Development
All presentations are free, no registration required
71 East Ferry Street, Detroit
Assisting Co-op – Referred Member with Limited English Proficiency
Answer (but would love more input from other SCs):
1. Yes, the President can recommend the member’s family contact the SC to arrange for assistance, but the SC will only be able to talk specifically about the member/client if the family provides a written Consent to Release from the member for the SC to talk with the family. The President is welcome to give this form to the family and explain it. I’ve attached the form and the SC brochure for the Co-op . If the family is unable to obtain a Consent to Release from the member, the SC can only discuss the role of the SC and options available to members in general.
2. CSI and the SC cannot work together on any specific member case unless there is specific written consent from the member to discuss his/her situation. The president can make a written referral to the FCRC to assist with the case and begin the FCRC/SC written referral process. Otherwise, CSI would need to work with the member in ways that they traditionally do when members have limited English proficiency (paid translator, family translator, etc.) When the SC works with a translator, we request that there be two documents signed. The member must sign a written Consent to Release to share information with the translator. And the translator signs a Confidentiality Agreement, which is a good way of the SC educating the translator on the importance of confidentiality and full translation to the best of the translator’s ability. This form is also attached.
3. CSI is never allowed to share the emergency contact information with the SC (unless there is specific written consent to release from the member). The SC is never permitted to call emergency contacts without the member’s written consent to release.
4. Some ideas for translation services includes: AAA1B – quite a lot of languages available by appointment, 211 – quite a lot of language available by appointment, UM Dearborn, AT&T, English Language Institute at WSU, body language, index cards for common questions and answers, ACCESS, Piast Institute in Hamtramck, some ethnic churches (one of the SCs was successful with this for a less familiar language), Consulate, Google translator for crude translation if the member is literate in native language. It is highly dependent on the language and the literacy level of the member in her/his native language.
Question:
I want to be proactive and ask about a hypothetical situation that I might be faced with soon at the co-op.
There is a member (not a client of the SC) who does not speak English, whom other members have expressed concerns to me about (the member’s apartment smells and the member has been seen wearing soiled clothing). When the President gets the “request for member support” form, she can refer to the FCRC and they can visit the member and try to involve the family. If that does not work and she refers the member to me, I will be unable to communicate with the member because of the language barrier. What is the best way for us to deal with this? It seems like all the options have ethical implications and we would like clarity.
1. Is the President allowed to recommend that the member’s family contact the SC to arrange for help, at least in translation assistance at an appointment?
2. If the member has not given an OK for CSI to call their emergency contact, how do CSI and the SC work with that member when there is no common language?
3. Is CSI ever allowed to share emergency contact information with SCs, and are SCs ever allowed to call emergency contacts without a member’s permission?
4. If the SC gets a referral from the president for a member with whom the SC cannot communicate, and there is no family help with that member, how is the SC supposed to handle the referral and work with the member to get help?
Updated Hannan Professional Development Calendar
Hot off the presses from Ann. See attached calendar.
Reoffering SC Services
Hi All,
I’m posting this now, because we are approaching the “first year” anniversary of a large number of SCs. Congrats all!
This also means that a number of you have reached the point (365 days – or one year) when you need to re-explain and re-offer your SC services to members/residents who declined SC services at this time last year.
So, what does this entail?
Case management procedures explain that you do need to personally offer your services to members/residents once a year. A personal offer means that you specifically explained your services and offered them to an individual member/resident. This can be in the form of a direct, face-to-face conversation in your office, their apartment, or in a discrete location in the common areas; or this can be a personalized letter (clipped to door – if approved in your Co-op/Village), “snail-mailed” via USPS, or otherwise delivered; a voicemail message if you have access to a telephone number; or a comparable direct offer. If the member tells you in person, over the phone, on your voice mail, or in writing that they are either accepting or declining your services, you are done! The “ask” is complete and you either proceed with an intake, assessement, and Initial Service Plan for the member/resident, or you note in your Progress Notes the method of offering your services, the method in which they declined, and the the next step is that you will reoffer services again in another year (unless they come to you first).
If there is no answer to your initial inquiry, you need to reoffer your services up to 3 discreet times. Each must be recorded in your Progress Notes. If a member/resident does not answer your inquiry after 3 offers, you can consider it to be a “no” and that they are declining your services. Please note this in your Progress Notes and your next step will be reoffering your services in another year.
Possible tips:
– Let your Co-op Leadership Team (or Village Administrator) know that it is a time of year that you are re-offering your services to members/residents. Explain the process. Also explain that if members/residents report feeling badgered or pressured by multiple inquiries, they simply need to respond yes or no to the SC and the process will be finalized without additional inquiries for another year.
– Announce during your scheduled educational workshop that this effort is in progress.
– Hold another “meet and greet”.
This is a great topic for a SC Conference Call to share what is working (and isn’t) at your site.
Enjoy this opportunity to reintroduce yourself to members/residents you don’t see as often, may have been initially uneasy about the SC program, or have experienced life changes in the past year that have made them ready to consider working with you.
New Blog for Baby Boomers
The New York Times started a blog called “Booming: Living through the Middle Ages,” focused on lifestyle of the baby boomer generation. The author, Michael Winerip (pictured, left) feels that he is well-qualified to start this blog: he was born in 1951, and has four children, aged 18 to 24 years old–much like many others in his generation. Baby boomers will be able to use the blog to find entertainment destinations, read literary essays, learn about new songs that they might like, and even ask for advice. The author says that this blog will be very personal, pulling much material from his own life and experience as a baby boomer.
“About Booming: Booming is a section about baby boomers — the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964. Besides news and information useful to this generation, you’ll find essays by boomers and by their children. You’ll find debates about books, new music to embrace and some secrets to enduring love. The wide-ranging conversation will be led by Michael Winerip, who has covered education, parenting, politics and his fellow boomers. You can reach us by sending an e-mail to booming@nytimes.com.”
You can access the blog here, or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/booming/index.html.
You can also watch a short video about the new blog here, http://www.nytimes.com/video/2012/09/12/booming/100000001779778/booming.html.
CSI Recertification – Role of SC
Answer:
Recertification. You can help members fill out the forms if you have (a) a
consent to release to certification dept at CSI (they may ask you to fax it to
them), and (b) you have a representative from the CSI certification dept on
conference phone while you are with the member. It will be the CSI
representative who walks the member through the steps of recertification. You
are just there as another set of eyes and, if needed, a writer (especially for
members with low vision or with low literacy skills). If you are the one
assisting with physically filling out the application, make a blank copy for the
member to follow along with the CSI rep and you.
Yes, you can look up
addresses in the computer, but you can not collect documents.
Question:
They’ve begun recertification here. How involved do I
get with folks with questions about their paperwork? As I understand, I can
maybe help folks read the forms and look up addresses on the computer, but
nothing beyond that. Is that correct?
CSI Member Tax Information
Hi All,
Below is the wording on a flyer that members received regarding their eligibility for tax credits. Many are eligible for the Home Heating Credit based on income (although far fewer are eligible this year due to changes the State made regarding deductables). None of the members are eligible for the Homestead Property Tax. The wording on a memo received by the members is as follows:
WHEN PREPARING YOUR 2012 INCOME TAX RETURNS, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT NOTHING IS PAID FROM YOUR MONTHLY RENT FOR PROPERTY TAXES. THEREFORE, YOU SHOULD NOT FILE FOR THE GENERAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT ON THE MICHIGAN INCOME TAX FORM 1040CR FOR A REAL ESTATE CREDIT BASED ON THE RENT YOU PAY FOR YOUR APARTMENT.
WE DO NOT WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE TAX STATUS OF YOUR CO-OP AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.
DEPENDING ON YOUR INCOME, YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE HOME HEATING CREDIT CALIM ON THE MICHIGAN INCOME TAX FORM. YOU MUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE STATE TAX FORM.