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Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

By on November 8, 2012 in Case Management, Resources

Attached you will find the link to the National PACE website.  There you can look at all of the services provided by PACE plus all of the national PACE sites.  PACE already exists in the Detroit area (Center for Senior Independence (CSI), 7800 W. Outer Drive, Detroit, MI  48235) with areas extending out to zip codes in Highland Park, Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Lincoln Park, Redford, and Dearborn Heights.   In January 2013, the Detroit PACE site will be opening a second center on the eastside at the Rivertown Neighborhood (see SCoop post on Rivertown Neighborhood).  UMRC is looking to open a new PACE site which their catchement area will bump up to the current catchement area of CSI in Wayne County and cover the whole downriver community, including Belleville.  This is expected to occur within the next year or so.  In addition, there is a PACE site currently open in Battle Creek, MI, with their second site set to open in Kalamazoo in early 2013.  This is a wonderful opportunity for those seniors committed to aging in place!

The website is:  www.npaonline.org

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November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

By on November 2, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

Just a reminder that November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.  To learn more about this month and what you can do to possibly bring more awareness to yourself and your members/residents, please visit the following website:

www.alz.org

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Addtional CE Opportunity

By on October 29, 2012 in Training News

Triggers of Late-Life Depression & Biological and Lifestyle Factors that Effect Cognitive Function

Thursday, December 5th – 8:30 am – 11:50 am

Training held at Waltonwoods in Livonia, MI

2.5 FREE CE’s

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Continuing Education Opportunities thru the IOG

By on October 29, 2012 in Training News

For the following programs please send an e-mail to donnamacdonald@wayne.edu to register. These events are certified for nursing, SW, OT, PT, NHA, and other allied health employees.  A general certificate is also available.  Please indicate in your e-mail the type of certificate you require.  

Nov 7, 2012, Holistic Approaches to Well-Being, Janet Tait, RN, BSN, CHTP/I, Season’s Change :  Am I Feeling Blue??, Lisa Ficker, PhD, Wayne State University, (2CE) to be held at Waltonwood of Novi, 27475 Huron Circle, Novi, MI 48377

Nov 8, 2012  Wellness & Healing: Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of Others,   Exploring the Healing Arts, Rhonda Dean, MSN, Wayne State University (1CE plus free holistic spa treatment)Aretee Therapeutic Wellness Spa, 20559 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236, sponsored by Brightstar

Nov 13, 2012  Exploring the Healing Arts-  Rhonda Dean, MSN, Wayne State and Psychological and Clinical Approaches to Pain Management, Michelle Leonard, PhD, Wayne State University, (2 CE), to be held at American House Hazel Park, 777 E. Woodward Heights, Hazel Park, MI 48030

Nov 15, 2012  Aging, Alcohol Use/Misuse, and Addiction, Marcia Relyea, M.I.S.,LBSW, (CADC-M)Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (2CE)  to be held at WSSU Oakland Center, 33737 W. 12 Mile Rd, Farmington, MI 48331, sponsored by AAA1B, please see registration form for details

Dec 4, 2012   Wellness & Healing: Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of Others, Enhancing Wellness Through Self-Reflection , Rhonda Dean, MSN, Wayne State University (1CE plus free holistic spa treatment)Irene’s Myomassology Institute, 26061 Franklin Rd., Southfield, MI 48033 / 248-350-1400,

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MMAP Counselor at Village of Warren Glenn

By on October 18, 2012 in Front Page Announcement Only

This is being posted on behalf of Maureen Chabot, Service Coordinator at Village of Warren Glenn.

The Village of Warren Glenn will be hosting a MMAP counselor who will be providing an orientation to Medicare Part D ONLY on Thursday, October 25th @ 2:30pm @ VWG.  

Contact Maureen Chabot with any questions at (586) 751-5090.

 

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Mental Illness Awareness Week

By on October 5, 2012 in Front Page Announcement Only

October 7 – 13, 2012 is Mental Illness Awareness Week.  Resources are available on the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) at:

http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=mental_illness_awareness_week

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Nursing Home Payment

By on September 17, 2012 in Health and Medical, Resources, Skilled Nursing

The question was asked, when will a nursing home start “taking” a person’s social security check when they are receiving services at the nursing home … and is there anything that can be done to stop this?

Ann Kraemer states, “I want to reinforce that nursing homes don’t “start taking” resident’s social security.  As Brenda notes [below], Medicare & other insurance programs pay for some of the person’s stay in a nursing home.  If the resident’s Medicare days run out, (ref Brenda’s reference to the 21-100 days Medicare & related insurance limitations)  then the resident has to pay for his/her stay in the nursing home. Residents typically “turn over” their social security checks to the nursing home for a portion of their payment. Keep in mind that nursing homes charge on the average $6-7,000/month so most nursing home residents are looking for ways to pay that tab when their health insurance won’t pay.”

Brenda Carney adds, “For traditional Medicare, Medicare pays 100% of the first 20 days, and then a daily co-payment thereafter for days 21 – 100, as long as they meet the criteria for Medicare Skilled Care.  If they have a secondary insurance (besides Medicaid), they may pick-up some to all of the daily co-payment.  If their secondary insurance is Medicaid, then at day 21 they start charging the daily co-payment until all but $60 of their social security check is depleted then Medicaid kicks in.  If they DO NOT have Medicaid, then the co-payment starts at day 21 and continues until discharge from Medicare.  Therefore, it is HIGHLY recommended that they apply for Medicaid should they not have any savings (over $2000) as it could cost them A LOT.  Nursing Home Medicaid is different than community Medicaid, so it is worthwhile applying for …

Having said ALL of this, there is a Special Director or Olmstead exception that they can apply for which will possibly waive part to all off the monthly payment to the nursing home out of the Social Security check.  Below is a link that explains this application process.  The nursing home social worker should be able to assist with this process.  They have to provide supports for all NECESSARY bills that they need to maintain their apartment while they are in the nursing home.  It does not include Cable TV, etc.  I have applied for this on behalf of a resident successfully and partially successfully.  Do not anticipate that the entire social security check will be preserved.

http://www.mplp.org/Issues/mplpissue.2010-05-05.9554801510

As for food stamps and SSI, while you are in a nursing home, these items are items that can be cut.  However, it does not consistently happen, depending on how long the individual is in the nursing home and the speediness at which the billing office at the nursing home submits and the State changes the resident’s status as Nursing Home in the State computer.  There is no work around that I know of … and cannot be applied for until after they are discharged from the nursing home.  There is a code in the State Medicaid system that needs to have them reflected as being community living for them to be eligible for Food Stamps and SSI.  Conversely, it can take a while when the person is OUT of the nursing home to resume these services as it depends on the speed of the billing office at the nursing home to submit and DHS to change the State database.”

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Mobile Notary Public

By on September 7, 2012 in Legal Services, Resources

If you are looking to find a notary that would be willing to travel to your building to notarize documents for your members/residents, a good site to find a Notary Public is:

http://www.123notary.com/michigan_notary/

To verify that this person has a current Notary Public license in Michigan, you can confirm at:

http://services.sos.state.mi.us/notarysearch/

They do charge for services but most are reasonably priced.

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10 Tips for Talking With Someone with Dementia

By on August 31, 2012 in Alzheimer's Disease, Health and Medical, Resources
This is a useful informational sheet taken from “A Place For Mom” blog.  The family members and friends of our resident’s can struggle with trying to communicate with their loved one when they have dementia.  This is a simple, straight forward explaination.
 
 

10 Simple Tips for Talking with a Loved One who has Demenita

By Jeffery Anderson on August 29, 2012
| August 29, 2012 More

 
It’s indescribably painful to witness the deterioration of a parent, spouse or loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, or any other type of dementia. Our closest family members are often the very foundation of our lives, and when that foundation crumbles we feel critically undermined. As the disease progresses, we see minor forgetfulness gradually morph into severe impairment, and eventually our loved one’s individuality itself is compromised.

During my work with families I have heard many people use the phrase, “empty shell of a person” when describing a loved one ravaged by the later stages of the dementia. Sadly, dementia does indeed transform people into shadows of their former selves, but those living with dementia are far from “empty shells.” Yes, the shell may become more and more difficult to open. Some days it might not open at all. But never forget that there is a beautiful, unvarnished pearl within.

Understanding how to “open the shell” gives us opportunities to meaningfully connect with our dementia-afflicted loved one—even if only for a fleeting moment. Just as the right tools and a lot of technique is required to shuck an oyster, there is technique and artistry involved with communicating or connecting emotionally with a loved one who has dementia.

Here are 10 tips on how to effectively communicate with someone who has moderate to severe dementia.

  1. Recognize what you’re up against. Dementia inevitably gets worse with time. People with dementia will gradually have a more difficult time understanding others, as well as communicating in general.
  2. Avoid distractions. Try to find a place and time to talk when there aren’t a lot of distractions present. This allows your loved one to focus all their mental energy on the conversation.
  3. Speak clearly and naturally in a warm and calm voice. Refrain from ‘babytalk’ or any other kind of condescension.
  4. Refer to people by their names. Avoid pronouns like “he,” “she,” and “they” during conversation. Names are also important when greeting a loved one with dementia. For example: “Hi, Grandma.  It’s me, Jeff,” is to be preferred over, “Hi. It’s me.”
  5. Talk about one thing at a time. Someone with dementia may not be able to engage in the mental juggling involved in maintaining a conversation with multiple threads.
  6. Use nonverbal cues. For example, maintain eye contact and smile. This helps put your loved one at ease and will facilitate understanding. And when dementia is very advanced, nonverbal communication may be the only option available.
  7. Listen actively. If you don’t understand something your loved one is telling you, politely let them know.
  8. Don’t quibble. Your conversations are not likely to go very far if you try to correct every inaccurate statement your loved one makes. It’s okay to let delusions and misstatements go.
  9. Have patience. Give your loved one extra time to process what you say. If you ask a question, give a moment to respond. Don’t let frustration get the better of you.
  10. Understand there will be good days and bad days. While the general trend of dementia sufferers is a downward decline, people with dementia will have ups and downs just like anyone else.
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Welcome!

By on August 27, 2012 in Company News, PVM News

We are excited to welcome Crystal Tannyhill as the new Service Coordinator at PVM Our Saviour’s Manor.  She is very excited about her new position and brings a wealth of enthusiasm with her.

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