Statistics on Caregivers in Ohio

Caregivers are the unsung heroes 

Providing care and assistance to family members of all ages, caregivers are both the invisible yet indispensable backbone of the health care and long-term care system.

 (From the Family Caregiver Alliance and AARP):

• Almost two million (1,990,000) Ohioans are caregivers, whose caregiving is valued at $9.92 per hour, making the estimated economic value of caregiving in the state $14.2 billion.
• The estimated economic value of caregiving in Ohio is about 20 percent more than the state's total Medicaid spending, and about 10 times as much as the state currently spends on home- and community-based care.
• 34 million Americans (16 percent of the population) provide care to adults age 50 and older.
• 8.9 million caregivers (20 percent of adult caregivers) care for someone age 50 and older who has dementia.
• The majority of caregivers are 35-64 years old.
• Many caregivers of older people also are elderly. Of those caring for someone over 65, the average age is 63 years; one-third are in fair to poor health.
• A significant portion of those in the workforce also are providing elder care to family members. Between 25 and 35 percent of all workers report that they are currently providing or have recently provided care to someone 65 or older.
• Among baby boomer caregivers (aged 50-64 years old), an estimated 60 percent are currently employed.
• Caregivers are often unaware of the availability of support services. As many as one in four has unmet needs, only nine percent used respite services and only 11 percent participated in support groups. (Alzheimer's Association and National Alliance for Caregiving)
• More than 90 percent of caregivers who see themselves as such proactively seek resources and skills to assist their loved ones. (National Family Caregivers Association)

Brethren Home Community Services will be opening the doors to the Shuff Adult Day Center, located on their campus, the middle of March 2010. The newly-renovated space is handicap accessible and will be open 5 days a week to provide adult day services to adults in need and to provide respite care  for caregivers. 

For more information call 937-547-7600

What you need to know about Social Security - 5 things to get the biggest check possible

Click here to access the full story in the Kiplinger Newsletter

When Seniors Tutor Children - they sharpen their own mind too

New research suggests it might delay signs of aging in the brain.

Read the full article on Health Day - click here

60 Second Brain Game

Want to test your brain?  I beat the average both times and finished above average for speed - try it for yourself..... your brain actually develops new neurons as you play this game - which by the way, is not just for people "of a certain age".

Challenge your kids, grandkids, co-workers.....

http://www.positscience.com/braingames/60secondbraingame

You have to register to play the game - Positscience is a highly respected company - you may have seen their documentary on brain science that aired a few years ago on the Discovery channel - Check out the YouTube video to learn more about your amazing brain! Learn about "Plasticity" and Brain Fitness.

Americans Living Longer Than Earlier Thought

Dec. 15, 2009 - CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta says new research shows Americans are living even longer than previously thought - up to 8 years longer


Click here to be taken to the CNN episode

Benefits CheckUp® - A service of the National Council On Aging

As of Thursday, February 18, 2010  they have helped 2,437,758 people find over $8 billion worth
of the annual benefits they deserve. Benefits CheckUp Helps YOU find federal, state, local and private programs and explains the qualifications for each program.


Benefits CheckUp® helps you find and enroll in federal, state, local and private programs that help pay for prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, health care and other needs and explains the qualification for each program.

Get all the benefits you deserve.

Updates for 2010 are in - now is the time to check your benefits!

Visit the site. http://www.benefitscheckup.org/

Retired Brains

RetiredBrains.com is a web site for older boomers, seniors and retirees who wish to continue to work (part-time, temporary or full-time).

The site was developed to connect older workers with employers seeking to hire them.

You can search for a job or post your resume at no charge. RetiredBrains also provides resources for important senior-focused information and lists charitable organizations and non-profits who are seeking volunteers.

RetiredBrains.com

Introducing the MV-1 - The World's First and Only "Mobility Vehicle"

Photo from the vpgautos.com web site

The MV-1 is a new type of vehicle. It was built with a purpose - to serve the needs of mobility -impaired and mobility challenged individuals. It comes wheelchair accessible. Unlike a van, it does not need to have expensive retrofit changes made to it - it comes ready to serve those who need assistance with their transportation needs. Orders are being taken now and these vehicles will be rolling off the production line in October of 2010.

The MV-1 is the only vehicle in its class with the option of an OEM engineered and assembled dedicated Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powertrain system to ensure the same durability, reliability, and quality that fleets demand from gasoline powered vehicles.

Click here to visit their web site and watch the video.

Benefit for Aging & Disabled Veterans and Their Spouses

Most senior veterans and their spouses (or widows) don't know about a wonderful, non-taxable benefit called Aid & Attendance.

The VA Aid & Attendance Special Pension is a very important benefit. Unfortunately, it is not very well publicized.

THE AID & ATTENDANCE PROGRAM

The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Special Pension provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisting living facility also qualifies.

The A&A Pension can provide up to $1,632 per month to a veteran, $1,055 per month to a surviving spouse, or $1,949 per month to a couple*.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE AID & ATTENDANCE PENSION

Any War-Time Veteran with 90 days of active duty, 1 day beginning or ending during a period of War, is eligible to apply for the Aid & Attendance Special Pension. A surviving spouse (marriage must have ended due to death of veteran) of a War-Time Veteran may also apply. The individual applying must qualify both medically and financially. To see the periods of war that have been qualified by Congress, check their web site.

Veterans or their widows may be eligible for additional income through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Program. Qualifying applicants may receive a pension or survivor's benefits, plus additional money to pay for medicine. These benefits may total up to $22,000 per year, tax-free!

Too many assets or too much income can disqualify the veteran or surviving spouse.

The veteran or the veteran's widow/widower must meet five requirements:

• The veteran has to have served in the military for one day while at war.
• They must have served in the military for 90 days.
• They must have received better than a dishonorable discharge.
• They must be home-bound (meaning that the veteran or veteran's widow/widower essentially requires full-time care and cannot leave home without assistance).
• The veteran or the widow must need assistance with activities of daily living.

Many applications are turned down for Veterans Aid and Attendance because (a) income exceeds the maximum, (b) their assets exceed the threshold or (c) the applicant or caregiver filled out the wrong forms or filled out the forms incorrectly.

To qualify financially, an applicant must have less than $80,000 in assets, EXCLUDING their home and vehicles.

To qualify medically, a War-Time Veteran or surviving spouse must need the assistance of another person to perform daily tasks, such as eating, dressing, undressing, taking care of the needs of nature, etc. Being blind or in a nursing home for mental or physical incapacity, or residing in an assisted living facility also qualifies.

Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation. This application will require a copy of DD-214 (see below for more information) or separation papers, Medical Evaluation from a physician, current medical issues, net worth limitations, and net income, along with out-of-pocket Medical Expenses.

To find out if you or your spouse qualify, contact your local VSO Officer ( Veteran's Service Office) listed in the phone book.

Talk to an attorney about military law - Live
I have no experience with this web site but it has the option to talk to an attorney online regarding your questions about military law.

There are many questions on that site about the VA Aid and Attendance benefit.

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/2j8f7-mom-qualify-va-aid-attendance

Get a $10 Lifetime Senior Park Pass to U.S. National Parks

This senior pass offers lifetime national park access for you, friends or family.

One of the best senior travel bargains anywhere is a low-cost lifetime national park pass that admits seniors free of charge to most U.S. national parks, forests, refuges, monuments and recreation areas, from Denali National Park in Alaska to the Florida Everglades.

Senior Pass Eligibility
As part of the American the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program, U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 62 years old can purchase a Senior Pass for a one-time processing fee of $10. This Senior Pass to national parks and lands offers benefits to you and your traveling companions.

What does the Senior Pass cover?

The Senior Pass admits pass owner/s and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas and pass owner + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, where per-person fees are charged. (Children under 16 are always admitted free.) Note: Photo identification will be requested to verify pass ownership.

How to Buy a National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass
The Senior Pass to national parks cannot be purchased by mail or online. It must be purchased in person at a federal area where entrance fees are charged, or at regional offices of the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Proof of age, such as a valid driver's license, is required at the time you purchase your senior pass.

For more information about the National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass, call the National Park Service at 1-888-ASK-USGS or click here to visit the web site.

The Senior Pass is valid only at participating Federal recreation sites. Visit http://www.recreation.gov for information about Federal recreation sites.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cannot sell or issue the America the Beautiful passes, because the Corps was not included in the legislation that set up the program. However, the Corps does accept and provide discounts for the Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes or previously issued Golden Age or Access Passports at Corps-managed areas*. If a previously issued Golden Age or Access Passports is lost, stolen, or worn out, a new pass must be obtained.

http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/passes.cfm

State Cautions Consumers to Stop Others from Playing Games with Medicare Coverage

The Ohio Department of Aging, the state Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) project and other state and local partners are encouraging older Ohioans with Medicare to be alert to signs that someone may be committing Medicare fraud in their names. Consumers can protect themselves and help save tax dollars by reviewing their Medicare statements and reporting problems to their providers or the SMP.

"When someone plays games with your Medicare coverage, everybody loses," said Barbara E. Riley, director of the department. "Medicare fraud costs American taxpayers an estimated $60 billion each year, money that could have been used to provide medical care, support home care services and help people avoid unnecessary nursing home placements."

Fraud includes billing for services that were not provided or equipment that wasn't received, over-billing, "unbundling" hospital charges so you are billed separately and more. Older Ohioans can help fight fraud by carefully reading their quarterly Medicare Summary Notices and noting any charges they don't recognize or providers they haven't used. If possible, consumers should address issues first with their providers, but they also can call the state SMP hotline at 1-800-488-6070 for assistance. Other ways to prevent fraud include protecting your Medicare card much like you would your Social Security card, and not providing your Medicare number in exchange for free meals or prizes.

One more way to battle fraud is to be an active and engaged consumer of Medicare products and long-term care services. Consumers can get answers to basic Medicare questions and help selecting coverage that best fits their needs by contacting the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program at 1-800-686-1578. The Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman can help consumers address concerns about long-term care providers; call them at 1-800-282-1206.

Ohio seniors who wish to help get the word about Medicare fraud to other seniors can call the SMP hotline number above to volunteer.

Do You Use Your Golden Buckeye Card?

Are you 60 or over and live in Ohio? If so, do you use your Golden Buckeye Card?

This card can save you hundreds of dollars when you purchase goods and services throughout the Miami Valley.

The card is good for any Ohio resident 60 and older. It also is available to any resident who is totally or permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration.

The deals vary by region, and are based on a voluntary partnership with the businesses involved. To find what deals are available in the your area or an area you will be visiting, you can search by county and city on the Web site.

Example : The “Dayton” selection contains Dayton as well as neighboring areas.

The average discount is about 10 percent off a product or service - but some merchants give even greater discounts. There is no fee for cardholders or businesses for the card. Merchants of all types (restaurants, retail, auto care, medical and more) from all over the state voluntarily offer special savings or deals for older Ohioans who carry the Golden Buckeye card. They receive no compensation from the state of Ohio for their participation and, instead, do so as a way of attracting a loyal customer base while thanking our older citizens who have reached the milestone of 60 and over for making Ohio a great place to live. Please repay their kindness with your patronage (and save some money in the process).

It applies to everything from international chains to mom and pops corner stores, a little of everything - did you know you can even get a small soft drink at McDonald's for just 39 cents?

Some discounts have stipulations, or say that the card is not to be used with other coupons, but most are just straight-forward cash off.

Prescription Drug Savings - The Golden Buckeye card now includes the Ohio's Best Rx prescription drug discount program. Best Rx lowers the cost of prescriptions for Ohio residents who do not have drug insurance coverage for all drugs. Savings average 30-40 percent on prescriptions at more than 2,300 participating pharmacies. Any Ohio resident age 60 or older is eligible, regardless of income, and you can access the program immediately using your existing Golden Buckeye card. Call toll-free 1-866-923-7879 or visit www.ohiobestrx.org for more information, to look up drug prices, to find participating pharmacies and more. This card is good at multiple pharmacies, from big chains to small independents. Ohio's Best Rx participants will always pay the lower of the calculated Ohio Best Rx price or the Pharmacy's Usual and Customary price. Prices are based on a 30-day supply for retail and a 90 day supply for mail order.

The Golden Buckeye Card, which was introduced in 1976, is the first and oldest senior discount card of its kind in the country. Click on the link below -

http://www.aging.ohio.gov/GoldenBuckeye/locator1.asp

Step One: Select a County

To locate businesses in your area that accept the Golden Buckeye Card, start by selecting a county, then click "Next".

Choose a County:

While they've made considerable effort to verify the information provided in the Golden Buckeye Business Finder, the Department of Aging and the Golden Buckeye Program offer no guarantees as to its accuracy, nor do they necessarily endorse the businesses, services and products listed.

How to Get a Card - Ohio residents who hold current Ohio Driver Licenses or State ID cards automatically receive a Golden Buckeye card in the month of their 60th birthday. Individuals who do not have a current license or State ID, as well as people under age 60 who are eligible due to disability, or who otherwise do not receive their card automatically, may apply for a card at most public libraries and senior centers. Due to ID, age and disability (when appropriate) verification requirements, you cannot apply for a Golden Buckeye Card online or by phone.

How to Get a Replacement Card - If your Golden Buckeye Card has been lost, stolen or damaged, call 1-866-301-6446 to request a replacement.

NOT YET COVERED BY MEDICARE?

Many drug manufacturers have their own prescription discount programs, known as Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), that provide drugs at no or very low cost to patients who meet their eligibility requirements. PAPs generally have lower income limitations than Ohio’s Best Rx and require frequent renewal of applications, but they can be a great source of additional assistance for people who qualify for them.

The pharmaceutical industry operates a national clearinghouse, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which links patients to information about more than 475 public and private programs, including nearly 200 offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Some Ohio counties provide a free resource that assists with researching and applying for these PAPs. Please click here to view some of these programs.

Your local county commissioner may be aware of other local programs providing this type of assistance.

Please Note: With the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program in place some PAPs will not accept applications from those eligible for Medicare. Please contact Partnership for Prescription Assistance or the individual PAP to investigate.

Calling to talk to someone about the prescription assistance program

Clients should have prescriptions in front of them when they call. Rx for Ohio will direct them to different prescription programs depending on what medications they need.

Number:(877) 794-644

Website Address:www.pparx.org

Hours:Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Do You Still Need A Home Phone Line?

Today, you have several options, not just the one offered by your local telephone company.

1. Cell Phones.
Many of us are electing to give up our home land line and just use our cell phones. If you spend a lot of time chatting on the phone this is probably not a good option for you.

2. Time Warner offers a low-cost “Digital Phone”
I have this option and I like it – most of the time. Just like having a home line with electric-powered cordless phones, should there be a power outage, the digital phones as well as the home cordless phones do not work. Should you have an emergency you will need to dial 9-1-1 with your cell phone.

What I love about it is - I have the ability to call anywhere in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and talk all day for my basic monthly fee – NO LONG DISTANCE CHARGES! You can also keep your current phone number and your existing phone… there is nothing to buy. Also INCLUDED at no additional charge – Caller ID, Call Waiting, Speed Dial, Call Forwarding.

If you have Time Warner Cable and Digital Phone - Caller ID can show up on your TV set so you don’t even have to get up to answer the phone if it’s not an important call.

Time Warner does bundle services together for a cost savings. For more information, check with Time Warner.

3. SKYPE – through the internet

This is an option that is very popular with military families and people with friends and family in other parts of the world. Skype software is free and it is FREE to use Skype if you and the person you are talking to are both on Skype – you can call, video call or instant message each other TOTALLY FREE.

Skype Advertises Great Rate to Phones (both land lines and mobile phones) - You can even get an online number (SkypeIn™) is perfect if you have friends, family or business colleagues who don't use Skype. Anyone can dial your online number from any phone or mobile and hey presto, your Skype rings and you pick up the call – wherever you are in the world.

No emergency calls with Skype. - Skype is not a replacement for your ordinary telephone and can't be used for emergency calling. For more information see skype.com

Oakley House hosts senior bingo

Oakley House offers a top quality bingo playing experience every Thursday morning. This weekly event will take place at 9:45 a.m. and is open to the public. Seniors are encouraged to bring their family or friends to join in on the fun! The cost for bingo is $.25 and you win great prizes and money! Nutritious refreshments and snacks are served. For additional information, please contact Tasha Fledderjohn at 937-548-9521. Oakley House is located at 1175 Northview Place in Greenville. Come ready to win!

So, What is Cap and Trade?

Click on the link to view - A Short Movie - The Story of Cap & Trade

For those who find it confusing, perhaps this short movie will enlighten you.

The Story of Cap & Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill. Host Annie Leonard introduces the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at the heart of this scheme and reveals the "devils in the details" in current cap and trade proposals: free permits to big polluters, fake offsets and distraction from what’s really required to tackle the climate crisis. If you’ve heard about cap and trade, but aren’t sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the film is for you.

From where I sit, it's a get rich quick scheme that takes money away from developing true, clean and renewable energy because it exists to allow COAL to become even STRONGER. (Remember CO2 sequstration uses MORE energy just to sequester it - which by the way, "sequester" is really permanent storage in Mother Earth)

Burying CO2 - how will they measure it? Seems like the Emperor's New Clothes.

As this movie says - the devils are in the details.

Customize Free eCards, Recipes, Digital Scrapbook pages

Everyone is pinching pennies these days and thanks to Smilebox.com and Pingg.com, you can save a few more.
These sites offers FREE ecards that are created in minutes, as well as FREE recipe cards, digital scrapbooks and Invitations/Save the Date cards. Most of these have the option for you to upload photos right from your computer.

Once you've created your design you can email it, burn it to a DVD or post it to Facebook or many different blog formats.

The samples I've created are all "FREE" samples - there is no charge but you do have an advertisement on the screen when your item is displayed. If that bothers you, buy the subscription... it's well worth the money they charge for a subscription.

Enjoy!

The Valentine's Day ECard above is from http://www.pingg.com - they offer free ecards, invitations, and stationary

All the samples below are from smilebox.com

Make a Smilebox recipe

Make a Smilebox greeting

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox invite

George F. Will - China invests in the Future, America invests in our elderly

This is an interesting article by George Will....

China Invests in the Future - America invests in the past, our Elderly

Seniors - Is there a better term for this phase of life?

The term senior citizen is becoming more and more offensive to the aging population, especially to baby boomers who consider themselves lifelong learners.

The "citizen" part, has been dropped in most cases and now we usually see just "seniors"....but even senior sounds older than most in this age group feel.

When does it begin?
When one hits 60 or 65? Or when you get your first invitation to join AARP?
Or later in life when you qualify for the Golden Buckeye card?

If 60 is the new 50 and 70 is the new 60, etc.,that muddies the water even more.

Baby Boomers have the luxury of always falling under the label of "Baby Boomers" - so perhaps "senior" will fade away when all of the Boomers have crossed that "line".

Colleges are calling their classes for seniors "extended learning". Some publications use "Mature" to attract the attention of older adults.

One thing that is clear, as people live longer, the world is searching for a new term to describe this part of life and the age at which older adults "enter it".

Suggestions?

Greenville School Bond - How do seniors feel about it?

This week the Greenville School Bond was voted down - How do you, as a senior (for lack of a better term at the moment- you who are 50+) feel about this?

Did you support it?

What are your thoughts about the need for a new school for grades 5 - 8?

A Trip Down Memory Lane - Vintage Cars

Not only are the vintage cars in this slide show spectacular, so is the photography!
You will be amazed.

Click here for your trip Down Memory Lane - Vintage Cars

Dr. Gourmet

This web site has FREE software and recipes for those on restricted diets or on medications like Coumadin - where the food you eat can have an impact on the effectiveness of your medication.

Click here for Dr. Gourmet

Ohio Department of Aging Press Release

COLUMBUS - For the fifth consecutive year, the Ohio Department of Aging is partnering with the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE) to present the OAGE Practitioner of the Year Award. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that either have improved services to older adults through research and evaluation or have developed noteworthy partnerships with institutions of higher learning for the betterment of Ohio's older population. Nominations will be accepted via the OAGE Web site, www.oage.org, through March 5, 2010.

"We know there are educators, researchers, professionals and students throughout the state who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for all our older citizens," said Barbara E. Riley, director of the Department of Aging. "At a time when resources everywhere are limited, it is crucial that we recognize innovation and truly valuable contributions in gerontology, a study that only grows more important with our aging population."

Examples of initiatives eligible for the Practitioner of the Year Award include student intern and mentorship programs; intergenerational programs that benefit students and older adults; use of performance measures to improve services; partnerships with institutions of higher learning to improve or expand services; research that results in improved practices or new services; and partnerships aimed at expanding the health and long-term care labor forces. Previous honorees include Bonnie Walson, founding director of Heritage Day Health Centers; Kaye Inoshita, ombudsman program director for Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc.; Dr. Kyle R. Allen, D.O., chief of the division of geriatric medicine and medical director of post acute senior services for Summa Health Systems; Debby Allen, long-term care ombudsman for northeast Ohio and Salli J. Bollin, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association's northwest Ohio chapter.

The winner will be announced at the OAGE annual spring conference, March 26, in Kent, Ohio.

About OAGE

The Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE) is a membership organization comprised of gerontology educators, researchers, practitioners and students. OAGE supports Ohio's aging network as a resource for research and practice, and provides professional development opportunities. Visit www.oage.org.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov.

Introducing the Senior Journal

Check back often for updates.