Community Matters Aberdeen Heights
January August 2015 2014
HIPAA 101 New year reflections A simple question doesn’t always have a simple answer. “Why did my friend go to the hospital?” seems to be a simple question, but the answer is blocked by a federal law. While most think of the law as the protector of medical records, privacy isn’t even in its name. We call it HIPAA (pronounced HIP-pah), but the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 also has been known as the Kassebaum-Kennedy Act or Kennedy-Kassebaum Act. Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum, R-Kan., was a leading sponsor of the bill, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. The official explanation is: “An Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes.” The main intent was that the health industry would save money by computerizing paper records. That led to concerns over privacy, which led to new privacy regulations. HIPPA, continued on page 3 BRAIN, continued on page 4
Thank you for the warm welcome By Vicky Weibel, lifestyle coordinator
It has been more than eight months since I came to Aberdeen Heights. My how time flies when you are having a good time, or you’re very busy. I want to thank all the residents and staff for making me feel so welcome. If I am ever in need of assistance, there are many avenues I can take to find it, with residents and staff alike. Sometimes it is almost like being the ring master at a three ring circus. We have so much fun! My first day set the pace with walking into a Cinco de Vicky Weibel Mayo party, Margaritas and all. I said, “So this group likes to party!” We now are enjoying art instruction classes three times monthly; two residents have taken their talents to The Glen to hold their own watercolor classes in Memory Care. The Tartan Olympic Water Volleyball team has Kitty Willis as its coach and has shown great progress, so we are sure to make a clean sweep at the Olympics in May 2015. Thanks to all the hard work of the committees. The following programs especially stand out in my mind: expanded fitness programming and Chocolate Delight, where residents concocted their favorite chocolate dish and everyone did a taste testing to determine the winner. I think we all rolled out of the room following this event. As for the resident Arts and Crafts Show, the items on exhibit covered a wide range of art forms, from a spinning wheel in motion to the picture board of an airplane that one resident built and flew. There were paintings, photos and sculptures in different media. An unbelievable collection of museum-quality items were displayed for all to enjoy. Over Halloween we enjoyed a most spooktactular group of events, such as the Trunk or Treat event which we sponsored for our community WELCOME, continued on page 2
A proud member of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America
WELCOME, continued from page 1
school Robinson Elementary which was ghoulishly received. Residents dove right in and decorated the company van and by-golly if ours wasn’t the best entry. (We are not modest.) Who had more fun? Residents or children? Take a guess. Residents trick or treating the staff sure had a good time! Residents went from one location to the next to collect their treats. Again, I am not sure who had the most fun, residents or staff? A resident sponsored a pumpkin carving event where each resident who stopped by received an etched pumpkin. Thank you, Mary. Everyone enjoyed this treat.
There were several Sunset Cocktail Hours, as well as enjoyable events where residents were cutting a rug on the dance floor including a fabulous Back to the ’50s party with entertainment provided by Nancy and Art. There were ice-cream floats made by authentic soda jerks. At another event, we enjoyed the Queens of Swing, an all-girl tribute band that performed World War II-era music. We have even enjoyed a wide range of guest speakers from Commerce Bank explaining trust funds, and
in another presentation residents learned about the Madonna of the Trail. There also was an excellent program on hearing loss that answered a lot of questions. Did you know that when speaking to a group that you gain absolutely no knowledge when you ask, “Can everyone hear me OK?” My favorite program each year is when I am blessed to have the opportunity to honor our veterans for the sacrifices they made to give us the freedoms we enjoy today. We salute you! To the Aberdeen family, thank you for the memories we have made together. I’m looking forward to the memories yet to come.
Stay fit in February Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Heights by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at: PresbyterianManors.org. Alan Fletcher, interim executive director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Vicky Weibel, resident lifestyle coordinator, at vweibel@pmma.org. Telephone: 314-909-6000 Address: 575 Couch Ave., Kirkwood, MO 63122 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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The Aberdeen Heights Health and Wellness Committee is planning an awareness seminar in February, which is Fitness Month. Sessions will be held in the multipurpose room. The dates and times will be announced at a later date. The committee is considering introducing new fitness programs through a health fair, as well as health screenings and more. Stay tuned for information.
Alzheimer’s Association offers help for St. Louis Caregivers While caregiving can be a rewarding experience, it can also take its toll. You are not alone. Find a caregiver support group in your area today. The holidays can especially take their toll on caregivers, so if you are feeling the effects from this past holiday season, call today. The St. Louis Chapter is here if you need assistance. Call 314-432-3422 or visit alz.org/stl.
Alan Fletcher named Interim Executive Director Alan Fletcher, a retired executive director with 40 years’ experience in senior communities, was named Interim Executive Director of Aberdeen Heights to provide staff and resident leadership while the search continues for a new executive director. Alan has been on the job since early November, wearing his signature bow tie.
HIPPA, continued from page 1
Protected Health Information Protected Health Information, called PHI, is any information about a person’s health status, any health services provided to the person and any payment specifics about those services. Details of your medical record may not be shared without your consent. That’s one reason there are so many forms to sign at the doctor’s office nowadays, they must have your consent to process your visit for billing, insurance purposes, etc. That is also why it is so difficult to obtain information about friends in the hospital. Their condition, the reason they are in the hospital, even their names, are considered part of their medical record and subject to strict HIPAA regulations. Violations result in expensive fines, and health care workers are required to receive training on how to keep all medical information safe. Some key privacy points: • When your health information is shared, only the minimum necessary should be disclosed. • Health information is to be used only for health purposes. Without
While away from his home near Seattle, Washington, Alan is staying in an unsold Aberdeen apartment. His wife, Cathie, visited Aberdeen for two weeks in November. Alan made a trip back to their home in Snoqualmie to spend Thanksgiving weekend. Alan Fletcher
When asked his impression of Aberdeen several weeks after his arrival, Alan replied, “It is a most comfortable community, well designed, full of friendly people. There is a great staff. It seems to be a well-run community.”
your consent, it can’t be used to help banks decide whether to give you a loan or by potential employers to decide whether to give you a job. • If someone wants to share your health information, you have to give your formal consent. • You can ask for copies of all this information and make appropriate changes to it.You also can ask for a history of any unusual disclosures. • Your health care provider and insurance company must explain how they’ll use and disclose health information. (Information from WebMD.) Retirement community regulations Retirement communities that provide state-licensed services, such as assisted living and health care, must abide by the strict privacy regulations. Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America employees receive training and updates regularly. Vendors also are trained to ensure resident privacy is maintained. PMMA employees know they are not to chat about residents in the hallways – or anywhere – because that violates their privacy protections. The privacy laws are
why health care staff can’t talk to other residents about the people in their care. It’s not that they are being unhelpful or that they don’t care about your feelings. They are required to keep the information confidential. Another key component of the privacy rules that affect health care residents is that the “information” may not be linked to an individual. In the rules, “information” includes photos of faces. That’s why we ask residents to sign consent forms when we take pictures for our newsletters, web sites and other marketing purposes. Family concerns Information from AARP explains that health care staff can discuss conditions and treatments with family members, but you must give written permission for your loved ones to see your official medical records. It’s a good idea for older adults to have their adult children sign a letter or form designating them as a personal representative in case the need arises. This will give the health care providers the coverage they require to avoid HIPAA violations, according to AARP. 3
PMMA’s focus turns to the future in the 1990s This month, we continue to look back at our history as Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America celebrates 65 years of the art of life. In 1990, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America moved into a new corporate office building in northeast Wichita, and Manor of the Plains in Dodge City opened.
was donated by American States Insurance Company. Construction began in December 1992. Jane O’Bryan was named the first administrator.
That year, the “Tradition of Caring” capital campaign also kicked off with a goal of $6.4 million. The first leg of the campaign was conducted in Emporia, where $600,000 was raised. Each campus had its own campaign to raise funds toward the $6.4 million goal. The campaigns raised funds to meet current Good Samaritan Program needs and provide a future endowment for Good Samaritan needs, assist in covering debt service and provide capital improvements at PMMA campuses.
Also in 1992, four Presbyterian Manor campuses—Wichita, Newton, Salina and Lawrence—received recognitions from the Kansas Association of Homes for the Aging. Wichita Presbyterian Manor won the Excellence in Service and the Recognition awards. The service award recognized Wichita’s ethics committee, which led to the campus working to become “restraint free” before the movement became popular around the country. Lawrence and Salina also received recognition awards, which signify high marks in the Department of Health and Environment’s annual survey of Kansas nursing facilities. Newton received the Innovation of the Year Award for the Apple-A-Day preschool, which opened in January 1992.
Local volunteers in Fort Scott, Kansas, led efforts to raise funds for a new retirement complex. The “Time to Secure the Future” campaign set out to raise $500,000 in base contributions toward the construction of a 40-unit residential complex in Fort Scott. The land
In July 1993, Dr. Mary Carman
A rendering of PMMA’s Fort Scott campus before construction began in 1992.
A 1992 groundbreaking ceremony for Fort Scott Presbyterian Village.
became chairperson of the PMMA board of trustees. Carman, who served on the advisory council at Newton in the 1980s, was a professional psychologist on staff at Prairie View. She was instrumental in the creation of one of the first special care units for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia at the Newton Presbyterian Manor campus.
Veterans, we salute you We were pleased to unveil these wooden statues to commemorate and honor all at Aberdeen Heights who have served in the armed forces.
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