Commun ty Matters Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
June 2017
Can you selfinsure for longterm care? By Chris Farrell for Next Avenue
The odds are worrisome.The typical 65-year-old can expect to live another two decades and has a 52 percent chance of needing some type of longterm care services and support at some point. According to Melissa Favreault of the Urban Institute and Judith Dey of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the average tab for long-term care is $138,000. Medicare covers hardly any of that cost. Medicaid does, but only for the impoverished. Insurance is the classic financial planning solution for handling an uncertain risk that comes with a potentially large price tag, yet only about 10 million Americans have longterm care insurance, according to the SELF-INSURE, continued on page 3
Elizabeth Trieu planned to be a psychologist, but when her grandmother was hospitalized, she was inspired to become a certified nurse assistant.
A nursing staff like no other! Every spring we take extra time to show our gratitude for the nursing staff at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. In May we celebrated National Nurses Week, whose theme was “Nursing: the Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit.” This month we observe the 40th annual National Nursing Assistants Week, which kicks off June 15 with National Career Nursing Assistants Day. The theme for this month’s celebration is “Nursing Assistants – I Choose Respect.” We see our own nursing staff live out these themes every day, so we asked some of them to share what they love about their work, and what keeps them motivated. NURSES, continued on page 2
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Elizabeth Trieu, CNA Working as a certified nurse assistant was supposed to be a stepping stone for Elizabeth Trieu. She was planning to be a psychologist. But when her grandmother was hospitalized, an aunt suggested that Elizabeth become a CNA to earn more money for college. Elizabeth took her advice, and then her life took a different path. “I came to find out early on that I truly enjoy what I do, and I can use a little bit of psychology in what I do by listening to my residents when they need someone to talk to,” she said.
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Christie Patrick, executive director Angela Fonseca, marketing director To submit or suggest articles, contact afonseca@pmma.org. Telephone: 785-841-4262 Fax: 785-841-0923 Address: 1429 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. LawrencePresbyterianManor.org
Elizabeth has worked at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor for a total of three years. In addition to helping residents with their daily activities, she also considers it her job to keep a smile on her residents’ faces and to put their family and friends at ease. CNAs are constantly learning, Elizabeth said. It’s a challenge that keeps her work interesting, especially when she is discovering a new resident’s preferences. “I look forward to interacting with my residents,” she said. “They are such a delight to work with and truly make my day.” When she’s not at work, Elizabeth likes spending time with her husband and their pets: Taz, a German shepherd; housecat Link; and Ernie the hermit crab. She likes to get outdoors and also appreciates art and historical buildings. Luz Maradona, RN Ever since she was little, Luz Maradona wanted to work in medicine. “When other kids would answer ‘princess,’ ‘mother,’ or ‘cowgirl’ when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, I would always answer ‘surgeon.’” Luz jumped at the chance to take a certified nurse’s assistant class while she was still in high school, and she worked as a CNA through her senior year. After graduation, she added a second CNA job. Eventually she moved to Kansas City to attend nursing school while she worked at a nursing home in Olathe. She joined our team at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor just before earning her LPN in 2014, and she got her RN soon after. “I was already working the perfect schedule, nights, to handle going
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Luz Maradona, R.N., always knew she wanted to work in medicine.
to school while working full time. My coworkers were helpful and understanding and would get excited as I progressed towards my end goal of graduating,” Luz said. Luz now continues to work at another nursing home and a rehab center. It’s no surprise that she says the No. 1 challenge of nursing is multitasking! “Not only is the phone ringing with doctors giving orders, families wanting to share information about a loved one’s routine, staff are asking advice on how to deal with different situations, medications need to be administered in a timely manner, and the residents need to be cared for— all while maintaining a relaxed and calm environment,” she said. Even when it’s busy, she says Presbyterian Manor is a positive work environment. “I look forward to walking into a place that I know and am comfortable in. The residents I take care of and the staff I work NURSES, continued on page 3 Like us on Facebook
Apartment spotlight: Sunflower Towers one bedroom apartment Are you interested in a maintenance free lifestyle? Our spacious Sunflower Towers one bedroom is just what you are looking for. This apartment includes a three meal plan, housekeeping and more! Call Angela today and make your appointment 785-841-4262.
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with are familiar and important people in my life,” Luz said.
American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
Away from work, Luz loves world travel and catch up with her large family. Her parents are from France and Argentina, and Luz was born in Mexico. If she can’t get away, she said, “I greatly enjoy spending hours locked into my latest book adventure.”
Put somewhat differently, 3.2 million boomers celebrated their 65th birthday last year while the insurance industry sold only 100,000 long-term care insurance policies. Problem is, the relatively small number of insurers that write long-term care policies have been hiking premium prices and reducing benefits.The effect: long-term care insurance policies are too expensive for many modest and middle-income households.
Her childhood dream hasn’t faded away, either. Luz would still like to become a doctor. Be sure to show Luz, Elizabeth, and everyone on our nursing staff some extra appreciation this month for their dedication and hard work! Like us on Facebook
What if you’re among the millions of boomers who find the cost of longterm care insurance too steep for your household budget? Are there
viable alternative strategies — ways of creating your own DIY insurance plan? Yes, but it takes planning and creativity. Where to start? By starting What can you do on your own to protect yourself against potential longterm care expenses? You can build a healthy margin of financial safety by focusing on savings and spending, especially by thinking through your living arrangements in your elder years.You’ll also want to carefully evaluate your support system of family and friends, as well as investigate the convenience and cost of long-term care services in your community. SELF-INSURE, continued on page 4 Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
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from part-time and contract work.
“You need to proactively plan and not just wait,” says Robyn Stone, executive director of LeadingAge in Washington, D.C.
“Start thinking, ‘Can I put a little more money aside than I have been?’” says Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, and an authority on long-term care costs.
Savings help, of course. But if you’re in your 50s or 60s, don’t worry too much if you’re not flush with savings yet. You can probably find at least some money to set aside with the kids out of college. Many boomers are earning an income well into the traditional retirement years, usually
Hold on to home equity The really rich lode of potential savings is on the spending side of the equation. Harry West, now chief executive officer of Frog Design, captured an insight about spending that belongs at
the core of any DIY plan for financing long-term care: “When you talk to boomers, what you find is that freedom [from debt] is really, really important,”West said. “Freedom is a low overhead.” “At home” is far and away the most popular answer to where we want to be as we age. In a recent AARP survey of 1,600 people 45 and older, 73 percent would like to stay in their current residence. With that goal in mind, it pays to get rid of your mortgage if you can.
Lawrence Presbyterian Manor 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Return Service Requested
Continuing education We will be featuring employees who have continued their education with Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s help in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. If you have a story to tell about an employee you know is continuing their education, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share your story. If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Angela Fonseca and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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