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SPRING 2018
• How to buy in-home medical equipment and what to look for. • How to assess a nursing home or assisted living facility. What is covered by insurance/who pays. • Understanding nursing home ratings.
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018 Page 2
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Rehabilitation & Health Care Center WHAT TOP QUALITY CARE IS ALL ABOUT! Services Include: • Short Term & Long Term Care • 7 days a week of Rehabilitation Therapies (Physical, Occupational, Speech) • Perfect Joint Program (Joint Replacement Rehabilitation/ Specialized Orthopedic Services) • Cardiac and Stroke Rehabilitation Therapy • Pulmonary Rehabilitation (Breath for Life) • Post-surgery Care • Dialysis • IV Infusion Therapy • Pain Management and Alternative Medicine • Wound Care (Wound Vac, Hyperbaric, Surgical Services) • Hospice Care • Respite Care • Bariatric Care • Tracheostomy Care • Specialized Dementia Programs • Discharge Planning and Homecare • Assistance with Medicaid Applications • Therapeutic Recreation • Long-term Placements Available
PARTICIPATING ADVERTISERS Affordable Cremation Services Chapin Home for the Aging Elder Care Services EMU Health Flushing Hospital Medical Center Flushing House Hospice of New York Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehab Center Ozanam Hall of Queens Parker Jewish Institute Healthcare Queens LI Renal Institute Regal Heights Rehab & Healthcare Center Samuel Field - Bay Terrace YM-YWHA The Silvercrest Center St. Michael’s Cemetery Sutton Gardens Senior Living
CONTENTS • How to buy in-home medical equipment and what to look for. Page 4
• How to assess a nursing home or assisted living facility. What is covered by insurance/who pays. Page 8
• Understanding nursing home ratings. Page 12
• List of senior centers in Queens Page 14
Publisher - Mark Weidler Section Editor - Peter C. Mastrosimone
PERSONALIZED MEALS SPECIALIZED SERVICES
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
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ADULT DAY CARE CENTER We create a caring and social environment with activities to stimulate the mind, body and soul for the elderly. Family caregivers will have peace of mind knowing their loved one is spending the day at Chapin Adult Day Health Care Center, where there is a safe, fun and healthy interactive atmosphere.
Page 3 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018
Chapin Home For The Aging
RANGE OF SERVICES OFFERED: • • • • • • • • • •
Transportation – Ambulette Pickup Door-to-Door Therapeutic Recreation Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy as needed Coordination of medical care Assistance with activities of daily living Breakfast, lunch and snacks served daily Medication management by RN Counseling Coordination of care with family Multilingual staff
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Promotion of maximum independence Prevention of functional deterioration Socialization to alleviate isolation Support and respite for families and caregivers Delay in, or avoidance of, institutionalization
FUN ACTIVITIES AT THE ADULT CENTER GAMES: • Bingo • Wii Games • Word Games
CLUBS/GROUPS: • Cooking Club • Discussion Groups • Gardening Club • Walking Club
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SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018 Page 4
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Senior Living Guide
Buying medical gear doesn’t have to be scary by Christopher Barca Editor
The last thing individuals who have been living independently for 60, 70, 80 or even 90 years wants to be told is that they can’t enjoy some of the freedoms they’ve enjoyed their entire life. There are the lucky few. No matter how much they age, either Mother Nature, divine intervention or plain old luck allows some folks to live well into their golden years without the help of any sort of equipment, whether it be glasses or a wheelchair. With modern medicine advancing at an almost incomprehensible pace, more people are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. But all it takes is one fall, an illness or an accident to keep you from the ranks of the truly independent, either temporarily or permanently. And if something like that were to befall you, would you know how to go about buying a piece of in-home medical equipment, like a cane or a walker? Are they items you can just buy online or should you treat them like you would a car or refrigerator purchase? According to three experts, making the transition from true independence to needing assistance is not something to take lightly. Kathleen Busardo, a registered nurse
product as possible first. “Where are they going to use it? Primarily where they live, or do they travel a lot?” he said. “Can it be stowed away on a plane? People need to do a lot of research, and the doctor or physical therapist should always be your first stop.” Conboy even said it was “similar” in some ways to buying a car or any other major purchase that impacts one’s life. “It can be stressful. You’re making a purchase at maybe the worst possible moment, considering the physical pain you might be in,” he said. “But just gather information and make an educated decision the same way you would in buying anything else.” Buying either from professionals at a brick-and-morter store or from a reputable company with knowledgeable customer service staffers is also key when it comes to acquiring the best-quality items. Lieberman said he refuses to service items in his store that were purchased online, as he finds that equipment purchased on Amazon or other third-party sellBuying medical equipment such as a rolling walker or a cane can be scary and frustrating. But ers by u nsuspecting seniors is of ten according to experts, the best way to find quality products that work for you is to treat the pur- inadequate. “Unfortunately, I have experienced a lot chase like you would a car or appliance: Do your research and inform yourself as best you can. of those products,” he said. “They’ll come out of the box and I’ll say, ‘are you kidding specializing in geriatric care with Northwell walker or a cane. From there, the patient’s physical thera- me?’” Health, told the Chronicle on Monday that Conboy added that it’s best to avoid the many patients she interacts with are initially pist is the one who will most likely make the angry or upset when told they need some determination as to what specific kind of Amazons of the world and conduct comprehensive research on companies like Elderequipment their client should purchase. sort of medical equipment. The therapists, according to Busardo, are luxe that offer top-of-the-line products. “Most people are in denial. They’re not Some of the items that are gaining steam accepting of the fact,” Busardo said. “If also the ones who will help the senior get you’re dealing with someone in their 60s properly fitted for whatever piece of tech- in the market, he said, are carbon-fiber and they’re told they need a cane, they nology they need and teach them how to use wa l ke r s m a de out of a i rc r af t-g r a de aluminum. it correctly. might get one but they won’t use it. While most comBut when it comes “From my experience,” the registered mercial walkers can nurse added, “they usually don’t use the to actually buying a ust gather information weigh as much as 25 equipment until they have a fall or some- rolling walker, cane or making them specialty armchair — thing like that.” and make an educated pounds, extremely difficult to Part of the reason patients feel that way, one that’s either covshe said, is because until recently, there was ered by Medicare or decision the same way operate for those with physical handicaps, a stigma attached to people needing help not — Lieberman said you would in buying Elderluxe’s new modgetting around — either they were decrepit such a major purchase els on ly weig h 12 i s not one p e ople or senile. That’s not the case anymore. anything else.” pounds. “You know, 70 is like the new 55 now, should be making on “The originals are I’m 67 and I’m still very active and out and the internet. made out of tubular “It’s not an internet about,” the nurse said. “But we’ve had peopurchase. People think they saved a fortune metal. They’re clumsy and make you look ple say their walker is their new best friend. “We just try to get the message that it’s but this is your new life. [The internet] is institutionalized,” Conboy said. “The new not a stigma through to the patient,” Busar- not guiding you,” Lieberman said. “A place ones are easier to handle, and they even that specializes is the best place to go. Don’t come in different colors.” do added. “In fact, it extends your life.” In today’s social media age of instant So what if your doctor told you tomorrow showroom shop.” Online purchasing, he said, forces the gratification, the Elderluxe founder said that you needed a cane, walker, scooter, chair lift or some other kind of in-home individual to make last-minute medical more and more companies are sprouting up decisions without the advice of a profession- to offer luxury devices. device? “It goes beyond just mobility now,” he al — “an internet company won’t have a How do you go about buying one? Is an online purchase suitable or should clue” — especially if the transaction is said. “It’s about looking good too.” Busardo said her 96-year-old mother isn’t you purchase in-home medical equipment in being made on a site like Amazon and not the biggest fan of her walker, but Conboy that of a reputable equipment dealer. person? One of those dealers is Elderluxe, a fash- noted that more and more senior citizens are Two experts, Michael Lieberman of Jones Surgical Co. in Forest Hills and Patrick ionable in-home mobility equipment distrib- not just using medical equipment, but showing them off — furthering the demise of the Conboy of Elderluxe in Chicago, in addition utor led by Conboy. In an interview with the Chronicle last stigma that used to be attached to them. to Busardo, are in lockstep with the “You’re seeing a bunch more mainstream week, Conboy concurred with Lieberman, answers. The Northwell Health nurse said the con- saying the person making such a purchase designers understand that the aging populaversation over in-home medical equipment should not do so without absorbing as much tion is growing,” he added. “And vanity is Q begins with the doctor recommending a information about their condition and the ageless.
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
“J
It’s not just about mobility anymore, according to Elderluxe founder Patrick Conboy. More and more seniors are buying canes and other equipment that are also quite fashionable.
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services, including: accommodating feeding tubes; high-flow oxygen, continuous flow bypass and portable ventilators; a renowned ventilator-weaning protocol; IV therapies; complex wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy; on-site PICC placement and management; and palliative, hospice and comfort care. On the outpatient side, Silvercrest stands apart from the competition with customized rehabilitation plans, consistent therapeutic care from distinguished therapists, transitional care from facility to home to outpatient and one-on-one sessions. And, while The Silvercrest Center is primarily a place to rehabilitate, their long-term-care services provide an alternative to those whose complex and chronic healthcare needs make independent living no longer an option. Contact Silvercrest today to learn more about how their many services can help you or your loved one. (inpatient: 718-480-4007; outpatient/transitional: 718-906-9999; www.silvercrest.org).
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C M SL page 7 Y K Page 7 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018
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164-11 Chapin Parkway, Jamaica Hills, NY 11432 (718) 298-7829 • www.TietzJewish.com Margaret Tietz Center is centrally located near the Queens communities of Kew Gardens Hills, Hillcrest & Jamaica Estates. Only 20 minutes from Crown Heights, Manhattan & the Five Towns. HOSP-073469
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Our staff staff of therapists provide focused Our focused one-on-one one-on-one rehab rehab care care utilizing innovative techniques techniques and and technologically technologically utilizing the the most innovative advanced optimal outcomes. outcomes. We We are are proud proud advancedequipment equipmentto to achieve achieve optimal to with the the highest highest quality quality Subacute Subacute to provide provide the the community community with Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care as well as Hospice services as Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care as well as Hospice services needed in a beautiful and completely Kosher setting. as needed in a newly renovated and completely Kosher setting.
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
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Senior Living Guide
Tips for selecting a good nursing home by Victoria Zunitch
“Look around and even go at lunchtime or dinnertime. Sit down. Have a meal. Get a good feel for the place, because that’s where [your] loved one is going to end up,” Mizbani said. Visitors can get a good feel for a facility by observing the residents and caregivers and consciously smelling the place for odors. Review menu choices, common areas and recreational activities. Ask if visitors are permitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week and if residents have a personal phone and television. Do all residents have a window, and do they get a say in roommates? Are exits clearly marked and are handrails available, especially on ramps and in bathrooms? Ask if residents can continue to use their personal physician. Are emergency evacuation plans up-to-date? To what hospital are residents sent in case of emergency or other acute conditions? If a dementia unit is being considered, take note of whether the facility has a habit of forgetting to lock doors.
Chronicle Contributor
If and when the time comes for a nursing home for a loved one, or for yourself, how should you go about finding, evaluating and choosing where to go? If your doctor recommends a specific home, how do you k now whet he r or not t o a cce pt t he recommendation? What is covered by insurance? Who pays? Where does one turn for reliable sources of information to answer these questions? Fortunately, a variety of government and private resources are available to help get you started. “There are two main ways of checking out nursing homes,” said Reza Mizbani, public information officer for the New York State Office for the Aging. A good place to start is the federal gover n ment’s on li ne Medicare Compare resource at medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare, Mizbani said, because Medicare certifies nursing homes. “Then we always suggest that people check out the [New York State] Department of Health,” Mizbani said. The “Nursing Home Profiles” section of New York State DOH’s web site is available at profiles.health.ny.gov/nursing_home. The cost of long-term care must be covered by either personal funds, long-term care insurance or, for those who have exhausted their financial resources, Medicaid. With the exception of some costs covered by those who have Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare does not pay for nursing home care, nor does private health insurance. LeadingAge New York, which represents nonprofit, mission-driven and public continuing care providers, has found that most people don’t know this, said its vice president of advocacy and public policy, Ami Schnauber. “And it’s a real problem,” Schnauber said. Medicare’s nursing home compare Medicare’s nursing home tool at medicare. gov/nursinghomecompare is searchable and rankable according to a variety of criteria. To get a general overview of nursing homes, you must first enter either a ZIP code or a city and state. Conveniently for Queens residents, the search tool considers our various neighborhoods to be “cities.” Entering “Astoria” produces a list of only three nursing homes within 25 miles — including only one actually in Astoria, the New York Center for Rehab and Nursing — but a search for more centrally located Jackson Heights produces 299 choices. These city-based results can be refined by a variety of criteria that might be important to you. “Overall” quality ratings range from one star, the lowest, to five stars, the highest. Twenty-six of 59 nursing homes listed in Queens carry five-star ratings under Medicare’s system. Only one, Bridge View in Whitestone, bears one star. You can search for a nursing home within a continuing care retirement community or
One thing to ask when checking out a nursing home or assisted living facility is whether visitors are allowed at any time or only at certain times. hospital, or those that accept Medicare Advantage plans, for those that have them, or Medicaid. If you still have a list with more than one possibility, you can rank the names on your list based on Health Inspections, Staffing and Quality, and other measures. For example, many might wish to refine their list to only those meriting a five-star ranking.
Under “inspections,” you can see how the home performed when visited on-site for health, life and safety criteria, the severity of any citations received, and whether, and when, those issues were corrected.
Nongovernmental resources Industry websites can also be helpful. LeadingAge has created a website aimed at informing consumers, liveyoungatheart. org. Choosing “Care Options” from the NYS Dept. of Health resources The New York State DOH also provides a menu and clicking “Nursing Homes” at the variety of online resources and tools with bottom of the page brings up an easy-to-read which nursing homes can be evaluated. For a narrative overview of what nursing homes wide variety of links to information, includ- are, payment and living arrangements, the different types of faciling general informait ies available a nd t io n , pu bl ic a t io n s , questions to ask. quality indicators and et a good feel for the The New York State ot he r t opic s , v i sit place, because that’s Health Facilities Assoh e a lt h . ny.gov / has information facilities/nursing. where [your] loved one ciation at nysh fa.org. T he The “Nursing Home “Consumers” tab Profiles” tool at prois going to end up.” offers a tool to search f i les.healt h.ny.gov / — Reza Mizbani, by county, a Resource nursing_home is also NYS Office for the Aging Library and a link to searchable by geo “CareConversations. graphic area. It lets you choose a number of providers and com- org,” which provides videos and blog inforpare them to each other according to your mation about elder care. U.S. News & World Report, famous for own chosen criteria. The comparison page also gives information about statewide stan- ranking colleges and high schools, also dards so you can see if your choices are ranks nursing homes. You can see their ratings at health.usnews.com/best-nursingmaking the statewide grade. The Quality data on this site is extremely homes. And the Greater New York Health detailed. For example, for each listed nursing Care Facilities Association has a few helpful home, you can click on a “Quality” tab to links under the “Members” tab at gnyhcfa. view its one- to five-star ranking on such org, especially under “Tools and Resources.” measures as “high-risk residents with presVisits sure ulcers,” and other criteria. Check statisWhile online research can provide a basetics for accidents such as falling or choking. Are preventable deaths occurring at this line of information, there’s no substitute for visiting a nursing home “in real life.” facility?
“G
Finances If income and assets won’t cover nursing home costs and the resident doesn’t have long-term care insurance, he or she will need to seek to qualify for Medicaid. A poll conducted by LeadingAge New York and Siena College’s Siena Research found that 82 percent of the New Yorkers they surveyed incorrectly believe Medicare will pay for their long-term care. In a “trick question,” the poll found that many expect “other benefits of Social Security” to pay for nursing home costs. Those “other benefits” don’t exist. The “Cost Considerations” section of the group’s liveyoungatheart.org site provides a primer on the topic, with links to more information about Medicare, Medicaid and private payment and insurance. This misconception may have developed because Medicare covers rehabilitative care, the short-term skilled nursing help associated with the recovery from injury or acute, serious illness. Medicare provides information about covering nursing home costs at medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/part-a/ paying-for-nursing-home-care.html. “To some extent, I would put this on the state and the federal government,” which need to do a better job of educating the public about financing nursing home care, Schnauber said. Only those with Medicare Advantage plans get partial coverage at contracted nursing homes, though these plans include copays and may include deductibles. To qualify for Medicaid, a person can generally keep only a small amount of assets and personal property. If a person entering a nursing home has long-term care insurance, he or she will need to review how much their insurance covers and how long it will last. The “Consumer Resource Library” section under the “Consumers” tab of NYSHFA’s website includes links to financial Q resources.
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x
Support Group for adult children caring for their aging parents
x
Support Group for people caring for their spouses or partners
x
Support Groups for women over 80 years of age
x
Bereavement Support Groups for people who have lost their spouses, partners or parent
x
A Support Group specializing in the emotional coping skills needed in everyday life
Page 9 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018
The Advisory Program forfor thethe Elderly (CAPE) is a is community mental health clinic clinic of the TheCommunity Community Advisory Program Elderly (CAPE) a community mental health Samuel Field Y Field serving individuals age 50 and over. CAPE’s services psychiatric evaluations of the Samuel Y serving individuals age 50 and over. CAPE’sinclude services include psychiatric and treatment, well as individual, and family for both clinic homebound evaluations andas treatment, as well asmarital individual, maritaltherapy and family therapy forand both clinic and adults. In addition, CAPE a wheelchair accessible van toaccessible assist those who homebound adults. Inhas addition, CAPE has a wheelchair van to need assisttransportation those who to andtransportation from clinic appointments. in Little Neck Queens, weLittle also Neck have satellite in need to and fromLocated clinic appointments. Located in Queens,offices we also have satellite in Forest Bayside, New York.and The CAPE is currently Astoria, Bayside,offices Flushing, Forest Hills, Hills, Jamaica Jamaica,and Rego Park, Ridgewood Sunnyside, New York. the following support groups: The CAPE is currently offeringoffering the following support groups:
For application and referral information, please call Michael Upston (718) 224-0566 or e-mail him at mupston@sfy.org
Neighborhood Senior Center
SAMF-073588
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
A place to meet old friends and make new connections, take a class, learn new skills, join an exercise class or just hang out. Programs include computer classes • discussion groups knitting • music appreciation art classes • mind aerobics current events • exciting trips Kosher lunches served daily Fern Prusak, Assistant Director 718-225-6750 x233 FPrusak@sfy.org
QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018 Page 10
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Chapin Home for the Aging awarded coveted 5 Star Rating
Established 1852
St. Mary’s Community Mausoleum
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Celebrating longevity is nothing providing the highest level of quality new for Chapin Home for the Aging care and nurturing environment for who has been serving the commu- both residents and families. The Centers for Medicare & nity with care and compassion for three centuries. Founded in 1869, Medicaid Services (CMS) developed a Star Rating System shortly after the civil war, by to provide consumers with Mrs. Edwin Chapin, Chapin an easy way to search Home’s original location for nursing homes that was in Manhattan and provide quality of care. then served at two locaProudly, Chapin Home tions in Queens. It moved was just awarded the to Jamaica, Queens in coveted 5 star rating 1912 and is still serving with an overall rating of the New York City / Long Island CommuMuch Above Average nity. Chapin Home’s where 5 stars were given philosophy, throughout 165-01 Chapin Parkway in Overall Quality, Jamaica, NY 11432 its history, has been to Health Inspection and 718-739-2523 provide the aging men and Quality Measures catewww.chapinhome.org women who have come gories for data reported to live here a true home, through 12/31/17. where they may find the If you wish to learn serenity and security that more about Chapin have always been envior would like to sioned as essential and appropriate to schedule a tour, please call us at the latter part of life. Our staff of dedi- (718) 739-2523 or visit our website at cated professionals are committed to www.chapinhome.org.
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It’s also an environment of compassionate and quality care—the type of care you can really be thankful for. The type of care that allows us to say you are welcome!
QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018 Page 12
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Senior Living Guide
Online nursing home ratings go into detail by Victoria Zunitch Chronicle Contributor
Several ratings systems are available for evaluating nursing homes. How can one interpret these ratings? The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a five-star rating system for nursing homes. Visiting medicare.gov/ nursinghomecompare lets you search up a list of nursing homes, and each facility receives an Overall rating that ranges from one to five stars, with five stars indicating the best grade and one star indicating the worst. The Overall rating is determined by the home’s performance in three areas: Health Inspections, Staffing and Quality Measures. The Health Inspections category rates performance on state health inspections. The current ratings consider the number, scope and severity of deficiencies found by the state prior to Nov. 28, 2017, plus substantiated findings from investigations of complaints that occurred in the two years prior. A low rating in this category could indicate significant problems meeting state health requirements, but could merit follow-up. If a nursing home that otherwise meets your needs has a low Health Inspections rating, you might want to research whether or not it has fully corrected its problems. Likewise, you may wish to ask a nursing home with a high Health Inspections rating to confirm that no
recent problems have emerged. The Staffing category uses a calculation based on Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, and nurse aide hours, all tallied per resident, per day. This rating is adjusted to account for the home’s case mix, a measure of the complexity of its residents’ medical issues. The Quality Measures category rates nursing homes on twenty-four patient care measures, divided into nine measures for short-stay (rehabilitative) patients and 24 measures for long-stay (residential) patients. For example, the long-stay measurements include the percentage of patients who experienced one or more falls with a major injury, a urinary tract infection, pressure ulcers and 12 other criteria. A Queens example is Fairview Nursing Care Center, Inc. on Grand Central Parkway in Forest Hills. Fairview received five stars for Health Inspections, five stars for Quality Measures and four stars for Staffing. This combination yielded Fairview five stars for “Overall Quality.” Clicking on Fairview’s name on medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare yields a general information page that sketches out an overview of the home, such as the fact that it is a for-profit enterprise. You can also read the detailed reports that went into Fairview’s ratings by clicking on the “Health Inspections,” “Fire Safety Inspections,”
The federal and state governments, along with U.S. News & World Report, offer nursing home ratings online. “Staffing,” “Quality of Resident Care” and “Penalties” (Fairview has none listed). New York State draws from Medicare’s data on its website, profiles.health.ny.gov/
nursing_home/v. You won’t find as many ratings details as quickly here, but some will find its pared-back presentation easier to read. Once you pull up a specific nursing home, you can view general details such as address, number of beds and identification of its administration under the “overview” tab. A second tab provides Medicare’s Quality Measures information, and third tab provides details about Health Inspections. It might be easiest of all, however, to start with U.S. News & World Report’s consumerfriendly rating system, set up in a familiar format and available at health.usnews.com/ best-nursing-homes. Many families are familiar with this format from high school and college searches. U.S. News uses Medicare’s data as a baseline but places emphasis in certain specific areas. For example, it places a higher value on Medical Quality Measures than in Medicare’s system and averages monthly data over a year to evaluate performance over time. You can search the site either by geography or a specific home’s name to get narrative details on each home and rankings on a bar system, with five bars counting as “top performing.” This list uses data on Health Inspections and Complaints, Staffing and Medical Care Quality Measures, and separates Fire Safety out as its own category, graphing fire safety violations over time. Q
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argaret Tietz Nursing and peutic clowning twice a month. Rehabilitation Center, is Compassionate and empaa healthcare facility unlike any thetic, the therapeutic clowns other: Bustling with activity, provide meaningful, loving its optimistic environment interactions, essential to Resienvelops you with warmth the 164-11 Chapin Parkway, Jamaica Hills, NY 11432 dents who have experienced 718-298-7829 • MargaretTietz.org moment you step in. A not-fortrauma and loss, especially profit facility, Margaret Tietz prides itself in those among our residents who are Holocaust the myriad of specialized programs offered survivors and have a diagnosis of dementia. through grant funding. Music therapy includes an iPod program that All resident care units have computers for their tailors music choices to each resident. The indiuse with Wi-Fi. While some Residents skype, vidualized music program provides the opportuothers have established email addresses and nity for the staff to have a heightened awareness now communicate with family and friends. to individual preferences by their choice in music. Massage Therapy, provided one-to-one on Additionally, a music therapist provides daily a weekly basis, is offered in collaboration with group and individual music therapy. Tender Touch for All, undoubtedly improving the The Creative Art Therapy Program provides quality of life of the residents by enhancing their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. To the individual art therapy sessions to residents who delight of our residents, Spa Day with aroma- can benefit from non-verbal creative expression. Additionally, individual Art Therapy sessions are therapy is offered in conjunction once a month. provided to nine residents weekly, provided by an Intergenerational Programming: Students Art Therapist. of various ages grace the Halls of Margaret Tietz Fortunate to feature the Geri-Psych Program on a daily basis. Whether it be elementary school, high school, college interns or college students under the supervision of Dr. Gary Kennedy and providing entertainment, the younger generation Dr. Rubina Malik, the doctors meet twice a month brings their warmth, energy and special care to at Margaret Tietz Center to train Geriatric Psych our residents on a regular basis. We are host fellows for purposes of behavioral management, to a very large Candystriper program over the psychosocial interventions, medication review summer bringing students from many of the top and recommendations for continued plans of schools to spend their summer vacation with our care. This prestigious program, in its 26th year very appreciative residents. Volunteerism is alive has trained 60 fellows from the Montefiore and very well at Margaret Tietz! Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College Margaret Tietz also initiated a Therapeutic of Medicine and has been of significant value Clowning Program by Lev Leytzan’s Elder for the many patients and staff assisted at the Hearts that provides individual and group thera- Margaret Tietz Center.
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– ADVERTORIAL–
MARG-073587
Being a Volunteer with Hospice of New York By Sandra Nielsen
In my six years as a Volunteer Coordinator, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most incredible and compassionate volunteers. Our volunteers are a very diverse population and come from all walks of life. We try to place volunteers with patients who may share interests or have something in common. Sometimes it works out that way and other times the most unlikely paring turns out that the patient and volunteer learn from each other and have a very meaningful relationship. In the end, people need people. One thing all volunteers have in common is their desire to help people in their time of need and they all have very big hearts. I take pleasure in reading and hearing about the experiences that the volunteers have while visiting with patients. It is often said that the volunteers get more from their experience of visiting with patients than they give. I would like to share with you some of their experiences. John Barr has been volunteering with Hospice of New York for about one year. John is a veteran who served in the Middle East. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Social Work at Fordham University. John has had two long-term patients and one that was very short-term. His first patient was in a nursing home in Manhattan. This patient was a professor and they both had some of the same interests, such as philosophy, ancient Greece and psychoanalysis. The patient was in the process of writing a book but could no longer type, so John would assist him in doing so. They both enjoyed each other’s company and would have great discussions about their interests. His next patient was a homecare patient who was a young man near the end of his life. This patient liked to play video games and he and John would do that together. When he could no longer communicate, John became a real comfort to the patient’s father. Though the patient died, John still keeps in touch with his father. John’s current patient has a form of Parkinson’s disease. Here is what John wrote about his patient: “The
patient is a very kind, thoughtful and intelligent man. From what he told me, he is well supported by his husband, Paul, and their many friends, and his family that are nearby upstate. He spoke at length about his condition. We shared our professional background to further establish a connection. Mike is very funny. He is quick to see the humor in things, but worried that he might be just covering up his true feelings. I told him while that may be true; humor is the most advanced coping mechanism. He seemed to appreciate that. I look forward to meeting with him again.” John has been visiting Michael for about 6 months and they have become very good friends. As his illness progresses, John has been very supportive to Michael and his family. The relationship has benefited them both. John states that the patient is an inspiration to him. Sandra Hollingsworth is a veteran volunteer and has been with Hospice of New York for over 15 years. Sandra prefers to see patients in the home setting and has helped numerous patients and families through the years. Sandra works as a registered nurse who uses volunteering as a way to relate to patients on a more intimate level. Sandra also is also someone who always participates in our Volunteer Trainings and trains new volunteers in the field. Here is what Sandra has to say about her current patient: “My patient was watching television when I arrived. He was excited to see me. After he had his supper, he played the harmonica, “Isn’t She Lovely,” by Stevie Wonder. Then his daughter sang “Pennies from Heaven,” as he accompanied her on his harmonica. The daughter then took me downstairs to show me the patient’s paintings and musical instruments. This patient is a man of many talents. It was a lovely relaxing visit for me and I am looking forward to visiting again.” Every experience is new and different and very beneficial to both the patient and the volunteer. Join us and become part of the Hospice of New York Family. For more information on volunteering at Hospice of New York email Sandra.Nielsen @ hospice.nyc or Angela. Purpura@hospice.nyc. HOSP-073470
Page 13 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018
Innovative Programming At Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Enhanced Assisted Living: AN ELEVATED LEVEL OF CARE 40 years experience in the community. A safe facility with one floor and no stairs for seniors who have reached a point in life where it is too difficult or just not safe to live alone anymore.
Sutton Gardens Senior Living 147-02 34th Avenue, Flushing 718-461-1923 • Fax 718-461-7617 www.suttongardensseniorliving.com
WOOA-073590
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
WE PROVIDE: • Private and semi-private suites • Certified Home Health Aides • 24-hour personal care assistance to ambulate independently with assisted devices • Case manager - who creates an individualized service plan to improve quality of life • Recreational activities 7 days a week • Comfortable home-like environment and affordable living
QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018 Page 14
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Senior Living Guide
QUEENS SENIOR CENTERS Senior Centers are the core of the network of senior services. They are located in every community throughout the borough. These centers typically provide hot lunches, coordinate recreational and educational activities, case management, socialization, information and referral, support services and transportation programs. The following is a listing of Queens senior centers by community district: CB 1 ___________________________ Queensbridge/Riis Senior Center (718) 937-1093 10-25 41 Ave., Long Island City Woodside Senior Center (718) 932-6916 50-37 Newtown Road, Bldg. #19, Woodside CCNS-Dellamonica Senior Center (718) 626-1500 23-56 Broadway, Astoria HANAC Ravenswood Senior Center (718) 786-1550 34-35A 12 St., Long Island City Raices Astoria Senior Center (718) 726-9642 21-12 30 Road, Long Island City HANAC Archbishop Iakovos Senior Center (718) 777-5505 32-06 21 St., Astoria HANAC Lindsay Senior Center (718) 626-3035 27-40 Hoyt Ave. South, Astoria CB 2 __________________________ Sunnyside Community Senior Center (718) 392-6944 43-31 39 St., Long Island City CB 3 __________________________ Elmcor Senior Center (718) 457-9757 98-19 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst CCNS-Catherine Sheridan Senior Center (718) 458-4600 35-24 83rd St., Jackson Heights
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
Queens Center for Gay Seniors (718) 533-6459 37-06 77 St., Jackson Heights CB 4 __________________________ Newtown Senior Center (718) 335-7272 83-20 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst IPHE Corona Senior Center (718) 639-2000 108-74 Roosevelt Ave., Corona Raices Corona Senior Center (718) 458-7259 107-24 Corona Ave., Corona Florence E. Smith Senior Services (718) 899-0553 102-19 34 Ave., Corona
Korean American Senior Center (718) 651-9220 37-06 111 St., Corona Lefrak Senior Citizens Center (718) 457-9757 98-16 55 Ave., Corona IPRHE-Elmhurst Jackson Heights Senior Ctr. (718) 478-7171 75-01 Broadway, 3rd floor, Elmhurst CB 5 __________________________ Ridgewood Older Adult Center (718) 456-2000 59-14 70 Ave., Ridgewood Peter Cardella Senior Center (718) 497-2908 68-52 Fresh Pond Road, Ridgewood Selfhelp Maspeth Senior Center (718) 429-3636 69-61 Grand Ave., Maspeth Middle Village Older Adult Center (718) 894-3441 69-10 75 St., Middle Village CB 6 __________________________ Queens Community House Senior Center (718) 699-1010 108-25 62 Drive, Forest Hills Selfhelp Austin Street Senior Center (718) 520-8197 106-06 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills Young Israel Forest Hills Senior League (718) 520-2305 68-07 Burns St., Forest Hills Rego Park Senior Center (718) 896-8711 93-29 Queens Bvd., Rego Park Central Queens Y - Adult Wellness Program (718) 268-5011 67-09 108 St., Forest Hills CB 7___________________________ CPC Queens Nan Shan Senior Center (718) 358-3030 136-18 39 Ave., 6th floor, Flushing Selfhelp Latimer Gardens Senior Center (718) 961-3660 34-30 137 St., Flushing Selfhelp Innovative Benjamin Rosenthal Sr. Ctr. (718) 886-5777 45-25 Kissena Blvd., Flushing
HANAC Angelo Petromelis College Point Senior Center (718) 961-0344 13-28 123 St., College Point North Flushing Senior Center (718) 358-9193 29-09 137 St., Flushing College Point Senior Center (718) 358-9193 22-38 College Point Blvd., College Point Korean American Senior Center of Flushing (718) 886-8203 42-15 166 St., Flushing CB 8 __________________________ CCNS-Hillcrest Senior Center (718) 297-7171 168-01B Hillside Ave., Jamaica Jewish Center of Kew Gardens Hills Senior Center (718) 263-6500 71-25 Main St., Flushing Pomonok Senior Center (718) 591-3377 67-09 Kissena Blvd., 2nd floor, Flushing Young Israel Queens Valley Senior Center (718) 263-6995 141-55 77 Ave., Flushing CB 9 __________________________ CCNS-Ozone Park Senior Center (718) 847-2100 103-02 101 Ave., Ozone Park CCNS-Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Senior Center (718) 847-9200 89-02 91 St., Woodhaven Kew Gardens Community Center (718) 268-5960 80-02 Kew Gardens Road, Suite 202, Kew Gardens CB 10 _________________________ CCNS Howard Beach Senior Center (718) 738-8100 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach CB 11 __________________________ Samuel Field Y Senior Citizens Program (718) 225-6750 58-20 Little Neck Pkwy., Little Neck CCNS-Bayside Senior Center (718) 225-1144 221-15 Horace Harding Expwy., Bayside
Selfhelp Clearview Senior Center (718) 224-7888 208-11 26 Ave., Bayside CB 12 _________________________ International Towers Senior Center (718) 739-6988 90-20 170 St., Jamaica JSPOA Theodora Jackson Center (718) 657-6618 92-47 165 St., Jamaica Allen Community Senior Citizen Center (718) 658-0980 166-01 Linden Blvd., Jamaica JSPOA Friendship Nutrition Center (718) 657-6540 92-33 170 St., Jamaica Robert Couche Senior Citizen Center (718) 978-8352 137-57 Farmers Blvd., Springfield Gardens Rochdale Village Senior Center (718) 525-2800 169-65 137 Ave., Jamaica Brooks Senior Center (718) 291-3935 143-22 109 Ave., Jamaica JSPOA Rockaway Blvd. Senior Center (718) 657-6468 123-10 143 St., Jamaica CB 13 _____________________________ SNAP Brookville Center (718) 525-8899 One Cross Island Plaza, lower level 5, Rosedale SNAP Innovative Senior Center of Eastern Queens (718) 454-2100 80-45 Winchester Blvd., Building 4 CBU #29, Queens Village Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center (718) 528-8238 220-01 Linden Blvd., Cambria Heights Information from the Senior Citizen Resource Guide
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– ADVERTORIAL –
Understanding Medicaid: Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid? Medicare is a privilege an individual is entitled to receive upon reaching the age of 65 or upon being certified disabled, providing they have worked for at least 10 years and contributed into the Social Security System. Medicaid is for the poor or impoverished; therefore, eligibility is based upon income and resources levels. Meeting the eligibility requirements will secure Medicaid eligibility.
What is Medicaid medical assistance? Medicaid is a joint federal and state funded program, run by the state and local counties, providing medical insurance, home-care services (assisting with all activities of daily living) and nursing home medical assistance to the poor, elderly or disabled. However, individuals requiring homecare services or nursing home medical assistance, in addition to financial requirements, also will need have a medical need for these services.
Who can apply for Medicaid? Medicaid is for anyone who meets the income and resources restrictions.
What services does Medicaid provide? • Doctors • Hospitals • Prescriptions • Nursing Homes (room & board)
• Home-care Services, such as home attendants, home health aides and nurses
What is an MLTC? MLTC stands for Managed Long-Term Care. One example: When an applicant has been approved for Medicaid home-care services, the applicant has to choose one MLTC from several approved Medicaid plans. Upon joining an MLTC a coordinator will be assigned and this coordinator will be the point person between the applicant/recipient and the MLTC.
Elder Care Services, Inc. 108-18 Queens Boulevard, Suite 801, Forest Hills, NY 11375
For more information please contact Jack Lippmann at 718-575-5700
WOOA-073591
ELDC-071388
Sutton Gardens is an Enhanced Assisted focuses on understanding seniors individually Living Residence located in the heart of Flush- so we can provide specialized care. Physical, ing, New York. We are a one-story, secured occupational and speech therapies are availfacility which allows your loved ones to age in able to those who need them. Other services we provide include full service place, for a moderate price! This dining, daily housekeeping, launis an ideal setting for those who dry and a full schedule of social need constant care and addiactivities. Recreational activitional watch! There are no stairs, ties are scheduled seven days a nor elevators to contend with. week, to ensure that all residents We have both private and semicontinue to be socially and menprivate accommodations availtally active. able. We assist our residents We are a licensed by the New with all aspects of daily living, York State Department of Health while still allowing them to safely as an Enhanced Assisted Living maintain their independence. facility for seniors who may not We provide our residents yet require long-term care, howassistance with: feeding, wound ever, might exceed traditional care, ambulation such as, wheel assisted living programs. At Sutchairs, walkers; medical equipton Gardens, we pride ourselves ment such as oxygen, catheter at helping loved ones “age in care, colostomy care; all aspects place,” while providing them with of daily living, such as, bathing, 147-02 34th Avenue all the support they need. We dressing, grooming and toileting, Flushing, NY 11354 (718) 461-1923 are successfully bridging the gap as well as, medication management, including injections, eye suttongardensadmissions@ between Assisted Living Care gmail.com and a Skilled Nursing Facility. drops and ointments. Our compassionate staff, including a licensed practical We have over 40 years of experience with the nurse, is available 24/7 to assist in any way community and we are dedicated to maintaining our reputation of exceptional care. You they can. A case manager is available to all residents can reach Jennifer Persaud, administrator at to create an Individualized Service Plan, that 718-461-1923, ext 2. Call us for a tour!
Page 15 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018
Sutton Gardens Enhanced Assisted Living Residence offers exceptional care in the heart of Flushing
www.eldercareservicesny.com
MULTI SPECIALTY CENTER Have you hadAppointments your annual checkup yet? Immediate Available! Immediate Appointments Available!
83-40 Woodhaven Boulevard, Glendale, NY 11385 • Tel: (718) 849-8700 WWW.EMUDOCS.COM
EMUH-073617
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED • FREE PARKING ON SITE 83-40 Woodhaven Boulevard, Glendale, NY 11385 • Tel: (718) 849-8700
QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, March 15, 2018 Page 16
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ALL ROADS LEAD TO JAMAICA HOSPITAL
Learn More About our Many Quality Services Including Emergency Medicine • Cardiology • Pulmonary Medicine • Ambulatory Care Advanced Radiology Services • Sleep Center • Obstetrics and Gynecology • Pediatrics By Calling us at 718-206-6000 or Visit our Website at www.jamaicahospital.org JAMH-061144
SENIOR LIVING GUIDE • Spring 2018
The many roads that make up our community are the same roads that lead to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. As your neighbor, our wide variety of clinical services are always available to you and your family.