Generations Michigan
Published quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging
Winter 2006
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Welcome to Michigan Generations Michigan is divided into 16 AAAs, each serving a different part of the state.
AAAs— Gateways to Community Resources
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Whether you are an older adult yourself, a caregiver or a friend concerned about the well-being of an older adult, Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are ready to help. AAAs in communities across the country serve as gateways to local resources, planning efforts, and services that help older adults remain independent. AAAs were established under the Older Americans Act in 1973 to respond to the needs of Americans aged 60 and over in every community. The services available through AAA agencies fall into five general categories: information and consultation, services available in the community, services in the home, housing, and elder rights. A wide range of programs is available within each category.
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3A 3B
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4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging 5 Valley Area Agency on Aging 6 Tri-County Office on Aging 7 Region VII Area Agency on Aging 8 Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan 9 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging 10 Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan 11 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging 14 Senior Resources of West Michigan Visit the AAA’s state website at www.mi-seniors.net
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The services offered by Michigan’s 16 AAAs cover a broad spectrum of needs, such as information and referral, case management, in-home services, home-delivered meals, senior centers, transportation, and special outreach. To read more about each of Michigan’s AAAs and the services available, turn to page 10 of this issue. MI
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Michigan
Generations WINTER 2006 Published quarterly
through a cooperative effort of Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging. For information contact: Jenny Jarvis 248-262-9202 jjarvis@aaa1b.com
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Editorial Project Development: JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA Design and Production: Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA
On the Cover: Medicare drug coverage is here — and with it, a plethora of choices. For an overview of what you need to know and where to find help in selecting the best plan, turn to our story on page 4. Then read our step-by-step guide to using Medicare’s online tool, page 19.
Winter 2006, Volume 3, #3 © 2006 by the Michigan Area Agencies on Aging. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, the Michigan Area Agencies on Aging and JAM Communications make no warranty to the accuracy or reliability of this information. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission. All rights reserved.
Michigan Generations
MAP PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY TRAVEL MICHIGAN
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They are:
1A Detroit Area Agency on Aging 1B Area Agency on Aging 1-B 1C The Senior Alliance 2 Region 2 Area Agency on Aging 3A Kalamazoo Co. Health & Community Services Dept. Region 3A 3B Burnham-Brook Region IIIB Area Agency on Aging 3C Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC
CAREGIVINGNews&Notes
WANTED: Your Life Insurance Beware of buyers who approach your older relatives with the idea of buying their life insurance. This process, called a “life settlement,” may appeal to Dad or Mom if their life insurance needs have changed, or if they have been concerned about escalating premiums. The pitch: A settlement firm buys the policy from a senior on behalf of investors. They typically offer to buy cash value policies as long as the death benefit is at least $250,000. However, experts say that selling a policy has extremely high transaction costs — and that it’s better to just hold on to the policy without paying the premiums. Before your relative accepts an offer from an eager buyer, get some advice from a financial planner or an estate attorney.
LOOK
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hose occasional visits to your older loved ones — especially if they’re out of town — offer a chance to spend quality time together. Equally important, they provide an opportunity to determine if more help is needed for your older relative. Use these “warning signs” to help in the process. Has your loved one: • Changed eating habits, such as missing meals? • Started neglecting personal hygiene? • Neglected their home, so it is not as clean as it used to be?
• Decreased or stopped participating in social activities? • Exhibited forgetfulness resulting in unopened mail, unfilled prescriptions or missed appointments? • Mishandled finances such as not paying bills or paying bills twice? • Changed relationship patterns with old friends or neighbors? • Exhibited inappropriate behavior by being unusually loud, quiet, paranoid or agitated? Your relative’s physician should be kept informed of physical or psychological behavior changes.
Surfing the Net Each issue of Michigan Generations offers several websites of interest to older adults and their caregivers … right at your fingertips. www.caringinfo.org offers advice to improve care at the end of life. It provides a variety of free resources on topics including hospice and palliative care, advance care planning, and grief and loss. www.disabilityinfo.gov contains links to resources and information of interest to people with disabilities, their families, employers and service providers. Look for more helpful websites in the next issue of Michigan Generations. Winter 2006
Gov. Granholm Declares November as Family Caregivers Month To raise awareness of the complex role of family caregivers in Michigan and the needs they face, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm declared this past November as Family Caregivers Month in Michigan. “Family Caregivers Month is a time to thank and support the valuable work and contributions of the millions of family caregivers nationwide and throughout Michigan,” Granholm said in her Executive Declaration. Approximately one million of Michigan’s citizens provide one billion hours
WHAT IS
of unpaid care annually to ill and disabled adults in the state with an approximate economic value of more than $9 billion per year. It is estimated that more than 60% of today’s adult population either is or expects to be a family caregiver.
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ANGINA
MORE THAN SIX MILLION PEOPLE in the U.S. experience chest pain called angina. Although it may feel like it, angina is not a heart attack. But both conditions occur because of inadequate blood flow to the heart. With most people who get angina pain, the sensation goes away if they rest or take medication. With a heart attack, it doesn’t go away — and can cause permanent damage to heart cells. Although angina can increase your risk of having a heart attack, it is treatable through careful surveillance, regular medication and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. Listen to your body. If you have any feelings of pressure, burning or tightness in your chest, contact your doctor immediately for a diagnosis.
DID YOU KNOW… … grandparents represent a large population of caregivers? The 2000 census reported 2.4 million of the 5.8 million grandparents living with their grandchildren are the primary caretakers of their grandchildren under the age of 18.
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Drug Coverage By Martha Nolan McKenzie
If you are
one of the 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries in Michigan, you have some important decisions to make in the coming months. First, you will have to decide whether or not you want to sign up for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit because, while all Medicare beneficiaries are eligible, enrollment is optional. Then you’ll have to decide which of the 79 different plans being offered in Michigan is best for you. There is no need to rush the decisions. The enrollment period lasts until May 15, 2006, and you may be wise to take your time.
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“Although you could enroll as early as November 15, 2005, there is no need to rush,” says Barbara Cebuhar, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in Washington, D.C. “Read the news stories that will be coming out. Talk to others who have already enrolled. Study all the information available. You’ll have plenty of time to find the plan that is the best for you.”
* Medicare has reported a small error in the guide regarding premiums for those who qualify for extra help. You can download the correct version at www.medicare.gov or call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. Michigan Generations
Everyone needs to make a decision
and three months after your birthday. After the initial sign-up period, you can switch plans once a year during an annual enrollment period of November 15 through December 31. So if, in the future, you decide the plan you originally selected no longer meets your needs, you can select a different plan without any penalty. You can also switch to a different plan outside the open enrollment period with no penalty, if the plan you are on goes out of business, if you move to another state in which your plan does not operate, or if you go into a skilled nursing facility. Here’s a look at the costs and the benefits of these plans: • MONTHLY PREMIUMS This is the amount you will pay each month for your plan. Premiums can range from $0 to $97, but the average in Michigan is $33.22 a month. • ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE This is the amount you must first spend on drugs each calendar year before your benefit
There are numerous sources available to help you navigate these decisions. Medicare has put out a comprehensive guide to the benefit called “Medicare and You,” which was mailed to seniors in the Fall.* (See footnote, page 4.) Medicare also has an online tool that can assist you in narrowing the field to a few plans that best suit your needs. You may prefer signing up by phone. If you are among the 80% of Medicare beneficiaries who are not Internetsavvy, you can call a statewide toll-free number run by the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) — 1-800-803-7174 — and counselors will take your information over the phone and do the online computations for you. You can also visit various sites around the state where you can sit down with a counselor who can do the same calculations. It’s important to take advantage of the help that’s available to you. That’s because “Every person who has Medicare needs to even though every Medicare beneficiary is eligible for the new drug benefit, you will not look at this benefit and make a decision, automatically receive it, unless you are on even if the decision is not to join.” Medicaid. To get the benefit, you must pick a specific plan and sign up for it. If you don’t enroll in a plan before the May 15 cut-off date, you may have kicks in. In 2006, your deductible can be no higher than to pay a penalty if you decide to join in the future. $250, but many plans will have lower deductibles or no “Regardless of your circumstances, every single person who deductible. has Medicare needs to look at this benefit and make a decision, • OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES After you reach the even if the decision is not to join,” says Mary Johnson, director deductible, your plan will cover at least 75% of the next $2,000 of MMAP. “Having this coverage can make a world of differin drug costs for the year. This can be in the form of either a ence in your health care costs now and in the future.” co-payment (you pay a fixed amount for each prescription filled) or co-insurance (you pay a percentage of the total prescription cost). With most of the standard plans, you will then hit a gap Called Medicare Part D, the new drug benefit is essenin coverage, commonly called the “donut hole.” That means tially insurance coverage for prescription drugs. It is not the in 2006 you would have to pay the next $2,850 of drug costs same as the Medicare-approved drug discount cards that out of your own pocket before Medicare coverage kicks back were available in 2004 and 2005. That was a temporary proin. (However, if you are low-income, you may qualify for a gram designed to offer some relief from high drug costs until plan with no gap.) Part D could be rolled out, and it will end on May 15, 2006 There will be variations in this donut hole, depending on — the last day of enrollment in the new plan. the specific plan. Some plans with higher monthly premiums The Part D benefit is being offered through many different may have no coverage gap at all. For plans that have the Medicare-approved plans sponsored by several private compadonut hole, this gap cannot be greater than $2,850. nies. Each of the plans must be at least as good as the Medicare After you have paid the additional $2,850 in drug “standard,” but they can vary significantly. For many seniors, costs, your plan will cover 95% of the rest of your prethe plans will offer savings on drug costs. In fact, Medicare scription drug costs — with no limit — until the end of claims that this coverage will pay, on average, half of the drug the calendar year. This phase is called “catastrophic costs in 2006 for the typical person on Medicare. coverage,” and it is designed to protect you against Enrollment in the new plans began November 15 and extremely high drug bills. continues through May 15, 2006. The first day when actual coverage takes effect is January 1, 2006, for anyone who is • FORMULARY This is the list of drugs that are covered by the plan. Each plan will cover different prescription signed up by that date. After that, coverage begins on the drugs, and you might not be able to find a plan that covers first day of the month after you sign up. If, for example, you were to sign up on March 15, 2006, your coverage would all your medications. In that case, you may have to figure out begin on April 1. which one is the most advantageous. Or you can appeal to a If you turn 65 anytime after February 1, 2006, you can plan to see if it will pay totally or partially for a medication sign up for a plan the three months prior to, the month of, that you have to be on.
What is the new benefit?
Winter 2006
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How can I tell if I should enroll?
Seniors with drug coverage through a current or former employer or union. You will need to find
Everyone has different circumstances and different needs, so the decision of whether or not to join has to be an individual one. Here’s a look at some special considerations:
out if the coverage is as good as the minimum standard set by Medicare. If it is, it is called “creditable” coverage. Your employer or union should have mailed you a letter letting you know if your coverage is as good as Medicare’s or not. If you have not received the letter, call and request it. Medicaid recipients. Seniors or younger persons Keep this letter in a safe place because it could become with disabilities who are on Medicaid and Medicare very important. That’s because if you need to sign up for a were automatically enrolled in a plan by January 1. Medicare plan sometime in the future — for example, if you “However, the plan assignment was random, and the or your spouse retires and are no longer covered by an plan may or may not cover the prescriptions the employer’s insurance or if your employer drops its retiree senior is on,” says Johnson. “If a senior is unhappy benefits — you will pay a penalty unless you can prove you had creditable coverage. If your plan is creditable, you will not need to pay a penalty if “[Medicare’s drug coverage] is like house you join a plan in the future.
insurance or car insurance,” says Cebuhar. “You want to make sure you have coverage if something happens to your health in the future.” with the plan he was assigned, he can change it immediately. Going forward, individuals on both Medicare and Medicaid, unlike all others, can change their plan at any time.” Low-income seniors. If your income is below $14,355 (for a single person) or $19,245 (for a couple) and your assets are no greater than $11,500 (for a single) or $23,000 (for a couple), you may qualify for extra help in paying for your prescriptions through Medicare. The extra help, depending on your income level, could range from no premium or deductible and a $1 co-pay for generics and $3 for brand names to a sliding scale premium and a $50 deductible with slightly higher co-pays. Note that a house and a car are not considered assets. If you feel you qualify for extra help, contact Social Security.
Where to Get Help
Seniors with veterans’ or military retiree drug benefits. There is good news for
this group. You can keep your current coverage, and if you decide to enroll in a Medicare plan later on, you will not have to pay the penalty.
Younger, healthy seniors with low drug costs. This group likely faces the toughest decision.
If you currently spend little or nothing on prescription drugs, joining a Medicare plan will cost you more than you are currently spending. But that may not always be the case. “It’s like house insurance or car insurance,” says Cebuhar. “You want to make sure you have coverage in case something happens to your health in the future. It’s highly likely that you are going to be needing more medications sometime in the future.” But if you didn’t sign up during the initial enrollment period, you likely will have to pay a significant penalty for coverage — an additional 1% of the premium will be added to your monthly cost for each month you delayed. So if you sign up for a plan three years down the road, your monthly premiums will be 36% higher — and that inflated cost will last for the rest of your life.
For information and assistance only
For information plus help selecting and signing up for a plan
To sign up for a plan you have selected
Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE or 1-800-633-4227; www.medicare.gov MMAP: 1-800-803-7174 AARP: 1-888-OUR-AARP or 1-888-687-2277; www.aarp.org Your local Area Agency on Aging: See contact information on pages 10–18 Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116; www.eldercare.gov Individual insurer offering the plan Social Security — questions related to limited income: 1-800-772-1213; www.socialsecurity.gov Michigan Generations
Keep in mind, you will not be able to sign up for a plan at all until the annual enrollment period between November 15 and December 31, with coverage starting the following January 1. So if you were to have a health crisis in February, you would have to pay for your drugs out of pocket until the start of the next year. “So if you don’t take many medications right now, it would be a good idea to sign up for the lowest-cost plan you can find,” says Cebuhar. “That way if you ever do need to take more meds, you can switch to a more comprehensive plan without having to pay a big penalty. You have the peace of mind in knowing you are protected against future drug costs.” Seniors with a Medigap policy. Medigap plans cover expenses not covered under Medicare Parts A and B. If your Medigap plan does not include drug coverage, you can keep it unchanged. If it does cover prescription drugs, you’ll have to make a decision. The drug coverage in Medigap plans is not creditable — their coverage does not meet the minimum standard set by Medicare. So if you keep the Medigap drug coverage and then change your mind in the future and enroll in a Medicare drug plan, you will have to pay the penalty. However, you can elect to keep your Medigap policy to retain its other benefits but drop the drug coverage part of it. Or you could switch to a different Medigap policy that has no drug coverage. Starting January 1, 2006, no new Medigap policies with drug coverage will be sold.
How do I choose a plan? This task may seem overwhelming with 79 plans being offered in Michigan. But realistically, there are probably only a handful that meet your needs — that cover the drugs you use and the pharmacy you patronize. So the question is, how do you find those plans? ONLINE TOOL Medicare has an online tool that can find the handful of plans that are best for you. With this tool, called the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder, you can enter the names of your prescriptions and the name of your pharmacy, and it will give you a list of the plans that best suit your needs. One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want to stick with traditional Medicare or switch to a managed care plan called Medicare Advantage. Forty of the prescription plans being offered in Michigan are standalone plans, and 39 are part of a Medicare Advantage plan. The Medicare Advantage plans, which include HMOs and PPOs, may cover more services and have lower out-ofpocket costs than traditional Medicare does. But your choice of doctors and hospitals may be more restricted. Most of Michigan’s seniors are currently enrolled in traditional Medicare. “We expect most seniors to choose a stand-alone plan and remain in traditional Medicare, at least for the first year,” says Johnson. Winter 2006
If you are one of the 80% of Medicare beneficiaries who do not use the Internet, senior advocates encourage you to enlist the aid of your adult children or grandchildren to go online and use the Medicare tool for you. For a step-by-step walk through the Medicare online tool, turn to page 19 of this issue. PHONE CONSULTATION If a child or friend can’t help you out, MMAP can. “We have over 850 trained volunteers who are eager to help,” says Johnson. You can call MMAP at 1-800-803-7174, and you will be routed to one of the 58 MMAP sites around the state. A counselor will be able to take your information over the phone — including your Medicare number, the names of your prescriptions and the name of your pharmacy — and plug it into the online tool for you. MMAP offices are open Monday through Friday during regular business hours, and all are capable of taking messages if you call after hours. IN-PERSON COUNSELING If you prefer to sit down face to face with a counselor, you will have plenty of opportunities. MMAP is working through the Area Agencies on Aging, most senior centers, Commissions on Aging, Independent Living organizations, Long-term Care Ombudsmen, AARP, Medicare Today and many other organizations and agencies to help seniors understand and enroll in the new benefit. To find a site near you and make an appointment with a counselor, call the MMAP toll-free line. The counselor is not allowed by law to select the plan for you. However, she can enter your information in the online tool, get the list of plans that best suit your needs and show you how to compare the different plans, explaining what each component means. It will be up to you to make the final decision. Once you have picked a plan, a MMAP counselor can actually sign you up for it, using the online tool, and print out a confirmation for you. Or you can call the plan directly to sign up, if you prefer. You’ll also need to decide how you are going to pay the monthly premiums. You can have them automatically deducted from your checking account or from your Social Security check, or you can write a check each month to pay for it. If the complexity of the process becomes frustrating, remember the payoff. “Medications are important to maintaining good health,” says Johnson. “This benefit is going to offer a great deal of help to a lot of people. It’s in everyone’s best interest to have good, affordable prescription drug coverage.” MI
For a step-by-step guide to using Medicare’s online tool, turn to page 19. 7
GUESTClose-Up FA L L P R E V E N T I O N
Learn to Avoid
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FOOTWEAR Improper footwear contributes to one third of all falls. Wear shoes that give good support and have thin non-slip soles. Avoid wearing slippers and athletic shoes with deep treads. Make sure your shoes fit properly. Shoes that are too tight or too loose can contribute to falls. Purchasing shoes later in the day, when your feet may be swollen, is also recommended to ensure a good fit.
4 SLIPS TRIPS 5
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By Jim Harvey
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ach year, millions of seniors fall inside their homes and in the community. Approximately 35 to 40 percent of seniors will fall every year, with one half unable to get up on their own. Furthermore, almost 500,000 seniors will break a hip due to a fall this year, the type of break that causes the most number of deaths and leads to the most severe health problems. Most of these falls can be prevented with education and by following a few simple guidelines. There are two ways in which falls occur: slips and trips. Slips happen when there is too little friction or traction between the footwear and the walking surface. Trips occur when your foot strikes an object, causing you to lose balance and fall. There are six key areas where falls can be prevented:
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VISION People over 65 years of age with vision problems are three times more likely to have difficulties walking and completing their daily activities than younger adults are. Some common diseases of the eyes that affect vision and balance are macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Annual, or more frequent, eye examinations can help catch these problems early. Also, make sure that your eyeglass prescription is up-to-date.
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MEDICATIONS Have your health care provider review your medications frequently. As you get older, the way that medicines work in your body can change. Some medicines, or combinations of medicines, can make you drowsy or lightheaded, which can lead to a fall. To reassess your medications, your pharmacist may be more accessible and knowledgeable than your physician is. 8
DIET Eat a well-balanced diet. Potassium increases the strength of muscle contractions and reduces cramping. Vitamin D supplementation is effective in reducing fractures, especially since calcium absorption in the body is reduced with the aging process. SURROUNDINGS As 75 percent of falls occur in the home, it is essential that time is spent ensuring that the home environment is safe. • Remove things that you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk. • Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping. Keep frequently used items in cabinets that you can reach easily without using a step stool. • Have grab bars installed next to your toilet and in the tub or shower, and use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors. • Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. • Have handrails and lights installed on all staircases. • Don’t rush to the phone. Let friends and family know that they should leave a message or give you more time to get to the phone. • Get dressed sitting on your bed or on a chair, not standing up.
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EXERCISE PROGRAM As we get older, certain changes, such as muscle weakness due to inactivity and slowing of reaction time, gradually occur that affect our balance. Seniors learn to compensate until they reach a critical point that results in balance instability. An exercise program performed three or more times per week can improve muscle strength and reduce the risk of falls. Exercises to improve posture are also important. When joints are not aligned, the muscle demand becomes much greater and the risk of falls increases. Paying attention to these six areas can get you well on your way to keeping your balance and avoiding any complications. And remember, adults over the age of 65 should receive an annual screening for fall risk. MI JIM HARVEY is a physical therapist and owner of Great Lakes Therapy House Calls, located in Traverse City. He specializes in geriatric rehabilitation, including fall prevention. Michigan Generations
ASKtheExpert
Kathleen J. Holycross
Home Health Care
How to Choose an Agency
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hoosing a home health care agency can be a daunting task. Often the decision is made under difficult circumstances, particularly when time is short, stress levels are high and you may not be feeling your best. With literally hundreds of home health care agencies in southeast Michigan, how do you choose?
How do I find a home health care agency? YOUR DOCTOR’ S OFFICE OR YOUR
hospital discharge planner will generally provide you with a list of agencies. Before you choose one, find out how long the agency has been in business, if it is Medicare-certified, and if it is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). Accredited agencies have undergone a specific assessment of their quality outcomes with patients and the care that they provide.
How do I know if the home health care agency is reputable? REPUTABLE , MEDICARE - CERTIFIED
home health care will always be initiated by a physician’s order, either at the hospital or from the physician’s office. Home health care should not come as a
surprise. If you receive an unplanned knock on your door from someone representing a home health care agency, be very cautious, and above all, do not provide that individual with any medical or personal information such as your social security number. The direct door-to-door sales of Medicare-certified service to the consumer is a fraudulent activity, whether it is at your house or in your hospital room.
When should I start looking for a home health care agency? THE BEST TIME TO RESEARCH A HOME
health care agency is before you need one. For example, if you will be having knee replacement surgery, does the home care agency offer physical therapy? Additionally, does it offer a pre-surgical visit where the therapist can provide you with exercises to strengthen your muscles and create a more rapid recovery after the surgery? While home health care agencies offer similar services, such as nursing care, physical therapy and personal care, not all home health care agencies are created equally. Knowing what agency you would choose before you need one can go a long way toward ensuring your peace of mind and the highest quality care.
Do you have a caregiving question?
What other services may a home health care agency provide?
Write or email your question to our
organization offer cutting-edge technology, such as remote monitoring or telemedicine/TeleHomecare devices for conditions like diabetes and heart failure? This technology greatly decreases the likelihood of re-hospitalization and helps people learn how to better manage their conditions. Also, working with your physician, the home health care agency will develop a written plan of care
“Expert” at: Jenny Jarvis,Area Agency on Aging 1-B, 29100 Northwestern Highway, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48034; jjarvis@aaa1b.com.We will make every effort to answer your question in an upcoming issue of Michigan Generations.
Winter 2006
DOES YOUR HOME HEALTH CARE
specific to your individual needs. Ask if the agency provides written statements describing its services, eligibility requirements and fees.
What are factors to consider when deciding on an agency? THE LENGTH OF TIME AN ORGANIZATION
has been in business can play an important role. The longer an organization has been in the community, the greater the confidence you can have in its experience, quality, reliability and dedication. Another factor to consider is the mission of the home health care agency. There are both for-profit and not-forprofit agencies. You may wish to look for the value-added benefits that an agency provides. Because of their dedication to improving public health, not-for-profit agencies tend to offer programs and services such as care to the uninsured and underinsured and community wellness screenings that do not fit with typical forprofit company missions.
Is there a guide available to help me choose a home health care agency? WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH,
you want the best care possible. For more information on selecting a home health care agency, the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan has a free consumer’s guide to answer other questions that you may have. To receive a free copy of A Consumer’s Guide to Home Health Care, please call 248-9678374 or visit www.vna.org. MI KATHLEEN J. HOLYCROSS is president and chief executive officer of the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan, the state’s largest independent, nonprofit home health care and hospice provider. 9
REGIONALNews In communities across the U.S.,
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Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve as gateways to local resources, planning efforts and services that help older adults remain independent. Here are the programs and services offered by Michigan’s AAAs.
1A 1B 1C 2
Detroit Area Agency on Aging Area Agency on Aging 1-B The Senior Alliance Region 2 Area Agency on Aging 3A Kalamazoo Co.Health & Community Services Dept. Region 3A 3B Burnham-Brook Region IIIB 3C Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC 4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging 5 Valley Area Agency on Aging
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6 Tri-County Office on Aging 7 Region VII Area Agency on Aging 8 Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan 9 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging 10 Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan 11 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging 14 Senior Resources of West Michigan
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14 6 4
1B
3A 3B 3C
2
1A 1C
S POTLIGHT O N …
Branch–St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC Serving a two-county area surrounding Sturgis, Three Rivers, Coldwater and Quincy
New Staff Join the Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging
ensure that the client receives the highest level of care. The Branch-St. Joseph Area elly Beem, support specialist, and Agency on Aging serves as the Kim Brown, RN, have recently regional planning, advocacy and joined the staff at the Branch-St. administrative agency designated Joseph Area Agency on Aging. Along by the Michigan Office of Serwith the director, Duke Anderson, and vices to the Aging to assist coordinator, Laura Sutter, they will be older adults in Branch and St. assisting adults age 60 and older to Joseph counties. By targeting remain in their state and federal resources homes through a through a comprehensive netFor more information, or new program work of service providers, the to see if you or a loved one called Care Managency gives older adults and qualifies for Care ManageBack, left to right: Kelly Beem and Kim agement. Care their families access to a variety ment, please call us at Brown; front, left to right: Laura Sutter and Management Duke Anderson. of programs designed to pro517-279-9561, ext. 135, or assists frail elders mote independence and dignity. toll-free at 1-888-615-8009. at risk of nursing set-up and light houseHome-delivered meals, respite care, home placement by arranging and/or keeping are included. The staff will adult day services and home repair are purchasing long-term care services. work closely with each client’s family, some of the services offered across Assistance with bathing, medication physician and community resources to the two-county service area.
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Michigan Generations
Detroit Area Agency on Aging Serving Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes in Wayne County
Providing Free Chore Services to Seniors
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little help with minor household chores can make a huge difference in a senior’s ability to maintain their independence. There are many seniors living in nursing homes today for no other reason than that they were unable to properly maintain their homes and surroundings. Chore programs are vital services for frail older adults who need assistance performing certain household chores, such as grass cutting, snow or ice removal, cleaning and Lowe’s volunteers meet with a senior before they make repairs. minor handyman tasks. These programs allow senYard work iors to remain in their homes — as • Cutting grass and raking leaves vital members of their community. • Clearing walkways of ice, snow Fortunately, the Detroit Area and leaves Agency on Aging is able to offer a • Trimming overhanging tree branches Chore Services Program to eligible Heavy cleaning seniors because of a generous grant • Cleaning appliances provided by Wayne County. After the • Cleaning and securing carpets Chore Program’s two-year absence, a and rugs contribution of $225,000 from the • Washing walls and windows county is making the program available Minor maintenance once again. • Replacing/repairing pipes Eligible seniors who wish to remain • Caulking windows independent in their own homes may • Replacing fuses, lightbulbs, apply to receive these household electrical plugs, etc. services at no cost. Among the chore • Pest control services that are provided are: In order to be eligible for the program, individuals must be Wayne County resiBe sure to tune in to Senior Solution every dents who are age 60 and older, must reside Saturday at 10 a.m. on WGPR Radio 107.5, in the cities of Detroit, and visit our website at www.daaa1a.org. Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods Senior Solution has been expanded to and the five Grosse one hour. The show now airs from 10 a.m. Pointes, and must be in need of chore services to 11 a.m. as described above. Winter 2006
It is also necessary that persons receiving this service have functional, physical or mental characteristics that prevent them from providing the service for themselves. There should also be a lack of a sufficient informal support network, such as family, friends and neighbors, capable of meeting the individual’s service needs. For more information about the Chore Program and how you or someone you know might go about receiving the services, please contact the Detroit Area Agency on Aging at 313-446-4444, or by mail at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd, Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48207. You may also email us at williamsshi@daaa1a.org.
Make a Senior Smile Day TO KICK OFF THE CHORE PROGRAM,
Wayne County, the County Commissioners and the Detroit Area Agency on Aging held the 2nd Annual “Make a Senior Smile Day” on October 22, 2005.Volunteers from throughout the county assisted seniors in the community by providing yard work. In addition, Lowe’s of Harper Woods donated $1,200 and provided volunteers and volume pricing on supplies for the event through the company’s “Lowe’s Heroes Program.” 11
Area Agency on Aging 1-B Serving the counties of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw
Local Restaurants Support Holiday Meals on Wheels Program
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a DiRoNA Award (Distinistorante Café Cortina, guished Restaurant of a fine dining restaurant North America) and a located in Farmington Hills, Wine Spectator Award of and Gino’s Italian Restaurant Excellence. and Pizzeria, a familyGino’s Italian Restauoriented dining spot in rant and Pizzeria, Keego Harbor, supported located at 1999 Cass Holiday Meals on Wheels by Lake Road in Keego donating 10 percent of their Harbor, brings together net profits on November 15, two of America’s most 2005, to the Area Agency on popular dining concepts — Aging 1-B’s Holiday Meals on Wheels program. Adrian the Italian family restaurant and fast-casual ambience. Tonon, co-owner of RisWith reasonable prices, torante Café Cortina, also supported the program by food quality traditionally associated with casual dindelivering Holiday Meals on ing, freshness you can see Wheels on Thanksgiving Day and taste, and quick servto frail, homebound older ice, they’ve got something adults in Farmington Hills. for everyone! Ristorante Café Thank you to Ristorante Cortina, located at Café Cortina and Gino’s 30715 W. 10 Mile Road in Italian Restaurant and PizzeFarmington Hills, has ria for supporting this earned the reputation as the Adrian Tonon, co-owner of Ristorante Café Cortina in Farmington Hills, delivers a holiday meal to Archie McCants. worthwhile cause. Holiday “best-kept secret” in metroMeals on Wheels are delivpolitan Detroit. Its warm, intiAmong the restaurant’s many disered to frail, older adults in need over mate atmosphere and consistently tinctions, Café Cortina was named the holiday seasons, including Thanksexcellent presentation of northern ItalRestaurant of the Year in 2003 by Hour ian regional cooking have been praised giving, Hanukkah, Christmas Day, New Detroit magazine and has also received by both local and national media. Year’s Day, Easter and Passover.
Help is a Phone Call Away The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is the first resource for older adults, caregivers and persons with disabilities to call when looking to resolve problems or locate the resources they need to improve the quality of their life. When individuals call the toll-free Information and Assistance (I&A) service at 1-800-852-7795, they speak with a certified Information and Referral Specialist to determine what their needs are and the services and assistance available to address those needs. Once the needs are determined, the specialist accesses the I&A database of over 2,000 community agencies and mails the individual a complete listing of relevant services and providers in their local community. Call us. We can help.
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1-800-852-7795
Michigan Generations
Agencies Conduct Study on Housing for Deaf
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ichigan has very few options for the deaf senior population, particularly as these seniors age and lose the ability to independently perform routine acts such as cooking, showering and other personal grooming. At the request of older adults from the deaf community, a small work group called the Deaf Senior Housing Coalition, consisting of local organizations and deaf older adults, has started to explore the feasibility of developing housing to meet the needs of the aging deaf community. Organizations involved are the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, Deaf & Hearing Impaired Services and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. Key findings from a survey conducted among the deaf senior community by this work group include: • 95 percent expressed an interest in living in a senior housing development for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
• 60 percent indicated that they would move over 60 miles to relocate to such a development, with more than one indicating that they would move any distance.
can best be served if they are provided in one facility. Language barriers also prevent many deaf seniors from moving into current senior facilities. Older adults with small amounts of hearing loss find themselves isolated A small work group called the Deaf Senior from other Housing Coalition, consisting of local organizaseniors. Living in a community tions and deaf older adults, has started to with other deaf explore the feasibility of developing housing to seniors would meet the needs of the aging deaf community. give them relief from social isolation and would provide them with a • Only 11 percent responded negatively to a northern Oakland supportive, mentally stimulating atmosCounty location for a deaf senior phere. housing development. If you are interested in reading the Overall, the deaf population is willing complete study “Housing Needs of Deaf to move into deaf housing when they and Hard of Hearing Older Adults in find themselves in need of more supSoutheast Michigan,” please call the Area portive services. Deaf seniors have speAgency on Aging 1-B at 1-800-852-7795 cialized needs, such as flashing doorbells and a copy can be mailed to you. and fire alarms. These specialized needs
Region 2 Area Agency on Aging Serving Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties
Meal Site Contest Boosts Congregate Programs
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t is a challenge to keep attendance up at senior meal sites and also to attract new seniors to join in. Region 2 decided to start a contest with cash prizes to provide an incentive to staff and meal participants to promote the congregate meal programs in our area. The contest began on June 1 and continued through December. The focus was on a consistent increase in the number of participants attending meal sites on a regular basis. In each category a first, second and third place prize was offered. Nutrition directors and activity planners were encouraged to try new menu ideas and to start new activities. Many of the meal site employees Winter 2006
used different informed everymethods to one of why they recruit new wanted to win. participants. One site wanted They made to win the posters, ran money to put ads in local toward an airSeniors in Region 2 enjoy congregate meal programs. newspapers, conditioning unit offered incentives to their regular for their senior center. attendees and increased programs. In Sometimes older adults do not parJackson County, employees developed a ticipate in congregate meal programs new name for their meal sites — “The because they are not aware the program Gathering Place” — with a logo of a exists or they do not feel welcome to steaming cup of coffee. The logo and attend. It’s important to talk about the comforting name have been well meal sites in the area we serve and tell received. Most of the senior centers seniors,“Come on in, we’re open.” posted the meal site contest For information, contact Ginny Woodannouncement in their entryways and Bailey at Region 2 AAA, 1-800-335-7881. 13
Kalamazoo Co. Health & Community Services Dept. Covering Kalamazoo County and its 24 municipalities
Region 3A
Care Management Program Offers Elders a Choice
T
he Region 3A AAA is pleased to directly offer care management as a program for persons 60 and over who qualify to receive long-term care in their own homes rather than in nursing homes. The goal of the program is to assist people to remain in their own homes with the help of family and community resources. A team consisting of a nurse and a social worker assesses a client’s health status, social needs and ability to function at home.They create with the client and family a plan of care to
meet identithere will be fied needs several quesand if tions about requested, activities like coordinate shopping, services bathing, cooking (such as and so on.Your personal responses to Left to right: Yvonne Steffler, program specialist; Anne Zemlick, program manager/nurse; Patti Nash, social worker. care, homethese questions making and will determine adult day care) from agencies and if you qualify for the program. There family and friends to meet the client’s is no income limit, though clients will needs. Clients are able to choose be asked to share in the cost of their own service providers. services on a sliding fee scale. Not When you call everyone who calls will be eligible, the Care Managebut the good news is that we can Caregiver Resource Center . . . . . . . . . . . 269-978-0085 ment Program at refer you to other community 3A AAA Information & Assistance. . . . . . . 269-373-5173 269-373-5141, resources for assistance.
Region IV Area Agency on Aging Covering Michigan’s Great Southwest including Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties
Custom Care for Families
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here are so many questions that arise when a family is faced with a caregiving situation: “Who will take care of me if I am no longer able to care for myself?” “How do I find help caring for my elderly parent?” “Can my grandparents continue to live in their own home?” These are just a few of the difficult questions that families encounter. Perhaps the most important question is: “Where do I start?” Region IV AAA has an answer. Care Connections of Southwest Michigan is a fee-for-service program provided through the AAA to assist families with customized care planning. Through a free telephone consultation, a qualified professional is available to speak with people about possible options for 14
options. After a customized care plan has been established, Care Connections can give the family the information their family. Care Connections can they need to manage their own care, assist with any of the following services: or a care manager can stay involved medication management, homelong-term and help the family to delivered meals, end-of-life planning, arrange and monitor care. In this home safety checks, errands/shopping, case, billing would be Care Connections can give a family the inforconsolidated mation they need to manage their own care. through Care Connections so that the family would get one itemchronic disease management (diabetes, ized bill per month. arthritis, heart disease, etc.), housekeepIf you live in or around Berrien, Cass ing, in-home/out-of-home care options, and Van Buren counties and would like to minor home repair, transportation explore available services, contact Care needs and more. Connections of Southwest Michigan If a family is interested in any of Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. these services, an in-home consultato 5:00 p.m. at 269-982-7746 or toll-free tion can be scheduled and someone at 1-800-442-2803, ext. 746. can come to the home to discuss Michigan Generations
ValleyArea Agency on Aging Serving Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee counties
VAAA Offers Cable Show for Seniors
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he Valley Area Agency on Aging (VAAA) is excited to announce the implementation of the Healthy Aging cable show. The show began with the idea of educating the community on senior issues, which, in turn, led VAAA to Flint Comcast Public Access. The intent of the Healthy Aging show is to give the community access to information, events and programs that are available through VAAA and other local agencies or organizations. Flint Comcast Public Access provides use of the studio and equipment free of charge to area residents who complete a series of training workshops. VAAA staff registered for workshops such as editing, graphics, directing and producing, which were conducted by the
Participating in the new Healthy Aging show are Kathryn Boles, Executive Director,VAAA; Laura Rahmaad, Director, GCCARD, Senior Nutrition Program; and Ann Batchelor, D ietician.
Comcast staff. Once the training had concluded, the agency was on its way to producing a cable show. Kathryn Boles, Executive Director of VAAA, is the host of the monthly Healthy Aging show.The first show aired in October 2005. Some of the
show’s topics have included: elder abuse, the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, and health and wellness topics such as nutrition and exercise. The Healthy Aging show is particularly beneficial to homebound seniors who can watch the show to keep aware of current issues and programs that are available in the community. In addition, tapes of the Healthy Aging show are sent to communities that do not have access to the Comcast cable network — such as the Lapeer Senior Center in Lapeer County and the Owosso Senior Center in Shiawassee County — for their viewing pleasure. For more information on services provided by the Valley Area Agency on Aging, call 810-239-7671 or toll-free 1-800-978-6275, or visit our website at www.valleyaaa.org.
Tri-County Office on Aging A consortium of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing
Labor of Love — Direct Care Worker Survey
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uring 2004 and 2005, a series of surveys was administered to long-term care direct care workers (DCWs) and their employers in Michigan’s Clinton, Eaton and Ingham tricounty area. The surveys were carried out through the funding and leadership of the Tri-County Office on Aging and initiated by the Tri-County Long Term Care Collaborative, a group of public and private agencies involved in various aspects of providing long-term care. Since its formation in 1999, the Collaborative has been interested in the growth and maintenance of a quality direct care workforce. The survey was designed to establish a baseline profile of the area workforce and to Winter 2006
identify potential areas for advocacy on behalf of the workforce, especially in the areas of recruitment, training and retention. The purpose of the project was to develop a local DCW profile, and to examine and compare the views of DCW employers and workers on recruitment, training and retention. The results contribute to a knowledge base for policy planning and advocacy. The survey was sent to 200 employers, including home health care agencies, adult foster care homes, nursing homes and homes for the aged, and there was a 29% response rate. A total of 2,897 surveys were mailed to DCWs, with 24% responding.
Employers reported that the most successful DCW retention strategies are flexible hours, competitive pay rates, paid training, regular pay raises, involvement in care planning and recognition events. They also feel that most DCWs need some, more or better training on most basic care topics. About half of the DCWs believe that they need no more job training, but nearly 45% said that they would like some, more or better training on various topics. Over 87% of workers said that they were satisfied with their DCW job, while only 5% were “very dissatisfied.” The complete survey can be found on TCOA’s website: www.tcoa.org. For general information, call the TriCounty Office on Aging at 517-887-1440 or toll-free at 1-800-405-9141. 15
Region VII Area Agency on Aging Serving Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties
Learning More About Caregiving
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aregiving is a relatively new word that describes family members assisting someone who is chronically ill or disabled and unable to care for him/herself. Within Region VII’s service
Tuscola County caregiver Wayne Ader assists his mother, Hildegard, with a craft project.
area, caregiver Wayne Ader assists his mother, Hildegard, who has dementia. Due to the wide use and demand for family caregivers, there are two national groups providing valuable information: the National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving. Tips for caregivers include: • Reward yourself with respite breaks often. Hildegard is picked up by the local Aging on Agency bus twice a week to attend adult day care, where she engages in many activities. • Watch out for signs of depression, and either seek professional help or attend local support chapters. Wayne views state and local groups as an extended family.
• When people offer to help, accept the offer. Hildegard receives Meals on Wheels on the days she’s at home. • Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition. Wayne is taking part in a university research project on dementia. • Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing and pulling, so exercise is important for keeping muscles strengthened. Wayne and Hildegard use home exercise equipment and walk together daily. Contact your local Division, Commission or Council on Aging to inquire about a caregiving workshop or conference planned for your area. For additional information, contact the Region VII Area Agency on Aging, 1615 S. Euclid Ave, Bay City, MI 48706, 1-800858-1637, or go to www.region7aaa.org.
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan Serving Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo and Osceola counties
“Enhance Fitness” Is the Goal for Seniors
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ouch potatoes willing to dust off their shoes and gradually increase their activity have found just the thing. Hard bodies need not apply. Enhance Fitness has come to Western Michigan with its focus on strength training, aerobics, stretching and balance. “This class is unique because it’s geared toward the over-60 crowd. You don’t have to be the super-athletic type to participate,” explains Barbara Nelson, contract coordinator at the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. “Seniors are the group that can get the most bang for their buck when it comes to exercise. Nothing does more to improve their health, emotional wellbeing and overall quality of life.” 16
Eva Cain (left) and Enhance Fitness participants.
Enhance Fitness is an hour-long class held three times a week for eight weeks. A certified instructor leads a routine designed to improve strength and endurance. Each participant goes through a fitness evaluation upon starting the class, and then three additional times throughout the year to
chart progress. Eva Cain, 77, of Lowell has already felt the benefits. “My arthritis was so bad that I had trouble getting dressed on my own. Now I have more flexibility to lift my arms,” she says. Enhance Fitness is part of an overall strategy at the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to emphasize the benefits of wellness. “These programs are so valuable because preventing health problems is much cheaper than treating them,” says Tom Czerwinski, director of the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan. Three senior centers in the Grand Rapids area and one in Mecosta County are offering the classes for a nominal cost. To learn more, call AAAWM at 1-888456-5664, Senior Neighbors at 616-4596019 or the Mecosta County Commission on Aging at 231-972-2884. Michigan Generations
NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging Covering 12 counties of Northeast Michigan
Taking Steps Toward a Healthier Lifestyle
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he federal government unveiled a makeover of the well-known Food Guide Pyramid icon that emphasizes eating a variety of food and underscores the importance of physical activity. In response to those changes, the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging updated their standards for congregate meals, creating healthier meal offerings for senior center participants. A condensed version of the standards includes no less than two to three ounces of meat or a meat alternative (i.e., peanut butter, cottage cheese or eggs). Two half-cup servings from the vegetable group are required, as is one half-cup serving of fruit. The bread group requires two servings of bread, rice, pasta or cereal. One
half-pint of milk should be offered for the dairy requirement. Desserts are optional. In addition to the above meal pattern, menus should also meet the following: • Provide at a minimum 331⁄3 percent of the recommended dietary allowances. • Contain no more than 1200 mg of sodium per meal. • Limit fat to no more than 30 percent of total daily calories. • Three meal choices out of the
five-day week should be high in fiber. Anyone eating on the run or at restaurants has probably noticed that food portions have grown in size and provide enough food for at least two people. These supersize meals increase waistlines and body weight. The senior centers provide healthy meals as well as a good dose of fellowship — all you add is the physical activity. You’ll be on your way to a healthier you! For more information, contact the AAA office at 989-356-3474.
Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan Offering information and funding senior services in the 10-county area of Northwest Lower Michigan
Creativity is Key to Meeting Needs
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ust north and west of Charlevoix and Emmet counties, out in Lake Michigan, you’ll find a unique and rapidly growing retirement community on beautiful Beaver Island. Year-round residents age 60 or older comprise between 38 and 40% of the total island population. The Charlevoix County Commission on Aging (COA) has been working with residents for the past six years to meet an increasing demand for services. Town meetings and senior health fairs have educated residents on the Beaver Island residents meet with COA staff at an Island restaurant to offer suggestions for senior services.
possibilities of assistance. Historically, islanders have been hesitant to ask for help. That attitude is now changing. The COA hired a staff liaison several years ago to serve seniors and assist them in accessing services. County Commissioner Shirley Roloff visits the island regularly and encourages seniors to ask for support from the COA. As seniors’ demands increase, the COA is coming up with creative ways to meet their requests. Since 2000, the COA has been pro-
viding “Wing Waves” — frozen Meals on Wheels supplied weekly from the mainland via plane. Now the trend is moving toward providing hot meals prepared on the island. Also, because there isn’t a senior center on the island, Dining Out vouchers have been offered for breakfast or lunch plus socializing at a local restaurant. The COA recently hired two registered nurses on Beaver Island to do assessments as well as a Certified Equivalent Nurse’s Assistant (CENA) to provide personal care, homemaking and respite services. Seniors can also access other supportive services through the COA, such as lawn care and snow removal. To learn more about how the COA serves remote areas, contact Director Susan Bergmann at 231-237-0103. 17
Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging Serving all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
2-1-1 System for U.P. Seniors!
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PCAP now is offering seniors a 2-1-1 Information and Assistance call system.The new program launched on January 1, 2006. 2-1-1 works on the same concept as the emergency 9-1-1 call system, except it is not intended to be an emergency system. 2-1-1 is a free-tothe-user number that links the caller with a specialist who can assess the caller’s needs and provide them with on-the-spot information and links to a vast array of services and service provider agencies to meet the caller’s needs. This is accomplished through a comprehensive database that includes federal, state, and local government and nonprofit resources. 2-1-1 is the next wave in service communication, with call centers
2-1-1 specialist.
operating or in development across Michigan and the nation. The 2-1-1 program in the Upper Peninsula is a partnership between UPCAP, DIAL Help and the United Way. 2-1-1 is designed to ensure that the caller gets the services needed with the fewest possible calls, while freeing
up provider agencies to focus on providing their core services. The 2-1-1 database contains information pertaining to five primary areas. These include: basic human needs, such as food banks, clothing, shelters and utility assistance; physical and mental health resources, such as health care, crisis intervention and support groups; work supports such as job training, financial assistance and education; older Americans and people with disabilities, with services such as adult day care, home health and help, and Meals on Wheels; and family services, such as child care, afterschool programs and protective services. For more information on the 2-1-1 system or related to any senior issues or programs, call UPCAP’s Senior Help Line at 1-800-338-7227.
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Visiting Physicians
Nine communities throughout West Michigan offering Residential & Assisted Living, Alzheimer's/Dementia Care, Skilled Nursing and Affordable Housing. Porter Hills Services provides Home Health Care, Private Duty and Rehabilitation. To learn more, visit www.porterhills.org or call 616-949-4975.
Providing compassionate, high-quality medical care in the home. We serve communities across Michigan, Ohio, Chicago, Atlanta and Milwaukee. Services are covered by Medicare and most other insurances. Call 1-877-HOUSE-CALL or visit www.visitingphysicians.com.
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18
Michigan Generations
Tool
Online
Using Medicare’s
Here is a step-by-step look at how to navigate Medicare’s online tool to find the prescription drug plans that are best for you.
1. 2. 3.
Go to www.medicare.gov
On the home page, click on
“Compare Medicare
Prescription Drug Plans.”
You will be taken to a welcome page that explains some of the basics of the new plan. Scroll down to the title “Where would you like to begin?” and click on “Find a Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan.”
The next page will give you two choices: A. Personalized Plan Search and B. General Plan Search, which you can do without entering any personal information. The site recommends that you complete the Personalized Plan Search before enrolling in a prescription drug plan.
4.
To do the Personalized Plan Search, you will need to enter some personal information, including: your Medicare claim number (located on your Medicare card), your last name, your date of birth, the effective date for Medicare Part A or Part B and your zip code. Once you have entered this information, click on “Search Plans.”
5.
The top of the next screen allows you to A. Review your current plan. It may tell you, for example, that you are currently enrolled in the Original Medicare Plan and that their records show you do not yet have prescription drug coverage. The bottom of the page allows you to B. Decide on your plan options. This section outlines your choices between a stand-alone plan with the Original Medicare Plan or drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan. There are links to take you to sites to get more information if you have a Medigap policy, if you have coverage through a former employer and if limited income makes you eligible for Extra Help. At the bottom of this section, click on “Choose a
6.
Drug Plan Type.”
Prescription Drug Plans.”
At the top of the next page, you can A. Enter Your Drugs by Name. When you have entered a drug, click on “Search for Drug.” After you enter a drug, it will appear in section B. Review Your Drug List at the bottom of the page. (Note: Just under the box labeled B, which now contains the drug name you entered, there is a small box with a check in it next to the phrase “Use lower cost generic drugs when available.” You need to uncheck that box if you want to search only for brand-name drugs.) Scroll back up to enter another drug and click on “Search for Drug.” When you have entered all of your medications, click on “Continue With Selected Drugs.”
9.
When you click on “Continue With Selected Drugs,” this activates C. Choose How You Want to View Your Plans. You can click on either “Yes: Choose My Drug Dosage” or “No: Continue with Common Dosage.” Assuming you want the former, click on “Yes: Choose My Drug Dosage.”
10.
The top of the next page allows you to A. Update Your Drug Dosages. For each drug, you can scroll up or down to different dosages. You can also enter how many pills you take in a 30-day period. When you are finished, click “Update
11.
Dosage/Quantity.”
This page once again reviews your current Medicare status under section A. Then you will need to choose either B. Medicare Advantage Plans that include drug coverage or C. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, which are stand-alone plans. Assuming you are interested in C, click on “Search for Medicare
7.
The next screen tells you how many plans are available in your area. Then you can choose either B. Enter Your Medications or C. Limit Your Drug Plans, which allows you to indicate the maximum premium and deductible you would like to pay, or specify if you want mail order availability or want to search by a particular company name. If you would like to personalize your search, choose B and click on “Enter My Medications.”
8.
The screen will refresh with your updated dosages. Now scroll down to B. Choose How You Want to View Your Plans, which asks you if you would like to add more drugs. You can click on either “Yes, Add More Drugs” or “No, Continue With Selected Drugs.” Assuming you have entered all your drugs already, click “No,
12.
Continue with Selected Drugs.”
Using Medicare’s Online Tool Continues on next page
Using Medicare’s Online Tool Continued from page 19 Once you click that, the page will be refreshed and you will be asked if you want to get your drugs at a particular pharmacy, or if you would like the tool to find the least expensive plans in your area. If the price is more important to you than the particular pharmacy where you will have your prescriptions filled, click “No, Continue to Plan List.”
13.
If you return to your Personalized Plan List page, you can scroll down and change your pharmacy preference. So if you chose not to enter a specific pharmacy before, you can click on “Change Pharmacy Selection.” You will be taken to a page that allows you to A. Select Up to Three Pharmacies from a list of all the pharmacies within a certain radius of your zip code. Or you can scroll down to B. Find Other/More Pharmacies. Assuming you select three from the list of those closest to your home, click on “Continue With Selected Pharmacies.” You will be taken to a page that lists the drug plans that use your selected pharmacies, again ranked by total annual cost.
16.
17.
You also have the option on your Personalized Plan List to change your medications or your dosages.
If you find a plan you would like to enroll in, click its “Enroll” button. It will take you to an enrollment form, some of which will already be filled in with your personal information. You will be given the option of whether or not you want your monthly premiums deducted from your Social Security check. And you will be asked a number of other questions, such as “Do you have other drug coverage?” and “Are you a resident of a long-term care facility?” Once you have completed the form, click “Continue.”
18.
You will be taken to a Plan Comparison page, which shows the prescription drug plans that meet your needs. They are ranked by total annual cost, beginning with the least expensive. Five plans are shown per page, so you may have several pages of results. For each plan, you are given the plan name, the estimated total out-of-pocket cost for the year, whether or not mail order is available, the number of pharmacies available and a breakout of deductible, monthly premium and monthly cost share. You can click on an individual plan to get more details about that plan. You can also click on “Enroll” if you have made up your mind.
14.
19.
You will be taken to a page to review all the information you just entered. Click “Continue.”
The next page tells you that if you are a member of a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may already have drug coverage. It also tells you if you have health insurance through an employer or union, joining a drug plan could affect your coverage. Click
20.
“I Understand and Continue.”
By scrolling down the page, you have other options. You can 15. click on “Compare Up to 3 Plans.” To do this, click on the small box to the left of each plan name, choosing the three you want to compare. When you click on the Compare button, those three plans will be listed side-by-side, so at a glance you can compare: their total annual cost, premiums, deductibles, the monthly cost of each of your drugs, the number of pharmacies in their network (with a link you can click on to get a list of the names of those pharmacies) and whether it offers a mail order option or not. Each plan offers you the option to “Enroll in This Plan,” or you can return to the Personalized Plan List.
21.
On the next page, click a box to signal that you agree to the conditions of the plan. Then click “Agree/Continue.”
You will be asked if you want to enroll in this plan. If you do, click “Enroll” and you will be enrolled. You will be taken to a confirmation page, which you can print out and keep for your records.
22.