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Generations Michigan

Summer 2007

Ending the

J WITH

ourney of Life

Grace Hospice helps patients live their remaining days with comfort and dignity.

Also in This Issue: ■ Ask the expert About 2‑1‑1 ■ Caregiving news & notes Published quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging

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Welcome to Michigan Generations Michigan is divided into 16 AAAs, each serving a different part of the state.

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They are:

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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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3C

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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

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 8 of this issue.  MI

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Generations Michigan

SUMMER 2007  Published quarterly through a cooperative effort of Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging.

For information contact: Jenny Jarvis 248-262-9202 jjarvis@aaa1b.com

Editorial Project Development: JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA Design and Production: Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA Michigan Generations is a

On the Cover: Hospice — a system of care for   terminally ill individuals and their families — offers support and comfort, as well as enhancing quality of life. It’s an option more and more patients are choosing. Here’s how it works and how to enroll in a program. See story, page 4.

Summer 2007, Volume 4, #5 © 2007 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.

map photography courtesy travel michigan

AAAs —‑Gateways to Community Resources

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 top proDuCtS to hElp With

Daily Living I

f you are caregiving for someone who has  joint limitations, decreased strength or  loss of the use of one extremity, you should  check out the wide variety of adaptive equipment that’s on the market. Here are some top  choices: 1.  ElAStiC ShoElACES — turns tie shoes into  slip-ons. 2.  ButtonhooK or ZippEr pull — make fastening clothes much easier. Inserted through  the buttonhole, the hook grabs the button and  pulls it back through. Good for people with  arthritis. 3.  SoCK AiDE — helps to put on socks without  bending over. Great for persons recovering  from hip replacment surgery. 4.  rEAChEr — grabs hard-to-reach items. Also  good for individuals with limited strength. 5.  roCKEr KniFE — stabilizes and cuts food.  For one-handed use, decreased coordination  or weakness. Also don’t forget bed rails, grab bars and  raised toilet seats, all of which will make life  easier for your loved one.

TUB

TAKING EXTRA CARE IN THE

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or many older adults, the tub can be a dangerous place — especially for seniors who live alone. Falling while getting in and out of the tub can lead to fractured bones and possibly disability. A study of seniors age 80 and older revealed that even when their bathrooms were equipped with safety devices, one-third had trouble getting into and out of the tub or shower. One of the biggest problems was using a slidingglass door for support. Also, many participants reported putting a towel on the floor — which can be a major slip hazard. There are many easy ways to make a bathroom safer: ■ Switch out a sliding-glass door for a shower curtain and install a handrail or grab bar for support. ■ Purchase a seat with rubber tips on the legs and a solid back. ■ Install non-skid surfaces inside the tub and on the bathroom floor. ■ Use a bathtub transfer bench. Two legs sit outside of the tub and two are in. The person sits down and slides in without needing to step over the wall of the tub. Summer 2007

When to Head for an ER

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eciding whether or not to go to the emergency room is a difficult decision. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, you probably are, experts say. Get to an ER fast if you or a loved one has severe physical trauma, sudden chest pain, serious blood loss, a possible broken bone, a sudden inability to use a limb, loss of vision, difficulty speaking or an “explosive” headache. Conditions that rarely warrant emergency care include mild respiratory infections, minor aches and sprains, scraps and bruises and prescription refills. Keep in mind, your insurer may not pay if the problem isn’t a true emergency.

Watch Out for I

Drug Mix-ups

f you sometimes are confused by drug names that sound  alike, you are not alone. Up to 25 percent of the reported  medication errors are caused by confusing similar drug names.  Such potentially dangerous mix-ups can also be caused by  poor physician penmanship and poor pronunciation when  phoning in drug orders. How to protect yourself? •  When your doctor prescribes a drug, ask him or her to  print the name and dosage for you. If it’s a brand-name drug,  make a note of the generic drug as well. •  Ask your doctors to briefly note the drug’s purpose on the  prescription form. This will serve as an extra checking point  for your pharmacist. •  Don’t leave the pharmacy until you examine the label on  your prescription. If something doesn’t make sense or if a refill  seems different from the previous medication, then doublecheck with the pharmacist.

Surfing the net Each issue of Michigan Generations offers several websites of interest to older adults and their caregivers … right at your fingertips. www.sharecancersupport.org offers survivor-led support for women affected by breast or ovarian cancer. Offers hotlines in English and Spanish, with capacity in 12 other languages. www.walking.org has lots of general advice on walking, plus nutrition tips and a page devoted to over-50 runners. Look for more helpful websites in the next issue of Michigan Generations. 3


Your loved one’s final days can be a beautiful experience.

Ending the

J

ourney of Life

WITH

Grace

By Martha Nolan McKenzie

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arianne Emberton was determined to honor her husband’s wish  to die in his own home, but it was getting harder and harder. Audie Emberton, 75,  suffered from Alzheimer’s and was dependent on help to do  everything but eat. Marianne, 70 and a heart patient, had a  hard time providing all the care he needed, and the stress of  trying landed her in the hospital for five days. “I was totally  unsure of my role as a caregiver and I felt just beside myself,”  says Marianne. “I didn’t think I could get through it.”  Then she called hospice. The hospice team came into  their home in Jerome and gave her the support, skills and  education she needed to be the kind of caregiver she wanted  to be. They provided respite care so Marianne could get a  much-needed break. The hospice minister counseled her and  helped restore her lost faith.  Though watching her husband of 55 years slip away from  her is one of the hardest things she has ever had to do, Marianne now knows she will be able to get through it. “With hospice, it’s been a beautiful experience, and when the time comes,  I’ll be able to let go,” she says. “I know hospice will be right  there with me and they’ll get me through it. I am going to be a  stronger person for having had this experience with hospice.” 4

What is hospice?  Despite testimonials such as Marianne’s, many people  harbor misconceptions about hospice and what it can offer.  “Some people think that hospice is for the very end of life  — literally the last few days of life,” says Becky Matthews,  hospice director for Great Lakes Home Health & Hospice in  Jackson. “Or they think it’s only for cancer patients. Other  people think it’s about giving up, and that perhaps we are  going to give them medications that will speed up the process. None of those things are true.”  What is true is that hospice is a way of caring for terminally ill individuals and their loved ones that focuses on  palliative care, which is treatment that enhances comfort  and quality of life. To enter hospice, the patient must be terminally ill with a life expectance of six months or less, and  he must have decided to stop pursuing curative care, such  as chemotherapy and dialysis. But it is definitely not a form  of giving up. Rather, hospice supports the entire family so a  loved one’s final days can be lived how he wishes.   Hospice is not a place, it’s a system of care. Although the  lion’s share of that care is provided in the home, hospice can  also provide services in a nursing home, an assisted living  facility, a hospice home or wherever the patient is living. No  Michigan Generations


matter where the care is provided, the goal is the same. “We  for the patient. It provides physical, emotional and spiritual  basically focus on two things — keeping the patient comfortcare for the patient and the family.” able and pain-free and helping the patient and family live the   Hospice physicians and nurses primarily concentrate  remaining days to their fullest,” says Matthews. “We are very,  on controlling symptoms and pain — a skill at which they  very successful managing pain and symptoms at home. We  have become extremely successful. Hospice nurses and social  also let everyone know what to expect. If you talk to a patient  workers act as both educators and counselors to help prepare  about the end of life, most are not afraid of being dead. They  the patient and family for the end of life. They explain the  are afraid of the dying process — is it going to hurt, will it be  disease, its likely progression and the physical process of  a struggle to breathe? It’s our job to make sure none of those  dying. They teach the family how to provide the care that  things happen. We also educate the family, which takes away  the patient needs, and, if necessary, help them talk through  a lot of the fear and gives them some peace of mind knowing  any issues that need to be resolved.  they are doing everything they can to make sure their loved   Hospice home health aides offer help with tasks of daily  one has dignity and comfort at the end of life.” living, such as bathing, dressing, light housework and errands.   Hospice is an option more and more patients are choosChaplains and pastoral counselors tend to the patient’s and  ing. There are more than 4,000 hospice programs across  family’s spiritual needs. Bereavement counselors help guide  the country, serving more than one million Americans each  families through the grieving process, maintaining contact  year. In Michigan, there are 86 licensed hospice providers  with the family for a year after the patient’s death. They concaring for about 40,000 patients. However, that number falls  nect the family with support groups, remain available to counfar short of the number of people who could benefit from  sel and listen and call occasionally just to check up. “The idea  hospice. Indeed, most Americans, if faced with a terminal  behind this system is that you get families through all the first  illness, would choose to be cared for and die in their homes  anniversaries — the first Christmas without their loved one,  surrounded by family and friends. In  reality, only about 25 percent do. About  57 percent die in a hospital and 17 perhether the hospice patient is in cent die in a nursing home, according  to a report by the Institute of Medicine. his home or in a hospice house, the  There are many reasons hospice  atmosphere is calm, loving and supportive. is underutilized. Many people haven’t  heard of hospice — it’s only been around  since 1974 — or don’t understand what it offers. Families may  first birthday, the first Father’s Day,” says O’Connor. “But we  be reluctant to call hospice because they see it as giving up on  will stay in touch longer if family requests it.” their loved one. And physicians sometimes see referring hos A big part of the hospice team is volunteers. Indeed,  pice as a failure in their ability to heal the patient.  hospice is the only health care provider that is required   That’s a tragedy, say hospice experts, because hospice can  under Medicare provisions to use volunteers, and there are  offer the dying and their families so much. Jan Price is an  6,500 hospice volunteers in Michigan alone. Volunteers can  ICU nurse and a hospice volunteer in Traverse City, so she has  act as friendly visitors, chatting with and listening to the  seen death from both angles. “We do try to make it as pleasant  patient and family. They can also provide respite for a careand comfortable in the ICU as possible, but it’s still a hospital  giver who needs a short break.  room, which is a foreign, scary place for most people,” says   Many volunteers are family members of former hospice  Price. “But with hospice, whether the patient is in his own  patients. Others wish they had been. When Barbara Stoy, at  home or in a hospice house, the atmosphere is so calm and  age 17, lost her mother to cancer, there was no hospice. Today,  loving and supportive. There is no hospital routine, no painful  Stoy, waiver services manager, Region 2 Area Agency on Aging  procedures. Instead, the patients really get to live until they  (AAA), volunteers so that others can receive the benefit her  die, and then it’s more like a birthing into their next life. With  mother didn’t. “Many times the family or the patient just needs  hospice, the end of life is really a time of grace.”  to talk, and I’m there to listen,” says Stoy. “I consider it a privilege to be able to do it.”  But perhaps the most critical member of the hospice team  How does hospice work? is the family. A big part of what hospice gives families is the  To enter hospice, the patient’s physician must sign an  education, training and resources they need to care for their  order stating that, at that time and in his best judgment, the  loved ones — and to talk openly with them of fears and conpatient has six months or less to live. Once that referral is  cerns. Hospice empowers families through teaching and supmade, a hospice nurse visits the patient and family to assess  port at a time when they may feel helpless and overwhelmed.  what is needed.   The day Phyllis Tippman moved her mother from a   “Hospice care is provided by an entire team,” says Diane  nursing home into her Alpena residence to care for her durO’Connor, admission nurse for Hospice of the Sunrise Shore  ing her final days, a hospice worker brought over a wheel  in Alpena. “On that team are nurses, social workers, home  chair and other medical equipment. Later, hospice provided  health aides, volunteers, chaplains and physicians. It takes a  a hospital bed and an oxygen machine. “When she was in  team because hospice does more than provide physical care  the nursing home, she wanted to go back to her own home

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so badly,” says Tippman, 60. “Although she couldn’t do that,  hospice made it possible for her to come home with me.  They explained exactly what was going to happen to my  mother, and that made the whole thing less scary. They took  such good care of her. She passed peacefully in my home in  March. She was 95.”  The majority of hospice care — some 90 percent — is  provided in the home. However, some patients receive services in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Others  reside in a hospice house. Michigan currently has 12 hospice  houses, but within the next year, that state will have 26.

“We’ve always had big family dinners, and it was very  important for us to continue to do that,” continues Goodrich.  “We’d have 16 to 20 people in the family dining room at  the hospice house for dinners. My father wasn’t able to join  us, but he knew we were all there. We were able to honor  his request to be comfortable and peaceful in the end of his  journey.” In Bay City, a newly remodeled Brian’s House has become  the first inpatient hospice facility — as opposed to residential  hospice facility — in the area. “Basically, that means we can  care for higher acuity patients,” says Debra Warren, manager  of Brian’s House. That’s because, as a  state-licensed inpatient facility, Brian’s  House is staffed with RNs (registered  ospice is part of the Medicare nurses) around the clock, while residenbenefit. Medicaid and most private tial hospices are only required to have  LPNs (licensed practical nurses). insurance policies cover hospice care.  As a result, Brian’s House can take  patients who might otherwise have had  “There is a big demand and it is a rapidly growing trend,”  to stay in a hospital setting. “For example, IV pain medicasays Jeff Towns, president of the Michigan Hospice and Paltion has to be administered by a RN — a LPN cannot do it,”  liative Care Organization in Lansing.  says Warren. “So we can accept a patient on IV medications   The Hospice House in Cheboygan is typical in its amewhile a residential facility likely could not.” nities but unusual in its origins. Opening in 1995, it was the  first rural hospice house built in the U.S., and it was funded  Who pays for hospice? by the community. The family of a former hospice patient  donated money to have the facility built. Another individual  Though many people don’t realize it, hospice is part of  donated the land. And the community raised over a half  the Medicare benefit. So if you have Medicare Part A, then  million dollars to get the program started. “I would say the  you are covered for hospice care. In addition, Medicaid,  average salary in this area is between $30,000 and $35,000 a  most private insurance policies and managed care plans  year, so that was a lot of money for them to raise,” says Laura  cover hospice care. And even if a patient lacks any type of  Daniel, director of hospice at Hospice of the Straits in Checoverage, most hospices will not turn a patient away. boygan, which operates the house.   Hospice also covers expenses that in other circumstances   The Cheboygan Hospice House itself, like other hospice  might be out of pocket. “Hospice pays for all medications  facilities, is designed to be as home-like as possible. The  that are directly related to the illness and any equipment the  small white house has eight private bedrooms, each with  patient might need,” says Matthews. “That includes walkers,  a private bathroom and private deck that looks out onto  wheelchairs, hospital beds and oxygen machines. Hospice  trees and greenery. All medical equipment is hidden within  will provide all of these things at no cost.” attractive cabinetry, and patients are encouraged to bring   And hospice will continue to provide its services even if  photos, knickknacks and other things from home to personthe patient out-lives the six-month prognosis. If that occurs,  alize it as much as possible. There is a family dining room  the patient can be recertified as terminally ill every 60 days  for congregating. And there are no visiting hours. Families,  for an unlimited time. Indeed, it’s not unheard of for patients  friends and even pets are welcome at any time. All meals  to improve once they enter hospice. Once their pain is effecare home-cooked by volunteers, who will take requests. “We  tively managed and other symptoms controlled, they can get  recently had a man who said he wanted to have some of his  needed rest and sometimes recuperate a bit. Wendy Helmka  buddies in for pizza, beer and a card game before he died,”  witnessed this kind of rebound first hand. Though not a hossays Daniel. “We arranged that. This is a beautiful place. It’s  pice volunteer, the Cedar woman began spending time visitnot a place to go and die, it’s a place to go and live. It allows  ing the father of one of her best friends in 2004, when he  the family to be the family again, and not the caregiver.” entered hospice. “Two months later he flunked out of hospice   Indeed, when Judy Goodrich decided to take her father out  because he was feeling so much better he started going out  of the nursing home for his final days, she took him to Munson  to lunch with me,” says Helmka. “He went back to hospice in  Hospice House instead of her own home. “We didn’t want him  late 2005, when the cancer got worse, and he died in August,  to die in a nursing home, but I didn’t want to bring him to my  2006, without any pain and surrounded by his loved ones.” home either,” says Goodrich, volunteer supervisor for Munson  Hospice and Palliative Care in Traverse City. “I wanted to  How do i access hospice? spend what time we had left being his daughter, not his caregiver, I knew my father would get individualized attention,  In order for a patient to be eligible for hospice, he (or the  hand-holding and comfort at the hospice house, and he did. family) must decide to forgo curative treatment, and a physi-

H

6

Michigan Generations


cian must certify him as terminally ill with a life expectancy  of six months or less. It doesn’t matter how old the patient is.  It doesn’t matter what disease he has.   Getting the certification is sometimes the hard part,  because the physician may be reluctant to deliver that prognosis. “Death is a normal course of things, but we as physicians see death as a failure,” says Dr. Matt Rosenberg, a  family physician and medical director for Great Lakes Home  Health and Hospice. “You know this patient. You’ve worked  with him for years. You always think, ‘If I were better or  smarter, I could pull something out of my hat and save him.’  Sometimes it’s hard for physicians to come to grips with the  fact that there is nothing more we can do medically, and it  may be time to stop pursing curative care.”  If it’s hard for physicians to face the decision to call hospice, just imagine the difficulty for families. “It’s very hard  for families to hear that it may be time to call hospice,” says  Stoy. “There is an immediate wall that goes up. It’s facing  the end. Yet when hospice is called in, there is tremendous  comfort and support emotionally and physically that both the  family and patient will benefit from.”  It often falls to the AAAs to refer families to hospice services. “Many times we have worked with a client for years,”  says Gerilyn Powers, regional supervisor for the AAA 1-B  in Monroe County. “We are often the ones to see a decline  in their condition. And since we’ve been involved with the  families to keep the patient in the home, it is sometimes  easier for us to introduce the idea. We’ve already established  a bond with the family and sometimes that makes it easier to  listen to us when we recommend hospice.”  Even with the help of the AAAs, patients too often get  to hospice with only a few days to live. Indeed, the median

length of stay in hospice was 26 days in 2005 according to  the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Many  patients enter with only a few days to live.  That’s a loss, say hospice experts. “When we come in  at the last minute, we are in a crisis mode,” says Matthews.  “We can provide the patient with equipment and pain medication. But we don’t get to build a relationship with the  patient and family. We don’t get to educate them about the  process that lies ahead. We don’t get to help them live their  last days to the fullest.”  And those last days can, indeed, be full. Bill Kenyon  served as a hospice volunteer for 20 years before he became  president of Hospice of Lenawee in Adrian. “If you’ve ever  read ‘Tuesdays with Morrie,’ that’s what we experience with  hospice on a daily basis,” says Kenyon, referring to the book  by Mitch Albom recounting the time he spent with a favorite professor who was dying. “With hospice, death becomes  a very peaceful transition, and it can be a really enriching  experience.”  Kenyon recalls the first patient he served as a volunteer.  The man was dying of cancer and his young son came home  from the military to care for him. With the help of hospice,  the son cared for his father for three weeks before his father  passed away. “The son told me that he thought the Marines  had turned him into a man,” recalls Kenyon. “But he said he  was wrong. Taking care of his father was what really turned  him into a man. He told me he was so glad he was able to have  that experience. Separately, the father told me before he passed  on that he felt closer to his son during the past few weeks than  he had at any time in the previous 22 years. He had a sense  of completion and satisfaction. Hospice made the end of life a  positive, rewarding experience for both of them.”  MIG

Remembrance Bears Hold Memories of loved ones

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wo months after her father passed away, Paulette Sharp was sitting in her car holding a bag that contained a photo of her father and one of his T-shirts. She was trying to get up her courage to go into a unique bereavement program that Hospice of Sunrise Shore was just starting up. “I just sat in the parking lot for the longest time,” recalls Sharp. “I finally did go in, but when I took his shirt out of the bag, I just cried and cried.” Sharp was going to use the shirt to make a Remembrance Bear. Over the course of the next six weeks, she and the other participants talked with bereavement counselors as they stitched together memories of lost loved ones. The Bereavement Bear program was started by Debbie Oliva, bereavement coordinator for Hospice of Sunrise Shore in Alpena. About six years ago, Oliva began making bears out of a loved piece of clothing to give to surviving family members when she decided it might be better for them to do it themselves. “As I made the bears, I would think about the person who had died, the things they told me, the kind of person they were,” says Oliva. “I thought it would be very helpful for the family to do that also.”

Summer 2007

So two years ago Oliva started the bereavement program allowing survivors to make their own bears. She estimates about 600 bears have been made in the past six years. Many people bring in their loved one’s T-shirts or sweatshirts that have a phrase on them. Some have brought in fur coats or sweaters. One woman brought in her mother’s wedding dress and veil and fashioned her bear out of that. “It’s really what has the most meaning for them,” says Oliva. Sharp found making her bear very therapeutic. “I had a hard time making the first cut in the shirt,” says Sharp. “But I think making the bear helped me grieve. Now the bear sits in my living room on a bookshelf my Dad made. Every time I walk through the room I say ‘hi’ to it and talk to it a bit. It’s like there is a part of him still here with me.”

7


regionalNews In communities across the U.S.,

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Area Agencies on

Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA

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 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 3C Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC   4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging   5 Valley Area Agency on Aging

6 Tri-County Office Reg 1-C / The Senior Alliance, Inc. 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 9 10 Area Agency on  Aging of Northwest Michigan Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Reg 3-C / Branch-St. Joseph AAA 11 (IIIC) Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging 7 14 Senior Resources of West Michigan Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B

10 Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Services Dept. (Region 3)

8

Reg 2 / Reg 2

Reg 4 / Reg I

5

14 6 4Reg 5 / Valley AAA 3C

1A 1C Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging 1B

3A 3B 2

Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA

Reg 8 / AAA

S potlight O n …

Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging Serving all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

New Program to Assess Caregiver Needs

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he UPAAA, through its Care Management and MI Choice Waiver Program, the U.P. Long-Term Care Connection and several AAA service providers have committed to participating in a demonstration project being conducted by the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, designed to more adequately address the needs and concerns of caregivers. The project is called “UCARE” for Uniform Caregiver Assessment and Referral. UCARE is a uniform assessment and referral process developed to help care managers and other professionals link family caregivers with appropriate support and community services. The project recognizes

Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA

that caregiving involves a systematic process of identity change as individuals assume new roles, activities and responsibilities in caring for a relative.

This change process frequently creates periods of high stress for these new caregivers. The UCARE project employs

screening and assessment tools that determine Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI Regsources 11 / Upper Peninsula AAA and levels of caregiver stress and the need for support. UCARE incorporates processes to assist care managers and service-provider case coordinators in identifying specific community resources that will be both beneficial and acceptable to the caregiver and the care recipient. The project began with a comprehensive two-day training in June 2007. Case coordinators will begin working with consumers in October. Each partner will work with a minimum of six caregivers over the course of a full year. For more information about UCARE, call Mark Bomberg with the U.P. Long-Term Care Connection at 1-800-338-1119, or simply dial 2-1-1 from anywhere in the U.P. Michigan Generations

Reg 14 / Sen West Michig


Detroit Area Agency on Aging Serving Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes in Wayne County

Expanding Options for Long-Term Care

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hen 57-year-old Arthur Rucker of Detroit tended to his own foot care two years ago, he had no idea that a cut on one toe would lead to infection, a hospitalization and a 10-month nursing facility stay, during which time he lost his home. He knew he was living with diabetes, but he didn’t know how vulnerable he was to infection. On Medicaid and living in a nursing facility, Rucker was convinced he had no other living options. After all, he could only count on his modest Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But look at him now. “I’m in my own apartment,” says Rucker, who moved into Detroit’s Delray Senior Pavilion in May after participating in Nursing Facility Transition Services (NFTS) — a program funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health to give nursing facility residents a new, clear option for community-based care. In Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes, NFTS is administered by the Detroit Wayne County LongTerm Care Connection (DWCLTCC), a demonstration pilot site that streamlines access to long-term care services. Joyce Blair, program supervisor, coordinates the transition staff’s work to ensure that eligible nursing facility residents make a smooth, safe return to community living. Working with community partner agencies and the Detroit Area Agency on Aging as the local Medicaid Waiver agent, Blair and the NFTS team tackle assignments that most individuals and families would find overwhelming — obtaining housing and other assistance for program participants who have little or no resources. Summer 2007

This process begins when a DWCLTCC Options Counselor works with the discharge staff at a nursing facility to assess an individual’s needs. It’s a solid approach to identify the most appropriate and available options for that individual, and includes help in

Resident John VanLowe, a NFTS program participant, and leasing agent Norma Carlock at Detroit’s Heritage Place at Magnolia.

building a support network with family caregivers and service providers. The NFTS team helps with utility bill arrearages, moving services and acquisition of furniture, household goods and the first week of groceries. The team also arranges for other support services or equipment, obtains necessary personal documents, and assists with the completion of applications or other paperwork. Best of all, the program empowers participants to choose where they want to reside. “Our greatest challenge is finding housing for people with extremely limited means,” says Blair, “and finding those vacancies brings us the greatest satisfaction and gratification.” “Every placement is a success

story for us, too,” says Norma Carlock, leasReg 1-A / Detroit AAA ing agent with Heritage Place at Magnolia — a senior housing facility in southwest Detroit. “Individuals who have been in a nursing facility for years are excited about their moves, but it can be a tough transition for them to regain strength and confidence, and to handle the many responsibilities of daily living. We’re a Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human part of the team toServices continue providDept. (Region 3) ing them that help as well.” In collaboration with the NFTS program, property managers like Carlock are connected to the Detroit Area Agency on Aging to arrange home-delivered meals. And care managers and adult home-help providers are directed to the resources they Reg 5 / Valley AAA need to fulfill their responsibilities. In the end, everyone involved with the transition is filled with pure joy when they see the vibrancy and selfesteem that comes with a participant’s newfound independence and self-sufficiency. “Too many Michigan people are living in nursing facilities because Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA they have no other place to go,” says Earlene Traylor Neal, interim executive director, Detroit Wayne County Long-Term Care Connection. “With more community-based housing options, dollars in the state’s longterm care budget will ultimately go much further.” For information and assistance on long-term care options, including Nursing Facility Transition Services, contact: Detroit Wayne County Long-Term Care Connection 1-866-642-4582 or dial 2-1-1 Note: Targeted populations for the transition program are nursing facility residents of six months or longer who have the desire to live in the community and are Medicaid-eligible.

Reg 1-B / AAA

Reg 3-B / Burn

Reg 6 / Tri-Cou

Reg 10 / AAA


Area Agency on Aging 1-B Serving the counties of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw

Stress of Caregiving Can Take 10 Years Off Life Local events provide information to help relieve burden of caregiving

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aregiving is a national trend — a trend that is growing every day as our population ages and more individuals are living longer with chronic diseases. At least one in every four families in the United States is caring for an older loved one. Caregivers can be spouses, sons,

daughters, grandchildren, friends and other family members. According to a survey conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, the typical family caregiver is a 46-year-old woman caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her. The caregiver is married and employed. Approximately 60 percent of family caregivers are women, and 30 percent of family caregivers who care for seniors are themselves age 65 or over. Family caregivers who experience extreme stress have been shown to age prematurely. According to key researchers, this level of stress can take as much as 10 years off a family caregiver’s life. A diagnosis of dementia can be particularly stressful for a family. Studies have shown that stress from caring for a person 10

with dementia can impact a person’s immune system for up to three years after their caregiving ends, thus increasing their chances of developing a chronic illness themselves. The impact of caring for an older loved one or a person with disabilities should not be underestimated by the family. Many caregivers are not aware of community resources and services that could help relieve some of the caregiving stress and improve both their quality of life and the life of the person they are caring for. The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is hosting two free events that will benefit individuals who provide care for elderly or disabled family members or friends: the St. Clair County Caregiver Fair and

Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA

Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B

Save the Date St. Clair County Caregiver Fair Saturday, September 29, 2007; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thomas Edison Inn, 500 Thomas Edison Parkway, Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Port Huron, MI. Free admission. Services Dept. (Region 3)

re you passionate about a cause and want to oppose a bill that is being passed through the state legislature? Or do you want to increase the awareness of your local state legislator on areas that you believe are important, such as increased funding for senior programs or other key programs in the state? Keep in mind that members of the Michigan legislature are elected to be the spokespersons of their constituents. So, Michigan citizens must play an important role

Reg 3-C / Bra (IIIC)

8th Annual Solutions for Family Caregiver Expo Saturday, October 20, 2007; 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; The Diamond Center, Rock Financial Showplace, 41600 Grand River Avenue, Novi, MI 48374. Free admission and parking.

the Solutions for Family Caregiver Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging Expo. Each event includes expert presentations on a variety of topics, as well as exhibitors providing information on services available for seniors, caregivers and persons with disabilities. Guests will also enjoy free morning refreshments and the opportunity to win some wonderful door prizes. Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI For more information on either of these events, call the Area Agency on Aging 1-B at 1-800-852-7795. Reg 5 / Valley AAA

Make Your Voice Heard

A

Reg 1-C / The

in the lawmaking process by informing their representatives in the state legislature about their opinions on issues. There are three main ways to communicate with Michigan senators and representatives: by mail, by phone or in person. Here are a few tips on how to do each of these methods:

By Mail or Email Send the letter to their Lansing office and be sure to specify the Michigan Generations

Reg 7 / Reg V

Reg 11 / Uppe


name of the senator or representative whom the letter is addressed to. Include your full name and address, so office staff can confirm that you are a constituent of that elected official. Focus on a personal story and explain how you, your family, neighbors or community are affected by the issue you are bringing to their attention. Ask for a response to your letter. If you send an email, follow the guidelines for a letter, but don’t send an attachment, as most officials will not open these emails.

By Phone Don’t hesitate to use the telephone to communicate your concerns or to thank your elected official if they did something positive for your community. Phone numbers are provided to reach representatives in Lansing through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Be polite and concise when calling and again, use local examples during your telephone

conversation. If you do not speak directly with your legislative member, be sure to ask for a written response.

By Meeting with an Elected Official First, make an appointment through the legislator’s appointment secretary or scheduler. Explain what the purpose of the meeting will be. Be concise and again, share local stories and impact. Don’t forget to write or send an email thanking the legislator for his or her time. These suggestions will help to get you started toward advocating on any issue of importance to you, your family or your community. The Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) has a Senior Advocacy Network that individuals who are committed to following public policy issues impacting older adults can join. There is no cost to participate. For more information, contact the AAA 1-B at 1-800-852-7795.

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.

1-800-852-7795

Region 2 Area Agency on Aging Serving Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties

Tackle Diabetes Seminar

Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA

A

s part of our ongoing health and wellness promotions, Region 2 presented a diabetes seminar that focused on how to prevent and treat diabetes. The event was free to the public, and 113 people signed up for the session. Three speakers presented current topics on diabetes. Our guest speakers included Pam Rossman from Brown’s Advanced Care Pharmacy, who provided information on new insulin products, and nurses Kathy Knapp and Emily Lambright from S.O.D.O.N.*, who gave helpful ideas on how to live with diabetes as well as prevention guidelines. Along with our speakers, we also had vendors featuring their diabetic health care items or showcasing their Summer 2007

Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B

Reg 1-C / The Senior Alliance, Inc.

Reg 2 / Reg 2 AAA

diabetic treattive. Weeks after ment specialties. the event, phone Vendors who calls were comprovided display ing in requesting tables during another such Deborah Muhich from Brown’s Advanced Care the seminar program for other Pharmacy and Kris Godbold from Region 2 AAA. included Brown’s diabetics and their Advanced Care families. Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Reg 3-C / Branch-St. Joseph AAA Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA Services Dept. (Region 3) (IIIC) Pharmacy, Metron Health Care ProdA reporter from the local newspaucts, S.O.D.O.N., TLC Eye Care, VRI per provided media coverage of the (personal emergency response sysevent. The seminar featured a football tems) and our local Curves exercise theme, with the idea that it is poscenter. sible to “tackle” diabetes if you have a Participants who attended the game plan in place. Tackle Diabetes Seminar were able to For more information, contact get their questions answered by our Barbara Stoy at the Region 2 AAA, team of professionals Reg who work with 1-800-335-7881 or 517-467-1909. Reg 5 / Valley AAA 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA Reg 8 / AAA of Western Michigan diabetic issues. The response to the * S.O.D.O.N. — Southern Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network speakers and vendors was very posi11


Branch–St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC Serving a two-county area surrounding Sturgis, Three Rivers, Coldwater and Quincy

When You Need Some Help, Assistance Is Only One Call Away…

Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Services Dept. (Region 3)

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hen you or those you love are faced with questions or concerns, or you need information to make care decisions, we’re one call away! Our Information & Assistance Specialist is highly trained and very courteous, and can offer you information, make referrals and assist you in finding the answers you are looking for.

Reg 5 / Valley AAA

Contact us for help: Toll Free: 1-888-615-8009 517-278-2538, extension 130 Office Location: 570 Marshall Road, Coldwater Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.

Reg 9 /thought NEMSCA Reg 9to AAA •  Maybe you’ve never Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B ask for help — but you’re realizing you are becoming burnt out.

•  Maybe you have

Reg 3-C / Branch-St. Joseph AAA had some services to (IIIC) assist you in your home, but now you find you need more help. •  Maybe all you need is a list of “senior-friendly” apartments in the area. Our staff can be of great help in suggesting not only possible solutions and services tailored to your needs, but also the important questions to ask to find capable, qualified service Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA providers. Please contact Dawn Frasier, our Information & Assistance Specialist, today! You can contact her by using the information highlighted at the left. The Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging is committed to providing you with a timely response to your questions about Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI and Regcare 11 / Upper PeninsulaYou AAA supportive services options. Reg 1-C / The Senior Alliance, Inc. Reg 2 / Reg 2 AAA may also find helpful information on our website: www.bhsj.org/AAA. Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB

Region IV Area Agency on Aging Covering Michigan’s Great Southwest including Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties

Time Banking Connects People

Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Services Dept. (Region 3)

“We have what we need if we use what we have.”

M

ore than 25 years ago, activisteconomist lawyer Edgar Cahn spoke these words — with a vision of how communities could empower themselves by looking within to meet one another’s needs. Time banking connects people who perform services for another person and “bank” an hour for each hour spent. Those hours, or time dollars, can then be spent on having someone else perform a service for them. Southwest Michigan’s Community Connections, the Center for Independent Living, is spearheading its time banking program, the Talent 12

Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB

Exchange, along with local partnerships that include the Area Agency on Aging. Most people take what they can do for granted, not realizing that everyday activities driving, Reg 5 — / Valley AAA Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging cooking, sewing, taking care of children and cleaning the house, for example — could make a big difference in someone else’s life. The grassroots-level Talent Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA Exchange Reg 10 / AAAenables of Northwest MI individuals to provide and receive services with one another by shar-

Reg 3-C / Branch-St. Joseph AAA (IIIC)

Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA

ing skills. It recognizes that everyone has a talent or skill to contribute and every time dollar is of equal value. “The Talent Exchange promises to bring people together who might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet and interact,” Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA Reg 8 / AAA of Western Michigan says Kathy Ellis, executive director of Community Connections. “The goal is to serve as a bridge between people and to promote self-sufficiency.” Connections at of Reg 11 Call / Upper Community Peninsula AAA Reg 14 / Senior Resources Michigan 1-800-578-4245 for West more information or visit www.timebanks.org. Michigan Generations

Reg 4 / Reg I

Reg 8 / AAA

Reg 14 / Sen West Michig


Services Dept. (Region 3)

(IIIC)

Tri-County Office on Aging A consortium of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing

Nursing Facility Transition

I

ndividuals now have an opportunity to make their own choice about where they spend their lives. The TriCounty Office on Aging, a consortium of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing, has assisted 28 individuals to transition from a nursing facility back to the community since 2005. The Nursing Facility Transition Service (NFTS) provides options to nursing facility residents and offers an alternative to institutional care. One older individual and her family who will be remembered by TCOA’s care managers is Dorothy, who was 97 at the first meeting. Dorothy, an avid golfer until she was 94 years of age, was born on November 25, 1908.

Reg 5 / Valley AAA

Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging

After being hospitalized in with Dorothy and August 2006 for a broken her family to arrange hip, Dorothy was admitthe help she needed ted to a nursing facility. to be independent in At that time, Dorothy her home. stated that the nursOn November ing home did wonderful 22, 2006, Dorothy things for her, but staying home justMI Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA returned Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B Reg 1-CThanksgiving / The Senior Alliance, Inc. there was not an option. before She told TCOA staff, “I and three days before Dorothy with her daughter-in-law have plans to go home. her 98th birthday. and son. I am looking forward to She was thankful to my bed, my regular routine of getcelebrate her life in her own home for ting up at 5 a.m. and having my cup those special occasions. of coffee.” Dorothy’s only child, Jack, NFTS is available throughout the and his family wanted her back at state to all nursing home residents home and were more than willing to who are Medicaid recipients. help but couldn’t do everything. Care more information in/ Branch-St. TCOA’sJoseph area, Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Reg 3-BFor / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Reg 3-C AAA Services Dept. (Region 3) (IIIC) managers Marcelle and Marcia worked call 517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141.

Reg 7 / Reg V

Reg 11 / Uppe Reg 2 / Reg 2

Reg 4 / Reg I

Region VII Area Agency on Aging Serving Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties

Promoting Energy Conservation

D

id you know that the typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 per year on utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of the energy we use is wasted. Vicente Castellanos understands that better than most. Castellanos (pictured, right), a Region VII Advisory Council member, is a master electrical contractor as well as an instructor at Delta College. What’s more, he has been traveling the state promoting energy conservation and teaching seniors about ways to save on their utility bills. Spring 2007

Reg 5 / Valley AAA

Castellanos offers the following suggestions to help you lower your energy bills and save some money in doing so: •  Replace your traditional lightbulbs with linear and energy-efficient compact fluorescent 9 / NEMSCA Regpro9 AAA bulbs,Reg which will vide high-quality, efficient low-cost lighting. •  Install a programmable thermostat in your home. •  Use your microwave oven at 50% power. Vicente Castellanos displays energy-efficient lightbulbs.

•  Humidify your home in the Winter.Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA •  Dehumidify your home in the Summer. •  Insulate around outside openings, hot water heaters and pipes. •  Keep your refrigerator full, using empty gallon jugs filled with water if necessary. Castellanos says that energy conReg 10 / AAA of Northwest Reg 11 / Upperprocess, Peninsula AAA servation is anMIeducational and he is open to answering questions for senior citizens. You can contact him at 989-751-1153. For tips on saving energy and money at home, go to www.energysavers.gov. For additional information on programs and services, contact the Region VII Area Agency on Aging, 1615 S. Euclid Ave., Bay City 48706, 1-800-858-1637, www.region7aaa.org. Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging

13

Reg 8 / AAA

Reg 14 / Sen West Michiga


NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging Covering 12 counties of northeast Michigan

PATH Program Teaches About Chronic Disease

C

hronic diseases and conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease, as well as disabilities that result from injuries such as falls, disproportionately affect older Americans. These conditions collectively account for seven out of every ten deaths, and more than three-quarters of all health care costs in the United States. Chronic disease negatively affects quality of life and threatens the ability of older people to remain in their own homes. As the baby boom generation ages, the number of older people living in our society with chronic conditions will increase dramatically in the coming years. This past March, the Michigan

Public Health Institute hosted a five-day training for Master Trainers of the Chronic Disease SelfManagement Program. Marketed as the PATH (Personal Action Toward Health) program, 26 individuals from around the state became certified to train leaders as well as provide the six-week program to seniors and their family members. A study found that people who took the PATH program, when compared to people who did not take the program, improved their healthful

Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA

Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA

Reg 10 / AAA

Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B

Reg 1-C / The

behaviors, improved their health status and decreased their days in the hospital. By offering this program, Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Services Dept. (Region 3) Michigan’s aging network is on board in helping its citizens to achieve healthier lifestyle choices. For information about the program and to set up training for your group or organization, contact the Area Agency on Reg 5 / Valley AAA Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging Aging at 1-800-219-2273, ext. 216.

Reg 3-C / Bra (IIIC)

Reg 7 / Reg V

Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan offering information and funding senior services in the 10‑county area of northwest lower Michigan

Third “Annual” Senior emPower Day

W

ith two great senior empowerment activities under their belts, the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan (AAANM) Board of Advisors (BOA) is planning to make “Senior EmPower Day 2007 — The Power of Wellness” the best event that they’ve offered yet. Speakers and exhibitors have been invited to speak to wellness — mind, body and soul — and the BOA anticipates welcoming more than 200 seniors and their caregivers to the third annual event. Senior EmPower Day 2007 will be held on Friday, September 28, 2007, at the beautiful Waterfront Conference Center in Traverse City. The BOA has secured several very special guest speakers, including local 14

EmPower Day speaker Ernie Clark.

physician Dr. James P. VanWagner, D.O. (board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine) and former Detroit Lions linebacker Ernie Clark. Dr. VanWagner will be speaking about non-surgical approaches to the treatment of painful arthritic joints, among other things. And Ernie will be sharing his personal health

story and encouraging seniors toRegtry Reg 9 / NEMSCA 9 AAA… exerReg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI cise! His presentation will include a demonstration of (and optional participation in) his “Sit-Fit” exercise program. The third formal presentation of the day will include a panel of local experts (dietician, life coach and other health professionals), who will share tips and encouragement for taking an active role in personal well-being. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit a variety of business exhibits from around Northwest Lower Michigan, as well as meet trained counselors from the Medicare and Medicaid Assistance Program. For more information about Senior EmPower Day 2007 — The Power of Wellness, contact AAANM at 1-800-442-1713 or 231-947-8920. Michigan Generations

Reg 11 / Upp


ASKtheExpert

Sherry Miller

Get Help — or Give Help

By Dialing 2-1-1

F •

inding accurate information can be challenging. 2-1-1 is there to help.   Where can I get help with paying for prescriptions? •  How do I apply for Medicaid? •  Where can my son get treatment for substance abuse? •   Are there any support groups for seniors? These are just a small sample of the kinds of calls that 2-1-1 answers every day. 2-1-1 is the number you dial on your telephone to get health, human services and government information in your community.

Is 2-1-1 available everywhere in Michigan? supported by local united way

agencies and other community partners, 2-1-1 is available to over 70 percent of Michigan’s population. The following counties have 2-1-1: Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Kent, Jackson, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Washtenaw and Wayne counties and the entire Upper Peninsula.

When will 2-1-1 be available in other areas of Michigan? Plans are underway for 2-1-1 to be available in 10–12 additional counties in 2008.

Do you have a caregiving question? Write or email your question to our “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. Summer 2007

Is 2-1-1 available in other states? Yes, 2-1-1 is now available in all or part of 41 states, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. This means that 2-1-1 is available to nearly 200 million people.

How much does it cost to call 2-1-1? 2-1-1 is a free call from your landline. If you are calling from a cell phone, then normal wireless rates/minutes do apply according to your wireless contract. Cell phone access to 2-1-1 is limited at this time.

When can I call 2-1-1? You can call 2-1-1 at any time, any day. 2-1-1 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What if I know someone who needs to call 2-1-1 but does not speak English? 2-1-1 interpreter services are available to non-English speakers at no charge.

How many calls does 2-1-1 receive? In 2006, 275,011 calls were made to 2-1-1. Well over 300,000 calls are expected in 2007.

Why would I call 2-1-1? 2-1-1 has health, human services and government information. People call 2-1-1 to get help or to give help. Instead of calling from agency to agency, you can call one place — 2-1-1 — to get up-to-date information and referrals. Some other examples of questions that callers ask 2-1-1 to get help are: •  Time and location of flu shot clinics, •  How to apply for food assistance, •  Availability of support groups, •  Transportation options, •   Where to borrow no-cost medical equipment, such as walkers, canes or commodes, •  How to get a passport, birth certificate or death certificate,

•  How

to get help with paying utility bills and rent, •   Housing repair and rehabilitation programs, •  And many more! People call 2-1-1 to give help, too. Some examples are: •  Volunteer opportunities, •  Ideas on where to donate clothing, furniture, appliances, computers or vehicles, •  Information on donating in normal times or times of disaster (hurricanes, floods, tsunamis or tornadoes).

Who will I speak to at 2-1-1? You will speak to a live, trained Call Specialist. You do not need to give your name or any identifying information if you do not want to. Caller ID is not used. The Call Specialist will ask for your zip code so that you will receive information about services as close to your home as possible. The Call Specialist may ask you questions in order to find out if you are eligible for specific services. For example, if you are calling for help with a utility bill, the Call Specialist may need to ask if you have a shut-off notice, the amount of the notice and your current income.

What else does 2-1-1 do? 2-1-1 tracks information on the needs of our communities and provides that information to community planners and funders. This data includes the types of services that callers ask for and also those for which no service is available. This data helps community planners to make the best decisions about which services to support in our communities. Sherry Miller is the Michigan 2-1-1 director for the Michigan Association of United Ways in Lansing. 15


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Serving seniors of all faiths since 1945. To find out more, visit our website, www.pvm.org, or call 248-281-2020 for a brochure describing the variety of housing and services Presbyterian Villages of Michigan offers. For more information on becoming a sponsor of Michigan Generations, please call Jenny Jarvis at 248-262-9202 .

Debunking Myths About Hospice Many people harbor misconceptions about hospice — what it is and what it isn’t.

HOSPICE… … is not a place. It is a system of care that can be brought to the patient wherever he may be — at home, in a nursing facility, in a hospice center, in a group living or retirement community. … is for more than cancer patients. Indeed, cancer now accounts for less than half of all hospice patients. … is not expensive. In fact, it is virtually free under Medicare, and most commercial insurance plans include comprehensive hospice benefits. … does nothing to speed up or slow down the dying process.

… services are not just intended for the last few days of life. Patients with a life expectany of six months or less are eligible to enroll. … is not a step toward "giving up." In fact, some patients actually improve once they enter hospice. … care does not end with a patient’s death. Bereavement counselors help guide families through the grieving process for as long as a year. … does not require a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) status and does not require a caregiver in the home.


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