Generations Michigan
Winter 2009
Stress-Free
Downsizing Here’s how to organize an easier move
Also in This Issue: n Ask the Expert n 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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3A 3B
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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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1C
Generations Michigan
WINTER 2009 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
2008
On the Cover: Downsizing makes sense for many seniors. But leaving the family home and relocating — especially to a smaller place — can be a difficult process. Here’s how to plan for a less stressful move. See story on page 4.
Winter 2009 Volume 6, #3 © 2009 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 Region IIIB Area Agency on Aging 3C Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC 4 Region I V 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
CAREGIVINGNews&Notes Sting Spotlights Medical Supply Fraud
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Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation has detailed fraud in the Medicare program — partly because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, has reimbursed fictitious sellers of medical supplies without thoroughly reviewing their qualifications. A sting operation recently put a spotlight on the problem. Reports indicate that CMS
The IRA I
approved two companies that had, in fact, been set up by the GAO as sham businesses. In other words, they were fake medical supply companies! In response to the findings, the center agreed to tighten enrollment procedures. It put into place new standards that require medical suppliers to be certified before they can receive Medicare billing privileges.
Dilemma
f you or your loved one is age 70½ and older, it’s necessary to make annual withdrawals from your IRA. These withdrawals are a percentage of assets based on the account’s value on the last day of the previous year. IRA values have plummeted along with the stock market this year, and many seniors are worried about the diminished value of their withdrawals. Financial planners give this advice: Tap liquid IRA holdings first to avoid selling securities at a loss. Seniors who don’t need cash for living costs can make a withdrawal “in kind” to move stocks or bonds to a non-IRA brokerage account. They would still owe taxes on the distribution, but they wouldn’t lock in a loss. For more information, go to www.irahelp.com.
Surfing the Net Each issue of Michigan Generations offers several websites devoted to caregiving information and resources: www.nihseniorhealth.org features health and wellness information for older adults from the National Institutes of Health. You can adjust each page to make the text bigger or hear the text read aloud. www.kiplinger.com offers excellent senior-friendly articles on retirement planning, long-term care and other financial advice. Look for more helpful websites in the next issue of Michigan Generations. Winter 2009
flu or cold symptoms?
Is it
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ow do you know if you have the flu or a cold? Take your temperature, say many experts. Flu symptoms often mimic cold symptoms with nasal congestion, cough, aches and malaise. But a common cold rarely has symptoms of high fever. With the flu, you will probably have a fever initially — and you will feel miserable. Body and muscle aches are more common with the flu. This table can help determine if you have cold or flu symptoms. Symptoms
Cold
Flu
Fever
Sometimes, usually mild
Usual; high, can last several days
Headache
Occasionally
Common
General Aches, Pains
Slight
Usual; often severe
Fatigue, Weakness
Sometimes
Usual; can last 2 to 3 weeks
Extreme Exhaustion
Seldom
Usual; at the beginning of the illness
Stuffy Nose
Common
Sometimes
Sneezing
Usual
Sometimes
Sore Throat
Common
Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough
Mild to moderate; hacking cough
Common; can become severe
Prevention
Wash your hands often; avoid close contact with anyone with a cold
Annual flu shot; antiviral medicine
Healthy, Low-Cost Eating
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ired of paying so much for beef, chicken or pork? If rising prices have put a pinch in your grocery budget, you should consider adding more beans and whole grains to your diet — as an excellent, inexpensive source of protein. Hearty and economical, beans and whole grains have long fed people around the world. Some beans contain as much as 15 grams of protein per cup and provide other nutrients such as iron and zinc. That makes them an excellent, cholesterol-free meat alternative. The fiber in beans also helps to lower cholesterol levels and improve health. Another benefit: Scientists believe natural compounds called phyto-chemicals in beans and whole grains may play a role in preventing cancer.
Stress-Free
Downsizing Here’s how to organize an easier move Are you relocating — or are you helping a loved one take the step? Studies show that some 30% of the 85-plus population relocates annually. Here are smart tips for tackling the move. By Martha Nolan McKenzie
Michigan Generations
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elen Fealk began to think about moving from her spacious three-story condo to a modest apartment in a senior community five years ago, after her husband of 55 years passed away. She found it difficult to live in the same rooms she had shared for so many happy years with her husband, and she was desperately lonely. But, at 80, she found it even more difficult to contemplate packing up a lifetime’s worth of possessions and moving into a much smaller space. “I was overwhelmed,” says Fealk. “I had no idea how to begin.” Fortunately, a social worker at the Novi senior community where Fealk planned to move put her in touch with LouAnne Audette — a senior move manager who specializes in these types of transitions. Audette helped her sort through years of accumulation, figuring out what things would fit in her new space and what needed to be jettisoned. She packed and labeled the things that would make the move to the new apartment and sent some items to Fealk’s son and daughter. The rest, she donated. Audette, who owns Moving Forward LLC in Highland, arranged for a moving company to transport Fealk’s possessions, and she met the movers on the other end, unpacking boxes and setting up the apartment as much like Fealk’s condo as possible. “I walked in and they had arranged everything the way I had it at home,” says Fealk. “The same lamps and knickknacks were on the same end tables. The top of my dresser looked the same. By 4:30 that day, I was all set up and I went down to dinner.” Many seniors will be following in Fealk’s footsteps, moving to smaller, more age-friendly abodes in the coming years. Indeed, approximately 32% of the 85-plus population relocates annually, according to MoveSeniors.com, a consumer resource website. By 2020 more than 80% of seniors will be homeowners and almost 44% of those will be at least 75 years old, close to the average age for entry to assisted living. The reasons for moving and downsizing are many. Some people find their house is just too big once the nest is empty, or they want to move closer to their adult children. Others simply desire a less complicated lifestyle. And the death of a spouse or an illness or injury can spur a move to a smaller place with more services available. Moving — particularly to a smaller place — is stressful for anyone. But for seniors, the prospect can be fraught with heartache. How do you walk away from the closet door on which you marked your children’s heights through the years? How can you leave the den to which you and your spouse used to retreat to talk? And how can you give away the china on which you ate so many Thanksgiving dinners? “The biggest hurdle is often the emotional one,” says Sue Wilson, owner of Compassionate Moves, LLC in North Muskegon. “They might be leaving a home they have lived in for 30 to 40 years, and all their emotional ties are there. It can be incredibly hard.” The logistics can be equally hard. People likely have been accumulating things over those 30 to 40 years, enough to fill to the brim whatever home they are in. Sorting through decades’ worth of keepsakes, books, documents, tools and stuff is a tall
order for anyone, but even more so for someone who might have physical limitations or the beginnings of dementia. It’s easy to see that the sooner you start planning, the easier your eventual move will be. Even if you have no plans to move at all, downsizing in your current home can help ensure that you are ready for anything life throws your way. “The number one piece of advice I give anyone is to plan ahead,” says Wilson. “Even though we don’t always know what’s coming down the road, the more you can plan and prepare, the better.” Theresa Brune, owner of Simplify It, LLC in West Bloomfield, agrees. “When you have to move someone who has been in their home for 50 years, and you have to do it in a matter of weeks, you might not be able to make the best decisions,” she says. “If you start working on it well ahead of time, you can consider everything more thoughtfully, and it’s less stressful on everyone involved.”
Sorting through decades’ worth of keepsakes, books, documents, tools and stuff is a tall order for anyone.
That’s exactly what M. Baldwin is doing. The 86-year-old Dearborn woman has no plans to leave her two-bedroom condo, but she wanted to organize her house and get rid of a lot of the clutter. So Baldwin, who describes herself as something of a collector and packrat, hired Brune to help her downsize her possessions. Over a period of months, Brune helped Baldwin purge many of her things, donating some, throwing away others. Today, Baldwin’s condo holds just the things she needs and uses. “I don’t have children, but I do have four nieces,” says Baldwin. “I didn’t want this job left for them to do when I’m no longer here. And I just wanted to simplify. I don’t plan to move, but if I ever do, it will be much, much easier.” Unfortunately, the majority of senior moves are not planned in advance. “Most of our clients come to us in a crisis situation,” says Nan Hayes, council chair of the Senior Transition Society and president of MoveSeniors.com. “Either there has been a medical crisis of some sort and they
Winter 2009
suddenly have to go into assisted living or a nursing home, or adult children come home for the holidays and find things are not right — there is no food in the fridge and the house isn’t kept up.” Such situations can be particularly difficult if the adult children live out of town. That’s why more and more are turning to senior move managers to help with relocating and downsizing. These specialists can work with the new floor plan to see how the senior’s furniture will fit, pack up the items that will go, and disperse all the other possessions, either by giving them to relatives, selling them in an estate sale, donating them to charities or having them hauled away as trash. They can transfer and disconnect utilities, as well as unpack and set up house in the new residence. And they can work with move managers in other locations to coordinate an inter- or intra-state move. “Basically, we’ll do just about anything except put the boxes on the moving truck,” says Wilson. “We hire movers — we don’t do that part — but we’ll do anything else.” Fees for such services can range from $100 for a consultation to over $5,000 for the whole project. According to a nationwide survey of about 300 move managers by MoveSeniors.com, senior relocation costs average about $2,500. Many consider the fee money well spent, particularly if they don’t live in the same area. Consider Betty M. When her 83-year-old uncle Edwin Taylor came to visit her in her Kentucky home, she noticed marked signs of dementia. So she arranged to visit him in his Southfield apartment and was shocked by what she found. Her uncle had been hoarding things, and his apartment was cluttered to the point that it was nearly unlivable. “You couldn’t sit on any of the chairs because there were piles of stuff on them,” says Betty. “You literally could not walk into the second bedroom. We found stacks and stacks of newspapers, magazines and books. We found five unopened alarm clocks and twenty unopened bottles of ketchup. Did
you know ketchup turns black after several years even if it is unopened?” Betty and her cousin spent a week cleaning out the mess, filling two dumpsters in the process and boxing up the rest, which she moved along with her uncle to an assisted-living facility in Southfield. The boxes were still stacked to the ceiling in Taylor’s new second bedroom at the facility when Betty had to return to Kentucky. That’s when she hired Brune to finish the job. Brune unpacked, sorted, donated and tossed all the contents of the boxes and organized Taylor’s remaining possessions. “Theresa (Brune) was a godsend,” says Betty. “I don’t know what we would have done without her.” Whether you plan to hire a senior move manager such as Brune or tackle the task yourself, there are several things you can do to make the process go more smoothly.
Sorting through everything
Before you can begin to sort through your possessions, you need to have an idea of how much you can take with you. Get a floor plan of the place you’ll be moving to, so you can decide what furniture will fit and what will not. “Once you figure out what furniture you can take, then you know how much room you’ll have for knickknacks and for storage,” says Audette. “Then you can start sorting through your smaller things.” Christy Morey, owner of Life 2 Life Transitions LLC in Kalamazoo, takes it a step further. “I think floor plans can be deceiving,” she says. “If possible, I cut out paper in the actual size of the tables, chairs and sofa and then go to the new place and lay them out on the floor. That way my clients can see how much room there really will be to walk between the sofa and the table. It can help them see the difference between what they want to take and what can realistically fit.” Morey advises adult children to avoid the temptation of using the move as an opportunity to set Mom up with all-new furniture. “Oftentimes, adult children will think, ‘Oh ave you ever pulled up the cushions on your sofa only to find great! This is the chance that pair of reading glasses you have been looking for everyto get rid of all Mom’s old where? Just imagine what you might find if you were packing up an stuff,’” says Morey. “Their entire house. heart is in the right place, Senior move managers don’t have to imagine. They sort and but they’ve got to remempack entire homes all the time for seniors who are downsizing, and ber their mother is going in the process, they find some interesting things. One found IBM to be moving into a new stock certificates under the rug of a banker. Another uncovered $16,000 in savings bonds. place in a new neighbor“I was helping a gentleman clean out his home to move, and he hood — possibly in a new had sorted through everything and told me to donate everything town or state. She needs else,” says LouAnne Audette, owner of Moving Forward LLC in Highland. “But when we were to have the things that loading an old filing cabinet onto a truck, we found a manila folder taped to the bottom. Inside made her home her nest, was $10,000 in cash! The man had no idea it was there, or how it even got there, but he was very so the new place feels pleasantly surprised.” as much like home as Many of the finds have more sentimental than monetary value. When a senior move manager possible. If they want to cleared out retired Episcopal priest Edwin Taylor’s apartment in Southfield, she found every sermon get new stuff after she’s he had ever written. She sent them to Taylor’s niece, Betty M. “I went through them all and distribsettled in, that’s fine. But uted them to different family members,” says Betty. “It’s something we all will treasure.” let her settle in first.”
Fantastic finds
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Michigan Generations
And ultimately what the senior takes with him should be his decision. “Often, they have already experienced so many losses,” says Wilson. “They see this as one more — the loss of their family home. So if they decide the big buffet with all of their knickknacks on it is more important than fitting in an extra chair for company, that’s their call. It’s amazing the memories and sentiments we have attached to our belongings.” Sorting through roomfuls of possessions can be an emotional, stressful experience. Move managers offer the following tips: 1. Work in short shifts over a number of days or weeks. Allow yourself time to reminisce over the items you uncover and share your stories if someone is there helping you. Tackle one room at a time, preferably starting with rooms you use the least. 2. Ask yourself these key questions: Which of the items I own now are really important to me? Is this item beautiful, useful or loved? Or am I just keeping it out of habit? Will this still be useful in my new place? 3. Develop a system to sort items you want to take with you, those you want to give to family and friends, those you want to donate and those you want to throw away. Make separate piles, tag items with different-colored stickers or keep a written list — any way you can keep track of what is going where. 4. Arrange everything you’ll be taking with you by the room it will go in at your new place, and label the boxes accordingly. That will make unpacking in your new home quicker and easier. If you’ve decided to let go of some cherished items, take photos of them so you’ll have reminders. Think about the good use the items will be put to by family members, friends or the needy.
Disposing of unwanted things What do you do with all the stuff you can’t take with you? That question alone is enough to stop many seniors in their tracks. Basically, you’ve got four options: give it to a family member or friend; sell it; donate it or trash it. Many seniors are afraid of touching off a family battle when it comes time to distribute their possessions among adult children. “I see it all the time — seniors are worried that all their children will want the same things and there will be a big fight,” says Morey. “But when I say, ‘Let me ask your children to make a wish list,’ I find that nine out of ten times, they all want different things.” For valuables that won’t stay in the family, you can consider a garage sale, a home auction or an estate sale. You or your family will have to conduct a garage sale, but you can hire a company to first appraise and price possessions to be sold and then conduct the estate sale or auction for you. If you or an adult child is savvy with a computer, you could also try selling items on eBay or Craig’s List. Other items may be more appropriate to donate to a favorite charity. Try to arrange a pickup shortly after you have gotten your possessions sorted. With items that will be thrown away or recycled, it depends on how much you have. You can take things to the Winter 2009
Where to Find Downsizing Help
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s more than 75 million baby boomers approach retirement, a new industry has sprung up to help them and their elders relocate and downsize. Called senior move managers, senior relocation specialists and senior real estate specialists, these professionals can coordinate every aspect of a move to smaller quarters. Here are a few resources: • National Association of Senior Move Managers. The nonprofit professional organization maintains a list of member move managers. Contact NASMM at 1-877-606-2766 or www.nasmm.org. • The Senior Transition Society. The society credentials service professionals in the area of senior relocation, requiring training and continuing education for the CRTS designation. Contact STS at 1-866-793-5152 or www.seniortransition.org. • National Association of Realtors. The association established a credentialing program in 2007 for Senior Real Estate Specialists. Contact SRES at 1-800-500-4564 or www.seniorsrealestate.com. • MoveSeniors.com. Maintained by the Senior Transition Society, MoveSeniors.com is a consumer resource website and host to the STS professional registry. Contact MoveSeniors at www.moveseniors.com or 1-800-519-7316.
curb for regular garbage removal over a period of time. If you have a lot to throw away, you can rent a small dumpster or call a junk removal company. One area of caution: You need to shred any documents that could be used for identity theft — old tax returns, bills, financial records, etc. You can get a home shredder and do it yourself, or if you have a large volume, you can hire companies to shred your documents for you.
Moving in … and on Move managers recommend making the new home look as much like the old as possible. Some go so far as to snap photos of tabletops and refrigerators so they can arrange the knickknacks and magnets in exactly the same way. “That can be so important for many seniors, especially those with memory deficits,” says Audette. “When everything looks the same — as much as possible — it’s much easier for the senior to settle in.” Finally, focus on the benefits of your new home. Are you closer to family and friends? Do you get healthy meals prepared for you? Are you around other seniors with lots of opportunity to socialize? “This is a big, difficult transition, but you have to keep thinking about the positives,” says Hayes. “We only use 20% of our possessions 80% of the time. Downsizing can be a healthy, positive experience. It’s like when you moved out of your parents’ home for the first time and only took a couple of suitcases. It can be a very liberating move.” MI
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 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 Region IIIB Area Agency on Aging 3C Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC 4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging 5 Valley Area Agency on Aging
S potlight O n …
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6 Tri-County Office Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA 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 Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human (Region 3) 11 Services UpperDept. Peninsula Area Agency on Aging 14 Senior Resources of West Michigan
Reg 1-B / AAA
Reg 3-B / Bur
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14 6 4
1B
3A 3B 3C
2
1C
1A Reg 5 / Valley AAA
Reg 6 / Tri-Co
Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA
Reg 10 / AAA
NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging Covering 12 counties of Northeast Michigan
Everyone Loves a Party!
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he Ogemaw Commission on Aging’s main responsibility is to serve the senior population, targeting their safety, health and independence. The COA also realizes the value of providing fun events for seniors — activities that promote both mental and physical well-being. With that in mind, four special parties are held each year: a picnic in June; a Hawaiian luau in August or September; a funfilled Halloween party in October; and a Christmas party in December. The attendance at these events reflects how much the seniors appreciate them — with 100–200 seniors participating, and lots of smiles, laughter and overall good feelings. Live music is provided by “Just Us Two,”
professional musicians who have played across the country. It’s amazing to watch the seniors dancing. Everyone joins in, in one way or another, and they truly enjoy the fellowship. For information, call Ogemaw COA at 1-989-345-5300.
The Benefits of Exercise
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he Roscommon County Commission on Aging knows the vital importance of exercise for physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing. The Houghton Lake Senior Center offers the Arthritis Foundation’s Exercise Program twice a week and has great participation. Participants enjoy each other’s company as
Houghton Lake Senior Center exercise class.
well as the benefit of exercising with like-minded adults at a similar age. Exercise helps participants with their balance, joint stiffness and attitude. They enjoy the benefit of exercise — and they are better able to manage their health conditions, rather than their conditions managing them. For more information, call the Roscommon COA at 1-989-366-3800. Michigan Generations
Detroit Area Agency on Aging Serving Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes in Wayne County
What Do You Know About Long-Term Care? Detroit Launches Public Outreach Campaign
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o-chairs of Detroit’s Long Term Care System Change Task Force explain the need: “Our Dying Before Their Time study showed that chronic health problems can be minimized with education. With healthier lifestyles and access to quality care, we can begin to reduce the need for long-term care.” — Paul Bridgewater, President & CEO, Detroit Area Agency on Aging “For many, longterm care simply means getting assistance with activities of daily living. These services can be provided in a person’s home. Knowledge of long-term care begins with identifying available options before nursing facilities are needed.” — State Representative George Cushingberry “We intend to adopt and implement policies that make living and aging in Michigan desirable. We can make this happen with legislators, consumers and stakeholders all working together.” — State Senator Buzz Thomas
Anticipating It… Adults of any age may need others to help with medical, physical or emotional needs over an extended period of time, or for a short rehabilitation. They may need home-delivered meals and health care in the home, a short stay in a nursing facility, a wheelchair ramp or a new place to live.
Planning for It… Consider these questions before care is needed: • What conditions might require long-term care support? • Where and what kind of services are provided? • Who pays for them? • Who can help with legal, insurance and financial planning? For answers, order your free copy of the Own Your Future toolkit. Call 1-866-PLAN-LTC (1-866-752-6582), or visit www.aoa.gov/ownyourfuture.
Paying for It… Medicaid covers long-term nursing home care for eligible low-income individuals. Those with generous assets consult with financial advisors to explore savings and investments that may pay unexpected expenses. Others select long-term care insurance policies that have provisions for nursing home stays and community services. Health insurance, Medicare and disability coverage DO NOT pay for most long-term care services.
Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA
Reg 1-B / AAA
Know Options, Focus on Your Independence
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s abilities decline, many older adults and persons Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human with disabilities will need home Services Dept. (Region 3) and community-based services to remain in their own homes: Home Health — skilled nursing and personal care from qualified nurses and home health aides. Home Help — unskilled personal services such as meal preparation and assistance with eating, 5 / Valley AAA grooming, laundryRegand shopping. Physical Disability Services — assistance in purchasing durable medical equipment and home modifications not covered by Medicaid. MI Choice — a Medicaid Waiver for the elderly and disabled that provides personal care, Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA transportation, private duty nursing, meal preparation and routine household care to allow individuals to remain in their homes. PACE (Program of AllInclusive Care for the Elderly) — comprehensive medical and longterm care services available to enrollees age 55 or older, often affiliated with a hospital system in an adult day care setting. For Information & Assistance on Long-Term Care Contact: Regional Call Center 1-866-642-4582 Supported by Detroit Area Agency on Aging and Detroit-Wayne County Long Term Care Connection.
Winter 2009
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
Seniors Advocate for Change at State Legislature
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n the fourth Wednesday of each month, Robert (Bob) Hull, a member of the Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) Advisory Council, travels to Lansing and spends the day in the State Capital. Bob, who is from Oakland County, is one of 30 senior advocates from across Michigan who participate on the Michigan Senior Advocates Council (MSAC). MSAC delegates study current issues and legislation impacting older adults, such as affordable health insurance, utility regulation, appropriations for senior programs, long-term care and more. This involves listening to experts, asking questions and reading massive amounts of material including pieces of legislation. While in Lansing on the fourth Wednesday of each month, Bob spends a significant portion of the day visiting legislators’ offices and talking with them and their staff about key issues facing seniors. MSAC was created in 1977 by
Extra Help Still Available
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edicare beneficiaries with limited income and assets can still apply for extra help with paying for prescriptions through Medicare Part D, even though open enrollment for Medicare Part D has closed for the 2009 benefit year. To find out if you or a person you know qualifies for help with Medicare prescription drug costs, call the Medicare/ Medicaid Assistance Program at 1-800-803-7174. 10
Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging to advocate for older adults, especially those unable to advocate for themselves. Bob and other MSAC volunteers have played a key role in garnering more funding for a program called MI Choice, which allows MedicaidRobert Hull eligible, frail older adults and younger persons with disabilities to stay at home instead of institutional care.
Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA
Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B
“We are fortunate to have Bob as a volunteer advocate representing seniors in our service area,” remarks Tina Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Services Dept. (Region 3) Abbate Marzolf, CEO of the AAA 1-B. “When in Lansing, Bob gathers valuable information about hot issues and then shares that knowledge with our advisory board members and agency staff. We are very appreciative Reg 5 / Valley AAA Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging of Bob’s commitment to MSAC and older adults in southeast Michigan.”
Reg 1-C / The
Reg 3-C / Bra (IIIC)
Reg 7 / Reg V
Medicare Coverage for Nutrition Counseling
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Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA
Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI
utrition and diet play an important role in helping people with certain diseases manage their health. For people with diabetes or renal diseases, proper diet and nutrition can help prevent and reduce complications from their conditions. With a doctor’s referral, Medicare will help cover the costs of 1) an initial assessment of nutrition and lifestyle; 2) nutrition counseling; and 3) follow-up visits to monitor how well you are managing your diet, for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes or renal diseases. Medicare will cover three hours of one-on-one counseling services for the first year, and two hours for each year after that. This benefit is available through Medicare Part B, and Medicare beneficiaries must pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after meeting the yearly Part B deductible. Talk to your doctor if you think you may qualify for this benefit. For more information on Medicare Part B, please call your local Medicare/ Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) at 1-800-803-7174.
Michigan Generations
Reg 11 / Uppe
Save the Date The 5th annual Monroe County Caregivers Fair will be held on Saturday, April 25, at the Monroe County Community College from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event will feature expert presentations on many topics of interest to caregivers of older adults and adults with disabilities, and will also include an exhibit area with more than 30 local organizations and companies that provide services to help caregivers take care of their loved ones.
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
What Does a Dietitian Do?
M
y profession is probably the most misunderstood of any other field. It is easy to understand what a nurse or a doctor does, but what does a dietitian do? The answer — everything! We are responsible for ensuring that our clients’ nutritional needs are being met. To do this, we must understand the diseases that affect nutrition, as most diseases do have some impact on nutritional health. A dietitian must also understand medications and how they interact with foods. We need to understand people and how to interview them to discuss their problems, not just with food, but with anything in life that may create disruptions in food intake. Winter 2009
When I came to Region 2, I worked with Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA our county Reg 1-Bnutrition / AAA 1-B directors to improve the home-delivered meal program and congregate meal sites. I went on meal-delivery routes to learn about the population we serve. One county was not using fresh Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Services because Dept. (Region 3) fruits they assumed that seniors could not chew them. I quickly changed that, and fresh fruits were added to menus. The most valuable asset that a dietitian provides, however, is to assist with nutrition problems. I Reg 5 / Valley AAA Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging make in-home visits to help clients with their nutrition issues, based on
requests from care managers county Reg 1-C / The Senioror Alliance, Inc. Reg 2 / Reg 2 AAA staff at the departments on aging. At one of my most memorable visits with a diabetic client and her family, I demonstrated how to decrease serving sizes of cereal and juice, and how to limit snacks. Two weeks later, the client’s blood glucose Reg 3-C / Branch-St. Joseph AAA Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA (IIIC) level dropped from a high of 300 back to normal levels. I was very pleased to hear that my intervention had had such a positive outcome. — Kris Godbold, RD For more information, contact Reg 8 / AAA of Western Michigan Barbara Stoy at the Region 2 AAA, 1-800-335-7881 or 517-467-1909.
Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA
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Region 3B Area Agency on Aging Serving Barry and Calhoun counties in Southwest Michigan
Collaborating to Help Fight Chronic Disease
A
unique, one-of-a-kind partnergiver program provider for Calhoun ship in Calhoun County is helpCounty. ing adults to improve their health and SHP exists around a core belief better manage their chronic health that by working together, more can conditions. The partnership known be done to improve the well-being of as Senior Health Partners (SHP) seniors. Governance and leadership brings together the local mental health SHP’s mission is to improve the authority, a PACE health and well-being of older adults program and a local and caregivers. health system, along with funding from the Area Agency on Aging, Region 3B. are shared through regular meetings Created in 2001, SHP’s mission of the CEOs of the partnering organiis to improve the health and wellzations. SHP serves more than 1,000 being of older adults and caregivers seniors and caregivers per month at 1-A / Detroit AAA Calin Calhoun and surrounding counties. 26 different locations Reg throughout SHP is also the National Family Carehoun and Barry counties.
The partnership has shown thatCty. byHuman uniting Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Services Dept. (Region 3) strengths and pooling resources, we can provide health promotion and wellness services in a more effective and cost-efficient manner. SHP brings together experts in the field of aging from medicine, mental health, social work and senior programming. SHP, through the vision of its partners, has demonstrated the truth in Reg 5 / Valley AAA Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging what Andrew Carnegie said about collaboration: “Strength is derived from unity. The range of our collective vision is far greater when individual insights become one.” To learn more about this initiative, contact Senior Health Partners at 269-441-0927. For other information, contact Region 3B AAA at 269-966-2450 Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI Reg Reg 1-C / The Senior Alliance, Inc. or1-Bgo/ AAA to1-Bwww.region3b.org.
Reg 3-C / Bran (IIIC)
Reg 7 / Reg V
Reg 11 / Uppe Reg 2 / Reg 2
Branch–St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC Serving a two-county area surrounding Sturgis, Three Rivers, Coldwater and Quincy
Who Needs Care Management?
Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Services Dept. (Region 3)
C
are management: It seems like such a formal term, but it’s really quite simple and helps so many! The Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging is committed to helping people with complex medical needs to live where they wish and to receive the care they need. For many, this can happen at home. Our compassionate Care Management staff will provide a comprehensive assessment of your needs and will work with you to create a plan of care to help you live where you choose. We will then arrange services, and monitor and adjust services as time goes on and/or 12
Reg 5 / Valley AAA
your needs change. You may be eligible for this program if you: Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA • Are 60 years of age or older • Have ongoing medical needs
• Notice that your for Reg 3-Cneeds / Branch-St. Joseph AAA (IIIC) assistance are increasing • Need to look at moving into a more formal care setting A few program participants share feedback on their experiences: “It’s so nice to have someone I can rely on to get me to my doctor’s appointments.” — L. K., Colon, MI help Reg 6 /“The Tri-County Office that on AgingI get Reg 7for / Regbathing VII AAA and housework has helped me to stay in my own home.” — R. V., Three Rivers, MI “I feel so much safer now that I have an emergency button to wear.” — M. W., Coldwater, MI Please feel free to contact our office to discuss your options and ask questions. Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI Reg 11 / Upper Peninsula AAA For information, call 517-278-2538 or toll-free 1-888-615-8009. Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB
Michigan Generations
Reg 4 / Reg I
Reg 8 / AAA
Reg 14 / Sen West Michig
Region IV Area Agency on Aging Covering Michigan’s Great Southwest including Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties
Rodebush Honored for Leadership
J
ohnie Rodebush grew up on a farm. He remembers being a young child and carrying a pail partially filled with corn to feed the pigs, thinking that was all he could carry. His father’s lesson? He added another kernel of corn to the pail and told his son, “Don’t you ever forget that you carried that one Johnie Rodebush more kernel. You can always do more. Couldn’t you do a little bit more for someone who needs your help?” Last summer at the Michigan State
Fair, Johnie Rodebush was honored as Senior Citizen the Reg Year for LeaderReg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. of Human 3-B / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB Services Dept. (Region 3) ship. A retired iron worker and entrepreneur, longtime volunteer firefighter, county commissioner, Sunday school and Bible study teacher and youth mentor, Rodebush was recognized for his countless hours of community service and many years of generosity. He volunteers his talent, Reg 5 / Valley AAA Reg time, 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging resources and good humor to events benefiting nonprofit organizations. Rodebush serves in many volunteer leadership positions, including the Board of Directors of the Region IV Area Agency on Aging and Niles Senior Reg Center; Reg 9 /the NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA 10 / AAA of works Northwest MI with the Cass District Library, Southwest Michigan Regional Planning
Commission and Cass Council Regthe 3-C / Branch-St. Joseph AAA on Reg 4 / Reg IV AAA (IIIC) Aging; and is a 45-year charter member of the Lion’s Club in Niles. On summer evenings, you can find Rodebush roasting corn for local fundraising. This past year, one of those events raised funds to help homeless veterans with clothing and food. The annual Senior Citizens of the Year awards are sponsored by the Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA Reg 8 / AAA of Western Michigan Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B Michigan Commission and Offices of Services to the Aging, the Michigan State Fair and Consumers Energy. During the awards ceremony at the state fair, in typical good will and humor, Rodebush relayed his early life lesson, and distributed his kernels of corn. He learned his lesson well. theof Reg 11 /For Uppermore Peninsulainformation, AAA Reg 14 /contact Senior Resources West Michigan Region IV AAA at 269-983-0177 or Reg IIIB Reg 3-A / Kalamazoo Cty. Human Reg 3-B / Burnham-Brook Services Dept. (Region 3) 1-800-442-2803.
Reg 1-C / The
Reg 3-C / Bra (IIIC)
Tri-County Office on Aging A consortium of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing
Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs
Reg 5 / Valley AAA
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n June 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided Michigan with additional funds to reach Medicare beneficiaries and offer extra help with prescription drug costs and low-income subsidies. Sara Levine, the Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program’s (MMAP) regional coordinator at the Tri-County Office on Aging, states, “Finally, low-income Medicare beneficiaries have assistance with medication costs. Now they don’t have to make a decision between utility bills and food or their prescription drugs.” An individual must have limited income and assets; 150% of poverty and below to qualify for this extra assistance. The Tri-County Office on Aging Winter 2009
Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging
plans to reach been able to over 6,000 older afford the adults through prescriptions commercials on she needs. local TV and She is relieved radio, as well as that now she posters and flyers. can afford From June Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA Reg 10 medication / AAA of Northwest MI through Septemprescribed by Sara Levine, MMAP regional coordinator at ber 2008, 2,433 her doctor. the Tri-County Office on Aging, discusses prescription drug costs with a client. people have To find out contacted this if you or a perregion’s MMAP offices. son you know qualifies for extra help One older adult, Mrs. Smith, qualiwith Medicare prescription drug costs, fied for the extra help and now only call the Medicare/Medicaid Assistance has to pay $2.25 for generic drugs Program at 1-800-803-7174. and $5.60 for each name-brand preFor more information, please contact scription. Mrs. Smith suffered a stroke the Tri-County Office on Aging at and, on her limited income, has not 517-887-1440 or 1-800-405-9141. 13
Reg 7 / Reg V
Reg 11 / Upp
Services Dept. (Region 3)
(IIIC)
Region VII Area Agency on Aging Serving Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties
Region VII Welcomes New MMAP Manager Reg 5 / Valley AAA
Reg 1-A / Detroit AAA
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he Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is a free program designed to help beneficiaries make health care decisions. MMAP is an independent program
with no insurance industry affiliations. MMAP receives funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Administration on Aging and the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging. These funds allow MMAP to offer time and expertise seniors Reg 9 /to NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA at no cost. Reg Nationally, 3-A / Kalamazoothis Cty. Human (Region 3) program is Services calledDept.the State Health Assistance Program (SHIP). The MMAP program began in 1984, and today there are over 500 MMAP counselors. MMAP counselors are trained volunteers who are an important part ofRegthe Michigan 5 / Valley AAA Kristi Bueche, MMAP manager at the Region VII Area Medicare/Medicaid AssisAgency on Aging.
tance Program. They take part in all aspects Reg 7 /of Reg VII AAA Reg 1-B / AAA 1-B Reg 1-C / The Senior Alliance, Inc. MMAP. Each Area Agency on Aging in Michigan has a MMAP manager or regional coordinator. Recently, Kristi Bueche has joined the MMAP team at Region VII as the new MMAP manager. Kristi’s past experience includes Care Management, a program designed to assess manage in-home Reg 10 / AAA and of Northwest MI Reg 11 / Upper services Peninsula AAA for3-Bolder adults. SheReghas Reg / Burnham-Brook Reg IIIB 3-C /been Branch-St.working Joseph AAA (IIIC) with Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries for the past five years and is extremely excited to continue. For questions about Medicare and/or Medicaid, please call the MMAP hotline number at 1-800-803-7174. For additional information about services at Region VII, please call 1-800-858-1637 or visit our website at www.region7aaa.org. Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging Reg 7 / Reg VII AAA Reg 6 / Tri-County Office on Aging
Reg 8 / AAA Reg 2 / Reg
Reg 14 / Seni West Michiga Reg 4 / Reg
Reg 8 / AAA
Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging Serving all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Savvy Caregiver Program Available to Help Family Caregivers
Reg 9 / NEMSCA Reg 9 AAA
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he U.P. Area Agency on Aging was recently awarded a threeyear demonstration grant from the MI Office of Services to the Aging to help strengthen caregivers’ skills through the Savvy Caregiver Program. This initiative is designed to train family and professional caregivers in the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to meet the challenge of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease. According to Tammy Rosa, who will oversee the project, the UPAAA staff will work closely with the U.P. Alzheimer’s Association and local 14
community aging organizations to develop the program in the Upper Peninsula. “The approach is to
develop a group of master trainers that will train caregivers and other trainers,” states Rosa. “This will give caregivers the tools they need
to care for those with Alzheimer’s disease Reg and demen11 /other Upper Peninsula AAA tias more effectively, and with as little stress as possible.” The Savvy Caregiver Program was originally developed by a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota. Since 2002, it has been designated as one of the approved dementia training programs of the Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States Program, which is funded through the U.S. Administration on Aging. It is expected that the program will not only enhance caregiver skills, but will also increase the capacity of local community service organizations to support caregivers, especially in rural areas. For more information about the Savvy Caregiver Program, call UPCAP at 1-800-338-7227, or dial 2-1-1.
Reg 10 / AAA of Northwest MI
Michigan Generations
Reg 14 / Sen West Michig
ASKtheExpert
Kristin Wilson
Transition to
Digital Television
What is the digital TV transition? digital television is a new type of
broadcasting. The digital TV (DTV) transition is the switch from traditional analog TV to digital TV, a modern technology with many benefits. At midnight on February 17, 2009, traditional analog TV service will be shut off.
Why is the digital transition happening? broadcasters are transitioning
to digital to provide important benefits to consumers. Because digital broadcasting is more efficient, broadcasters require less of the airwaves to provide a better television-viewing experience. Once the DTV transition is completed, some television channels will be turned over to fire and police departments for emergency communication, and others are being auctioned to companies to provide new wireless services.
Who will it affect? the national assn. of broadcasters
estimates that 600,000 households in Michigan will need to make a switch to digital before midnight on February 17, 2009. Specifically, individuals relying on rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna to receive service are the people who will need to upgrade to digital television.
What are the options for consum‑ ers to receive digital television? consumers have three options to
continue getting television reception: • Purchase a DTV converter box for your existing TV set • Purchase a TV set with a built-in digital tuner • Subscribe to cable, satellite or other pay TV service, if that carrier offers the local broadcast stations you want. Every U.S. household is eligible to receive two coupons, worth $40 each, Winter 2009
toward the purchase of eligible digitalto-analog converter boxes. The coupons may only be used for eligible converter boxes sold at participating consumer electronics retailers, and the coupons must be used at the time of purchase. Only one coupon can be used per box. The digital-to-analog converter boxes cost from $40 to $70 each. Not all retailers carry all the brands of boxes, so calling stores ahead of time is always advised to determine what brands are sold at the retailer, and to ensure they have boxes in stock.
Does the DTV transition affect TV sets connected to satellite TV service? the dtv transition will not affect
satellite TV subscribers who receive their local TV stations through their satellite dishes. There should be no change in service for satellite subscribers unless the local TV stations are not provided by the satellite carrier. If you subscribe to a satellite TV service, check with your provider to find out if you receive a local TV station package as part of your service.
For those with older televisions, what happens if they do not get the converter box? Are there any stations they can still view? if an individual does not subscribe
to a paid television service such as cable or satellite and decides not to purchase a converter box, the only stations available will be those that come from Canadian broadcast stations. Canada will not complete their transition to digital broadcasting until August 2011.
Is there a number to call for more information? michigan has a statewide helpline
to help answer questions and to assist with ordering converter box coupons as well as the digital converter boxes. The number is 1-888-MI-DTV-09 or 1-888-643-8809.
Will I receive closed captioning through a converter box? yes. coupon - eligible converter box manufacturers are required to provide closed captioning for display on your television, but the features provided vary by box. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has produced a guide that lists selected features, including closed captioning, for a number of converter boxes. The guide is updated periodically as new converter boxes become available.
Will I still need an antenna to receive DTV over-the-air? yes, you will still need an antenna to continue watching free, over-the-air television after the digital transition. In general, the same type of antenna that gives you good-quality analog TV signals now will also provide reliable DTV reception.
Do I have to purchase a converter box that is the same brand as my television? no. you can purchase a converter
box that is a different brand than that of your television set. KRISTIN WILSON is a community planner with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B and has been studying the conversion to digital television from a senior’s perspective. 15
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Housing Slump Impacts Downsizing
T
he fall-out from the housing crisis gripping the U.S. has had an unusual impact on some seniors. These older adults are literally “stranded” in their homes, because they cannot sell them and move on to a retirement community or assisted-living facility, as they had planned. “It is part of the hidden problem of the recession,” says Larry Minnix, president of the American Assn. of Homes and Services for the Aging, in a Nov. 22, 2008, New York Times article. As stock markets have slid and retirees have watched their IRAs and 401(k)s shrink, their homes have become a more critical source of money. Many seniors who had planned on selling their homes and downsizing into a senior facility are scratching themselves off waiting lists, canceling plans with packing services and resigning themselves to staying put in houses that are too large or too difficult to live in. Retirement and assisted-living facilities report that they have seen their waiting lists wither and their occupancy rates fall in the last year. Across the country, occupancy rates for independent and assisted-living facilities have fallen by about 2% in the last year, according to the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry. But in
certain cities such as Milwaukee and Miami, the rate is closer to 20%. That translates into shrinking revenue for these businesses, with some charging a private-pay care resident over $3,000 per month. Adult children are also getting caught in the housing trap, if they cannot sell their parents’ homes. Consider, for instance, the children who put Mom into a facility and then began the process of selling her home. But with the house just sitting on the market, the younger generation has had to pay for Mom’s care with her investments — or their own.
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