Articles - The Main Categories
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Caregiving
New Hope for Medicare Recipients Impacted by “Observation Status” Rules
Being in the hospital in an Observation Status comes as a rude awakening to many seniors. Being placed in a room has always meant you were being admitted. Right? Nope, at best that would be a big maybe. In 2013 it was called the “two-midnight rule” to help clarify defining observation status, but that’s changed. An unintended consequence of this rule and to avoid denial of payments by Medicare for hospital admissions challenged by Medicare
The Role of the Adult Day Center
Where can an aging adult go to socialize, laugh, sing, exercise, receive health care and eat well balanced, nutritious meals? Many adult day centers offer these benefits and more for aging adults who require additional assistance during the day due to health reasons. Currently there are 4,600 adult day centers in the United States serving approximately 260,000 aging adults, younger persons with disabilities, and caregivers. Estimates show a 63% increase in the number of people
Adult Day Services Keeps Seniors Independent Longer
Adult Day Center services may be the perfect fit for you and your loved one if you are identifying that additional care is needed as independence inevitably declines. They offer necessary supervision during the day with the participant returning home, where they feel most comfortable, at the end of the day. Adult Day Centers provide meaningful activities, an opportunity for socialization amongst peers, medication management, meals, necessary support and supervision. These services empower older adults
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Elder Law
What is Probate and Why You Want to Avoid It
A Will must be probated, therefore, making it available to the public. Are you curious what Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis or Elvis Presley did with their fortune? How they dispersed their assets? Shockingly, it is simple to find out how their fortune was divided up because both used a Last Will and Testament in their estate plan. A Will must be probated, therefore, making it available to the public. Probate is the legal process normally required
Conflict & Family Caregivers – What You Need to Know
Conflict is a normal, natural part of everyone’s life. Factors that can exacerbate conflict include the well-known things to avoid in polite conversation: religion, politics and money. For families, these big three topics quickly trigger emotions that can be difficult to defuse and when things go awry the aftermath can be felt for decades. According to a May 2018 AARP article “Millennials: The Emerging Generation of Family Caregivers,” there are 40 million family caregivers in
Nursing Home Planning. How do you achieve peace in the midst of uncertainty?
Are you worried about the impact of a Nursing Home stay on you or a spouse? You are not alone! The majority of older adults worry about this possibility. Consider the following: • How will I pay for Nursing Home Care? Medicare coverage is available in many cases but is limited in payment duration. Long Term Care insurance can do wonders in protecting our assets and may even increase your chances of gaining
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Health at Home
Facing Infection Head On
Infections are frightening – just ask anyone with an imminent surgery, joint replacement, or hospital stay, and many will tell you their biggest concern is developing an infection while there. And their fear is not unwarranted. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 25 patients will have at least one infection following their hospital stay. Also known as HAIs (healthcare-acquired infections), many infections are the result of germs picked up during a hospital
What is Aging in Place?
Aging in place is a term used to describe a person living in the residence of their choice, for as long as they are able, as they age. This includes being able to have any services, assistance, or other support that they might need over time and as their needs change. As we get older, our bodies age and our health status changes. Aging in place initiatives help older people navigate these changes while preserving
Take the Pressure Off with Senior Care
Summary: There are many responsibilities when caring for an aging parent and sometimes family members cannot be there all of the time. Senior care from Non-Medical Home Care Agency can provide a respite for families for the times that they cannot be with their loved one. ________________________________________________________________________ Many are expected to take care of elderly parents or family members as their parents age and become less independent. It is very difficult, especially considering that most
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Healthy Aging
Facing Infection Head On
Infections are frightening – just ask anyone with an imminent surgery, joint replacement, or hospital stay, and many will tell you their biggest concern is developing an infection while there. And their fear is not unwarranted. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 25 patients will have at least one infection following their hospital stay. Also known as HAIs (healthcare-acquired infections), many infections are the result of germs picked up during a hospital
Livin’ The Dream, No Matter What Age
Eighty-three year-old Iola Wagner felt a mixture of both excitement and nerves as she entered the auditorium of the Elizabeth Stewart Treehouse Museum in Ogden, Utah. This was a moment she’d spent weeks preparing for, and a day she’d long been awaiting. When it finally came time for her to take the stage, Iola sat down, took a deep breath and began reading aloud. This wasn’t the first time Iola had taken this stage. In
Is it safe? When to Use Complementary or Integrative Products and Practices
An entire branch of the National Institutes of Health is dedicated to complementary and integrative health. This field offers treatments and therapies that do not require surgery or medication, allowing a more holistic and gentler approach. Many are quite effective, and for certain people they can be more effective without the side effects of more traditional treatments. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, abbreviated as NCCIH has great resources. Their main website is
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Money
Conflict & Family Caregivers – What You Need to Know
Conflict is a normal, natural part of everyone’s life. Factors that can exacerbate conflict include the well-known things to avoid in polite conversation: religion, politics and money. For families, these big three topics quickly trigger emotions that can be difficult to defuse and when things go awry the aftermath can be felt for decades. According to a May 2018 AARP article “Millennials: The Emerging Generation of Family Caregivers,” there are 40 million family caregivers in
ALPHA’s Urgent Mission – and we Need YOU!
Do you know a senior that needs some support? Perhaps they would do better with assisted housing such as a Personal Care Home or Assisted Living? Perhaps they would, but perhaps the monthly cost of a Personal Care Home exceeds $3,400 per month and is out of their reach? In York County, more than 17% of York County residents age 65 or older have a monthly income of less than $1500. We certainly have a
Not Your Mother’s Reverse Mortgage…
The reverse mortgage of today is NOT your mother’s reverse mortgage. This once shamed program is helping seniors from many walks of life fill retirement gaps, providing protection and stability through their golden years. Through the use of an FHA insured reverse mortgage, homeowners are able to tap into the equity in their homes without being required to make a monthly mortgage. That’s right – a reverse mortgage CAN provide Colorado’s seniors with cash flow for life –
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Professional Services and Resources
New Hope for Medicare Recipients Impacted by “Observation Status” Rules
Being in the hospital in an Observation Status comes as a rude awakening to many seniors. Being placed in a room has always meant you were being admitted. Right? Nope, at best that would be a big maybe. In 2013 it was called the “two-midnight rule” to help clarify defining observation status, but that’s changed. An unintended consequence of this rule and to avoid denial of payments by Medicare for hospital admissions challenged by Medicare
The Role of the Adult Day Center
Where can an aging adult go to socialize, laugh, sing, exercise, receive health care and eat well balanced, nutritious meals? Many adult day centers offer these benefits and more for aging adults who require additional assistance during the day due to health reasons. Currently there are 4,600 adult day centers in the United States serving approximately 260,000 aging adults, younger persons with disabilities, and caregivers. Estimates show a 63% increase in the number of people
What to Consider About Medicare
Nearly 60 million consumers are enrolled in some type of Medicare health insurance. That number is expected to grow rapidly, with more than 11,000 Baby Boomers aging into Medicare eligibility each day. For many of these individuals, this is the first time they won’t have an employer giving them access to a health plan. And for those who already have Medicare, they may benefit from understanding their options if they want to switch their coverage.
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Senior Housing
A Safety Net on the Southwest Side of Chicago
The Southwest Home Equity Assurance Program is a unique program of the State of Illinois (65 ILCS 95) that was developed to guarantee property values for an extended time. It is financed by a special levy imposed on the Chicago property tax bill within the home equity district on single through six-unit residential properties. Chicagoan’s are eligible if they own a home within the southwest side district. The district encompasses 9 wards, 7 zip codes
7 Mistakes Families Make When Looking For Senior Care
Searching for assisted living or residential care by yourself can be an eye opening experience for anyone, especially when your loved one has special needs. Here are some mistakes to avoid when searching. They take facility operators at their word. It’s a regrettable situation, but operators and marketers of assisted living centers are sometimes under considerable pressure to keep their facilities full. This can lead to misrepresenting the facts. For instance, some may say their
Adult Day Services Keeps Seniors Independent Longer
Adult Day Center services may be the perfect fit for you and your loved one if you are identifying that additional care is needed as independence inevitably declines. They offer necessary supervision during the day with the participant returning home, where they feel most comfortable, at the end of the day. Adult Day Centers provide meaningful activities, an opportunity for socialization amongst peers, medication management, meals, necessary support and supervision. These services empower older adults
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View Articles by Edition
A Safety Net on the Southwest Side of Chicago
The Southwest Home Equity Assurance Program is a unique program of the State of Illinois (65 ILCS 95) that was developed to guarantee property values for an extended time. It is financed by a special levy imposed on the Chicago property tax bill within the home equity district on single through six-unit residential properties. Chicagoan’s are eligible if they own a home within the southwest side district. The district encompasses 9 wards, 7 zip codes
New Hope for Medicare Recipients Impacted by “Observation Status” Rules
Being in the hospital in an Observation Status comes as a rude awakening to many seniors. Being placed in a room has always meant you were being admitted. Right? Nope, at best that would be a big maybe. In 2013 it was called the “two-midnight rule” to help clarify defining observation status, but that’s changed. An unintended consequence of this rule and to avoid denial of payments by Medicare for hospital admissions challenged by Medicare
The Role of the Adult Day Center
Where can an aging adult go to socialize, laugh, sing, exercise, receive health care and eat well balanced, nutritious meals? Many adult day centers offer these benefits and more for aging adults who require additional assistance during the day due to health reasons. Currently there are 4,600 adult day centers in the United States serving approximately 260,000 aging adults, younger persons with disabilities, and caregivers. Estimates show a 63% increase in the number of people
A Safety Net on the Southwest Side of Chicago
The Southwest Home Equity Assurance Program is a unique program of the State of Illinois (65 ILCS 95) that was developed to guarantee property values for an extended time. It is financed by a special levy imposed on the Chicago property tax bill within the home equity district on single through six-unit residential properties. Chicagoan’s are eligible if they own a home within the southwest side district. The district encompasses 9 wards, 7 zip codes
New Hope for Medicare Recipients Impacted by “Observation Status” Rules
Being in the hospital in an Observation Status comes as a rude awakening to many seniors. Being placed in a room has always meant you were being admitted. Right? Nope, at best that would be a big maybe. In 2013 it was called the “two-midnight rule” to help clarify defining observation status, but that’s changed. An unintended consequence of this rule and to avoid denial of payments by Medicare for hospital admissions challenged by Medicare
The Role of the Adult Day Center
Where can an aging adult go to socialize, laugh, sing, exercise, receive health care and eat well balanced, nutritious meals? Many adult day centers offer these benefits and more for aging adults who require additional assistance during the day due to health reasons. Currently there are 4,600 adult day centers in the United States serving approximately 260,000 aging adults, younger persons with disabilities, and caregivers. Estimates show a 63% increase in the number of people