Seniors Blue Book Article Fall 2014 Edition Stephanie Bender-Kitz, Director, Friends in Action Family Caregivers Matter! Do you know that there are more than 40,000 Treasure Valley family members-- spouses, adult children, parents and grandparents who provide care and support to ill, disabled, or frail loved ones at home? These family caregivers are de facto care coordinators, medication managers, personal and medical care providers, fiscal and legal managers, planners and decision-makers for tens of thousands of chronically ill or disabled people in our community. Our health care and social services rely heavily on family caregivers to provide care but don't address caregivers needs for training, information and support. As a result, family caregivers experience stress, depression, anxiety, and often become isolated; they have to leave jobs or reduce their work hours; they spend much of their own money to care for others; and most sobering, they can die before the person they care for. Family caregivers are the backbone of our community's health care, and they deserve to be informed, prepared, and supported! Do you know someone who is a family caregiver? A great way to help is to encourage that person to say I am a family caregiver, and I deserve to be supported! Caregivers who self-identify are much more likely to seek information and support that can help them provide care AND they are more likely to take care of themselves too. Where can a family caregiver turn for information and support? A great resource is the Seniors Blue Book. Another great resource is a nonprofit agency called Friends in Action (FIA). FIAs services help family caregivers build a "toolbox" of resources, skills and strategies to navigate the challenges of caregiving, reduce stress, connect with resources, and build confidence in their abilities. FIAs education programs (Powerful Tools for Caregivers and Living Well in Idaho) teach caregivers how to manage stress and feel less overwhelmed. Our in-home support services (Legacy Corps Caregiver Support Program) gives regular breaks to veteran and military families. The JumpStart program works with caregivers one-on-one to connect them with quality information and resources to meet their unique needs and concerns. FIAs 4th Annual Family Caregiver Conference (January 31, 2015) is a one-day education event to connect caregivers with great information, community resources, and mutual support. Many of FIAs services are provided by amazing volunteers (more than 160 of them), who extend the expertise of professional staff and allow FIA to cost-effectively serve many more caregivers. Don't hesitate to reach out to FIA and ask how we can help any family caregiver you know. We believe family caregivers matter!

CHALLENGE #1:Knowing How to Fill Out the Complex Medicaid ApplicationMedicaid eligibility can be incredibly complex and each waiver can differ from state tostate. The consequences of being denied by Medicaid is frustrating and causes undostress to clients and families.  Because the rules for Medicaid change frequently it's difficult forpeople to know how to fill out the application properly.  Additionally, the application is time-consuming and the review process is often lengthy.As Certified Medicaid Planners Legacy Navigation helps you:Structure your financial resourcesPrepare documentationAssist in creating Miller trustsManage your asset transfersPreserve your family's resourcesProtect your home from Medicaid recoveryManage your finances to ensure a (a non-applicant spouse) has adequateincome and resources to continue living independently during and after the timetheir partner is receiving care assistance.CHALLENGE #2Understanding the Latest (and Often Changing) Medicaid Rules and How They Apply toYour Specific SituationDo you need to make more monthly income that exceeds Medicaids limit?Are you wondering if you can keep your home?Do you need a vehicle?These are conversations Legacy Navigation has everyday with their Clients.  TheirRegistered Nurse (RN) and Master Social Worker (MSW) begin the process with a freeconsultation to look at your whole picture.  This consultation includes: A complete medical, financial, and psychosocial assessment. Setting Client & family goals. Assessing your likelihood of Medicaid approval. Dispelling the myths of Medicaid.  Once a Client of Legacy Navigation, they will become your Authorized Representative togather all the needed paperwork for submitting your formal application to Medicaid.Once submitted they then go to work communicating with Medicaid 2 to 3 times a weekto ensure your application is moving forward!CHALLENGE #3Housing: Finding You Assisted Living or Bringing Care Giving Services to Your HomeDo you want to stay in your home but need more care?Is it time to consider assisted living but you cannot afford it?Legacy Navigation has relationships with agencies throughout the State to help withyour Medicaid assisted-living placement, or, finding Medicaid caregivers to providesupport in the home for your advanced care needs.About Legacy NavigationLegacy Navigation are skilled pro's in "navigating" the complex world of Medicaid. With acombined 50 years of health care experience and over 227+ successful Clientplacements they are your trusted advocates. Their chief aim is to bring you peace ofmind and comfort during your time of need!  Legacy Navigation Is Recognized as Experts inMedicaid Applications with a 99% Approval RateEditors Note: This article was submitted by Brooke Baker RN and Jessica Young MSW,co-owners of Legacy Navigation who may be reached at (208) 204-6004 or on the webat www.legacynavigate.com

The Medicare Hospice Benefit is a federally mandated benefit. Because of that, all Hospices are required to follow the same core guidelines when providing Hospice care. Those performing the care and their philosophy of caring for their patients are what separate one Hospice from another. Make sure you connect with their team of clinicians. You always have a choice when deciding which Hospice to care for you and your loved one. Choosing the right hospice is very important. One that can be confusing; here are some tips to help make the process easier. When choosing the right hospice; I recommend a few things to consider when making your decision. One of the most important factors is the level of involvement from the Hospices Medical Director. Every Hospice is required to have a Medical Director, but the regulations aren't very detailed in how involved they have to be. Here are some examples of questions you can ask. Who is your Medical Director? How often will I be able to see them? Do I have to go to their office or will they make house calls? Hospices use their Medical Director differently; I recommended choosing a Hospice that has the Medical Director very closely involved with the patients and one that will visit them in their home. Secondly, I would ask the Hospice to describe their Bereavement Program. This is a program that Medicare requires each hospice to provide to families and caregivers for up to a year following the death of your loved one. Often times, I tell families, the medical management of the patient themselves is the easy part its everything else that goes along with a dying loved one that complicates matters. I recommend choosing a Hospice that has a variety of offerings in their bereavement program and one that is specialized in Grief Recovery. Peace of mind goes a long way when you are grieving. Knowing that the Bereavement Program will create an individualized plan for you is valuable. Knowing you are not alone is very important. There are many factors when deciding which Hospice to choose to care for you and your loved one. You may also ask your friends, family, neighbors and church members what experiences they have had and what they've learned was important. Hopefully these tips will help make your decision easier when the time comes. Kristi Hartway, Director of Operations Harrisons Hope Hospice

Capitalize on a lifetime of learning If you are a life-long student still hoping to complete that dream of a bachelors degree, consider the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies at Boise State University. This degree is designed to help adults successfully complete a degree while balancing life with school. Whether its to show your children or grandchildren that its never too late to seek out education or something that you want to check off your bucket list, we can help you get there. Our students average age is 42 years old, with our youngest students in their mid to late twenties to our most senior student at age 82, who is graduating this semester! If you prefer a completely online option, consider the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies online degree. The Multidisciplinary Studies degree is designed for students with 58 or more college credits and at least five years of work/life experience. An individual customized degree completion plan is created by the student and approval is granted for course selections designed around personal and professional goals. Many of our students did not take the traditional four year plan through school opting for more of a scenic route through education and are now ready to get that diploma. With a little more time on their hands and the handsome fee waiver for Idaho residents that dream can become a reality. Idaho residents who are at least 60 years old may register for courses and pay $5 per credit hour, a $20 registration fee (per semester), and any special fees (such as for private music lessons, workshops, or laboratory fees). Give us a call and lets see how we can help you finish that dream of completing your Bachelors Degree, its just a phone call away! For more information, please contact mds@boisestate.edu or call 426-3721 and speak with Vicki Budd, Program Director, Alexis, or Rebecca for more detailed information visit our website at http//sspa.boisestate.edu/mds. Editors Note: This article was written by Vicki Budd, Program Director for the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies. Visit http//sspa.boisestate.edu/mds for more information.