Prime Healthcare Passionate about SeniorsAt St. Joseph Medical Center, weve made changes to provide specialized care tailored to seniors. As the first accredited geriatric ER in KC, we identify seniors that may need extra support during or after their hospitalization. Our inpatient Senior Behavioral Health Unit provides care for adults over 55 years of age experiencing acute behavioral symptoms associated with dementia and/or other mental health conditions.Paul Hura, MD, Senior Care Services Medical Director shares, "It is an honor and privilege to care for our seniors, and these philosophies remain very important to our physicians, nurses and entire healthcare teams at St. Joseph Medical Center.St. Marys Medical Center is a patient-centered community hospital in Blue Springs, Missouri providing comprehensive quality care with state-of-the-art treatment in a warm, caring environment.  With the only accredited Geriatric Emergency Department in Eastern Jackson County, Dr. Michael Liston, Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer, understands this well.  We take caring for seniors to heart.  St. Marys holds numerous Grade A and 5-star ratings, while continuing to offer hometown touches such as walk-in 3D Mammograms.   As a community partner with local schools, chambers, and charitable organizations, St. Marys is Your Community Hospital.  StMarysKC.comIn Leavenworth, Saint John Hospital offers Senior Behavioral Health for inpatient care. During a patients stay, the unit uses a multi-sensory and multi-disciplinary approach to care. Our specialized staff supports patients and family member with comprehensive nursing care 24 hours a day. Many times, the slow loss of a loved ones sense of self and memory is confusing and difficult for the individual and their loved ones through some of the more difficult aspects of dementia, says Dr. Amand, Psychiatrist and Medical Director. Providence Medical Center is a community hospital located in Kansas City, Kansas. Committed to excellence and award-winning patient care, Providence received an A grade on the 2023-24 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility. Providence achieved this honor through strong performance across metrics of health equity, patient outcomes, and value of care, out of more than 3,600 hospitals nationwide. Providence has received a five-star rating from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The star award is given based on metrics such as mortality, readmission, patient safety and patient experience. Providence is also nationally recognized in multiple service lines, receiving 18 awards with eight Five-Star ratings, according to research released by Healthgrades.   

Don't be fooled by a Simple WillSometimes people will say they want a Simple Will. They assume their assets are uncomplicated and their family situation is typical. But, they dont want surprises.This may be a husband and wife with responsible adult children, a young couple with minor children or a single person. They want the will to distribute their assets to their family. Some attorneys prepare a Simple Will, leaving the impression they have taken care of things. Computer based will forms can provide similar false security. It can be like getting a prescription for bad medicine. A will is not an efficient way to distribute your estate. It requires court approval and processing in accord with probate procedures. This is slow and expensive. The process takes a minimum of 6 months in Kansas and 12 months in Missouri. Typical attorney fees for a $200,000 estate are $7,000 to $10,000, or more.A will only applies to assets that are in the deceased person's name, and that have no beneficiary designations. Most married couples hold bank accounts and real estate jointly. Upon the first spouses death, the assets go to the survivor, not through the will. If the assets have a payable on death (POD) or transfer on death (TOD) designation, or a beneficiary designation as on a life insurance policy or retirement account, these arrangements take priority over the will. Disputes occur when beneficiary designations are different than will provisions.For a young couple with minor children, if their retirement accounts and life insurance beneficiary designations are primary-spouse, contingent-children, and there is no surviving spouse, or a divorce has occurred, then the will does not apply to the childrens shares. It does not matter that the will may have provisions to protect the funds for the childrens education and long-term well-being.An experienced estate attorney will review all assets, their titles and beneficiary designations. Surprisingly, this review frequently shows the Simple Will has no use. Preparing a Simple Will without understanding a clients unique needs, and confirming asset titles and beneficiary designations, provides false security and often results in more expense, delay and family disputes, down the road.Article by James P. Berger, J.D., of Berger Estate & Elder Law, P.A. who can be reached at 913-491-6332 or by email at jim@berger-lawfirm.com.

Life After StrokeNearly 800,000 individuals in the United States have a stroke each year, and there are nearly 8 million survivors of stroke in the United States alone.  With increased awareness of stroke symptoms, fast response in calling 911, and new medications, more and more individuals are surviving a stroke each year.  Following a stroke, a person will typically recover in the hospital and then progress to other rehabilitation options, with the optimal goal to return home.  Once home, there may be more therapy and/or assistance required.  Eventually the therapy may stop as progress slows down, but recovery does not have an expiration date and will continue for the individual.  As such, there is the continued need for support and services.   Explore options with the hospital and rehabilitation staff regarding the types of programs and services offered in your community post stroke.  Ask the following:1.    Are there support groups in the community for the survivor of stroke?  For family members, caregivers/care partners?  2.    Are there community based wellness programs to help continue the improvement and independence being regained by the survivor of stroke?  Look for programs that address physical and cognitive wellness, along with social and emotional well-being.  Stroke can happen to anyone at any time.  So BE FAST in identifying a stroke and call 911.  Time is brain.  The acronym BE FAST relates to the following indicators of a stroke.  Balance = Sudden onset of dizziness or balance issues.Eyesight = Sudden changes, blurred vision or trouble with eyesight in one or both eyes. Face = Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, with one side appearing droopy.Arm = Sudden weakness or numbness of one arm.Speech = Sudden inability to speak or slurred/garbled/strange speech. Time = Call 911 immediately if you observe any of these signs.   This article submitted by Jeanette Boucher, OTR/L.  Jeanette is a Program Coordinator at the American Stroke Foundation and may be reached at 913.649.1776 or by email at jeanette@americanstroke.org  

Even if you have a long-term care insurance policy, you may likely be hoping that you won't ever have reason to use it. Regardless of what the future holds, there's one silver lining of which you may not be aware. That is, premiums on many long-term care insurance policies are in fact tax-deductible.  What Is Long-Term Care Insurance? Long-term care insurance, or LTCI, can help you prepare for covering the cost of care in a nursing home facility or other setting when and if you need it. Unfortunately, the likelihood that youll need long-term care services at some point is high. In fact, about 70 percent of older adults find themselves having to rely on at least some long-term care in their later years.  When individuals require long-term care, it means that they need assistance when completing activities of daily living (ADLs). These basic daily tasks include dressing oneself, showering, or moving safely from one place to another in one's household, such as from the bed to the bathroom, or in and out of one's chair. In most cases, your LTCI policy will begin covering long-term care services if you cannot perform at least two ADLs on your own.  The cost of LTCI policy premiums can be out of reach for many people, and some insurers have been raising premiums over the course of time. According to one 2022 survey by HCG Secure, a mere one in 10 of Americans older than 65 have a long-term care insurance policy. However, if you have purchased a tax-qualified plan, you may be able to deduct the insurance premium as a medical expense.  Is My Long-Term Care Insurance Policy Tax-Deductible? You can deduct numerous types of medical and dental expenses from your taxes. In addition to qualified long-term care insurance premiums, other deductible health expenses include the following: prescription medications and insulin substance use disorder inpatient treatment or smoking-cessation programs prescription or reading eyeglasses contact lenses hearing aids X-rays artificial teeth acupuncture treatments the cost of caring for a guide dog for a person with a vision or hearing disability  When filing your 2023 federal income taxes, check with your insurance broker or state insurance commission to determine whether your LTCI policy qualifies.  Only certain long-term care insurance policies meet the criteria for a tax deduction. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners sets these rules. Typically, many hybrid long-term care policies do not qualify for a premium deduction. (For more information on what defines a qualified LTCI contract, consult the IRS Publication 502 for the current tax year.)  If your policy does qualify, you can deduct your LTCI policy premium up to a specified limit. Keep in mind that you will only be eligible for a tax deduction if all of your eligible medical expenses totaled more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income for the year.  Select states also offer LTCI tax incentives, so be sure to check with your tax advisor. Note, too, that if you are self-employed, the rules regarding these deductions can differ.  How Much Can I Deduct in 2024? If your annual LTCI policy premium is higher than the limit provided in the table below, it will count as a medical expense. The older you are, the higher your deductible limit. For example, if you are a 75-year-old individual at the end of 2023, you may be able to deduct up to $5,880 in LTCI premiums as qualified medical expenses.  There are lower deduction limits this year than in previous years. The Internal Revenue Service adjusts these limits each year.  The cost of long-term care services can in large part depend on where you live. Check out this online tool to get an estimate based on your ZIP code.  The ins and outs of LTCI products can prove to be complicated. Consult with an experienced tax or elder law attorney in your area. An elder law attorney can provide guidance on purchasing an LTCI policy and also assist you in planning for the possibility that you will need long-term care in the future.