Resources
Check out our local South Alabama senior living resources. Contact us to set up your consultation!
Donna Wegener & Katie Jeansonne
36 North Section Street - Fairhope, AL 36532
Senior Living Resources in South Alabama
Listen to our latest Boomers Today podcast and read through answers to common senior placement questions.
Boomers Today is our weekly podcast that helps educate families on resources available to the aging boomer population. Frank Samson, founder and CEO of Senior Care Authority®, interviews a different expert on aspects of what families face as the Boomers and their parents are aging. Subjects range from caregiver challenges, to legal matters, to financial considerations, to health and wellness topics and self-care.
Lasting Connections Between Generations
April 29, 2022 Latest EpisodeAviva Black is the founder of Family Love Letters. As her family was going through their father’s papers a few days after he passed away, her and her siblings found a sealed letter he’d left for them in the top drawer of his desk. His letter became the inspiration for Family Love Letters. Aviva continues to enjoy her role as a mother, coordinator of her temple’s Intergenerational Connect program and as the daughter of a rabbi.
Personal Chef Senior Meals at Home
April 23, 2022 Latest EpisodeMike Maccioli grew up in a home where the kitchen was the center of life for his family. With a kitchen always filled with both familiar and exotic aromas, Mike learned to appreciate many types of cuisines through his travels to Paris, Italy, Germany, South America and Eastern Europe. He loves the fact that Chefs for Seniors allows him and his chefs to bring their knowledge of food and nutrition into the kitchen of seniors and create meals that they love along with laughter and conversation.
Myths About Sex and Grieving
April 21, 2022 Latest EpisodeJoan Price calls herself an advocate for ageless sexuality. She has been called other things by the media: “senior sexpert,” “the woman leading a sex revolution for seniors,” and—her favorite— “wrinkly sex kitten.” Joan is the author of four books about senior sex, including the award-winning Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex and Sex after Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality after Losing Your Beloved. An internationally popular public speaker and sex educator, Joan has been writing and speaking about senior sex since 2005.
The Dementia Caregiver–-What You Need to Know
April 1, 2022 Latest EpisodeTami Anastasia is a dementia consultant, educator, and speaker. She is the author of Essential Strategies for the Dementia Caregiver: Learning to PACE Yourself. Tami holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling, a Certificate in Gerontology, and a Certificate in End of Life. She is an Evergreen Certified Dementia Care Specialist and Certified Senior Advisor. Tami is a sought-after speaker, frequently presenting before audiences at professional meetings, senior retirement centers, memory care and assisted living communities, health and wellness conferences, local colleges and universities, and public health organizations.
Hospice Basics
April 1, 2022 Latest EpisodeShannon Jones gives us a definition of hospice and explains eligibility for hospice and the services provided for patients and their families. Also in our conversation, Shannon will explain how to pay for hospice and describe the process to receive benefits. How does one choose a hospice provider and who are the members of the hospice team?
Generational Diversity, Aging and the Workplace
March 21, 2022 Latest EpisodeLinda Barrett has a long-term commitment to the field of aging. She is an honors graduate of Miami University where she earned a Master of Gerontological Studies degree. Linda has held many diverse positions in management, public relations, and training. After a 33-year career with the Social Security Administration, she taught gerontology courses at Miami University from 2008-2018. In 2019, Linda founded DiverseAGE, LLC whose mission is to “shed light on workplace communication, cultural diversity, and navigating issues of aging”.
Aging with A Plan
March 11, 2022 Latest EpisodeSharona Hoffman is the author of Aging with a Plan: How a Little Thought Today Can Vastly Improve Your Tomorrow. She is a Professor of Law and Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and is Co-Director of the Law School’s Law-Medicine Center. Prior to becoming an academic, Ms. Hoffman was a Senior Trial Attorney at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Houston, a litigation associate at O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, and a judicial clerk for U.S. District Judge Douglas W. Hillman (Western District of Michigan). Professor Hoffman has published over seventy articles and book chapters on health law and civil rights issues as well as two books. Her work has appeared in the Georgetown Law Journal, Harvard Journal of Law and Technology, Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law and Ethics, and many other publications. In 2021 Professor Hoffman won the Case Western Reserve University Faculty Distinguished Research Award, and in 2016 she won the Case Western Reserve University School of Law Distinguished Research Award. Professor Hoffman has lectured throughout the United States and internationally and has very frequent appearances in local, national, and international media.
Making the Most of Your Time with Your Doctor
March 4, 2022 Latest Episode"Dr. Judson Brandeis is an award-winning urologist and sexual medicine expert, clinical researcher, physician educator, and caring clinician and surgeon. Over the course of his 25-year career as a board-certified urologist, he has performed thousands of surgeries and pioneered surgical robotics. In February of 2019, he opened BrandeisMD, a national leader in technology and sexual medicine innovations for men. He brings this wealth of expertise and care to his first book, The 21st Century Man: Advice from 50 Top Doctors and Men’s Health Experts to Help You Feel Great, Look Good and Have Better Sex. https://brandeismd.com/"
Treating Cognitive Challenges with Music Therapy
February 28, 2022 Latest EpisodeJamie Blumenthal, MA, MT-BC is a Board Certified Music Therapist. Since 1982, Jamie has worked in hospitals, schools, nursing homes and community settings, providing music therapy for clients throughout the lifespan with developmental disabilities, acute and chronic psychiatric needs, medical needs, issues of aging and hospice, grief and loss, as well as offering sessions for wellness, personal and spiritual growth. Jamie has extensive experience working with older adults in all levels of care in community and a variety of facility settings. In addition, she worked as a department head, supervisor, program developer and trainer.
Walking in the Shoes of a Person with Alzheimer’s
January 24, 2022 Latest EpisodeMichael Ellenbogen was diagnosed with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 49. Prior to his diagnosis, he was a network operations manager for a Fortune 500 financial institution. Difficulty with work-related tasks eventually led to his early retirement. As a world-renowned International Dementia Advocate & Connecter, he has been featured in nationally syndicated TV, radio and other media outlets. He has written for blogs, newspapers, journals and websites and shared his personal perspective as a guest speaker. Michael served on the PA Alzheimer’s Disease Planning Committee and other advisory councils. He testified before the government, and has three letters published in the U.S. Congressional Record. He was a regular speaker at NAPA and was featured in the ADI’s 2012 World Alzheimer’s Report. He represented the U.S./World for people living with dementia at the World Health Organization in Geneva. He is interested in motivating those with Alzheimer’s to raise their voices and reduce the stigma surrounding the disease. Michael wrote about his journey with the disease in his book entitled “From the Corner Office to Alzheimer’s.”
Assistance with Long-Term Care Insurance Claims
January 20, 2021 Latest EpisodeWendy Rinehart is Co-Founder of Family Solutions for Care, a leading consumer claims benefits company. She has been in the long-term care insurance industry for over two decades, part of that time with General Electric Capital Assurance. Together with her husband David, they launched the consumer claims assistance industry and with their team, they have helped thousands of families receive over $300,000,000 of long-term care insurance benefits. Wendy Rinehart is Co-Founder of Family Solutions for Care, a leading consumer claims benefits company. She has been in the long-term care insurance industry for over two decades, part of that time with General Electric Capital Assurance. Together with her husband David, they launched the consumer claims assistance industry and with their team, they have helped thousands of families receive over $300,000,000 of long-term care insurance benefits.
The team at Senior Care Authority helped me when I didn't know what to ask. They truly care about finding the right help for your loved one.
- M. PressonWithout David's knowledge and connections in the Mobile area, we would never have known where to turn.
- L. Stringer“You are amazingly wonderful and patient and do good things in this world.”
- S. ColemanThe team at Senior Care Authority helped me when I didn't know what to ask. They truly care about finding the right help for your loved one.
- M. PressonWithout David's knowledge and connections in the Mobile area, we would never have known where to turn.
- L. Stringer“You are amazingly wonderful and patient and do good things in this world.”
- S. ColemanFrequently Asked Questions
Below you'll find answers to the questions we get asked the most about Eldercare support. If you don't see the answer to your question below, please don't hesitate to ask us anything. We promise to give you an honest answer.
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How do I know if it is time for my Mom or Dad to move into Assisted Living?
Safety is the number one factor for most families. Although most people would prefer to stay in their own home, there are significant reasons why that is sometimes not possible. In addition to safety concerns, social engagement, communal meals, scheduled activities and 24/7 supervision are some other good reasons to consider Assisted Living.
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I know Mom needs to move but she says she is staying put. What should I do? She cannot afford full time care at home.
Often, it is a process and a series of conversations. Imagine yourself in Mom’s position and don’t try to force anything. A Senior Advisor can help you map out the strategy and even help you talk with Mom.
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How much does assisted living or memory care cost?
It varies from state-to-state, even county-to- county in the same state. Costs are usually based on a fee for rent and additional fees for care, based on how much assistance is needed.
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Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for assisted living?
The rule of thumb, at this writing, is that Medicare only pays for post-acute skilled nursing care, for a maximum of 100 days if certain requirements are met. Medicaid is a state-administered program. Some states have “waivers” that allow people to spend down their money and then stay in an assisted living facility when Medicaid goes into effect. Your Advisor will be versed in the regulations in your state.
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My Dad was a veteran of WWII. He passed away three years ago. Mom now needs care. Are there benefits available to help her pay for this care?
If Dad was enlisted during a period of war (see VA website) chances are that Mom is eligible to receive his benefits. Talk to your Advisor for general guidelines and then contact your local VA office for more information.
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My Dad was just diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Does that mean he needs to live in Memory Care? He still drives!
The short answer is not necessarily. There are many factors to consider and every care situation is different. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can mean a variety of things. It is not necessarily a precursor to Alzheimer’s or other dementias. That said, dementia does not happen overnight and early stages are, in fact, a reason someone may have MCI.
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If I have Power of Attorney for a relative who is refusing care, can I force her to move?
Most likely not. A power of attorney does not give you the right to force someone to move. Usually this requires a Guardianship or Conservatorship. An elder law attorney would be your best source of advice. We can give you referrals to excellent attorneys specializing in laws relating to eldercare.
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I live in New York City. Mom lives in California. She is showing signs of forgetfulness and has no relatives on the west coast. How do I manage her care?
Hiring a local Senior Advisor or Patient Advocate is your best bet to having “boots on the ground” when your loved one lives far away. Interview several and find someone with whom you feel comfortable. We can help!
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My mother is applying for Medicaid. She owns her own home but has no other assets. Her social security of $800/month is her only income. Will she be approved?
Most likely yes but as we stated above, programs vary from state to state. Home ownership is not typically considered when determining eligibility. If she is going to have to sell her home to pay for care, your best option is to consult with a Medicaid planning or elder law attorney. Again, we can refer you to someone competent and compassionate.