Protecting Our Seniors: Click Here to Report Scams / Robocalls & Learn How To Fight Fraud.
Protecting Our Seniors: Click Here to Report Scams / Robocalls & Learn How To Fight Fraud.
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Harp Johal, Local Senior Advisors
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.
Dr. Kimberly Harms has been around the block in life. She has served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service, a dental school professor, a grief counselor, a death doula, a civil mediator, and many other prominent positions. She is an award-winning, best-selling author of the book, “Are You Ready?: How to Build a Legacy to Die For” as well as being an international speaker on the topics of grief, conflict and legacy planning. She has also suffered many personal losses, including the deaths by suicide of her mother and son and the death by broken heart of her husband after their son’s death. Her most important role now is mother to her two surviving children and grandmother to 6 precious grandchildren.
Patricia Faust is a gerontologist specializing in brain aging and brain health. She has a Master’s in Gerontological Studies from Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Patricia is certified as a brain health coach and received a certification in Neuroscience and Wellness through Dr. Sarah McKay and the Neuroscience Academy. My Boomer Brain is the vehicle Patricia utilizes to teach, coach, and consult about brain aging, brain health, and living a brain-healthy lifestyle. Her book, The Boomer Brain, educates boomers on strategies to live a brain-healthy lifestyle and prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia.
In 2016, Kitty Norton left her job as an NBC assistant editor in Los Angeles to walk, stumble, crawl with her dementia mother. While doing so, she authored the dementia caregiver blog Stumped Town Dementia, writing tales of dementia life for readers around the world. After Gloria Norton died from vascular dementia, Kitty created and directed the dementia family caregiver documentary, Wine, Women, & Dementia, in honor of her mother and to celebrate family caregivers; to let them know they are worthy of being seen, heard, and respected on this difficult road to the end of life.
S. Jay Olshansky received his Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Chicago in 1984. He is currently a Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Research Associate at the Center on Aging at the University of Chicago and at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Chief Scientist at Lapetus Solutions, Inc. The focus of his research to date has been on estimates of the upper limits to human longevity, exploring the health and public policy implications associated with individual and population aging, forecasts of the size, survival, and age structure of the population, pursuit of the scientific means to slow aging in people (The Longevity Dividend), and global implications of the re-emergence of infectious and parasitic diseases. We’re going to talk about his recent paper titled, “Implausibility of radical life extension in humans in the twenty-first century,” which was recently recognized in the WSJ and NY Times.
Dr. Gradman graduated from Harvard Medical School with honors. He moved to California and completed his postgraduate studies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he practiced vascular surgery for over forty years. His book, “The Fall Guy, How to Keep Gravity from Ruining Your Day,” is a primer on fall prevention. It blends humor, vignettes, and many anecdotes along with useful and thorough advice for adults and seniors.
Costin Tuculescu is co-founder and CEO of ONSCREEN, Inc. with over 20 years of experience in technology. He is passionate about innovation and fostering the growth of the tech ecosystem and leads the company in providing an innovative TV-based platform that not only connects older adults with their loved ones but also enhances their well-being through automated wellness check-ins, telehealth capabilities, and an AI companion.
Teepa Snow is one of the world’s leading advocates and educators for anyone living with dementia or other forms of brain change. Teepa is an Occupational Therapist with over forty years of rich and varied clinical and academic experience. Her philosophy is reflective of her education, work experience, medical research, and first-hand caregiving experiences. Her advocacy efforts led her to the development of the GEMS® State Model for understanding the progression of dementia and changes in abilities. She also created the Positive Approach to Care® training strategies, which are effective techniques for anyone seeking to optimize care and support for those living with brain change.
LaToria Woods is an experienced acute care adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist with a robust background in emergency nursing education and practice for the last 24 years. Currently serving as a Nursing Content Specialist in the Education Division at the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), she plays a pivotal role in developing educational resources for emergency nurses. LaToria also serves as the Staff Liaison for both the Emergency Nursing Advanced Practice Advisory Council and the Geriatric Committee Volunteer Groups at ENA. Her dedication to enhancing emergency nursing education underscores her passion for ensuring that geriatric patients receive the highest quality of care, ultimately leading to optimal health outcomes.
Dr. Edward G. Shaw, MD, MA, is dually trained as a physician and mental health counselor. He was the primary care partner for his late wife Rebecca, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2007 at age 53 and died in 2016 after a 9-year journey. Ed was a practicing academic radiation oncologist for 23 years, specializing in the treatment of adults and children with brain cancer. In 2010, inspired by Rebecca’s journey, his medical interest shifted to dementia diagnosis and treatment, and with his additional training in mental health counseling, he founded the Memory Counseling Program in 2011, part of the Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine and the Sticht Center on Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Program serves individuals, couples, and families affected by Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia. Dr. Shaw has also authored four books on Dementia which we will discuss shortly.
Lisa Weintraub Schifferle is a Senior Policy Analyst in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office for Older Americans. The CFPB is a United States Government Agency. She leads the Managing Someone Else’s Money financial caregiving program as well as the Money Smart for Older Adults scam awareness program. She also supports the Office’s work to combat elder financial exploitation through network collaboration and age-friendly banking. Lisa’s career in consumer protection spans more than 25 years. Before coming to the CFPB, she worked at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where she trained consumers, business and advocates on scams, identity theft, and cybersecurity. She also served as the FTC’s Identity Theft Coordinator and litigated fraud and data security cases.
Trent Spivey is the founder of Living Memory, where he works with families to preserve their elders' stories and legacies with the power of immersive media. By combining cutting-edge technology and a thoughtful series of personal interviews, Trent helps people tell their story in their own words while creating priceless records that families and communities will cherish for years to come.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
