Private Home Care ...........................................................................6Medicare and the Affordable Care Act ......................................12Screened Senior Service Companies You Can Trust ..................14Treating Arthritis Pain .... ..................................................................19

Some of us take for granted the simple, ordinary–seemingly meaningless–abilities we get to

employ in our daily lives. Things like getting out of bed, brushing our teeth, washing our hair, and getting dressed to start the day are activities we never feel supremely lucky to do; yet once we lose our ability to accomplish those simple actions––we suddenly realize how important those small tasks are to our health, well being and quality of life.

When everyday tasks become a challenge due to a disability, illness, injury, or simply old age, home care provides the assistance needed to keep up a household and make life easier (and safer) for those living in it.

It’s very likely that we’ll all have to consider home care at some point in our lifetime––whether it be for a loved one or ourselves. The decision to hire a home care company for you or a family member is an important one that can be very difficult to address. The very first step in the process involves evaluating your particular situation and deciding when it’s time to seek out assistance––but there’s a long way to go from there in the process of securing the right in-home care plan.

Read on for some helpful tips: learn about your options and know what to watch out for when electing a home care provider for yourself or a loved one.

When to Consider Home Care

If an illness or recovery from surgery requires nursing care or physical therapy, a physician may order skilled home care services that provide both trained providers and personal aides. Your decision for care is then based on the obvious medical determinations made by a doctor––but what if you must determine the extent of care needed without the help of a physician?

If you’re noticing that you or a loved one struggle to get through daily routines that involve driving, cleaning, cooking, and personal maintenance in a safe manner, you may want to consider home care before things get worse. When left unassisted, one accidental slip and fall around the house (or worse: an accident outside of the home in-route to the doctor’s office or grocery store) can be detrimental, life changing and even fatal, let alone bring on an unwelcome minor injury that will only compound the struggle at home.

To put it simply: If you or a loved one is having trouble getting around the house safely, it’s time to consider in-home care.

Each home care situation is unique: In the beginning, family or friends step in to help with simple tasks and support for aging seniors who want to stay in their homes. As long term care needs progress, more time is required to manage those needs. Physical and mental conditions

change with aging, making usually routine hygiene and daily living activities difficult. Even with the healthiest of seniors, the ability to drive a car, shop for groceries or do general housekeeping eventually needs to be relinquished to the responsibility of another person.

The question of securing an in-home care provider is based on many factors, including the severity of the situation, the needs and size of the household, the finances at hand, and many other elements. It’s very important that before you address these topics you realize that there are in fact two main types of home care to consider.

In-Home Care Options Explained: “Home Care” vs. “Home Health Care”

Home Health Care is advanced care within the home provided by licensed medical professionals. It is conducted by home health aides and home healthcare nurses (HHNs), sometimes one of each, who have the medical abilities and equipment that an “home care” provider is not prepared to offer.

Home health care is for seniors with advanced medical issues, trouble breathing, little to no mobility, or pre-diagnosed medical disorders that require the care of an experienced medical professional.

Oftentimes when discharged from the hospital or after a temporary stay in a rehabilitation facility or nursing home, you’re eligible for “Home Health Care” assistance paid for by Medicare. If you decide on home health care for a loved one, with or without a physician’s order, be sure to check into your options regarding insurance for both short and long term care.

Home Care or In-Home Care refers to domiciliary care (sometimes called custodial or social care) and it is not medically based. Home care services are centered on routine assistance with daily tasks and the companionship of a professional, licensed and insured caregiver.

Although there is no heavy medical expertise required in providing this sort of care––experienced caregivers are familiar with the many, varied needs of senior citizens, and provide thoughtful assistance with daily tasks that still greatly contribute to their health and wellbeing. The purchasing and preparation of healthy, well-balanced meals, assistance with personal hygiene, driving, cleaning, and medication scheduling are perhaps the most important responsibilities of an in-home care companion.

(cont. page 8)

A Case for Non-Medical Home Care:Karen stops by her parents’ home on her way to work every morning and again on her way home from work in the evening. She checks in the morning to see that her parents are up and ready for the day and takes a shopping list for things they need. In the evening she delivers the items they need, which she purchased on her lunch break––she sometimes fixes a meal when her mother is not able to prepare one. This works well until Karen notices her father isn’t shaving or dressing for the day, and both parents are forgetting their medications. More time and supervision is needed, but with her own family and job, Karen just can’t handle it. Non-medical or personal home care services would be an ideal option for Karen and her parents to consider.

Private Home CareBy Desiree Vitale, Elder Assistance of

AmericaAging in place offers the ability to stay in your own home.

FEBRUARY 1ST, 2014 Free Guidance for Seniors and Families Aging Tree.com 386-774-2446 Kohl’s Plaza-Orange City

Service Branch

6

Will ObamaCare

The Aff ordable Care Act (ACA) was introduced back on March 23, 2010; however, many Americans are still unsure about how the new law will aff ect their health and fi nances in the future. For seniors, the changes resulting from the ACA are of even greater signifi cance due to the multiple health and budgeting concerns that develop with age. With the new bill in place, and a few years to sett le in, many seniors have found that a number of its provisions off er greater benefi ts and higher quality care: improvements many doubted just a few years ago.

As health care reform debates ignited before the law was passed, rumors swirled, and many seniors feared there would be drastic cuts for Medicare recipients. There was also a concern regarding false claims that the bill would create

an atmosphere of “death panels,” meaning the ACA would determine who was worthy of acquiring coverage for medical care based on evaluating health conditions, age, and other uncontrollable factors that might contribute to costly health plans.

Since the ACA has been set in motion, these rumors have indeed been debunked. In fact, a large majority of seniors are seeing positive changes in their health care plans. Although it may not be every Americans’ “cup of tea,” seniors should be relieved that the changes occurring with the ACA are not to their detriment. In fact, the ACA has actually made life a litt le easier for those over 65.

The ACA was established in order to provide greater access to health care coverage, higher-quality medical services and decreased costs in health-related spending. Although opinions diff er on how the very vast and complicated changes in health care reform will work to achieve these goals––seniors with Medicare are fi nding that there is a decrease

in out-of-pocket spending, as well as a noticeable improvement in overall coverage and the quality of care provided.

Despite earlier reports of Medicare being in danger of collapsing due to a fast-dissolving budget, the ACA has signifi cantly improved the future of Medicare.

The Medicare Trust Fund, the main fi nancial hold for the entire program, is going to be preserved at least 12 years past the projected “bankruptcy” stage many feared would occur as early as 2017. Other chief benefi ts for seniors under the ACA include:

• Improved Preventative Care: With the ACA, seniors receive annual physicals and a number of specialized screenings without providing a co-pay or incurring a deductible fee. Screenings and physicals work to keep people well––oft en catching health problems before they get out of control and require costly treatment that goes beyond what Medicare and the individual patient are able to handle. So it only makes sense to provide these services in order to avoid extra spending in the future. Seniors no longer have to pay for preventative care out-of-pocket and are eligible for screenings for things like colon and breast cancer at no cost.

• Same Medicare, Less Cost: Medicare benefi ts remain intact for all seniors under the ACA, and there’s no need to worry about changing doctors, gett ing stuck with a doctor just because of insurance requirements, or gett ing out of a familiar medical routine due to the new plan. Medicare Advantage Plan members are also gett ing

additional protection through limitations set forth on the amount that can be collected for administrative costs and insurance companies––making specialized services like chemotherapy and skilled nursing home care more aff ordable.

• Aff ordable Medication, Aff ord-able Care: The ACA has low-ered prescription drug costs: a saving grace for many seniors. As the National Committ ee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare reports, “Under the ACA, Medicare benefi ts will not be reduced or taken away, but rather are expanding. Medicare benefi ciaries will save, on aver-age, about $4,200 over the next 10 years due to lower drug costs, free preventive services and re-ductions in the growth of health spending. Since passage of the ACA in 2010, more than 7.3 mil-lion people with Medicare saved over $8.9 billion on prescription drugs.” .

Medicare and the Affordable Care ActBy Carmen R. Duff y, CMD Insurance

FEBRUARY 1ST, 2014 Free Guidance for Seniors and Families Aging Tree.com 386-774-2446 Kohl’s Plaza-Orange City

Feature Article

Affect my

Medicare ?

12

Acupuncture Therapy:

ARC TherapyContact: Sandra WoodPhone: 386-774-6333

Pain Care and WellnessContact: Eden Pollitz, RN BSNPhone: 386-259-9838

Aids for Daily Living:

Captel Caption TelephoneContact: Sandra RobertsonPhone: 407-443-9409

Medical Alert (“Help” Button)Contact: Priscilla KincaidPhone: 386-774-2446 Ext. 303

Assisted Living Communities:

Atria at Lake ForestContact: Rita BeneschPhone: 407-624-4292

Americare Assisted Living, Inc.Waters EdgeContact: Eleanor GustavssonPhone: 386-789-8848

Bishops Glen Retirement CommunityContact: Linda DixonPhone: 386-226-9112

Caring Hands Assisted LivingContact: Marie TimogenePhone: 386-259-4435

Claire Bridge Assisted LivingContact: Betty WorleyPhone: 386-672-8800

Cloisters of DeLandContact: Amanda McHughPhone: 386-822-6900 Ext. 203

Horizon BayContact: Terri BeerePhone: 386-775-3518

Lanyard ManorContact: Greg HopcraftPhone: 386-668-3674

Senior Guidance Through All Branches of LifeSavannah CourtContact: Paulette Buono Phone: 386-775-3030

Sterling House of DeLandContact: Lebana PrahlPhone: 386-736-8100

Woodland TowersContact: Dorothy MyersPhone: 386-738-2700

Care Management:

Guardian CareContact: Theresa BartonPhone: 407-786-6033

Senior Management Care ProgramsContact: Tammy JuniorPhone: 386-734-9154

Continuing Care Retirement Community:

Alliance CommunityContact: Annette LynchPhone: 386-747-7688

Florida Lutheran Retirement CommunityContact: Patrick ForestellPhone: 386-736-5872

Cleaning Services:

Cinnamon Cleaning Service, LLCContact: Lorraine Buday, Carol FickesPhone: 407-474-3395 407-473-2850

Chiropractic Services:

Lechmaier Family Chiropractic CenterPhone: 386-775-3600

Watts Chiropractic CenterPhone: 386-218-4924

Meridian Point ChiropracticPhone: 386-917-0007

Clinical Pharmacies:

Accardi PharmacyContact: Dr. Roger AccardiPhone: 386-774-5800

Elder Law:

Meeks Law FirmContact: Coren MeeksPhone: 386-738-3900

Financial Services:

Certified Senior AdvisorContact: Carol N. BrownPhone: 386-848-0543

Dreggor Rigsby & Teal P.A.Contact: Wendell JerrardPhone: 386-734-9441

Evershore Financial GroupContact: Timothy HaynesPhone: 321-287-9523

Joy Anna InsuranceContact: JoyAnna RebekahPhone: 386-427-1955

Miller Senior ServicesContact: Marge MillerPhone: 386-479-0724

PrimericaContact: Jeff AllebachPhone: 386-804-6171

Senior Management Care ProgramsContact: Julie Gagnon Tammy JuniorPhone: 386-734-9154

Health Insurance:

Carol Brown CSAContact: Carol BrownPhone: 386-848-0543

CMD Insurance AgencyContact: Carmen DuffyPhone: 386-626-9420

Florida Health Care PlansContact: Bissy HoldenPhone: 386-676-7110

HumanaContact: Meg HutsonPhone: 386-663-1425

Hearing Screenings & Accessories:

Hearing Health ServicesContact: Lisa JonesPhone: 386-774-2446

Hearing Aids DirectContact: Fred GilliamPhone: 800-728-7592

Homemaker Companion Services:

Elder Assistance of America, LLCContact: Desiree VitalePhone: 386-774-9090

Home Health Care:

Greystone Healthcare ManagementContact: Neil HammerPhone: 386-562-4807

Nirvana Home HealthContact: Michelle MarksPhone: 386-677-7006

Senior Home CareContact: Rebecca SandvallPhone: 386-871-1953

Home Medical Equipment:

Vienna MedicalContact: Priscilla KincaidPhone: 386-774-2440

Home Modifications:

Install Don’t FallContact: Ron Wilkerson Glen BarlowPhone: 407-496-6066 386-956-1350

14

A Word From Our Hearing Healthcare Professionals...

Hearing Healthcare and You: What You Need to Know About Hearing Loss

The Hearing Health Foundation estimates that over 35 million Americans suff er from hearing

loss. Although hearing loss is one of the most common disabilities in our society, it oft en goes untreated. Re-sults from surveys conducted over the last twenty years indicate that ap-proximately 1 in 3 individuals over 60 and 1 in 2 individuals over 75 suf-fer from hearing loss that negatively aff ects their quality of life.

According to the Hearing Loss As-sociation of America, approximately 80% of the people who suff er from hearing loss do not receive treatment for their condition. It’s easy to under-stand because hearing loss for most people is a gradual process and in its early stages doesn’t signifi cantly in-terfere with daily life. What makes things even harder to address is the fact that hearing loss has no visible symptoms and manifests itself pri-marily through behavior and com-munications.

Typically, the fi rst indication of loss of hearing is most likely to be identifi ed by family and friends. Engaging in conversation becomes more diffi cult since some of the words being said are not understood, and miscommu-nications or misunderstandings be-come commonplace. As a result, the impaired person has to ask for words to be repeated, and as their impair-ment worsens and communication becomes more diffi cult, they eventu-ally begin to withdraw from conver-sations all together. This withdrawal from social interactions can lead to depression and signifi cantly impacts quality of life.

The more that hearing loss is stud-ied, the more correlations with oth-er health issues are being found. Seniors with hearing loss are signifi -cantly more likely to develop demen-tia over time, compared to those who retain their hearing. In some cases, individuals with severe or profound hearing loss withdraw enough from verbal interaction with family and friends that their lack of communica-tion is mistakenly identifi ed as dementia or the be-ginning of Alzhei-mer’s disease. Additionally, a correlation b e t w e e n h e a r i n g loss and d i a b e -tes, as well as chemo-therapy, has been identifi ed.

The ability to hear is one of our critical senses and hearing healthcare needs to be part of every senior’s overall wellness plan. Unfortunately, an un-treated hearing loss eventually leads to nerve damage within the inner ear and once the damage occurs, it is not reversible. It is important that indi-viduals over 50 get an annual hear-ing evaluation from an experienced hearing healthcare professional.

A Note on the Importance of Addressing Your Hearing Loss…

“I hear but I don’t understand” is the most common thing those experienc-ing hearing loss will say. We hear with our ears, but we under-stand with the auditory portion of our brain. Having a hearing aid does not hurt or help with the conditions the

ears are experiencing due to aging or exposure

to loud sounds, they are simply

aids that deal with the

symptoms of hearing loss due to such factors. The im-portance of ad-

dressing h e a r i n g

loss as soon as it’s appar-

ent and acquir-ing a hearing aid

and treatment to monitor your condition

cannot be overstated. Address-ing your hearing loss now can pre-vent complications and heartbreak-ing side eff ects in the future.

If left untreated, hearing loss can lead to social and emotional problems that only compound the physical fac-tors that come into play. The brain is a crucial asset to consider if you are on the fence about seeking treatment for your hearing loss symptoms.

The brain does, without question, lose some ability to translate words correctly over time due to hearing loss. In a 2011 paper in the archives of neurology, an epidemiologist at John Hopkins School of Medicine describes this phenomenon as “Cog-nitive Load,” a state where the brain is trying to translate words and it simply gets behind. An 18-year study showed a connection between hearing loss and dementia, and many professionals suggest a link between hearing loss and depres-sion. Although some people except they have a problem and seek treat-ment, most live in denial, and some even wait until hearing aids will not help anymore due to the brain los-ing its memory of what words really sound like. With today’s technology, the right hearing aid will work and can improve the quality of life of a patient and the loved ones around them. Waiting too long is could make hearing loss permanent and it’s so sad because many individuals do not have to encounter that loss is their symptoms are treated in time.

Hearing HealthBy Lisa Jones of Hearing Healthcare

Centers, LLC and Fred Gilliam of Hearing Aids Direct, LLC

FEBRUARY 1ST, 2014 Free Guidance for Seniors and Families Aging Tree.com 386-774-2446 Kohl’s Plaza-Orange City

Ask The Expert

The following excerpts include vital information for seniors regarding the importance of adopting a hearing healthcare plan and the dangers of leaving hearing loss untreated. Each segment has been provided by Aging Tree’s qualifi ed, screened member businesses in the hearing healthcare fi eld: experts on hearing loss and today’s latest treatments.

16

Meet Savvy SueBy Savvy Sue

I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Savvy Sue, a local Florida native. I was raised right here and went

all the way through school here--I even taught school here for many years. While continuing to live locally; I’ve married, raised a family and cared for my parents and in-laws. Over the years, I became the primary caregiver for my loved ones. Some of the care giving was in their homes, some was in my home, and some was in assisted living facilities. Necessity drove me to learn all I could about what kind of services are available for caring for others and how to access these care services. I’ve sure learned a lot. Fortunately, I have a love of learning and a desire to share what I know. (I guess that’s why I love being a teacher)

I’m proud that the good folks at Aging Tree asked me to share some of my knowledge with you—through this monthly question and answer column. (Think, Dear Abby) Therefore; I’ll be sharing knowledge about a lot of different topics dealing with caring for others over the coming months. I’m hoping I can get questions from you and then by answering your questions, I can help you--like I am helping some of my other friends.

Recently a friend, who lives alone, told me that she had been to see a physician and was told that she should consider moving to an assisted living facility. In a panic, she called and asked me, “What do you know about these places for seniors to live? I don’t want to live in an old folk’s home! Can you help me?”

This month I’d like to tell you (like I told her) about assisted living facilities. Ok, listen up! Assisted living facilities ARE NOT the old folk’s homes you heard about from your grandparents. Some of them are big, some are small, and some are just right for you and the people you love. There really are great places for all kinds of people from all walks of life. There are also price ranges to fit almost everyone’s budget.

I’m taking my friend to visit one of my favorite assisted living facilities that is just a few minutes from my home. I love visiting there. It is a lovely home in a very nice neighborhood with a well-landscaped yard and even a pool. All of the people (who are lucky enough to live there) have a private room. Their home cooked meals are served in the family dining room with nice china and silverware. They can even choose to participate, or not--in games, arts, crafts, and outside activities. This home has

six bedrooms and is an affordable option for my friend and almost everyone.

Please email any questions you may have about senior living, senior products or senior services to customerservice@agingtree.com with Question for Savvy Sue in the subject line. Or you can contact me or one of the other compassionate senior living advisors at Aging Tree, 985 Harley Strickland Blvd., Unit 100, Orange City, Florida 32763. Either way this is free! Let Savvy Sue help you.

I’m looking forward to your questions. Sincerely,Savvy Sue

FEBRUARY 1ST, 2014 Free Guidance for Seniors and Families Aging Tree.com 386-774-2446 Kohl’s Plaza-Orange City

21

“Ok, listen up! Assisted living facilities ARE NOT the old folk’s homes you heard about from your grandparents.”

Dear Savvy Sue

Hi Y’all

Don’t forget Your

25