Arizona Senior Law » kburns

How the New Health Care Law Benefits Medicare Recipients

kburns — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:39:39 +0000

There are many questions when it comes to Health Care reform. Here are some ways it will affect those that are currently on Medicare:

1. Your guaranteed Medicare benefits are protected and benefits will be improved.

2. Out of pocket costs for prescription drugs needed to stay healthy will be lowered due to Medicare changes. The “doughnut hole,” is expected to disappear completely by 2020.

3. There will be expanded coverage for wellness and preventive care such as mammograms and other screenings for cancer and diabetes. These services will be free of charge.

For more information about the New Health Care Law and how it affects you or others, check out www.aarp.org/getthefacts

Justa Center

kburns — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:13:00 +0000

Did you know that individuals 55 and older are the fastest growing population of homeless? One answer for homeless seniors in the Phoenix area is the Justa Center. The Justa Center is a day resource center designed to help those over the age of 55 find housing, employment, and other needed services. The staff and volunteers are there to reassure, assist, and problem solve with the homeless individual until he or she is able to be self sufficient. The Justa Center is not a shelter, but a place where seniors can find the resources they need to get back on track. About 100 seniors a day seek help at the Justa Center and since it opened in 2006, it has helped approximately one person a day get out of homelessness.

If you know someone who could benefit from this service, or for more information please contact Scott Ritchey.

1001 W. Jefferson Phoenix, AZ 85007

602-254-6524

saritchey@hotmail.com

www.justacenter.org

Scams Against Seniors

kburns — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:26:41 +0000

Older Americans are one of the most vulnerable and targeted segment of the population for fraud and financial exploitation. Why are they susceptible? They are more often going to be home to answer the phone or the door and many Older Americans may be more trusting to a friendly pitch. Unfortunately by the time the Older American realizes that that he or she has been scammed, the damage may be beyond repair. It is important that they are protected and that we all try and prevent this type of abuse. The most common scams toward seniors are:

1. Foreign Lotteries

2. Home Repair or Improvement Scams

3. Telemarketing Schemes

4. Phishing

5. Phony Charities

6. Investment or Healthcare Scams

To find out more about these scams and how to protect yourself or someone you love, please contact the Arizona Better Business Bureau.

Phone: 602-264-1721 or arizonabbb.org

The Role of the Medical Social Worker in Long Term Care

kburns — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:44:47 +0000

Clinical Advisors for Resources and Educational Services is proud to provide a 2 day workshop addressing many topics that social workers face. It will be held on May 25th and 26th at the C.A.R.E.S office. It is also approved for 15 CEU’s by NCIA and NASW.

If you work in a profession that touches the lives of the elderly, disabled or chronically-ill, our seminar will enhance your ability to meet the needs of clients, their families and the ever-changing state and federal rules and regulations. The seminar will cover topics relating to clinical, state and federal health care regulations, compliance and the understanding of benefits.

Topics include:

¨ Role of the Social Worker
¨ MDS, RAPs and Care Planning
¨ Documentation
¨ Behavior Management/PASRR
¨ Benefits and Financial Planning
¨ Case Management/Discharge Planning
¨ Advance Directives
¨ Psychosocial Assessments

If you are interested in finding out more about this wonderful educational opportunity, please feel free to call or email the following:

Office: 602-466-3461 / 800-326-7176
Fax: 888-296-9229
Email: angelapage@clinicaladvisorsllc.com

Do I Have to Choose?

kburns — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:02:58 +0000

Outreach and education are so important when it comes to identifying benefits for those who may be eligible. ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System) and the VA (Veteran’s Administration) Pension program are two benefits that I frequently discuss. Most of the time I get a statement of, “well, I know I can’t have both ALTCS and pension, so how do I choose?” This is when I can surprise the person by asking, “Who told you that you cannot receive both benefits?” Most of the time this is just what they, “heard,” and are not really sure where they heard such a thing. So, if you or someone you know are looking into potential benefits, get the facts first, and know that a person can absolutely receive both a VA pension and ALTCS benefits. If you have questions about either of these programs and how they can work together, please call one of our Elder Care Coordinators at (480) 464-1111.

Need a Group Home?

kburns — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:00:33 +0000

Group homes are an alternative setting for those who do not want to look into larger communities such as Assisted Living or Nursing Homes. Many group homes are now licensed for directed care, meaning that they are able to care for those with a higher level of care. If you are ever told that you or someone you know needs a group home, you might be scratching your head and wondering where to start. My advice would be to ask for a referral to a placement agency. They are agencies that offer services free of charge. They will do the ground work for you and find several appropriate group homes for you to tour, based on location, cost, and level of care. Many of them will even drive you around from place to place! If you ever find yourself in this situation, please call us and ask to speak to one of our Elder Care Coordinators. We would be happy to give you a few names of placement agencies we have worked with and had great success.

Senior Sensitivity

kburns — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:01:14 +0000

SCAN Health Plan now offers a free training to professionals on the topic of senior sensitivity. The purpose of the training is to allow people to actually learn what it feels like to, “walk in the shoes,” of a senior. It addresses issues that often arise during the aging process and offers ways to effectively communicate to seniors and their specific needs. The training is free of charge and lasts approximately one and a half to two hours. It can be conveniently held at your office or building. If you are interested in scheduling a training, please contact Karen Richards at (602) 778-3422 or krichards@scanhealthplan.com.

Show Your Support

kburns — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:02:28 +0000

February 15th, 2009 marks the 3rd annual Walk the Fight in support of Parkinson’s Disease. This walk is held in order to raise money for continued research, education and outreach to those affected by this disease. You can participate as an individual walker, put together a team or become a business sponsor at one of four levels. This is a cause that needs and deserves our support. Please consider getting out there next month and helping the Parkinson’s Network have a successful event! For more information feel free to contact Kristin Burns at (480) 464-1111 or the Board President of the AZ Parkinson’s Network, John Yonushonis, at (602) 469-1203.

Are You Tuned In?

kburns — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:56:44 +0000

I was recently introduced to a great resource for anyone dealing with end of life issues and just planning ahead. Hospice of Arizona hosts a weekly radio show on Mondays at 3pm. Tune in to 1100AM KFNX to listen to Marsha Hall and Judy Peters as they host, “We’re There for You.” For those who think it’s just an hour about hospice services, think again. They touch on topics such as advanced directives, financial planning, as well as Elder Law/Care. They offer a relaxed environment for listeners to call in if they wish. If you decide to become a listener, you may even hear some familiar voices from the Law Firm of Jackson White!

Help with Behavioral Health

kburns — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:19:48 +0000

Have you ever run across someone in your personal or professional life that could have benefitted from some type of behavioral health services? If you have, you know that getting services can be pretty daunting. Well, it doesn’t have to be! Here are the names and numbers of the Regional Behavioral Health Authorities (those that manage behavioral health) in the state of Arizona. If you ever have questions, just give these folks a call and they can point you in the right direction!

Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority 1-877-923-1400 Serves Coconino, Apache, Navajo, Mohave, and Yavapai Counties

Community Partnership of Southern Arizona 1-800-771-9899 Serves Pima, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz Counties

Magellan of AZ 1-800-564-5465 Serves Maricopa County

Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona 1-866-495-6738 Serves Pinal, Gila, Yuma, and La Paz Counties

Remember, if the person is on ALTCS, contact their case manager for assistance with behavioral health issues.