Arizona Senior Law » Hospitals

If You Live in Arizona, You Need a Mental Health POA

ltownsend — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:49:37 +0000

The mental health power of attorney is perhaps the least known document of the advanced directives. However, it is incredibly important for Arizonans to have. As with health care and financial powers of attorney, this document is critical for all of us regardless of age or present health condition.

If you were ever to require hospitalization in a Level 1 behavioral health facility, it is imperative that you have a mental health power of attorney in place. One does not have to have a history of mental illness to be at risk for hospitalization in a behavioral health facility. Treatment can be needed for something as simple as a medication interaction affecting mood or behavior. Behavioral issues are also commonly related to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

If inpatient behavioral health treatment is required, the patient is unable or unwilling to accept treatment, and there is no mental health power of attorney, then there is no alternative other than to pursue emergency guardianship. A regular health care power of attorney does not have the authority in Arizona to make decisions related to mental health. The same is true of a surrogate decision-maker, which is the person health care professionals look to based upon a hierarchy of familial relationships to make decisions for a patient who has not executed a power of attorney document.

You can download a free mental health power of attorney form along with all of the other advanced directives right off of this website at www.arizonaseniorlaw.com.

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

Please don’t wait….

jpreston — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:04:47 +0000

So many of our calls that come in for our “Free Pre-Screen” have to do with Advance Directives - or I should say – the Lack of having Advance Directives in place. Please do not wait to complete your power of attorney forms. You should have a Financial Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney AND the Mental Health Power of Attorney forms done. All of these needed documents are on our website for FREE!!! Please don’t put off doing them. If you do not complete these documents and something happens to you that you are unable to make your wishes known, emergency gaurdianship can be very expensive.

The document we get asked about the most is the MENTAL HEALTH POWER OF ATTORNEY – Yes you need one!!!!! Even in rare circumstances that you may need to be admitted to a Level One behavioral health center and need psychotropic medication – this is the only way your agent can admit you. A medical Power attorney document in not enough in AZ.

Free Form…vs…..Expensive Guardianship- the choice is yours!!!

Are You Ready for the ALTCS Medical PAS?

jallen — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:00:26 +0000

Before becoming eligible for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), ALTCS applicants must undergo a Pre-Admission Screen, known as the PAS. Although applicants must meet financial requirements in addition to the PAS, the PAS determines whether the applicant is medically eligible for ALTCS. Applicants begin the PAS process by providing an assessor with personal information such as age, date of birth, living arrangements and physician information. The assessor then examines various aspects of the applicant’s health such as continence, sensory impairments, orientation, behavior, and whether the applicant requires assistance with daily activities. Based on the gathered information, ALTCS determines whether the applicant qualifies medically to receive assistance. Applicants should prepare themselves for the PAS by speaking with a discharge planner, social worker, or other health care professional familiar with ALTCS medical requirements. Such a person will have good insight about whether the applicant will qualify medically. In addition to seeking guidance from one of these professionals, applicants should describe symptoms and behaviors which occur on their worst days when speaking with the PAS assessor, as this will illustrate their need for assistance. Presuming there is a genuine need for medical assistance individuals should not have difficulty meeting ALTCS medical requirements.

If you have questions about being medically eligible for ALTCS, please contact JacksonWhite and ask to speak to one of the Elder Care Coordinators or Social Workers in the Elder Law Department.

Elderspeak

rwhite — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:04:30 +0000

Ever heard of the term “elderspeak”? Well, in short, elderspeak is speaking down to the elderly and oftentimes, not even noticing you are being condescending. A recent article in the New York Times addressed the negative implications of elderspeak which I found quite alarming.

The article showed that elderspeak takes many forms: A daughter goes out to eat with her elderly mother and the waiter only addresses the daughter. A salesperson addresses an elderly customer slowly and in loud voice. A paid caregiver routinely addresses a senior as “sweetie.” While all of these examples may appear harmless on the surface, research has shown that the effects of elderspeak on seniors can be quite detrimental. Perhaps worst of all, elderspeak can contribute to seniors having a negative self-perception, which is thought by some researchers to decrease life-expectancy by an average of 7.5 years!

As with most wide-reaching social dilemmas, the elderspeak problem won’t be resolved quickly, but we can each do something on an individual level. Our Elder Law team has found that basic common courtesies go a long way towards developing meaningful relationships no matter what the age is of the people we are serving. What have you noticed about elderspeak? What can we as a community to get rid of it?

Don’t get confused!

jpreston — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:42:50 +0000

In Arizona, Medicaid is called AHCCCS – or the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Arizona uses federal medicaid dollars in a managed care fashion – we call this program AHCCCS (pronounced “access“). The different branches of AHCCCS are for acute care medical benefits and a branch for long-term benefits called Arizona Long Term Care System or “ALTCS” (pronounced “all techs“). The acute care branch covers medical benefits like doctor visits, hospitalization and pharmacy, and the long-term care branch is for long-term services that include the acute care benefits plus services designed to keep the client in the lowest level of care possible. These services include: personal care, housekeeping, meals, nursing, and help with the room and board for assisted living and nursing home level of care. Still confused? Give us a call or attend one of our many free presentations!

Arizona Geriatric Society On The Move!

jpreston — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:03:55 +0000

I have been involved with the Arizona Geriatric Society (AzGS) for three years. At first, I thought this was an organization that was just for geriatric physicians. But in reality, the society has always focused on the interdisciplinary approach of geriatrics and now AzGS is embracing the multiple disciplines and providing educational opportunities for all. It takes all of us – doctors, social workers, nurses, therapists and yes, even attorneys, to help individuals maneuver through the maze of geriatric health care. If you are a member that needs to renew your membership or a potential new member to the Arizona Geriatric Society check out what is happening and come on aboard. We need you. The momentum of this group of amazing people dedicated to the best practices of serving geriatrics is on the move! Here are a few things happening at AzGS:

The 2nd Annual Summer Nursing Conference, “DO NO HARM: Nursing Frail Elders Through Acute Illness,” is scheduled for Friday, August 22nd at the Rosati Education Center on the campus of the Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa. We urge you to register if the program appeals to your professional needs and we ask you to pass the e-brochure on to friends and associates that you think might be interested.

ASK THE EXPERT is a new section on the AzGS Web site managed by William Arnold, the immediate past president of the AzGS board. ASK THE EXPERT is for you to ask questions pertaining to some aspect of health care. If William Arnold does not have the answer, he will search it out for you. We hope you will use this new feature.

The 20th Annual Fall Symposium, “Promoting Wellness in the 21st Century”, is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, November 14-15. Great information and great networking!

The AzGS Member Dinner Programs are taking the summer off but will resume on September 17th with a presentation on Depression, followed by a presentation on Behavioral Management of Parkinson’s Related Dementia, featuring Alvin Burstein, MD on October 8th. The four meetings offered earlier this year were well attended and those in attendance valued the presentations.

I urge you to take a look at this dynamic organization. Together we can impact best practices for this growing and needed industry!!