Senior Help Info from Kat!

 

I typed this up and thought you might like to see this if you have elderly relatives who need assistance. It mostly

talks about "mom" but it's for anyone over 55 -or even younger if they are disabled. There is a wealth of info here

that I have learned over the years and no hospital ever had much info for me. It's rough being a caregiver but there

are programs now that can help out. Please pass this info on and get the word out!

Kat

 

 

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Do you have a mom/dad who needs Senior care or do you need respite care? ie: Someone to watch your

mom/dad while you are out of town. I have compiled everything I know on the subject to help out! I typed

it up for a friend recently and there is some excellent info here. Food Stamps, Medicaid Info, Caregivers, $$Heating Bill help, all of it.

If either parent is a veteran, they might have benefits or survivor/widow benefits through the Veterans Administration. To get started you will need to take them to the local VA (one in Detroit, one in Ann Arbor) to get registered. If they are a veteran they are entitled to doctors care, prescriptions, and sometimes a pension if they are disabled. If they get a pension through VA, you can apply to have it increased due to Need for Care. Especially Respite Care if your parents have had heart surgery etc. like my mom did. Call your mom or dads pension/insurance and see if they offer any home care/respite care/and options to get the pension increased for care if she has a pension. See if they can send you via fax so it's faster.

 

http://www.theinfocenter.info/  - A VERY helpful FREE Senior Website called The Information Center. They offer a

home visit program where a social worker and a nurse come to your house and interview you. Then they can determine

what kinds of things you qualify for! Here is their info request form: http://theinfocenter.info/inforefer/inforeferform.php

Important:  Let them know you want to get on the "medicaid waiver" program wait list. Their phone is 734 282 7171 for

more details. Their phone number isnt easily found, but they will answer your questions! Ithink they can put you on the

waiting list over the phone. It might be an application, I cant rememeber. Ask if they can expedite due to your moms situation.

The infomation center will put you on the wait list for: Medicaid Waiver Program

-          what is Medicaid Waiver? http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2943_4857-16263--,00.html

 

Through this program, eligible adults who meet income and asset criteria can receive Medicaid-covered services like those provided by nursing homes, but can stay in their own home or another residential setting. The waiver became available in all Michigan counties October 1, 1998. Each participant can receive the basic services Michigan Medicaid covers, and one or more of the following services unique to the waiver:

 

•Homemaker services

•Respite services

•Adult day care

•Environmental modifications

•Transportation

•Medical supplies and equipment not covered under the Medicaid State Plan

•Chore services

•Personal emergency response systems

•Private duty nursing

•Counseling

•Home delivered meals

•Training in a variety of independent living skills

•Personal Care Supervision

 

 

Medicaid Waiver Program requires Medicaid, here is the app for that:

 

Food stamp & Medicaid App:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/states/michigan.htm            -  Print this whole thing out.

IMPORTANT for Food Stamps: CHECK the box that your MOM PAYS the HEAT. (Not just the electricity box)

It's one of the main qualifications for food stamps. Income does not matter as much as the HEAT BILL does.

You will want to hand deliver it and ask that the lady who takes it "Expedite it" They are allowed

to expedite if your moms finances are tight. Do not Fax or mail it, because TRUST ME, they wont

do it as quickly and if you fax it, they throw it away. My mom gets about $150 a month in food stamps and it's

a little debit card. No embarassment whatsever.

 

DHS Office locations: (Dept of Human Services - once you apply you will get a social worker)

http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/1,1607,7-124-5461_7387---,00.html

 

Medicare also offers dental/vision help. So if your parent has no insurance, get this asap.

 

 

 

OTHER COOL STUFF:

 

A Place for Mom website, keep in mind that nursing home places they find will cost over $900 a month, so make sure to find

out about your Mom or Dads Insurance coverage before you call to inquire. They also help with home care:

 

" A Place for Mom! We are a free referral service helping families find nursing homes, assisted living, Alzheimer's care, retirement communities, and home care. Our experienced Eldercare Advisors have assisted thousands of families with the difficult task of selecting eldercare"

http://www.aplaceformom.com/

 

The Senior Alliance - tips for Michigan Seniors

http://www.aaa1c.org/

 

Michigan Offices of Services to the Aging

http://www.michigan.gov/miseniors

 

Home Heating Help

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/homeheatinghelp_106697_7.pdf

 

Kennedy Care

This place does my moms care through the VA, but I think they take insurance. Call and

see if they can offer you anything. Tell them Kathleen Orta sent you! He is VERY NICE!

Jerry - 248 767 2187

 

Free Legal Forms – and How -to

Power of Attorney – explains what it covers http://www.lectlaw.com/filesh/qfl04.htm

How to Make a Will http://www.lectlaw.com/filesh/qfl06.htm

Living Will (in case of coma etc – Advanced Directives) http://www.lectlaw.com/filesh/qfl01.htm

 

Omega 3 supplements (fis oil tablets) search regarding Alzheimers

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=omega+3+benefits+alzheimers

http://www.fishoilblog.com/benefits-for/alzheimers-and-brain-health/

 

Omega 3 DELAYS & sometimes prevents Alzheimers in Mice, Human studies in process.

 

Search for this on ebay "Omega 3 softgels"

Here is one example that ends in 2 days. (paste whole link into your broswer) You should be able to get 360 softgels for about $16 online. GNC is way more expensive.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Omega-3-6-9-Fish-Oil-1000-mg-NO-BURP-360-softgels_W0QQitemZ170162211960QQihZ007QQcategoryZ118737QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Supplements for Alzheimers search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=supplements+alzheimer%27s&spell=1

 

Research has also linked high intake of omega-3s to a possible reduction in risk of dementia or cognitive decline. The chief omega-3 in the brain is DHA, which is found in the fatty membranes that surround nerve cells, especially at the microscopic junctions where cells connect to one another.

 

Thanks and good luck! Questions? Email me at Rynnakat @ Yahoo .com