Medicare covers flu shots and health screenings

Prevention is the key to long-term health. Doctors and public health professionals are encouraging everyone, especially people with Medicare, to get their seasonal flu shots. Flu shots are your best defense against combating flu this season.

Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to the Medicare patient as a part B benefit. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered Drug.

Medicare also provides coverage for a one-time physical exam and various cancer screenings. Eligible individuals only have a 20% co-pay for these services.

Medicare covers a one-time preventive physical exam within the first 12
months that you have Part B. The exam will include a thorough review of your
health, education and counseling about the preventive services you need,
like certain screenings and shots, and referrals for other care. The
Welcome to Medicare" physical exam is a great way to get up-to-date on
important screenings and shots and to talk with your doctor about your
family history and how to stay healthy.

Dementia and the overuse of medication

While Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias lead to many challenges, there is no cure-all, and drugs are frequently misused. The prevalence for people with dementia is much greater for those 85 years and older. Families with loved ones with dementia are faced with much greater caregiving responsibilities. No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there's no one approach to caregiving. Caregiving responsibilities after a diagnosis can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning.

Community resources include the Alzheimer’s Association, hospital-based support groups, and various government resources. While there are no “cures” for Alzheimer’s disease, there are a number of medicines that might mitigate the effects of the disease. However, becoming more aware of someone’s needs, and trying to communicate with them wherever they are, is just as important. There are a number of instances where people received medicines meant for another disease or symptom. Many people become disoriented because there are given too many medicines.

Many elders in nursing homes and community-based settings are over-medicated. People being treated with dementia are given even more drugs, even though they are not very effective (many anti-psychotics only work in 1 in 5 people). Medication mostly sedates people, as opposed to treating their symptoms. A more person-centered approach would allow staff to spend time getting to know the elders. Many have some recognition of music, or art, or certain words related to their life experiences. Caregivers and nurses can work closely to draw people out, and they can become more communicative and less agitated.

Jane Verity runs an amazing program in Australia called the Spark of Life program, where staff spends 1 hour per day with people with dementia trying to connect to people in their secret gardens. View a You-tube video about this program, where staff meet individuals' social, emotional, and spiritual needs. A healthy spirit improves daily life. They use music and art and costumes to engage people with dementia, and work with doctors, nurses and families to reduce multi-meds. Many people “awoke” from year-long slumbers and started talking and participating more.

Conversations about end of life care

Why are we so scared to talk about care at the end of life? Death panels. Hospice and palliative care. Living wills. Five Wishes. It is hard to separate fact from fiction.

Besides the challenging health-care decisions associated with a severe accident or illness, everyone should have a chance to live a meaningful life in their final days and months. In addition to helping to manage pain, doctors, nurses, counselors, family members, and friends can help those with limited abilities or close to their final days to get more out of life.

Everyone knows that a will is an important document. We should all discuss the need for an advance directive (living will) as well. How would you want to live your final days? If you were involved in an accident, what types of life-saving or life-prolonging measures would you want if you were severely injured? Who would you want to make vital health-care decisions for you, if you are not able to?

Five Wishes is a project of Aging with Dignity, and it helps individuals and families to start these discussions.

• Five Wishes helps you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself.
• It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it speaks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual.
• Five Wishes also helps structure discussions with your family and physician.
• It has been translated into more than twenty languages and braille.
  

Many press reports talk about how Sen. Edward Kennedy was the first of his brothers to be able to anticipate his death. Since the diagnosis of a severe brain cancer last year, Sen. Kennedy was able to get his affairs in order. This included personal, business, and legislative interests. He was also able to concentrate on the relationships and hobbies that were important to him. Sen. Kennedy continued to sail and spend time with his family and pets. His wife continued to have dinner parties at their home until close to his death.

We should all get our affairs in order. More importantly, we should start the difficult conversations with our families, and we should concentrate on living our lives to their fullest, finding meaning in each and every day.

MTA Mobility and Taxi

Access to transportation is key for older adults, as they try to go shopping, visit doctors, or even to visit family and friends.

Older adults can obtain discounted rides through the MTA Mobility/Paratransit and Taxi Access programs. MTA has lift-equipped vans which are available to take individuals shopping and to their doctor appointments. There is no additional assistance to help people into the building. Riders need to call to schedule trips in advance.

Applications are available from the MTA Mobility web site:

Mobility / Paratransit is a specialized, curb-to-curb service
for people with disabilities who are not able to ride fixed-route public
transportation, including lift-equipped buses. Mobility service is provided
within three-quarters of a mile of any fixed-route service in Baltimore City
and Baltimore & Anne Arundel counties. The term "fixed-route" refers to
Local Bus, Light Rail, or Metro Subway routes operated by the MTA. Mobility
service is not offered within three-quarters of a mile of Commuter Bus
or MARC Train routes.
Fare: The one-way cash fare on Mobility service is $1.85.

What other transportation services or programs are you using?

Meaningful Engagement for Older Adults

Many older adults who are retired are looking for meaningful ways to give back to their community or to earn extra income. At the same time, not-for-profit organizations and public agencies are looking for people with experience to help implement their programs and services. For GEDCO, retirees and community volunteers are essential to providing core programs and services. Individuals and groups can contact Rosemary Thompson at GEDCO if they are interested in volunteering with one of our programs.

• The Senior Community Service Employment Program provides part-time employment and job training for adults age 55 and older. In the Baltimore area, both Catholic Charities
  and Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland administer this program.
  
• The Baltimore City Health Department coordinates the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The RSVP Program places individuals age 55 and older in volunteer positions with private and public agencies throughout Baltimore City.


• In Baltimore City, Greater Homewood Community Corporation, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University Center on Aging and Health, has hosted Experience Corps since 1998. This innovative, high-impact program utilizes the time, skills, and experience of adults 55 years and older to benefit not only their own health and well-being but also to help improve educational outcomes for elementary school-aged children. The program serves students in grades K-3.


• Volunteer Central is a clearinghouse for business and community volunteers. Business Volunteers Unlimited’s Volunteer Central is the primary resource for recruiting, developing and organizing volunteers in the Greater Baltimore area.

Senior Discounts on Utility Bills

Having problems paying your electric or water bill? The State and City have various programs that provide utility discounts and consumer information for older adults. For those facing a utility cut-off, please contact CARES (410-532-2273), a GEDCO program that is a combination Food Pantry and Emergency Financial Assistance center.

Here's a picture of a winter scene to cool you off on a hot day.

• There is a senior citizen water discount program. Eligible seniors (65+, $25,000 or less in combined income, property owner or tenant) receive a 30% water and sewer discount. Visit a senior center or call 410-396- 5398 to obtain an application.


• The property tax credit has been combined with the Homestead Tax Credit.


• All Maryland homeowners are required to make a one-time application in order to be eligible to receive or continue receiving the Homestead Tax Credit. The Homestead Tax Credit law limits each year the amount of assessment increase on which an eligible resident homeowner actually pays County, Municipal and State property taxes. The application is required to insure that all property owners receive the credit on the one property used as their principal residence and not on properties used for other purposes, such as a rental or vacation home.


• The Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs provides information about energy assistance programs and weatherization projects.


• The Senior Source is an informative consumer guide published by BGE for older adults.

We Can Prevent Falls by Older Adults

You might be surprised to learn that falls are THE leading cause of death among older adults. They also lead to long-term hospitalizations and placement in nursing homes. However, there are a number of steps that elders can take to reduce their risks of falls.

The statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are breath-taking:

"Unintentional falls are a threat to the lives, independence and health of adults ages 65 and older. Every 18 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency department for a fall, and every 35 minutes someone in this population dies as a result of their injuries. Although one in three older adults falls each year in the United States, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. There are proven strategies that can reduce falls and help older adults live better and longer."

Families and elders can take a variety of steps to prevent falls and injuries, including:

• Performing a home safety inspection


• Reviewing the mix of various medications


• Exercising and participating in balance training


• Checking vision and footwear

The CDC publishes a checklist of how to perform a home safety inspection. Many families are installing grab bars in bathrooms and showers, as well as discarding area rugs.

Even walking with a cane or walker can be dangerous. Elders and their families should review the equipment they are using with their doctor or an occupational therapist. Other families are helping their parents to review the shoes they are wearing. According to a recent Center for Disease Control study, more than 47,000 elderly Americans experience a walker- or cane-related fall each year. That is an average of 129 falls per day, according to a recent release from the CDC.

According to a recent post at Caring.com, an important step is to Improve Strength and Balance with Exercise.

“Exercise classes designed with the safety, confidence, and special needs of older adults are springing up at community centers, gyms, senior centers, and elsewhere across the country. No matter where you live, it shouldn't be hard to find a gentle movement, dance, or yoga class designed with older bodies in mind. For example, the Arthritis Foundation offers a variety of classes through local chapters. Another option becoming more and more popular is Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, that's now offered through many health centers such as Kaiser Permanente facilities. Several studies have shown that Tai Chi improves balance and reduces the risk and the fear of falling among older adults. In one study, people between the ages of 70 and 92 who took Tai Chi three times a week for six months had a 55 percent lower risk of falling than a comparable group who didn't take classes.”

Rebuilding Together and other organizations that provide home modifications are supporting national efforts to fund the Safety of Seniors Act and educational programs related to falls prevention for older adults.

Please post what you are doing to prevent falls and improve safety for yourself and your family members.