Amber Lights News - Improve Flexibility

AMBER LIGHT TUCSON 

Improve Flexibility

Research shows that stretching can be especially important for older adults. It may help you improve your joint range of motion and reduce risk of injury, helping senior remain as independent as possible. Amber Lights has added a new fitness class to its already packed calendar of health & wellness programs. “Stretched Out” will incorporate strength bands into a gently yet effective half hour session.

Visit us online @ http://www.srgseniorliving.com/communities/tucson-az-amber-lights

Haven Senior Horizons Specialized Geriatric Care

Specialized Geriatric Care

How does Haven Senior Horizons of Phoenix provide Specialized Geriatric Care services?

At Haven Senior Horizons of Phoenix geriatric unit, the focus is solely on the treatment of older adults. Haven believes that the surroundings and treatment options for older adults are very distinctive and should be treated as such. The patient care areas are designed with special lighting, wall colors, hand rails and flooring to make patients as comfortable as possible. No two patients are exactly alike, so the physicians, social workers, nurses and activity therapists work as a treatment team, in conjunction with the patient and family, to identify the best plan of care for the patient.

How common are Mental Disorders in older adults?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), an estimated 20.4 percent of adults aged 65 and older met criteria for a mental disorder and more than 50 percent of residents have some form of cognitive impairment. The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation states that 15 to 20 percent of older adults in the United States have experienced depression. These numbers are likely to increase as baby boomers continue to age.

The aging patient is often dealing with psychiatric conditions, as well as physical symptoms from medical conditions.  Haven provides two levels of programming to treat these conditions. One level is geared for the older adult who is dealing with depression, anxiety, and symptoms that are shown to benefit from didactical therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. The second level focuses on patients who are experiencing decreases in cognitive levels of functioning or symptoms associated with dementia and are responsive to reminiscence and sensory stimulation therapies. Patients have also been receptive to pet therapy as a therapeutic intervention to stimulate their senses.

Haven also recognizes the importance of family involvement to therapy.  Our programs encourage visitation on a regular basis, and the social work team provides regular educational topics during the week for patient families.

Decreased physical and mental capabilities, the loss of loved ones and reduced independence can mean significant changes in the lives of seniors. Haven has created this facility dedicated to providing older patients the behavioral care and treatment they need and deserve. 

Visit us online @ https://phoenix.havenbehavioral.com/

May Is National Mobility Awareness Month

May Is National Mobility Awareness Month

Posted on April 27, 2016

Join the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association in celebrating the 5th annual National Mobility Awareness Month. During this amazing promotion, we encourage people with disabilities to embody the spirit of Life Moving Forward by raising awareness of the many life-changing mobility vehicle solutions available today.

Ability Center and NMEDA are mobility advocates dedicated to changing the lives of those with living with disabilities by providing access to quality handicap accessible vehicles and adaptive equipment. Whether you are living with a disability or have dedicated your time to helping someone who is, we want to hear your stories of perseverance and strength.

Starting April 12, tell us what makes you, or your loved one, a Local Hero for your chance to win a wheelchair accessible van. They will be giving away three wheelchair accessible vehicles: one to a caregiver, one to a senior (60+), and one in the general category.  To enter, click here – http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/local-heroes/enter/.

Visit us online @ www.AbilityCenter.com 

Differences in Medicare and ALTCS

Question: Why do I need to even consider Arizona Long Term Care System when I have Medicare? After paying into the Medicare system for my entire career, shouldn’t Medicare cover my medical expenses? I don’t understand why I need to apply for ALTCS when I am already insured.

Answer: The simple answer to this question is that Medicare only covers acute care and ALTCS covers the costs of long-term care.

Medicare is important and necessary, but it is oftentimes not enough, particularly given that the costs of long-term care can very easily exceed $6,000 per month. And because Medicare will not cover this cost, it can be exceedingly important to pursue ALTCS if you require long-term care.

In the interest of providing further clarity on this question, Medicare will cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing care, but only if that care is acute, or rehabilitative, in nature.

In some instances, people have long-term care insurance to cover long-term care, but the vast majority of folks do not have this type of coverage.

Here, unless the individual qualifies for ALTCS, he or she will have to pay out-of- pocket for care — Medicare will not cover skilled nursing care once the acute coverage lapses.

Most people in this situation have never contemplated ALTCS, but it is never too late to prepare for the application process. In fact, most of the time people do not prepare for the application process until they are confronted with a crisis, but many times, it is possible to qualify for the program with only minimal delay.

Richard White is an elder law attorney at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law. For more information on Elder Law at JacksonWhite, please visit www.ArizonaSeniorLaw.com.

Santa Rita Nursing & Rehabilitation Center ~ Outpatient Therapy

Outpatient Therapy

Located at 170 N La Canada Drive, Suite 20.  Contact us at ph #520.352.3049   fax #520.625.2871

Our Santa Rita Outpatient Therapy team is led by Dan Johnson, PT. Dan and his team can provide individualized plans of care, one on one treatments, and continuum of care recommendations to help patients reach their goals and attain maximal outcomes.

Dan Johnson, PT
Orthopedic Manual Therapist
Dan received his BS in Exercise Science in 1995 from Western Washington University. He then went on to complete his Masters in Physical Therapy at Chapman University in Orange County, CA. He has been working in this field for over 16 years. He joined the Santa Rita team in 2003 and was integral to the start of our outpatient therapy department in 2012.

Email Dan at: outpatientpt@santaritacare.com

Jessica Ransom, PTA
Outpatient Rehab Director
Physical Therapist Assistant
Jessica is a 2001 graduate of Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio with an Associate degree in Physical Therapy. She also earned a B.S. degree in 2002 in Natural Science with concentrations in Biology, Physics, and Math.  She joined the Santa Rita staff in February of 2010 and became the Santa Rita Outpatient Therapy Manager in September of 2014.  Jessica has over 16 years of experience working in the physical therapy setting.  She believes physical therapy should be both fun and effective. Her goal is to help patients return to their pain free daily activities, and to educate them in self-management techniques for the future.

Email Jessica at: jransom@santaritacare.com

Our team specializes in orthopedic injuries, sports medicine rehab, total joint replacements, basic hand therapy, neurological disorders, pain management and vestibular disorders (BPPV). They are skilled in working with clients who require balance training, core strengthening, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic modalities, and manual therapy techniques as well as rehabilitating sports-related injuries. Our therapists provide the highest quality therapy services available.

The Santa Rita Outpatient Therapy is conveniently located next door to the Santa Rita Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center in the Green Valley Professional Center.  Our clinic is furnished with state of the art, modern equipment, such as one of Southern Arizona’s only anti-gravity treadmills, the Alter-G. The Alter-G is an anti-gravity treadmill that helps to reduce stress on joints and injured areas of your lower body.  It enables our clients to walk and/or run with little to no pain and maintain a normal gait pattern.  We also offer modalities such as: Electrical Stimulation, Ultra Sound, Iontophoresis, Cold Compression (The Game Ready), and Mechanical Traction.

Santa Rita Outpatient Therapy provides services for both Insurance and Self-Pay Clients.  Our clinic has multiple insurance contracts and we accept several out-of-network insurance.  Please contact our clinic to make an appointment or if you would like more information about our services.

Visit us online @ www.Santaritacare.com 

ALTER-G

GAME READY

Haven of Tucson

OUR MISSION & VALUES

HAVEN HEALTH

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As Caring Professionals, we strive to know, practice, and live our Mission Statement. We hold ourselves accountable to its core values throughout each of our services.

OUR THREE-FOLD MISSION

HAVEN HEALTH

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Our mission is to be the provider of choice in the communities we serve, a gathering place for caring professionals and a safe haven for residents to thrive–one person and one family at a time.

CORE VALUES

HAVEN HEALTH

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TRUST

EMPOWER​MENT

ACCOUNT​ABILITY

MUTUAL RESPECT

Visit US ONLINE @ www.HavenHG.com

Heartland Hospice ~ How To Talk About Hospice

How to Talk About Hospice 

At Heartland, we fully understand that conversations regarding hospice can be difficult. So, we have developed guidelines to help the conversation between you and your patient, resident or family member.

The Heartland team is specially trained to talk to your patients and their families about hospice care. Feel free to contact us at any time, we can meet with you or your patients to discuss the benefits of hospice care. 

Here are suggestions on how to begin the discussion of hospice care:

1. Hospice care not only helps with managing your symptoms, but, also helps you and your family with emotional and spiritual support.

2. You don't have to be ready for hospice. In fact, hospice doesn't expect you to be ready. You just have to be eligible for the services which can increase the quality of your life.

3. Many people think that hospice care is for the last few days of life, when in fact patients can receive it much earlier. In customer satisfaction surveys, many families said they wish they had known about hospice sooner.

4. Receiving hospice care may help you avoid frequent trips to the hospital.

5. One of the hospices we work with, Heartland, does not require that you sign a DNR to receive hospice care.

6. You can see your own doctor.

7. If hospice is not for you, you can revoke the hospice benefit and go back onto Medicare or your regular insurance plan.

8. You may be eligible through Medicare for services to help you cope with your terminal illness. May I have someone from hospice speak with you?

9. Hospice care for the patient and the family can help make coping with terminal illness a little easier.

10. If you are eligible for hospice, you do not have to give up your comforting treatments as long as they are related to your terminal prognosis.

Visit us online @ www.heartlandhospice.com 

How To Start A Career Caring For Older Adults?

How To Start A Career Caring For Older Adults

Did you know that there will be 1.3 million new caregiving jobs just waiting to be filled in the next 5 years? As you have heard many people state, Americans are reaching retirement age at the rate of 10,000 per day, such rapid growth creates a challenge because in the US, we currently do not have enough health care workers to extend care to these older adults as they age and decline in health. This creates an opportunity for individuals that desire to enter a career in healthcare.

If you have ever wondered what it takes to be a caregiver, start by asking yourself these questions… Do you love to serve others? Are you a patient? Do you appreciate elderly wisdom? Do you find joy in helping those who are more vulnerable? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a career in caregiving might be right for you!

There are different types of caregiving for the elderly, and in different settings- The most common are: care at home, where the caregiver travels to the elderly person’s residence and extends care to them in the comfort of their own home; this is the most popular way as a study by AARP states that 90 percent of seniors want to “age in place” which means to stay in their own home, and in their familiar surroundings. Usually, this service is provided by private caregivers, Direct Care Workers, or Home Health Aides- and it includes services such as companionship for the older adult, or providing personal care, including bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and medication reminders.

When an older adult is no longer able to stay at home, they may choose to move-in to an independent living or an assisted living community: these can be residences licensed to host up to 10 residents, or a larger facility that can have hundreds of residents. Caregivers are hired by these communities to provide care to their residents in this setting.

A Caregiver can earn between $10.00 – $15.00 per hour approximately depending on their training and experience. Usually, a background check is required, which may exclude those who have a criminal record, and training can be obtained by one of the state licensed schools.

At Academy for Caregiving Excellence, we offer several courses; varying from 2-day basic caregiving course, to the State-licensed Assisted Living Certification course, lasting 3 weeks.

There are many grants out there that provide funding for this type of training, and Academy for Caregiving Excellence offers options, including scholarships for those who qualify, and payment installment options.

For more information on how to become a caregiver, call us at 520-338-4402, we always have a bilingual team member ready to take your call. You can also visit our website www.academyforcaregiving.com for more information on class dates and pre-requisites.

Ability Center's Try Before You Buy Program - Wheelchair Accessible Vans

Ability Center’s Try Before You Buy Program – Wheelchair Accessible Van

Posted on March 18, 2016

Are you unsure about purchasing a wheelchair accessible van?

The best way to help find the answer is to rent one for a weekend. Ability Center will put the rental fees for a wheelchair accessible van toward the purchase of awheelchair accessible van*. It’s Simple:

• Rent a van from any Ability Center locations; we have both short term and long term availability**
• If you decide to purchase a van from us within 90 days of your rental, we will reimburse you up to $500 towards the purchase of your van. We have over 200 used and new accessible vans available to choose from!

The vans in our rental fleet are fully powered side-entry lowered floor minivansbetween 1-2 years old. We have over 30 vans in our rental fleet between our 13 locations:

California: San Diego, Long Beach, Orange County, Inland Empire, San Luis Obispo, Fresno and Sacramento
Arizona: Phoenix and Tucson
Nevada: Las Vegas
Oregon: Portland and Eugene

*Up to $500 **Based on availability

Contact us today for more information:  800-242-4111 / info@abilitycenter.com

IRA May Have to be Closed for ALTCS

Our latest Arizona Republic article in the weekly Aging and the Law column can be found below. Our column runs every Friday in select Arizona cities.

Question: My mother has monthly income of about $1,400, about $1,800 in her checking account, and a small IRA with a balance of about $45,000. She needs long-term care, and I understand that Arizona Long Term Care System provides coverage to those with less than $2,000 of resources and less than $2,199 of monthly income. Will ALTCS count the IRA as part of my mom’s resources?

Answer: In Arizona, IRAs are treated as available resources for purposes of ALTCS eligibility. This being the case, your mother is currently ineligible due to the $45,000 that is in her IRA.

In order to qualify for ALTCS, then, your mother would have to first “spend down” the funds in her IRA. Of course, the issue with this is that money coming out of an IRA is taxable income, but it is very often the case that the benefits associated with qualifying for ALTCS greatly outweigh the potential tax obligation.

In your mother’s case, it seems all but inevitable that she will have to close her IRA in order to have funds for her care. Given that the money is likely to come out of the IRA one way or another, it makes sense to put a plan in place that will help your mother qualify for ALTCS before the money runs out.

If your mother closes the IRA and then spends the money without a plan, she will not only have a tax obligation, but will also be without the funds to pay for care while the ALTCS application processes.

As is always the case, timing is everything with these types of cases. Your mom should only close her IRA as part of a comprehensive plan to obtain long-term care coverage.

Richard White is an elder law attorney at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law. For more information on Elder Law at JacksonWhite, please visit www.ArizonaSeniorLaw.com.

IRA May Have to be Closed for ALTCS

Our latest Arizona Republic article in the weekly Aging and the Law column can be found below. Our column runs every Friday in select Arizona cities.

Question: My mother has monthly income of about $1,400, about $1,800 in her checking account, and a small IRA with a balance of about $45,000. She needs long-term care, and I understand that Arizona Long Term Care System provides coverage to those with less than $2,000 of resources and less than $2,199 of monthly income. Will ALTCS count the IRA as part of my mom’s resources?

Answer: In Arizona, IRAs are treated as available resources for purposes of ALTCS eligibility. This being the case, your mother is currently ineligible due to the $45,000 that is in her IRA.

In order to qualify for ALTCS, then, your mother would have to first “spend down” the funds in her IRA. Of course, the issue with this is that money coming out of an IRA is taxable income, but it is very often the case that the benefits associated with qualifying for ALTCS greatly outweigh the potential tax obligation.

In your mother’s case, it seems all but inevitable that she will have to close her IRA in order to have funds for her care. Given that the money is likely to come out of the IRA one way or another, it makes sense to put a plan in place that will help your mother qualify for ALTCS before the money runs out.

If your mother closes the IRA and then spends the money without a plan, she will not only have a tax obligation, but will also be without the funds to pay for care while the ALTCS application processes.

As is always the case, timing is everything with these types of cases. Your mom should only close her IRA as part of a comprehensive plan to obtain long-term care coverage.

Richard White is an elder law attorney at JacksonWhite Attorneys at Law. For more information on Elder Law at JacksonWhite, please visit www.ArizonaSeniorLaw.com.

5 Ways A Reverse Mortgage Can Ease Retirement

5 Ways a Reverse Mortgage Can Ease Retirement

Looking for ideas on how using a Reverse Mortgage can help your potential clients in retirement? Jack Guttentag, Professor of Finance Emeritus, recently outlined five ways a borrower can ease retirement by utilizing a Reverse Mortgage:

1. Use a HECM to pay off an existing mortgage to remove a monthly payment. Depending on balance size, the current mortgage may be paid off by a Reverse Mortgage, which has no payments.

2. Use a HECM Term Payment to delay taking social security. Delaying collecting social security until age 70 is a great strategy for most seniors. Delaying social security claim increases monthly payment significantly.

3. Increase monthly income. Using a tenure payment, which is a monthly payment for as long as the borrower resides in the property. Payment varies on age, equity and interest rates.

4. Use a HECM Line of Credit to supplement retirement portfolio. HECM Line of Credit grows over time. Borrower can access the HECM LOC if retirement funds runs out.

5. Downsize and purchase a house using a HECM.

Visit Robin Loomis on Facebook @  http://www.facebook.com/reversemortgageaz or visit us online at our website www.NovaReverse.com

3 Ways Your Home Value Can Help In Retirement

3 Ways Your Home Value Can Help In Retirement

(BPT) - Your retirement. Your golden years to spend doing the things you enjoy - hobbies, travel, more time with family, and so on. But can you afford to live your post-paycheck life the way you always hoped?

Research from the National Retirement Risk Index estimates that more than 50 percent of households lack enough retirement funds to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living - even if they work until age 65.

It's a scary statistic, especially if you're approaching retirement age and don't feel financially prepared to leave the workforce. Fortunately, even if you are facing a retirement shortfall, you do have options to help supplement your savings. For senior homeowners, those options could be in the walls around you.

Financial planning experts and academics from The American College, Boston College, Columbia University, and MIT, agree that incorporating home equity into a retirement plan helps savings last longer. The question is: what's the best way to access your home's equity? Here are three popular options.

1. The home equity line of credit (HELOC)

A HELOC allows you to establish a line of credit based on a percentage of the value of your home. You can then access this credit during a predetermined amount of time called a "draw period," usually 10 years. During the draw period, you can borrow up to the designated amount while making monthly interest payments, and, if you choose to pay back on the principal, you can draw out again, much like a credit card. After the draw period when the HELOC resets, you are responsible for repaying the principal and interest either immediately or over a set period of time depending on the terms of the loan. You should be aware that if your home value depreciates, or if your financial circumstances change, the lender has the right to freeze your credit or even cancel your loan.

2. Reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage is a loan that senior homeowners age 62 or older can use to convert part of the equity in their home into a usable asset, without giving up title or ownership of the house. According to Professor Wade Pfau of The American College, "the reverse-mortgage option should be viewed as a method for responsible retirees to create liquidity from an otherwise illiquid asset."

Reverse mortgages are attractive to seniors, in part, because they require no monthly payment and do not have to be paid off until the last borrower permanently leaves the home. You have the option of taking the loan proceeds as a lump sum, a fixed monthly or tenured payment, or as a line of credit. Last year, more than two-thirds of borrowers took a combination of regular payments and a line of credit.

Reverse mortgages also feature a non-recourse provision that protects you from ever owing the lender more than the value of your home, even if the house is "underwater" when you are ready to sell.

You are still responsible for paying your property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and upkeep expenses or risk the loan being called due and payable.

3. Cash-out refinancing

Cash-out refinancing allows you to refinance an existing home loan - hopefully at a lower interest rate - and also refinance the home for a dollar value higher than the remaining principal. This loan allows you to keep the money above the principal as liquid cash that can be used to pay down other expenses or fund your retirement. Like your original forward mortgage, if you miss a monthly payment due to unanticipated expenses from a health care emergency or other life disruption, your loan could be called due and payable, and the lender could move to foreclose on your property. Retirees may also face challenges qualifying for a cash-out refinance because of underwriting standards that require a certain amount of monthly income.

Choosing the right plan for you

While all three plans have their appealing points, new consumer safeguards for reverse mortgages are fueling their popularity among seniors who want the benefit of no monthly payment, a loan that can't be canceled or reset, and the option of a line of credit that increases over time.

If you're interested in pursuing a reverse mortgage, the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association can help. Their Roadmap<http://www.reversemortgage.org/YourRoadmap.aspx> can guide you through the features and responsibilities of reverse mortgages and the process for obtaining one which includes meeting with a reverse mortgage counselor and a financial assessment.

Here is the link if you need it: http://m.mysanantonio.com/sponsoredarticles/lifestyle/real-estate/article/3-ways-your-home-value-can-help-in-retirement-7222898.php

Visit Robin Loomis on Facebook @  http://www.facebook.com/reversemortgageaz or visit us online at our website www.NovaReverse.com