• What Happens Now That Your Loved One Is Entering A Nursing Home? Brochure
• Nursing Home Comparison
• Confused about the new Medicare Part D Drug plan?
• Other Medicare benefits
• When you suspect physical or financial abuse of a senior
• County Resources
• Veterans Benefits
• Keeping an elder loved one at home as long as possible
• Do you think your loved one is being over medicated?
• Meals on Wheels
• Advanced Health Care Directives
• Reverse Mortgages

Nursing Home Comparison

Nursing home comparison from the Medicare Web site.

This site is excellent for identifying facilities near you. I generally use the zip code search feature and designate a 5 or 10 mile radius. Once you search you will get up to 50 facilities listed with the closest facilities first. You need to look for facilities that accept Medicaid. The lower third section of the second column should say "YES" to indicate that the facility accepts Medicaid. This first screen provides information about the number of beds, whether it is owned by a non-profit corporation and whether there are resident and family councils. You should select up to 10 facilities by checking the box to the left of the listing and click the "NEXT STEP" box. You will then be provided with additional information about the facility such as Quality Measures, Deficiencies in the last Inspection, Nursing hours per resident per day and CNA hours per resident per day. If you want this specific information on more than 10 facilities you will need to start over and select a different 10 facilities the next time. The information provided is a good place to start your search by simply identifying the Nearest facilities that accept Medicaid.

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If you are confused about the new Medicare Part D Drug plan, you are not alone.

• http://www.medicarerights.org/drughelp.html
• http://www.aarp.org/health/medicare/drug_coverage/medicarerx_coverage.html
• http://www.mymedicarematters.org/
• http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/FAQ_PartD.htm
• http://www.phlp.org/medicare.asp
• http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhs/partd4.htm

These sites have information to help you determine which plan will be best for you. Take your time and get all of the information and do a thorough analysis so that you make the right choice. Don't fret too much, you will be able to change your plan if your situation changes.

Medicare provides counselors over the telephone and may refer you to a local counselor. For the Medicare State Health Insurance Program counselor:

• In PA call   1-800-783-7067
• In NJ call   1-800-792-8820
• Other states have contact numbers listed at http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/static/allStateContacts.asp

In addition, in Pennsylvania APPRISE is conducting town meetings across the state of Pennsylvania to help you make the right choice regarding Part D. Meeting information can be found at:

Othe PA Counties |http://pda-apprise.org/meetings/index.php or you can call the APPRISE Helpline at 1-800-783-7067

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Other Medicare benefits

• http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/default.htm This is a good organization!
• http://www.medicarerights.org/
• http://www.medicare.gov/
• http://www.cms.hhs.gov/

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When you suspect physical or financial abuse of a senior

In Pennsylvania you should call your Local Area Agency on Aging:

Other PA Counties can be found at http://www.aging.state.pa.us/aging/cwp/view.asp?A=275&Q=177138

In New Jersey call the County Adult Protective Service Provider

A National resource to help those with questions and concerns is http://www.elderabusecenter.org/

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County Resources

In Pennsylvania you should call your Local Area Agency on Aging:

Other PA Counties can be found at http://www.aging.state.pa.us/aging/cwp/view.asp?A=275&Q=177138

In New Jersey call the County Office on Aging

Other NJ Counties http://www.state.nj.us/health/senior/sa_aaa.shtml or call 877-222-3737

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Veterans Benefits

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Keeping an elder loved one at home as long as possible.

Elder Care

• http://www.ec-online.net/
  An on-line caregiver support site sponsored by Life alert designed for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimers and dementia
• Kay Paggi, a Professional Geriatric Care Manger
  A good site for caregivers to see
• Empowering Caregivers
  Caregivers can reach out to others and for support as they care for loved ones.
• http://www.nfcacares.org/
  National Family Caregivers Association – good support resources.
• http://www.caregiving.org/index.htm
  National Alliance for Caregiving – another good resource.
• Aging Solutions
• http://www.mealcall.org/
• Elder Rage, or Take My Father Please! How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents
  A must read!
• Coping With Caregiving–Radio Program
  Support at your finger tips.
• http://www.getcare.com/
  This is a commercial site but it has an assessment tool that might be of use to you.
• The Shira Ruskay Center
  Has some good links and information
• National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
  If you don't know where to turn start here.
• Caring for Elderly Family Members (online support group)
  This is an online chat group at MSN.com

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Do you think your loved one is being over medicated?

Families often report to me that their parent was fine until a doctor at a facility started prescribing a multitude of medications not previously taken by their parent. This site states that "According to Consumer Reports on Health, "Any new health problem in an older person should be considered drug induced until proven otherwise."" If you think the problem with your older parent or loved one is medication, don't back down and keep pushing until you get an answer and are satisfied. If you can't get the doctor to address the issue – get another doctor and check out this website
http://www.aging-parents-and-elder-care.com/Pages/Prescription_Drugs.html

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Meals on Wheels

This site helps you find meals on wheels programs near you.

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Advanced Health Care Directives

This is an excellent resource which explains the living will/advanced health care directive very well. I recommend that anywhere there is a line for you to indicate your choice that you indicate your choice with your initials rather than a checkmark. Before you start read this first: http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageid=3463

Then get the forms and read the instructions carefully.

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Reverse Mortgages

There is a lot of talk out there about Reverse Mortgages. Beware and be an informed consumer before you sign anything. Be sure you are dealing with a HUD approved lender and that you have been counseled by a HUD approved counselor. Even then, make sure there are not other alternatives that are better than a reverse mortgage. Some resources that can help are:

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