AGING INFORMATION
As seniors age, they eventually encounter illnesses that involve slow recovery and/or long-term care. They can be faced with life changing circumstances requiring important decisions that can alter the course of their future lives. Seniors often are not prepared for such decisions. They turn to trusted friends, religious leaders, doctors or other sources for advice.
In recent years the NCRO Aging Information Subcommittee (AISC) has gathered resource material and conducted seminars and webinars, on several aging topics. We seek the best practices in the country, information that we use ourselves. We accept no advertising or gifts.
The AISC has collected its best material and good practices into an Aging Information in the blue tabbed sections below.
- I – Recommended Aging Organizations
- II – Recommended Aging Websites
- III – NCRO Aging Seminar/Webinar Videos/Handouts
- IV – Recommended Reading material
- V – Special Aging Services – Helping caregivers, Local Michigan financial help
- VI – An inspirational blog of KC Mehta, a Chrysler retiree caring for his wife with Alzheimer
This information is organized into the 6 Blue Tabbed Sections Below:
RECOMMENDED AGING ORGANIZATIONS
This section discusses where seniors can get reputable aging information, and gives tips on these sources.
- Non-profits – Aging service providers can be for-profit companies or non-profit. In general, the non-profits may offer lower cost services and more personal services.
- Hospice Care – Hospice started out as mostly non-profits. But when Medicare began to reimburse for hospice services, most larger hospitals offered Hospice services of their own. The AISC has offered webinars with two Michigan based non-profit organizations – Hospice of Michigan/Arbor Hospice and Angela Hospice of Livonia. If you are not in the SE Michigan area, the AISC suggests non-profits be contacted first.
- The Area Agency on Aging and local Senior Centers – There are Area Agency on Aging on the national, state, and regional levels. These groups lobby for senior friendly policies and often offer aging services at a local level. If you have a Senior Center in your community, check out its services. In SE Michigan, there are three Area Agencies on Aging.
- Medicare – The Federal government’s Medicare website provides a wealth of healthcare information that can be trusted. This site provides ratings of healthcare providers and drug plans
- Senior Organizations – AARP, etc. Many senior organizations provide excellent material to retirees. However, some of these groups receive funding from advertisers, and seniors need to be careful at these sites. AARP, for example, endorses a wide range of senior insurance and commercial products.
- Disease Focused Organizations – Alzheimers, Parkinson, Heart Associations, etc. provide information which is usually trustworthy.
- State Health Insurance Programs, SHIP – These organizations are federally funded and provide trusted information.
- Universities – Some universities with medical programs offer medical education and advice to the public. In Michigan, The University of Michigan is highly rated.
- Major Hospitals – Hospitals compete with one another to provide medical care. Many hospitals, however, provide resume and credential data for their staff and facilities that is helpful in educating seniors and assisting in selecting providers. Both Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic are highly rated.
RECOMMENDED AGING WEBSITES
Below are links to several websites, which the AISC has found to be helpful.
- Michigan Non-profit Hospices:
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Mayo Clinic mayoclinic.org
- Presbyterian Villages of Michigan – Assisted Living
- State based SHIP (State Health Insurance Programs) (Search “SHIP” , then your state.)
Area Agencies on Aging:
- Detroit Area Agency on Aging 1-A: Service Area: Cities – Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse, Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Harper Woods
- Area Agency on Aging 1-B: Serving Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties
- The Senior Alliance, Inc. (1-C): Service Area: Wayne County except the cities served by 1-A.
AGING VIDEO LIBRARY
Below are several presentations on issues seniors encounter as they age – wills and trusts, hospice, dementia, medical directives, palliative care to reduce pain and suffering, housing and care alternatives, financing elder care, and insurance.
NOTICE – WHERE POSSIBLE WE IDENTIFY BOTH SLIDES AND VIDEOS OF THE PRESENTATION. WE ADVISE THAT YOU VIEW THE SLIDES FIRST TO DETERMINE IF THE TOPIC IS OF INTEREST TO YOU. IF IT IS, THEN STREAM THE VIDEO TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAIL
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF AVAILABLE PRESENTATIONS
These presentations are arranged under 3 topics –
- FINANCIAL
- PAIN, GRIEF, HOSPICE, and
- HOUSING
FINANCIAL
Estate Planning & Pitfalls 101: Solving Estate Issues
A webinar on Estate Planning presented by Diana Moak of Pugh Moak P.C. She covers the process and steps involved in creating a quality Estate Plan.
Estate Planning for Our Strange New World (August 2022) – This talk discusses wills and trusts, and has been updated to reflect the Covid world we now live in. The speaker is Diana Moak, a partner in Pugh Moak, a family law firm which specializes in estate planning, special needs planning, and elder law and advocacy.
Misappropriation or misuse of the funds of an older and/or vulnerable adult (Feb 2021) – Incudes fraud, family or friend exploitation and a review of the website https://www.olderadultnestegg.com/
Advance Directives – The advanced care and patient advocate documents refer to and state a seniors needs in case he/she is incapacitated and or unconscious.
Avoiding HC Financial Dilemmas Three hypothetical examples of seriously ill seniors who did not have the necessary care instructions beforehand.
Estate Planning and Elder Law (2016 presentation) – Discusses how to pay for long term care costs. Christopher Berry, Elder Law attorney
Long Term Care Paying Strategy (2019 presentation) – From an insurance agent. Discusses alternatives for paying for senior long term care costs, including insurance, Medicaid, savings and disposing of fixed assets.
PAIN, GRIEF, AND HOSPICE
The Problem with Pain (March 2022) – A webinar on pain in cooperation with The Institute of Gerontology – Wayne State University, “Andi” Chapman RN, CDP, CADDCT, EPECT, CMDCP, CDSGF shared her insights on Pain and understanding how it impacts individuals and families.
Grieving and the Grieving Process (November 2021) – A 3-part series on the Grieving Process:
Myths About Grief and What to Expect When Grieving – Grief 101 by Cynthia R. Palmer, Grief Support Services Manager at Hospice of Michigan (HOM)
The Grieving Process and How Do You Go On with Your Life – Our Alzheimer’s Journey by Kanu KC Mehta, NCRO Aging Information Sub-Committee Member
Nurturing Yourself and the Resources Offered by the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, by Jeannine Roach, Manager of Health Promotion, Area Agency on Aging 1-B
Dementia & End of Life Needs, Care & Solutions (Fall 2020) – You will learn about the care for family members with dementia. Gain a better understanding & awareness of the signs & symptoms of Dementia. Presenter: Lynn Leach, R.N., BA., Angelica Hospice.
Solving the Mystery of Hospice (Fall 2020)– You are introduced to hospice care and what to expect when selecting a hospice care facility. Learn about the services that a hospice team provides, when it is time for hospice and what to look for in a hospice provider. The speaker is Barb Hendrickson, B.S., from Angelica Hospice.
Palliative vs Curative Care The Medical profession focuses on curing illness even when it increases a patient’s pain. Palliative medical care tries to minimize suffering. It can be used along with curative care or alone as death approaches.
HOUSING
Aging In Place and Senior Housing Options (June 2021) – This webinar was presented by the NCRO in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging 1-B and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. You hear from a panel of senior care experts talk about housing and care options as you age.
The webinar covers resources that can help you remain at home as you age, long-term care and senior housing options, and things to consider when moving into senior housing.
- Video link only https://youtu.be/IqM04_1F64g
Long Term Housing and Living Options – Older seniors often need to consider home modifications and other living alternatives, such as nursing homes. Some communities offer PACE programs for day activities, allowing seniors to remain home longer.
RECOMMENDED READING MATERIAL
MEDICAL INFORMATION
Two premier sources of medical information in the United States are Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Each of these medical organizations have an extensive on-line library.
- MAYO CLINIC topics include Health Information, Diseases & Conditions, Symptoms, Tests & Procedures, Drugs & Supplements, Health Books, Healthy Living Program, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and more
- CLEVELAND CLINIC topics are Medical library – Diseases & Conditions, Diagnostics & Testing, Treatments & Procedures, Body Systems & Organs, Drugs, Devices & Supplements
DEPRESSION AND MENTAL ILLNESS
- Watching the PBS News Hour recently in the David Brooks/Jonathan Capehart segment, there was as short discussion about David Brooks Feb 9 column on depression/mental illness. This article sheds light on this issue from one friends perspective. A good read
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/09/opinion/despair-friendship-suicide.html
DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE RESOURCE GUIDE
SPECIAL AGING SERVICES
SE (NORTHERN DETROIT SUBURNS/ANN ARBOR AREA) MICHIGAN CAREGIVER COACH PROGRAM
If you are a caregiver and would like a trained volunteer to talk to or if you are a volunteer interested in being trained to help caregivers, CLICK HERE for more information.
This Caregiver Coaching program matches people who are caring for an aging or disabled loved one with a compassionate, trained volunteer who will work with them one-on-one—usually by phone or through an online conference app (like Zoom).
SE MICHIGAN ALZHEIMERS ASSN CAREGIVER SCHOLARSHIP LINKS
If you are a caregiver in SE Michigan who needs funding to pay for a substitute caregiver, check out these two links:
AN INSPIRTIONAL STORY OF LOVE
My Journey With Sumi
https://myjourneywithsumi.com
KC Mehta is a Chrysler retiree. KC is in the 9th year of taking care of his wife, Sumi, at their Michigan home. In 2013, at age 59, Sumi was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. KC and Sumi have been married for 47 years.
KC has written about his experience, sharing his thoughts and deep feelings. He hopes these writings will increase awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and help others find solace.
KC’s writings are on a website called My Journey With Sumi at: myjourneywithsumi.com
The website is easy to navigate. There are 5 sections.
- Our Journey: It has all KC’s essays. They are in the reverse chronological order. The latest is first.
- Interviews: KC’s written interviews in the media, or on the radio or podcast. The latest is first.
- Resources: Review of the books relating to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Self-Care: What KC does for his self-care and the art projects.
- KC’s Story: KC is planning write more in this section about their lives prior to Sumi’s diagnosis in 2013.
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