MIG06-1_Wi_Editorial

Published quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on AgingPublished quarterly by Michigan’s Area Agencies on Aging

GenerationsTMWinter 2006Michigan

2 Michigan Generations

WINTER 2006 Published quarterlythrough a cooperative effort ofMichigan’s Area Agencies on Aging.

For information contact:Jenny [email protected]

Editorial Project Development:JAM Communications, Atlanta, GA

Design and Production:Wells-Smith Partners, Lilburn, GA

On the Cover:Medicare drug coverage is here — and with it, a plethora of choices. For anoverview of what you need to know andwhere to find help in selecting the bestplan, turn to our story on page 4. Thenread our step-by-step guide to usingMedicare’s online tool, page 19.

GenerationsMichigan

Winter 2006, Volume 3, #3 © 2006 by theMichigan Area Agencies on Aging. The informationcontained herein has been obtained from sourcesbelieved to be reliable. However, the Michigan AreaAgencies on Aging and JAM Communications makeno warranty to the accuracy or reliability of thisinformation. No part of this publication may bereproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans without written permission. All rightsreserved.

Whether you are an older adult your-self, a caregiver or a friend concernedabout the well-being of an older adult,Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) areready to help. AAAs in communitiesacross the country serve as gateways tolocal resources, planning efforts, andservices that help older adults remainindependent.

AAAs were established under theOlder Americans Act in 1973 torespond to the needs of Americansaged 60 and over in every commu-nity. The services availablethrough AAA agencies fall intofive general categories: infor-mation and consultation, serv-ices available in the community, services in the home,housing, and elder rights. A wide range of programs isavailable within each category.

The services offered by Michigan’s 16 AAAs cover a

broad spectrum of needs, such as information and referral, case

management, in-home services,home-delivered meals, senior centers,

transportation, and special outreach. To read more about each of Michigan’s AAAs and the

services available, turn to page 10 of this issue. MI

Welcome toMichiganGenerations

Michigan is

divided into

16 AAAs,

each serving

a different

part of the

state.

They are:11

10 9

7

5

1A

1C2

8

14

6

3B3A

3C4

1B

MAP

PHOT

OG

RAPH

YCO

URTE

SYTR

AVEL

MIC

HIG

AN

1A Detroit Area Agency on Aging

1B Area Agency on Aging 1-B

1C The Senior Alliance

2 Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

3A Kalamazoo Co.Health & CommunityServices Dept. Region 3A

3B Burnham-Brook Region IIIB Area Agency on Aging

3C Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC

4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging

5 Valley Area Agency on Aging

6 Tri-County Office on Aging

7 Region VII Area Agency on Aging

8 Area Agency on Aging ofWestern Michigan

9 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging

10 Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan

11 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging

14 Senior Resources of West Michigan

Visit the AAA’s state website at www.mi-seniors.net

AAAs—Gateways to Community Resources

CAREGIVINGNews&Notes

Surfing the NetEach issue of Michigan Generations offers several websites of

interest to older adults and their caregivers … right atyour fingertips.

www.caringinfo.org offers advice to improve careat the end of life. It provides a variety of freeresources on topics including hospice and palliativecare, advance care planning, and grief and loss.

www.disabilityinfo.gov contains links to resources and information of interest to people with disabilities, theirfamilies, employers and service providers.

Look for more helpful websites in the next issue of Michigan Generations.

To raise awareness of thecomplex role of familycaregivers in Michigan andthe needs they face, Gov.Jennifer M. Granholmdeclared this past Novem-ber as Family CaregiversMonth in Michigan.

“Family CaregiversMonth is a time to thankand support the valuablework and contributions ofthe millions of family care-givers nationwide andthroughout Michigan,”Granholm said in herExecutive Declaration.

Approximately one mil-lion of Michigan’s citizensprovide one billion hours

of unpaid care annually to ill and disabled adults inthe state with an approxi-mate economic value ofmore than $9 billion peryear.

It is estimated thatmore than 60% of today’sadult population either isor expects to be a familycaregiver.

Winter 2006 3

MORE THAN SIX MILLION PEOPLE in theU.S. experience chest pain called angina. Although it mayfeel like it, angina is not a heart attack. But both conditionsoccur because of inadequate blood flow to the heart. Withmost people who get angina pain, the sensation goes away ifthey rest or take medication. With a heart attack, it doesn’tgo away — and can cause permanent damage to heart cells.

Although angina can increase your risk of having a heartattack, it is treatable through careful surveillance, regularmedication and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.Listen to your body. If you have any feelings of pressure,burning or tightness in your chest, contact your doctorimmediately for a diagnosis.

Beware of buyers who approach your older relativeswith the idea of buying their life insurance. Thisprocess, called a “life settlement,” may appeal to Dador Mom if their life insurance needs have changed, or ifthey have been concerned about escalating premiums.

The pitch: A settlement firm buys the policy from asenior on behalf of investors. They typically offer to buy cash value poli-cies as long as the death benefit is at least $250,000. However, expertssay that selling a policy has extremely high transaction costs — and thatit’s better to just hold on to the policy without paying the premiums.Before your relative accepts an offer from an eager buyer, get someadvice from a financial planner or an estate attorney.

?

Gov. Granholm DeclaresNovember as FamilyCaregiversMonth

Those occasional visits to yourolder loved ones — especially if

they’re out of town — offer a chance tospend quality time together. Equallyimportant, they provide an opportunityto determine if more help is neededfor your older relative. Use these“warning signs” to help in the process.

Has your loved one:• Changed eating habits, such as miss-

ing meals?• Started neglecting personal

hygiene?• Neglected their home, so it is not

as clean as it used to be?

• Decreased or stopped participatingin social activities?

• Exhibited forgetfulness resulting inunopened mail, unfilled prescriptions ormissed appointments?

• Mishandled finances such as notpaying bills or paying bills twice?

• Changed relationship patterns withold friends or neighbors?

• Exhibited inappropriate behavior bybeing unusually loud, quiet, paranoid or agitated?

Your relative’s physician should bekept informed of physical or psycholog-ical behavior changes.

LOOK FOR

ANGINAWHAT IS

WANTED: Your LifeInsurance

DID YOU KNOW…… grandparents represent a large population of caregivers?The 2000 census reported 2.4 million of the 5.8 million grandparents living with their grandchildren are the primarycaretakers of their grandchildren under the age of 18.

one of the 1.5 mil-lion Medicare beneficiaries in Michigan, youhave some important decisions to make in thecoming months. First, you will have to decidewhether or not you want to sign up for thenew Medicare prescription drug benefitbecause, while all Medicare beneficiaries areeligible, enrollment is optional. Then you’llhave to decide which of the 79 different plansbeing offered in Michigan is best for you.

There is no need to rush the decisions. Theenrollment period lasts until May 15, 2006,and you may be wise to take your time.

“Although you could enroll as early as Novem-ber 15, 2005, there is no need to rush,” saysBarbara Cebuhar, a spokesperson for the Cen-ters for Medicare & Medicaid Services inWashington, D.C. “Read the news stories thatwill be coming out. Talk to others who havealready enrolled. Study all the informationavailable. You’ll have plenty of time to find theplan that is the best for you.”

* Medicare has reported a small error in the guide regard-ing premiums for those who qualify for extra help. You candownload the correct version at www.medicare.gov or callMedicare at 1-800-633-4227.

By Martha Nolan McKenzie

If you are


Drug Coverage

Everyone needs to make a decision There are numerous sources available to help you navi-

gate these decisions. Medicare has put out a comprehensiveguide to the benefit called “Medicare and You,” which wasmailed to seniors in the Fall.* (See footnote, page 4.)Medicare also has an online tool that can assist you in nar-rowing the field to a few plans that best suit your needs.

You may prefer signing up by phone. If you are amongthe 80% of Medicare beneficiaries who are not Internet-savvy, you can call a statewide toll-free number run by theMichigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP)— 1-800-803-7174 — and counselors will take your informa-tion over the phone and do the online computations for you.You can also visit various sites around the state where you can sit down with a counselor who can do thesame calculations.

It’s important to take advantage of thehelp that’s available to you. That’s becauseeven though every Medicare beneficiary iseligible for the new drug benefit, you will notautomatically receive it, unless you are onMedicaid. To get the benefit, you must pick aspecific plan and sign up for it. If you don’tenroll in a plan before the May 15 cut-off date, you may haveto pay a penalty if you decide to join in the future.

“Regardless of your circumstances, every single person whohas Medicare needs to look at this benefit and make a decision,even if the decision is not to join,” says Mary Johnson, directorof MMAP. “Having this coverage can make a world of differ-ence in your health care costs now and in the future.”

What is the new benefit?Called Medicare Part D, the new drug benefit is essen-

tially insurance coverage for prescription drugs. It is not thesame as the Medicare-approved drug discount cards thatwere available in 2004 and 2005. That was a temporary pro-gram designed to offer some relief from high drug costs untilPart D could be rolled out, and it will end on May 15, 2006— the last day of enrollment in the new plan.

The Part D benefit is being offered through many differentMedicare-approved plans sponsored by several private compa-nies. Each of the plans must be at least as good as the Medicare“standard,” but they can vary significantly. For many seniors,the plans will offer savings on drug costs. In fact, Medicareclaims that this coverage will pay, on average, half of the drugcosts in 2006 for the typical person on Medicare.

Enrollment in the new plans began November 15 andcontinues through May 15, 2006. The first day when actualcoverage takes effect is January 1, 2006, for anyone who issigned up by that date. After that, coverage begins on thefirst day of the month after you sign up. If, for example, youwere to sign up on March 15, 2006, your coverage wouldbegin on April 1.

If you turn 65 anytime after February 1, 2006, you cansign up for a plan the three months prior to, the month of,

and three months after your birthday. After the initial sign-upperiod, you can switch plans once a year during an annualenrollment period of November 15 through December 31. So if, in the future, you decide the plan you originallyselected no longer meets your needs, you can select a differ-ent plan without any penalty.

You can also switch to a different plan outside the openenrollment period with no penalty, if the plan you are ongoes out of business, if you move to another state in whichyour plan does not operate, or if you go into a skilled nurs-ing facility.

Here’s a look at the costs and the benefits of these plans:

• MONTHLY PREMIUMS This is the amount you will payeach month for your plan. Premiums can range from $0 to$97, but the average in Michigan is $33.22 a month.

• ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE This is the amount you mustfirst spend on drugs each calendar year before your benefit

kicks in. In 2006, your deductible can be no higher than$250, but many plans will have lower deductibles or nodeductible.

• OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES After you reach thedeductible, your plan will cover at least 75% of the next $2,000in drug costs for the year. This can be in the form of either aco-payment (you pay a fixed amount for each prescriptionfilled) or co-insurance (you pay a percentage of the total pre-scription cost).

With most of the standard plans, you will then hit a gapin coverage, commonly called the “donut hole.” That meansin 2006 you would have to pay the next $2,850 of drug costsout of your own pocket before Medicare coverage kicks backin. (However, if you are low-income, you may qualify for aplan with no gap.)

There will be variations in this donut hole, depending onthe specific plan. Some plans with higher monthly premiumsmay have no coverage gap at all. For plans that have thedonut hole, this gap cannot be greater than $2,850.

After you have paid the additional $2,850 in drugcosts, your plan will cover 95% of the rest of your pre-scription drug costs — with no limit — until the end ofthe calendar year. This phase is called “catastrophic coverage,” and it is designed to protect you againstextremely high drug bills.

• FORMULARY This is the list of drugs that are coveredby the plan. Each plan will cover different prescriptiondrugs, and you might not be able to find a plan that coversall your medications. In that case, you may have to figure outwhich one is the most advantageous. Or you can appeal to aplan to see if it will pay totally or partially for a medicationthat you have to be on.

Winter 2006 5

“Every person who has Medicare needs tolook at this benefit and make a decision,even if the decision is not to join.”

For information and For information To sign up for aassistance only plus help selecting plan you have

and signing up for a plan selected

Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE or 1-800-633-4227; www.medicare.gov

MMAP: 1-800-803-7174

AARP: 1-888-OUR-AARP or 1-888-687-2277; www.aarp.org

Your local Area Agency on Aging: See contact information on pages 10–18

Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116; www.eldercare.gov

Individual insurer offering the plan

Social Security — questions related to limited income: 1-800-772-1213; www.socialsecurity.gov

Where to Get Help

How can I tell if I should enroll? Everyone has different circumstances and different

needs, so the decision of whether or not to join has to be anindividual one.

Here’s a look at some special considerations:

Medicaid recipients. Seniors or younger personswith disabilities who are on Medicaid and Medicarewere automatically enrolled in a plan by January 1.“However, the plan assignment was random, and theplan may or may not cover the prescriptions the senior is on,” says Johnson. “If a senior is unhappy

with the plan he was assigned, he can change it immedi-ately. Going forward, individuals on both Medicare and Medicaid, unlike all others, can change their plan atany time.”

Low-income seniors. If your income is below$14,355 (for a single person) or $19,245 (for a couple) andyour assets are no greater than $11,500 (for a single) or$23,000 (for a couple), you may qualify for extra help in pay-ing for your prescriptions through Medicare. The extra help,depending on your income level, could range from no pre-mium or deductible and a $1 co-pay for generics and $3 forbrand names to a sliding scale premium and a $50 deductiblewith slightly higher co-pays. Note that a house and a car arenot considered assets. If you feel you qualify for extra help,contact Social Security.

Seniors with drug coverage through a currentor former employer or union. You will need to findout if the coverage is as good as the minimum standard setby Medicare. If it is, it is called “creditable” coverage. Youremployer or union should have mailed you a letter lettingyou know if your coverage is as good as Medicare’s or not. If you have not received the letter, call and request it.

Keep this letter in a safe place because it could becomevery important. That’s because if you need to sign up for aMedicare plan sometime in the future — for example, if youor your spouse retires and are no longer covered by anemployer’s insurance or if your employer drops its retiree

benefits — you will pay a penalty unless you canprove you had creditable coverage. If your plan iscreditable, you will not need to pay a penalty ifyou join a plan in the future.

Seniors with veterans’ or militaryretiree drug benefits. There is good news forthis group. You can keep your current coverage,and if you decide to enroll in a Medicare plan lateron, you will not have to pay the penalty.

Younger, healthy seniors with lowdrug costs. This group likely faces the toughest decision.If you currently spend little or nothing on prescription drugs,joining a Medicare plan will cost you more than you are cur-rently spending. But that may not always be the case.

“It’s like house insurance or car insurance,” says Cebuhar.“You want to make sure you have coverage in case somethinghappens to your health in the future. It’s highly likely that youare going to be needing more medications sometime in thefuture.”

But if you didn’t sign up during the initial enrollmentperiod, you likely will have to pay a significant penalty forcoverage — an additional 1% of the premium will be addedto your monthly cost for each month you delayed. So if yousign up for a plan three years down the road, your monthlypremiums will be 36% higher — and that inflated cost willlast for the rest of your life.

“[Medicare’s drug coverage] is like houseinsurance or car insurance,” says Cebuhar.“You want to make sure you have coverage if something happens to your health in the future.”

Michigan Generations

Keep in mind, you will not be able to sign up for a plan atall until the annual enrollment period between November 15and December 31, with coverage starting the following January 1. So if you were to have a health crisis in February,you would have to pay for your drugs out of pocket until thestart of the next year.

“So if you don’t take many medications right now, itwould be a good idea to sign up for the lowest-cost planyou can find,” says Cebuhar. “That way if you ever do needto take more meds, you can switch to a more comprehen-sive plan without having to pay a big penalty. You have thepeace of mind in knowing you are protected against futuredrug costs.”

Seniors with a Medigap policy. Medigap planscover expenses not covered under Medicare Parts A andB. If your Medigap plan does not include drug coverage,you can keep it unchanged. If it does cover prescriptiondrugs, you’ll have to make a decision. The drug coveragein Medigap plans is not creditable — their coverage doesnot meet the minimum standard set by Medicare. So ifyou keep the Medigap drug coverage and then changeyour mind in the future and enroll in a Medicare drugplan, you will have to pay the penalty. However, you canelect to keep your Medigap policy to retain its other bene-fits but drop the drug coverage part of it. Or you couldswitch to a different Medigap policy that has no drug cov-erage. Starting January 1, 2006, no new Medigap policieswith drug coverage will be sold.

How do I choose a plan?This task may seem overwhelming with 79 plans being

offered in Michigan. But realistically, there are probably onlya handful that meet your needs — that cover the drugs youuse and the pharmacy you patronize. So the question is, howdo you find those plans?

ONLINE TOOL Medicare has an online toolthat can find the handful of plans that are best for you. With this tool, called the Medicare

Prescription Drug Plan Finder, you can enter the names ofyour prescriptions and the name of your pharmacy, and itwill give you a list of the plans that best suit your needs.

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whetheryou want to stick with traditional Medicare or switch to amanaged care plan called Medicare Advantage. Forty of theprescription plans being offered in Michigan are stand-alone plans, and 39 are part of a Medicare Advantage plan.

The Medicare Advantage plans, which include HMOsand PPOs, may cover more services and have lower out-of-pocket costs than traditional Medicare does. But your choiceof doctors and hospitals may be more restricted.

Most of Michigan’s seniors are currently enrolled in traditional Medicare. “We expect most seniors to choose astand-alone plan and remain in traditional Medicare, at leastfor the first year,” says Johnson.

If you are one of the 80% of Medicare beneficiaries whodo not use the Internet, senior advocates encourage you toenlist the aid of your adult children or grandchildren to goonline and use the Medicare tool for you.

For a step-by-step walk through the Medicare online tool,turn to page 19 of this issue.

PHONE CONSULTATION If a child or friendcan’t help you out, MMAP can. “We have over 850 trained volunteers who are eager to help,”

says Johnson.You can call MMAP at 1-800-803-7174, and you will

be routed to one of the 58 MMAP sites around the state. A counselor will be able to take your information over thephone — including your Medicare number, the names ofyour prescriptions and the name of your pharmacy — andplug it into the online tool for you. MMAP offices are openMonday through Friday during regular business hours, andall are capable of taking messages if you call after hours.

IN-PERSON COUNSELING If you prefer to sitdown face to face with a counselor, you will haveplenty of opportunities. MMAP is working through

the Area Agencies on Aging, most senior centers, Commis-sions on Aging, Independent Living organizations, Long-termCare Ombudsmen, AARP, Medicare Today and many otherorganizations and agencies to help seniors understand andenroll in the new benefit. To find a site near you and make anappointment with a counselor, call the MMAP toll-free line.

The counselor is not allowed by law to select the plan foryou. However, she can enter your information in the onlinetool, get the list of plans that best suit your needs and show youhow to compare the different plans, explaining what each com-ponent means. It will be up to you to make the final decision.

Once you have picked a plan, a MMAP counselor canactually sign you up for it, using the online tool, and printout a confirmation for you. Or you can call the plan directlyto sign up, if you prefer.

You’ll also need to decide how you are going to pay themonthly premiums. You can have them automatically deductedfrom your checking account or from your Social Securitycheck, or you can write a check each month to pay for it.

If the complexity of the process becomes frustrating,remember the payoff. “Medications are important to main-taining good health,” says Johnson. “This benefit is going to offer a great deal of help to a lot of people. It’s in every-one’s best interest to have good, affordable prescriptiondrug coverage.” MI

Winter 2006 7

For a step-by-step guide to

using Medicare’s online tool,

turn to page 19.

6

54

3

2

1

By Jim Harvey

Each year, millions of seniors fall inside their homes andin the community. Approximately 35 to 40 percent of

seniors will fall every year, with one half unable to get up ontheir own. Furthermore, almost 500,000 seniors will break ahip due to a fall this year, the type of break that causes themost number of deaths and leads to the most severe healthproblems. Most of these falls can be prevented with educa-tion and by following a few simple guidelines.

There are two ways in which falls occur: slips and trips.Slips happen when there is too little friction or traction betweenthe footwear and the walking surface. Trips occur when yourfoot strikes an object, causing you to lose balance and fall.

There are six key areas where falls can be prevented:

VISION People over 65 years of age with vision problemsare three times more likely to have difficulties walking andcompleting their daily activities than younger adults are.Some common diseases of the eyes that affect vision and balance are macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma anddiabetic retinopathy. Annual, or more frequent, eye examina-tions can help catch these problems early. Also, make surethat your eyeglass prescription is up-to-date.

MEDICATIONS Have your health care provider reviewyour medications frequently. As you get older, the way thatmedicines work in your body can change. Some medicines, orcombinations of medicines, can make you drowsy or light-headed, which can lead to a fall. To reassess your medications,your pharmacist may be more accessible and knowledgeablethan your physician is.

FOOTWEAR Improper footwear contributes to one thirdof all falls. Wear shoes that give good support and have thinnon-slip soles. Avoid wearing slippers and athletic shoes withdeep treads. Make sure your shoes fit properly. Shoes that aretoo tight or too loose can contribute to falls. Purchasing shoeslater in the day, when your feet may be swollen, is also rec-ommended to ensure a good fit.

DIET Eat a well-balanced diet. Potassium increases the strength of muscle contractions and reduces cramping.Vitamin D supplementation is effective in reducing fractures,especially since calcium absorption in the body is reducedwith the aging process.

SURROUNDINGS As 75 percent of falls occur in thehome, it is essential that time is spent ensuring that the homeenvironment is safe.

• Remove things that you can trip over (such as papers,books, clothes and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.

• Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape tokeep the rugs from slipping. Keep frequently used items incabinets that you can reach easily without using a step stool.

• Have grab bars installed next to your toilet and in thetub or shower, and use non-slip mats in the bathtub and onshower floors.

• Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older,you need brighter lights to see well.

• Have handrails and lights installed on all staircases.• Don’t rush to the phone. Let friends and family know

that they should leave a message or give you more time to getto the phone.

• Get dressed sitting on your bed or on a chair, not stand-ing up.

EXERCISE PROGRAM As we get older, certain changes,such as muscle weakness due to inactivity and slowing of reac-tion time, gradually occur that affect our balance. Seniors learnto compensate until they reach a critical point that results inbalance instability. An exercise program performed three ormore times per week can improve muscle strength and reducethe risk of falls. Exercises to improve posture are also impor-tant. When joints are not aligned, the muscle demand becomesmuch greater and the risk of falls increases.

Paying attention to these six areas can get you well onyour way to keeping your balanceand avoiding any complications. Andremember, adults over the age of 65should receive an annual screeningfor fall risk. MI

JIM HARVEY is a physical therapistand owner of Great Lakes TherapyHouse Calls, located in TraverseCity. He specializes in geriatric reha-bilitation, including fall prevention.

GUESTClose-Up

FA L L P R E V E N T I O N

Learn to Avoid


&SLIPSTRIPS

Choosing a home health care agencycan be a daunting task. Often the

decision is made under difficult circum-stances, particularly when time is short,stress levels are high and you may not befeeling your best. With literally hundredsof home health care agencies in south-east Michigan, how do you choose?

How do I find a home health careagency?YOUR DOCTOR’S OFFICE OR YOURhospital discharge planner will generallyprovide you with a list of agencies. Beforeyou choose one, find out how long theagency has been in business, if it isMedicare-certified, and if it is accreditedby the Joint Commission on Accredita-tion of Healthcare Organizations(JCAHO) or Community Health Accred-itation Program (CHAP). Accreditedagencies have undergone a specificassessment of their quality outcomes withpatients and the care that they provide.

How do I know if the home healthcare agency is reputable?REPUTABLE, MEDICARE-CERTIFIEDhome health care will always be initiatedby a physician’s order, either at the hospital or from the physician’s office.Home health care should not come as a

surprise. If you receive an unplannedknock on your door from someone rep-resenting a home health care agency, bevery cautious, and above all, do not pro-vide that individual with any medical orpersonal information such as your socialsecurity number. The direct door-to-doorsales of Medicare-certified service to theconsumer is a fraudulent activity,whether it is at your house or in yourhospital room.

When should I start looking for ahome health care agency?THE BEST TIME TO RESEARCH A HOME

health care agency is before you needone. For example, if you will be havingknee replacement surgery, does thehome care agency offer physical therapy?Additionally, does it offer a pre-surgicalvisit where the therapist can provide youwith exercises to strengthen your mus-cles and create a more rapid recoveryafter the surgery? While home healthcare agencies offer similar services, suchas nursing care, physical therapy andpersonal care, not all home health careagencies are created equally. Knowingwhat agency you would choose beforeyou need one can go a long way towardensuring your peace of mind and thehighest quality care.

What other services may a homehealth care agency provide?DOES YOUR HOME HEALTH CARE

organization offer cutting-edge technol-ogy, such as remote monitoring ortelemedicine/TeleHomecare devices forconditions like diabetes and heart fail-ure? This technology greatly decreasesthe likelihood of re-hospitalization andhelps people learn how to better managetheir conditions. Also, working with yourphysician, the home health care agencywill develop a written plan of care

specific to your individual needs. Ask ifthe agency provides written statementsdescribing its services, eligibilityrequirements and fees.

What are factors to consider whendeciding on an agency?THE LENGTH OF TIME AN ORGANIZATION

has been in business can play an impor-tant role. The longer an organization hasbeen in the community, the greater theconfidence you can have in its experi-ence, quality, reliability and dedication.

Another factor to consider is the mis-sion of the home health care agency.There are both for-profit and not-for-profit agencies. You may wish to look forthe value-added benefits that an agencyprovides. Because of their dedication toimproving public health, not-for-profitagencies tend to offer programs and serv-ices such as care to the uninsured andunderinsured and community wellnessscreenings that do not fit with typical for-profit company missions.

Is there a guide available to help mechoose a home health care agency?WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH,you want the best care possible. Formore information on selecting a homehealth care agency, the Visiting NurseAssociation of Southeast Michigan has afree consumer’s guide to answer otherquestions that you may have. To receivea free copy of A Consumer’s Guide toHome Health Care, please call 248-967-8374 or visit www.vna.org. MI

KATHLEEN J. HOLYCROSS is presi-dent and chief executive officer of the Vis-iting Nurse Association of SoutheastMichigan, the state’s largest independent,nonprofit home health care and hospiceprovider.

ASKtheExpert Kathleen J. Holycross

Do you have acaregiving question?Write or email your question to our

“Expert” at: Jenny Jarvis,Area Agency

on Aging 1-B, 29100 Northwestern

Highway, Suite 400, Southfield, MI 48034;

[email protected] will make every

effort to answer your question in an

upcoming issue of Michigan Generations.

Home Health CareHow to Choose an Agency

Winter 2006 9

REGIONALNews

In communities

across the U.S.,

Area Agencies on

Aging (AAAs) serve

as gateways to local

resources, planning

efforts and services

that help older adults

remain independent.

Here are the

programs and

services offered by

Michigan’s AAAs.

SPOTLIGHT ON…

11

10 9

7

5

1A1C

2

8

14

6

3B3A

3C4

1B

6 Tri-County Office on Aging

7 Region VII Area Agency on Aging

8 Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

9 NEMCSA Region 9 Area Agency on Aging

10 Area Agency onAging of NorthwestMichigan

11 Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging

14 Senior Resources of West Michigan

1A Detroit Area Agency on Aging

1B Area Agency on Aging 1-B

1C The Senior Alliance

2 Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

3A Kalamazoo Co.Health &Community Services Dept.Region 3A

3B Burnham-Brook Region IIIB

3C Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging IIIC

4 Region IV Area Agency on Aging

5 Valley Area Agency on Aging

Kelly Beem, support specialist, andKim Brown, RN, have recently

joined the staff at the Branch-St.Joseph Area Agency on Aging. Alongwith the director, Duke Anderson, andcoordinator, Laura Sutter, they will beassisting adults age 60 and older toremain in theirhomes through anew programcalled Care Man-agement. CareManagementassists frail eldersat risk of nursinghome placement by arranging and/orpurchasing long-term care services.Assistance with bathing, medication

set-up and light house-keeping are included. The staff willwork closely with each client’s family,physician and community resources to

ensure that the clientreceives the highestlevel of care.

The Branch-St. Joseph AreaAgency on Aging serves as theregional planning, advocacy andadministrative agency designatedby the Michigan Office of Ser-vices to the Aging to assistolder adults in Branch and St.Joseph counties. By targetingstate and federal resourcesthrough a comprehensive net-work of service providers, theagency gives older adults andtheir families access to a varietyof programs designed to pro-mote independence and dignity.

Home-delivered meals, respite care,adult day services and home repair aresome of the services offered acrossthe two-county service area.

Branch–St.JosephAreaAgencyonAging IIIC

New Staff Join the Branch-St. JosephArea Agency on Aging

Serving a two-county area surrounding Sturgis, Three Rivers, Coldwater and Quincy


For more information, or to see if you or a loved onequalifies for Care Manage-ment, please call us at 517-279-9561, ext. 135, ortoll-free at 1-888-615-8009.

Back, left to right: Kelly Beem and KimBrown; front, left to right: Laura Sutter andDuke Anderson.

Alittle help with minorhousehold chores can

make a huge difference ina senior’s ability to main-tain their independence.There are many seniorsliving in nursing homestoday for no other reasonthan that they were unableto properly maintain theirhomes and surroundings.

Chore programs arevital services for frail olderadults who need assistanceperforming certain house-hold chores, such as grasscutting, snow or iceremoval, cleaning andminor handyman tasks.These programs allow sen-iors to remain in their homes — asvital members of their community.

Fortunately, the Detroit AreaAgency on Aging is able to offer aChore Services Program to eligibleseniors because of a generous grantprovided by Wayne County. After theChore Program’s two-year absence, acontribution of $225,000 from thecounty is making the program availableonce again.

Eligible seniors who wish to remainindependent in their own homes mayapply to receive these household services at no cost. Among the choreservices that are provided are:

Yard work• Cutting grass and raking leaves• Clearing walkways of ice, snow

and leaves• Trimming overhanging tree branchesHeavy cleaning• Cleaning appliances• Cleaning and securing carpets

and rugs• Washing walls and windowsMinor maintenance• Replacing/repairing pipes• Caulking windows• Replacing fuses, lightbulbs,

electrical plugs, etc.• Pest control

In order to be eligible for the pro-gram, individuals mustbe Wayne County resi-dents who are age 60and older, must residein the cities of Detroit,Hamtramck, HighlandPark, Harper Woodsand the five GrossePointes, and must be inneed of chore servicesas described above.

It is alsonecessary thatpersons receiv-ing this servicehave functional,physical ormental charac-teristics thatprevent themfrom providingthe service forthemselves.There shouldalso be a lackof a sufficientinformal sup-port network,such as family,friends andneighbors, capa-

ble of meeting the individual’s serviceneeds.

For more information about the ChoreProgram and how you or someone youknow might go about receiving the serv-ices, please contact the Detroit AreaAgency on Aging at 313-446-4444, or bymail at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd, Suite200, Detroit, MI 48207. You may alsoemail us at [email protected].

Make a Senior Smile DayTO KICK OFF THE CHORE PROGRAM,

Wayne County, the County Commis-sioners and the Detroit Area Agencyon Aging held the 2nd Annual “Make aSenior Smile Day” on October 22,2005.Volunteers from throughout thecounty assisted seniors in the commu-nity by providing yard work.In addition, Lowe’s of Harper Woodsdonated $1,200 and provided volun-teers and volume pricing on suppliesfor the event through the company’s“Lowe’s Heroes Program.”

Detroit Area Agencyon AgingServing Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and the five Grosse Pointes in Wayne County

Providing Free Chore Services to Seniors

Lowe’s volunteers meet with a senior before they make repairs.

Be sure to tune in to Senior Solution every

Saturday at 10 a.m. on WGPR Radio 107.5,

and visit our website at www.daaa1a.org.

Senior Solution has been expanded to

one hour. The show now airs from 10 a.m.

to 11 a.m.

Winter 2006 11

Ristorante Café Cortina,a fine dining restaurant

located in Farmington Hills,and Gino’s Italian Restaurantand Pizzeria, a family-oriented dining spot inKeego Harbor, supportedHoliday Meals on Wheels bydonating 10 percent of theirnet profits on November 15,2005, to the Area Agency onAging 1-B’s Holiday Meals onWheels program. AdrianTonon, co-owner of Ris-torante Café Cortina, alsosupported the program bydelivering Holiday Meals onWheels on Thanksgiving Dayto frail, homebound olderadults in Farmington Hills.

Ristorante CaféCortina, located at30715 W. 10 Mile Road inFarmington Hills, hasearned the reputation as the“best-kept secret” in metro-politan Detroit. Its warm, inti-mate atmosphere and consistentlyexcellent presentation of northern Ital-ian regional cooking have been praisedby both local and national media.

Among the restaurant’s many dis-tinctions, Café Cortina was namedRestaurant of the Year in 2003 by HourDetroit magazine and has also received

a DiRoNA Award (Distin-guished Restaurant ofNorth America) and a Wine Spectator Award ofExcellence.

Gino’s Italian Restau-rant and Pizzeria,located at 1999 CassLake Road in KeegoHarbor, brings togethertwo of America’s mostpopular dining concepts —the Italian family restaurantand fast-casual ambience.With reasonable prices,food quality traditionallyassociated with casual din-ing, freshness you can seeand taste, and quick serv-ice, they’ve got somethingfor everyone!

Thank you to RistoranteCafé Cortina and Gino’sItalian Restaurant and Pizze-ria for supporting thisworthwhile cause. HolidayMeals on Wheels are deliv-

ered to frail, older adults in need overthe holiday seasons, including Thanks-giving, Hanukkah, Christmas Day, NewYear’s Day, Easter and Passover.

Local Restaurants Support Holiday Meals on Wheels Program

Serving the counties of Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw

AreaAgencyon Aging 1-B

The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is the first resource for older adults, caregivers and personswith disabilities to call when looking to resolve problems or locate the resources theyneed to improve the quality of their life.

When individuals call the toll-free Information and Assistance (I&A) service at 1-800-852-7795, they speak with a certified Information and Referral Specialist to determine what their needs are and the services and assistance available to address thoseneeds. Once the needs are determined, the specialist accesses the I&A database of over2,000 community agencies and mails the individual a complete listing of relevant servicesand providers in their local community.

Call us. We can help.

Help is a Phone Call Away

1-800-852-7795


Adrian Tonon, co-owner of Ristorante Café Cortina in Farmington Hills, deliversa holiday meal to Archie McCants.

It is a challenge to keep attendanceup at senior meal sites and also to

attract new seniors to join in. Region 2decided to start a contest with cashprizes to provide an incentive to staffand meal participants to promote thecongregate meal programs in our area.The contest began on June 1 and con-tinued through December. The focuswas on a consistent increase in thenumber of participants attending mealsites on a regular basis. In each cate-gory a first, second and third placeprize was offered. Nutrition directorsand activity planners were encouragedto try new menu ideas and to startnew activities.

Many of the meal site employees

used differentmethods torecruit newparticipants.They madeposters, ranads in localnewspapers,offered incentives to their regularattendees and increased programs. InJackson County, employees developed anew name for their meal sites — “TheGathering Place” — with a logo of asteaming cup of coffee. The logo andcomforting name have been wellreceived. Most of the senior centersposted the meal site contestannouncement in their entryways and

informed every-one of why theywanted to win.One site wantedto win themoney to puttoward an air-conditioning unit

for their senior center.Sometimes older adults do not par-

ticipate in congregate meal programsbecause they are not aware the programexists or they do not feel welcome toattend. It’s important to talk about themeal sites in the area we serve and tellseniors,“Come on in, we’re open.”

For information, contact Ginny Wood-Bailey at Region 2 AAA, 1-800-335-7881.

Michigan has very few options forthe deaf senior population, par-

ticularly as these seniors age and losethe ability to independently performroutine acts such as cooking, shower-ing and other personal grooming.

At the request of older adults fromthe deaf community, a small workgroup called the Deaf Senior HousingCoalition, consisting of local organiza-tions and deaf older adults, has startedto explore the feasibility of developinghousing to meet the needs of theaging deaf community. Organizationsinvolved are the Area Agency on Aging1-B, Deaf & Hearing Impaired Servicesand Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.

Key findings from a survey con-ducted among the deaf senior commu-nity by this work group include:

• 95 percent expressed an inter-est in living in a senior housing devel-opment for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

• 60 percent indicated that theywould move over 60 miles to relocateto such a development, with morethan one indicating that they wouldmove any distance.

• Only 11 percent respondednegatively to a northern OaklandCounty location for a deaf seniorhousing development.

Overall, the deaf population is willingto move into deaf housing when theyfind themselves in need of more sup-portive services. Deaf seniors have spe-cialized needs, such as flashing doorbellsand fire alarms. These specialized needs

can best be served if they are providedin one facility. Language barriers alsoprevent many deaf seniors from movinginto current senior facilities. Olderadults with small amounts of hearing

loss find them-selves isolatedfrom otherseniors. Livingin a communitywith other deafseniors wouldgive them relieffrom social iso-

lation and would provide them with asupportive, mentally stimulating atmos-phere.

If you are interested in reading thecomplete study “Housing Needs of Deafand Hard of Hearing Older Adults inSoutheast Michigan,” please call the AreaAgency on Aging 1-B at 1-800-852-7795and a copy can be mailed to you.

Seniors in Region 2 enjoy congregate meal programs.

Serving Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties

Meal Site Contest BoostsCongregate Programs

Agencies Conduct Study on Housing for Deaf

Region 2 Area Agency on Aging

Winter 2006 13

A small work group called the Deaf SeniorHousing Coalition, consisting of local organiza-tions and deaf older adults, has started toexplore the feasibility of developing housing tomeet the needs of the aging deaf community.

There are so many questions thatarise when a family is faced with a

caregiving situation: “Who will takecare of me if I am no longer able tocare for myself?” “How do I find helpcaring for my elderly parent?” “Can mygrandparents continue to live in theirown home?” These are just a few ofthe difficult questions that familiesencounter. Perhaps the most impor-tant question is: “Where do I start?”Region IV AAA has an answer.

Care Connections of SouthwestMichigan is a fee-for-service programprovided through the AAA to assistfamilies with customized care planning.Through a free telephone consultation, aqualified professional is available to speakwith people about possible options for

their family. Care Connections canassist with any of the following services:medication management, home-delivered meals, end-of-life planning,home safety checks, errands/shopping,

chronic disease management (diabetes,arthritis, heart disease, etc.), housekeep-ing, in-home/out-of-home care options,minor home repair, transportationneeds and more.

If a family is interested in any ofthese services, an in-home consulta-tion can be scheduled and someonecan come to the home to discuss

options. After a cus-tomized care plan hasbeen established, Care Connectionscan give the family the informationthey need to manage their own care,or a care manager can stay involvedlong-term and help the family toarrange and monitor care. In this

case, billingwould be consolidatedthrough CareConnections

so that the family would get one item-ized bill per month.

If you live in or around Berrien, Cassand Van Buren counties and would like toexplore available services, contact CareConnections of Southwest Michigan Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. at 269-982-7746 or toll-freeat 1-800-442-2803, ext. 746.

Region IVArea Agency on AgingCovering Michigan’s Great Southwest including Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties

Custom Care for Families


Care Connections can give a family the infor-mation they need to manage their own care.

The Region 3A AAA is pleased todirectly offer care management as

a program for persons 60 and overwho qualify to receive long-term carein their own homes rather than innursing homes. The goal of the pro-gram is to assist people to remain intheir own homes with the help of family and community resources.

A team consisting of a nurse and a social worker assesses a client’shealth status, social needs and abilityto function at home.They create withthe client and family a plan of care to

meet identi-fied needsand ifrequested,coordinateservices(such aspersonalcare, home-making andadult day care) from agencies andfamily and friends to meet the client’sneeds. Clients are able to choosetheir own service providers.

When you callthe Care Manage-ment Program at269-373-5141,

there will beseveral ques-tions aboutactivities likeshopping,bathing, cookingand so on.Yourresponses tothese questionswill determine

if you qualify for the program. Thereis no income limit, though clients willbe asked to share in the cost of services on a sliding fee scale. Noteveryone who calls will be eligible,but the good news is that we canrefer you to other communityresources for assistance.

Region 3ACovering Kalamazoo County and its 24 municipalities

Caregiver Resource Center . . . . . . . . . . . 269-978-00853A AAA Information & Assistance. . . . . . . 269-373-5173

Kalamazoo Co. Health & Community Services Dept.

Left to right: Yvonne Steffler, program specialist; AnneZemlick, program manager/nurse; Patti Nash, social worker.

Care Management Program Offers Elders a Choice

The Valley Area Agency on Aging(VAAA) is excited to announce

the implementation of the HealthyAging cable show. The show beganwith the idea of educating the commu-nity on senior issues, which, in turn, ledVAAA to Flint Comcast Public Access.

The intent of the Healthy Agingshow is to give the community accessto information, events and programsthat are available through VAAA andother local agencies or organizations.

Flint Comcast Public Access providesuse of the studio and equipment free ofcharge to area residents who completea series of training workshops. VAAAstaff registered for workshops such asediting, graphics, directing and produc-ing, which were conducted by the

Comcast staff. Once the training hadconcluded, the agency was on its wayto producing a cable show.

Kathryn Boles, Executive Directorof VAAA, is the host of the monthlyHealthy Aging show.The first showaired in October 2005. Some of the

show’s topics haveincluded: elder abuse,the Medicare Prescription Drug Program, and health and wellness top-ics such as nutrition and exercise.

The Healthy Aging show is particu-larly beneficial to homebound seniorswho can watch the show to keepaware of current issues and programsthat are available in the community. Inaddition, tapes of the Healthy Agingshow are sent to communities that donot have access to the Comcast cablenetwork — such as the Lapeer SeniorCenter in Lapeer County and theOwosso Senior Center in ShiawasseeCounty — for their viewing pleasure.

For more information on services provided by the Valley Area Agency onAging, call 810-239-7671 or toll-free 1-800-978-6275, or visit our website atwww.valleyaaa.org.

ValleyAreaAgencyonAgingServing Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee counties

During 2004 and 2005, a series ofsurveys was administered to

long-term care direct care workers(DCWs) and their employers in Michi-gan’s Clinton, Eaton and Ingham tri-county area. The surveys were carriedout through the funding and leadershipof the Tri-County Office on Aging andinitiated by the Tri-County Long TermCare Collaborative, a group of publicand private agencies involved in vari-ous aspects of providing long-termcare. Since its formation in 1999, theCollaborative has been interested inthe growth and maintenance of a qual-ity direct care workforce. The surveywas designed to establish a baselineprofile of the area workforce and to

identify potential areas for advocacyon behalf of the workforce, especiallyin the areas of recruitment, trainingand retention.

The purpose of the project was todevelop a local DCW profile, and toexamine and compare the views ofDCW employers and workers onrecruitment, training and retention.The results contribute to a knowledgebase for policy planning and advocacy.

The survey was sent to 200employers, including home health careagencies, adult foster care homes, nurs-ing homes and homes for the aged, andthere was a 29% response rate. A totalof 2,897 surveys were mailed toDCWs, with 24% responding.

Employers reportedthat the most successfulDCW retention strategies are flexiblehours, competitive pay rates, paid train-ing, regular pay raises, involvement in careplanning and recognition events. Theyalso feel that most DCWs need some,more or better training on most basiccare topics.

About half of the DCWs believethat they need no more job training,but nearly 45% said that they wouldlike some, more or better training onvarious topics. Over 87% of workerssaid that they were satisfied with theirDCW job, while only 5% were “verydissatisfied.”

The complete survey can be foundon TCOA’s website: www.tcoa.org.

For general information, call the Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1440or toll-free at 1-800-405-9141.

Tri-County Office on AgingA consortium of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties and the cities of Lansing and East Lansing

Labor of Love — Direct Care Worker Survey

VAAA Offers Cable Show for Seniors

Winter 2006 15

Participating in the new Healthy Aging show areKathryn Boles, Executive Director,VAAA; LauraRahmaad,Director, GCCARD, Senior NutritionProgram; and Ann Batchelor, D ietician.

Couch potatoes willing to dust offtheir shoes and gradually increase

their activity have found just the thing.Hard bodies need not apply. EnhanceFitness has come to Western Michi-gan with its focus on strength training,aerobics, stretching and balance. “Thisclass is unique because it’s gearedtoward the over-60 crowd. You don’thave to be the super-athletic type toparticipate,” explains Barbara Nelson,contract coordinator at the AreaAgency on Aging of Western Michigan.“Seniors are the group that can getthe most bang for their buck when itcomes to exercise. Nothing does moreto improve their health, emotional well-being and overall quality of life.”

Enhance Fitness is an hour-longclass held three times a week for eightweeks. A certified instructor leads aroutine designed to improve strengthand endurance. Each participant goesthrough a fitness evaluation uponstarting the class, and then three addi-tional times throughout the year to

chart progress. EvaCain, 77, of Lowell hasalready felt the benefits. “My arthritiswas so bad that I had trouble gettingdressed on my own. Now I have moreflexibility to lift my arms,” she says.

Enhance Fitness is part of an overallstrategy at the Area Agency on Agingof Western Michigan to emphasize thebenefits of wellness. “These programsare so valuable because preventinghealth problems is much cheaper thantreating them,” says Tom Czerwinski,director of the Area Agency on Agingof Western Michigan. Three seniorcenters in the Grand Rapids area andone in Mecosta County are offeringthe classes for a nominal cost.

To learn more, call AAAWM at 1-888-456-5664, Senior Neighbors at 616-459-6019 or the Mecosta County Commissionon Aging at 231-972-2884.

Area Agency on Agingof Western MichiganServing Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo and Osceola counties

Eva Cain (left) and Enhance Fitness participants.


“Enhance Fitness” Is the Goal for Seniors

Caregiving is a relatively new wordthat describes family members

assisting someone who is chronically illor disabled and unable to care forhim/herself. Within Region VII’s service

area, caregiver Wayne Ader assists hismother, Hildegard, who has dementia.Due to the wide use and demand forfamily caregivers, there are twonational groups providing valuableinformation: the National Family Care-givers Association and the NationalAlliance for Caregiving.

Tips for caregivers include:• Reward yourself with respite

breaks often. Hildegard is picked upby the local Aging on Agency bus twicea week to attend adult day care,where she engages in many activities.

• Watch out for signs ofdepression, and either seek pro-fessional help or attend local sup-port chapters. Wayne views stateand local groups as an extended family.

• When peopleoffer to help, acceptthe offer. Hildegard receives Meals onWheels on the days she’s at home.

• Educate yourself about yourloved one’s condition. Wayne is takingpart in a university research project ondementia.

• Caregivers often do a lot oflifting, pushing and pulling, soexercise is important for keepingmuscles strengthened. Wayne andHildegard use home exercise equip-ment and walk together daily.

Contact your local Division, Com-mission or Council on Aging to inquireabout a caregiving workshop or con-ference planned for your area.

For additional information, contact theRegion VII Area Agency on Aging, 1615 S.Euclid Ave, Bay City, MI 48706, 1-800-858-1637, or go to www.region7aaa.org.

RegionVII Area Agency on AgingServing Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Sanilac and Tuscola counties

Learning More About Caregiving

Tuscola County caregiver Wayne Ader assists hismother, Hildegard, with a craft project.

The federal government unveiled amakeover of the well-known Food

Guide Pyramid icon that emphasizeseating a variety of food and under-scores the importance of physicalactivity. In response to those changes,the Michigan Office of Services to theAging updated their standards for con-gregate meals, creating healthier mealofferings for senior center participants.

A condensed version of the stan-dards includes no less than two tothree ounces of meat or a meat alternative (i.e., peanut butter, cottagecheese or eggs). Two half-cup servingsfrom the vegetable group are required,as is one half-cup serving of fruit.The bread group requires two servingsof bread, rice, pasta or cereal. One

half-pint of milkshould be offeredfor the dairyrequirement.Desserts areoptional.

In addition tothe above mealpattern, menusshould also meetthe following:

• Provide at aminimum 331⁄3 percent of the recom-mended dietary allowances.

• Contain no more than 1200 mgof sodium per meal.

• Limit fat to no more than 30 percent of total daily calories.

• Three meal choices out of the

five-day week should be high infiber.

Anyone eating on the runor at restaurants has proba-

bly noticed that food por-tions have grown in size

and provide enoughfood for at leasttwo people. Thesesupersize mealsincrease waistlinesand body weight.

The senior centers provide healthymeals as well as a good dose of fel-lowship — all you add is the physicalactivity. You’ll be on your way to ahealthier you!

For more information, contact the AAAoffice at 989-356-3474.

NEMCSA Region9 Area Agencyon AgingCovering 12 counties of Northeast Michigan

Just north and west of Charlevoixand Emmet counties, out in Lake

Michigan, you’ll find a unique and rap-idly growing retirement community onbeautiful Beaver Island. Year-round res-idents age 60 or older comprisebetween 38 and 40% of the totalisland population.

The Charlevoix County Commissionon Aging (COA) has been working withresidents for the past six years to meetan increasing demand for services.Town meetings and senior health fairshave educatedresidents on the

possibilities of assistance. Historically,islanders have been hesitant to ask forhelp. That attitude is now changing.

The COA hired a staff liaison sev-eral years ago to serve seniors andassist them in accessing services.County Commissioner Shirley Roloffvisits the island regularly and encour-ages seniors to ask for support fromthe COA. As seniors’ demandsincrease, the COA is coming up withcreative ways to meet their requests.

Since 2000, the COA has been pro-

viding “Wing Waves” —frozen Meals on Wheelssupplied weekly from the mainland viaplane. Now the trend is movingtoward providing hot meals preparedon the island. Also, because there isn’ta senior center on the island,Dining Out vouchers have beenoffered for breakfast or lunch plussocializing at a local restaurant.

The COA recently hired two regis-tered nurses on Beaver Island to doassessments as well as a CertifiedEquivalent Nurse’s Assistant (CENA)to provide personal care, homemakingand respite services. Seniors can alsoaccess other supportive servicesthrough the COA, such as lawn careand snow removal.

To learn more about how the COAserves remote areas, contact DirectorSusan Bergmann at 231-237-0103.

AreaAgency on Aging of Northwest MichiganOffering information and funding senior services in the 10-county area of Northwest Lower Michigan

Creativity is Key to Meeting Needs

Taking Steps Toward a Healthier Lifestyle

Beaver Island residentsmeet with COA staff atan Island restaurant tooffer suggestions forsenior services.

17

UPCAP now is offering seniors a 2-1-1 Information and Assistance

call system.The new program launchedon January 1, 2006.

2-1-1 works on the same conceptas the emergency 9-1-1 call system,except it is not intended to be anemergency system. 2-1-1 is a free-to-the-user number that links the callerwith a specialist who can assess thecaller’s needs and provide them withon-the-spot information and links to avast array of services and serviceprovider agencies to meet the caller’sneeds. This is accomplished through acomprehensive database that includesfederal, state, and local governmentand nonprofit resources.

2-1-1 is the next wave in servicecommunication, with call centers

operating or in development acrossMichigan and the nation. The 2-1-1program in the Upper Peninsula is apartnership between UPCAP, DIALHelp and the United Way.

2-1-1 is designed to ensure that thecaller gets the services needed withthe fewest possible calls, while freeing

up provider agencies tofocus on providing theircore services.

The 2-1-1 database contains infor-mation pertaining to five primaryareas. These include: basic humanneeds, such as food banks, clothing,shelters and utility assistance; physicaland mental health resources, such ashealth care, crisis intervention andsupport groups; work supports such asjob training, financial assistance andeducation; older Americans and peoplewith disabilities, with services such asadult day care, home health and help,and Meals on Wheels; and family serv-ices, such as child care, afterschoolprograms and protective services.

For more information on the 2-1-1 system or related to any senior issues orprograms, call UPCAP’s Senior Help Lineat 1-800-338-7227.

2-1-1 specialist.

Upper Peninsula Area Agencyon AgingServing all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula


2-1-1 System for U.P. Seniors!

Health & Home Services Unlimited, Inc.Care, companionship and peace of mind. In-home or wherever your residence may be!

We specialize in meeting your needs — from personal care to home maintenance. Insured and bonded. 1-800-314-8718.

Porter Hills Retirement Communities & Services

Nine communities throughout West Michigan offeringResidential & Assisted Living, Alzheimer's/Dementia Care,Skilled Nursing and Affordable Housing. Porter Hills

Services provides Home Health Care, Private Duty and Rehabilitation. To learn more, visit www.porterhills.org or call 616-949-4975.

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Senior Living Communities

Serving seniors of all faiths since 1945. To find out more, visit our website, www.pvm.org, or call 1-248-281-2020 for a brochure describing the variety of housing and services

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan offers.

Visiting PhysiciansProviding compassionate, high-quality medical care in the home. We serve communities across Michigan, Ohio, Chicago, Atlanta and Milwaukee. Services are covered by

Medicare and most other insurances. Call 1-877-HOUSE-CALL or visitwww.visitingphysicians.com.

SPONSORSThanks to these companies and organizations for their generous support.

For more information on becoming a sponsor of Michigan Generations, please call Jenny Jarvis at 248-262-9202 .

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OnlineToolUsing Medicare’s

Using Medicare’s Tool

Using Medicare’s Online Tool Continues on next page

Here is a step-by-step look at how to navigateMedicare’s online tool to find the prescriptiondrug plans that are best for you.

Go to www.medicare.gov

On the home page, click on “Compare Medicare

Prescription Drug Plans.”

You will be taken to a welcome page that explains some ofthe basics of the new plan. Scroll down to the title “Wherewould you like to begin?” and click on “Find a Medicare

Prescription Drug Plan.”

The next page will give you two choices: A. Personalized PlanSearch and B. General Plan Search, which you can do withoutentering any personal information. The site recommends that

you complete the Personalized Plan Search before enrolling in a prescription drug plan.

To do the Personalized Plan Search, you will need to entersome personal information, including: your Medicare claim number (located on your Medicare card), your

last name, your date of birth, the effective date for Medicare Part A or Part B and your zip code. Once you have entered this information,click on “Search Plans.”

The top of the next screen allows you to A. Review your current plan. It may tell you, for example, that you are currentlyenrolled in the Original Medicare Plan and that their records

show you do not yet have prescription drug coverage. The bottom of thepage allows you to B. Decide on your plan options. This section outlinesyour choices between a stand-alone plan with the Original Medicare Planor drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan. There are links to takeyou to sites to get more information if you have a Medigap policy, if youhave coverage through a former employer and if limited income makes youeligible for Extra Help. At the bottom of this section, click on “Choose a

Drug Plan Type.”

This page once again reviews your current Medicare statusunder section A. Then you will need to choose either B. Medicare Advantage Plans that include drug coverage or

C. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, which are stand-alone plans. Assuming you are interested in C, click on “Search for Medicare

Prescription Drug Plans.”

The next screen tells you how many plans are available inyour area. Then you can choose either B. Enter Your Medications or C. Limit Your Drug Plans, which allows you

to indicate the maximum premium and deductible you would like topay, or specify if you want mail order availability or want to search bya particular company name. If you would like to personalize your search,choose B and click on “Enter My Medications.”

At the top of the next page, you can A. Enter Your Drugs byName. When you have entered a drug, click on “Search for

Drug.” After you enter a drug, it will appear in section B. Review Your Drug List at the bottom of the page. (Note: Just underthe box labeled B, which now contains the drug name you entered, thereis a small box with a check in it next to the phrase “Use lower costgeneric drugs when available.” You need to uncheck that box if you wantto search only for brand-name drugs.) Scroll back up to enter anotherdrug and click on “Search for Drug.” When you have entered all of yourmedications, click on “Continue With Selected Drugs.”

When you click on “Continue With Selected Drugs,” this activates C. Choose How You Want to View Your Plans. You can click on either “Yes: Choose My Drug Dosage” or

“No: Continue with Common Dosage.” Assuming you want the former, clickon “Yes: Choose My Drug Dosage.”

The top of the next page allows you to A. Update Your Drug Dosages. For each drug, you can scroll up or down to different dosages. You can also enter how many pills you

take in a 30-day period. When you are finished, click “Update

Dosage/Quantity.”

The screen will refresh with your updated dosages. Now scrolldown to B. Choose How You Want to View Your Plans,which asks you if you would like to add more drugs. You can

click on either “Yes, Add More Drugs” or “No, Continue With SelectedDrugs.” Assuming you have entered all your drugs already, click “No,

Continue with Selected Drugs.”

Using Medicare’s Online Tool Continued from page 19

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Once you click that, the page will be refreshed and you willbe asked if you want to get your drugs at a particular pharmacy, or if you would like the tool to find the least

expensive plans in your area. If the price is more important to you thanthe particular pharmacy where you will have your prescriptions filled,click “No, Continue to Plan List.”

You will be taken to a Plan Comparison page, which showsthe prescription drug plans that meet your needs. They areranked by total annual cost, beginning with the least expen-

sive. Five plans are shown per page, so you may have several pages ofresults. For each plan, you are given the plan name, the estimated totalout-of-pocket cost for the year, whether or not mail order is available,the number of pharmacies available and a breakout of deductible,monthly premium and monthly cost share. You can click on an individ-ual plan to get more details about that plan. You can also click on“Enroll” if you have made up your mind.

By scrolling down the page, you have other options. You canclick on “Compare Up to 3 Plans.” To do this, click on thesmall box to the left of each plan name, choosing the three

you want to compare. When you click on the Compare button, thosethree plans will be listed side-by-side, so at a glance you can compare:their total annual cost, premiums, deductibles, the monthly cost ofeach of your drugs, the number of pharmacies in their network (witha link you can click on to get a list of the names of those pharmacies) and whether it offers a mail order option or not. Each planoffers you the option to “Enroll in This Plan,” or you can return tothe Personalized Plan List.

If you return to your Personalized Plan List page, you can scrolldown and change your pharmacy preference. So if you chosenot to enter a specific pharmacy before, you can click on

“Change Pharmacy Selection.” You will be taken to a page that allowsyou to A. Select Up to Three Pharmacies from a list of all the phar-macies within a certain radius of your zip code. Or you can scroll downto B. Find Other/More Pharmacies. Assuming you select three from thelist of those closest to your home, click on “Continue With Selected

Pharmacies.” You will be taken to a page that lists the drug plans thatuse your selected pharmacies, again ranked by total annual cost.

You also have the option on your Personalized Plan List tochange your medications or your dosages.

If you find a plan you would like to enroll in, click its “Enroll”

button. It will take you to an enrollment form, some of whichwill already be filled in with your personal information. You

will be given the option of whether or not you want your monthly premiums deducted from your Social Security check. And you will beasked a number of other questions, such as “Do you have other drugcoverage?” and “Are you a resident of a long-term care facility?” Onceyou have completed the form, click “Continue.”

You will be taken to a page to review all the information youjust entered. Click “Continue.”

The next page tells you that if you are a member of aMedicare Advantage Plan, you may already have drug cover-age. It also tells you if you have health insurance through an

employer or union, joining a drug plan could affect your coverage. Click“I Understand and Continue.”

On the next page, click a box to signal that you agree to theconditions of the plan. Then click “Agree/Continue.”

You will be asked if you want to enroll in this plan. If youdo, click “Enroll” and you will be enrolled. You will be takento a confirmation page, which you can print out and keep

for your records.

MIG06-1_Wi_Editorial

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