Southeast News, December 2005
Southeast Seniors’ Annual Fundraising Campaign
For the past 17 years, Southeast Seniors – A Living at Home/Block Nurse Program, has served people 65 years and older in the Como, Marcy Holmes and Prospect Park neighborhoods. During that time the program has made it possible for hundreds of southeast senior residents to continue living at home in the face of challenging medical or physical conditions otherwise requiring hospitalization or nursing home care. With the support of our community, this neighbor helping neighbor program has been able to provide the variety of services needed to help seniors stay in their homes.
In addition to Nursing and Home Health Aide Services, Southeast Seniors provides volunteer visitors and assists with obtaining transportation and connecting seniors to other services (e.g. Meals on Wheels, Lifeline and Vision Loss Resources). Students from Marcy Open School, Pratt Community School, Prospect Park Nursery School, Van Cleve Park, and the University of Minnesota partner with us in inter-generational programming.
Over the years, many of our clients have graciously shared their personal stories about how Southeast Seniors has made a difference in their lives. No one tells our story better than those we serve, and their families. Here are a few of their stories:
· We have found that the block nurses, with their mountain of experience in elder care, to be advocates for our mother, speaking knowledgeably with doctors on our mother’s condition, discussing medical options, linking us with other home care aides, addressing our questions and concerns and advising us how to proceed with other medical officials. By seeing first hand how our mother functions at home, our block nurse has a unique view on the larger dimensions of her life. The advice and help we have received has been not only terrific but information we were not getting from others.
· I have a client who is served by your program. I want you to be aware that this program has made the difference between my client staying in her own home or being institutionalized. Because your program has been able to provide and coordinate support and resources, my client is living in her own home, and is safe and well cared for.
· Enter Darla, Southeast Seniors Public Health Nurse. She quickly set me up with a home health aide, physical therapist and occupational therapist. The volunteer coordinator arranged for my neighbors to take me on neighborhood walks.
· I want to take care of myself rather then depend on strangers in a nursing home. Southeast Seniors provides the opportunity and means for living in my own home.
Medicare does not cover many of the services seniors need to remain in their homes, and unfortunately some southeast seniors are unable to pay the full fee necessary to secure those services. That’s where Southeast Seniors comes in: it provides nursing services on a sliding fee scale adjusted for income. Your contributions are used to help fill that gap.
We ask you to please give generously so that our block nurses, staff and volunteers can continue to make these personal connections with our clients and their families.
Sincerely,
Southeast Seniors Fundraising Committee
Other ways of contributing include memorials, gifts in honor of a birthday or anniversary, gifts of stock, and including a bequest to Southeast Seniors in your will.
Fall Prevention
For seniors, falls in and around the home are the most frequently occurring accident. Most falls occur in bathrooms, bedrooms, and on the stairs. In fact, falls are the seventh leading cause of death in persons over age 65.The following checklist is designed to help you minimize the risk of falling in your home.
· Have a lamp or light switch that you can easily reach without getting out of bed.
· Use night-lights in the bedroom, bathroom and hallways.
· Add grab bars in shower, tub and toilet areas.
· Use nonskid adhesive strips or a mat in shower or tub.
· Wear nonskid, low-heeled shoes or slippers that fit snugly when walking around in your home. Do not walk around in stocking feet.
· Consider using an elevated toilet seat.
· Keep a flashlight handy.
· Install hand-rails on both sides of stairs.
· Remove all extraneous clutter in your house.
· Consider sitting on a bench or stool in the shower.
· Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
· Use helping devices, such as canes or walkers, when necessary.
· Do not stand on a chair to reach things.
Material from Lifeline brochure
Medicare Part D
What is Medicare prescription drug coverage? Medicare prescription drug coverage is insurance that covers both brand-name and generic prescription drugs at participating pharmacies in your area. Medicare prescription drug coverage provides protection for people who have very high drug costs.
How does Medicare prescription drug coverage work? Your decision about Medicare prescription drug coverage depends on the kind of health care coverage you have now. There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage. You can join a Medicare prescription drug plan or you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare Health Plans that offer drug coverage.
Like other insurance, if you join, you will pay a monthly premium, which varies by plan, and a yearly deductible (no more than $250 in 2006). You will also pay a part of the cost of your prescriptions, including a co-payment or coinsurance.
When can I get Medicare prescription drug coverage? You may sign up from November 15, 2005 to May 15, 2006. If you join by December 31, 2005, your coverage will start January 1, 2006. If you don’t sign up by May 15, 2006, you will probably pay a penalty.
Why should I get Medicare prescription drug coverage? Even if you don’t use a lot of prescription drugs now, you should still strongly consider joining. For most people, joining now means protecting yourself from unexpected prescription drug bills in the future.
Material from the Medicare website www.medicare.gov
For more information on Medicare Part D, call Southeast Seniors at 612-331-2302 or Senior Linkage Line at 1-800-333-2433