216-346-7002 BG@BradleyGreene.com

Seniors: Pay attention to these health care changes

Millions of older Americans may face significant financial constraints after President Trump signed an executive order announcing two major changes to the Affordable Care Act last week.
The first change would eliminate subsidies that make health insurance more affordable for lower-income Americans. Without subsidies, the Congressional Budget Office estimates premiums for individuals buying popular ACA plans will increase 20 percent next year and 25 percent by 2020.
Trump’s executive order would also encourage small businesses to form so-called association health plans with bare-minimum benefits for the sick and vulnerable. If exempt from ACA rules, these plans will create higher premiums for seniors and those with preexisting health conditions. The plans also may be exempt from the ACA’s requirement to offer essential health coverage for services such as emergency room care and mental health.
If the young and healthy choose association plans, more sick, unhealthy people will be left in the ACA marketplace, which would drive up costs.
Insurance premiums are set for 2018. But since most insurers expected the subsidy removal, they already created significantly higher rates for the coming year.
Questions still remain about whether the president’s administration has the legal authority to enact these decisions. About 20 state attorneys general plan to challenge the subsidy executive order in court.
This week, senators working on a bipartisan health care bill say they have a way to restore subsidy funding to insurers, but it’s uncertain whether this will pass. Trump has been sending mixed messages about his support for the bipartisan bill.
Please continue to follow us here and on social media for our perspective on this and other elder care issues.  You can also listen to us every other Monday on NewClevelandRadio.net during our Senior Moments conversations with a variety of local guest speakers.
Bradley L. Greene, Esq. is a Life Care Planning and Elder Law firm located in Beachwood, OH specializing in Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning and Elder Abuse – offering personalized support and family guidance through all of life’s transitions. Contact us by phone at 216-575-5200 or visit us online here.
 

Senior Moments Radio with Kelsey from Elder Care Professionals of Ohio

Brad and Heather Greene welcome a special guest and longtime colleague, Kelsey Loushin, president of Eldercare Professionals of Ohio. She shares her personal caregiving story and the challenge of caring for both of her parents, long distance, as their health declined. Even as a health care professional, she found herself needing to rely on the help of others to help advocate for her parents. This includes work with an attorney, geriatric care manager, neighbors and friends to help her know what was the best way to support her mom and dad.
This is the 3rd episode of New Cleveland Radio’s “Senior Moments” series.

Bradley L. Greene, Esq. is a Life Care Planning and Elder Law firm located in Beachwood, OH specializing in Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning and Elder Abuse – offering personalized support and family guidance through all of life’s transitions. Contact us by phone at 216-575-5200 or visit us online here.

Senior Moments Radio with HomeWatch Caregivers

Bradley and Heather Greene

Bradley and Heather Greene


This week, on our “Senior Moments” radio show, we were joined by Eric and Rosey Malkin of HomeWatch Caregivers. We learned a great deal about in home healthcare and enjoyed our double date!
Click here to listen to the full episode.

Homewatch CareGivers of Northeast Ohio is the premier Cleveland home care agency and provider of in-home elder care and senior care services for the surrounding Cleveland area. Our Advanced Continuum of Care allows us to provide in-home assisted living for the elderly as well as personal care for adults and children. Eric Malkin, owner and operator, was inspired to open this office after his aunt was stricken with Alzheimer’s.
The hope is to make a difference in people ‘s lives each time we come to visit. Our caregivers are instilled with the goal of enriching and positively affecting our clients enabling them to enjoy themselves to the fullest. Our office staff and caregivers go above and beyond to make our clients and family safe and secure knowing they are receiving the absolute best care possible.
Choosing a home care agency is no easy task, and every aspect of that agency should be considered, from their staff to types of care they provide. Homewatch CareGivers prides itself on our ability to understand your home health care needs and seek to provide the best home care available. With a multitude of home care agencies available, picking the perfect one should be a collaborative process with an expert in agency that understands all aspects of home care. With Homewatch CareGivers, you can rest assured we have your in home care needs in mind with every one of our consultations.
 
 

Recognizing Elder Abuse: 4 Warning Signs

June is Elder Abuse Protection and Awareness Month. For most of us, respecting and protecting our elders is a natural instinct (or a part of our upbringing). It’s hard to imagine someone taking advantage of or abusing them. Which is one of the reasons elder abuse doesn’t always get recognized or reported.

As Baby Boomers age, the 65-and-older crowd makes up the fastest growing age group in America, and incidences of elder abuse are on the rise. It doesn’t always look the way you would imagine, either. Elder abuse can take the form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, neglect or financial abuse.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “elder abuse is experienced by 1 out of every 10 people, ages 60 and older, who live at home. This statistic is likely an underestimate because many victims are unable or afraid to disclose or report the violence. Because the definition of elder abuse is so broad and its victims are often isolated, it can be difficult to detect and report. Abuse doesn’t always happen at the hands of a stranger, either.
Senior citizens with dementia are particularly at risk, because the behaviors associated with dementia can be difficult to handle at times and the person may not recognize that they are being abused or be able to speak up for themselves. It can also be highly stressful providing 24-hour care, so people who are the primary caregivers for someone with dementia or a lot of health needs may find themselves acting in a way that they wouldn’t have in the past.
Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it also helps to be an active community member when advocating for the rights and safety of our elders. The following are some of the most common indicators that someone might need advocacy or support:

  1. Unexplained physical injury – bruises, skin tears, abrasions, pressure marks. Pay close attention to explanations for the injury that don’t match the symptoms.
  2. Indicators of Neglect – poor hygiene, lack of groceries in the fridge, unexplained weight loss, dirty clothes, soiled undergarments, hoarding. If a person is cognitively impaired or mentally disabled, it is considered neglect if their family does not provide adequate care.
  3. Signs of verbal or emotional abuse – depression or withdrawal, strained relationship with the caregiver, forced isolation, nervous or fearful behavior, hearing a caregiver yell, snap or be harsh with them. Isolation and controlling behavior is a hallmark of this type of abuse, in an attempt to hide the situation from other people.
  4. Financial abuse or exploitation – probably the most common and unrecognized form of abuse. Red flags include unpaid bills, increased use of credit cards, overly friendly relationship with a stranger or acquaintance, more frequent withdrawals of cash, unexpected changes to Power of Attorney and banking. There are also predatory sales practices and schemes that directly target senior

What can you do if you suspect abuse? If you feel someone is in physical danger, the National Center on Elder Abuse recommends calling 911. If you suspect other forms of abuse, you can report them to Adult Protective Services. The phone number in Cuyahoga County is 216-420-6200. This is a central intake line, the same one that is used for Child Protective Services. If the person you are concerned about is in a facility, then report the issue to the Administrator, Director of Nursing and/or local Ombudsman.
If you’re not sure whether to be concerned, please don’t hesitate to call our offices and someone can help you assess the risk. When it comes to any form of abuse – it’s always better to err on the side of safety. When it doubt, we encourage you to talk through your concerns with someone you trust who has objective knowledge of the situation.
 

Top-rated Cuyahoga County Nursing Homes

Recently, a list of the top-rated nursing homes in each of Ohio’s 88 counties was published by the Plain Dealer. As we’ve mentioned in the past, this information is just a starting point. (See our previous response to this Plain Dealer series here.)
There are a number of personal factors that ratings can’t tell you about choosing the right facility for a loved one. To be honest, there are some facilities on the list below that surprised us. That’s why it’s important to visit facilities, ask lots of questions and seek out your own information.
You can read the full list for all 88 counties here.
Please note: This list is provided for informational purposes only. You can also view facility ratings and reports directly (this is public information) online here.
Facilities should also provide you with copies of their inspection reports upon request.

 

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