Senior Resources
Senior Information and Assistance www.seniorservices.org
206-448-3110
King County phone line to provide information and resources to seniors and families. Meals on Wheels, Volunteer Transportation, Enhance Fitness programs, Respite and Caregiver Support, Energy Assistance, and many more services are accessed with this one number or website. They will also send you lists for caregiving agencies, housing options and other services of interest.
Advanced Directives Washington Law Help: www.washingtonlawhelp.org
Go to this website to download information and forms for Durable Powers of Attorney and Living Wills, among other legal and planning tools. You may also like to check out www.getyourshittogether.com for more legal planning suggestions. This website is directed at the pre-senior set.
Alzheimers Association www.alzwa.org
Call the Alzheimer's Association for any questions, concerns, problems with caregiving, resource information or support if you are concerned about a family member with memory problems. Not all memory problems are a sign of Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia, but this organization will help you know where to turn.
Senior Centers
Find the senior center in your neighborhood and check out the many services and activities that are available for no or low cost. Some clinics have individual fitness coaching available. Some have individual support for people with mild to moderate depression. Most of the senior centers have a social worker available some hours to assist members and their families with resource questions.
Home Health Care vs. Home Care Agencies
Home Health Agencies provide medical services (RN, PT, OT, MSW, SLP), and Home Care agencies provide personal care, meals, housekeeping, errands, companionship and more. Home Health services are usually, but not always covered by insurance. Home Care services are almost never covered by insurance unless the person has long term care insurance or VA benefits. The services of each agency differ somewhat, so you will need to clarify the services and limitations of each agency. For a list of options, call Senior Information and Assistance, or go to their website.
Medicare vs Medicaid
Medicare is health insurance provided by the federal government to anyone over age 65 (and then 66 and then 67), and also to some disabled individuals. There are no income requirements or limits. There are several parts (A-hospital, B-outpatient, D-prescriptions...etc). There is a monthly premium for parts B and D. Many people opt for Managed Medicare plans, also known as Medicare Advantage plans which sometimes eliminate the monthly premium in exchange for members using a particular network of providers.
Medicaid is an income based financial benefit for some, medical benefit for some, and food stamps for some. Eligibility for the medical benefit is changing with Obamacare. Many more people are now eligible for Medicaid as an insurance plan than have been eligible in the past.
COPES is a Medicaid based program which provides long term care to people who have personal care needs. Services can be provided in the home, in and Assisted Living facility or in an Adult Family Home. This is a financial needs based program.
Seattle Senior Counseling
This is Joan’s private practice: It is my pleasure to help seniors and their families navigate the many options available to ensure the best quality of life possible. I am both a consultant and a mental health counselor. I facilitate conversations, I conduct comprehensive assessments and assist with transition planning. I provide counseling to assist with issues of transition and loss, depression, anxiety, grief, and caregiver support.
Joan Kelly, LICSW, GMHS
www.seattleseniorcounseling.com
206-496-4172
A Smoother Move
Kelly Bryant is co-founder of A Smoother Move.
From their website:
“We all face difficult choices when we transition into the right size at the right time for us, and these choices exhaust our resources and tax our time. A Smoother Move relieves families and individuals of these burdens, so that this time doesn’t consume you.”
Kelly Bryant
Senior Move Manager, co-founder
206 552-0509
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Book Recommendations
By Wendy Lustbader :
LIFE GETS BETTER: THE UNEXPECTED PLEASURES OF GROWING OLDER
Counting on Kindness
What’s Worth Knowing
Taking Care of Aging Family Members
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The Thirty Six Hour Day Peter V. Rabins
Alzheimer's; a caregiver's guide and sourcebook. Howard Gruetzner
Caring for Yourself While Caring for Your Aging Parents, Third Edition: How to Help, How to Survive Clair Berman
They're Your Parents, Too!: How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents' Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy Francine Russo
Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes, Revised 25th Anniversary Edition William Bridges
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