Veterans Administration Benefits Scams and You

Since 1958 veterans have benefited from The Veterans Benefits Act, the first complete codification of benefits for veterans in over 150 years. The major benefit to most senior veterans from these benefits is receiving funds from the VA to help pay for the high cost of assisted, skilled nursing, and homebound care. Most people have no idea that an eligible veteran can often receive reimbursement for up to 60% of the unreimbursed costs of long-term care. A Surviving Spouse can often receive up to a 35% reimbursement. 
The Veterans Administration is very clear on how a claim may be legally filed with a VA Regional Office. The VA has provided three groups that can legally assist claimants and their families to prepare, present and prosecute claims before the VA. All of these groups and the individuals who represent them must be accredited by the Office of the VA General Counsel: accredited attorneys, accredited claims agents, and accredited Veterans Service Organizations. Unfortunately, there are many for-profit businesses and individuals operating illegal veterans benefit scams. These individuals and companies most often come from the senior financial services industry.
To help identify when you are being scammed, keep an eye out for the language these individuals use. An almost certain give-away is that they will speak about "Aid & Attendance" and will want very detailed information regarding your finances. The main goal of these groups is to convert your assets into an annuity. Insurance companies pay these groups a generous commission on these sales. In some cases, an annuity may permanently disqualify a VA claimant for Medicaid in the future. If you are approached by any individual or group proposing to offer VA assistance, demand to see their VA accreditation credentials. If they cannot product these credentials, rest assured you are being scammed! Be careful!
-For more information about claims and benefits, call the Senior Veterans of America, Inc (a non-profit service charity) at 1-877-814-8387

Grandparents Day

This weekend was Grandparents Day. Be sure to call or write your grandparents to let them know how much you appreciate them. A little love goes a long way!

Savings Tips From AARP Members: Find Discounts, Deals and more savings

More Savings Tips From AARP Members: Find Discounts, Deals and more savings
It's official: You like to save money on everything. When the call went out for AARP members to reveal their favorite ways to cut costs, the response was overwhelming. We've already shared some of those money-saving tips, but it turns out there are plenty more where those came from.

Take a look below for even more penny-pinching ideas from AARP members that can improve your bottom line. If you think you've got a better way to save, send it to us. You can also join frugal-friendly groups, such as Savings Challenge or Make Ends Meet, in AARP's Online Community to talk dollars and cents with fellow members. Happy saving!

Scratch-and-Dent Sales
When I go to the grocery, I always check the area of the store where they have clearance items marked from 50 percent to 75 percent off. Most items are in good shape, but they may have a small dent in the can, be close to the expiration date or didn't sell well. I also take advantage of buy-one-get-one-free offers. —Mary B., 56, Little Rock, Ark.

It's a Wrap
Save your Sunday comics to wrap Christmas presents in. They are colorful and will look good under the tree — and they save trees. We do this especially for the kids who tear through the paper on Christmas morning and do not care how it is wrapped. —Alan R., 60, Mount Auburn, Ill.

A Haircut Above the Rest
Since our marriage nearly 44 years ago, I have cut my husband's hair, thus saving probably thousands of dollars. —Charlotte G., 68, Cincinnati

There Is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch
I am still a working senior and spend money on lunches, but when my 93-year-old mother visited, she got me into the mode of making a large pot of delicious turkey soup and freezing it in plastic containers. That way, I not only have a nutritious lunch but also a most inexpensive lunch. Use two large turkey legs, potatoes, barley, minicarrots, bay leaf or whatever you like in your soup, and you will remain healthy and save money on lunches.  —Jackie S., 70, Richmond, Texas

A Dollar Saved Is a Dollar Earned
When I was young, I was taught to save my pennies. Well, these days, they take a long time to add up. So, I started saving all of my one-dollar bills instead. It's surprising how quickly that adds up. —Donna D., 65, Piedmont, S.C.

Fresh Food for Thought
Join a Community Supported Agriculture, a local farm where you buy a share and pick up produce weekly during the growing season. Some farms offer half shares if you find the quantity too much, or you can share a share with a friend or two. The produce is fresh, varied, often organic and at a very reasonable cost. Our share is $450 per season for 22 weeks of produce (June 1 through Oct. 31), which comes to $20.45 per week. This is a fraction of what I was spending weekly at a local farmers market. —Linda S., 58, West

It's in the Bag
Reuse plastic grocery bags as liners for small trash cans. —David B., 65, Bremen, Ga.

Airing Out Your Dirty Laundry
Save money by cutting the fabric softener sheet in two pieces. It has enough softener on the sheets to do a large load. —Margaret W., 50, Piedmont, Mo.

Parting Words of Wisdom
Do you need it or want it? “Need” needs to be met — if possible. “Want” can wait. —Candace D., 59, Chicago

5 Foods That Help You Sleep At Night

Should you let yourself have that midnight snack if you’re having trouble sleeping and you think hunger might be part of the problem? Here are five foods that can actually help you drift off:

Cherries. Fresh and dried cherries are one of the only natural food sources of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body’s internal clock to regulate sleep. Bananas. Potassium and magnesium are natural muscle relaxants, and bananas are a good source of both. They also contain the amino acid Ltryptophan,
which gets converted to 5-HTP in the brain. The 5-HTP in turn is converted to serotonin (a relaxing neurotransmitter) and melatonin. Toast. Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger insulin production which induces sleep. Bring on sleepiness by speeding up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and send you to sleep. Oatmeal. Like toast, a bowl of oatmeal will trigger insulin production, raising blood sugar naturally and making you feel sleepy. Oats are also rich in melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid. Warm Milk. Like bananas, milk contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which turns to 5-HTP and releases relaxing serotonin. It’s also high in calcium, which promotes sleep. www.caring.com

September is Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Month

The CDC has started a campaign called Fruits & Veggies-More Matters TM campaign, which is even more important for seniors than younger adults. A healthy diet is key to overall health and well-being. Additionally - a healthy diet is a key component to lowering risk for diseases, and other health risks such as stroke. Visit the new FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov Web site to get tools and information to help you eat more fruits and vegetables each day! The site includes:

• A calculator to find out how many fruits and vegetables you need each day, based on your daily calories needs
• Tips on how to include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet
• Information on exciting new fruits and vegetables to try
• Delicious recipes and much more!

USE THIS MONTH AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES ABOUT MAINTAINING A HEALTHY DIET!

Essential Tips for Home Maintenance & Safety

Home maintenance is critical to seniors who want to remain comfortably at home for as long as possible. A fall, if injury occurs, can lead to impaired mobility and subsequently less independence. A head injury can alter your cognition. Any injury that limits mobility can make the body more susceptible to infections.

1. Talk to your doctor home safety. Have a comprehensive home assessment by a Lifespan nurse to help you with your long term plans for remaining at home.

2. Tell your doctor and your family when your medication makes you dizzy or lightheaded.

3. Install proper lighting throughout your home. Use night-lights in the hallways between the bedroom and bathroom.

4. De-clutter your home. Keep floor and stairs free of clutter & do not use small throw rugs. Check that stairs are in good repair and are slip resistant. If any stairs are broken, have them fixed promptly

6. WEAR PROPER SHOES inside and outside. Use a cane or walker for better balance.

7. Install grab bars in all bathrooms by the toilet and in the bathtub or shower. If you need extra support, get a shower seat. Install a hand-held shower device.

8. Consider getting a Medical Alert System to call for help if you fall.

RN Students Get Rewarded!

We are pleased to announce a new rewards program for RN students. Twice a year we will do a raffle for all RN students at Lifespan. The raffle will be at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. We will draw three names from a pool of our current RN students. These three winners will have a choice of prizes which will support RN students. We will have our kick-off raffle the second week in September. If you want to be included in the drawing, please let Dixie know that you are an active student.

CNA Classes Offered in the area

For home care aides who want to improve their skill set and increase their hourly pay to $11.50, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) classes are offered throughout the year from local adult schools.

Watsonville/Aptos Adult School CNA classes begin in January but you need to call now to get on the wait list. The cost is about $500. Call 831-786-2160 or visit http://www.waae.pvusd.net/ for more info.

Pacific Grove Adult School CNA classes are Nov 15 – Jan 28, 2011. The cost is $575. Call 646-6580 or visit www.PGUSD.org for more info. They also offer classes for HHA – Home Health Aide certification (26 CEUs), RNA – Restorative Care Nursing Assistant (12 CEUs), Dementia (8 CEUs), and Nutrition (3CEUs).

LIFESPAN CAREGIVER POTLUCK

Lifespan is hosting a potluck so our aides can meet each other and share elder care stories. PLEASE JOIN US for an informal get-together at the Lifespan office on Wednesday, September 29th, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. 

Who: LIFESPAN AIDES

What: CAREGIVER POTLUCK - BRING A FAVORITE APPETIZER TO SHARE

When: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH, FROM 4:30-6:30PM

Where: LIFESPAN

Caregiver Training Series

This series of seven classes for family and entry-level professional caregivers (through the Cabrillo College Extension)  is designed to increase knowledge, skills and confidence in providing hands-on care. Each class will include instruction, discussion and practical application of essential caregiving skills. Classes begin Sat. Sept 18th.

This project is a collaborative effort of agencies specializing in geriatric care or in-home caregiving, including yours truly - Lifespan. Students completing all seven classes will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Cost: discounted fee of $250 for the series, or $50 for individual classes. Space is limited to 30 students for the series and 10 additional students for individual classes.
For questions, contact caregiver@calcentral.com or call Health Projects Center at 831-459-6639.

Classes are as follows:
Essentials of Caregiving: Sat., Sept. 18
Advanced Care Planning and End-of-Life Needs: Sat., Sept. 18
Managing the Hygiene and Activities of Daily Living: Sat., Oct. 2
Keeping it Safe: Transfers and the Body Mechanics of Caregiving: Sat., Oct 16
Finding the Answers: The Challenges of Dementia Care: Sat., Oct. 30
Community Resources and You: Sat., Nov. 13
How to Make Caregiving a Successful Career: Sat., Nov. 13