Publisher’s Comments

The ad page, http://www.senior2senior.org/ad.html has been updated. Please take a look at the great offers.
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Enter your zip code in the site below, and see the stations with the cheapest (and highest) prices on gasoline/diesel in your zip code area.  It's updated every evening.

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

(A giant thank you to Norbert for sending along this site. It is now on page 4 of the resources section.)

If anyone knows of a site with similar information for their particular country of domicile, please send it along and it will be on this page next issue.
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Visit Alan’s, a Senior Moment© subscriber, site: http://www.alginvopit.com and see an interesting idea. Many of today’s big time Internet marketers use this same format to sell their wares. They use it because it works. I would imagine if you emailed Alan, he would include you in his program. At least it doesn’t hurt to ask him.
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Three sites worth a visit:

http://healthweb.org is a resource provided by medical librarians.

http://www.herbmed.org says it is an electronic herbal database.

http://www.healthfinder.gov is a U.S. government site with health related information. You don’t have to be an American to utilize the info.

I thought these sites would be of interest. I found them to be.
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Without using a calculator - You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales. In London, 17 people get on the bus. In Reading, six people get off the bus and nine people get on. In Swindon, two people get off and four get on. In Cardiff, 11 people get off and 16 people get on. In Swansea, three people get off and five people get on. In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on.

You then arrive at Milford Haven.

What was the name of the bus driver?

Email me at: tom@senior2senior.org if you are stumped.
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Today’s article by John Boden covers a topic all of us should know something about. If not from first hand experience, than for future use. By the way, our free caregiver manual goes a bit more in depth on living options so if you combine the article with the manual you should have a decent handle on living options.
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2.  Article

Living Facility Options
By John Boden
Reprinted from the Feb 2006 “LifeLedger Caregiving Tips” Newsletter

If you need to find an alternative to living at home for your parent you will be faced with many choices. The first step is to learn what type of care facility is appropriate.

Tools to help make this decision are available on line, but getting advice from a qualified professional such as geriatric care manager, physician, or geriatric nurse is the best alternative. This cost, if any, will often be repaid many times over with a good initial placement.

I have provided a list of facility types and their service levels. As you will see, just keeping the names of the various alternatives straight is a big job.

Independent Living or (Retirement Home or Congregate Housing)

Apartment style accommodations that encourage enjoyment of a full recreational, social, and educational oriented lifestyle among other like minded older adults.

Assisted Living Facility or (ALF)

Private or shared rooms with common dining and recreational areas. Assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing. Some communities have multi-levels of care with different price levels.

Board & Care or (Group Home)

Similar to the care level of to an ALF but in a smaller setting. Often as few as six residents are in a home- like setting. The licensing (or lack there of) of these type of facilities varies widely from state to state.

Nursing Home or (Skilled Nursing Facility or SNF)

24 hour nursing supervision is provided for patients either recovering from a hospital stay or requiring long term medical or high levels of care. When a hospital discharge planner is saying that the discharge will be to a Rehabilitation facility, they may be referring to a nursing home with a Rehab department. Remember you are in charge of where your elder will be discharged. The discharge planner is there to help, not dictate. Start your research of discharge options as soon as you know that a discharge to the home will not be appropriate. Medicare (within strict guidelines) will usually pay for recovery stays if they are preceded by a 3 or more day stay in a hospital. Long term care for medically and financially qualified may be covered by Medicaid. Not all facilities accept Medicaid and they will require the patient to be discharged when they are no longer covered by Medicare and can not pay privately.

Dementia Specific Facility or (Alzheimer’s Unit)

The facility, or a specified area of a facility, is designed and staffed to meet the unique care needs of patients suffering from dementia.

Continuing Care Retirement Community or (CCRC)

Includes all levels of care from Independent Living to Skilled Nursing Facility. A monthly fee is charged and often a substantial payment is required to become a member of the community. At some facilities the payment is forfeited, at others a portion may be refundable

Until next issue,

Tom Koziol

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