Call-to-Action, your caregiving calendar & sorting through Medicare help

Hello KIRC family.

Most of us would agree, that caregiving comes in many shapes, sizes, experiences and outcomes.

In this update a few items:

Upcoming events…
Details of a fascinating webinar Keeping It REAL Caregiving attended…
And we answer a reader question: ‘Is there a way to get paid for caring for a family member?’

Protecting our pocketbooks

It is an area that all of us should be aware of – those looking to take advantage of elders when it comes to dollars and sense. We’re talking finances and fraud.

AARP is offering an online course to help guide us on what to watch out for:

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Mountain Time

Finances & Fraud with AARP Elder Watch

Hosted by: AARP ElderWatch

Join AARP ElderWatch for a presentation on Finances and Fraud. This webinar will meet through the video conferencing software, Zoom.

Register here

Looking ahead

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

2:00 PM Pacific

Healthy Brain Habits: Reducing Your Risk for Dementia

Hosted by: USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology

Event description: Healthy habits today may help reduce your risk for dementia tomorrow.

Join us for this important workshop to learn:

*Healthy habits to keep your brain healthy

*Warning signs of dementia

*Next steps if you think you’re at risk

Register here

Calling Nursing Home Facilities

The John A. Hartford Foundation is putting out a call from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – (AHRQ) which is seeking nursing homes to participate in a pilot study of Workplace Safety Supplemental Items for the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (SOPS) Nursing Home Survey.

If your facility would like more information, you can email [email protected].

To read more information about the pilot study, visit The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Julia Yarbough/Keeping It REAL Caregiving

Keeping It REAL Caregiving joins caregiving webinar

This past week, KIRC joined a group of healthcare professionals, researchers and colleagues of the American Society on Aging ASA RISE Program fellows for an informational session regarding family caregiving.

We heard from representatives from the National Academy for State Health Policy regarding a range of topics, including health disparities for caregivers of color and those living in rural regions.

Caregivers Call to Action

Such work is exactly why KIRC would like to engage with all of you. There is no reason why we can’t all work together to pull our stories together (locally and regionally) to get our challenges, needs and ‘must haves’ in front of local representatives.

In fact, in the coming weeks, KIRC will have the opportunity to share information direct from all of you, with those within the aging industry driving policy change in California.

My Call to Action for all of you: Please share what is the BIGGEST challenge or hurdle you face as a family caregiver? Is it finding support? Financial burden? Accessing medical care? Getting respite? Whatever it might be, Let me hear from you – drop your comments in the discussion!

Reader Q & A

“I’m a caretaker for my 76-year old mom. I’m the only child in the same city and state so all of this is on me and it has gotten overwhelming. I’m losing hours at work due to her doctor’s visits. Please share any resources that could assist to see if her insurance will pay me for being her caregiver?” ~ Tennessee

Keeping It REAL Caregiving recently touched on the issue of sifting through Medicare options to understand what options and coverage you have.

*Related article on SHIP and Medicare coverage:

What do bed bugs and Medicare have in common? More than you might think

First step is to contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as SHIP.

Each state has an office.

For Tennessee you can search here:

In Tennessee the number to call is 1.877.801.0044

You can also visit http://tnmedicarehelp.com

There is also a Medicaid program; TennCare CHOICES in Tennessee offered through the Division of TennCare.

Various services are offered ranging from in-home care personal visits, meal service, respite and companion care.

In the news…

Speaking of Tennessee – a bill looking to provide financial relief for family caregivers is moving through that state legislature. Read more here.

Keeping It REAL Caregiving Advocacy

Keeping It REAL Caregiving has signed on to a letter from Justice in Aging urging U.S. lawmakers to take action:

Last week, over 200 advocacy organizations wrote to tell Senate Leadership that it’s time for them to deliver on funding to expand and strengthen at-home care and the direct care workforce. The House has done its part by passing a bill last year that includes a historic $150 billion investment in Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). The Senate must move quickly to not miss this opportunity.

You can read the full letter here