All Posts in "Month: September 2021"

Individuals, family members, and professional caregivers struggling with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are invited to the 2021 Pierce County Alzheimer’s Disease Conference, “Follow the Purple Brick Road,” in November.

The virtual conference, produced in partnership with Pierce County Human Services and the Health Care Providers Council of Pierce County, will feature online presentations from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on two consecutive Mondays and Wednesdays. The conference is free and open to the public, but attendees must pre-register online at www.piercecountywa.gov/alz or by calling Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources at 253-798-4600.

In recognition and support of Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, each day of the conference will provide expert speakers reviewing different aspects of the Alzheimer’s disease journey. Here is the schedule of topics, which is subject to change and can be confirmed by checking the website:

  • Nov. 1: This first day will address the initial diagnosis, identifying and treating symptoms, managing early-stage behaviors, self-care, legal issues, financial planning, and veteran services. Featured speakers include Laura Wayman (author of the book “A Loving Approach to Dementia”), attorney Minta Andreve (Rehmke Law), and Joe Hillyer (Homewatch Caregivers).
  • Nov. 3: Guidance on care funding and maintaining health and safety at home, including home care, home health, physician care, and local support groups. Featured speakers include Lynessa Stone (Advanced Health Care), Rebecca Rainsberger (American Advisors Group reverse mortgage specialist), and Matt Santelli (Pierce County Human Services).
  • Nov. 8: Deciding when a care facility is needed, finding quality care, determining the right level of care, and the required legal documents. Featured speakers include Daphne Davis (Pinnacle Senior Placements), Lisa Doyle (CayCare), and attorney Minta Andreve (Rehmke Law)
  • Nov. 10: Final decisionmaking, including coping with grief and loss while maintaining self-care. Featured speakers include Anne Allen (advanced grief recovery method specialist) and Kathy Bates (Compassionate End of Life Doula Inc.).

The conference will be recorded and made available online, along with supplementary resources, for anyone unable to attend.

More information about the conference is available from Aging and Disability Resources at 253-798-4600.

 

 

srmedia by — September 27, 2021 in News

Personal insurance policy renewal letters, the first sent since the state insurance commissioner enacted a rule June 20 to ban insurance companies from using credit information to set rates, have begun arriving in mailboxes and e-mail inboxes around  Washington with what AAA calls shocking news.

AAA, which provides travel and insurance-related services, wants consumers to understand how the rule change will impact their auto, home, renters, motorcycle, boat, and RV insurance rates. People with low credit scores will celebrate the good news of a rate drop, and consumers with high credit scores should prepare for rates to increase, sometimes more than 20 percent.

“This will be a shock to people with good credit. Consumers with a high credit score were essentially receiving a discounted rate on their insurance, whether or not they knew it,” said Patrick McCormick, AAA Washington’s vice president of insurance. “Removing the credit element from determining rates also removes that discount, resulting in a more expensive insurance rate without the consumer doing anything to negatively impact their rate.”

The change will likely put a significant burden on one particular segment of the population — senior citizens with high credit scores and who live on a fixed income, according to AAA.

“Not only do many seniors live on very strict budgets, they generally have higher credit scores. Preventing insurance companies from taking credit into account may create difficult financial times for these Washington residents,” McCormick said.

The federal CARES Act placed a temporary hold on the use of credit scoring in recognition of the pandemic’s impact on peoples’ credit. As a result, credit bureaus are collecting a credit history that is inaccurate for some consumers and producing unreliable credit histories. Insurers rely on credit histories to set rates for policyholders, which currently is an unreliable system, according to the insurance commissioner.

If a consumer’s insurer is increasing their premium, they should shop for a better deal, said officials in the insurance commissioner’s office.

“You have the best opportunity in two decades to get better deals on auto and homeowner policies since insurers can no longer use credit scoring. Your premium will depend on more predictable factors like how you drive, what material your house is made of and if you file a claim,” the office said in a prepared statement.

For consumers with a high credit score who receive notice of a rate increase at renewal time, AAA recommends:

  • Sign up for your insurance company’s Usage Based Insurance, which gathers information on driving behavior  – such as hard braking or accelerating, what time of day you drive the most, and how much you’re driving.
  • Bundle home/renters, auto, recreational vehicles and other policies under one company to get a better rate.
  • Washington drivers over 55 years old can receive an auto insurance discount by taking driver-improvement courses every two years.

 

srmedia by — September 27, 2021 in Personal Finance/Consumers
Grant nourishes the fruits of Food is Free Tacoma’s labor

A community program in Tacoma promoting locally grown and distributed produce has the financial backing of AARP in its effort to put fresh food on the tables of city residents.

Food is Free Tacoma will use its $21,000 AARP Community Challenge grant to build 40 “Food Independence Gardens” as part of a campaign to have 20 percent of fruit and vegetables in Tacoma produced locally. Produce from the raised-bed gardens, which will be built at 20 sites by the end of 2021, will be given away at the gardens and at city parks.

Food is Free Tacoma started in 2015 and currently has more than 80 gardens, which are crafted by the non-profit organization and then maintained by homeowners. Many of the gardens are in parkways between sidewalks and streets. The goal is to encourage people to build vegetable gardens and share the fruits of their labor with other neighborhood residents.

“The pandemic exposed how fragile our food supply chain is,” said David Thompson, founder of Food for Free Tacoma. “We want people to consume fresh fruits and vegetables that come from home gardens.”

He credited the “generous support” via the Community Challenge grant program, which is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative that supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to embrace and support people of all ages. Since 2017, AARP Washington has awarded 15 grants and $127,760 through the program to non-profit organizations and government entities across the state.

Tacoma City Councilwoman Lillian Hunter has been a champion for Food is Free Tacoma and has helped secure sites to distribute the produce. She lauded the organization and Thompson for helping feed people “of all ages across the community and helping Tacoma be an age-friendly city.”

AARP officials noted the Tacoma project is among 244 recipients of $3.2 million in grant funding nationwide. Collectively, their projects promote livable communities for adults 50 and older by improving housing, transportation, public spaces, civic engagement, and connections with family, friends, and neighbors. Many of this year’s awards support revitalizing communities adversely impacted by the pandemic and include a focus on diversity and inclusion, said Amanda Frame, AARP Washingtons director of outreach.

“Our goal is to support the efforts of our communities to be great places for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities,” Frame said.

Other recent grant recipients in Washington include Friends of the Snohomish Library and the City of College Place, which is located near Walla Walla.

srmedia by — September 27, 2021 in Food, People
Know what you need, then shop around for healthcare

Taking care of your health, especially over age 65, requires an understanding of your personal needs. Proper medical care isn’t one-size-fits-all, so finding the right services and providers may take some research and thoughtful consideration as it relates to your unique circumstances.

Consider these tips from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to find the right care for you:

Stay on top of your health.

Be aware of any current medical concerns or those that might affect you in the near future. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of your healthcare needs, like preventive services that could help identify any issues early. Arming yourself with knowledge can help you be better prepared to make decisions about the type of doctors or providers you need and how they work with your health insurance.

Shop around.

Choosing a healthcare provider can be time-consuming and confusing. Medicare.gov makes it easy to find and compare providers like hospitals, home health agencies, doctors, nursing homes and other services in your area that accept Medicare. On your laptop, tablet or mobile device, enter your location to search for local providers and services. A clean and uniform design makes it easy to review and compare providers.

Know what to look for.

Understand everything you’re considering when searching for care for yourself or a loved one. Search filters allow you to personalize your search based on what’s most important to you, like services offered, quality ratings, inspection reports, and doctor affiliations. Other features include suggested next steps and checklists to help choose the best provider for you. Knowing what providers accept Medicare can also give you peace of mind.

Plan ahead.

Don’t put off researching your options. When you’re feeling well is typically the best time to consider your healthcare needs. With a clear mind, you’ll be able to thoroughly explore pros and cons about providers and facilities and get the information you need to find the best fit for you, such as practice locations, specialties, and contact information. You can also save your favorite healthcare providers to refer to later when you’re logged into your online Medicare account.

Make your wishes known.

Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or finding care for a loved one, it’s important to share your preferences with others who are part of your care team. This might include which doctors you like, what hospital you prefer, or a nursing home close to family and friends.

Planning for medical care can seem like a challenge. By keeping tabs on your health and using available tools to research your options and compare providers, like the resources at Medicare.gov, you can create a plan that best fits your needs.

 

Source: Family Features, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Consulting online resources such as Medicare.gov is a way to find and compare doctors and hospitals.
srmedia by — September 27, 2021 in Health & Fitness