News

• HELP YOUR MOM SAVE UP TO $3,600!
  
  People all over the country are helping their moms save as much as $3,600 per year on the cost of prescription drugs. You can too!
  
  We all know the high cost of medicine can be a burden on mothers who have limited income and resources. But there is extra help available through Social Security that could pay part of her monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth up of $3,600 per year.
  
  To figure out whether your mother is eligible, Social Security needs to know her income and the value of her savings, investments and real estate (other than the home she lives in). To qualify for the extra help, she must be receiving Medicare and also have:
  
  
  • Income limited to $15,600 for an individual or $21,000 for a married couple living together. Even if her annual income is higher, she still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if she or her spouse:
    
    
  • Support other family members who live with them;
    
    
  • Have earnings from work; or
    
    
  • Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and
    
    
  • Resources limited to $11,990 for an individual or $23,970 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count her house and car as resources.
    
    
  Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that you can help complete for your mom. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office.
  
  To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).
  
  So this Mother's Day, help your mom save up to $3,600 a year on her prescription drugs. Long after the candy and flowers are gone, the extra help through Social Security will keep on giving.
  
  
• New Caregiver Workshop Available for Conferences Beginning May 2007
  
  The Well Spouse Association, a support organization for spousal caregivers, has created a workshop entitled The Caregiver Journey. This workshop seeks to educate caregivers, patients, healthcare providers and the public about caregiver support. It is available to disease and caregiver organizations as a packaged, 1-1½-hour workshop for their annual or regional conferences. For more information, or to schedule The Caregiver Journey for your upcoming conference, contact Donna McQuade or Paula LeBlanc at 1-800-838-0879 or info@wellspouse.org.
  



• Fact Sheets Available for Caregivers on Environmental Health Topics
  
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed five fact sheets for older adults and their caregivers related to environmental health topics.  Many of these fact sheets have been translated into the common languages spoken for older adults and their caregivers. The purple series was also created to reach individuals with limited reading ability, for those persons reading at roughly the 5th grade level.  In addition, on-line, one can find copies of the fact sheets with large print for persons with limited vision.  Fact sheets are available in hard copy at no cost or can be downloaded at the EPA Aging Initiative website at http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/index.htm#fs 
  
  Limited copies are still available of the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics updated 2006 chartbook.  In addition, a limited supply remains of the Proceedings of the Aging Americans: Impacts on Ecology and Environmental Quality Workshop. To request copies of either of these publications, please send an email to aging.info@epa.gov with your mailing address and the number of copies you would like of the publication.
  
  
• HHS Launches New Web Site Promoting LTC Planning
  
  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new website designed to make it easier for consumers to get the information they need to plan for long-term care. The site provides comprehensive information about long-term care planning, services and financing options, along with tools to help people begin the planning process. The site is located at www.longtermcare.gov.
  
  
• Medicare Basics: A Guide for Families and Friends of People with Medicare
  
  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has just received an additional 16,000 copies of its “best seller” (i.e. no cost but very popular) Medicare Basics: A Guide for Families and Friends of People with Medicare (CMS Publication number 11034). This booklet is available for ordering from the CMS website at this URL: http://pubordering.cms.hhs.gov/mailinglist
  
  
• Caregiver Support Research Study
  
  The Oregon Center for Applied Science (ORCAS) has designed a new caregiver support program to help women caring for an aging parent with dementia. The interactive Web program has been designed to help teach family caregivers some helpful skills in how to better manage their mood and keep from becoming depressed.
  ORCAS is currently conducting a research study to test the effectiveness of this new Web program. Study participants must be female and caring for a parent with dementia. Those who qualify and participate in our research study will receive up to $100. Only one person per household may participate in the study.
  To learn more about this research opportunity or to see if you qualify to participate, please visit http://study.managingyourmood.com
  
  
• Caring for Aging Parents Guides Available
  
  Developed by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AXA Equitable, Aging Parents and Common Sense: A Practical Guide for You and Your Parents and Aging Parents and Common Sense: A Directory of Resources for You and Your Parents suggest ideas for adults who are or will be providing support to and care for aging family members. The guides are downloadable at http://www.caregiving.org. Click on the tab at the top of the page “Alliance Publications & Reports.”
  
  
• Just in Case: Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers
  
  This website developed and sponsored by the Administration on Aging National Family Caregiver Support Program, provides basic information for older adults and their caregivers on how to prepare for emergencies.
  
  
• MyMedicare.Gov
  
  This is a secure online service for accessing Medicare information. As a registered user of MyMedicare.gov, you will have access to personalized information regarding your Medicare benefits and services. You may use MyMedicare.gov to view claims, eligibility, enrollment information, entitlement and services information, Part D enrollment plans, access online forms, etc. Go to the website to learn how to register.
  
  
• New Study on Working Women Family Caregivers
  
  The New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is conducting a national study called “BALANCE: Balancing And Learning About Negotiating Caregiving & Employment.” The study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, is looking at the experiences of women age 50-64 who are working full-time while also providing unpaid care to a relative or friend age 50 or over. Study participation consists of a one to one and half hour telephone interview at a conveniently arranged time.
  
  Those interested in participating in the study, may call toll-free at 877-NJ-AGING (877-652-4464) to schedule an interview.
  
  
• Many of you are familiar with Perspectives - A Newsletter for People with Alzheimer's or a Related Disorder published by Lisa Snyder of the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Research Center at the University of California-San Diego. Due to the generosity of her Center, the newsletter is now available for FREE. Simply send your name and email address to Lisa at lsnyder@ucsd.edu
  
  Please let others know about this terrific resource.