By Nora Bosworth

Nobody asked Martin Rosenblatt to protect the schoolchildren at the Upper West Side’s P.S. 163, but he may have done just that. The story begins with a nursing home, one very informed citizen, and a lot of paperwork.

Since 2008, the elder care company Jewish Home Lifecare (JHL) has been planning to erect a 20-story nursing home alongside a public elementary school on the Upper West Side. The tower would be built on West 97th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues, on a parking lot that is now part of the Park West Village apartment complex, which borders P.S. 163.

Over the last several years, community members have organized to resist the development project for a wide array of reasons: fear of sending children to study amid a noisy, long-term construction zone, objections to the noise, dust and debris of such a project, increased traffic the nursing home would bring, and the loss of an above-ground parking lot.

Residents listen to Rosenblatt explain the lead findings.

Jewish Home Lifecare says their planned facility will transform the hospital-like feel and architecture of many nursing homes to a place that will make elderly residents feel at home. They hope their construction will provide “dignity and privacy” to clients.

Up until April of last year, all of the opposition facing the nursing home plan has been relatively standard backlash for a development project of this scale– with, granted, the added concern of the school’s welfare. And, if all had gone as planned, JHL would probably be beginning construction in Spring of 2014.

Enter Martin Rosenblatt, a resident who lives across the street from the proposed development site and a retired investigator, experienced with the hazardous effects of lead dust.

After going to meetings about the nursing home’s plans, Rosenblatt decided to test the parking lot for lead, just in case the future demolition site was home to hazardous chemicals. It wasn’t a random suspicion. Until the Clean Air Act of 1996, lead was a legal component of gasoline. Thus, in the past, when cars turned on, their tailpipes would sometimes emit combustion dust that was contaminated by lead. Rosenblatt figured that because the parking lot had been around for over fifty years, it was worth assessing.
Rosenblatt hired Laurence Molloy, an authority on lead to analyze soil samples throughout the grounds, along with 11 other New York City Housing Authority lots. Despite the two men’s hunches, what they found still took them by surprise.

On Wednesday evening, around 150 West Siders gathered in the auditorium of the Holy Name School on 96th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, to hear Rosenblatt discuss his discovery of toxic levels of lead beneath the proposed site for the high-rise nursing home.

Out of 100 samples of soil, the highest lead level of all was found in a hotspot at the West 97th Street location. The level of lead was at 1,044 ppm (parts per million); to put this number in context, the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for acceptable lead levels in soil areas on which children play is 400 ppm.

The health effects of lead exposure in children include behavioral disorders and learning disabilities. Lead becomes dangerous once unearthed, thus the proposed construction is a scare to many people.

“The soil definitely contains lead and is certainly a potential hazard to school children if blown onto the adjacent school grounds,” writes Molloy, in his letter testifying to his results from the Park West Village samples.

Rosenblatt also took it upon himself to send the lab results from West 97th Street to eleven different medical professionals, four of whom wrote back with their findings.

“According to the National Toxicology Program of the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, dispersion locally of these lead contaminated dusts, into academic and residential buildings nearby, can cause adverse health effects in children under 72 months of age, such as developmental-cognitive impairments, neurobehavioral disturbances, loss in IQ points and ADHD,” wrote John Rosen, a pediatrician and the Head of Environmental Sciences at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In his letter to Rosenblatt, he adds that pregnant women are also at risk, as lead can damage the developing fetus.

Avery Brandon, whose asthmatic 5-year-old daughter currently attends P.S. 163, called the results “terrifying.”

“If there’s lead in the soil and they break ground, we have to move,” she said.

Brandon is grateful to Rosenblatt for his research.

“Without Mr. Rosenblatt, I’m not exactly sure where we would be right now,” she said. Molloy voiced a similar opinion.

“The average citizen doesn’t know about lead in a parking lot,” Molloy said in a telephone interview. “Wouldn’t even suspect it.”

Rosenblatt believes that if an environmental impact study is conducted and lead is found, the costs of removing the lead would be enormous. He says it is unclear which party would cover what he estimates would be an operation in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Moreover, according to Molloy, there is water beneath the lot, and if the water is also contaminated, then pumping it out would add greatly to the cost of cleanup.

As of now, it is unclear how the state and Jewish Home Lifecare want to proceed.

“JHL has adhered to all government regulations regarding site review and will continue to do so,” said Ethan Geto, a public affairs representative for JHL, in an email.

“Not having seen the analysis of lead contamination claimed in the study – or having it reviewed by an expert not associated with advocates for blocking the project – it is not possible to know at this juncture if any further environmental review is warranted.”

At the meeting, Rosenblatt and the director of the Park West Village Association, Maggi Peyton, urged attendees to sign a petition that demands an environmental impact study. Residents at the meeting expressed hope that these latest findings will make a difference, along with a determination to be heard.

“In terms of politicians,” said Patricia Loftman, a resident of Park West Village for the last forty years, “I don’t think we will ever forgive them if they don’t do the right thing on this issue.”

Preventing aching backs and most physical woes demands that we stand up every 20 minutes or so and move around. For some, age-related problems and waning strength make that difficult or impossible. Ah, but these aging symptoms need far more general understanding. However, to reduce the sitting time this week, I did a kind of stream-of-consciousness column that didn’t require poring over reference material. It was almost finished when I remembered to get up—again—and when I turned on the news, I learned that former Mayor Ed Koch had departed this life.

So much for the column just written. I worried when last night’s news said our three-term former mayor was on a respirator in New York Presbyterian’s intensive care unit. The reporter also recalled the 88-year-old’s last decade of major illnesses: a stroke, a heart attack and heart and prostate surgeries. That’s a lot, but not uncommon at that age.

Koch was famous for asking “How’m I doin’?” Now I wish that in recent years, he had talked about how he was really doin’ with these critical, often age-related diseases. It would have helped raise awareness and find better ways to prevent and treat them. And above all, it would have given the public at large more understanding and maybe more empathy for what it’s like to be old, even for someone as renowned, active and advantaged as Ed Koch.

We need more old people out there in the public eye. Koch was a regular on an NY1 weekly political panel; he was a player; he went every day to his law office, maybe even by subway or bus. But I doubt that the new documentary Koch says much about his late years.

His late years have been largely ignored in the lengthy obituaries that have appeared, which is something I am really trying to change. Another glaring example of this type of oversight was in the tributes to Pauline “Dear Abby” Phillips, whose last ten years of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease got little more than a mention. Ten years! Who knew? Obits mentioned she’d supported the civil rights, women’s rights and gay rights movements. But has her family worked for more research for the still-underfunded brain-failure cause?

Are they protesting the really offensive Betty White NBC sitcoms depicting elders as dirty old women and dirty old men playing disgusting pranks on young people? Is anyone? In one relatively mild “prank,” two elder women asked young men on the street to settle the argument of who’s the best kisser. The young men quickly backed away and burst out laughing.

Real-life elders often try to help young people, but that’s not something the media ever show. Even the president’s grandmother got little mention at the Inaugural ceremony, although many approving comments were made about the Obamas’ daughters standing next to her. Nothing was said about the need for close grandparents. These are some reasons why I so often write about elder inequities, which some say I do too often. In truth, it is not done often enough.

And so we will miss you, Ed Koch, and we’ll miss seeing an old face on the tube, and hearing an old voice of experience (not that many of us left). And you did love New York, and New York is a better place for it. And we are grateful.

dewingbetter@aol.com

This time of year could try any senior’s soul. Between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, adults 65 and up who are eligible for Medicare can switch from one health plan to another without penalty.
During this open enrollment period, seniors are deluged by TV ads, letter campaigns and e-mail messages encouraging them to switch medical plans.

The reason? During this time, if you are not completely satisfied with your current plan—or if your health needs have changed—you can look for a plan that better meets your needs. This also is also the time when you can switch from one prescription drug plan to another without complications.
Below are a few explanations that may clarify some of these terms:

Medicare. This is a federal program that pays for certain health care expenses for people aged 65 or older, and for some younger people who meet special criteria. Medicare Part A covers hospitalization and nursing home care. Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient medical procedures, and some medical tests. The special enrollment period allows you to change your type B coverage, although your decision could impact your hospital or nursing homes coverage as well.

Medicare Part B. This is also referred to as Original Medicare. This program requires you to pay a monthly premium of $104.90, and an annual deductible of $147. After these costs are met, Medicare B will cover 80 percent of most medical exams and procedures; you or yet another health plan must pay the rest. Part B coverage includes most preventative-care services, annual physicals, depression screening, HIV screening, mammograms, prostate cancer screening, flu shots and diabetes tests.

Medicare Part B also covers most medical equipment, home health care, outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, outpatient mental care services and emergency transportation.
It is important to note that Medicare Part B does NOT cover most dental care, eye exams, hearing aids, alternative medicine and cosmetic surgery. It also does not cover prescription drugs. Many of these services can be added to your care by applying for a Medicare Supplemental Insurance plan, often called a Medigap plan.

Medigap plans. These are private health insurance plans designed to supplement Medicare. They cover such costs as copayments, coinsurance and annual deductibles. The names of some Medigap plans are: AARP Medical Supplement, Humana Medical Supplement and Emblem Health Medical Supplement. Their costs and coverage vary, depending on what they offer, but enrolling in one of these plans will provide you with the 20 percent payment not covered by Medicare—and may also provide additional coverage of such services as vision, hearing and dental care. Every Medigap policy must be clearly identified as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.”

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans. These plans are administered by private companies that are approved and regulated by the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The emphasis here is on “private.” They are plans that the government contracts; they offer policies that cover doctor visits, hospitalization and, sometimes, prescription medication. Medicare Advantage plans must offer benefits on par with traditional Medicare, but many providers include more as a way to attract customers. Some of these services may include vision, hearing and dental care. The most common types of Medicare Advantage include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans.

Medicare Advantage plans require you to pay the same monthly premium you would pay for Medicare Part B. Many include additional services under this fee, while other plans offer “tiers” of service at varying cost levels. Some even include gym or health club memberships. In exchange for these extra benefits, these plans may require that you adhere to a limited “network” of providers. If you decide to purchase a Medicare Advantage Plan, find out what additional services are actually included before signing up. A plan that includes vision care, for example, may only reimburse an annual eye exam, but not glasses. Remember that you will rarely get more from a similarly priced program without giving up other benefits.

Medicare Part D. This is the prescription drug program. Private pharmaceutical companies approved and regulated by the federal government provide Medicare Part D plans. These programs require payment of monthly premiums ranging from $15 to $165, plus small co-payments for each drug. People who enroll in traditional Medicare must also select a Medicare Part D prescription program. Many Medicare Advantage plans include a drug plan or plans. If not, you must select one as well.

Before you switch plans, it’s important to evaluate your needs.

8 Questions to ask before changing health plans

How much will I have to pay for premiums, deductibles, doctor visits or hospital stays?

Are all the services I need covered under this plan? If not, is there a way to obtain coverage without paying large additional amounts?

Are my doctors in this plan? If not, can I continue to see an “out of network doctor” even if it costs a bit more?

What services will I give up if I switch plans?

Will I have to choose my hospital and health care providers from a limited network?

Are the hospitals/nursing facilities in my network convenient to me? Do they have good ratings?

Will I need physician referrals to visit specialists?

Are my prescription drugs on the plan’s formulary? What is my prescription medication copayment?

Does the plan I selected have a good quality rating?

Joanna Leefer is an eldercare advisor with 10 years experience working with aging issues. She was the primary caregiver for her parents for over seven years and worked for FRIA Inc. (Friends and Relatives of Institutionalized Aged) an advocacy organization for the elderly. For more information on her services, log onto www.joannaleefer.com. Her book Eldercare Basics will be available in spring 2013.

Don’t let the title scare, you, folks. I’m not presenting a “system” here. Personally, I’ve never seen a chart or graph designed to help me organize my life that I didn’t intentionally ignore. “Systems” designed by experts never seems to consider my life or personality. They seemed like cardboard cutouts, made for some dream life. Textbook examples often don’t take real life into account. My response to most “systems” would be a quiet, internal “You are not me.”

That being said, tips and thoughts from people whose lives have closely mirrored mine, in at least some aspects, have been generally welcome. I like stories. I like knowing how people make their lives work. If ideas are presented to me that way, I feel the flexibility of personalities and lifestyles blending, and that makes suggestions sound less like demands that I “shape up” and act like other people. I can then assimilate the story, take what works for me and ignore the rest—guilt free.

So, please take my suggestions in that manner. I’ve discussed some ideas with other caregivers, including those who care for elders and one man who cares for a child with disabilities. Our time management techniques aren’t that different. When we care for vulnerable people, we are all much alike.

Expect the Unexpected 

For me, the need to be prepared for anything is mandatory. During my heaviest caregiving years, I cared for two children, one with multiple health problems, plus multiple elders. During their last years, several of my elders lived in a nearby nursing home, while I worked full time, so that care was a blessing. I could visit daily, but still know they were cared for while I worked at my “real world” job.

However, a call to my work phone could mean that I needed to leave work to meet one of my elders at the emergency room, or that my son was very ill. It could mean something as simple as one more errand to run for one of my elders, or that it was time to plan hospice care for an elder. I must say a ringing phone can still, at times, be a scary thing for me, triggering a reaction much like the old days when people thought a telegram meant only one thing: someone had died. Knowing I was somewhat prepared for an emergency did have a calming effect to some degree. It still does. Here’s a little sample of my “plan.” Improvise to figure out what works for you.

My employer allowed me to take vacation by the hour, so I hoarded vacation hours for emergencies and for medical appointments for my care receivers.

I shopped as though I was preparing for a disaster, buying multiples of everything any of my care receivers could possibly want, because they always seemed to want what they wanted immediately, and something inside of me made me think I had to deliver. When my mother died, I threw out three—yes three—bottles of the makeup she liked. Shall we say I was a bit excessive about this?

I kept food around that my son could make for himself, should I be called away to tend to one of the elders, which happened frequently. Again, I often threw out my over-stocked food items, but having all needs met for each individual made me feel better prepared, which meant I felt less frantic.

I filled prescriptions as soon as the insurance companies allowed, knowing that a day could come when one person needed a prescription filled and I was too tied up with the needs of another to run to the store and get that errand done.

Many of us have a to-do list that is so long we feel overwhelmed. That is sometimes called analysis paralysis. Say, your mom wants you to go through her closet and get things organized, but your kids need a school project finished and only you can help. Your employer wants you to get rolling on a “fresh, new idea,” while the Medicaid papers for your dad are sitting on your desk at home. All of the projects are important. Where do you start?

Prioritize

That may seem obvious, but it does help. Make a list, yes, but don’t worry about perfection. Make the list flexible. But do write things down. That helps. I find that crossing off just one thing—even something as simple as getting the special shampoo dad needed—crossed off my list, made my day seem a little easier.

Bite off chunks

Realize that everything you do doesn’t have to be done completely or perfectly. The Medicaid forms need to be filled out accurately, but you don’t have to do it all in one day. The closet cleaning can be done imperfectly. Just do enough to make your mom feel that you are tending to her needs. Let the rest go.

Learn that good enough is good enough. Each and every thing you attempt doesn’t have to be perfect. Expecting myself to do everything perfectly can be my biggest time waster, as I can’t get started if I think I have to do it all to perfection.

Lower your standards

Yes, your mom kept a spotless house. Well, maybe that’s what she did during the day. You are working for several people here. Give yourself a break. Rarely has dusty furniture killed anyone.

Find shortcuts that make you feel better

A quick neatening up, even if it means tossing stuff in a closet, can help some people de-clutter their minds. That can bring some peace. Let the true de-cluttering wait until your life is a little smoother.

Less is more

Try to help others learn this, too. Getting rid of “stuff” and not replacing it can be freeing. I know this is a hard concept to pass on to someone who can’t let go of anything, especially an elder who is now forced to give up so much. But if you live your life with that philosophy, without trying to impose it on others, you may find some of that mentality gets absorbed through osmosis.

Taking Care of Yourself 

In a way, time management is a way of taking care of ourselves. Efficiency in “doing for others” may actually leave us a little time for ourselves. Frankly, for most of us, if we don’t do anything to take care of ourselves, even if it’s finding 20 minutes to take a nap, we’ll become less efficient with everything else, and that can cause a downward spiral. Perhaps, taking care of ourselves should be first on our “time management” list. I thought of that, actually. But I figured everyone would laugh and quit reading.

Do try it, however. Most of us are better people, and better caregivers, if we have a little time to do something we enjoy. Our burning out won’t help anyone. If we look at our priority list, we can surely find something that we can put lower on the list, and scoot up our own health care or mental health break a few notches. If we do that, the other time eaters may fall into place, or get so low on the list we can let them drop off, like dust when we shake a rug.

Good luck with your own list and please let us know if you have other time-saving ideas.

Article courtesy of AgingCare.com, a leading website that connects people caring for elderly parents to other caregivers, personalized information and local resources. AgingCare.com has become the trusted resource for exchanging ideas, sharing conversations and finding credible information for those seeking elder care solutions.

Caregivers are often so focused on managing their parent’s health and financial needs that they don’t even think about their own future needs. Although your focus is on providing care for your loved one, it’s important to think about and prepare for your own future financial and caregiving needs. If you haven’t done it already, now is the time to start planning for own your retirement.

“It’s hard to find the time, but planning for your financial future is a necessity,” says Erika Mielke, a Wells Fargo Private Bank senior wealth planning strategist. “Thinking about the dollars and cents of your own retirement is the best way to ensure you have the funds you need as you age.”

Mielke suggests these tips to help caregivers plan for their own financial future.

Take full advantage of employer programs

If you or your spouse is employed, make sure you are taking full advantage of the financial programs your employer offers. Some examples:

• 401(k) – The 401(k) is set up by your employer and is designed to help you save (and build) money for retirement. The money you contribute to your 401(k) is pooled and invested in stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other types of investments. You choose the type of investment from your company’s list of options. Usually your contribution is deducted from your paycheck before taxes and goes directly into your 401(k) account.
• Company matched contributions – Many companies will make a matching contribution to your 401(k). Your employer might match 10 percent, or even 100 percent of your contribution to your retirement account. This is like getting a bonus, so it pays to put in as much as you can afford. Understand how your employer is matching contributions. Some will match your contributions with company stock. As a result, a large portion of your investment will be in company stock. “Diversification is important. As a general rule, you don’t want more than 10 percent of your net worth in any one asset,” Mielke says. Check with your HR department on rules and restrictions for re-balancing your funds, which would enable you to sell some company stock and re-invest it.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Depending on the type of health plan you have, you may be eligible for a flexible spending account. An FSA lets you set aside money, and the funds are taken out of your paycheck before taxes. You can use the account throughout the year to get reimbursed for eligible health care and dependent care expenses (including elderly parent care expenses) However, FSAs are set up and owned by the employer, so how much you can contribute is determined by your employer. If you change jobs, you can’t take your FSA with you. Also, you must use all the money in the FSA by year-end, or you lose it.
• Health Spending Accounts (HSA) – If you have a high deductible health plan, you are eligible to create an HSA. An HSA has different rules than an FSA. The maximum a family can contribute annually is capped by the IRS at $6,250. It is a bank account that you own and you can invest it as you choose. You can only access the amount of money that’s in your account. When you start contributing – in January for example – you will have less money than you’ll have later in the year. An HSA is not “use it or lose it” meaning if you don’t spend all the money in the account by year-end, it rolls over to next year, and you can take it with you if you change jobs.

Explore alternatives

The IRS caps the amount you can contribute to your retirement plans at $16,500. That includes 401(k), 403(b), IRAs, etc. Once you have contributed the matching amount to your 401(k) and if you are able to contribute more, then you will want to explore whether to add more to your 401(k) or whether an IRA might be good for you. Depending on your income, a Roth IRA might be a good choice because the money goes in after you’ve paid taxes. The money grows over time, and when you take it out, you don’t pay taxes on it again.

Don’t “set it and forget it”

Whether you have your money in 401(k), IRA, company stock or any other investment option, keep tabs on where your money is being invested. Too many people make a choice when they sign up for the plan, then let it ride, and never make changes to it. “Don’t set it and forget it,” Mielke advices. “Be involved in how your money is allocated. In most cases, as you get closer to retirement, your portfolio should be shifted to include less risk.” She recommends having a conversation with a financial advisor. If your plan is administered by a financial firm, find out if they have advisors you can speak to. If not, hire one yourself. It’s a critical step in financial planning.

Think about long-term care now

“Caregivers are on the front lines of seeing first-hand how much long-term care facilities cost,” Mielke says. However, too many don’t think about their own long-term care needs. Long-term care is an insurance policy that covers costs that arise when a person needs on-going care including home care, hospice care, nursing home care or care in an assisted-living facility.

Mielke says the best time to buy long-term care insurance is usually in your 50s. That’s when the prices are the best, but it can still be affordable after that. Before you buy, know the terms, and fully understand the policy you choose. Some questions to ask about any long-term care policy you are considering: What are the maximum daily benefits? How long will coverage last? Is coverage transferable between spouses? If you don’t use it, does it turn into life insurance? Does the policy take inflation into account?

Insurance

Another aspect of financial planning is insurance. Do you have the right type of life insurance? There are many different options, such term or whole life available, and finding the right type depends on your personal situation.

Property and casualty is another insurance caregivers should consider. If other caregivers are caring for your parent inside the home, how are they insured? What if they are injured? What is the liability to the homeowner? “Getting umbrella coverage with your property and casualty that is equal to your net worth is relatively cheap, and it prevents against your net worth being wiped out due to an accident,” Mielke suggests.

Legal documents: Key to financial planning

In addition to building a solid financial base, caregivers must have legal documents in place, such as financial power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, and a will. Each document serves a specific purpose. For example, POA indicates what will happen if you are incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself while you are alive. A will covers how your estate is handled when you die. The various financial documents work together to ensure your wishes are carried out.

Legal documents coordinate with financials – which is why they are a key part of good financial planning. Make sure you work with an expert to ensure everything is titled appropriately and that the POA, will, and life insurance documents are examined in conjunction with financial planning documentation.

Not all financial planners are created equal

When it comes to financial planning, don’t go it alone. Every state has different rules; IRS regulations are constantly changing; and legalese can make even the savviest consumer’s head spin. It’s best to work with a professional who will take the time to understand your goals and individual situation and advise you accordingly.

However, not all financial planners are created equal. Some financial planners are tied to specific companies, products and services. These organizations tout “free financial planning assistance.” However the financial planner you work with is incented to sell you that company’s products and services. They are being compensated for the products they sell. A better option might be to find an independent financial planner that is not tied to a particular financial firm. They charge a fee for their services, but you will get unbiased advice, and find the right products for your needs.

Article courtesy of AgingCare.com, a leading website that connects people caring for elderly parents to other caregivers, personalized information and local resources. AgingCare.com has become the trusted resource for exchanging ideas, sharing conversations and finding credible information for those seeking elder care solutions.

“Susan” was burned out. Nine months earlier, she had taken what she thought would be a temporary leave of absence from her job to care for her 85-year-old mother, who was recuperating from surgery after falling and breaking her hip.

Her mother never fully recovered. She still needed help with bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning and almost everything else. In the last couple of months, she had become forgetful and confused. She neglected paying her bills, and Susan had to take over managing the checkbook.

Susan found that she was spending almost all of her time taking care of her mother. She was close to using up her savings. She hadn’t spent an evening with a friend or visited her daughter, son-in-law or grandson for over six months. She was lonely, exhausted, scared and often angry. She wasn’t sleeping well. Her back was bothering her. She seemed to catch every virus that was going around.

“Susan” is a composite case, but her suffering is similar to that of many of the family members, companions and friends caring for disabled loved ones with whom we have worked over the last decade. Stress, isolation, impoverishment, exhaustion, increased vulnerability to illness and injury are too often the costs of such care.

Securing the services of a professional home health or personal care aide is usually the single most effective way of alleviating caregiver burnout. Often, an aide allows the caregiver to get some rest, return to work, visit other family members and have a social life.

You can secure the services of an aide by calling a licensed or certified home care agency. Long-term care insurance will usually pay for home care. Medicare and other health insurance programs will sometimes pay for limited amounts of home care.

Medicaid will pay for home care. If your loved one’s income or assets are above the financial limits, a knowledgeable social worker, geriatric care manager or elder care attorney, in most cases, can show you legal ways to reduce assets and shelter “surplus” income to receive full Medicaid benefits.

Roy Herndon Smith is with Community Geriatric Care Management, a subsidiary of Foremost Home Care.