Answers For Elders Radio Network

We've talked about types of senior living and independent living. At some point, there comes a time to intervene, when a senior loved one's health or situation changes. Heinz Gehner and Eric Wollan of MorningStar Senior Living talk about this time. Being proactive and responsible lets you make those steps in the easiest way possible. Change is hard at any age. This segment talks about how to approach the conversation. They've seen more instances during COVID where the adult child visits, and finds science experiments in the refrigerator, or weeks worth of unopened mail on the dining room table, with bills unpaid. Gehner is Executive Director, and Wollan is Director of Community Relations, for MorningStar Senior Living at Silver Lake in Everett, Washington. Reach them via their website or by calling 425-438-9080.

This segment focuses on the issue of seniors who are living comfortably, but are feeling like the upkeep of the house is too much, or forgetting things, or have mobility issues, or start holding furniture to navigate around the living room. What are the roles of their adult children, and what types of lifestyles do the loved ones want to have? The longer they can do these activities of daily living themselves, the healthier they'll be. Heinz Gehner is Executive Director, and Eric Wollan is Director of Community Relations, for MorningStar Senior Living at Silver Lake in Everett, Washington. Reach them via their website or by calling 425-438-9080.

Heinz Gehner and Eric Wollan of MorningStar Senior Living provide an overview of the various types of senior living. Gehner is Executive Director, and Wollan is Director of Community Relations, for MorningStar Senior Living at Silver Lake in Everett, Washington. In this segment, Heinz and Eric talk about the basics — various choices available when faced with the idea that your senior loved one's home may no longer be a good fit, and managing the transition. Reach them via their website or by calling 425-438-9080.

On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian at Bee Organized Seattle about the benefits, simplicity and peace you get from being organized. This segment provides tactics and tips as you ask three questions: what do you need - what do you love - what do you use? Reach Suzanne at [email protected]. Her office phone number is 206.627.0957, and her cell number is 206.931.2970.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian at Bee Organized Seattle about the benefits, simplicity and peace you get from being organized. This segment focuses on the power purge. Reach Suzanne at [email protected]. Her office phone number is 206.627.0957, and her cell number is 206.931.2970.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian at Bee Organized Seattle about the benefits, simplicity and peace you get from being organized. Kristin is co-founder of Bee Organized and the Chief Marketing Officer of Bee Organized Enterprises.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Suzanne is joined by Suzanne Allbee and Kristen Christian to talk about how to prevent chaos from building up in our lives and in our homes. Professional home organizer Suzanne Allbee is the owner of Bee Organized Seattle. You can reach her at [email protected]. Her office phone number is 206.627.0957, and her cell number is 206.931.2970.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzanne speaks with Phillip George, an elder law and estate planning attorney from Safe Harbor Legal Solutions at 360-746-7169. This segment focuses on what makes a successful retirement plan – it sets up your family so they know what to do, with explicit instructions for any given situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzanne speaks with Phillip George, an elder law and estate planning attorney from Safe Harbor Legal Solutions at 360-746-7169. This segment addresses things you may be doing that may be a recipe for disaster down the road. A lot of people may think their retirement is set up well by their regular attorney, but regular attorneys aren't familiar with the details of estate plans – this requires an elder law and estate planning attorney. Most plans fail, when judged by their goals, because people don't approach the plans the right way. If you have a stroke, and then rehab while your family is looking for a long-term care facility for, that's when things become a nightmare and this is where normal planning falls off the rails.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzanne speaks with Phillip George, an elder law and estate planning attorney from Safe Harbor Legal Solutions at 360-746-7169. This segment focuses on setting goals for retirement planning, and more specifically what those goals should be. The idea is to set up plans to avoid crises in the future. You want to set a direction, know what you're driving towards, and helps people articulate their needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzanne speaks with Phillip George, an elder law and estate planning attorney from Safe Harbor Legal Solutions at 360-746-7169. As we get close to 2022, it's time to talk about some key issues. No matter if you're 45 or 95, one of the most daunting issues is starting retirement planning. This segment focuses on why it's important to star retirement planning and to set goals. An elder law attorney specializes in helping people create plans as well as helping people if a crisis has struck. Planning ahead of time makes everything so much easier, both for you and your family — so do it for your family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the pandemic started, Dr. Shawn Weiss has seen a rapid decline with people that have cognitive impairment, due to isolation, decreased social interaction, decreased activity levels. Tons of medical studies show that daily activity improves the strength and balance of those with cognitive impairments, even though they might not remember you were there, improvements in appetite, digestion and sleep, and reduced symptoms of sundowners syndrome. Home Health can help focus on what they can do daily, improving quality of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this segment, Dr. Shawn Weiss talks about Home Health eligibility. As long as you're under a physician's care, Medicare pays for these services. How does someone become eligible? Medicare lifted the home-bound status requirement to be eligible for home health services. You need to be under a doctor's care, who must certify that you need intermittent (part-time) nursing care, or therapy services (physical, occupational, or speech therapy) for either restorative or maintenance care. Restorative gets you back to your previous level of function, whereas maintenance allows people with chronic conditions to maintain their current level of function.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this segment, Dr. Shawn Weiss discusses the skilled side of home health. Since the pandemic, home health has moved to the forefront. Home health providers are licensed and Medicare-certified who come into your home and provide medical skilled services in cooperation with your physician. Providers includes nurses and physical and occupational therapists. There are also non-medical home care agencies that provides housekeeping, meal prep, dressing, transportation, and other a-la-carte services.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With winter coming, prepare now to avoid falls in your home or your parents' home. Dr. Shawn Weiss advises checking the outside of the house for safety at entryways, lighting, clearing pathways to avoid tripping hazards. Winter safety also includes shoes and shovels stored nearby. If there are issues getting in and out of the house, add or check the sturdiness of handrails. Inside the home, make sure rugs can absorb moisture from shoes so they aren't slippery. Winter clothes are also important – make sure the clothing isn't so bulky that it'll catch on something, and that shoes have good tread. Spend extra money to get well-supported, cushioned shoes to minimize pain or negative effects to your stride.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This segment with Dr. Shawn Weiss focuses on how to prevent falls. Fall prevention can be broken down into intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Extrinsic, or environmental, factors involve furniture placement, bed height, seat heights, lighting, rugs, power cords, general clutter in pathways, and so forth. Also, the potential tripping hazards of footwear and clothing. Do you notice whether you or your loved ones have started holding furniture for support while walking? Before winter is a good time to check porches and steps, and consider whether handrails are needed. Intrinsic factors includes medical diagnoses and conditions like COPD, Parkinsons, arthritis, pneumonia, or COVID, which can affect a person's movements and fall risk. Also, some medications can affect movement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler talks about Medicaid, specifically in the long-term-care process as we're aging. This segment focuses on more of the criteria that would allow someone to participate in Medicaid, in particular the ideas of resources and spend-down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler talks about Medicaid, specifically in the long-term-care process as we're aging. This segment focuses on more of the criteria that would allow someone to participate in Medicaid, in particular the ideas of resources and spend-down.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, Elder Law and long-term-care planning attorney Jim Koewler talks about Medicaid, specifically in the long-term-care process as we're aging. Medicaid is the single biggest payer toward long-term care in the United States. Medicaid for long-term care is different than Medicaid under Obama-care, different than Medicaid for people with disabilities. In this segment, Jim talks about what it is, as well as some of the criteria that would allow someone to participate in Medicaid, covering some of the differences in different states.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler answers questions about the daunting world of Medicare. This segment focuses on Part D, the prescription drug coverage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler answers questions about the daunting world of Medicare. Medicare pays 80% of covered costs, and this segment focuses on how you choose to pay for the remaining 20%, clarifying the differences between Medicare Advantage and the supplement program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler answers questions about the daunting world of Medicare. This segment focuses on the differences between the various parts - A, B, C, and D, the big four parts of Medicare. Part A is free if you paid into it while working, and covers 80% of hospitalization costs with a 0 premium. Part B covers non-admission-related hospital costs such as visits by doctors and specialists, paid for with a deduction from social security payments. Part C are advantage plans, which if you elect one would replace your Part A and B options and includes Part D features, covering a lot but not necessarily covering it well. Part D is prescription drug coverage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler answers questions about the daunting world of Medicare. This segment provides an overview of Medicare, the Federally-funded health insurance for people 65 or over. If you're approaching your 65th birthday, start thinking about this: you can sign up three months prior to and up to three months after your birthday. Don't miss that magic window, at it results in getting an annual late-fee penalty, and you might not be able to get the health insurance that you want to go with your Medicare. Medicare covers 80% of covered health costs; vision and dental aren't covered unless they're considered medical treatments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour with Dementia expert Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching deals with how to communicate with loved ones facing Alzheimer's and dementia. This segment recaps the previous segments and focuses on how Faith Marshall can help families faced with this situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour with Dementia expert Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching deals with how to communicate with loved ones facing Alzheimer's and dementia. This segment focuses on tips for providing energy, important for creating a flow of positive communication.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour with Dementia expert Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching deals with how to communicate with loved ones facing Alzheimer's and dementia. This segment focuses on what loved ones pick up on inadvertently, sometimes a repetition of a diagnosis that in most cases isn't positive. Remembering to talk with them, not about them, is key.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Families fave noticed an escalation of Alzheimer's and dementia symptoms after having been separated from senior loved ones for so long during the pandemic. This hour with Dementia expert Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching deals with how to communicate with loved ones facing Alzheimer's and dementia. This segment provides a background into the mind of someone who has Alzheimer's, and how to maintain the respect of our loved ones in the face of frustration and a lack of understanding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the job description of a family caregiver? In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements focuses on changes in financial management in senior care. The costs of senior care is skyrocketing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the job description of a family caregiver? In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements focuses on the legal side of family caregiving and what Daphne sees when they're dealing with legal aspects.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the job description of a family caregiver? Often a caregiver is overwhelmed by medical terminology. In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements focuses on what go on in the hospital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the arrival of fall, it’s businer at Pinnacle Senior Placements. People recharge their batteries during the summer, as we get back to the realities of life, recently Daphne Davis has seen an increase in younger sons and daughters having to help senior loved ones in their 70s: People in their 30s and 40s with full-time jobs and children are being faced with these challenges. Some families are dealing with cognition challenges from Parkinson's, and some very young people are having strokes. Young people are coming face-to-ace with terms like power of attorney, what does it mean that they can't see their loved one in a hospital, what services are available. Many have asked for guidance navigating the maze of our hospital system. In this segment, Daphne talks about these challenges.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often have you felt alone in this process of caring for a senior loved one? In this hour, Daphne discusses how you're truly not alone. It's just a matter of reaching out for hope to build relationships with a team of people who have the best interests of your loved one at heart. In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements talks about caregiver guilt after senior living choices have been made and your senior loved one has moved, and also talks about the repercussions of the decision with the pandemic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often have you felt alone in this process of caring for a senior loved one? In this hour, Daphne discusses how you're truly not alone. It's just a matter of reaching out for hope to build relationships with a team of people who have the best interests of your loved one at heart. In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements talks about what goes on with families during this time when you're a caregiver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often have you felt alone in this process of caring for a senior loved one? In this hour, Daphne discusses how you're truly not alone. It's just a matter of reaching out for hope to build relationships with a team of people who have the best interests of your loved one at heart. In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements talks about how it works when Daphne and Pinnacle is invited to have an opportunity to get to know you and your senior loved ones, who you are as people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often have you felt alone in this process of caring for a senior loved one? In this hour, Daphne discusses how you're truly not alone. It's just a matter of reaching out for hope to build relationships with a team of people who have the best interests of your loved one at heart. You need to feel comfortable asking any question. Pinnacle can help with senior living decisions. While some choices are different during the pandemic, many are universal with families. In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements shares some recent stories about helping seniors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, professional photographer Dana Chrysler from Bella Vita Creative talks about the importance of seniors being "present" in photos — how to be your authentic self in front of the camera, as hard as that can be for some. Dana talks about providing a legacy for your loved ones through family heirloom photography. Get a free consultation at at bellavitacreative.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, professional photographer Dana Chrysler from Bella Vita Creative talks about the importance of seniors being "present" in photos — how to be your authentic self in front of the camera, as hard as that can be for some. Dana talks about providing a legacy for your loved ones through family heirloom photography. Get a free consultation at at bellavitacreative.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, professional photographer Dana Chrysler from Bella Vita Creative talks about the importance of seniors being "present" in photos — how to be your authentic self in front of the camera, as hard as that can be for some. Dana talks about providing a legacy for your loved ones through family heirloom photography. Get a free consultation at at bellavitacreative.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this hour, professional photographer Dana Chrysler from Bella Vita Creative talks about the importance of seniors being "present" in photos — how to be your authentic self in front of the camera, as hard as that can be for some. Dana talks about providing a legacy for your loved ones through family heirloom photography. Get a free consultation at at bellavitacreative.net.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shawn Weiss is an expert in the areas of geriatrics, fall prevention, cognitive decline, the benefits and regulations of medicare home health, dementia management, and medicare reimbursement and documentation compliance. In this segment, Shawn updates us on seniors during the pandemic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shawn Weiss talks about fall prevention during the pandemic. Shawn is a member of the Ohio Falls Coalition and Ohio Injury Prevention Partnership, has been a physical therapist for 23 years, and is published in Fall Prevention for Residents with Cognitive Deficits residing in Assisted Living Facilities. She talks about why there has been a rising number of falls and fall-related injuries in the aging population during the COVID-19 pandemic, how we can help senior loved ones whose health may have declined during the pandemic, and provides some community resources to seek out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shawn Weiss talks about why we're seeing an increase in caregiver burnout, what the symptoms are, and how we can prevent it. Shawn has been the owner of a Home Health Care agency for 18 years and a physical therapist for 23 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shawn Weiss is an expert in the areas of geriatrics, fall prevention, cognitive decline, healthy living, home health, and caregiver training. In this segment, Shawn talks about why summer safety is so important for our senior loved ones, why older adults are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, and provides some ways our seniors can stay safe and healthy during the summer months.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour focuses on reducing family caregiver stress through hypnosis. In this segment, Alzheimer's and dementia expert Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching provides a four-minute sample hypnosis session. Please do not listen while operating machinery or driving. Wait until you're in a safe place where you can relax, sit, and close your eyes. (Image © Can Stock Photo / fizkes)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour focuses on reducing family caregiver stress through hypnosis. As you're taking care of a senior loved one, hypnosis can help you regain your sanity. In this segment, Alzheimer's and dementia expert Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching focuses on what happens when you first contact her. An initial conversation determines first steps, individualized to the person. A commonality with caregivers is exhaustion, burnout and fatigue. When people come to a session, people melt into the chair and enjoy it. Similar to meditation, a session starts with muscle relaxation and becoming comfortable with the hypnotist. A session lasts 20 to 30 minutes. Afterward, people feel refreshed and ready for the day, with a recording they can play at night. (Image © Can Stock Photo / fizkes)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour focuses on reducing family caregiver stress through hypnosis. A lot of caregivers put themselves last, with lots of negative self-talk, feeling like they can't keep up, aren't good enough, trying to be everything to everybody. In this segment, Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching talks about how she uses hypnosis to help reverse that negativity. She helps people stand in their own power, make their own choices on boundaries, and embrace them, helping caregivers get into a new mindset. Fatigue affects all caregivers, and we can be hypnotized such that a 20-minute session feels like a four-hour power nap. (Image © Can Stock Photo / fizkes)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alzheimer's and dementia expert Faith Marshall of Awakenings Hypnosis & Coaching talks about the benefits of hypnosis as an aid for families and family caregivers. Stress is always there, but not always self-care. What she loves about hypnosis is it is a short-cut to stress relief. Hypnosis helps our subconscious ignore negative thoughts and guides us through in a positive way. A lot of people don't understand what hypnosis is all about; they're familiar with the stage hypnosis where they heard of a friend who was barking like a dog on stage. We have our own subconscious routines, and we're critical of ourselves or our actions, and that's human nature. Hypnosis can help by creating a sense of calm, similar to meditation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that our parents have moved, how do we relax together and how do we stay connected? Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements explains that no conflict is worth coming apart at the seams with your family, and this discussion focuses on family healing, advocacy and communication.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before our parents have moved, the family still needs to come together to make decisions regarding the move. Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements talks about many considerations families don't think through. It can be overwhelming to go from a quiet family home to a community with 80 other residents. Generally if someone can advocate for themselves, and if they have good safety awareness and judgment, an assisted living solution can be successful. If either of those is missing, you'll run into isolation or falls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour is about healing discourse in families. In this segment, Daphne Davis at Pinnacle Senior Placements focuses on the healing of siblings. A nearly universal theme is the perception of what a parent can and can't do, and where they need help. Another common one is cognition issues: is there short-term memory loss with your parents? Evaluating cognition challenges within a family can be challenging, as one day you could have a coherent conversation with your dad, but the next day he could be delusional, and that's completely normal. Sibling to sibling arguments about what a parent can do can lead to misunderstandings. Having a third party determine a baseline is the best route to go for their dignity and safety.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.