Senior Voices - ADRC of Northwest Wisconsin

April 2013
Free
Aging and disability resource center
Senior Voices
IDENTITY THEFT — IT’S NO JOKE
I NS I DE THI S
By Karyl Richson
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Milwaukee, WI
ISSUE:
Identity Theft
Staff
Events and Notices
1
2
3
Beneficially Speaking 4-6
MyPyramid to
MyPlate
Free
7
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
8
WordFind
9
When the first of April comes, you may be on guard to protect yourself from
an April Fool’s Day prank. But every day of the year, you should be wary of
identity thieves.
Identity theft is no joking matter. Identity thieves victimize millions of people
each year.
Identity thieves have some sly tricks to obtain your personal information.
They do it by:
•Stealing wallets, purses, and your mail;
•Posing by phone or email as someone who legitimately needs
information about you, such as employers or landlords;
•Stealing personal information you provide to an unsecured site
on the Internet, from business or personnel records at work, and
personal information in your home; or
•Rummaging through your trash, the trash of businesses, and
public trash dumps for personal data.
Don’t be fooled by identity thieves; take the proper precautions. Be sure to
safeguard your personal information, such as your Social Security number
and mother’s maiden name. If an identity thief scores this
information, it
could result in more than monetary loss for you as a
victim—it also can
hurt your credit score and record.
You can help protect yourself by not carrying your Social Security card with
you and not providing your personal information to unknown sources over
Senior Dining
10-11 the Internet or by phone. Be sure to shred any documents, bills, or paperMenus
work before you throw them away. Most important, never reply to an email
claiming to be from Social Security that asks you for your Social Security
Caregiver’s Column 12-13 number or other personal information. If you are contacted by someone
claiming to be from Social Security and you have doubts about the validity
of the caller, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Mother’s Day Gift
14
Made Easy
If you think you’ve been the victim of identity theft, you should contact the
Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY 1Our Advertisers 15-17 866-653-4261. Or go to www.idtheft.gov and click on the link for “Report
Identity Theft.”
Senior Centers
Events
18-19
Learn more about identity theft at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html
Please don’t let an identity thief make an April fool out of you.
April 2013
PAGE
2
Aging and Disability Resource Center
of Northwest Wisconsin
Toll Free: 877-485-2372
[email protected]
www.adrcnwwi.org
Offices:
Polk Co. Government Center
100 Polk County Plaza #60
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
Phone: 715-485-8449
Fax: 715-485-8460
Burnett Co. Government Center
7410 County Road K, #180
Siren WI 54872
Phone: 715-349-2100
Fax: 715-349-8644
OFFICE STAFF
Laura Neve, Director
Tonya Eichelt, ADRC Supervisor—I&A,
Benefit Specialists and Transportation
Marsha Stoeberl, ADRC Supervisor—
Nutrition, Caregiving and Prevention
Deb Miller, Administrative Assistant
Angie Heyer, Account Clerk
Laurie Ince, Bookkeeper
Barb Ceder, Transportation
Dawn Sargent, Program Coordinator
Liz Arcand, Elder Benefit Specialist
Connie Crosby, Elder Benefit Specialist
Jaime Weness, Disability Benefit
Specialist/Marketing and Outreach
Wanda Washkuhn, Benefit Specialist
Angie Joy, Information & Assistance
Specialist
Barb Engelhart, Information &
Assistance Specialist
Diane Voltz, Information & Assistance
Specialist
Gerry Morgan, Dementia Care
Specialist/Information &
Assistance Specialist
Arnell Humane Society Spay Neuter Assistance Program offered
To help those who are unable to afford this life saving surgery, Arnell Memorial Humane Society is
expanding its low income spay and neuter program to include a low cost voucher program. The
Arnell Spay Neuter Assistance Program, Arnell SNAP, will offer vouchers for surgeries at the Arnell
shelter and participating veterinary clinics.
The cost of a voucher for a cat surgery will be $20 and $40 for a dog surgery. An additional
charge of $5 will be added for each pet in need of a rabies vaccination. Participants are required to
pre-register and provide proof of income eligibility with tax returns or participation in state funded
programs.
A Monsanto “America's Farmers Grow Communities” award of $2,500 and matching funds from
Arnell Memorial Humane Society will provide the combined funding of $5,000 for the Arnell SNAP
program. Vouchers are available at the AMHS shelter in Amery and are limited to the extent of the
donated funds.
Spaying or neutering household pets reduces pet overpopulation and helps to ensure that every
pet has a family to love them. Information about Arnell SNAP and vouchers are available at Arnell
Memorial Humane Society, 185 Griffin St E., Amery, 715 268-7387 (PETS)
April 2013
PAGE
3
April 2013
Premium Assistance
By Connie Crosby
More people may be eligible for assistance with
their Medicare Part B and Part D premiums now
because income and asset limits have increased
for these assistance programs.
These programs are sometimes called Medicare
Savings Programs or Medicare Premium
Assistance Programs. The programs help people by paying the monthly Medicare Premium,
leading to savings of $104.90 per month. In
addition, if a person is eligible for one of these
programs, the state may also pay a Medicare
Part D plan premium and he or she would also
have reduced co-pays for medications. There
are three programs with different income limits
and different benefits. The asset limits are the
same for the three programs.
1. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB). The
first day of the month after your application is approved, you are eligible for the state to pay your
Medicare Part A (if you have a premium), your
Medicare Part B premiums, and your Medicare
deductibles and co-pays. You can be eligible for
this program, if you:
•Are entitled to Medicare Part A,
•Have countable assets at or below the
program limit, and
•Have countable monthly income at or
below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL),
after certain credits are applied.
2. Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB). Up to three months before your application date, the state may pay your Medicare
Part B premiums, if you:
•Are entitled to Medicare Part A,
•Have countable assets at or below the
program limit, and
•Have countable monthly income between
100% and 120% of the FPL, after certain credits
are applied.
3.Specified Low Income Beneficiary Plus
(SLMB+). Up to three months before your
application date, the state pays Medicare Part B
premiums, if you:
•Are entitled to Medicare Part A,
•Have countable assets at or below the
PAGE
4
program limit,
•Have countable monthly income between 120% and 135% of the FPL, after certain
credits are applied, and
•You are not enrolled in full-benefit
Medicaid.
Effective 2013 the Net Monthly Income Limits
are:
Group Size 100% FPL 120% FPL 135% FP
1
$ 957.50
$1,149.00
$1,292.63
2
$1,292.50 $1,551.00
$1,719.03
If you are married, your spouse’s income
counts toward the income limit.
The asset limits are the same for all programs.
Group Size Asset Limit
1
$7,080.00
2
$10,620.00
Not all of your income and assets will be
counted in determining if you can enroll in a
Medicare Savings Program. Income and asset
limits may change each year. (Your home and
one vehicle are exempt, and some burial assets
are exempt. There are deductions from earned
income and a standard deduction for all
households of $20.00 per month.)
Persons who receive SSI and are eligible for
Medicare usually receive this benefit already.
After people are approved for the program it
may take about three months for you to notice a
difference in your Social Security benefits.
Medicare premiums that have been withheld
after the effective date of your eligibility will be
refunded to you in the same manner you
receive your Social Security benefits.
Your may apply online at access.wi.gov, over
the telephone, by mail or in person with your
county Elderly, Blind and Disabled Unit of your
Human Services Department. In Burnett
County, call 715-349-2141 to schedule an appointment. In Polk County, call 715-485-8471
to set up an appointment to apply. Please leave
a message and your phone number if you receive the voice mail message.
April 2013
Who Pays When Someone Goes
into a Nursing Home?
By Connie Crosby
Will Medicare pay for my nursing home stay?
There can be different answers dependent
upon the situation.
If someone has been in the hospital for three
days (receiving in-patient care), has Traditional
Medicare, and is transferred from the hospital to
a nursing home that takes Medicare (most
nursing homes are eligible to bill Medicare),
then Medicare may cover some of the nursing
home stay as long as the person is receiving a
certain amount of therapy and is improving or
needs the therapy to remain as good as they
can be.
Tip: If the hospital bills Medicare for an
observational stay, that hospitalization does not
count toward the three days of hospital stay
required for Medicare to pay for nursing home
care.
In situations where persons meet the guidelines
for Traditional Medicare to pay initially,
Medicare may continue to pay the full cost of
the nursing home stay through the 20th day, if
the person keeps receiving a certain level of
care and therapy.
Tip:
If a person has Traditional
Medicare and a Medicare Supplement, and
Medicare continues to pay after the 20th day,
the Medicare Supplement usually covers the
portion not paid by Medicare between the 21 st
day and the 100th day. If Medicare quits
paying, your Medicare supplement usually quits
paying.
Medicare Advantage/ Medicare Health Plans
have their own rules for nursing home coverage
and each policy may be different. Be sure to
check your policy to see what your coverage
looks like if you have a Medicare Advantage
Plan. You may be required to pay a co-pay for
some days. Also, you will need to check to see
if the nursing home is part of your provider
network. Not all nursing homes take all plans
and it is your responsibility to check to see if
PAGE
5
your plan will cover you at that facility.
If a person has nursing home or long term care
insurance, generally there is an elimination or
waiting period before coverage starts.
Traditionally, the waiting period does not start
until Medicare and any other source of insurance
you have quit paying.
Example: You have a 90-day elimination
period. The policy does not count the days
covered by Medicare and only starts counting the
days that you are actually responsible for paying
the bill.
These policies generally pay a set daily care rate
based on the policy you purchased. Some
policies have a built-in increase for inflation and
others do not. Policies generally pay for a
specific time period that you chose when you
applied for the policy. Some policies will pay for
a year, two years or more, and some will pay for
a lifetime, depending on the policy you chose.
There are three basic types of long term care
policies.
1. Long-Term Care Insurance Policies
These policies cover both institutional
(nursing home or other facility) care and
care in the community (home health care
or other community-based services).
2. Nursing Home Insurance Policies
These policies cover only institutional
(nursing home or other facility) care.
3. Home Health Care Insurance Policies
These policies cover only care received in
the community (home health care or other
community-based services).
You can request a book on these policies and
what to look for when you choose a policy by
contacting the Wisconsin Medigap Helpline (800242-1060). You may need to leave a message
with your name and phone number, but they will
call you back.
Persons with limited assets and income may be
eligible for Wisconsin Medical Assistance to
cover their nursing home stay. These persons
need to meet a certain level of care, but do not
need a hospital stay or therapy to be eligible.
Continued on Page 6
April 2013
Continued from page 5
The asset limit for Wisconsin Medical
Assistance is $2,000.00 for an individual.
There are some assets that do not count toward
that asset limit:
Their home,
one car,
a life insurance policy with a face value of
$1500.00 or less,
and an irrevocable burial trust with a funeral
home in the amount of $3,000.00 for funeral
home services plus an irrevocable casket
agreement, an irrevocable vault agreement,
a prepaid cemetery lot and a prepaid head
stone. There are no dollar limits on the
casket, vault, and head stone.
If a person is living outside of his/her home (for
example is in the nursing home), owns the
home, and intends to return to it, then the home
can be an exempt asset. If a doctor writes a
statement that the person may be able to return
home within six months, he/she may be able to
keep some money to pay the shelter expenses
for up to six months. (Persons who pay rent
are also allowed the exemption to keep money
to pay their rent and utilities for up to six
months.) After six months most of the person’s
monthly income will need to be paid to the
nursing home towards their care. The person is
allowed to keep a small personal allowance and
money to pay their monthly Medicare
supplement premium. There is estate recovery
for Wisconsin Medical Assistance nursing home
care.
If a person has a life insurance policy with a
face value of more than $1500.00 then the cash
value of the policy may count as an asset
unless it meets certain conditions. Persons may
choose to take out a loan against a portion of
the cash value of the policy and put some of the
money into in irrevocable burial trust in certain
situations because then the money becomes an
exempt asset.
For couples who have one spouse in the
nursing home (and/or receiving services in their
home under a Family Care program such as
PAGE
6
Northern Bridges or IRIS) and the other spouse
still in the community, there is a higher asset
limit. The asset limit for these persons is a
minimum of $50,000.00 for the community
spouse and up to $2,000.00 for the nursing
home resident. The asset limits may be higher
in some cases. There are certain assets that do
not count for these households, too.
Persons who have given away cash or property
within a “lookback period” are considered to
have divested assets and there may be a period
of ineligibility depending on the value of the
asset that was given away, when it was given
away, and when the person needs to receive
nursing home care or some services to keep the
person out of the nursing home under the Family
Care program.
This is just a little information on nursing home
care to give you a general idea as to payment
scenarios, insurance options, and asset limits for
Medical Assistance. Laws and eligibility rules
change all of the time so this information reflects
how things are at this point in time. Please keep
in mind that each individual’s or couple’s
circumstances are different and need to be
examined carefully.
Please call the Aging & Disability Resource
Center or an Economic Support Specialist that
works with the elderly clients to get more specific
information.
You may contact the Elder Benefit Specialists or
Information & Assistance workers at the ADRC
by calling 1-877-485-2372. Or call The Elderly,
Blind & Disabled Unit of Health & Human
Services at 715-349-2141 for Burnett County or
715-485-8471 for Polk County. You may need to
leave a message so be sure to leave your name
and phone number.
April 2013
PAGE
7
MyPyramid to My Plate
By Marsha Stoeberl
Over the years the USDA has put out a variety of icons or systems
designed to show healthy eating in an easy to understand format. The
first one that utilized the internet to encourage people to go online to
individualize an eating plan was MyPyramid Steps to a Healthier You.
The new MyPyramid incorporates exercise by showing a figure of a
person climbing stairs. Each of the five food groups (grains, fruit,
vegetables, meat and dairy) and oils is represented by colored bands of
varying widths. Proportionality is shown by varying widths and
moderation is depicted by narrowing of each band from top to bottom. Online information is provided
at 12 caloric-needs levels.
Although MyPlate has emerged as the newest icon for healthy eating, the MyPyramid has not gone
away. You can still go online to MyPyramid.org to plug in your age, gender, height, weight and
activity level. You will be given a recommended calorie level and number of servings from each food
group daily.
MyPlate has been out for nearly two years now. One of the reasons
MyPlate was developed was to make the message of healthy eating easier
to understand by placing it on what we eat off of, a plate. Some of the visual
intended messages of this icon are:
•Promotion of balanced daily eating of all five food groups
•Encouragement to choose healthier foods within each food group
•Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption with the message “make half
your plate fruits and vegetables”
However, beyond the quick visual message, there is an abundance of healthy eating information
available online at ChooseMyPlate.gov. Similar to MyPyramid, you can go online and plug in your
personal information to receive your recommended calorie level and number of servings from each
food group daily. Physical activity promotion and information is available on the website as well. You
can also access the 10 tips Nutrition Education Series. Each one provides you with 10 tips on a particular nutrition issue. Some of the topics are “Build a Healthy Meal”, “Focus on Fruits”, “Got your
Dairy Today?” and “Add More Vegetables to your Day.”
Over the next couple of months I will be sharing information on the Choose MyPlate 10 tips for
healthy meals, including lean protein and dairy, whole grains and satisfying your sweet tooth in a
healthy way.
New ADRC Website Up and Running
We are pleased to announce our new website is up and running.
You can still find the website at www.adrcnwwi.org.
The website now features:
~News and events
~Detailed calendar
~ADRC of NWWI Resource Guide
~Descriptions of services ~Past Senior Voices
~Senior dining information and menus
~Staff photos
~Contact information, hours of service, and maps to our offices
April 2013
Frequently Asked Questions about
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Ron Pollack, Executive Director, Families USA
March 2013
Since 2006, everyone with Medicare has had
access to outpatient prescription drug coverage.
Because there are a lot of options and choices to
be made, the path to that coverage can be complicated. In an effort to lessen some of those
complications, here are answers to some of the
most commonly asked questions about Medicare
prescription drug coverage.
Q. What are the different ways that Medicare
offers
prescription
drug
coverage?
A. Most people with Medicare get coverage
through Medicare Part D. If you have Original
Medicare (Parts A and B), you can add a
Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for an
additional premium. If you have a Medicare
Advantage plan (sometimes called Medicare Part
C), it probably includes Part D drug coverage, but
you should check the plan to be sure. Some
people have prescription drug coverage through
a former employer. If this coverage is as good as
or better than Part D coverage, you can keep it
and you don’t need to sign up for Part D.
Q. When can I join or change drug plans?
A. When you first become eligible for Medicare
(usually around your 65th birthday), you can sign
up for a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage
plan when you enroll in the rest of Medicare. Be
sure to sign up within three months of your 65th
birthday to avoid a penalty. Then, each year
between October 15 and December 7, Medicare
has an open enrollment period during which you
can change Part D plans or switch in to or out of
a Medicare Advantage plan.
Q.
What
is
a
formulary?
A. A formulary is a list of medicines that your prescription drug plan covers. This list determines
how much you will have to pay out of pocket for a
prescription (your copayment). The amount
varies depending on the category of drug:
Generics are usually the cheapest, preferred
brand-name drugs are more expensive, and
non-preferred brand-name drugs are the most
expensive. Some plans have four or more levels
PAGE
8
of copayments. Drugs that are not listed on the
formulary are not covered at all. If drugs that
you currently take aren’t on a plan’s formulary,
or if they are very expensive, you should check
out other plans.
Q. What will I pay in premiums, deductibles,
a n d
c o p a y m e n t s ?
A. Premiums for prescription drug plans vary
widely. In 2013, the national average is $30 per
month, but there is a big range across
geographic areas and for different Medicare
Advantage and Part D plans. Deductibles,
which refer to how much you must pay out of
pocket every year before your plan will kick in,
range from $0 to $325 in 2013. Copayments
vary from plan to plan.
Q. So what is the “doughnut hole?”
A. The doughnut hole—a feature of Medicare
Part D since 2006—is a big gap in drug
coverage. Before the Affordable Care Act
became law, when you reached an initial limit of
total drug expenses ($2,970 in 2013), your drug
coverage stopped—meaning you had to cover
100 percent of your drug costs—until you spent
$3,764 out of your own pocket. But there’s
good news: Thanks to the Affordable Care Act,
the doughnut hole is shrinking. In 2013, you will
save 52.5 percent on brand-name drugs and 21
percent on generics at the pharmacy while you
are in the doughnut hole. By 2020, the
doughnut hole will be completely eliminated.
Q. What if I can’t afford a Part D plan?
A. You might qualify for the Extra Help program
that’s run through Social Security. You can find
out more at the Social Security website,
www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp, or by
calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Wisconsin also has
its own program to help people with high drug
costs.
Q. Where can I get help choosing a plan?
A. Selecting the right plan can be difficult. Try
the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, or call 1-800MEDICARE. For personalized assistance, ask
for a referral to a counselor at your state’s SHIP
program.
April 2013
PAGE
9
April 2013
PAGE
10
Polk County Senior Dining
April Menu
Suggested Donation $4.00
Contact your meal site for reservations or cancellations.
Please provide 24 hour notice.
Menu subject to change without notice.
Amery 715-268-6818
Congregational Church, 201 Harriman Ave North, Amery
Site Staff: Holly and Shannon
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Clear Lake 715-263-4356 Ridgeview Apartments, 390 5th St NW, Clear Lake
Site Staff: Renee
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Dresser 715-755-3795
Peace Lutheran Church, 2355 Clark Rd, Dresser
Site Staff: Lori and Peggy
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Frederic 715-327-4112
Site Staff: Barb
Senior Center, 109 Elm Street, Frederic
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Luck 715-472-8300
Site Staff: Lois
Luck Lutheran Church, 510 E Foster Ave, Luck
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30 a.m.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
1
2
Beef Tips in Gravy
Seasoned Noodles
California Blend
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Pineapple Tidbits
3
Chicken Wild Rice
Casserole
Sliced Beets
Corn Bread
Peaches
4
Baked Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Bread Dressing & Gravy
Green Beans
Applesauce Cake
5
Goulash
Cabbage & Carrots with Dill
Pears
Pudding
8
Turkey Tetrazzini
Broccoli
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Orange
Cookie
9
Roast Pork
Baked Potato & Sour Cream
Mixed Vegetables
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Fruit
11
Spring Holiday Brunch
Holiday Brunch Egg Bake
Cheesy Potatoes
Sausage Patties
Fruit Salad
Coffee Cake
12
Salisbury Steak with Gravy
Oven Browned Potatoes
Squash
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Fruit Crisp
15
BBQ Pork on a Bun
Tator Tots
Corn
Coleslaw
Tropical Fruit
16
Roast Turkey
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Mixed Vegetable
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Fruit
18
Meatloaf
Scalloped Potatoes
Green Peas
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Pudding
19
Hamburger Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Glazed Carrots
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Frosted Cake
22
Boiled Ham Dinner with
Carrots, Potatoes & Cabbage
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Dessert Bar
23
BBQ Chicken
AuGratin Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Fruit in Season
24
25
Sites Closed
Sloppy Joe on a Bun
Baked Beans
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Fruited Jell-O
26
Beef Stir Fry
Fluffy White Rice
Chow Mein Noodle
Oriental Blend Vegetables
Breadstick
Banana
29
Italian Meat Sauce with
Spaghetti
Mixed Vegetable
Breadstick
Fruit Crisp
30
Beef Roast with Potatoes
& Carrots and Gravy
Seasoned Peas
Whole Grain Bread or Roll
Pineapple
Bread,
Margarine and
Milk served with
all meals!
Sites Closed
10
Sites Closed
17
Sites Closed
April 2013
PAGE
11
Burnett County Senior Dining
April Menu
Suggested donation $3.50
Contact your meal site for reservations or cancellations.
Please provide 24 hour notice.
Menu subject to change without notice.
A & H 715-635-7199
Site Staff: Pat
A & H Senior Center, 28315 County Rd H, Webster
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30a.m.
Grantsburg 715-463-2940
Site Staff: Tammy
118 Madison Ave West, Grantsburg
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30a.m.
Siren 715-349-2845
Site Staff: Cecilia
23943 State Road 35, Siren
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30a.m.
Webster 715-866-5300
Site Staff: Nikki
Webster Senior Center, 7421 West Apple St, Webster
Serving Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:30a.m.
MONDAY
1
Hamburger on Bun
Pickles, Condiments
Baked Potato Wedges
Baked Beans
Plums
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
2
Beef Stroganoff over
Noodles
Carrots
Tropical Fruit Mix
3
4
Herbed Polk Chop
Mashed Potatoes/Gravy
Beets
Ice Cream
5
Chicken Chow Mein over Rice
Egg Roll
Mandarin Oranges
Fortune Cookie
11
Chicken Vegetable Soup
Crackers
Meat & Cheese Sandwich
Banana
12
Lasagna
Cauliflower
Garlic Bread
Jell-O/Fruit & Topping
18
Hearty Beef Stew
Herbed Biscuit
Coleslaw
Pineapple Upside Down
Cake
19
Salmon Loaf
Parsley Potatoes
Creamed Peas
Apricots
24
25
Sites Closed
BBQ Meatballs
Baked Potato/Sour Cream
Scalloped Corn
Pears
26
Chicken Salad on Bun
Pickle Spear
Tator Tots
Mixed Vegetables
Banana Pudding
8
Ham & Scalloped
Potatoes
Green Beans
Whole Wheat Dinner Roll
Peaches
9
Meatloaf
Mashed Potatoes/Gravy
Squash
Oatmeal-Craisin Cookie
15
COOK’S CHOICE
16
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Broccoli
Cinnamon-Oatmeal Muffin
Applesauce
22
Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
Tossed Salad/Dressing
Garlic Bread Stick
Sherbet
23
Roast Beef
Mashed Potatoes/Gravy
Brussel Sprouts
Jell-O/Fruit & Topping
29
Baked Fish
Macaroni & Cheese
Carrots
Strawberries with Angel
Food Cake & Topping
30
Baked Chicken
Mashed Potatoes/Gravy
Green Beans
Pineapple Chunks
Sites Closed
10
Sites Closed
17
Sites Closed
April 2013
PAGE
12
What We’re Thinking Influences Our Caregiving
Have you ever listened to yourself think? I’m serious. Whether you are aware of it or
not, that little voice in your head is always talking to you. What is yours saying? When
you are responsible for someone who is elder, frail, or has a specific disease, life can
be tense and overwhelming. You mind is racing, the stress is building, and you are
feeling stretched to the max. Perhaps it’s time to take the time to step back, ponder
your situation, and evaluate your thoughts and feelings. “Yah, right. When am I
supposed to do that?” Do you hear that voice? That’s what you want to focus
on….what are you saying to yourself that could be contributing to feeling
over-whelmed.
Negative thinking patterns are not helpful. Monitor what you are saying to yourself. If
you are predominantly hearing things such as: “No one ever helps me,” “I have to do
everything,” “I never get to go anywhere,” “No one else cares,” “I never do anything
right,” then it’s time to make some changes. Your thinking is putting you into a pattern
of being stuck, feeling like a victim and martyr, and seeing your situation as hopeless.
You need to flip your thinking into a more positive mode. Have you ever asked anyone
to help? “I have a right to ask for help.” Have you considered hiring companion care or
bartering service with someone else? (“I’ll bake you a chocolate cake if you stay with
Charlie while I go run errands alone.”) “I don’t have to do this all alone.” Use “I can”
and “I will” statements to flip into action. “I will invite the Johnsons over for soup for
some company.” “I can ask my sister to stay with Charlie while I run errands.”
Sometimes things happen that are totally out of your control. Being able to tell yourself
- “I did the best I could,” “This too will pass,” or “Oh, well,” is so much better for your
outlook than beating yourself up with the “I would’a, could’a, should’a” thoughts.
Negative thinking patterns affect your Caregiving by creating feelings of resentment,
anger, sadness, isolation, and so forth. When you’re feeling that way it is hard to be
patient, loving, and caring - those qualities necessary to provide good care. So
monitor your thoughts and the resulting feelings and change your thinking and
actions. It is much harder to do than it sounds. Support groups for caregivers can be a
wonderful place to talk to other caregivers about issues like this.
By Gloria Vaughn
Community Services Supervisor
Barron County Office on Aging
April 2013
PAGE
13
Press Release
Day Friends, A non-profit Wisconsin State Certified Adult Day Respite program, which serves individuals with memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, other Dementias, Traumatic Brain injuries and those
with similar needs would like to say a big thank you!
Day Friends would like to thank Polk County Adult Protective Services for providing us with a grant
for marketing our program. With the added assistance of John Cermin with Cine-Cermin Productions we produced an informative DVD. The DVD provides an in-depth look at what we do and how
we can help families in Polk County and the surrounding areas. Check out our DVD on youtube at
http://youtu.be/MxPW5NaCINg. The DVD can also be located by typing Day Friends Adult day Care
into the search bar. We are so proud of it! The DVD really shows a good representation of our program. We would love to come to your church, community club, or business to present this DVD and
answer any questions about Day Friends. Day Friends would like to thank Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative for providing us with a grant which allowed us to offer a scholarship to participants. We
would also like to thank the Helen Bader Foundation and United Way, who made it possible to open
on December 13th, 2011.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Mary Mikula
Program Coordinator
Day Friends, 101 150th Street, Balsam Lake WI 54810; 1-715-485-8762
April 2013
PAGE
14
Mother’s Day Gift Giving
Made Easy
If your mother is age 60 or better, consider giving her meal tickets to any
of the five Polk County Senior Dining sites or any of the four Burnett
County sites for Mother’s Day!
In Polk County, our seniors enjoy meals and socializing in Amery, Clear
Lake, Dresser, Frederic and Luck. In Burnett, our seniors gather at Senior
Centers at A&H, Grantsburg, Siren and Webster. Meals are served in
both counties on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You will find addresses and phone
numbers of all the sites on the monthly menu. Even if your mom doesn’t already attend Senior Dining, this is a great way to encourage her to join in for a good meal and new friendships.
Polk County tickets are $4 each or 10 tickets for $36. Burnett County tickets are $3.50 each or 10
tickets for $31. Purchasing tickets is easy. To order, write a check made payable to ADRC of
Northwest WI for the number of tickets you wish to purchase. Include a note with your full name,
mailing address, phone and number of tickets you wish to purchase.
Send to: ADRC of Northwest WI, Burnett County Gov’t Center 7410 Co. Rd. K #180 Siren, WI
54872, Attn: Marsha. The tickets will be mailed to you.
For Mother’s Day gift giving, please send your check by May 1st.
LOAN CLOSET
AT THE ADRC
The ADRC loan closet allows people to
borrow items such as walkers, bath chairs,
wheelchairs and toilet seat risers for up to 3
months. It is meant to help people who only
need the items on a temporary basis, such as
after a surgery. The number and types of
items available may vary based on donations
and patron demand. Items are available on a
first-come, first-served basis.
A $25.00 deposit is required and allows up to
four items to be loaned. The deposit is
returned when the items come back clean and
in good working order. The $25.00 deposit
can also be donated to the ADRC for
replacement of worn items. If a party fails to
return an item he or she will be billed for the
items and will forfeit the $25.00 deposit.
April 2013
PAGE
Christian Community Home of Osceola
& Hearthside Assisted Living
Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living • Short-term rehabilitation
Neighborhood living • Private rooms with private bathrooms
Fine dining experience with numerous menu options
Daily activities and Social programming
Call for a personal tour today! • 715-294-1100
www.CCHosceola.org
COME JOIN
OUR
EVERGREEN
FAMILY
Evergreen Village offers independent living in a friendly,
caring, and supportive community. Conveniently located
near downtown Amery and the Senior Center, we connect
with the new library and have shuttle service to the
health care campus.
24 hour security, helpful staff, emergency call system,
laundry facilities, fireplace lounge with wireless internet,
lovely new social room, library, beauty shop, noon meal,
light housekeeping, social activities, and garages are included at affordable rates.
Check out our website at www.ameryhousingauthority.org.
IMMEDIATE OPENINGS!
FOR INFORMATION CALL (715) 268-6640 OR EMAIL
[email protected]
15
April 2013
PAGE
• Home Health
• Hospice
• Rehabilitative Services
Call: 800-359-0174
Or 715-684-5020
Medicare and
Medicaid Certified
www.adoray.org
Serving Polk, St. Croix, Pierce and Western Dunn for over 18 years.
2231 Hwy 12, Ste 201, Baldwin, WI 54002
Sophie’s Manor
A New Assisted Living facility in Centuria
Newly remodeled building
*Affordable and High Quality Care
*Staff Available 24/7 *Medication Management
*Homemade Meals *Scheduled Activities
For More Info please call
715-640-3330 or sophiesmanor.com
1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
for the very low to moderate income
ELDERLY / DISABLED
Locations in: St Croix Falls (2)
Milltown, Dresser, Osceola,
Balsam Lake (2), and Clear Lake
Accepting Non-Smokers only
FOR ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION OR APPLICATION
CONTACT:
POLK COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
403 2nd Avenue E. , Osceola, WI 54020
(715)294-4243
16
April 2013
PAGE
17
Kindred Spirits LLC
New Home Health Care Agency
One-on-one home care for people who want
to stay in their own homes.
Qualified & Experienced— All cares provided
Located in Centuria—40 mile radius
Katey 715-220-0897 or Lonnie 715-441-0159
April 2013
PAGE
18
Senior Center Activities
Frederic Senior Center
Joyce Thompson 715-327-8859
Board Meeting last Friday of the month-9:00am
Monthly Meeting first Friday of the month-1:00pm
Spades—Mondays 1:00pm
Pokeno—Fri 1:00pm
Dime Bingo—Thursdays 1:00pm
500 Cards Thursdays 6:30pm
Regular hours 8:30 to 3:30
Not open Saturday and Sunday
Balsam Lake Seniors
JoAnn Gehrman 268-7649/Kay Mabry 485-3306
500 Cards 1st Tuesday of each month & every
Monday (except 1st Monday) at 6:30 pm.
Milltown Seniors
Senior Center 110 West Main Street
1st Thursday General Meeting
Open to the Public Monday & Wednesday
from 10::30 am-1:00 pm
2nd and 4th Thursdays—500 Card Party 12:30 pm to ?
St Croix Valley Senior Center
BrenNel Ward 715-755-3364
140 N Washington, Hwy 87, St Croix Falls, WI,
483-1901
500 Cards and Dominoes every Tues 12:30pm
Hand & Foot Cards, Tues 12:30pm
Cribbage, Thurs. 4:30pm
Bingo 1st & 3rd Fridays at 1pm
Bridge Fridays at 10am
General Meeting-3rd Tuesday, 11:30am
pot luck, with meeting following, cards at 12:30pm
Luck Senior Center
Susan Eliason—327-5522 or Center 472-8285
Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) - every Tue 5
to 6:30pm
Board Meeting - 2nd Thursday at 1pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
from 9:30am to 3:30pm for coffee & fellowship.
Canasta Card Group—1st and 3rd Thursdays
1—4 p.m.
Play pool, cards or work on a jigsaw puzzle.
Center is available to rent for special occasions.
Renew Your Subscription now!
MAIL TO: Aging and Disability Resource Center,
Attn: Senior Voices
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 60
Balsam Lake, WI 54810-8009
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
City: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Zip: _ _ _ _ _
Thank you for your free-will donation
to help cover the $3.00 mailing cost.
If your mailing label is in the
box to the left, it’s time to renew
your Senior Voices subscription.
Just clip the entire coupon, make
necessary changes to your address
and return it to the Aging and Disability Resource Center of NW Wisconsin. Please consider making a
free-will donation toward the $3.00
cost when you renew your
subscription.
If you would like to receive
Senior Voices in your home, clip,
complete and mail this subscription
coupon along with a free-will
donation to help cover the cost.
Thank you.
April 2013
PAGE
19
Senior Center Activities
AMERY CENTENNIAL HALL
& SENIOR CENTER
Kari Fladwood 715-268-6605
Center is available for rent for reunions,
birthdays, weddings, funerals, and other
occasions. Catering is available as well.
Please join us for the following activities:
√Coffee Club- Mon-Fri at 8am. Open to members.
√Annual Rummage Sale- Thur Apr 18th from
8am-3pm & Fri Apr 19th from 8am-1pm.
Open to the Public
√Birthday Party- Thur Apr 11th at noon. Reservations required.
√Grief Support- Mondays at 1pm
√Lee Elmer & Friends- Fri Apr 5th & 19th at
6pm.
√AARP Driving Class- Tues Apr 16th at
12:30pm-call Centennial Hall to make reservations
√Tax Aide- Tuesdays from 9am-12pm until
April 9th. Reservations required.
√German Club- Mon Apr 22nd at 1:30pm.
√Alzheimer’s Support Group- Wed Apr 3rd at
10am. Open to the Public.
√Suicide Survivors Support Group- 3rd Monday at 6:30pm of each month
√Zumba- Mondays & Thursdays at 10am.
√Overeater’s Anonymous-Mondays at 6pm.
√Mahjong- 1st & 3rd Fridays at 9am.
√Bingo- 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Fridays at 1pm.
√Game Day- Thursdays at 1pm.
√500 Card Party – 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 6:45 pm.
Cost is $2.00 which includes prizes & snack.
Open to the public.
√Quilting Support- Tuesdays 9:30am.
√Bridge- Mondays and Wednesdays at 1 pm.
√Hardanger- Swedish embroidery on Fridays at
1:30pm.
√Stamping & Scrapbooking-1st & 3rd Tuesdays
at 6pm.
√Circuit Breakers Exercise- 6am-6pm MonThurs. 6am-noon on Fridays.
√Duplicate Bridge- Thursdays at 6:30pm.
√Miracle Ear- 2nd & 4th Mondays at 9am. Contact
Miracle Ear for appointments.
√Pool Tournament- every Tuesday at 8:45am. $2
entry fee. Open to the first 12 to sign up and
pay.
√Wii Bowling Tournament- every Tues at 1pm.
Cost is $2 and prize goes to top winners. .
√Hand & Foot Card Game -- Thursdays at 12:30
pm.
√Foot Care Clinic-Wed Apr 10th at 9am. Appointment required, call 268-6605.
√Low Impact Aerobics- Mon, Wed & Fri at 9am.
√Pool Players – Thursdays at 9:30 am.
The calendar of other activities is available on
our Website: www.amerych.com
Seniors On The Go
Osceola United Methodist Church 306 River St 755-2275
Meets every Tuesday 12:30 to 4 pm
Play cards, or games, or work on quilts, pillows, &
teddy-bears for WIC and the children’s hospital.
We have wonderful treats. Contact: 755-2275
Osceola Senior Citizens Club
Evie Podeszwa 294-3670 or Janet Len-Rios 294-2289
Please Call for location of meetings!
Cushing Seniors Cushing Community Center
Betty Wilson 488-2467
Meets every Wednesday for 500 Cards, Bingo,
Coffee & treats. All Ages Welcome!
New experience, we welcome your input.
Clear Lake Senior Center
Senior Center 263-3135 Game Day/500 Cards 1st & 3rd
Mondays at 1 pm
Aging and Disability Resource
Center of NW Wisconsin
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 60
Balsam Lake, WI 54810-8009
Return Service Requested
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
BALSAM LAKE, WI
PERMIT NO. 15