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Senior Life Matters: How Is Long Term Care Insurance Used?

Question: My spouse and I have Long Term Care Insurance, but we are not sure how to use it? Answer: Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) is an insurance product that is designed to help a person pay for the care he receives when they are sick. LTCI is not health insurance. It really is care Insurance. To qualify for coverage you must need help with your care. Generally the LTCI will begin to reimburse for care once help is needed with at least two activities of daily living (ADLs) more than half the time. The ADLs include six activities: walking, dressing, bathing, bathroom, eating, ...

Hope Springs Eternal

After the hard year of 2020, Spring 2021 seems like a bright, shining beacon of light! One can breathe a sigh of relief at being able to be done with the snow, the hard weather that has kept us indoors, and the struggles which we have faced this past year. So, here’s to Spring! To flowers, blue skies, gentle winds, and fresh starts. As easy as this sounds however, many still struggle to do just that-begin a fresh start and have hope for brighter days, for change that really helps. Self-Harm Awareness Month, also known as Self-Injury Awareness Month, is an annual global awareness ...

Finally Seeing The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

March 2021. It has been a difficult year for everyone but we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It has been especially difficult for older adults who have been on lockdown for a year, unable to interact with family or friends for fear of catching the virus. You have good reason to be afraid. COVID -19 has disproportionally killed more older adults than any other age group. 39,000 people have died in New York State from complications of COVID -19 and 138 of those are from right here in Chautauqua County. Close to 90% of those who died were over the age of 60. That is a ...

Food Safety Is Important, Especially During A Pandemic

As a result of the pandemic, you may have stocked your pantry and fridge with plenty of shelf-stable and perishable foods to reduce the number of trips to the grocery store. Did you know that most people toss 30-40% of the food they buy? Often this is due to the date consumers find on packaging. With rising food costs, supply chain shortages, and economic challenges you need to decide how soon to consume your stockpiled foods to stretch your grocery budget. So, now more than ever it is important to know what the dates on your food labels mean. What is dating? According to the USDA, ...

Medicare Summary Is A Valuable Tool To Detect Fraud

Your Medicare Summary is a valuable tool to DETECT Medicare Fraud! A Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) is a report of doctor’s visits, services or supplies billed to Medicare in your name. ≤ It is mailed every 3 months, but you can go online to MyMedicare.gov to view your MSN 24 hours a day. ≤ It explains the charges that will be paid by Medicare and that will be paid by you or your other health insurance company. ≤ IT IS NOT A BILL — but do not throw it away! Your MSN has four (4) sections for your Medicare Part A (hospital) and Medicare Part B (preventative) ...

Learn About Signing Up For Medicare At June Event

Learn about signing up for Medicare! Originally planned for April 7, 2021, this event has been moved to June 23, 2021. Go to www.shiphelp.org to learn more. Registration will open in April. This virtual Medicare fair is for people turning 65 or joining Medicare because of a disability. Learn about Medicare ­ and all its parts — to assist you in your initial enrollment decisions. There is no cost to attend. Get trusted, unbiased Medicare education to help you make Medicare choices that best meet your needs. There will be national expert presenters on Medicare eligibility, ...