The Connecticut Elder Law Blog

Java and the Elderly

I was a late-comer to coffee drinking, just taking it up a few years ago.  I get up at 4am for my morning workout, which means that I hit a significant mental lull around 3pm or 4pm each day.  Now I rely on that afternoon cup o' joe to push me through the end of the workday!

Therefore, I am delighted to pass on to you this report on the latest research regarding coffee and the elderly.  Click here.

And, if you have the time, here's a lengthier article on the same study posted on the wellness blog for the New York Times.  Click here.

AOA's Webinar Series on Alzheimers and Caregiving

It's not too late to sign up for a 3-part webinar series on Alzheimer's Disease and Tools for Caregivers.  This is being presented by the Administration on Aging (AOA), which is part of the Department of Health & Human Services.

The first webinar (5/9) goes over what, exactly, Alzheimer's disease is, as well as the latest updates on treatment and research.

The second webinar (6/13) reviews some helpful online tooks for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.

The third webinar (7/12) discusses how Alzheimer's patients and caregivers can participate in research opportunities.

I'm already registered for the first webinar.  Click here to get all the details, including registration information.

 

Have Patience...

My staff and I have noticed that Connecticut's Department of Social Services (DSS) is taking much longer to process Medicaid applications than they used to. 

But thanks to an article in today's CT Mirror, we've been treated to a behind-the-scenes, detailed look at the reason behind the delays.  Click here for the article. 

Hopefully the proposal for the additional caseworkers will go through.  And as a lawyer who runs a tech-friendly law practice, I'm relieved to see that upgrading the technology at DSS is a significant part of the discussion.

Elderly Driving Issue Brewing in Massachusetts

Just north of us a bill titled "An Act to Promote Safe Driving" is being re-filed with the Massachusetts state legislature, and the bill includes a requirement that anyone renewing their licenses after the age of 85 must pass a vision and road test every 5 years while those under 85 are only required to take a simple vision test every 10 years. 

Everyone has their own opinion, but this seems like relatively blatant age discrimination to me.  Please note that Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination by reason of age with regard to licensing. 

Without a doubt, there are some elderly drivers who shouldn't be licensed because of problems with vision and reflexes.  However, there are certain individuals under the age of 85 who have no business being on the road because, unlike most elderly drivers, they like to speed and are more willing to take driving-related risks like driving in bad weather.  So I don't know if a strict age standard is the right approach.

It looks like this same issue is being debated in Australia as well.  Click here for an article I ran across. 

For what it's worth, click here for a brief but interesting article on how the number of car crashes among seniors in Britain has dropped.

And here for an interesting website called "Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully" which addresses the above issue.

And here for some suggested approaches for adult children of elderly drivers who can no longer drive safely.  This site was created by The Hartford insurance company.

"Operation Fuel" for Connecticut Seniors

Sorry for not posting this before the long cold snap we just experienced here in New England, but I'd like to urge seniors in the Nutmeg State to learn about "Operation Fuel", which is a state-funded program run by a private, non-profit organization.  The program is designed to help seniors pay for their heating costs this winter, including a one-time "energy grant" of up to $500.

Eligibility is based on gross annual household income, liquid assets and a documented crisis.  The number of people living in the household determines the income and asset limits.  One household member must be at least 65 years old.  The program is also known as the Elderly Home Heating Assistance Program (EHHAP).

If you'd like to see if this program can help you out this season you should call 2-1-1 to discuss your eligibility and possible benefits.

The Elderly Could Get a Boost from Obama's Stimulus Plan

If Democratic lawmakers and President-ElectBarack Obama get their way then recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) could get a one-time extra SSI payment.  The move would come with a $4 billion price tag, but it would help approximately 7 million poor people who are enrolled in the program, many of whom are elderly.

One criticism of last year's round of $600 to $1,200 rebate checks was that many of the recipients simply held onto the money or used it to paid down debt instead of injecting it into the economy through spending.  In contrast, SSI recipients remain in poverty and are therefore more likely to spend the extra money on basic needs.

SSI is a government program which provides monthly cash payments to help cover the basics; food, clothing and shelter.  Recipients must be 65 or older, blind or disabled.  They must also satisfy SSI's income and asset limitations.

Congress hopes to have an economic stimulus bill in front of President Obama for signature by mid-February.  Stay tuned...

Kudos to Target for Grant to Help Elderly Abuse Victims!

For whatever reason, my kids absolutely LOVE the toy section in Target and have proclaimed it their favorite store on the planet (I'm not sure why it's any more impressive than the toy sections in any other big-box store).  Now I'm joining them in the Target fan club in light of the $1,000 grant that the company has given to the year-old "The Caring Home for Elderly Receiving Insight, Safety and Healing" (CHERISH) program based in Ansonia, CT.

The program ensures that elderly abuse victims receive nourishing meals, medication management, assistance with activities of daily living (ADL's), counseling, support groups and generally eases a victim's transition into a safe living situation.  Click here for more information on this important program.

It's wonderful to see programs like this to help particularly vulnerable members of our community.  Please remember that "abuse" is not just physical.  It can be emotional and financial as well.

I'm actually flying down to Orlando this morning (with a training buddy, not the kids) to run in the Disney Marathon on Sunday.  If I'm still alive on Monday I'll file a race report on the blog!

CT's Senior Job Bank Closes

Offering an example of how Connecticut seniors are suffering from the economic crisis just as much as the rest of the population, the Nutmeg State's only job bank created exclusively for seniors is being forced to shut its doors after 34 years due to a loss of investment income and a serious drop in donations.  The job bank was located in West Hartford and focused on helping find work for Connecticut residents ages 55 and older. 

I'm using the past tense, but it looks like the job bank is more comatose than completely dead as the board looks to partner with other organizations, apply for federal grants and collect more donations.

If you're one of the few people out there looking to donate money and you're looking for a way to help out Connecticut seniors you could do worse than contributing to this worthy organization. The job bank's website is temporarily shut down, but the address is 50 South Main Street, Suite 216, West Hartford, CT 06107  Phone is (860) 521-3210.

Seniors Beware of Investor Fraud

Unfortunately, as the U.S. population continues to age we will most likely see an increase in the number of scams and fraudulent activity directed at our vulnerable elderly population.  One poignant example of such predatory practices is known as "investment fraud" as con artists flock to where the money is, and the money is increasingly located in the pockets of seniors and baby boomers.  Investment fraud against seniors rose a whopping 40% last year, according to the North American Securities Administrators Association. 

Seniors and their families should note that some investment advisers tout their "certification" as specialists in the area of retirement planning or advising seniors.  But such designations sometimes require very little training to obtain and are occasionally altogether bogus. 

I find that the best way to find the legitimate advisers who specialize in helping seniors is not to attend free-lunch seminars, but to get referrals from people you trust: family, friends, colleagues, attorneys, accountants, etc.

If anyone in the Hartford County would like a referral for very competent investment advisers who are genuine specialists in assisting seniors, please contact me offline.

May is "Older Americans" Month!

This is a friendly reminder that May is "Older Americans" Month and Senior Citizens Day falls on May 20th this year.

Of course, we should celebrate the enormous contributions provided by our seniors on a daily basis, but let's try to make a concerted effort this month to express our appreciation and support of this fast-growing age group!  Click here to find some ideas about how you can celebrate Older Americans Month in your community.