Answers For Elders Radio Network

Elder Law attorney and passionate special needs advocate Jim Koewler joins Suzanne to talk about a new podcast show coming soon. Hosted on the SeniorResource platform along with Answers for Elders, it's going to be called "Seniors, Special Needs, and the Law." Episodes will discuss long term care issues; some estate planning issues, mostly how it affects long term care; special needs issues; care...

Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler helps those who need long term care now, as well as people who are worried about needing it in the future. In cases where someone already needs care, he helps find ways to pay or the care, either through Medicaid or VA benefits or other means. If they have too much money, he can help them shelter some of their funds to help them qualify for benefits...

Elder Law and special needs attorney Jim Koewler joins Suzanne to explain the differences between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement. Basic Medicare pays 80% of healthcare costs. In addition, Medicare caps what it pays to providers. A Medicare Supplement will cover the 20% that Medicare doesn't cover, no questions asked, with no copays and an annual deductible of about $180. Most people...

Elder Law attorney and passionate special needs advocate Jim Koewler joins Suzanne to talk about open enrollment, and the insurance changes that go on at the end of each year that lead in to the open enrollment period. From October 15 to December 7 is annual enrollment, when people who are on Medicare Advantage plans (or have other coverage providing a prescription plan) need to see if their curre...

Kristine Grow, the spokesperson from the Coalition for Medicare Choices , joins Suzanne to talk more about Medicare Advantage. Suzanne asks about dual eligibility.  Grow says, "People who are dual eligible qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and this can get confusing because a lot of Americans aren't quite sure what the differences are. Medicare is for people 65 and older, or who have certain...

Kristine Grow, the spokesperson from the Coalition for Medicare Choices ,  joins Suzanne to talk more about Medicare Advantage. They represent millions of seniors across the country who choose Medicare Advantage for their coverage. Based in Washington, D.C., active in all states, they reach out to lawmakers to ensure that it's protected. Grow says, "The good news is that Medicare Advantage is one...

Kristine Grow, the spokesperson from the Coalition for Medicare Choices , joins Suzanne to talk more about Medicare, and how seniors think about Medicare coverage. She explains, "Today's seniors have a different expectation for their health care and their health care coverage. They don't want just coverage when they are sick. They also want coverage when they are well, to help them stay well. They...

Kristine Grow, the spokesperson from the Coalition for Medicare Choices , explains why Medicare Advantage plans are growing in popularity. She joins Suzanne to explain who it covers, how it's accessible, and how the country's demographics apply. Kristine explains, "when you become eligible for Medicare, you have choices and to what kinds of health care coverage you can enroll in. Original Medicare...

Zinnia TV is an app, a therapeutic caregiving tool especially made for those dealing with memory challenges, such as those with Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson's. Allyson Schrier joins Suzanne to talk about Zinnia TV and how it helps those with the illness as well as their caregivers. The app can be downloaded to a phone, tablet, or smart TV. It opens to a library of channels, and each channe...

Allyson Schrier joins Suzanne to talk about the Zinnia TV app, helping people thrive beyond their diagnosis, with the aim of both the caregiver and the person receiving care to thrive. The meaning of the flower zinnia is "Memories of a Forgotten Friend." The Zinnia TV app has more than 180 research-driven videos that are digestible and appealing for people in mid- to late stages of dementia. Watch...

11 million caregivers are caring for a senior loved one who has dementia in America. Allyson Schrier joins Suzanne to talk about a typical day for a caregiver. While everyone is different, those living at home with a loved one in mid- or late stages of dementia face some consistent themes. As a caregiver, you have a lot on your mind, and are often exhausted, on edge, not getting much sleep. There'...

Allyson Schrier joins Suzanne to talk about Zinnia TV , a therapeutic caregiving tool. It's an app created especially for people in the progressive stage of Alzheimer's or dementia. So many caregivers are trying to do their best for their senior loved ones when their mind is working in a very different way. It's an overwhelming situation. Allyson talks about the experience of caring for her husban...

Learn about how to keep your home safe. According to the CDC, 50% of adults over 65 who fall and experience a serious injury may never be able to live independently, or have to go to a nursing home due to their injuries. And every 20 minutes in this country, an adult over 65 dies from a fall. These are preventable injuries – often a trip and fall, such as from a slippery throw rug. Think about how...

Whether we want to get older or not, it's not an option — we're all aging. National aging-in-place expert Dr. Jill Bjerke of Silver Spaces LLC joins Suzanne to talk about aging in place questions. If you're getting close to 65 or retirement, it's important to consider downsizing and decluttering. What if you're not able medically or physically to stay in your current home. What are your options? D...

Our lives change, but our home doesn't. If you're getting close to 65, or thinking about retirement, it's time to talk about aging in place: steps we can take to maintain our quality of life during our senior years. National aging-in-place expert Dr. Jill Bjerke of Silver Spaces LLC joins Suzanne to talk about the Silver Spaces App, which helps you survey your home to make it more aging-in-place f...

National aging-in-place expert Dr. Jill Bjerke of Silver Spaces LLC joins Suzanne to talk about steps we can take to maintain our quality of life in our senior years: downsizing, eliminating clutter, and improving safety. Dr. Bjerke says, "Aging in place is not what people think it is. It's not 'I'm just gonna stay in my home forever.' The problem is that we change, but our homes don't. That means...

Tonya Hilson at CarePartners Living joins Suzanne talk about senior wellness and how the senior living community fits into the quality of life for seniors. This segment focuses on physical wellness. The number one reason why we want to have our senior loved ones be in senior living and be under care is the principle of physical wellness. It's that ability to eat right, to live right, to exercise,...

Venetia Dela Cruz from CarePartners Living joins Suzanne talk about senior wellness and how the senior living community fits into the quality of life for seniors. Previous segments have covered emotional and social wellness, and this segment introduces environmental wellness, an aspect that people might not think of. Venetia says, "By keeping our residents safe, that means keeping them away from i...

Tonya Hilson at CarePartners Living joins Suzanne talk about senior wellness and how the senior living world keeps ourselves grounded in the best quality of life. This segment focuses on social community, our ability to connect with others. Tonya is a Community Relations Director for CarePartners Living. Tonya says, "One of the things people ask about is that their mom is used to staying at home;...

Venetia Dela Cruz from CarePartners Living joins Suzanne talk about senior wellness and how the senior living world fits into the quality of life for seniors. Venetia is Business Development Manager and works closely with the Community Relations Director. Soon AFE will be launching a program series on the Eight Foundational Principles of Wellness, and this hour touches on four of the principles. E...

Asset protection attorney Darol Tuttle joins Suzanne. Darol shared a couple of stories. "I grew up poor, a farm boy. When I was three years old, I watched my grandfather die right in front of me. I can remember that vividly. Our family went on a different course from that day on. Our grandmother lived with us — she died two years ago, she lived another 54 years alone, relying on family members. An...

Asset protection attorney Darol Tuttle joins Suzanne. Suzanne asks what is the easiest way to get started. Darol says, "The old model is you go to an expensive lawyer's office, with doorknobs made of gold. Some of these estate plans cost $15,000. My website, which I've been pouring my heart and soul into, is a great way to start. I'm a lawyer, I have a law firm, I practice law. However, to get sta...

Asset protection attorney Darol Tuttle joins Suzanne. In our last segment, Darol talked about a spousal protection trust. Rules have changed for living trusts. Darol explains, "If you transfer a personal residence into a living trust for Medicaid purposes, the home is no longer exempt. That's poison. There's a court of appeals case for that, if you have a spousal protection trust in your will. For...

Attorney Darol Tuttle joins Suzanne to talk about going beyond estate planning in asset management. Darol explains the differences between estate planning and asset protection planning. Estate planning is about handing the transfer of your wealth to heirs after you've passed on. Asset protection focuses on protecting your assets while you're still alive, to finance your retirement throughout your...

Architecture and Aging-in-Place expert Aaron Murphy , owner of ADM Architecture , joins Suzanne to talk about his vision for the website foreverhome-us.com in the next three to five years. If you're over 55, look at your home. Ask yourself these questions if you want to stay in your home as you get older: Can you navigate around your house when you're older? Are there stairs, can you navigate your...