CareConversations.org Content Package

Distributed on May 30, 2014

Please find below this month’s CareConversations.org content package, which includes posts recently published on the Care Conversations blog. As AHCA’s consumer-facing outreach and education program, the Care Conversations blog posts are written for a consumer audience, including those who are currently caring for a loved one or who are making their own long-term plans.

This monthly package includes the text of three (3) blog posts, additional headlines and a suggested image for each.

To share content, youcan republish the full text on yourblog, or write your own post that links to the original on the CareConversations.org blog. If republishing the full text of the post, we ask that the following copy is included at the bottom of the post:

This post was originally published(HYPERLINK TO ORIGINAL POST) by Care Conversations, a program that helps families talk about health, aging and long-term care plans. For more information like this, visit careconversations.org.

Article:

“6 Celebrities With Inspiring Caregiving Stories”

These six celebrities are often in the spotlight for their acting roles, but each has also played the role of caregiver. Their stories prove that no matter what you do for a living, caring for the ones you love is the most important job.

  1. Actress Holly Robinson Pete cared for her father after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and founded the HollyRod Foundation to help others living with the disease.
  2. Marg Helgenberger, from the popular TV show “NCIS,” was just a young adult when she began caring for both her parents. She’s shared her story to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
  3. Leeza Gibbons, best known for her work on “Entertainment Tonight,” is a caregiver to her mother. Her organization, Leeza’s Place, is dedicated to providing free support, resources and programs for other family caregivers.
  4. Patrick Dempsey plays a doctor on Grey’s Anatomy, and also supports cancer patients and their families off-screen. Inspired by his mother’s fight against Ovarian Cancer, he established The Dempsey Center, which offers “support and education for anyone impacted by cancer.”
  5. An outspoken advocate for Alzheimer’s research and funding, Maria Shriver cared for her father who battled the disease for seven years. She now reports for “Today.”
  6. Comedian Seth Rogen not only helps care for his mother-in-law who has early onset Alzheimer's, he’s also used his star power to lobby Congress for more funding.

If you’re a caregiver, remember that you need TLC too. Consult the Caregiver Stress Checklist and check in often with your own support system, including health providers, to avoid burnout.

CareConversations.org provides resources and advice to help you and your loved ones make informed and confident decisions about the care they may need now and in the future. Visit our About page to learn more.

Additional headlines:

“6 Celebrities With Surprising Off-Camera Roles”

“6 Celebrities Who Do Amazing Things Off Camera”

“Celebrity Caregivers Who Will Inspire You”

“Celebrity Caregivers Who Will Amaze You”

“6 Inspiring Celebrity Caregivers”

“6 Amazing Celebrity Caregivers”

“Seth Rogen, and 5 Other Amazing Celebrity Caregivers”

“Patrick Dempsey, and 5 Other Amazing Celebrity Caregivers”

“Marg Helgenberger, and 5 Other Inspiring Celebrity Caregivers”

Image:

*High-resolution image available upon request

Article:

“Medicare and Medicaid Decoded”

Nearly half (44 percent) of adults surveyed recently said they were concerned about paying for the care they might need as they get older. That’s not surprising, since healthcare costs continue to rise and insurance options are increasingly complicated. Fortunately, there are resources to help, both with your planning and your payments.

For many, Medicare and Medicaid will be an important part of the financial equation. These government administered health insurance programs help individuals and families with some of the costs of care, but it’s important to know exactly what they do and don’t cover so you aren’t stuck with an unexpected bill.

There’s a lot of helpful information about Medicare and Medicaid right here on CareConversations.org, including links to other useful online resources. But if you’re just getting started, it’s best to begin with the basics. Here are three of the most frequently asked questions about the programs, and their answers:

Q: What’s the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?

A:Anyone over the age of 65 qualifies forMedicare. To quality for Medicaid, you must prove that your income is below a certain amount. It is possible to qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Q: Does Medicare pay for long-term care, like assisted living?

A: No, the program does not pay for long-term care options like assisted living. For that reason, many people supplement Medicare with private long-term care insurance.

Q: What about short-term care, like skilled nursing care after a surgery? Does Medicare cover that?

A: Yes, in some cases Medicare will cover skilled nursing care or rehabilitative care. But, to receive those benefits the patient must be admitted to a hospital for at least a three-night stay just before entering a skilled nursing center. A discharge planner is a good person to talk to about the transition from the hospital to a skilled nursing center.

CareConversations.org provides resources and advice to help you and your loved ones make informed and confident decisions about the care they may need now and in the future. Visit our About page to learn more.

Additional headlines:

“What Does Medicare Cover, Anyway?”

“What Does Medicaid Cover, Anyway?”

“Medicare: You Ask, We Answer”

“Medicaid: You Ask, We Answer”

“Medicare/Medicare 101: What You Need to Know”

“Medicaid/Medicaid 101: What You Need to Know”

“Finally, Your Medicare Questions Answered”

“Finally, Your Medicaid Questions Answered”

“Will Medicare Work for You?”

“Will Medicaid Work for You?”

“How Will You Pay for Long-Term Care?”

Image:

*High-resolution image available upon request

Article:

“Unique Program Brings Adventure to Senior Centers”

Travel has the power to inspire and educate. Now, one creative program is helping seniors experience those benefits and more, all without leaving home.

Destinations Travelogue brings the sights and sounds of global travel to Extendicare centers across the U.S. With “passports” in hand, participants have the opportunity to learn about the history, culture, food and traditions of unique places around the world, including China, Ireland, India, the southwestern United States, the Caribbean, Kenya, Australia, Germany, Hawaii, and New Orleans.

To make the Travelogue adventures more memorable, some centers have included special guests. At Lake Country Landing, motorcycle enthusiasts were delighted with a road trip-themed event that included a visit from bikers who swapped stories with residents.

If you’re interested in learning more about this program and how it’s helping seniors, check out the original article published on Provider.com.

CareConversations.org provides resources and advice to help you and your loved ones make informed and confident decisions about the care they may need now and in the future. Visit our About page to learn more.

Provider is a monthly magazine for long term and post-acute care professionals owned by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living.

Additional headlines:

“Unique Program Takes Seniors Around the World”

“Surprising Program Takes Seniors Around the World”

“Innovative Program takes Seniors Around the World”

“Seniors Travel The World, No Plane Ticket Needed”

“Seniors Travel the World, No Luggage Needed”

“Seniors Travel the World, No Credit Card Needed”

“Innovative Program Delivers Travel Sights and Sounds to Seniors”

“Program Brings Travel Adventure to Seniors”

“Seniors Travel the World Without Leaving Home”

Image:

*High-resolution image available upon request