Module 8 : Community and Internet Resources

• Create a list of the types of information that you need.
• Examples might be Society Security, assisted living, wills, trusts, home health, and wheelchairs.
• Once the list is complete, group like services into categories.

• Health: Medicare, Alzheimer`s information.
• Meals.
• Respite.
• Transportation.
• Financial: Social Security and Medicare.
  Legal: wills, trusts
• Housing: home repair, assisted living

• Engage people in identifying needs.
• Respect individual preferences and make plans with people rather than for them.
• Listen: Allow aged relatives to express themselves.

• Health.
• Health care.
• Living situation.
• Activities.
• Community involvement.
• Family supports.
• Friends and neighbors.

• Be prepared to act as an advocate.
• Get the facts.
• Identify and prioritize strengths, needs and barriers.
• Consider the options.
• Develop an action plan.

• Determine the type of help and services the individual needs.
• Independent living; personal care, meal preparation, household maintenance, and money management.
• Services to maintain social interaction and independence; transportation, social and recreational services, psychological support, and spiritual support.
• Services offering personal growth; employment, career education, enrichment education, i.e. taking a computer class.
• How does the person feel about the issues?
• Will they accept help?
• What has already been done?
• What other agency is providing assistance?
• What resources does the person have?
• What is the religious/cultural preference?

• Area Agency on Aging.
• Area Information and Referral information centers.
• United Way agencies.
• Texas Department of Human Services.
• Medical and disability organizations.
• Arthritis Foundation, Alzheimer`s Association, American Heart Association, MHMR, Texas Rehabilitation Commission.
• Telephone directories.
• Libraries.
• Internet.

“One-stop” information line for health and human services information.

• New level of accessibility.
• Local Information and Referral centers already in place and supported by local private funds.
• Streamlined access to existing services.
• Expanded database.
• Engaging Your Family Member when they don`t want “outside help” or “charity” 2, AARP .
• Explain that some needs are better met with professional help.
• Explain that the services are designed to help them remain independent.
• Explain the service.
• Offer to supplement the cost of care, if possible or necessary.
• Assist with arrangements to pay for the service.
• Offer the services as a gift.
• Engage someone they respect to suggest the services.
• Accompany the individual to gather information about the service.

• Focus on priorities identified in needs assessment.
• Telephone agency or organization.
• Take notes on who you talked to and what you discussed.
• Ask about eligibility requirements, fees, and waiting lists.
• Have important information and records handy.
• Ask for referral to more appropriate services.
• Communicate with the provider and build a partnership.
• If you are not satisfied with a service, tell the provider in a positive, constructive way.
• Ask about and use complaint procedures.

• Set up a file.
• Have a pen and note pad ready.
• Keep a separate page for each service.
• List name, telephone number and address of each agency.
• Document the name, title, department, telephone number, and key information about the discussion for each person you talk to.

• If an agency requires an interview, be prepared.
• Clarify what you need to bring such as documents and records.
• Call to confirm the appointment a day in advance.
• Take notes during the interview.
• Clarify the agency’s role, your role and what the older person’s responsibilities are.
• Confirm discussions and any actions taken or planned.

• Be specific.
• Be polite but firm.
• Don’t apologize when asking for help.
• Get the name of everyone that you talk to.
• Be prepared for the initial interview often called “Intake.”
• Take relevant legal and financial documents.
• Take someone with you as support, if necessary.
• Take notes during the interview.
• Verify your understanding of information that you receive.
• Be assertive.

• The internet provides a vast self-directed resource at your fingertips from the convenience of your home or office.
• Using the internet is like finding resources in a library.

• Connect to the internet.
• If your home page is a browser (i.e. Explorer or Netscape), go to the address window at the top where it will usually say ‘search,’ or ‘go.’
• Type www.google.com, or www.google.com/advanced_search, and press enter or go.
• You could also use www.Yahoo.com; www.Altavista.com or others.
• Locate window with the word search beside it. This is the ‘search form.’
• Type in a keyword such as ‘caregiver.’
• Hit enter or click go.
• Scroll down the choice of sites.
• Click on any sites that match what you are looking for.
• Search more than one engine or directory.
• Pose questions asking for the exact information you need i.e., “Where are assisted living facilities in Texas?”
• Use specific keywords to narrow your search
• Instead of“caregiver” or “caregiver resources” type “caregiver resources in texas” or“caregiver respite services”.
• Specific search
• Type and not to exclude certain text from your search, i.e., surfing and not the net would exclude all sites with the word net.
• Type or to find all instances of either one word or another, i.e., Medicare or Medicaid will find all pages that mention either or both.
• Type quotations around words to be taken literally., i.e., “system near manager” will give one search and without the parentheses is a differentsearch.

• Is the site a commercial (.com) or a government (.gov) site? Does it matter for this particular resource?
• When was it posted and revised? Look at the bottom of the page.
• Does the site list contact information?
• If you cannot find contact information, can email be sent?
• Does the site look legitimate and offer useful information?
• If the site does not meet the need, go to another site listed from your search or use another search engine.

• Chronic disease.
• General.
• Federal/National.
• State of Texas.
• Online and print publications.

Internet Resources For Caregivers
[on-site link]

• Persons are entitled to Medicare at age 65 if they are entitled to a Social Security check based on their own work or based on their spouse`s work.Also, individuals who receive Social Security disability benefits receive Medicare after two years.

Medicare has two parts.

• Part A of Medicare is hospital inpatient insurance. Since Part A is funded by FICA taxes, there is no additional cost to Part A for persons entitled to Social Security benefits.

• Part B of Medicare covers physician bills and hospital outpatient treatment.Each person on Medicare pays ¼ of the cost of Part B.The federal government pays the other ¾ of the cost.The Part B monthly premium is held out of the Social Security check a person receives.

• Since Part B has a cost, an individual can decline it.However, in almost all situations, turning down Part B is a major financial mistake.A person should never turn down Medicare Part B without discussing their situation with the local Social Security office.

• For almost everyone, Medicare is the primary payer once a person turns 65.Generally, if a person turns down Part B, other insurance the person has will not pay anything that Part B would have paid.

• If a person has declined Part B, they can file an application to restore their Part B coverage in the first three months of each year.If an application to restore Part B is filed in the first three months of a year, Part B would then be effective the following July 1.The monthly premium will be 10% higher for each year that person did not have Part B.

–Tom Clark

• The U.S. government`s official Medicare web site provides detailed information on Medicare benefits.
• Many people depend on Medicare to cover a significant portion – if not all – of their health care costs.

• Medicare health plans.
• Supplement policies.
• Nursing homes.
• Where to find Medicare doctors.

• What coverage is provided.

Medicare eligibility, enrollment, and premiums.

• Information about help to pay your health care costs:

• Medicare Savings Programs. The above link opens a PDF file, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print.

• Prescription Drug Assistance Programs.

Enter zip code to learn about prescription assistance programs in your area.

• Ordering Medicare publications.

Note: You may also order publications through the toll-free help line at 1-800-MEDICARE.

• Contact phone numbers and web sites.

• How to report fraud and abuse.The above link opens a PDF file, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print.

Links from Medicare Basics :

• Medicare preventive services to help keep you healthy.
• Publications you can print with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free downloadable software).
• News and Updates.
• Order a Medicare replacement card online.
• Information about the 2004 flu season
• Publication: Medicare & You 2004 Summary of Medicare benefits, rights and obligations, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare. (88 pages) View Normal Print View Large Print

The above links open PDF files, which require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print.

• Social Security insures workers and their families against loss of income due to retirement, premature death, and disability.Persons obtain Social Security coverage by working in a job covered by Social Security.Even though most people think of Social Security as a retirement program, the disability and survivors benefits are a very significant part of the program.About 1 out of every 3 workers will either die or become disabled before retirement age.The amount of a Social Security check is based on the worker’s earnings over the whole working lifetime.

• Persons who have at least 40 credits (10 years of work under Social Security) can receive Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. In some cases, a spouse age 62 or over who is not due more based on his or her own work can receive an additional check once the wage earner begins receiving his or her retirement benefits.

• A worker who becomes disabled can receive Social Security disability benefits.To receive Social Security disability benefits, the worker has to have paid into Social Security recently, and be so disabled that he or she cannot do any type of substantial work.

• In addition, children of a deceased wage earner may be able to receive Social Security benefits until they reach age 18, or until 19 if still a full time high school student.If a person who receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits has children under age 18, those children may be able to receive benefits also.

• There is also one other survivors benefit under Social Security.A widow or widower can receive benefits based on a deceased spouse’s work record once the widow(er) is at least 60 years old.A widow(er) who is disabled may be able to receive disabled widow’s benefits as early as age 50.

• SSI is not Social Security and it is not funded with Social Security taxes.

• However, the local Social Security offices administer the SSI program. Unlike Social Security, SSI is based on need.

• SSI is a program for persons 65 years of age or older or persons who are disabled who also have limited income and assets.

• In Texas and in most states, if a person receives a SSI check, they are also entitled to Medicaid from the state government.

• If a person can no longer manage their own Social Security or SSI benefits in their own best interest, Social Security can appoint a payee to receive the benefits on their behalf.

• Although most Social Security business can be taken care of by phone, a person applying to be a payee must appear in person. When a payee is appointed, the Social Security or SSI benefits are paid to the payee for the beneficiary.A payee is required to use the benefits in the beneficiary`s best interest.

• Family members sometimes use a “power of attorney” to handle a person`s finances.For Social Security purposes, a “power of attorney” is not an acceptable way to manage a person`s monthly benefits.Although a “power of attorney” may be used for other matters, Social Security does not recognize it for managing Social Security or SSI benefits.The proper method is representative payment.

• For more information about the duties of a representative payee, contact Social Security and ask for the pamphlet Social Security: A Guide for Representative Payees.

• Almost all Social Security business can be handled by telephone by calling 1-800-772-1213This phone number is answered from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, but the best time to call is between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. Tuesday through FridayFewer people are calling at that time then any other time of the day.

• Information about Social Security and SSI is also available on-line at www.ssa.govThe location of the nearest Social Security office can be found through either the web site or the toll-free number.

Note: The above link will open in a new window
–Tom Clark