Independence

May 2023

The Art of Aging is a celebration of creativity expressed by people over the age of 60 who have discovered the satisfaction of blending art and life. Some of our artists “discovered” their passion for creating art late in life, when, other responsibilities diminished and there was new-found time to pursue personal interests. Other artists have been creating art since childhood. Each has come to recognize the unique place art has in their lives.

Opening Reception!

May 18, 2023 from 2:00-6 p.m.

Join us to view the artwork and enjoy refreshments & door prizes.

We cannot wait to share with you the

incredible pictures & photography

that is displayed on our walls!

Vote for your favorite artwork - For each $1 donation, those attending will receive a ticket to vote and the opportunity to enter a drawing. Donations received above the cost of the art show are added to the client fund. 

Click here for more details.

A special thank you to our sponsor Cigna who is making this day possible.

THANK YOU - To each of you who donated through the Great Give. Your support makes a world of difference to us and to those we will be able to help because of YOU.

Did You Know? May is Older American's Month!

Spotlight on Volunteers -

Eden Fisher, Volunteer Exemplar!

Eden has tutored for Experience Corps of Greater New Haven for the past five years, after she and her husband moved to Connecticut to get closer to their grandchildren. Earlier in her life, Eden worked for the Alcoa Corporation for many years, and later moved to academia for a decade as a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and as a visiting Professor at Princeton University.

Eden joined when tutoring was in-person and then adapted to virtual tutoring when the pandemic swept through our world. During her first virtual year, Eden worked with 3 students, and finished up with one student who had moved back to her home in Japan! Different time zones? No troubles!

A year ago, Eden was selected to be one of two lead tutors at our newest site, the Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration. This unique school features a bilingual curriculum, and Eden’s natural curiosity led her to find apps to help her in this new role. Eden also enjoys learning from her students and their teachers. Her sessions with her two students are vibrant and properly noisy, with laughter and wonder being the norm for these third graders who are now “reading to learn”. Their walks to and from the tutoring tables in the school library are animated, as the students help Eden to read the colorful posters that decorate the school hallways.

Eden also has been a wonderful advocate and advisor for our first-year tutors, helping them to quickly get up to speed. Recently, she joined her fellow tutors to venture out into the school and contribute to the annual Reading Across America Day.

Collectively, we are a part of this school community and Eden helps to lead us into this important relationship.

Caregiver Corner - Incontinence Tips

Incontinence is a common senior health condition. Incontinence can happen for a variety of reasons and should be discussed with one’s health care provider to determine whether incontinence is a symptom of a medical condition and whether there are treatments to prevent incontinence. However, for many older adults, incontinence is a condition that one has to, simply, “live with”. 

From a very early age in life, we are trained to control our bladders. A marker for development is learning bowel and bladder control. Loss of control is usually embarrassing at the least, or devastating for some. As caregivers we are mindful of the need to minimize embarrassment as the person we care for progressively loses control of many things in life. Many caregivers point to incontinence as being the thing that pushed them over their limit regarding their ability to care for their loved one at home. 

Being prepared can reduce awkwardness, whether at home or on the go. At home one should have supplies: • Mattress covers • Furniture slipcovers • Extra bed linens • Incontinence pants (most prefer pullups at home) • Scented trash bags • Air freshener.

Pack a travel bag, take it with you whenever you leave the house and keep it supplied with: • Complete change of weather appropriate clothing • Plastic bags to contain soiled clothes • Adult diapers (experiment with various styles for easy public bathroom removal) • Booster pads (removable diaper liners) • Wipes • Small towel to stand on • Cologne and/or air freshener.

The most important part of coping with incontinence is humor. If you can smile while you’re helping to clean up and not show annoyance, the person you care for will feel less embarrassed and will be easier to assist. Your task will be simpler to accomplish and your stress level will be reduced.

CHOICES Corner - Ambulance Care

60 billion in tax dollars is lost due to ambulance billing fraud. Medicaid and Medicare reimburse ambulance companies conditionally. If the use of the ambulance is necessary, the company has the right to a claim. Reimbursements vary in amounts, and will depend on the type of medical assistance the patient receives and who is caring for the patient. However, both programs only cover the trip ambulances make if there are no other means for patients to be brought to the hospital, hospice, or any other medical facilities. 

What Are The Different Types Of Ambulance Fraud? Here are some typical ambulance company scams according to the Medicaid Fraud Hotline, a page run by the Coalition of State Healthcare Services dedicated to stopping Ambulance or EMS fraud. 

Falsely Billing For Unprovided Services: ambulance companies ask for reimbursements for trips that did not happen, or falsely claiming for first aid procedures that patients did not receive, and use of medical supplies and medications. This typically happens during emergency cases, such as when an individual sustains injuries.

Falsification Of Reports: An ambulance company may file a report by submitting documents to be able to receive claims. However, the documentation may not be entirely correct. Pieces of information, such as the mileage used up, origin and destination of the trip, fuel consumption, and more, may fall under falsification to claim a more substantial sum from Medicaid. Some companies may even create a non-existing trip.

Overcharging For Services: Ambulance companies also make the mistake of charging too much for the services they give. It happens when they bill for full service when a patient does not necessarily need an ambulance. The rule includes both the use of the patients who are well enough to use their cars, ride buses or taxis, or be in wheelchairs. Medicare won’t pay if the patient can walk. The use of life support inside the ambulance also varies. If a paramedic provides essential life support, the company cannot charge for advanced life support.

As far as cheating goes, some companies will administer unnecessary advanced services to elevate the cost of reimbursements. Some will apply treatments that a patient doesn’t need. Because of this, simple transportation becomes a situation where they give advanced life support. The company then sends an unexpectedly higher bill to the patients.

You can reach CHOICES at 800-994-9422

CHOICES provides unbiased support to Medicare beneficiaries and their families so they can make informed decisions about their care and benefits .CHOICES is a CT program, administered in CT, by the State Unit on Aging, It is part of the larger, national SHIP (State Health Insurance Programs). Each area Agency on Aging in CT hosts the CHOICES program.