Frankly Speaking Blog - North Carolina's First Elder Law Firm

Has Medicare Failed You?

By A. Frank Johns, JD, LLM, CELA

In a recent New York Times article, former Times reporter Jane Gross disclosed the “dirty little secret of health care in America,” (“How Medicare Fails the Elderly”). She contends that what Medicare paid for beginning back in 1965 is not “what recipients need or want today,” (“How Medicare Fails the Elderly”). She suggests that America’s health care vision did not take into account the stunning medical advances that keep people alive into advanced old age. Neither did it anticipate the “dangers”, not to mention the “pointlessness and expense of much of the care Medicare is providing.”

Gross details several specific bullet points to make her argument – feeding tubes, abdominal and gall bladder surgery, and tight glycemic control for Type 2 diabetes. For all of theses things covered by Medicare, Gross notes that Medicare rarely pays for long term care in supervised, safe places for frail or demented old people.

Gross goes on to explain the financial burden for home health aides, and the private cost ($14,000 per month for her mother). Gross also mentions a recent state-by-state study of long-term care which found that “essential long-term care costs from 166% to 393% of the average annual income of America’s elderly,” (“How Medicare Fails the Elderly”).

There are ways to access those services which are provided by Medicare, while at the same time gaining eligibility or other means tested governmental services to which elders have rights. Find out more by visiting our website at www.nc-law.com and if needed, make an appointment for an elder law consultation.

 

Virtual House Calls: The Next Frontier

By A. Frank Johns, JD, LLM, CELA

When I was growing up, our doctor would make house calls when a member of my family was sick and needed medical treatment. Today, house calls are taking on a new meaning thanks to new technology such as Skype and Oovoo that use video conferencing to connect patients with their physicians.

These new virtual house calls provide many of the same benefits that my family and I had access to when I was a child. Not only does it allow patients to meet with their physician right in the privacy of their own homes, but it no longer requires the doctor to travel to another destination. Patients can be more comfortable, while having access to a broader range of specialists outside those in their community.

This type of care is especially helpful to people with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease where patients often struggle to find specialist to manage their disease. Dr. Ray Dorsey, a movement disorders specialist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore Maryland is using virtual house calls to see his patients regularly. To read more about Dorsey and his use of virtual technology, click here.

I am thrilled to find something from my childhood make resurgence with the help of a little dose of the latest technology!

P.S. We make house calls at BH&J. If you or a member of your family would like to meet with an attorney and are unable to travel to our office, we are happy to come to you. Just let us know. Visit our website www.nc-law.com for more information.

Hello Computer World, I’m Here at Last!

Yesterday was a big day at the Britton residence. Why? My mom, a spunky senior, finally got her first computer - a Compaq laptop to be exact. You see, we have spent the past month researching the many options on a quest to find the one that was right for her.

“It’s like Christmas” she exclaimed trying to contain her excitement as she opened the big red box. “At long last I will finally be able to connect to the internet and send emails. I am probably one of the last people to get connected, but it sure does feel good.”    

I don’t know which one of us was more excited. It was amazing to walk her through the computer setup realizing that she had never used a tool that I could not remember what it was like to not use. I am happy to report that she picked it up rather quickly as we moved through the process.

Once we were through with the setup, she stopped and smiled. “I can’t believe it. The first thing I want to do is go online and find all there is about the upcoming royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Then I want to send some emails. Oh and we need to figure out what my email address should be too.”

How exciting it was to see my mom giddy over something new. It just goes to show you that it’s never too late to learn. It’s also an important reminder to take the time to help others learn a new skill like technology that we often take for granted. The best part is that you will gain so much by simply giving a little of yourself in order to help someone else.

If you or someone you know doesn’t have a computer, it’s not too late. If you know a special someone who might need a little technology 101, find the time to help them. I hope that you experience the same sense of wonderment that we did yesterday!   

This is a guest post from the Practice Growth Architect Blog.

Phones Down - Can You Text, Email or Skype?

A. Frank Johns, JD, LLM, CELA

It’s no secret that technology is everywhere today. The use of technology from cell phones, computers, email and texting to social media such as Facebook and Twitter is how many people communicate, get their news, and even unwind. In fact, it was reported on Sunday that texting and Twitting now rank ahead of the phone in monthly usage. However, for the older generations, technology is just not a part of their lives. In fact according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center in Washington D.C. technology use is relatively low among older Americans.

As I watched the devastating images from the recent earthquake and Tsunami in Japan it became clear just how important it is for all adults to understand basic technology. Here’s why. On Friday, as the horror unfolded, the scroll at the bottom of the television screen contained the following message “phones down - use email, text or social media to contact family in Japan.”

Although most of us have no family or friends in Japan, what if a similar tragedy had happened here in the US? Would our older Americans have been able to communicate through alternative communication tools such as texts, emails and social media? Whether it’s a message of “I am safe” or “I need help – I am stranded,” I’m afraid many would be unable to communicate to the outside world.

• Do you know how to send a text message on a cell phone?
• Do you know how to send an email message on a computer or a cell phone?
• Could you use someone else’s cell phone or computer to send a text or email in an emergency?

If you answered “no” to any of the questions above, you are not alone. If you are one of those people, let this be a wakeup call to get started. Although you may never be in the type of disaster that happened in Japan, you never know when an emergency could strike you.

Good news – it’s not complicated.

For starters, consider teaming up with a friend who knows this stuff; even closer are grandchildren, most of whom know “social media” better than their parents. Most kids from 6 to 12 years old can help you learn the basics.

• Learn to use a cell phone to make a call and a text
• Learn to use a computer to send an email

Next, make sure your emergency contact information is stored in your cell phone or computer and is easy to locate.

• Go to your contacts directory
• Enter 2-3 people that you would like to be contacted in case of an emergency such a relative, a neighbor or a friend in faith
• For ease of identifying these contacts – identify them as ICE (In Case of Emergency). For example, ICE 1 – Son, ICE 2 neighbor. List their names addresses, phone numbers, addresses and email addresses.

If you know the basics – step it up a notch.

• Learn to take a picture or a video clip on your cell phone;
• Learn to send a message on a social media site such as Facebook or Twitter;
• Learn to make a call on Skype or Oovoo.

Not only can these skills help you in an emergency, they can also make your life more enjoyable. You never know when you might want to say “hello” to a friend or relative when you are out at an event, or send a picture of something memorable that happens when you are out without your camera.

If you don’t know how to use a cell phone or computer to make an emergency contact, it’s time to learn. Hopefully you will not ever need it, but isn’t it better to be prepared?