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Guests: Mark Suprenant and Lisa Pontibriand of St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Worcester, MA
Brief overview of show: Mark Suprenant who is the Director of Rehab. Services at St. Francis spoke a little about the various programs that St. Francis has. Lisa spoke specifically about the program that gives caregivers respite time. She mentioned their Adult Day Health Program that gives spouses and caregivers time away from their spouse or parent, enabling them to be active in their own lives as well. The hours of their Adult Day Health at 8:30 - 4:00 pm and transportation is provided. St. Francis has many programs that offer different types of care, from long term care, to rehabilitation for individuals.
Guests: Ed Murphy and Amy Finkel of Parsons Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
Brief overview of show: Ed Murphy, Director of Admissions at Parsons Hill spoke about the programs at Parsons Hill such as their Alzheimer's Unit. Nick Kaltsas spoke with Ed and Amy about the importance of advance directives that seniors can execute on their behalf before Alzheimer's or dementia sets in. Ed and Amy spoke about the care and services that Parsons Hill provides such as their community outreach programs, such as healthy nutrition, benefits of rehabilitation, etc.
Guests: Geri Lorusso, Cathy Sessions and Sr. Margaret McKierdy of Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living and Long Term Care Facility.
Brief overview of show: Nick Kaltsas began the program by giving a brief overview of Elder & Disability Law Advocates upcoming free legal clinics. Geri Lorusso gave an overview of the different areas that Notre Dame du Lac currently has. The first facility was the long term care facility, which serviced Sisters of Notre Dame which began in 1993 who were sick. Nick mentioned about how spectacular Notre Dame is, the grounds, the building, etc. Geri spoke about the fact that Notre Dame is not considered a "nursing home" but more of a home feel. Cathy offered information about the 108 assisted living apartments at Notre Dame as well as their new program called the Educational Bridge Program, such as pre-college classes, basic GED courses, etc for the employees of Notre Dame. Cathy spoke of the programs that help the mind, body and spirit of those within the facility like yoga, library, etc. Sr. Margaret also shared her insight from her perspective from living at the facility.
Guest: Nancy Thibault, Director of Job Training and Employment for Easter Seals.
Brief overview of show: Nancy Thibault, Director of Job Training and Employment at Easter Seals oversees this program where the home office is in Worcester as well as Boston and New Bedford. Easter Seals is a community based program offered throughout the state. Nancy gave an overview of some of the services that Easter Seals provides.
Guest: Donna Ostiguy, Client Manager of Elder & Disability La Advocates
Brief overview of show: Nick reviewed all of the upcoming events at Elder & Disability Law Advocates. Nick also spoke of a past case at a legal clinic at the Senior Center. Nick addressed the fact that it is so important to be pro-active with estate planning documents. Donna expressed the fact that we normally see clients who are past the point of planning and encouraged all listeners to be pro-active and plan while they can for their future.
Guest:Kathy Chekani, Staff Attorney at Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Nick reviewed our upcoming legal clinics and seminars. Nick and Kathy took calls regarding estate planning documents and if they can expire? Nick mentioned the fact that you need to periodically check every few years your documents to make sure that they are still in good standing. Nick also took calls regarding the look back periods that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has.
Guest:Neil McNeil, Area Director of Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.
Brief overview of show: Neil spoke about what exactly Mass Rehab can do for those that are disabled. Nick mentioned the fact that Mass Rehab helped him through his illness and helped to rehabilitate Nick to where he is today.
Guest: Kathy Chekani, Staff Attorney at Elder & Disability Law Advocates
Brief overview of show: Nick and Kathy focused this show on housing for the elderly. There are many housing alternatives for seniors out there. They discussed transferring property out of the senior's name and into their children's name for reasons of estate recovery. Benefits were discussed as to why to have Life Estate, what a Life Estate is and the value of having one.
Guest: Pam Reidy, Director of Missions at Notre Dame du Lac Health Care Center.
Brief overview of show: Pam spoke about her role as Mission Director at Notre Dame. She spoke about the many programs at Notre Dame and working with all of those programs. She mentioned about how Notre Dame had a feeling of home and the surroundings being comfortable for all the residents there.
Pam spoke about her other passions such as her work with Haiti, about her work with the elderly and spirituality. Nick spoke about his distinction of being spiritual and being religious.
Pam mentioned the fact that all people have different beliefs and that sometimes spirituality can bring you through all points of time in life. She spoke about fear and how that can disable you in life and how to get through fear in life. It was acknowledged that there is imperfection in all of us and how we make New Year's resolutions each year. Pam suggested identifying what it is we want to change, using the tools to implement that plan to change and then sticking to it.
Guests: Nicholas Daviau, staff attorney at Elder & Disability Law Advocates and Donna Ostiguy.
Brief overview of show: Nick Daviau spoke about his role at Elder & Disability Law Advocates and how important it is during the New Year to preplan for the future. Donna Ostiguy and Nick Kaltsas agreed that the office becomes very busy because many people do look at their futures and try to plan ahead and plan for their future. We spoke about many ways to plan for their future such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney and specifically health care proxies. Nick Daviau explained what happens when a health care proxy is invoked. Nick Kaltsas and Nick Daviau then moved on to the laws of Guardianship and specific examples of people who needed guardianships.
Guest: Kathy Chekani, staff attorney at Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Nick spoke about the holidays fast approaching and being thankful for the gifts that people have today. Donna Ostiguy called in and spoke about an email that came into our office during that past week with a question of an elderly woman who was placed in the hospital because of dementia and infection. Her daughter was asking the question about what will happen to her mom because there were no documents in place, her mother wanted to come home but the daughter felt that her mom was no longer safe at home and needed a long term facility. Nick and Kathy explained the importance of having documents in place because now the daughter would have to seek guardianship over her mom in order to find a safe facility for her mom. Nick and Kathy explained the procedures involved when a catastrophic event happens and how proper planning can prevent many of those difficult situations.
Guest: Senator Harriette Chandler.
Brief overview of show: Senator Chandler discussed her many years as a Senator and also her other titles in the State of Massachusetts. Discussed was her interest in health care, in giving back to the community, also about the merger between University of Massachusetts Medical Center and Memorial Hospital and how she was instrumental in that merger. Nick and Senator Chandler focused on our economic crisis we are going through.
Guest: Donna Ostiguy of Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Nick spoke about his last legal clinic at the Upton Senior Center the week of December 1, 2009. He discussed topics such as how to deal with recovery agencies such as bill collectors repeatedly hounding seniors who are low income and find themselves in difficult situations. Nick spoke of certain laws that apply so creditors cannot hound seniors with threats of taking their social security which may be the only income that they have. At the end of the show there was a recap of new upcoming legal clinics that seniors can attend.
Guest: Donna Ostiguy of Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Nick and Donna posed the question of will seniors get the H1N1 vaccine if it is available to them? Nick also posed another question for listeners to see if they think their local government is doing enough to provide the H1N1 vaccine? Also discussed was emails sent to the office with questions regarding Powers of Attorney. Can you execute legal documents if you can't comprehend the document if you are sick? Discussion took place about how to determine if you are competent to execute legal documents.
Guest: Joe Petty, City Councilor and Donna Ostiguy of Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Joe began the show by giving a brief overview of his background. Nick posed a question to listeners, will the budget cuts affect seniors and also will the budget cuts affect senior's way of life? Will seniors be able to afford not only their medications but also their weekly food bills? There were numerous phone calls asking City Councilor Petty about items such as leaf removal in the City as well as plowing within the City. One caller also spoke about the increase in gas prices and the letters being circulated to homeowners to lock in their rates for gas prices. Nick spoke to Joe about investment that he has in the City of Worcester and his hopes for the future as a City Councilor.
Guest: Joe Petty, City Councilor and Donna Ostiguy of Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Joe began the show by giving a brief overview of his background. Nick posed a question to listeners, will the budget cuts affect seniors and also will the budget cuts affect senior's way of life? Will seniors be able to afford not only their medications but also their weekly food bills? There were numerous phone calls asking City Councilor Petty about items such as leaf removal in the City as well as plowing within the City. One caller also spoke about the increase in gas prices and the letters being circulated to homeowners to lock in their rates for gas prices. Nick spoke to Joe about investment that he has in the City of Worcester and his hopes for the future as a City Councilor.
Guest: Kathy Chekani, staff attorney at Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Nick and Kathy spoke about maintaining the quality of life that people have. Also discussed was the importance of documents in place to make your quality of life easier and better. Nick and Kathy talked over some important aspects of Guardianships and Conservatorships. Towards the end of the show discussion was based upon Mass. Resources and all the programs available to seniors.
Guest: Kate Toomey, City Councilor and Donna Ostiguy of Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Kate Toomey gave a brief overview of her history. Nick and Kate both agreed about Worcester being a very safe community compared to Boston. Kate also spoke briefly about the terms on her office she holds and also the differences she has made to the City of Worcester. She also spoke about the need to provide service to others and how important it is to give back. Nick and Kate also touched on all the budget cuts coming for 2010.
Guest Speaker: Donna Ostiguy, Client Manager of Elder & Disability Law Advocates
Brief overview of show: Review of past week's events: Leicester Senior Center 10 th Anniversary. Explanation of Worcester County Sheriff's Office Triad Program. Triad Program is where the inmates make sign numbers for homes so medical emergency providers can find homes. Also discussion of Aging with Dignity Seminar presented at the Senior Spectacular at the DCU Center.
Guest Speaker: Mary Sullivan from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy which sponsors the Mass Med Line Program.
Brief overview of show: Mary Sullivan spoke about the pharmacy outreach program which helps seniors find access to prescriptions that they possibly cannot afford. They also offer services like review of Medicare Part D program for seniors. Mass Med Line phone number is 866-633-1617 located at 25 Foster Street in Worcester. Pharmacists are available and outreach also. Many events are sponsored through Mass College of Pharmacy such as reviewing senior's medications, making sure no prescriptions are expired. Many of these events are held at various senior centers like the Worcester Senior Center. Mass Med Line website: www.massmedline.com
Guest Host: Kathy Chekani & Donna Ostiguy
Guest Speaker: Janice Read Nowicki, Director of the Leicester Senior Center
Brief overview of show: Janice Read Nowicki spoke about programs at the Leicester Senior Center, how active the senior center is. Also some programs offered through the Senior Center Leicester Cares Program. Janice also spoke about 10 year anniversary event which many local businesses will be part of. The Worcester County Sheriff's Office sponsors the Triad Program which will kick off at the Leicester Senior Center 10 year anniversary event. Also discussion of what to look for when looking at nursing homes. Callers questions included: Can someone be forced into a nursing home by her children? Are there any tax saving credits for seniors who own homes?
Guest Speaker on Show: Donna Ostiguy, Client Manager at Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Discussion of our seminar series at the Worcester Senior Center. Why planning is so important and reminders of five year look back period. Seniors common response is that they are currently healthy and need no assistance right now. We urge that while you are healthy to get your affairs in order. Callers questions included: If long-term care insurance will protect you for the rest of your life so you won't lose your home. Also salesmen are going door to door to sell long-term care insurance. Should seniors consider buying into long-term insurance?
Guest Speaker on Show: Kathy K. Chekani, attorney at Elder & Disability Law Advocates.
Brief overview of show: Attorney Chekani spoke about her role at Elder & Disability Law Advocates such as preparing Mass Health Applications and Medicaid Advocacy.
Also discussed upcoming seminar series which Elder & Disability Law Advocates sponsors at various senior centers throughout Worcester County. Seminar Series: "Navigating the Challenges of Eldercare." Callers questions included: Distribution of one's assets upon their demise; Are seniors eligible for any assisted living benefits through Mass Health Benefits.
Guest speaker on Show: Donna Ostiguy, Client Manager at Elder & Disability Law Advocates & Joshua Foye, client at Elder & Disability Law Advocates
Brief overview of show: Cornerstone of all elder law is competency and capacity. Another important aspect for seniors is assets and the ability to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. Josh Foye discussed his particular case; Guardianship of his grandmother and all that was entailed in becoming a guardian. Callers questions included: Putting your home in your child's name so you don't have estate recovery from the State of Massachusetts. Also addressed was the importance of what a Life Estate is and why you need one from another caller.
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