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Greetings,
Although summer seemed to only arrive for a few days,
it
certainly feels like fall is right around the corner. Fall will
find MVES out and about in the community. Look for
us at health fairs, community celebrations, as well as
MVES-sponsored seminars. And if we miss you, please
give us call or e-
mail us with any concerns.
| Project SAFE Completes Its Work In Everett |
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Although MVES serves numerous clients, we realize
that some elders living in the community are isolated
and even live in potentially hazardous environments.
Unfortunately, these elders' isolation is sometimes only
ended when a major problem occurs that involves
emergency services and hospitals. How do we reach
these isolated elders before a crisis occurs? Enter
Project SAFE.
Project SAFE is a program designed to survey the
needs of elders age 85 and older. Originally developed
in 2002, the project was completed in Medford in 2003
and was implemented in Everett in 2004.
"The idea behind Project SAFE is to identify those
elders 85 years and older who are in need of assistance
and provide them with the services necessary so that
they may live safely in their own homes," said MVES
Director of Community Programs Vida Poole.
Read more... »
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| When Driving Isn't Safe |
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Losing the ability to drive safely can be a complicated
and frustrating time for elders. Becoming incapable of
driving can leave elders with the uncomfortable feeling
that they are giving up their independence. Since this
is a critical issue that both elders and family members
need to handle correctly, a forum entitled "When
Driving Isn't Safe: Issues, Interventions, and
Strategies" will be offered by Mystic Valley Elder
Services (MVES) and Somerville-Cambridge Elder
Services (SCES) in October.
The discussion will take place on October 5 at MVES
from 5 to 7 p.m. This free forum is open to family
members, interested professionals, and any others who
would like to attend. A panel of experts that includes
AgeInfo/ Services Supervisor of SCES Shauna Peet,
Director of Special Projects for the Massachusetts
Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association Gerald Flaherty,
and a driving evaluation expert.
The focus of the forum is to educate family members
on elder driving concerns. These concerns will be
identified and suggestions for ways to establish a
dialogue between family members and elders about
driving will be presented.
Read more... »
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| Social Security Checks With Direct Deposit |
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Are you worried about losing or misplacing your Social
Security checks? Have you grown tired of traveling in
bad weather and waiting in long lines simply to make a
deposit? Do you need a more secure way to handle
your money? Cast your worries aside and deposit your
Social Security checks with direct deposit.
Direct deposit is a safe and reliable way to deposit your
Social Security check without ever leaving the house.
With direct deposit, the U.S. Treasury sends an
automatic message to your bank or credit union,
depositing the exact amount of your check. Whether
you are out of town or unable to make it to the bank,
direct deposit quickly and safely deposits your checks
for you. The deposit occurs at the same time each
month, enabling you to know when money is available.
Read more... »
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| What Are Your Care Options? |
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Question: My mother was recently hospitalized for
injuries received when she fell out of bed at the nursing
home where she resides. The hospital is telling me she
is medically ready to be discharged back to the facility.
I no longer feel confident in the care provided at the
nursing home. Do we have any options?
Answer: We all want to believe an environment exists
in long-term care services where the first priority is
what's best for the patient. The reality is that payment
sources and regulations sometimes dictate how
decisions are made. These factors create stress for all
involved, including the patient, family, and health care
professionals.
Read more... »
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| Helping Elders Help Themselves |
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The abuse of elders is more prevalent in our
communities than we may like to admit. Abuse can take
many forms-physical, emotional, sexual, financial-and
abusers can range from strangers to family members.
But, what about elders who neglect their own personal
care?
Formerly known as "Elders At Risk," elders who neglect
themselves will soon be helped by Protective Services,
the group that currently helps elders who are abused
by third parties. The state legislature recently enacted
a law that considers "self-neglect," and all other types
of elder abuse, a part of the general elder abuse
definition. This expanded definition calls for stricter
reporting requirements and intervention guidelines.
The new self-neglect provision is defined as the
inability of an elder to meet his or her essential needs
for food, clothing, safe and secure shelter, personal
care, supervision, and medical care to the point where
he or she cannot remain safely in the community
without assistance.
The most significant implication of the new law is that
mandated reporters of elder abuse are now required to
report suspected incidents of self neglect to the
appropriate local Protective Services agency or to the
Elder Abuse Hotline. Prior to the incorporation of self-
neglect into the Protective Services program, self-
neglecting elders were served under the Elder at Risk
(EAR) program, in which reports by professionals were
made on a voluntary basis. Mandated reporters include
physicians, physician assistants, dentists, medical
interns, nurses, coroners, social workers, family
counselors, police officers, firefighters, emergency
medical technicians, registered physical and
occupational therapists, probation officers, licensed
psychologists, podiatrists, osteopaths, managers of
assisted living facilities, executive directors of licensed
home health agencies, and executive directors of
homemaker service agencies.
Read more...
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