Senior Corner
Meeting the needs of Seniors

#1 Let's Assess You and Your Family Needs

Plan Ahead - Even if just for your peace of mind and that of your family.

Nutrition

Good nutrition and regular meals are essential for maintaining good health, but grocery shopping and meal preparation can be challenging for older adults who live on their own.  Do you need assistance with nutrition?

• Smart Refrigerator: Samsung's Family Hub - www.samsung.com/us/explore/family-hub-refrigerator/connected-hub where a family member can check on an elder relative's food supply.

Tracking Healthcare

Virtual Medical Vitals

• GrandCare Systems: www.grandcare.com offers a suite of monitoring and reminders plus messaging tools that track health conditions i.e. glucose, oxygen, blood pressure, and weight as well as daily activity.

• VitalBand: https://vitaltech.com provides streaming health vitals, all alerts, geolocation, plus a panic alert button and voice call out.  Monitors for caregivers.

Medication Management

• MedMinder: www.medminder.com

• Amazon's PillPack: www.pillpack.com - sends reminders via Alexa or Google Home

Senior Technology & Safety

Security for Seniors

• GPS SmartSole insoles:  https://www.gpssmartsoles.com

• Ring Video Doorbell: ring.com

  • See who's at the door with a doorbell video system.  Doorbell apps can provide notification to a smart phone or trigger a motion sensor for door video.  Safety in talking via the video vs opening a door.

• Smart Locks & Keyless entry: Nest x Yale Lock with Nest Connect - available on Amazon.  Works with smartphones.

• Smart Lights:

  • Phillips Hue: www.phillips-hue.com/en-us

  • Sylvania Smart Plus LED: www.sylvania-lightning.com/en-int

• Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors send an alarm and notification to smartphones.

  • Nest Protect: getroos.com/sensiors

  • Onelink Safe & Sound: www.firstalert.com/product/safe-sound

• Leak Detectors: A combination of sensors for water leaks from a laundry room, water heater closet, bathroom under sinks, etc.  Leak notifications can be sent to smartphones.  Some detectors can shut off the main water valve.

  • Smart Water Detector: www.moen.com/flo

  • FlumeTM 2 Smart Home Water Monitor: flumewater.com

• Video Surveilance provides a high definition, live remote viewing and two-way radio without hard wire installation.

  • Blink Mini: blinkforhome.com

  • Lorex System: lorextechnology.com

• Financial & Credit Card Safety

  • TrueLink Prepaid Visa: www.truelinkfinancial.com/card

    • allows family members to set an amount limit that triggers alerts to block certain payments such as from telemarketers and tv shopping.  Works for petty cash for caregivers.

  • EverSafe: www.eversafe.com

    • analyzes transaction patters to spot anomalies and unusual activity such as missing deposits and late bills.  Suspicious activity alerts are sent to a "trusted advocate" by email, text, phone, or the EverSafe app

  • SilverBills: www.silverbills.com

    • Bill payment service assures timely payment of bills and examines bills for potential fraud.

Social Life

Connections with Family

• Computers, Speakers, Tablets & More

  • IPAD: Apple IPAD is a great way to stay connected to family and friends.  Add calendars, contacts, and more.  Enjoy videos, news, and games.

  • Grandpad: www.grandpad.net provides a customized tablet that comes preloaded with the user's own private family network as well as essential apps.

  • LifePod combines a proactive voice with an Alexa device.  The smart speaker can ask questions without needing a prompt from the user, provide reminders, and offer ideas for things to do each day.

  • ElliQ: www.elliq.com uses artificial intelligence (AI) to engage with users both proactively and reactively.  Creates interaction when activity is low.

Senior Dating & Companionship

• SeniorMatch.com

Driving

• On Call Transportation: Lyft and Uber via a smartphone or transportation services such as GoGoGrandparent.com assist in arranging Lift and Uber rides.  Family members can book rides via an app that sends text alerts when pick up and drop off occurs.

• Self Driving vehicles may be on the horizon for senior transportation.

Occupational Therapists - Driver Education Specialists

• American Occupational Therapy Association

  • https://www.aota.org

• Institute for Mobility, Activity, and Participation

  • www.driving.phhp.ufl.edu

Nursing Home - Short Term

What does Medicare or Medicaid pay?

• Medicare

  • Will pay up to 90 days that immediately follow a hospital stay of more than 3 days and focuses on recovery and rehabilitation.

  • Medicare does not pay for any services received outside the US.

  • Does not pay for custodial or long-term care in assisted living facilities.  Payment for assisted living is usually out of pocket, although long-term care insurance may cover nursing home care.

• Medicaid (Needs-based public assistance program, and individuals must qualify for benefits

  • Does not pay for custodial or long-term care in assisted living facilities. 

  • Varies by state but liquid assets my not exceed $2,250 ($3,000 for couples in most states)

  • Income may not exceed a capped amount or must be spent down on medical needs.

  • Home equity of $636,000 or more disqualifies an individual for Medicaid benefits.  Varies by state.

  • Equity in a senior's home is exempt if a spouse or minor or disabled child resides in the home.

    • Because a home with less than the allowable amount of equity is a non-countable asset, a senior might be able to reduce countable assets by transferring value into the home, such as paying off outstanding home loans, buying a larger home, or paying for repairs or renovations.

    • Payments from a reverse mortgage do not necessarily disqualify a Medicaid recipient. However, any income received must be spent in the same month; the remainder is considered a liquid asset.  If at any time the recipient accumulates $2,000 or more in liquid assets, eligibility can be lost.

  • Medicaid Look Back

    • A person cannot immediately qualify for Medicaid by transferring or gifting assets to someone else, such as a child, because of the 5-year look-back period for eligibility.

    • I most cases Medicaid will not kick in until all liquid assets are spent down.

  • Medicaid Estate Recovery

    • Federal law requires states to recover payments made to Medicaid beneficiaries for nursing home facilities, home care,  and related hospital and prescription drug expenses.  States also recover payments made to permanently institutionalized individuals.

    • Medicaid recovers expenses through two types of liens:

      • Estate recovery lien placed on the property of the deceased

      • Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) lien placed on the property of a living beneficiary.

    • When a Medicaid recipeint dies, the state files a claim in probate court.  Surviving heirs are not required to use their own funds to repay the debt owed to the state; however, if the home is subject to an estate recovery lien, the heirs may want to use their own funds to pay the Medicaid claim and keep the home.  States are required to waive recovery of expenditures if it would result in undue hardship or impoverishment of the spouse or heirs - for example, when a family farm is the sole income-producing asset of the survivors.

    • https://www.flmedicaidtplrecovery.com/flmedicaidtplrecovery.com/estate/index.html

    • Medicaid Planners

      • https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/find-a-medicaid-planner/#step=0

Continuing Care Retirement Communities - CCRC

Evolving Technologies

• Google "elder care robotics" for the lastest news on product development

Insurance

Long-term care (LTC) insurance

• Premiums typically range from $1,000 to over $7,000 annually for individuals, with costs highly dependent on age, gender, and health. For a 55-year-old in 2024, annual premiums averaged $950 for men and $1,500 for women, while couples often pay over $2,000 combined, notes the National Council on Aging (NCOA).