The Autumn of the Year…

                        Turning Over a New Leaf

 

Lose Weight

Stop Smoking

Organize Papers

Start a Business

Create a Financial Plan

 

New Year’s resolutions by nature are made on New Year’s Day, the end of the holiday season.  We make these major life changing decisions when we are worn out in body and spirit;  when we lack energy, conviction, time and money.  We resolve to do so much at a time when we have no real urge to do anything but rest.

 

Fall is a much better time to make those resolutions; and map out a strategy to bring them into reality.

Like any course, we need to begin with where we are.  Take the time to review your current life situation.  How is your health?  Are you happy with the way you look?  How are you emotionally?  Are you stressed?  Are you spending enough time with your family?  Have you put your education on hold?  Are you happy in your current career?  What does your financial picture look like?  What are your assets and liabilities?  Is your romantic relationship all you want it to be? 

 

Once you know where you are, then you can decide where you want to go and how to get there.  And a good roadmap is always in writing.  So write out the goals, and what you need to do to reach those goals.  Revisit your written goals often.  Strategies become goals and realities when they are written, reviewed and worked on.

 

And sometimes, we need help to bring our strategies to realities.  Ask for help.   Seek out knowledge from those who know the things you do not know.  Get professional advice.   Follow the path of those who have accomplished what you want to do.

 

By beginning to create your new year now, you will have three additional months to think and dream and develop your goals.   Resolutions made in the autumn of the year, have much more opportunity for success, than those made in the hustle and bustle of the New Year’s holiday.

Mary Grace Musuneggi

 

 

Founder and Executive Director

October 2010                                                                         

© 2010 Mary Grace Musuneggi

TELL A FRIEND about the importance of mammography.  It just may save her life.  The American Cancer Society’s screening guidelines:

1.  Have a mammogram each year beginning at age 40. 
2. Get an annual breast exam from your health professional – every three years for women in their 20s and 30s, every year for women 40 and older.
3.  Know how your breasts normally feel and report any changes promptly to your health care provider. Breast self-exams are an option for women in their 20s.

Women at increased risk should talk to their doctors about the benefits and limitations of early mammography or more frequent exams. This program is an excellent activity for women’s groups

Call 1.800.ACS.2345 or visit www.cancer.org for more information.

 

 

 

  

Well, the time has come to harvest the summer jewels!

   

Basil Pesto

 

 2 cups of fresh basil leaves (discard stems)           

 ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese

 ¾ cup of walnuts ( or 3/4 cup of pinenuts)

 2 garlic cloves

  1/3 cup Extra virgin olive oil

Mix  the  first four ingredients together in food processor until combined evenly. Then slowly add extra virgin olive oil. (Will use about 1/3 of a cup).

This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.

Variations: Mix 1/3 to 1/4 cup of light whipping cream to make a creamy pesto sauce

                 Add cherry tomatoes that are halved into pesto.

Freezes well.  After I harvest my basil, I spend a morning making the pesto and freezing for later use.  In the midst of winter, nothing tastes better than a pita pizza with pesto, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella or  pesto over noodles and chicken.

 

 

 

Well the time has come to harvest the summer’s jewels!

By Barbara Schwarck, PCC, MPIA

I recently lost a very good friend to cancer.  Her passing was not unexpected, yet the experience gave me an opportunity to evaluate some of my beliefs and behavior about life and death as well as the leadership role I took in the situation.

 

Death never comes at a convenient time and it challenges us to be more real with ourselves as well as the people around us.  The passing of a loved one, a colleague, or someone who we have rarely agreed with, usually brings up a range of emotions including feelings of grief, relief, anger, sadness and love.  Illness much like any other crisis (personal or professional) challenges our ability to lead.  It raises the bar significantly and requires us to have a vision and communicate with clarity, set boundaries and push back, but most of all it gives us the opportunity to be loving. 

 

With death, there is a space for new beginnings, healing and upliftment.  With a professional crisis there is the possibility to be brilliant and make a difference.  As a leader you have the opportunity to set the tone of the situation.  You uplift the friends and family of the deceased by the way you interact with them, or you can champion and acknowledge your team that is looking to solve the crisis. 

 

Too frequently we get attached to our position in the board room or war room.  When Ted Kennedy died, the outpouring of love and honor for his life and efforts, regardless of who was on his side in the Senate, was amazing.  As leaders, take today and love people around you.  Take today to be kind, to be generous and to listen.  We do not need such a drastic event as death to be shocked by what “we should have said.”  Open up and share you love with the people who are working with you.  Research has indicated that people perform way better when they are receiving positive reinforcement.  Add some love to that and see what might be possible.

 

 

Global Executive Coach and President of Clear Intentions International (CII), Barbara Schwarck has coached hundreds of executives, leaders and entrepreneurs from around the globe to be truly exceptional through a unique methodology using Neuro Emotional Coaching™– executive coaching combined with neuroscience and its implications for change and leadership.  CII is a people development company offering executive coaching, leadership training and assessment services for professionals, public servants, global leaders and influencers who want to free themselves from emotional and behavioral patterns that prevent them from being truly exceptional.

SPENDING DOWN FOR MEDICAID

 

By Hillary N. Snyder, Esquire

1384 Old Freeport Road

Suite 3B

Pittsburgh, PA 15238

 

 

Medicaid and Spend down.  Those terms just seem to be thrown out there together whenever a loved one falls ill, or there are concerns of dementia or Alzheimer’s.  But what do they really mean?

 

First it is important to note that Medicaid is only available those people who are not only monetarily needy but they must also be medically needy.  In order to be medically eligible for Medicaid, the individual must need skilled care.  Medicaid does not cover the cost of living in an independent living facility.

 

If indeed a person is medically eligible, meaning in need of skilled care, then the person must also be monetarily needy, and here is where the question of what to keep and what to “spend down” in order to qualify for Medicaid gets tricky.

 

In order to qualify for Medicaid, there are only so many assets that you can keep.  The basics of which are your residence, your car, your burial plots, life insurance policies not exceeding $1,500.00, and $2,000.00 in cash.  Depending on your income level you may be able to keep an additional $6,000.00 in cash.  There are also various exceptions, such as for businesses, rental income, farm land etc.

 

In the case where there is a spouse involved, the spouse that is entering the nursing home may be referred to as the institutionalized spouse and the spouse not entering the nursing home may be referred to as the community spouse.

 

Since the community spouse does need money to live off of and to keep up the residence, there is a spousal allowance as to the assets and the income that the community spouse can keep, while the institutionalized spouse may still qualify for Medicaid.  These calculations are complex and it is worth consulting an attorney to make sure that this is done properly so that the community spouse is not left impoverished.

 

Keep in mind that there is a five year look back period when trying to qualify for Medicaid. Meaning, the Department of Revenue may review five years of your bank statements and request the disclosure of information regarding transfers of assets for the five years preceding your application for Medicaid. 

 

With the average cost of nursing home care exceeding $70,000.00 per year, the sooner individuals plan the better.  Even if you have planned by purchasing long term care insurance, not all policies are the same.  Some policies for example, only cover three years and you may out live your long-term care insurance.

 

The laws are constantly changing in the field of elder law and medicaid eligibility.  The planning techniques used in the past may no longer work today.  Before making gifts or even beginning to “spend down”, contact an elder law attorney.  Many times the money they can save you by implementing the right plan and avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls outweighs the fees you pay.  In addition, the piece of mind from knowing that you are doing the right thing can be priceless.

            STAR

 

I am a black and white domestic long haired cat with what a lot of pet people refer to as a “Groucho look.” I don’t know who this Groucho guy is, but apparently a lot of people think I look like him.

For a while there I thought I had found a permanent home. I lived with two adults and two children, and we all got along famously. However, as fate would have it, the younger child developed allergies to me, so here I am.

Although I enjoy the occasional catnip experience, for the most part I am a very shy girl. My best friend is Commet and I would really like to be adopted with him. My next family will have to be very patient with me because I take a fair amount of time with the “getting to know you” process. I have to say I’ll be worth the wait. After all, who wouldn’t like to have a Star in their home?

 AnimalFriends
562 Camp Horne Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
 www.ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org

 

By LeeAnn Stuever

Social Security Manager in Downtown Pittsburgh

 

Question:  What can I do at www.socialsecurity.gov?

Answer: There are a myriad of things you can do at Social Security’s website. You can get an estimate of future benefits, find out if you qualify for benefits now, and even apply for benefits. Or, you can read one of our 150 or so publications. Many are in Spanish and some are in 14 other languages as well as in audio and alternative formats. Online, you also can find your local Social Security office or find out what documents you need to make a change to your Social Security card. And for the curious, check out the fun facts on our website, like this one: did you know the first Social Security payment of 17 cents went to a fellow named Ernest Ackerman in January 1937? It was a one-time, lump-sum pay-out — the only form of benefits paid during the start-up period January 1937 through December 1939.

 

Question:  Congratulations on your 75^th anniversary. Who received the first Social Security check?

Answer: First, let’s explain how things worked back then. From 1937 until 1940, Social Security paid benefits in the form of a single, lump-sum payment. The purpose of these one-time payments was to provide some “payback” to those people who contributed to the program but would not participate long enough to be vested for monthly benefits.

 

Under the 1935 law, monthly benefits were to begin in 1942, with the period 1937 through 1942 used both to build up the trust funds and to provide a minimum period for participation to qualify for monthly benefits. The earliest reported applicant for a lump-sum benefit was a Cleveland motorman named Ernest

 

 

 

Ackerman, who retired one day after the Social Security program began. During his one day of participation in the program, 5 cents was withheld from Mr. Ackerman’s pay for Social Security, and, upon retiring, he received a lump-sum payment of 17 cents. The average lump-sum payment during this period was $58.06. Although Ernest Ackerman was the first person to receive a lump-sum benefit, a woman named Ida May Fuller, from Ludlow, Vermont, was the first recipient of monthly Social Security benefits.  Learn more about Social Security’s early days at our History Page.  You’ll find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/history.

 

Question:  I’ve decided I want to retire. How do I begin?

Answer: The fastest and easiest way to apply for retirement benefits is to go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. To use our online application to apply for Social Security retirement or spouse’s benefits, you must:

·               Be at least 61 years and 9 months old;

·               Want to start your benefits in the next four months; and

·               Live in the United States or one of its commonwealths or territories.

If you are already age 62, your benefits could start as early as this month. If you are almost 65, your application for benefits will include Medicare. Just visit www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.   

 

Question: I’m trying to decide when to retire. Can Social Security help?

Answer: Deciding when to retire is a personal choice and you should consider a number of factors, but we can certainly help. Visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html and read our factsheet about the things you should think about when making this important decision.

 

Question: What is the definition of disability for children filing for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Answer: Social Security has a strict definition of disability for children under the SSI program. A child who is under age 18 is considered disabled if he or she:

·         Is not working at a job that we consider to be substantial work; and

 

·         Has a physical or mental condition (or a combination of conditions) that results in “marked and severe functional limitations.”  This means that the condition(s) very seriously limits his or her activities; and

·         The condition(s) has lasted, or is expected to last, at least one year or is expected to result in death.

 

To decide whether a child is disabled for SSI purposes, we look at medical and other information (such as information from schools, parents, and caregivers) about the child’s condition(s), and we consider how the condition(s) affects his or her daily activities.  We consider questions such as:

·         What activities is the child not able to do, or is limited in doing?

·         What kind of and how much extra help does the child need to perform age-appropriate activities — for example, special classes at school, medical equipment?

·         Do the effects of treatment interfere with the child’s day-to-day activities?

 

Read Benefits For Children With Disabilities at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10026.html for additional information on how we decide if a child under age 18 is disabled.

 

Question: Does where I live affect the amount of my Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits?

Answer: It might. First, where you live might affect your benefit amount because some states add a supplement to the federal payment. If you live in your own place and pay your own food and shelter costs, regardless of whether you own or rent, you may get up to the maximum SSI amount payable in your state. You also can get up to the maximum if you live in someone else’s household, as long as you pay your food and shelter costs. If you live in someone else’s household and don’t pay your food and shelter costs or pay only part of them, your SSI benefit may be reduced by up to one–third of the SSI federal benefit rate.  To learn more, read Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html.

 

 

 

Question: I need to apply for disability benefits. Where do I start?

Answer: Start online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. Applying online for disability benefits offers several advantages. You can start your disability claim immediately. There is no need to wait for an appointment. You can apply from the convenience of your home or on any computer. You can use the online application to apply for benefits if you are age 18 or older, have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to qualify, you have a medical condition that has prevented you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or to end in death, and you reside in the United States or one of its territories or commonwealths. Get started now at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.

 

Question: My application for disability benefits was denied. What do I do if I disagree with the decision?

Answer: You can appeal the decision at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. This website is the starting point to request a review of our medical decision about your eligibility for disability benefits. There are two parts to this Internet Appeal process:

   (1) An Appeal Request Internet form; and

   (2) An Appeal Disability Report that gives us more information about your condition.

You can complete both forms online. To appeal online, the only form you must submit is an appeal request (Part 1). However, we encourage you to submit an Appeal Disability Report (Part 2) because it will give us more information about you and help us in processing your appeal. We estimate it will take an average of 19 minutes to complete Part 1, and an average of 30 minutes to complete Part 2. To get started, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

 

Question: I understand you must have limited resources to be eligible for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs. What does this mean?

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: To qualify for Extra Help in 2010, your resources are limited to $12,510 for an individual or $25,010 for a married couple living together. Resources include the value of the things you own. Some examples are real estate (other than your primary residence); bank accounts, including checking, savings, and certificates of deposit; stocks; bonds, including U.S. Savings Bonds; mutual funds; Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs); and cash at home or anywhere else. To learn more about Extra Help, and to apply online, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.

 

# # #

 Caregivers Need Care Too: Tips for Managing Caregiver Stress!

Hello again!  For fifteen years, the Home Instead Senior Care^® franchise network has been devoted to providing seniors with the highest quality care in their own homes, and to arming families with the information they need to make the best decisions about caring for aging loved ones.

 

The “Get Mom Moving” campaign is part of that effort, designed to help seniors stay mentally and physically active, as well as emotionally engaged. In this issue of the Women’s Independent Press, Home Instead Senior Care would like to remind you that caring for a senior can sometimes be challenging for the family members responsible for giving aid.  It is true that caregiving can be a rewarding experience that allows you to bond with a loved one in ways you never thought possible. It’s also true that a caregiver who takes care of herself or himself – body and mind - will ultimately be a better caregiver to a loved one. We encourage you to explore these Helpful Tips so that you can fully enjoy your caregiving labor of love.  For more information, please visit www.caregiverstress.com.  Until next time…

·   Exercise: Walk, dance, bike, run, swim for a minimum of 20 minutes at least three times per week. Consider learning stress-management exercises such as yoga or tai-chi, which teach inner balance and relaxation.

·   Meditate: Sit still and breathe deeply with your mind as “quiet” as possible whenever things feel like they are moving too quickly or you are feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities as a caregiver. Many times you will feel like you don’t even have a minute to yourself, but it’s important to walk away and to take that minute.

·   Ask for help: According to a national survey by Home Instead Senior Care of adults who are currently providing care for an aging loved one, 72 percent do so without any outside help. To avoid burnout and stress, you can enlist the help of other family members and friends, and/or consider hiring a professional non-medical caregiver for assistance. There is no need to feel guilty for reaching out.

·   Take a break: Make arrangements for any necessary fill-in help (family, friends, volunteers or professional caregivers). Take single days or even a week’s vacation. And when you’re away, stay away. Talk about different things, read that book you haven’t been able to get to, take naps, whatever relaxes you and makes you happy.

·   Eat well: Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, including nuts and beans, and whole grains. Indulging in caffeine, fast food and sugar as quick “pick-me-ups” also produce a quick “let-down.”

·   Keep your medical appointments. Make sure you get your annual check-up. Being a caregiver provides many excuses for skipping your necessary check-ups, but don’t do it. A healthy you is worth more to your aging loved one than a sick, weak you.

·   Indulge: Treat yourself to a foot massage, manicure, nice dinner out or a concert to take yourself away from the situation and to reward yourself for the wonderful care you are providing to your aging relative. You shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting to feel good.

·   Support: Find a local caregiver support group. They will help you understand that what you are feeling and experiencing is normal. This is a place to get practical advice from people who are in your situation and to bounce off those feelings of stress, since everyone is likely to be in the same situation and can empathize.

As Virginia Morris puts it in her book, How to Care for Aging Parents, it’s important for you to take part in “indulgent necessities.” Everyone needs some pampering occasionally, for both physical and mental health. So don’t feel guilty if you treat yourself once in a while…you deserve it and you need it.

If you, or any organization of which you are a part, is interested in learning more, please contact our office.  We would be happy to speak to your group free of charge about this subject, our services, and even employment opportunities. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Rebecca Champagne, Human Resource Coordinator

Home Instead Senior Care

1102 S Braddock Ave

Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Phone: (412) 731-0733

Rebecca.Champagne@HomeInstead.com