Always Best Keeping Seniors Warm This Winter

Tis’ the season for helping others!

At Always Best Care Senior Services, we realize that the weather is cold and raw, and we want to make sure that people who need warm coats have them.

As part of our Make a Senior Smile campaign, we’re holding a coat drive for seniors in need – and we need your help.

Right now, we’re asking for the donation of new or gently used coats. We’ll then have them professionally cleaned and we’ll distribute them to seniors in our area who can’t afford coats to keep warm.

Please check out your closets and see what you have. If you have a coat to donate, please visit any of the six drop off locations, listed below.

Drop off locations are as follows:

*Covenant Village
52 Missionary Rd., Cromwell

*Pilgrim Manor Health Care
52 Missionary Rd., Cromwell

*Atria Hamilton Heights
1 Hamilton Heights Dr., West Hartford

*Jacobs, Walker, Rice & Barry
146 Main St., Manchester

*CCC Feed
35 Oakland St., Manchester

*Always Best Care Senior Services
135 Center St., Manchester

The Best Places to Find Senior Discounts

Many seniors are on a fixed income and one great way to stick to a budget is to take advantage of senior discounts.

Restaurants, department stores, hotels, and more offer senior discounts, and many of them start at age 50.

Here are a few of the great discounts that we’ve found.

Did you know that Dunkin Donuts will give a free doughnut to people over 55 (with an AARP card) when they order a cup of coffee?

Want to go out to dinner? Restaurants like Applebee’s (15 percent off with Golden Apple Card – 60+), Chili’s (10 percent off – AARP), and Sonic (10 percent off or free beverage – 60+) have deals that seniors can take advantage of.

Heading out shopping? Several stores also offer senior discounts. Dress Barn offers 20 percent off to shoppers 55 and over. Kohl’s offers 15 percent off to guests 60 and over, and Modell’s Sporting Goods has a 30 percent off deal.

Even cell phone companies offer discounts for seniors. AT&T has a Special Senior Nation 200 plan for $19.99 a month for those 65 and older. Verizon Wireless offers a Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan for $29.99 a month for 200 anytime minutes for anyone 65 or over.

Looking get your hair done? Great Clips has a $3 off haircut discount (days and times vary) for those 60 and over and Supercuts offers $8 off haircuts for clients 60 and over.

Ready to get away for a bit? Several airlines – including Southwest, United, and U.S. Airways – have various discounts available for travelers 65 and over. You should always call the airline before booking to receive the discount.

Renting a car when you get to your destination? Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National all have discounts of up to 25 percent for AARP members. Enterprise Rent-A-Car has a 5 percent discount for AARP members.

Need somewhere to stay? Holiday Inn offers 15 percent to 40 percent (depending on location) to guests 62 and over. Best Western has a 10 percent discount for AARP members, La Quinta Hotels has a 30 percent off and free breakfast deal for guests 55 and over, and Marriott Hotels have a 15 percent off discount for AARP members.

Heading to a national park? National parks offer a $10 lifetime pass (includes free admission for a “car load”) and 50 percent off additional services – including camping – for people 62 and over.

See, seniors can go a lot of places and do a lot of things while still saving a lot of money!

The Best Part of Aging

Aging has such a bad reputation, but aging itself isn’t all bad.

In fact, some research suggests that the brain manages to dismiss negative memories and retain the positive ones as we get older.

On a related note, people develop longer “fuses,” and are better able to control and regulate anger and other negative emotions. The highs may be just as high, but the lows are not as low.

Also, people with certain conditions, such as social phobias, often find their illnesses diminishing with age.

As you get older, you may be in a better mood, find yourself sharper due to experience, are better able to handle social conflicts, are suffering fewer migraines, and are less stressed.

That’s pretty cool, right?

Let’s focus on some of the other good things about aging.

Some feel that the best part of aging is the experiences one can acquire and share with younger people. Increased wisdom is also an added benefit of aging.

Other people feel that it is the time that all memories of the past come back and you can reflect on all the good times you have had. Realizing what you’ve done, perhaps enhancing the lives of others, can be quite a gift.

Others feel that the best part is that you can be yourself, do what you want, and not have to answer to others.

As you age, you get the opportunity to watch your family grow around you. Your children grow up and become successful adults, and perhaps even bless you with grandchildren. There’s something about holding that grandchild – or great grandchild – that cannot be replaced.

What do you think the best things about aging are?

Give Always Best Care Senior Services a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

How to Prevent Senior Fraud

We would never want to think about someone taking advantage of our elderly parents, but unfortunately, the growing incidence of senior fraud is putting many older adults in harm’s way, threatening to strip them of their assets, their independence, and their trust.

A survey by the North American Securities Administrators Association shows senior investment fraud accounts for nearly 50 percent of all complaints received by state securities regulators. That number is up from the 2005 survey, when 28 percent of fraud reports involved the elderly.

The financial industry is littered schemes that result in broken dreams for seniors. Stories of elderly seniors losing their life savings are far too abundant. Seniors are being targeted through the internet, mail, phone, in-home visits, and free “financial seminars” specifically tailored to large groups of seniors.

There are many reasons the elderly fall victim to fraud, including being too trusting and too good mannered to be rude, wanting a better rate of return on their money, believing the salesperson is nice, friendly, and caring, and being impressed with fancy credentials and titles.

Financial predators use tactics to instill fear in seniors – making them think they will run out of money and become a burden to their families. They inspire distrust in seniors of family members concerning their finances to keep seniors from disclosing the fraud. And they prey upon the loneliness, isolation, and availability of some retired or widowed seniors.

Whatever the enticing investment, scammers use specific tactics to hook seniors. Be cautious of the phrases, “your profit is guaranteed,” “it’s an amazingly high rate of return,” “there’s no risk,” “you can get in on the ground floor,” “you would be a fool to pass this by,” “this offer is only available today,” “it’s a secret investment tip just for you,” “I’ll get you the paperwork later,” and “just make your check out to me.”

How do you know if a potential investment is legitimate? Contact the state securities regulator to see if the salesperson is licensed in the state to sell the security and if the security is licensed for sale in the state. Most investments must be registered with the state securities regulator or with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If the potential investment is not properly registered, do not invest.

Check the person and check the history of this person and/or his or her firm.

One way caregivers can help protect their elderly loved ones from investment fraud is to have open, two-way communication when it comes to finances. Make sure the loved one is comfortable talking about money honestly and openly without fear of reprisal.

If possible, have them turn to you, or a trusted financial advisor or lawyer, before making any investment. Also, if an investor is real, he or she will have no problem speaking to the client’s family member before taking the money.

Give Always Best Care Senior Services a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

Have a Senior You Want to Nominate to Receive a Special Meal?

We all know at least one senior who has done something amazing, sweet, or awesome. We also know at least one senior who is lonely, sick, or just in need of a friend.

All of these seniors – and many others – are perfect examples of people who could be nominated to receive a special, home-cooked meal when Always Best Care Senior Services and October Kitchen team up.

Kristine Lajeunesse of Always Best Care will be cooking the dishes with Chef Paul Finney of October Kitchen and then will surprise the seniors with the meals – all as part of the next Make a Senior Smile Campaign.

Maybe your grandfather is still getting out and being active – despite his advanced age. Maybe you know the nursing home “greeter” – the person who says hello to everyone as they walk down the halls. Do you know a senor that would give someone they just met the shirt off their back?

Nominate him or her!

Is your relative living alone because she is widowed or her husband is in a nursing home? Maybe your neighbor doesn’t have any family around to take care of him. How about someone from your church who is battling an illness?

Nominate him or her!

These are just a few examples of people you might nominate, but are by no means the only ones.

If you have a senior you want to nominate to receive a meal, go to the Always Best Care Facebook page or the Always Best Care blog and leave the name of the senior and why they deserve this special meal.

Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

When Do You Become a Senior Citizen?

Some would argue that age is just as much a state of mind as it is a state of being.

And with Baby Boomers now turning 65, the question of when a person becomes a senior citizen has become a topic of conversation.

Is there a certain age? Or is it when you FEEL like a senior citizen?

In 2010, about half of 64-year-olds responding to a Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey said the term “senior citizen” does not apply to them because they don’t “feel” like a senior. They described themselves as still being active and young at heart.

In the same survey, 96 percent of 50-year-olds, the youngest of the Baby Boomers, also rejected the term.

The 64-year-olds who embraced the term did so primarily for economic reasons, because they are now eligible for senior discounts.

When asked to pinpoint when “old age” begins, both the oldest and youngest Boomers selected ages well beyond them. The youngest Boomers said a person becomes old at age 78, while the oldest boomers said old age begins at 80.

The term “senior citizen” was first coined during a 1938 political campaign as a euphemism for “old person,” and now enjoys widespread usage in the common vernacular, legislation, and business. Some dictionaries define “senior citizen” as a person over the age of 65. 

In legislation, the term applies to the age at which pensions, social security, or medical benefits for the elderly become available. In this country, traditionally people have been eligible to retire with full Social Security benefits at age 65. Additionally, one can retire early at age 62 and receive a portion of – but not full – retirement benefits. Because of increases in average life expectancy and stresses on the federal budget, however, Congress has passed legislation to gradually increase the full retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2027. 

Many federally and state-funded programs also qualify individuals based on age. For example, Area Agencies on Aging provides home-delivered meals and congregate meals to senior centers and apartment communities. To participate, an individual must be at least 60 years of age or the spouse of someone 60 years of age.

In business applications, the term “senior” often is applied to special discounts and customer loyalty programs which vary by age and store.

Receiving an AARP card in the mail is a rite of passage for those turning 50. If one’s spouse is already a member, then one can receive senior discounts regardless of age.

All this being said, the boundary line between middle age and old age in our society cannot be defined exactly because governments and organizations don’t apply standard definitions or meanings. 

People may consider themselves seniors because of changes in activities or social roles – when they become grandparents or when their health declines. Some consider themselves seniors when they are invited to join AARP, qualify for Medicare, or officially retire from the workplace.

When do you think you become a senior?


Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

Always Best Care Senior Services Making Seniors Smile

You remember your grandmother feeding you delicious, home-cooked meals when you were a kid.

Now is your chance to return the favor.

Always Best Care Senior Services will be teaming up with October Kitchen of Manchester as part of the Make a Senior Smile campaign to deliver special home-cooked meals to local seniors.

Kristine Lajeunesse of Always Best Care will be cooking the dishes with Chef Paul Finney of October Kitchen and then will surprise the seniors with the meals.

October Kitchen was founded in 2000 by Finney as an opportunity to bring both food and knowledge to the table. Today, October Kitchen provides families with delicious and healthy homestyle meals and bakery items.

Do you know a senior who is deserving of a special meal? Maybe she is your grandmother who always took care of you when you were little. Or maybe he is your elderly neighbor who doesn’t have any family to take care of him.

Whatever the reason, Always Best Care and October Kitchen are asking for your nominations.

If you have a senior you would like to nominate, go to the Always Best Care Facebook page or the Always Best Care blog and leave the name of the senior and why they deserve this special meal.


Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer's and dementia care.

97-Year-Old Evicted From Retirement Home

It's a story that may enrage you.

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself without a home?

It’s something none of us want to think about.

But it’s a situation that a 97-year-old California man found himself in recently.

Jim Farrell was evicted from his home at Redwood Retirement in Napa for playing too much music.

Seriously?

Seriously.

Farrell was quoted in the local newspapers as saying, “Management would stop me and say these words: ‘Go back to your room!’ Like a kid.”

When he was put out on the street, Farrell spent three nights at a homeless shelter before an anonymous donor helped him move into Piner’s Nursing Home in Napa.

Friends are currently raising money to ensure that Farrell can stay at his new home.

Oh, and Redwood Retirement has not returned calls to the local papers.

What do you think of this situation? How do you think it could have been handled differently?

Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

What is Going on With the VA?

We do our best at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut to act as mediators and avoid controversy.

But sometimes, there's a conversation that just has to be had.

As the headlines explode about billions of dollars being spent on immigrants coming over the border... it seems that the news of the Veteran Affairs scandal has quickly become buried.  

We're talking about the men and women - and their families - that have sacrificed so much for our country... who have somehow seemingly been forgotten.

So what's the situation all about?

You’ve probably heard that there’s a problem with the Veterans Affairs system, but what’s it all about?

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs handles three major categories for America’s veterans: medical care, benefits, and burials/memorials.
Let’s take a look at the medical care side of things.

Once a veteran is discharged from the armed services, he or she must enroll in the VA system by calling a toll-free number, going to a clinic, or applying online. Veterans must have their discharge forms — known as a DD214 — to start the process.

Veterans go through a means test each year — a review of financial information to determine the priority group for enrollment and whether that person is able to make a co-pay. 

New patients are supposed to see a doctor within 14 days after their paperwork is accepted, and existing patients are supposed to see a doctor between 14 and 30 days after requesting an appointment.

That does not seem to be happening in many places and is at the crux of the scandal.

An interim independent report by the VA’s inspector general found that officials falsified records at a medical center in Phoenix, hiding the amount of time that veterans had to wait for medical appointments. According to the report, 1,700 veterans were kept on waiting lists and veterans waited an average of 115 days for an initial primary care appointment.

There have been claims of false record-keeping and long waiting lists for care at VA facilities across the country; the report called inappropriate scheduling “systemic” within the system. In some places, veterans have died while waiting for care, though there is no known link between the deaths and delays.

Other allegations include an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at a VA hospital and a mismanaged gastroenterology program that delayed treatment to veterans.

So many stories are just coming to light. Like the woman whose husband died while waiting for an appointment with the VA hospital. Two years later... she received a letter saying they could get him in for an appointment. In the letter, they also let her know that timeliness is important to them... and that she needed to respond ASAP. The even more cruel irony? Military funeral expenses weren't covered... because he had never been seen by the VA hospital.

There IS support out there for our veterans. If you couldn't tell... we're extremely passionate about helping and being an advocate for those who served.

Give us a call at 860-533-9343 to learn about our veterans care, in-home care, assisted living referral services, or Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

The Veteran, the Homeless Man, and the Cracker Barrel Incident

It's the kind of story that gets you all shades of angry... especially during a month where we celebrate the men and the women that serve our country.

Perhaps you've heard the story.  

Recently, a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran was fired from his job at Cracker Barrel for giving a needy person a corn muffin – and not making him pay for it.

Joe Koblenzer was fired from the Florida restaurant after Cracker Barrel said he had committed his fifth violation of company policy, which includes not giving away food and not consuming food without paying for it.

What happened was that a man – who looked like he may be homeless – approached Koblenzer, asking him for mayo and tartar sauce so that he could cook fish. Koblenzer gave him the condiments – and threw in the corn muffin.

Koblenzer says that he did break the rules, and understands why he was fired, but that it was worth it and he would do it again. He also said that if Cracker Barrel had asked him to pay for the muffin, he would have.

After the story got out, Cracker Barrel released this response: “Mr. Koblenzer has worked as a host at Cracker Barrel’s Sarasota store since April 2011. During the time he was employed, he violated the Company’s policies regarding consuming food without paying or giving away free food, on five separate occasions. Mr. Koblenzer received multiple counselings and written warnings reminding him about the company’s policies and the consequences associated with violating them. On the fifth occasion, again per Company policy, Mr. Koblenzer was terminated. Cracker Barrel is grateful for and honors Mr. Koblenzer’s service to our country as we honor all service men and women and their families.”

Koblenzer, who worked at Cracker Barrel to supplement his monthly Social Security benefits, is looking for a new job, but isn’t sure what he will do next.

If you were in his shoes, what would you have done? Do you agree with how Cracker Barrel handled the incident?

What is Long-Term Care Insurance and Do I Need It?

Ernest Hemingway once said, "No, that is the great fallacy: the wisdom of old men. They do not grow wise. They grow careful."

Part of aging is being prepared. And our team at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut understands that and wants to help guide you through that preparation - before you may need it.

You’ve heard of long-term care insurance, but you’re not really sure what it is or if you need it. Long-term care insurance helps provide for the cost of long-term care beyond a predetermined period. Long-term care insurance covers care generally not covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

Individuals who require long-term care are generally not sick in the traditional sense, but instead, are unable to perform the basic activities of daily living – such as dressing, bathing, eating, using the bathroom, getting in and out of a bed or chair and walking.

A lot of people avoid long-term care insurance because of how expensive than the premium could be. However, one year of this expense can be the equivalent of one month of costs without it.

Bills add up quickly when you can no longer take care of yourself and your needs exceed what family and friends can provide. Nursing homes, assisted-living centers and home care all are expensive, and there is no telling for how long you may need the service. Buying a long-term-care insurance policy can be a way of making sure your future physical needs will be met.

For many people younger than 50, long-term care insurance seems like something to defer to the future. One study shows that the 45-to-54 demographic accounts for just more than 1 in 5 long-term care policies, while those 55 to 64 make up more than half of those buying the coverage.

Many people begin to think about this kind of insurance when their parents begin going through these issues.

Purchasing the insurance at a younger age may help you get a lower premium, thereby reducing what you would pay throughout your lifetime. After a certain age, you also may not qualify for the policy. 

Don't get us wrong - selling insurance isn't what we do. At all. But guiding you through the process of aging? That's where our team at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut can help.

Have more questions? Give us a call at 860-533-9343 and we’ll help you out.

Do You Know What Medicare Covers and What It Doesn't?

It's overwhelming enough trying to figure out your own health insurance. So what if your loved one needed care? Would you know what Medicare would cover and what it wouldn’t?

Let's say, for example, your loved one is admitted to a Medicare-certified nursing facility within 30 days of a prior hospital stay and needs skilled care, such as skilled nursing services, physical therapy, or other types of therapy. In this case, if your loved one meets all these conditions, Medicare will pay for some of the costs for up to 100 days.

There is so much data to sort through that it can be overwhelming. Our team at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut is here to guide you through it.  

Did you know that even if you stay in a hospital overnight, you might still be considered an “outpatient?” Your hospital status (whether the hospital considers you an “inpatient” or “outpatient”) affects how much you pay for hospital services (like X-rays, drugs, and lab tests) and may also affect whether Medicare will cover care you get in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) following your hospital stay. 

You’re an inpatient starting when you’re formally admitted to a hospital with a doctor’s order. The day before you’re discharged is your last inpatient day. You’re an outpatient if you’re getting emergency department services, observation services, outpatient surgery, lab tests, X-rays, or any other hospital services, and the doctor hasn’t written an order to admit you to a hospital as an inpatient. In these cases, you’re an outpatient even if you spend the night at the hospital. 

Medicare may cover certain kinds of home health services like those provided by Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut- but not all.

People with Medicare are covered for home health care services if they meet all of the following 
conditions: 

• A doctor has both determined the need for medical care at home and outlined a plan for that care. 
• They require skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, or continued occupational therapy.
• They are being cared for by a Medicare-certified home health agency. 
• They must be homebound. This means that leaving home is a major effort.

Medicare Parts A and B will cover home health services such as nursing care or other therapy on a part-time or intermittent basis for people who are eligible for home health services. Home health aides typically provide help with basic tasks such as bathing, using the bathroom, and dressing and are not usually covered by Medicare.

Generally, Medicare does not pay for long-term care–a term used to describe non-skilled personal care such as help with activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, getting in or out of bed, and using the bathroom.

Does that sound like some of the care your loved one needs?

We understand that all of this can be very confusing and overwhelming – especially during a trying time such as illness in a loved one. Give us a call at 860-533-9343 and we can explain everything and go over what your options are.

Do You Know the Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease?

As we age, we all suffer a little bit of memory loss. As a wise old man once said, "I've seen so much in my life - I don't forget stuff. I only remember the important stuff." Leave it to grandparents as they age to do so with a sense of humor!

But when your loved one’s memory loss seems more severe... is it just aging – or is it Alzheimer’s Disease?

The Alzheimer’s Association notes that memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. It may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s, which is a fatal brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills.

Our team at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticut wants to share the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same information over and over, relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. 

2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. 

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work, or remembering the rules of a favorite game. 

4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. 

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance, and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror. 

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).
 
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. 

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects, or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.

10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

Does this sound like your loved one?

If your loved one is showing signs of this debilitating disease, contact our team at Always Best Care Senior Services of Central Connecticutat 860-533-9343 for a free care consultation and a frank and open discussion on what type of care may be needed – both now and in the future.