Republican compassionate conservatives denied the working poor the $400 Child Tax Credit, however, they are currently negotiating a $400 billion corporate welfare bill for the drug companies - Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. This bill rips-off taxpayers and fixed-income seniors because it prohibits Medicare from negotiating price with drug companies. The main reason veterans pay only $7 for each prescription drug refill is the VA bargains for the best price with drug companies.

During the 2002 mid-term elections, the drug industry spent more than $120 million on political campaigns with most of the money going to Republication candidates.

Aren't our elected representatives suppose to be stewards of the peoples' money? Will Rogers was right, "We have the best Congress money will buy."

Sincerely,

Bill Kibble Captain USAF retired, Vietnam veteran - pbkibble@cableone.net

HUD Website on Senior Housing

A page with many links to information on housing for seniors citizens - Click

Seniors4Hire.org provides employers looking to hire seniors and seniors looking for a job, with a central place on the Internet to find each other quickly.

Renee Ward
Principal, The Forward Group
rw@the4wardgroup.com

Comment:
I have been contacted by the CCT (Califorina Clinical Trials) to patricipate in a study on memory loss.  Do you know anything about them?

Name:  Lee Murphy
Email: leemurfy@aol.co,

Editor: Their Website - http://www.cctrials.com/. There is an increasing number of clinical trials and many focus on seniors citizens. To learn all about clinical trials, read our report. Click Here

Comment:
Wanted to give you a website link for the Ms. Senior Georgia Pageant and related article featuring Avis Fox, Ms. American Classic Woman.

Our website is: www.ms-seniorga.org   Thank you.

Name:  Connie Rosenthal
Email: connie@ms-seniorga.org

Comment:

We are 74 and doing a road show from scenes from the Sunshine Boys. Please see our web site; www.bogwig.com/ssboys

Name:  Sam Younghans
Email: seniors@parsec-santa.com

An Email Concerning How to Pay for Nursing Home Care Prompts Advice from Kentucky Senior

Reference the many questions of Doug Soderstrom (click to Doug’s email) in regards to social security, medicare, medicaid, and nursing home expenses.

To begin with, I would like to say that a person who has an income (Social Security check) of $1001 is not "indigent".  The poverty level for an individual in 2003 is $749.  Further, I commend a person who is able to pay for 1/3 to 1/4 of his nursing home expenses.  He should be made to feel proud of himself.  Poverty is a heck of a stigma!!

To be eligible for QMB an individual must have a monthly income of $769 or less.  (SLMB ...$918) (QI-1 ...$1031).  These programs offer "partial medicaid" assistance.  Your individual already has the full medicaid benefit.

To be eligible for SSI an individual must have a monthly unearned income of $572 or less.  SSI offers monetary assistance so that your total income reaches this limit.  Your individual already has almost twice this amount of income.

There are several pathways an individual becomes eligible for Medicaid.  To mention a few:  there is SSI, there is "medically needy" (spend-down), and there is a "special income rule" for nursing home (custodial care) residents which briefly is:  if a person's income is below 3x's the SSI level (3 x 552 = $1656), all of his income is applied to the nursing home bill (except $30) ...the state picks up the rest and issues a medicaid card. The individual is entitled to keep $30 monthly for personal needs.

A nursing home resident, who is on Medicaid, has a place to live, three meals a day, a staff to look after him, all his medical bills paid for - including prescription drugs (and "yes" - deductibles and co-payments), free physical therapy, a free social program to attend, and usually free laundry service - just to mention a few.  Lest I forget, Medicaid will also pay for dental care, eyeglasses, and provide free transportation to and from any medical appointments.  And of course, Medicaid pays the remainder of the nursing home bill which he cannot pay for himself.

You also asked "is there any place to turn in order to assist" this person.  My suggestion is to look within yourself and within relatives and friends.  What this person needs is visits, and more visits, and more visits.  Telephone calls and letters and postcards.  And taken out for a drive, and to eat out once in a while.

The state and God will take care of the rest.

Joe Mastromarino, Kentucky Senior

Comment:

hello, I have a question? My father lives in arlington texas and is 68 going on 30. He desperately wants to compete in a 2 mile to 5k distance race, is there any such competition for him ? I would a ppreciate any and all information possible.Thank you
Name:  juan sastoque
Email: juansastoque@hotmail.com

Editor: Here is the contact for the senior games in Dallas. This competition is usually held each April. Carol Lucas - 214-670-6266 clucas@mail.ci.dallas.tx.us. Go to a store that sells running shoes and they can probably tell you about area running events.

Comment:

   My name is krisitne beddows and I am writing on behalf of my grandmother. She called me the other day and said that there may be some sort of program that allows young people who don't have enough money of their own or who want to help the elderly. she described it to me as the young person(s)is placed in the home of and elderly person and they live there and help the elderly person out with odd things. she said it was also available for the fact that some elderly folk just want a little companionship. if you know of anything to help me with this please cantact me.
 
I currently reside in Barrie, Ontario and would perfer to stay here near my grandparents.

Name:  Krisitne Beddows
Email: Kristine7@starwarsfan.com

Editor: We recently carried a link to the national Website for this program – National Shared Housing Resouce Center – www.nationalsharedhousing.org.

Comment:

I would appreciate if you would do your best to respond to the following questions that I have in regards to social security, medicare, medicaid, and their application to nursing  home expenses.  Thank you very much for your time.

At what point must the recipient of a social security check give the proceeds of his/her  check to  the nursing home that is taking care of the individual in question?

Assuming (in this specific case) that the individual in question was receiving medicare  benefits until May 26, 2003 (that being the day that medicare benefits ran out), would  the nursing home have had the right to demand that the individual in question give to the  nursing home some part of the monetary amount of the social security check?

If the individual in question received his/her social check on July 3, 2003 would it be correct  to assume that the check received on July 3, 2003 was (according to The Social Security  Administration) intended to cover the individuals expenses for the previous month (in this  case for the month of June)?

Now, if the individual in question then gave such social security check (the one dated July 3, 2003) to the nursing home in order to help pay the nursing home bill, would it then be a correct to  assume that the nursing home in question should accept that specific social security check (that is, the one dated July 3, 2003) to pay for the nursing home costs for the month of June-------- the specific month of costs for which the social security check was intended?

Also, assuming that the individual in question entered the nursing home, let's say on May 1, 2003, and the medicaid application was approved on July 28, 2003 (with the annotation that medicaid would  begin paying for costs as of May 1, 2003 when the individual entered the nursing home in question),  would it be correct to assume that medicaid would "pick up" unpaid deductibles, unpaid medicare  co-payments , etc., assuming, of course, that the individual in question was indigent (that is, that the  individual in question had absolutely no income or assests at all)? 

Assuming that the individual in question is indigent (had absolutely no income or assests whatsoever----- other  than the Social Security check of 1001 dollars which is now, because he/she is now on medicaid, is in its  entirety be paid to the nursing home in question), is there any place to turn in order to assist the indigent  person in question------------------ such as:

-------The QMB program
------- SSI
------- Any other suggestions?

Name:  Doug Soderstrom, Ph.D.
Email: dougsod@wcjc.cc.tx.us
 

Editor: You have a lot of questions that deal with the regulations of Medicaid, which is handled by the states. You should talk with someone at your state agency. Generally, when a Medicaid patient is in a nursing home, his or her payment to the nursing home is determine by including all income, including Social Security. Go to our page of helpful links pertaining to elder care, which can also guide you to your state contact. Click Here

Comment:

Are their any senior beauty pageants in New York State?

Name:  Marilyn Stecker
Email: marilynjack@thesteckers.com
 

Editor: Not that we can find. The Poughkeepsie Journal carried this reference in their issue of June 28, 2002, of about an attempt there.

”June Kaufmann, assistant executive director of the Association for Senior Citizens, said her organization ran a beauty pageant for a brief time but found it hard to find contestants. If she was attractive enough for it, she wasn't going to admit she was old enough.''

Comment:

I was wondering, in view of the most recent defeat of the Airline pilot age 60 rule, what the future holds in this area as far as any orgianized effort to make a change.

Name:  Keith Melton
Email: melton1110@aol.com

Editor: There nothing new about it on the Air Line Pilots Association Website. Here is a link to their statement in 2001 in support of the Age 60 Rule. Click Here

I just ran across your article on the Memory Problems Checklist (initially the Symptoms of Dementia Screener).  I thought you might be interested to know that there is now a toll-free telephone number (800 289 4974) that provides the checklist -- as well as direct cogntive testing -- and hours of other information and resource links that are of interest to people with or caring for others with dementia.  The system is supported by the National Institute on Aging.  The checklist/screener can also be found on the web at www.factsforhealth.org.

Name:  James C. Mundt, Ph.D.
email: kulehand_luke@yahoo.com

Editor: Thanks for the tip. I’m sure our readers appreciate it, too.

 Enjoyed your interview on CBS news. I bet the majority of the seniors interviewed voted Republican.  When are they going to realize that Republicans only help those who don't need it.
Why do seniors keep voting for W and his cronies?

Name:  Jan Cox
Email: jajacox@hotmail.com

Editor: Wasn’t me on tv. Maybe you will get some answers.

Nice website; do you by chance have a full date for Resolution 75 making Bob Hope a Veteran in October 1997?

Name:  marlene
email: marlenejoyce@wanadoo.fr

Editor: I don’t know but try the official Bob Hope Website - http://www.bobhope.com/

 Hi - I am looking for the percentage of adults 50+ who travel, read, walk/run and listen to music.

Name:  Gene Spadaccini
Email: gspad@vcmti.com

Editor: I have no idea.
 

I am interested in obtaining a reversed mortgage on my home. Do both husband and spouse have to be 62 years of age. I am 63 and my wife is 56. Hope to hear from you shortly. 

Thank you, Henry Anderson

Editor: You need to check your bank or mortgage company. Most of these are state regulations.

Do you know of any government funded programs to help a family member take care of a disabled elderly?

Name:  Alana Julien
Email: amp025@twmi.rr.com

Editor: Check our our page of helpful information links for assisting the elderly – Click Here

Hi,
 I am writing because I know your magazine helps distribute info to seniors and there is a treatment called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Hyperbarics is being used around the world in the enhancement of problem healing wounds, radiation tissue damage and other indications. One of the newest indication for use of hyperbarics is diabetic foot ulcers (Its covered by the patients insurance). This is huge for the senior communtiy. Hyperbarics can help to PREVENT AMPUTATIONS, and other painful surgeries. The treatment is entirely non-invasive and PAINLESS. These topics become more important as the years pass by. I was looking at your web site and I noticed you have a lot of information out there, but I could not find anything about hyperbaric oxygen therapy. There are many articles that I am sure would be great on the website. The articles talk strictly about Hyperbarics and I assure you is nothing promotional on my part, although I do work at a clinic that administers such a treatment.

Thanks for your wonderful resource,
Angela Smet

Editor: If you want to know more. Here are suggestions from Google - Click