REVIEW OF: BEFORE I WON

 

The cover shows someone climbing a steep incline, the runner getting bigger as he makes progress toward the top. It is surprisingly inartful for a cover by an artist like the writer, but it is consistent with the gritty candor of Tomas Veres’s text itself.

Tom Seed was not welcome at birth, nor through much of his first two decades, spending some hellish times at home, in school, in prison, on the streets. A lesser person would be crushed, and he nearly was. In turning his life around, he absorbed lessons from the homeless, from business owners, from books and motivational speakers. His efforts mostly met with heartbreaking failure.

The advice of one man, a successful entrepreneur, John, gave Tom the key: find what you are unusually good at, your particular gift, and pursue that intensively. Tom's pursuit was difficult, but his achievement was richly rewarding.

This is a Horatio Alger, up from the muck, book, filled with the lessons from Tom's valuable experience, and I found it compulsive reading.

Its shortcomings are largely cosmetic: the bland cover, the unattractive interior formatting, and the typos detract from the storyline. Its strengths are more important: we learn from Tom's book what he had to learn from bitter experience. I was inspired to look at my own life in a different light, a gift from this talented writer   

Link to amazon.com listing: 

https://www.amazon.com/Before-I-Won-Tomas-Veres-ebook/dp/B07G3HQQW8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1548806578&sr=1-1&keywords=before+I+won

MANAGE NURSING CARE AT HOME, "Employer Medical Coverage"

CHAPTER 8 EMPLOYER’S MEDICAL INSURANCE: OUR EXPERIENCE (Cooper, 2011)

I [DWC] worked for IBM for a decade, from 1983-1993, and was covered during that time by their Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield policy at work and for another decade after taking an early retirement buy-out that included their continuing medical coverage.  What follows is as brief summary of that experience, along with what happened with the successor insurance companies, MVP, and then United Healthcare, which companies IBM contracted with to manage the medical coverage for some of its retirees.

EMPIRE BLUE CROSS / BLUE SHIELD, 1983-2004

While I was working at IBM, most of our medical costs were quite routine and well covered by their health plan policy.

During the 100-days’ war against Tina’s aspiration-caused pneumonia, from February to June 2004, we ran up roughly a half-million dollars in hospital expenses, covered by IBM’s policy with Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New York State. When she returned home, round-the-clock skilled nursing was similarly covered, without a problem by Empire BC/BS, whether the billing came from the nursing agency or from me.

INSURANCE BLUES:  MVP, 2005

One must sometimes fight one’s insurers.

At the start of 2005 we were moved by IBM from Empire to MVP. We started round-the-clock skilled nursing care with an agency in June 2004, and I started hiring nurses to fill the gaps in the agency coverage a few months after we began this. By January 2005, I had taken over hiring the nurses, at a higher salary than the agency had been paying, then training and managing them, and billing the insurers for a cost mid-way between what the agency was charging and what the nurses were receiving; I was changing what our actual cost was.

MVP wanted more documentation than Empire had required. We sent them reams.

MVP wanted to stop paying for the skilled nursing at home, labeling Tina’s need as “custodial care” rather than “skilled nursing care.” Custodial care is roughly equivalent to babysitting, which would include giving bottles and making diaper changes. Tina was on a ventilator, fed through a gastric tube, quadriplegic, and in pain if morphine were not given in proper amounts at proper times. There were about a half-dozen prescription medications to be given at various times during the day and night. The gastric tube needed daily care. The tracheostomy needed daily care.

All activities needed to be documented, to assure they were done, to provide continuity of care from shift to shift. We had hospital orders for all this, along with a doctor’s orders as well. Still, MVP carped. They planned to stop paying for daytime skilled nursing care. They refused to pay for overnight care.

From 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., through all of 2005, I was the overnight nurse, resting beside Tina, getting up for the administration of medicines, answering over-pressure or under-pressure alarms from the ventilator, suctioning secretions from her trachea, changing her disposable diapers by rolling her carefully on the bed while keeping from hurting her tender wrist joints.

I do believe “work is love made real,” and this was a labor of love. The loss of sleep was less a problem than was the fear that I would be alone when we lost electrical power, as we do several times each year here, or when she had an emergency condition requiring my immediate attention and my calling for help simultaneously. Evacuating her from a fire would be terribly difficult alone, too. Walking the dog briefly or checking some questionable condition outside meant abandoning her. Not good, not good.

We appealed the proposed removal of MVP financial support for the daytime nurses, and we pushed for overnight skilled nursing as well. Two levels of MVP reviewers turned us down. Two levels of IBM reviewers turned us down. An independent outside medical review, our last hope, vindicated our position entirely. Yes, one must sometimes fight.

We had started replacing some of the agency nurses as early as August 2004. By January 2005, I believe, we no longer used the agency. We started hiring overnight nurses in January 2006. MVP was slow to pay, getting behind a month or two for much of the year. At $25,000 per month, this created a significant cash-flow problem.

UNITED HEALTHCARE

Next, we were switched by IBM to United Healthcare (UHC), the group we are with now. They were less demanding than MVP, and more helpful; but the transition delayed our reimbursements (we pay the nurses, weekly, ourselves) for two or even three months, amounting to $50,000 to $75,000 in arrears. I fear that few other couples would have had the savings we had that let us cover this shortfall. Eventually, UHC caught up, to our relief.

Thank you, United Healthcare.

THANKS TO IBM

In the decade since 2005, IBM has paid more than five million dollars for Tina’s care. My decisions to work for IBM and, ten years later, to take their early-retirement buy-out, paid off for us. We are greatly appreciative. The ten years I worked for IBM proved to be the best working situation I ever had.

    ###

Contact information:

Diane R. Beggin, RN

40 Sycamore Drive

Montgomery, NY 12549

DianeBegginRN@gmail.com

http://ManageNursingCareAtHome.com

Our book is available from amazon.com, bn.com, and OutskirtsPress.com: How to Manage Nursing Care at Home

WHAT EVER HAPPENED...? Why This Title

WHY THIS TITLE?

Years ago, after many failed relationships, I had begun writing a book about my messed-up love life. I wrote the stories of all the stuff that had taken place in my life from the early 1990s until when I became too sick to teach (around 2006 or so). One of the many stories I had for that book was when a 1993 boyfriend of mine cheated on me, and because of that, I stopped eating. My family flew me down to Florida to try to help me get better. Grandpa Johnson was particularly concerned and very generous. When I was a child, he had usually given me $5 when we were saying our goodbyes. After this horrible breakup, he slipped a $50 bill into my hand that I didn’t notice until I got on the airplane to fly back to New York.

So, to that cheater and you other men whom I was with during that timeframe, consider yourselves lucky that I had a brain tumor, because that book I was writing was airing your “dirty laundry” for all the world to see (with only slight name changes).

The name of that book was the same as this book. I originally was writing about how I never ended up with the husband, babies, nice house, and cozy life that I long ago planned on having. Those three children I wanted (Rachel, Rebecca, and Jonathan – in THAT order) never happened. I married twice – one ended in divorce, and the second one I had annulled.

Now, mind you, there were a few good men in my life that I had dated. In that original memoir, I wrote nothing about “Catholic Boy Jim,” “Banker Bob,” or “Oregon Greg” (my affectionate nicknames for them) because they were sweet and did not mistreat me. I called Jim that because he was very attached to his church. What he learned there helped me too. I wrote about Jim here earlier. Bob was a nice guy too. He even stored some of my teaching supplies (in his garage) long after we broke up. Another good guy was Greg. I knew him when we both worked for Ulster County BOCES, before he moved to Oregon, that beautiful state. I’ve remained friends with all three of them to this day. So, those three men were NOT written about in my former “tell-all tale.” But, the rest of the men I dated WERE described. Finishing the writing of that embarrassing saga was sidetracked by my brain tumor, you lucky boys.

The day I wrote about here earlier, when I almost missed my first appointment with my editor because I got lost so many times when I had to drive myself, is the day I decided this title would remain. One teenage boy who used his cell phone to help me get back on the correct road to the Orange County [New York] Chamber of Commerce yelled to me as I ran back to my car, “So, what’s your book’s title?”

As I jumped in to speed away I shouted, “What Ever Happened to My White Picket Fence?”

As soon as I drove away, I thought to myself, Janet, that was the title of your book when you were writing about your screwed-up love life. But then, the very next thought was this: Janet, it’s the perfect title still! You wanted one life (teaching forever and a happy family life), and you got another (battling disability and advocating for the brain-injured).

Now, I know that not everyone ends up with the comfy-cozy life they planned on when they were so much younger. Everyone has a story to tell. But, I feel my particular story is unique because you don't see too many middle-aged women recovering from a massive brain tumor with no husband, no children, no grandchildren, and no nearby family members to assist.

Though I've had LOTS of help from friends, my dog, Aiden, church folks, former co-workers, and others, I know that God has orchestrated this all. He had a plan for me, and it wasn't to teach special needs children up until the usual retirement age. He knew that I could write (I was published a few times in educational journals when I was going for my Master’s at SUNY New Paltz. My excellent professor there at that time, Dr. Spencer Salend, asked me to be a co-author with him.)

So, as I was saying, God decided I was done teaching. He had a bigger plan. Little did I know that day in June 2009, when the neurologist told me about the size of my brain tumor, that I would “live to tell the tale” and thus, hopefully provide help to others struggling with this “fooler” diagnosis.

I write “fooler” because, as I learned at one of my helpful support groups, MANY of us with brain injuries can appear completely normal, thus no one around us “sees” what’s actually going on inside of our heads. I believe I am an excellent “fooler” because I talk fast, remember others’ birthdays, arrive on time and so on.… What isn't witnessed by the majority of people, is how HARD I worked to get all of that done correctly and somewhat politely.

I spend hours upon hours planning and orchestrating my day. I have lists everywhere so I can remember the simplest of tasks, as I've written here already. But, just because I look OK, doesn't mean I'm doing just fine.

I find myself to be in many settings where I feel like I'm about to explode due to someone else's rudeness, and so, I talk to God to help me calm down.

I don't know if it's my brain injury or not, but I just witness way too much selfishness everywhere these days. As I was compiling this chapter, a family of four (two parents in their early 40s and their two teenagers) were on a line in a grocery store ahead of me (and also an elderly woman behind me).

I was in a back brace and purchasing one item. The elderly lady had a cane and was purchasing two items. I thought the parents would model for their teenagers how to take care of others. Instead, they placed their MANY items on the conveyor belt even though they saw my brace and her cane.

Wasn't that a teachable moment? Instead, it illustrated one more time how people think of themselves first.

          So, we ALL had to wait so the father's beer could be sold by a manager (vs. the under-21 register girl). My back ached, and the elderly lady looked mighty uncomfortable. In my opinion, those parents modeled selfishness, not kindness. Since I've created a scene in the store once before (as I wrote about in my chapter about the things people get right even when I don’t), I bit my tongue so as not to create another scene. God does “overtime” with me with that tongue of mine!

I don't really know if it's my hyper-vigilance or what, but I'm sad to observe how often others think of themselves first. Also, as I was compiling this chapter, I observed a selfish daughter on Father's Day, of all days. Guess what, daddy's little girl? It's not all about you! I truly pray that our world will improve and more people will put others before themselves. I strongly believe that that's the only way our world will get better.

I do know that I now have a “bigger” everything: my feelings are stronger on all topics; my emotions are displayed much more often than ever before; my reactions to others’ behavior is grandioso; my sensitivity to anything and everything that takes place is over-the-top, sometimes embarrassingly so. This list is just the tip of the iceberg….

And that's why this book had to happen. So many people are experiencing the aftermath of their brain injury but without others in their lives understanding how to: take better care of them more; forgive them more; appreciate their difference more; tolerate their “odd” behavior more; ask how they're doing more; be helpful, just to be kind, more; put the brain-injured person ahead of themselves once in a while more; ask if they need anything, more, and so on….

And remember – no two brain injuries are the same. I actually know people that are offended by me calling myself “brain-injured” when I'm still driving, feeding myself, etc. They think that someone who is not in diapers in a nursing home should not be labeled that. But, guess what?

I may be able to do so much more than others who are also labeled “brain injured,” but I certainly have lost the life I once had when I was completely able to take care of myself physically, financially, emotionally, and behaviorally. As someone stated in one of my support groups, “Brain injury is NOT a competition!” [Exactly!]

And the same is true for many others who, like me, have been labeled “brain-injured” by their doctors, not by themselves. So, instead of treating them badly because they’re higher functioning than the person in your realm who has a more severe brain injury, treat them with kindness because their life is altered permanently also.

The best person who could model for you how to do this is Barbara Sickler. I wrote about her in the chapter “Friends,” but she needs more of a mention right here and now. Though her sister’s traumatic brain injury forced hospitalization and then nursing-home care, which eventually led to an early-in-life death, Barbara treats me with such warmth and love. She sends me cards and notes to cheer me up when she knows I'm experiencing a “rough patch.” We met because of the subject of brain injury. But, we will remain friends forever because she lovingly cares about those of us with all degrees of brain injury.

I've experienced first-hand the opposite of her warmth, and it's very difficult to write about because it's so close to home. But, as always, I've prayed to God to lead me, and I have an overwhelming feeling that this has to be stated: take care of the person who had a tumor, stroke, aneurysm, or any other acquired brain injury just like you would the person who had an accident and hit their head. They all have damage to their brain; it just took place in different ways, and in various severities. The only commonality is the life they once lived is now permanently gone. Those of you who treat others badly because of your own self-centeredness are very difficult to be around for those of us who can't keep up the pace any longer. Cut us some slack. We deserve kindness, not phony friendliness.

         

I need to add that as I was compiling a part of this chapter, I also did this: had three chiropractic appointments for my back that was still in a brace; had a very expensive new mattress delivered so I could help my very sore back; cleaned lots of clutter out of the way so the “mattress men” could get it in the door; tolerated very noisy construction going on for days in the condo attached to mine; had a doctor’s appointment, a dentist's appointment (ugh!), a meeting, a funeral, and regular, everyday stuff like walking my dog, etc. I'm proud that I was still diligent enough to get this book work done! Way to go, Janet!

So, it's time to wrap up this book. My editor told me that it takes the average person four to nine years to write a book. I did it in three.  And – I did it the “slow” way (handwritten) because I’m slower on the computer. Even though I can use it, I'm very slow-moving so I needed a lot of help. And – my brain is not always up to challenges.

I've already been asked to speak about this book at 20 different locations when it comes out. My editor tells me getting so many invitations while still writing is rare. I'm impressed with that myself.

I now take on God's “Plan B” for my life. The white picket fence never happened, but so much other stuff did. And a lot of that was truly good too. My best advice to anyone is to enjoy what you have instead of wallowing in what you don't.

In the spring of 2016, on the last day of a Women’s Bible Study I had participated in at my church, a “bright light” went off when the book we were studying from, Jeremiah – Daring to Hope in an Unstable World, by Melissa Spoelstra, had a passage from the Bible that I realized as soon as I read it, it was going to be put at the end of my book. I started to tear up when it was on this large wall in huge letters as we watched this DVD.

Dear, sweet Ilse touched my arm to ask if I was okay. I said, “Yes – I just figured out how I'm going to end my book.” She smiled because she knew how much I was struggling with how to wrap it up.

Writing this book was the hardest thing I've ever done, and with the life I’ve had, that’s really saying something! But, I persevered and never gave up. As Dory says in the Disney/Pixar film Finding Dory, “I did it!”

To those of you who need to get closer to God for any reason, know that He’s always by your side. The Bible states it better than anyone could. God bless you…here’s that passage:

I cry out, “My splendor is gone!

Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!”

The thought of my suffering and homelessness

is bitter beyond words.

I will never forget this awful time,

as I grieve over my loss.

Yet I still dare to hope

when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is His faithfulness;

His mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:18-23 NLV

The End

of my book!

The Beginning

                                                                   of the rest of my life....

###

I (Douglas Winslow Cooper) have been excerpting, weekly, material from this almost-final version of the fine book by Janet Johnson Schliff, M.S. Ed., which she wrote over a three-year period with some coaching and editing help from me, through my business, Write Your Book with Me.

Her memoir is now available in paperback and ebook formats from Outskirts Press  and amazon.com: 

What Ever Happened to My White Picket Fence? My Brain Injury from My Massive Brain Tumor

                                              ###

BOOK TALKS AND SIGNINGS

Janet is taking a much-needed respite from her book tour. More talks will be planned in the spring of 2019… she can be contacted at 845.336.7506 (home) or 845.399.1500 (cell).

Janet Johnson Schliff spoke at the Oblong Books Bookstore in Rhinebeck, NY, on Tuesday, February 6 at 6 p.m.

Janet was on WKNY Radio 1490 in Kingston, NY, on Thursday, March 1 at 9:10 a.m. 

Janet spoke at Barnes & Noble in Kingston, NY, on Saturday, March 3 at 1 p.m. 

Janet spoke at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck, NY, on March 6 at 7 p.m. 

Janet spoke at the Golden Notebook Bookstore in Woodstock, NY, on March 17 at 2 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Morton Library in Rhinecliff, NY, on March 28 at 6:30 p.m. 

Janet spoke at RCAL in Kingston, NY, on April 3 at 4 p.m. [They gave her an impromptu book-launch party.]

Janet spoke at the Parkinson's Support Group at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck, NY, on April 4 at 2:30 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Stone Ridge Library in Stone Ridge, NY, on April 27 at 5:30 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Hurley Library in Hurley, NY, on May 4 at 6 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Kingston Library in Kingston, NY, on May 9 at 6 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Staatsburg Library in Staatsburg, NY, on May 14 at 7 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Clinton Community Library in Rhinebeck, NY, on May 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Mountain Top Library in Tannersville, NY, on June 9 at noon.

Janet spoke at the Gardiner Library in Gardiner, NY, on June 11 at 7 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Marbletown Community Center in Stone Ridge, NY, on June 20 at 6 p.m.

Janet was interviewed on radio station WTBQ-FM (93.5) on June 29 at 12 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Esopus Library in Port Ewen, NY, on July 13 at 7 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Pine Plains Library in Pine Plains, NY, on July 20 at 6 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Ulster Library in Kingston, NY, on July 23 at 5:30 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Northern Dutchess Bible Church in Red Hook, NY, on August 11 at 1 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Inquiring Minds Bookstore in New Paltz, NY, on September 6 at 7 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Adriance Library in Poughkeepsie, NY, on September 15 at 2:30 p.m.

Janet was interviewed on radio station WRIP-FM (97.9) on September 21 at 8 a.m.

Janet again spoke at the Mountain Top Library in Tannersville, NY, on September 22 at noon.

Janet spoke at the Enchanted Cafe in Red Hook, NY, on September 28 at 7 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Hyde Park Library in Hyde Park, NY, on October 4 at 7 p.m.

Janet participated in an Author Weekend at the Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie, NY, on October 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Janet spoke at the Tivoli Library in Tivoli, NY, on October 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Janet’s interview for the TV program Wake Up with Marci on the You Too America Channel aired on Monday, November 5, and Friday, November 9. It can now be found on the Internet.

Janet spoke at the Germantown Library in Germantown, NY, on November 7 at 6:00 p.m.

Janet participated in the Red Hook Middle School's College and Career Cafe in Red Hook, NY,  on December 19 at 10:30 a.m.

Janet will speak at the Stanford Free Library in Stanfordville, NY, on Saturday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m.

Janet will speak at the West Hurley Library in West Hurley, NY, on Saturday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m.

Janet will participate in an Author Talk at the Saugerties Library in Saugerties, NY, on Saturday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Janet will speak at the Moffat Library in Washingtonville, NY, on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 p.m.

More signings will be coming up. A fine feature about Janet by John DeSantos [845 LIFE] appeared in the Middletown Times Herald-Record on Monday, March 12, as part of Brain Injury Awareness Month. An article about her book was just published in the May 2018 Living Rhinebeck Magazine. An article about her book appeared in the May 14 Daily Freeman of Kingston, NY. and another in the Family Life section of the Poughkeepsie Journal on June 8th. The Millerton News published an article on Thursday, August 2, about her talk at the Pine Plains Library. 

Geeq, Blockchain / Cryptocurrency Endeavor

News from my sister-in-law, Irene So, about our niece, Stephanie So, and her husband, John Conley, the entrepreneurs behind this:

About her blockchain start-up, Geeq.  

Geeq is moving along nicely and Stephanie has started 
to attract some nice publicity.  She has been especially pleased because 
so much of current news is "pay-for-play", and she and the other 
founders made a decision not to go that way from the beginning.  So, 
this has been some very welcome recognition for their work.

I thought I would share her profile, since I am sure she would not send 
it to you herself.

https://medium.com/authority-magazine/women-leading-the-blockchain-revolution-assume-the-best-in-others-when-you-first-meet-them-with-eb4813fbae82

Also, I am sure you'd be pleased to know that she has been selected to 
present at a DARPA conference for blockchain security next month.  We 
look forward to her visit to the DC area then.

25 THINGS ABOUT MY FRIEND GINNY NODHTURFT

25 Random Things About Me

January 17, 2010 at 1:53 AM

1. As I formed the habit of being grateful and counting my blessings rather than my burdens, I began to see more clearly that I was no more important than the next person. 

2. I love to point out to people their genuine positive attributes. This comes easy for me and often comes to a surprise to them that they have positive qualities.

3. The choices I made impacted on the quality of my life and my degree of happiness. More important choices were my choice of friends, a husband, being there for my son, choosing my attitude and being involved with my parents, and “doing good” for others.

4. It’s taken me a long time to realize that my happiness is something I can decide on ahead of time. It’s how I arrange my mind. When I wake up I already decide I’m going to have a good day

5. I don’t like speaking in front of a group; despise negative, chronic complainers, have no talent for math or drawing, and hate waking up in the morning.

6. I’m terrified of snakes and big waves.I had bad experiences with both and had nightmares about each for years.

7. I was raised in a very strict Irish Catholic family. I always felt as though I was living in a constant state of sin. Always feeling guilty. I often wondered how the hell my catholic friends and I turned out relatively normal. It baffles me.

8. I’m a worry wart. I actually worry when I’m not worried.

9. My favorite saying is “if you’re bored, you are boring”.

10. I believe in the power of prayer. But, I’m not a fan of formal religion. I do believe there is a higher intelligence or energy source up there somewhere .If one wants to call him God then so be it. I pray every night for friends & family.

11. I wish I was a better wife, more patient, considerate and appreciative.

12. Patience is not one of my virtues. If it takes to long or is too hard, or too complicated I loose interest.

13. When all is said and done life is all about rich relationships with others and I realize now that my purpose on earth is to do good for others.

14. I wished I kept in touch more with my old high school buddies
.
15. Silent night is my favorite song. It's my Dad's and Brother ken's favorite song too.

16. I’m not a good housekeeper. I think I have that clutter disorder that prevents me from throwing out sentimental things..

17. I love to laugh and am attracted to funny people because I’m not the least bit funny. I think being funny is a sign of brilliance.

18. My favorite comedy shows are Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm.The writers of those skits are absolutely brilliant.

19. I wish I was actually the wonderful person that my son and husband think I am.

20. I would describe myself as a hard worker, pulling the wagon in the same direction with my husband over the years and feel good about us being able to provide Phil with every possible advantage that we could offer.

21. I like feedback positive or negative. Each makes me grow. I wasn’t always able to accept negative feedback in the past however.

22. I bought a gun and took a class to learn how to shoot it. I never in my wildest thought I’d ever do that. I am a gun rights convert.

.23. I have a lot of concerns where our nation is going right now. I'm moving from an independent to a more conservative political orientation

24. I have a profound respect for our veterans. I believe they are our true heroes.I'm proud to have been a VA Nurse and to have served our veterans.

25. I hope I live long enough to see my first grandchild.

###

Written almost a decade ago by the beloved wife of my best friend, Phil Nodhturft, this surfaced on Facebook last week, and I have Ginny's permission to repost it. We should all be as nice a person as she is and as aware of ourselves.  [DWC]

MANAGE NURSING CARE AT HOME, "Long-Term Care Insurance"

CHAPTER 7 LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE  

Betty Wilson (2014) presented a comprehensive, yet succinct, description of the whys and wherefores of long-term care insurance. She starts: “…ironically, many of us forget about long-term care insurance, even though, according to statistics, 70% of Americans will need some form of long-term care after the age of 65.” As Wilson states, “Long-term care includes services offered to people who are suffering from a chronic disease, cognitive impairment, or a disabling condition.”

While in our forties, Tina and I [DWC] were able to purchase long-term care insurance for both of us (Cooper, 2011):

During my IBM employment, the John Hancock Insurance Company got IBM to allow them to offer a special deal for the IBM employees to obtain long-term care insurance. The options had fixed total payouts, with the middle option that we chose being a total of $210,000, several times my annual salary at that time. They could not deny participation due to prior medical conditions, and we were open about Tina’s multiple sclerosis, the symptoms of which were mild back then.

Five or ten years later, when we met the disability requirements to qualify for weekly supplementation of our home health aide’s salary, Hancock started paying about $250 per week to reimburse us. This went on for fourteen years, paying about half to two-thirds of the cost of our aides, who typically worked a thirty-hour to forty-hour week.

Home health aides provide “custodial care,” the kind of care a dependent infant or disabled or incompetent person needs, without supplying medical care. They handle the Significant Activities of Daily Living that the patient cannot. Although most people probably get their aides from agencies, we advertised in the paper and obtained aides with certifications that Hancock accepted or had a nurse review their performance and certify that they were qualified without formal credentials.

     Medicaid has significant restrictions on paying for such care, and Medicare rarely pays for home health aides at all.

     Wilson (2014) describes the following “care choices”:

·       Care in the home: “Providers who are eligible to offer home health-care include qualified home health-care agencies or independent care givers who deliver home care, the home of a relative or friend, or a community- based residential facility.” One must assure the agency is certified and the care is provided by one or more of the following: nurses, therapists, social workers, certified home health aides or nursing assistants. Family members can sometimes become deemed to be qualified.

·       Care in the community: Various adult day care centers and group programs are used to supplement the care obtained at home.

·       Care in an alternate living facility: “An alternate living facility basically offers ongoing care” outside the home. They offer a wide range of services, and selection will depend on the patient’s needs.

·       Care in a nursing home: This situation provides living quarters and nursing care on a round-the-clock availability.

·       Accessory dwelling units: Second living spaces near the home allow some independence without putting the patient far from the family.

·       Continuing-care retirement communities: “CCRCs are retirement communities offering more than a single type of housing. They offer different care levels.”

·       Hospice care: for terminally ill patients. Medicare usually covers this.

·       Respite care: short-term assistance to allow the primary caregiver to rest. Medicare covers up to 5 days of this if you are receiving hospice services.

·       Some states have other programs beyond these.

     For more information on long-term care insurance, see Wilson (2014) or obtain information from insurers in your state.

    ###

Contact information:

Diane R. Beggin, RN

40 Sycamore Drive

Montgomery, NY 12549

DianeBegginRN@gmail.com

http://ManageNursingCareAtHome.com

Our book is available from amazon.com, bn.com, and OutskirtsPress.com: How to Manage Nursing Care at Home