The COA Reporter

Executive Officers

President ~ Joy Sharp

Vice President ~ Marilyn Faulkner

Secretary/Treasurer ~ Randy Packer

Board of directors

Members

Jeff Brinkman

Lulu May Carney

David Clark

Ann Kadish

Cliff Lloyd

Amanda Mainstone

Mary Lee Mitchell

James Norris

David Schoenefeld

Karan Scigouski

Ted Strawser

County Commissioner Assignment:

Kevin Myers County Council Assignment:

Charles Ashcraft

Volume 22, Issue 01 January 2016

SHIP Appointments Medicare open enrollment

available

Call 463-4161 to schedule an

appointment

Mission, Vision & Values Statements The LaGrange County Council on Aging's’ mission is to be a provider and resource for services that improve the quality of life for older adults of LaGrange County and enable them to retain their independence, including providing accessible public transportation for all residents of the county. The LaGrange County Council on Aging's’ vision is to enrich the quality of life for every LaGrange County senior citizen by serving as a leader and catalyst for programs, education, and services that foster independence.

Stewardship: We use our resources responsibly. Teamwork: We are committed to teamwork and value everyone’s contribution. Excellence: We expect the best of ourselves and one another. Integrity: We keep our word and are faithful to whom we say we are. Dignity: We respect and fully recognize the person as an individual

You are cordially NOT invited to attend the LaGrange County Council on Aging’s

10th Annual No Show Holiday Ball!

You are NOT invited...

We will take great pleasure in knowing that you do not have to travel in this lovely weather that we have… Stay at home in your comfortable clothes and don’t worry about coming to spend time with people you don’t even know! Enjoy the season with your Family! Wishing you a holiday filled with joy, warmth, laughter and security of your loved ones. As you enjoy all the comforts of home, at home, please consider a donation to the LaGrange County Council on Aging. Your gen-erosity will go a long way in our efforts to provide assistance, compassion and help to members of our community. We hope to make a difference in our community by making it a better place to live! An R.S.V.P. card is enclosed for your convenience. Please do not come. Instead, please accept our heartfelt gratitude from all of the board mem-bers and staff at the LaGrange County Council on Aging for your past and continued support of the seniors of LaGrange County.

Send in your RSVP card (available on the next page) to NOT attend!

The COA Reporter Page 2 www.lagrangecoa.org

It’s that time of year again when we are inclined to get the sniffles or even a

full blown cold. We can’t stop from catching these things so we are inclined to

treat them ourselves. This, in its self, is not a bad thing but there are a few things

we must be aware of. Most over the counter cold medications contain a drug

called Acetaminophen. When used properly, this drug does a really good job in

your treatment. Like a lot of other things, however, too much of a good thing is a

bad thing. Basically, Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and a fever reducer. This

medication is used to treat many conditions such as headache, muscle aches, ar-

thritis, backache, toothaches, colds and fevers. So what’s the problem? The prob-

lem is this. Acetaminophen is hard on your liver and there are over 600 different medications that contain

this drug. If you start mixing these drugs you could put yourself in a bad situation especially if you drink alco-

hol.

Before taking acetaminophen tell your Doctor or Pharmacist about any allergies you might have. This prod-

uct may contain ingredients which can cause allergic reactions.

The most common product that contains Acetaminophen is Tylenol and almost all of the cold remedies

have this ingredient in them. By no means should you stop taking medications that contain this drug but be

wary of taking too much of it. Our bodies have two of a lot things but we have only one liver. Read the labels

and help protect yourself.

TRIAD Alert Contributed by Dan Votaw, TRIAD Vice-President

RSVP to “Not” Attend the 10th Annual No Show Holiday Ball

I would like to support the seniors of LaGrange County.

____$1,200 (450 round trip visits with LaGrange County

_____$500.00 (Installation of a free ramp for a senior who meets Income parameters)

_____$250 (delivery of groceries for 2 seniors for a year-52 bags of groceries)

_____$125 (delivery of 26 bags of groceries)

_____$50.00 -25 round trip transportation within the county

_____$25.00-3 turkeys or 5 bags of groceries delivered

_____$_____ other amount (every dollar helps)

Name: _____________________________________ Company (If applicable): ______________________

Address: ___________________________________ City: ________________ State______Zip ________

Email: _____________________________________

Please return your gift to LaGrange County Council on Aging, PO Box 107, LaGrange, IN 46761

*Gifts to the LaGrange County Council on Aging are deductible as charitable contributions within the

limits of the IRS Code. You may also make your donation by phone at (260) 463-4161 or donate online at

www.lagrangecoa.org.

222 South State Street

Kendallville, Indiana 46755

(260) 347-0950

State Road 9 North

Wolcottville, Indiana 46795

(260) 854-2251

Pat & Kathy Young

info@youngfamilyfuneralhome.com

Website: www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com

www.lagrangecoa.org Page 3 January 2016

NOVEMBER 2015 SERVICE REPORT

BP/Glucose Checks ................................................... …….45

BINGO ....................................................................... …….45

Volunteer Hours………………………………………………………….79

Transportation Vehicle Miles ................................... 47,561

Total Transportation Trips........................................ ..5,301

Total Transportation Hours………………………………..2,446.17

Clients unable to schedule ....................................... …… 33

Home Assistant Clients............................................. …….22

Home Assistant Miles ............................................... ..477.3

Phone Calls ............................................................... ..3,625

Senior Mart Client/Trips ........................................... .11/13

Wills Living Wills Probate Decedent’s Estates

212 South Detroit Street

LaGrange, IN 46761-1808

463-2526 (Office)

854-2564 (Residence)

JEFFREY W. WIBLE Attorney at Law

Support Groups There will be no Alzheimer’s

or Stroke Support Group in January

Have You Visited Us Online Lately?

The LaGrange County Council on Aging’s website has

helpful information that is always being updated.

VISIT US AT OUR WEBSITE

WWW.LAGRANGECOA.ORG

Anyone Can Ride

www.lagrangecoa.org The COA Reporter Page 4

Parkview LaGrange Hospital Earns Quality And

Performance Recognition From Two National

Healthcare Sources Parkview LaGrange Hospital announced today that it has been recognized as a Top Performer on Key

Quality Measures by the Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of healthcare organizations, and as a Per-

formance Leader for Quality and Outcomes by the National Organization for State Offices of Rural Health and

iVantage Health Analytics.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the employees and medical staff of Parkview LaGrange,” said Rob Myers,

president, Parkview LaGrange Hospital. “Their commitment to delivering excellent care to each of our pa-

tients provides the foundation for this recognition.”

The Joint Commission recognized Parkview LaGrange Hospital in its 2015 annual report “America’s Hospi-

tals: Improving Quality and Safety.” The hospital was recognized for its achievement in its interventions for

pneumonia and venous thromboembolism. To be a Top Performer, hospitals had to meet three performance

criteria based on 2014 accountability measure data, including:

Achieving cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability

measures;

Achieving performance of 95 percent or above on each and every reported accountability measure

where there were at least 30 denominator cases; and

Having at least one core measure set that had a composite rate of 95 percent or above, and (within

that measure set) all applicable individual accountability measures had a performance rate of 95 per-

cent or above.

“Delivering the right treatment in the right way at the right time is a cornerstone of high-quality health

care. I commend the efforts of Parkview Health for their excellent performance on the use of evidence-based

interventions,” said Mark R. Chassin, M.D., FACP, M.P.P., M.P.H., president and CEO, The Joint Commission.

iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH) for over-

all excellence in Quality and Outcomes, recognized Parkview LaGrange as a Performance Leader in Quality

and Outcomes, based on its top quartile performance among all acute care hospitals in the nation.

These rankings have been designated by the Hospital Strength INDEXtm, the industry’s most comprehen-

sive and objective assessment of hospital performance. In partnership with NOSORH, iVantage Health Ana-

lytics has developed a data-driven program designed to identify excellence across a broad spectrum of indica-

tors relevant to hospital performance and patient care. The Hospital Strength INDEXtm captures performance

metrics for more than 4,000 acute care hospitals, including over 1,300 rural and Critical Access Hospitals.

“Parkview LaGrange, along with the other top quartile performers, should take great pride in this recogni-

tion. It showcases their commitment to continuous performance analysis and improvement. On this occasion

of National Rural Health Day, it’s an honor to celebrate their achievement as they continue to serve their

communities, despite the many market, regulatory and financial pressures they face,” said Michael Topchik,

senior vice president of iVantage Health Analytics.

www.lagrangecoa.org Page 5 January 2016

Genetic Testing and Senior Planning

By: Kurt R. Bachman

I work with an attorney whose grandfather worked long days farming 500 acres of corn, beans and wheat and raising Herefords. He was a quiet man, respected in his community and sharp as a tack until the day he died. He, like all farmers, was a saver. He spent the last three and a half years of his life in a nursing home due to Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis, where he paid all the nursing home cost from that savings.

On hearing this farmer’s story, and many like them, I wonder if these savers would have changed their saving and spending habits, their lifestyle, their estate planning and gifting habits if they knew what the fu-ture held?

I often tell clients that all of the planning we do today is based on what we know today. I remind them that people and circumstances change due to marriage, health and other factors and that those factors may change our wills, trusts, lifetime gifting and powers of attorney. While we may not ever be able to predict relationships, science is now beginning to offer the ability to predict some of the health factors through ge-netic testing.

Genetic testing, for our purposes, can be simplified into three categories: disease diagnoses; carrier sta-tus; and predictive testing. It is the third category, predictive testing, that may influence our estate and el-der planning.

Predictive testing determines a person’s risk for hereditary disease. While these predictive tests deter-mine risk, they do not predict that a person will definitely develop a disease. Many other factors influence health, such as lifestyle and one’s environment.

Important to seniors is that genetic testing is beginning to reveal information about diseases associated with growing older, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and some cancers. This goes to my question about whether people would make different life and planning choices if they knew more about the likelihood of their future.

Will a person with a high risk of Alzheimer’s retire early? Will a farmer with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease gift the farm to his 3 adult children earlier in his life so that the farm will never be considered an asset available to help pay for nursing home bills?

Continues to Page 8

CLASSIFIEDS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Volunteers are needed to help with our

luncheons, wheel chair ramp project,

and small home repairs.

Now Hiring!

Part-time van driver

Apply at COA office

Thank You To Our Volunteers

www.lagrangecoa.org COA Reporter Page 6

Special Thank You Every Thursday morning, rain, snow or shine, Foltz Bakery of LaGrange provides the Council on Aging with donuts for their weekly morning coffee and donut program. Thanks so much to Foltz Bakery for their thoughtfulness, generosity and delicious donuts. Every Thursday morning, our clients come to the Council on Aging building for their Blood Pres-sure/glucose testing. Thanks to Miller’s Merry Manor for donating the time and professional nursing service for this very important weekly activity.

Our Deepest Thanks... Donations

Cross Roads RV Constance Parker Joy Sharp Norine Doig Brenda Hines Richard Gerren Herb & Arlene Short Jill Simpson Carolyn Vogel Ruth Parish Lorraine Schrock Don Curtis Ruth Ann Downey Shirley Stansbury Connie Kresse Shelley Hamilton Carol Clark Jim Kennah Sandy Rhodes Paws and Claws Barb Frymier Jim & Penny Boss Dana Martin Hites Auto Body Stroh Sunny Spotlighters

In Loving Memory of Jac Price Madonna Price

In Loving Memory of Charles Smith Linda Walker

Thank you to all of our donors! Please consider making a donation to our No Show Ball to help support programs and services offered

by the Council on Aging throughout the year.

Charles Ashcraft

Jeff Brinkman

David Clark

Cliff Lloyd

Amanda Mainstone

Thaine Martin

Mary Lee Mitchell

Apolinar Montoya

Chris Meyers

Jim Norris Mike Porter David Schoenefeld

Sandy Shields Kevin Stephens

Don’t forget to send in your

RSVP to NOT attend our

annual NO-SHOW Ball! We

would love to not see you

and would appreciate any

support you could offer us!

Upcoming Events

Foot Care Clinic Jan. 15th & 27th At COA

www.lagrangecoa.org Page 7 January 2016

BIBLE STUDY 9-10am At the COA

January 6, 13

Blood Pressure & Glucose Checks

8-9am @ COA

AARP Meeting There will be no meeting

in January

COA LUNCHEON Jan. 18th, 11:30 am at COA

Call 463-4161 to RSVP Please bring item for

the Senior Mart

TRIAD MEETING Tuesday, January 5th

8:00 AM

Notice Senior Mart Shoppers:

Our pantry is here for low income seniors that need help with groceries. 2014 filed taxes or proof of household income are needed for eligibility.

We also accept donations of non-perishable items. You must attend one class a year to receive food.

Please check expiration dates before bringing in items.

Haircuts January 11th

8:30 AM—12:00 PM Call to make an appointment

Topeka Shopping Trip January 25th

10:00 AM — 12:00 PM

BINGO Every Thursday, 9-10 am

Bring non-perishable food

Nominate for Senior of the Month You have the chance to nominate for Senior of the Month by turning in your ballot by the last day of each month. Winners will be announced on the third Monday of each month at the LaGrange County Council on Ag-ing luncheon.

MONTHLY WINNERS WILL RECEIVE:

Reserved parking spot at the LaGrange County Council on Aging luncheon

Name engraved on the Senior of the Month plaque, displayed at the LaGrange County Council on Aging luncheons

Prize provided by Life Care Center of LaGrange

COA Reporter Page 8

Items loaned at no charge,

however donations

are accepted.

(Refundable deposit required

for wheelchairs)

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair Ramps

& Loan Equipment The LaGrange County Council on

Aging has loaner equipment for our LaGrange County Seniors or those

with disabilities. Wheelchairs Walkers/Canes 1 Hospital Bed Commodes Shower Chairs

If you are in need of any of

these items, please contact

the Council on Aging at

463-4161

LaGrange County Council on Aging

WISH LIST Bingo Prizes

AAA Batteries Lysol

Quarters for Van Washes Gas Cards

Yarn New Kitchen Towels

Peanut Butter Canned Meats

Mechanical Pencils

www.lagrangecoa.org

Continued from Page 5

There are many medical, social, ethical and legal concerns about predictive genetic testing. Many people with a higher risk of a disease, such as Alzheimer’s will not actually develop that disease, while others with no known genetic risk or family history will develop it unpredicta-bly.

Genetic testing is becoming more available as the cost significantly declines. Scientists predict that genetic testing that cost $350,000 a year ago will fall to $1,000 in a few years.

Due to the difficulty of understanding genetic tests and their re-sults, health care professionals called genetic counselors are now avail-able to counsel people on issues related to genetic testing. They sup-port families considering genetic testing, help interpret information, review options, assist in determining if testing is needed, and serve as patient advocates.

It is difficult to know the answer to whether this predictive testing should influence our decisions. What I do know is that as testing be-comes more affordable and more common, many questions will be asked about if, how and when such testing should influence our long-term planning and whether a genetic counselor is in our future.

Kurt R. Bachman is member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. and is a Veterans Affairs Accredited Attorney.

Beers Mallers Backs & Salin, LLP | 108 W. Michigan Street | LaGrange, Indiana 46761 krb@beersmallers.com | ph: (260) 463-4949 | fax: (260) 463-4905

DISCLAIMER: Kurt R. Bachman and Beers Mallers Backs & Salin, LLP, appreciate the opportunity to provide insight into legal topics of interest. The content of this article is designed to provide information of general interest to the public and is not intend-ed to offer legal advice about specific situations or problems. Kurt R. Bachman and Beers Mallers Backs & Salin, LLP, do not intend to create an attorney-client relation-ship by offering this information, and anyone’s review of the information shall not be deemed to create such a relationship. You should consult a lawyer if you have a legal matter requiring attention. Kurt R. Bachman and Beers Mallers Backs & Salin, LLP, also advise that any information you send to this Newsletter shall not be deemed secure or confidential. Please visit our office to ensure complete confidentiality.

Footnotes 1Wilcox, Gergory & Koff, Rachel, Genetic Testing and Counseling Primer for Elder Law and Spe-cial Needs Planning Attorneys, 90, NAELA Journal (Volume 11, Number 2, Fall 2015). 2Id. 3Id. at 92. 4Id. at 94. 5Id. at 93. 6Natl. Human Genome Research Inst., Regulation Of Genetic Tests; Overview of Genetic Tests, (Apr. 17, 2015), http://www.genome.gov/10002335. 4Nat’l. Socy. Of Genetic Counselors, Your Genetic Health: Patient Information, What is Genetic Counseling? http://nsgc.org (accessed December 15, 2015).

Page 9 www.lagrangecoa.org January 2016

www.lagrangecoa.org COA Reporter Page 10

309 W. Michigan St.

LaGrange, IN 46761

(260) 463-3131 Office

260-463-4244 Fax

brian@fruripmayfuneralhome.com

www.fruripmayfuneralhome.com

Frurip-May Funeral Home Brian H. May

Funeral Director

MICHAEL J. FROST Funeral Director

603 S. Detroit Street LaGrange, IN 46761

Phone: (260) 463-3444

Cell: (574) 292-0659

Fax: (260) 463-3481

carneyfrost@earthlink.net

Carney-Frost Funeral Home

LaGrange County Country Place Apartments - 215 W. South Street, LaGrange, IN 46761

Meal Time - 11:30

Call 463-4161 for more information

www.lagrangecoa.org Page 11 January 2016

Become a Gas Sponsor of the

Month

1 month for $150 Each additional month $100 /

month

Gas Sponsors IU Health Systems

Parkview LaGrange Hospital United Fund of LaGrange County

Life Care Center of LaGrange CenturyLink

First Baptist Church of Wolcottville

COA Presented OCRA Award

Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann (right) recently presented the LaGrange County Council on Aging with an award from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). The COA will be receiving a $400,000 grant to assist with building updates and remodeling. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this long project! We are excited to keep moving forward!

LaGrange County Council on Aging

PO Box 107 • 410 E. Central Ave.

LaGrange, IN 46761

www.lagrangecoa.org

LCCOA Staff:

Executive Director: Cheri Perkins cperkins@lagrangecoa.org Transportation Coordinator: Kristyn Steele ksteele@lagrangecoa.org Transportation Assistant/Home Assistant Coordinator: Erin Young eyoung@lagrangecoa.org Administrative Assistant: Deb Carter Home Assistants: Shelley Hamilton, Linda Llera, Devonna Albaugh, and Tambra Bryant Transportation Specialists: Steve Olinger, Steven Larkey, Byron Kline, Kevin Ramer, Eli Kinsinger, Dale Wentworth, Kevin Nelson, Mike Nelson, Michael Richards, Deb Kline, Larry Feller, Ray Springer, James Hendrix, Rose Lowe, Bill Griewank, and Gene Doseck

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

LaGrange, IN. 46761

Permit No. 20

Council on Aging services are provided without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry. Services offered by the Council on Aging are made available through various funding sources. Federal and State dollars are assigned to us through Aging & In Home Services of NE Indiana. Locally, dollars are re-ceived from IU Health System, REMC Operation Round-Up, LaGrange County Commissioners, Parkview La-Grange Hospital, LaGrange Community Foundation, United Fund of LaGrange County, United Way of Elkhart County, and your very much appreciated donations!

I would like to support the various programs

offered by the LaGrange County Council on

Aging

Please use my donation to support

___ Senior Activities ___ Building Fund ___ LCAT

This donation was made in memory of

____________________________________

Please send acknowledgement to:

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

City/State/Zip: ________________________________

We ask that those receiving our newsletter donate $5

a year to help cover the cost of printing and postage

Need a Ride?

Page 12 January 2016

TIME TO RENEW?

Don’t miss an issue of the COA Reporter. Check your subscription expiration date on the mailing label and use the renewal form on the back of page 12.

Or Current Resident