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:

Jac Price County Council Assignment:

Charles Ashcraft

Senior Day Away From The Fair

This year the LaGrange County

Council on Aging in partnership

with Life Care Center of LaGrange,

Miller’s Merry Manor and

Parkview LaGrange Hospital host-

ed Senior Day at the Council on

Aging. Breakfast was served from

Parkview LaGrange Hospital, Bingo

was sponsored by Miller’s Merry

Manor and lunch was sponsored

by Life Care Center of LaGrange.

The event was well attended and

entertaining with Dance Center

Stage performing some of their

finest dance moves for the enter-

tainment. There was lots of “free

stuff” to be had and some free

medical testing was offered. This

event was normally held at the

fairgrounds, but since we pur-

chased our own building with lots

of space we decided to host the

event here. The Council on Aging

still offered rides to the fair-

grounds if someone still wanted to

go. We appreciate everyone that

showed up for a fun filled day at

Senior Day “Away” From the Fair.

Volume 21, Issue 08 August 2015

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

SHIP Appointments Medicare open enrollment

available

Call 463-4161 to schedule an

appointment

The COA Reporter Page 2 www.lagrangecoa.org

Difficulty concentrating

Sleep or appetite changes

Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness

Anger

Low self-esteem

Personality changes

There is a disturbing trend that has developed in the United States and, unfortunately for us, LaGrange County Indiana has not been overlooked. The trend of which I speak is the alarming increase in the rate of senior citizen suicides. Senior citizens (over 65 years of age) compose about 12% of the population in the United States but account for about 18% of the suicides. These figures may be misleading because of under-reporting due to the stigma attached. The latest figures indicate that there are about 15 suicides for every 100,000 people between the ages of 65 to 75 years old. There are about 17 suicides for every 100,000 per-sons aged 75 to 84 and the figure increases for persons over 85 years of age. Suicide rates among women generally decline after age 60, but the rate among men keeps climbing. The University of Rochester Medical Center reports that while older people make fewer suicide attempts than the young, they are more likely to die from them, in part because they rely on guns. Younger people have more physical resilience and use less lethal means. It is reported that depression is behind a majority of the suicide attempts, and a lot of older people have problems asking for help. Depression can involve differ-ent symptoms in older patients because we have been conditioned to believe it is not O.K. to express emo-tional pain. Men are especially good at hiding this pain. Beyond depression, researchers have identified a cluster of other risk factors in late life suicides, including physical illness and pain, the inability to function in daily life, fear of becoming a burden and social disconnection. There is a direct correlation between depres-sion and senior suicides. The culture of our society is to not talk about things in an upfront and personal way. Your LaGrange Coun-ty TRIAD Committee would like to inform you that there ways to overcome this misguided line of thinking. For example, Parkview LaGrange Hospital has designed a program called the “LifeBridge Senior Program”. This program has been developed to deal with the unique problems that affect us older citizens because we don’t deal with challenges as well as we used to. Changes in our physical abilities, the loss of a loved one or isolation can lead to depression and anxiety. Left untreated this can lead to many other problems. The LifeBridge Program can help seniors who are experiencing any of the following:

Depressed mood

Unresolved grief

Anxiety or nervousness

Worry

Isolation or loneliness

Difficulty coping with health/physical changes The treatment is, of course, confidential and is done in coordination with the patient’s primary care phy-sician. This program uses a team approach consisting of multi-disciplinary medical and behavioral health per-sonnel. Referral to this program can be done by the individual themselves or a family member. Referrals can also be made by physicians, hospitals, assisted living facilities or nursing homes. This program is accepted by Medicare. For more information or if you just want to talk with them, give them a call at (260) 463 9270. They will be more than happy to talk with you. We all feel “down” from time to time but letting it go too long can have dire consequences. When our bodies get out of balance, we can go to a Doctor and get fixed up. Sometimes, when we get confused, we al-so need professional help to get back in balance. It often takes someone on the outside looking in to see the problem. Parkview LaGrange Hospital is starting a new program called “Wellness on the Road”. Please consult the LifeBridge Senior Program at (260)463-9270 for a destination near you. This could be the one thing that pre-vents a tragedy and really turns your life around.

TRIAD Alert Contributed by Dan Votaw, Vice-President

222 South State Street

Kendallville, Indiana 46755

(260) 347-0950

State Road 9 North

Wolcottville, Indiana 46795

(260) 854-2251

Pat & Kathy Young

w w w . y o u n g f a m i l y f u n e r a l h o m e . c o m

www.lagrangecoa.org Page 3 August 2015

JUNE 2015 SERVICE REPORT

BP/Glucose Checks ................................................... …….46

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

Volunteer Hours……………………………………………………118.25

Transportation Vehicle Miles ................................... 46,519

Total Transportation Trips........................................ ..2,503

Total Transportation Hours………………………………..2,402.95

Clients unable to schedule ....................................... …… 24

Home Assistant Clients............................................. …….20

Home Assistant Miles ............................................... ..438.0

Phone Calls ............................................................... ..3,976

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

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 Alzheimer’s Support Group 08/18—6:00 PM

Stroke Support Group 08/27—6:30 PM

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

Changes to Medicare: Not a Replacement for Legal Planning By Kurt R. Bachman

Patients and Elder law attorneys everywhere should be keeping an ear tuned to recent proposals made by the Center for Medicare Services. In late June, the Center for Medicare Services revealed its intention to begin paying doc-tors for their efforts to “counsel” patients on end-of-life care and planning. With the changes pending, any experi-enced attorney recognizes that the new policy reinforces the primary goal of any dedicated elder law attorney: to help clients establish a proactive plan that best addresses their requests and wishes for end-of-life care. As the general public awaits a final decision on the policy, a thoughtful observer cannot help but speculate about the implications the new policy might have on legal planning. Many people will remember that this is not the first time that officials suggested the proposal to reimburse doc-tors for their discussions with patients on end-of-life care. In 2009, officials attempted to pass a similar policy, which former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin argued created “death panels” that dictated the extent of care given to patients in order to cut medical costs. Although the old proposal was hastily abandoned in an attempt to keep Obamacare from suffering a political death, the new proposal repackaged the old policy in a way that attracted less attention. Essentially, the new proposal will allow doctors to enter into voluntary conversations with Medicare pa-tients concerning treatment options at the end of life. In return, doctors would be reimbursed for the time they spend discussing care options. There is no doubt that this decision is politically charged. Void from political concerns, however, the concepts and objectives at issue are similarly related to the goals of le-gal professionals who advise on elder law issues. The proposal aims to get people thinking about the quality and direc-tion of end-of-life care before a problem arises and that individual is unable to provide direction. Now that doctors may be paid to have these conversations, patients will be encouraged to answer tough questions at an earlier stage when they might ignore the promptings otherwise. While a doctor may open the door by encouraging thoughtful con-sideration about end-of-life care, an attorney can help solidify those decisions by creating legally binding documents that enforce your directives. One valuable tool that may be used in this area is an “Appointment of Health Care Representative” document. This instrument allows an individual to name another person as the final medical authority if you lack the ability to communicate. For example, if someone is unresponsive due to a coma and they require medical treatment, their healthcare representative must give directives based on the information they have and prior assertions the unrespon-sive patient made in the past. This may include withdrawal of treatment if the representative believes it to be in the best interest of the patient. Of course, someone named as a healthcare representative is encouraged to confer with the patient’s family and loved-ones. Another legal device frequently used to address directions for end-of life-care is a “Living Will” declaration. When a patient is near death and their life may be prolonged by futile medical care, a living will declaration guides a physi-cian on the level of care the patient receives. If a patient is struck with an incurable disease or illness, and death is near, a declaration specifies whether a patient is to receive food and water in order to sustain life. Lastly, a Living Will allows one to consciously acknowledge they are choosing not to decide, leaving the decision to their health care rep-resentative or a designated Power of Attorney. The idea is that the representative will have a better understanding in that moment to make decisions based on the circumstances. Your Living Will declaration cannot override any directives you orally give. Under Indiana law, you are required to de-liver your Living Will instructions to your attending physicians. As a result, your doctor should make your living will a part of your medical file so it is readily available in a time of need. A living will declaration is effective only once some-one is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Also, even though your doctor may be informed about your intentions through the Living Will, he or she is not required to follow those instructions because a doctor is expected to use their intuition for the best immediate medical treatment available. As such, a client is always encouraged to have direct conversations with their physician concerning their intentions and end-of-life treatment. Likewise, it is always wise to facilitate similar discussions with family members so a physician is never faced with deciding between a Living Will declaration and the family’s request.

Continued to Page 5

www.lagrangecoa.org Page 5 August 2015

Continued from Page 4

Finally, one other mechanism often employed in gaining medical consent is an “Out of Hospital Do Not

Resuscitate” Declaration (DNR). This legal order commands a healthcare provider to allow a person to die nat-

urally instead of artificially prolonging life in two situations: 1) when a patient is suffering a terminal illness,

and 2) when a patient has a medical condition causing cardiac or pulmonary failure. A DNR order is executed

through a written state form with two competent witnesses present. The attending physician must sign the

form to certify that their patient is qualified to execute the DNR form. Executing a DNR order will not invali-

date a life insurance policy unless a term of the policy explicitly provides otherwise. Healthcare providers are

required to ignore a DNR order if a conscious patient states a desire for other resuscitative measures, if they

have a good-faith belief that the DNR order has been revoked, or if they believe the DNR order should be ig-

nored to avoid physical or verbal confrontation at the scene. The DNR order is a useful tool that allows pa-

tients to further dictate their end-of-life care.

The new Medicare policy, controversial as it may be, will help to facilitate proactive decision-making so

excessive stress may be avoided with end-of-life care. While legal documents and physician interaction are

exceptionally important in their own right, neither option should cancel out the need for the other. Rather,

your wishes are best served through legal documents and physician interaction working in harmony. In any

event, the Medicare policy that strives to compensate doctors for entertaining end-of-life care conversations

is only a small piece of the puzzle that you should consider when planning for your medical future. End-of-life

decision-making should involve your doctor and your attorney in order to ensure your requests are enforced. I

highly recommend every interested person research the new proposal for Medicare so they may become

properly acquainted with its implications for their end-of-life care.

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 intended 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 relationship by offering this information, and anyone’s re-

view 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.

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

Our Deepest Thanks... Donations

June Cattell Cheryl Kirkpatrick

Nancy P Jim Kennah

Sandra Rhodes Norma Miller

Deb Carter Bess Gallagher Connie Good

Wayne Bieberich Viola Miller

Carol Haviland Richard Gerren

Life Care Center of LaGrange Miller’s Merry Manor

Parkview LaGrange Hospital

Adam Montgomery Ann Kadish

Betty Green Brandon Dejong

Carlos Santos Cheri Perkins

Christine Kinsinger Cliff Lloyd

David Schoenefeld Deb Carter

Dick Reese Erin Young

Hazel Reese Jeremy Tuttle

Jim Norris Joy Sharp

Kayla Wallace Lois Norris

Lulu May Carney Mike Porter

Myron Sharp Rafael Luna

Randy Packer Rodney Duvall

Sandra Rhodes Stephanie Gibson

William Jeffries

THE LAGRANGE COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS. CALL US AT 463-4161 FOR VOLUNTEER

OPPORTUNITIES!

SAVE THE DATE!

Tuesday,

October 13,

2015

Upcoming Events

Footcare Clinic August 21st & 26th At COA

www.lagrangecoa.org Page 7 August 2015

BIBLE STUDY 9-10am At the COA

August 5, 12, 19, 26

Blood Pressure & Glucose Checks

8-9am @ COA

AARP PICNIC AUGUST 7th

LaGrange Town Park—12 PM

COA LUNCHEON August 17th, 11:30 am at COA

Call 463-4161 to RSVP Please bring item for

the Senior Mart

TRIAD MEETING August 4th

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 August 10th

8:30 AM—12:00 PM

Topeka Shopping Trip August 24th, 10 am—12 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

Wheelchairs Walkers/Canes 3 Power Scooters 2 Hospital Beds Commodes Shower Chairs

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.

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 Windex Multi-Surface Cleaner

Kleenex Car Air Fresheners

Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker Popcorn Oil Popcorn Salt Plastic Cups

Windshield Washer Fluid Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Toilet Paper Glass Cleaner

Regular Garbage Bags

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 Pressure/glucose testing. Thanks to Miller’s Merry Manor for donating the time and professional nursing service for this very important weekly activity.

www.lagrangecoa.org

COA Begins

Lending Library

The Council on Again has re-

cently begun a lending library

thanks to a suggestion from

former LCAT driver Robert

Fauver.

We are currently accepting

books and bookshelves. Stop

by and check out our selec-

tion of books!

Most Deserved Employee of the

2nd Half We recently named Byron Kline the most deserved employee of the 2nd half. Byron has worked for the COA as a transportation spe-cialist for almost 4 years. He has the best attitude and will do whatever is asked from him. Byron never complains and is just a great guy! Tell Byron congratulations next time you see him!

Page 9 www.lagrangecoa.org August 2015

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 August 2015

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

July Luncheon Sponsored by Life Care Center of LaGrange

This month’s luncheon had 62 people in attendance, that were

served a delicious lunch prepared by the Life Care Center of La-

Grange staff. Mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, fried chicken and but-

tered corn were served for the lunch with cheesecake for dessert.

Four lucky guests were treated with Deb Carter’s delicious cake,

since a certain volunteer accidentally knocked the remaining

cheesecake into the trash can while Cheri was trying to portion

them out. :-)

Our guest speaker was Kurt Bachman, from Beers Mallers

Backs & Salin, LLP. Kurt is very informative and does a wonder-

ful job with his articles that he writes for our newsletters every

month. We are very lucky to have him willing to help us make

you more informed by his elderly law knowledge.

The next monthly luncheon will be sponsored by Miller’s Merry

Manor on August 17th, beginning at 11:30 am. Please RSVP

ahead for your reservation to 260-463-4161. If you would like

more information on how you can sponsor a luncheon, please call

and ask for Cheri.

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, Carl Stump, Steven Larkey, Byron Kline, Kev-in Ramer, Eli Kinsinger, Dale Wentworth, Kev-in Nelson, Mike Nelson, Michael Richards, Deb Kline, Larry Feller, Ray Springer, James Hendrix, Tim Shoemaker, Rose Lowe, and Bill Griewank

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 August 2015

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