Medicare Check-Up Days 2007 | Medicare and Part D Workshops

Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) is providing you the opportunity to get all the answers you need this fall with Medicare Check-Up Days. Get the accurate, unbiased information about Medicare and the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, that you need to make the proper informed decisions. Bring your son, daughter, or caregiver to help you take any necessary notes or gather the information. This is very important as things change with your benefits. If you have any problems or questions, maybe you cannot get out to attend a program presentation...You can contact Home Helpers at (330) 839-8800 or contact OSHIIP directly at 1-800-686-1578 (email oshiipmail@ins.state.oh.us). Let no one be left behind, tell your neighbors and friends.

On-site enrollment is offered at most of the events starting November 15, 2007, unless otherwise noted. View the location, dates and venue for the presentations in your county / area here.

Call Home Helpers Inc. at (330)839-8800 for Further Information, or Contact us by email here.

Be ready and be prepared..
--Melanie Prough
Read more!

Stow Sunshiners - Senior Adults 55+

The Stow Sunshiners is a group of Seniors overseen by Stow Parks and Recreation. They offer a great many things for Seniors to do and take part in. Aside from the obvious social value, Seniors get involved in volunteering in their community, exercise, catered luncheons, and even bowling! They even plan 4 larger social events every year.

The dues to join the sunshiners are $5.00 and you must be 55 years of age or older and live in Stow or a contiguous city. What a great bunch of Seniors making a difference in their community....Home Helpers salutes you!

If you would like to receive the Sunshiner Newsletter just call Thelma at (330) 688-8673 and she will get you added. So if you are unsure, maybe you can check out the newsletter for a while and see what you might be missing.

You can visit the Stow Sunshiners HERE...To join or get more information.

Seniors can make a difference...
Melanie Prough

Please Visit our Web Site or Call us at (330)633-6558 for Further Information. Read more!

Google Health | Google’s Planned Health Information Storage Program

Posted on the Official Google Blog by Adam Bosworth, Vice President is the information for Google's plans for addressing the public's need for health information and specifically Universal Medical Record Storage. The big one here is record storage, I know from my own experience it is sometimes impossible to remember all the medications and health information...That may be crucial for me to receive proper treatment. What if you could translate your health records in to a private online database supplied by Google. I would suspect like almost entirely all of Google's public services, it would be free.


It is believed that right now at least 20% of all medical records are stored in a computer. This number will only grow. Patients who have trouble recalling information, or move to a different state, or a new doctor would be able to allow any caregiver of choice to access their online file. This seriously reduces the opportunity for mistakes and keeps a real time valid health record that is used by ALL caregivers and agencies involved as opposed to a patient picking up and delivering chart copies and such.



At Home Helpers, we beat Google to the punch for our clients. Our clients, their families, involved agencies, and other caregivers have access to selected care information via our own unique and privately constructed CareSoft™ Client Resource Management Software. We had this software developed because we realized early on there was a definite need. Client's information can change rapidly, and all care giving parties need to know. Client's families who are perhaps out of state can be given access to "check up" on their loved one. The information is accessible thought the Internet in any location worldwide, so it is always on hand. Not to worry, we always have the same information under lock and key in a hard copy form...Should it ever be needed.



Cheers to Google for working to develop such usable and necessary applications!



Have a GREAT Day,


Melanie



Please Visit our Web Site or Call us at (330)633-6558 for Furthur Information. Read more!

Home Helpers - Here we GROW, Again!

Home Helpers and Direct Link Inc. is very proud to announce the pending opening of our new office in Ravenna, Ohio. This new office in the Family and Community Services building will bring us closer to Portage County residents who need services and outreach. We are very happy to bring this new location to Portage County residents.



Please Visit our Web Site or Call us at (330)633-6558 for Furthur Information.



Thanks,


Melanie
Read more!

Mosquito Season and the West Nile Factor

Its that time of year again, soon the mosquitoes will be hitting the air in full force. Prevention and protection are the keys.

Prevention:

1. Disperse pooled water in your yards.
2. Clean pools, ponds, and birdbaths so they are free of debris...especially leaves.
3. Dispose of lawn waste properly, not in the curbs and storm drains.
4. If your yard is usually a bad mosquito area, then consider spraying.
5. Do not touch any dead birds you discover, call the health dept. to get it.

Protection:

1. Use repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Reapply as directed.
2. Cover up, long sleeves and long pants.
3. Wear dark colored clothing.
4. Avoid outside time at sun up and sundown, notably heavy mosquito periods.
5. Avoid heavily scented deodorants and perfumes.
6. Repair torn or misfitted screens in your home.

Remember elderly, ill, and young children are most often affected by the virus very severe illness related to the virus.

http://www.cdc.gov/ http://www.epa.gov/

Cover up and be safe,

Baby

Visit Home Helpers

Read more!

The Best Social Security News in Years

Virtual Hold Technology located in Akron, Ohio has announced that it will begin providing its patented queuing solutions to the Social Security Administration in its customer contact centers. Social Security is handling about forty to fifty million calls per year regarding Social Security Retirement, Survivor, Supplemental and Disability Benefits.


In order to properly execute this monumental task Virtual Hold will team up with Verizon Business. Virtual Hold Technology is a leading developer of virtual queuing solutions. Developing and implementing systems for clients such as Wells Fargo, Dominion, T-Mobile, Amerigroup, AT&T, Time Warner Cable, Ticketmaster and Avon since 1995.


What will happen when I call in to the Social Security line (1-800-772-1213)? You will be prompted exactly the same as you are now. When you get to the end and are usually told the volume is too high and the system hangs up on you, that's where the changes will be implemented. Now you will be informed of the estimated hold time and given a choice of hanging up, and keeping your place in line....instead of getting hung up on!! Then the new Virtual Hold system will call you back when it's your turn.


Kudos to Social Security, let me tell you why. Social Security is the first governmental agency to implement an alternative to waiting on hold. Increasing customer service is the main objective for using the technology, they also are projecting a savings of $1.7 million on their phone bill in the first year alone with this new technology. Great Job Social Security!


Visit Home Helpers Read more!

Medicare Part D Prescription Coverage, What you Should Know

Almost 23 million of the 43.9 million eligible Medicare participants have the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit coverage. Most began choosing a plan in November of 2005. Medicare provides the "Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder", and I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of the tool. You can also access this tool on the phone by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

The current problem with the program seems to be the variety. There are 1,875 individual plans this year having grown from 1,429 last year. Many states have more than 50 Part D plans. There are so many different programs, that the doctors don't know how to prescribe properly and within the current formulary structure for every plan. Pharmacies frequently have to call and have the prescription changed because , generic wasn't allowed, or the script requires a higher tier co-pay, or its not in the formulary at all.

What can you do to make you trips to the pharmacy quicker?

• Use the same pharmacy every time, they will access your records faster.
• Make certain your doctor only puts one medicine per script.
• Let the pharmacy know to call you with any problems if you drop off, so you don't find there was a problem when you pick up hours later and the doctors office is closed.
• Take your formulary and basic prescribing instructions to the doctor, he can even make a copy for your chart. Discuss your feelings about higher co-pays and non formulary medications with the doctor.
• If there are changes to your insurance, read them and call the insurance company if you don't understand them. Update the doctors and the pharmacy.
• If your insurance company offers 3 month supplies at a lower mail in cost, by all means do this for any normal maintenance medications.

Be aware, advised, and educated to save money on your prescriptions and stay safer too. Using the same pharmacy every time goes a long distance to avoiding medication conflicts, and allergies.




Visit Home Helpers

Read more!