Seniors Solutions of Colorado

Professionals Advising Colorado Seniors How to Live Better

Posted on January 4, 2011 by admin

We’re here to offer solutions to seniors and their families on everything from nutrition and health to real estate and travel. We’re here to offer solutions, so reach out if we can be of service to you.
Think of us as network partners for planning your future. We help empower your decision-making as you move forward with your life.

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Bathtub Test – Seniors Solutions of Colorado Humor for the Day

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Joan Toohey

During a visit to my doctor, I asked him,

“How do you determine whether or not an older person should be placed in a retirement home?”

“Well,” he said, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub.”

Bathtub Test - Seniors Solutions of Colorado Humor for the Day - how would you empty it?

“Oh, I understand,” I said. “A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”

“No” he said. “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”

ARE YOU GOING TO PASS THIS ON? OR DO YOU WANT THE BED NEXT TO MINE ?

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First SSC Senior Expo of 2012 at Malley Center a Smashing Success

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Connie Ellefson

Over 250 seniors, their family members, and other interested folks joined us at the Malley Center on April 12 for our second annual expo. We want to thank our guests for your positive energy, and for your intelligent and thoughtful questions to the presenters of panel discussions.

This was the first time we included panel discussions featuring experts from among the members of Seniors Solutions of Colorado. Our topics included “Living Comfortably in Retirement,” which addressed financial concerns about retirement, ”Growing and Glowing,” about adding new experiences to your life, and “Preparing for the Unexpected,” when your health or life circumstances take a turn.

All three panels were well-attended, and interest was high, given that a couple of them ran overtime a little with extra questions and answers. We will be featuring these panels at several of our upcoming events, starting with our expo scheduled for May 16 at Barnum Recreation Center. Please feel free to join us there, and many thanks again, for your attendance and enthusiasm at Malley Center!

: Visitors gather info about Seniors Solutions of Colorado Expo at Malley Center, April 12, 2012

: Over 250 Visitors joined us for the Expo, enjoying free snacks, giveaways and lots of valuable information.

: SSC Crossword Puzzle Books have been immensely popular at our expos. Brand new puzzles were available for the first time this year at the event.

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Personal Emergency Response Systems

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Pamela Christmas

Personal Emergency Response Systems provide peace of mind and security for a growing number of seniors and disabled individuals by enabling them to easily summon assistance in the event of an emergency. By simply pressing a wireless activator, which is generally worn around the neck or wrist, the senior is immediately connected to a 24-hour Emergency Reponse Center. Trained Communications Technicians then initiate a two-way voice communications with the client to determine the level of assistance needed. The voice communication is “hands-free,” that is, the senior will speak to the operator and be able to hear their responses directly through the unit without needing to use the telephone. With instant computer access to personal and medical information, provided by the client, the Communications Technician will promptly send the appropriate assistance upon determing the situation.

www.argushomehealthcare.com

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Caregivers: Saying “No” to Unfair Requests and Demands-JFS at Home

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Kim Finnestead

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone; April is National Stress Awareness Month. Family caregivers not only have their own stress, but the added difficulties that come with caring for someone else. A recent report by Evercare and the National Alliance for Caregiving found that caregivers’ health is suffering due to their caregiving responsibilities, and the resulting stress.

If you are a family caregiver struggling with unfair requests or demands being put on you by a loved one, here are some tips to help you say “no.”

1. Be as brief as possible, i.e., give a legitimate reason for your refusal, but avoid long elaborate explanations and justifications. Such excuses may be used by the other person to argue you out of your “no.”

2. Actually use the word “no” when declining. “No” has more power and is less ambiguous than, “Well, I just don’t think so…”

3. Use the words, “I won’t” or “I’ve decided not to,” rather than “I can’t” or “I shouldn’t.” This emphasizes that you have made a choice.

4. You may have to decline several times before the person “hears” you. It is not necessary to come up with a new explanation each time, just repeat your “no” and your original reason for declining. This is called a broken record and is a skill that by calm repetition teaches persistence without you having to rehearse arguments or angry feelings beforehand, in order to be “up” for dealing with others.

5. You may want to acknowledge any feelings another has about your refusal, such as “I know this will be a disappointment to you, but I won’t be able to…” However, you don’t need to say “I’m sorry” in most situations to apologize for your refusal. Saying “I’m sorry” tends to compromise your basic right to say “no.”

6. Avoid feeling guilty—it is not up to you to solve other people’s problems or to make them happy.

7. If you do not want to agree to the person’s original request, but still desire to help him/her out, offer a compromise: “I will not be able to help you the whole afternoon, but I can come for two hours.”

Remember, JFS at Home is here if you need a break! Our trained, bonded, insured compassionate caregivers are available to provide relief and peace of mind anywhere from one hour to 24/7.

www.jfsathome.com

Call us at 303.750.4000 to learn more.

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Medicare Confuses Many Seniors

Posted on March 13, 2012 by John W "Jack" Weaver

Most seniors on Medicare will pay $99.90 per month this year for Part B outpatient coverage. But how would you like to pay 10 percent more for that coverage, or 50 percent more?

As many readers will know, it’s fairly critical to understand the rules for filing for Social Security. Likewise, the rules for filing for Medicare benefits can make or break your retirement. Unfortunately, it’s also fairly easy to forget about the basics of Medicare filing, as a recent article out of Reuters highlights the importance of filing earlier rather than later.
For each full 12-month period that a senior could have had coverage but didn’t sign up, the monthly Medicare Part B premium jumps 10 percent. The average monthly cost of Part B coverage is $99.90, so just a few years delinquency will result in $20, $30, or more a month; that adds up, is unnecessary waste, and is permanent.
Suffice it to say that the government really wants you do sign up when it’s time. But why is that difficult? Well, for one, the full retirement age for Social Security is no longer the age for Medicare enrollment. As a result, many otherwise forward-thinking people are waiting until age 67 to enroll in Social Security (for the maximum monthly benefit), but 65 is the age for Medicare.
In addition, with so few people actually leaving the workforce it’s easy to forget (or fail to realize, since you’re not really retired) that it might be time for Medicare. That also can depend on the nature of your employment. For example, if you are still working at age 65 and your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare is the primary payor; at companies with more than 20 workers, the employer’s plan is primary. In the latter situation, a senior can postpone filing for Parts A (hospitalization) or Part B, although many choose to enroll for Part A anyway, since it doesn’t require premium payments. If you delay your Part B coverage, you can enroll without penalty when you do retire for up to eight months following that point.
The bottom line is to keep all of this on your radar, regardless whether you will be relying on Medicare. In fact, not relying on Medicare may be the source of the problem.
If you are employed it may be worth a visit with the company accountant to be sure on which side of the line the company falls, and therefore what your insurance ought to be like.
Reference: Reuters (January 20, 2012) “Big penalties await those who delay Medicare filing”

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First SSC Senior Expo of the Year! – coming Thursday, April 12; 3:3-6:30 pm, 3380 S Lincoln St., Englewood, CO, PANEL QUESTION AND ANSWER, Speakers every 30 Minutes, Admission, entertainment, food, giveaways, door prizes

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Connie Ellefson

Brand-new feature at Seniors Solutions of Colorado Event! - PANEL QUESTION AND ANSWER SPEAKERS EVERY 30 MINUTES

April: Malley Recreation Center: April 12, 2012 3:30-6:00 pm. Sponsored with Englewood Parks & Recreation and the Malley Center and 50 Plus Marketplace News

3380 South Lincoln Street
Englewood, CO 80113
303-762-2660

Free Admission, entertainment, food, giveaways, door prizes

visitors at Malley Senior Expo April 7, 2010

Last-year's Senior Expo at the Malley Center - co-hosted this year by Seniors Solutions of Colorado, Englewood Parks and Rec, and 50 Plus Marketplace News

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