Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, January 6, 2018

WHAT TO DO WITH CREMATED ASHES? 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 6, 2018 10 THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE 
HELP WITH HOME-CARE BILLS 


Dear Savvy Senior,
Do you know of any resources that can help with my 
mother’s home-care bills? Mom is recovering from 
a stroke and needs in-home care, but I understand 
Medicare doesn’t cover it, and she doesn’t have longterm 
care insurance. 
Stressed-Out Daughter 

Dear Stressed-Out, 
Depending on your mom’s circumstances, there 
are a number of government and not-for-profit 
programs that can that either subsidize or pay for 
your mom’s home care or offer aid in other ways. 
Here’s where to look for help. 


Medicare Coverage

If your mom is recovering from a stroke, the first 
thing you need to know is that Medicare does 
cover a variety of in-home health care services. To 
be eligible your mom must be “homebound,” and 
her doctor will need to approve a “plan of care” 
confirming that she needs skilled-nursing care or 
skilled-therapy services from a physical or speech 
therapist. Her doctor can also request the services 
of an occupational therapist and a non-medical 
home aide to assist with activities of daily living 
like bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. 

But, be aware that Medicare will not pay for 
non-medical home aide services alone, if your 
mom does not need skilled-nursing or skilled-
therapy services too. Homemaker services, such 
as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning are 
not covered either. 

For more information on how this works, 
call 1-800-MEDICARE or see Medicare.gov/
coverage/home-health-services.html. 

Medicaid Options

If you mom’s income is low enough, she may 
qualify for Medicaid, which offers different 
programs that can pay for non-medical home 
care, home health care and other in-home 
support services. These programs, often referred 
to as Home and Community Based Services, are 
state-specific and their eligibility and benefits will 
vary. To find out if your mom is eligible, contact 
her state Medicaid agency (see Medicaid.gov). 

State Programs

If your mom doesn’t qualify for the Medicare or 
Medicaid options, check to see if her state offers 
any state-funded home-care programs. These 
programs may provide caregivers or vouchers 
that can help pay for care. To find out about these 
services, call the Area Agency on Aging near your 
mom – see ElderCare.gov or call 800-677-1116 
for contact information. 


Also investigate PACE, which stands for 
“Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.” 
PACE, which is currently available in 31 states – 
though not in every community – provides in-
home care, including help with activities of daily 
living, such as meals, dental and medical care, 
prescriptions, and chaperoned transportation, 
among other benefits. 

Medicaid-eligible patients get PACE for free, 
but if your mom is not eligible for Medicaid, she 
may be charged a monthly premium, though 
far less than she would pay a private service. To 
see if PACE is available in your mom’s area, see 
NPAonline.org. 

Veterans Benefits 

If your mom is a veteran, or a surviving spouse 
of a veteran, the VA also offers some benefits that 
can help pay her in-home care. 

One is “Aid and Attendance or Housebound 
Allowances,” which are supplemental monthly 
benefits for veterans already receiving a monthly 
VA pension and requiring healthcare. Veterans 
and surviving spouses qualify if they have 
certain disabilities or need help with activities 
such as dressing, bathing, and feeding, among 
other criteria. Go to Vets.gov/pension for more 
information. 

Another option is the “Veteran-Directed 
Care” program. This program, available through 
VA medical centers in 38 states, as well as in 
Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, provides as 
much as $2,000 a month that can be used to pay a 
professional or family member or friend for home 
care. The program is open to any veteran who 
meets the criteria, including requiring help with 
three or more activities of daily living. Visit the 
“Home and Community Based Services” section 
at VA.gov/geriatrics for information.

To look for additional programs in your area 
that can help pay your mom’s home care, go to 
PayingForSeniorCare.com and use their Eldercare 
Financial Assistance Locator tool. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. 
Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today 
show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 


What was the most embarrassingthing that happened to you 
in elementary school? Did 
spaghetti come out of younose when you laughed toohard at lunch? Did you get carsick on a field trip and throw up on the bus? Did 
you experience a loud episode of flatulence in thelibrary?

Even if the embarrassing thing didn’t happento you, there’s still the collective horror of justwitnessing someone 

AN UNUSUAL SITUATION... 


else getting mortified

only imagine how the 

before your eyes. It’s 

parent conferences 

kind of like watching 

went. 

a friend sing badly 

“Johnny is doing 

onstage. You wince 

well in math and 

at every sour note 

reading. Have you

and unconsciously

considered talking with

grip the edge of your 

his pediatrician about

seat. Throwing up is 

toileting?” “Suzy has 

bad. Farting is bad. 

great speaking and 

But without a doubt, 

listening skills, but 

wetting your pants has

she tends to pee in the 

to be up there with the 

corner after recess. 

most embarrassing 

Maybe she has a salt 

things that could 

deficiency...” Shoot, I

happen to you at 

don’t know how you

school. 

could talk about such 

So, you’ll understand

things with a straight

my mom’s shock when

face. Second grade 

a friend of hers who 

teachers must make 

teaches second grade

great poker players.

shared that she has an 

I couldn’t listen to 

entire class of habitual 
pee-ers! I had to scoop my chin off the floor whenI hear this the first time. Roughly 20 students, whoare all about eight years old, are all cool and finewith each other urinating in the classroom. And 
they won’t be shamed into holding it until they getto the bathroom. One kid even had the audacityto scoot his bottom to the side of his chair to peeon the floor! So, they must know this is wrong,
but figure that they have strength in numbers. To 
make matters worse, the classroom is carpeted!
That nasty sanitary sand the custodians use to soakup vomit is now being employed for an entirelydifferent purpose.

“How did this happen?” I asked incredulously.
Of course my mom didn’t know. She reconnects 
with this friend when they (current and retiredteachers) get together for dinner once a month. I 

suppose if you’re in a crowded restaurant it’s okay tosay that most of your students pee on the floor, butgoing into graphic detail would put your friends offtheir food. 

But I couldn’t just let this go. Obviously the kidsdidn’t just start doing this in second grade! Theymust’ve been doing this in first and kindergarten,
too! Isn’t potty training an early developmentalmilestone? These kids are reading at grade level,
but haven’t mastered their bladders! What does the 
first grade teacher say? Goodness, what do their 

parents say? I could 

this sad tale without 
trying to come up with some possible solutions. (Italso took a while to think of something to draw togo with this article!) The best idea I thought of wasfor the teacher to keep plus-size diapers on hand inthe classroom. At the fist sign of pee, the offendingstudent would have to put on the diaper on top oftheir regular clothing. Of course, diapers probablyaren’t cheap, and I can’t imagine the teacher writingup a requisition order for a shipment of Pampers.
And whenever you have disciplinary action appliedto children, there will most likely be a parent ortwo who will claim that the teacher is unfairlysingling out their child. However, I don’t think 
they’d be able to make that argument when all theirclassmates are sporting soggy diapers as well. So, 
remember to thank any second grade teachers youknow --they’re tougher than you think. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …January Birthdays*

 Gerald Day, Mary Tassop, Judy Webb-Martin, John Johnson, Mary Bickel, Marlene 
Enmark, Shirley Wolf, Ross Kellock, Ruth Wolter, Sue Watanabe, Sandy Thistlewaite, 
Bobbi Rahmanian, Fran Syverson, Shirley Wolff, Judy Zaretzka and Becky Evans. 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. 
YEAR of birth not required 
ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart 
Park House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre 

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10a.m. to 
11a.m. Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula. 
Bingo Time: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00p.m. Cards are only $0.25 each! 
Everyone is welcome to join. Activity may be canceled if less than five people. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesdays of the month from 11a.m. to 12p.m. No appt. is necessary. 
Brain Games - *New Activity*: Join us on Thursday November 16th, at 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m for 
Scattergories. A creative thinking game by naming objects within a set of categories. Everyone is 
welcome, and no experience is needed. What a great way to strengthen your brain and make new friends.
Activities are facilitated by Senior Volunteers. 


Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, November 15th from 10:30a.m. to Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson isavailable for legal consultation. Specializing in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Injury. Appointmentsare required by calling 626-355-7394. 
Senior Club: Meets every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown Bag Lunch at 11:30a.m. 
Chair Yoga: Mondays & Wednesdays from 11:00a.m. to 11:45a.m. with Paul Hagen. Classes 


include yoga and balance exercises. All ability levels are encouraged and welcomed!* A voluntary
donation of $5.00 per week is suggested but not required. 
Birthday Celebrations: Every 2nd Thursday monthly at the Hart Park House, share some free birthday cake
provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club. 


Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00p.m. Come join this group of Seniors in their poker game.
Other games are offered to all. 


Free Strength Training Class: Fridays from 12:45p.m. to 1:30p.m. with Lisa Brandley. This energetic class
utilizes light weights, low impact resistance and training conditioning. Class equipment is provided. 


UPCOMING EXCURSIONS: 

Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum

Date: Friday, January 19, 2018Time: 9:30a.m. – 3:30p.m. 

Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center 

Cost: $20 (Does not include lunch)
Enjoy the all new library and museum featuring nearly 70 major exhibits,600 photographs, 8,000square feet of wall murals and more than 300 artifacts. Through the two and a half hour tour, visitorsexperience history through the eyes of Richard Nixon, and discover the influential accomplishmentsthat continue to shape our country’s future. Lunch is on your own at a nearby restaurant. Level of 
Walking: Medium.
Registration for Sierra Madre Residents starts now through January 5th. Non-resident registrationstarts online January 6th; or in person on Monday, January 8, 2018. Due to scheduled street closures,
please allow time for parking which will be behind City Hall and below Mariposa. Bus will be parkedand located on Mariposa. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 


Explore DNA and Genealogy

Thursday, January 25th 2:00p.m. – 3:30p.m. at the Hart Park House 

Explore a bit about DNA for yourself by joining this initial workshop for the Adult STEAM Programand promises all participants fun with Science! This session is geared towards beginners – no sciencebackground required. Sign-up by calling the Library to reserve your spot: 626-355-7186. 

Seasonal Crafts 

Thursday, January 25th 12:30 – 1:30p.m. at the Hart Park House 
Join us in making Valentine Day wreaths with ribbons, tulles, and decorations. It will make a great accent 
for your home. All materials provided. Please call the Hart Park House for reservations 626-355-7394. 

Valentine’s Day Crafts with Instructor Kt Boyce
Monday, February 5th 12:30 – 1:30p.m. 


Come share your poems or hear beautiful love stories in history. Kt will also demonstrate card-makingwith collages, drawings, stencils and calligraphy. Materials and supplies will be provided, but rememberspaces are limited! 

Call for reservations at 626-355-7394. 


YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! 
CALL PATRICIA 626-818-2698 
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com