Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, July 24, 2021

Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 24, 2021 9 

DOES MEDICARE COVER HOME HEALTH CARE? 

Dear Savvy Senior:
How does Medicare cover in-home health care? My husband 
has a chronic health condition that makes it very 
difficult for him to leave the house, so I’m wondering if 
he could qualify for Medicare home health care. Seeking 
Help 

Dear Seeking:
Medicare covers a wide variety of part-time or intermittent in-home health care services to beneficiaries 
in need, if they meet Medicare’s criteria. Here’s how it works. 


In order for your husband to secure coverage for home health care, Medicare first requires that he be 
homebound. This means that it must be extremely diffi-cult for him to leave home, and he needs help 
doing so either from another per-son or medical device like a cane, wheelchair, walker or crutches. 

He will then need to have a face-to-face meeting with his doctor to get a home health certification 
confirming that he needs skilled-nursing care or skilled-therapy services from a physical or speech 
therapist on a part-time basis. 

His doctor can also request the services of an occupational therapist and a per-sonal care aide to assist 
with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. His doctor must 
renew and certify his home health plan every 60 days. 

He will also need to use a home health agency that is certified by Medicare. 

If he meets all of the requirements, Medicare should pay for his in-home health care. 

But be aware that Medicare will not pay for personal care aide services (for bathing, dressing, using 
the bathroom, etc.) alone if he does not need skilled-nursing or skilled-therapy services too. Homemaker 
services, such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning are not covered either. 

If your husband has original Medicare, you can locate a Medicare-certified home health agency by 
calling 800-633-4227 or by visiting Medicare.gov/care-compare. If he has a Medicare Advantage plan, 
you should contact his plan di-rectly and ask which home health agencies work with the plan and are 
within the plan’s network of providers. 

For more detailed information on how Medicare covers in-home health, see the “Medicare and Home 
Health Care” online booklet at Medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10969-Medicare-and-Home-Health-Care.pdf. 

Other OptionsIf your husband does not qualify for Medicare home health care coverage, there are other coverage 
options depending on your situation. Here are several that may apply to you: 

Insurance: If you happen to have long-term care insurance, check to see if it co-vers in-home care. Or 
if you have a life insurance policy, see if it can be utilized to pay for care. 

Medicaid: If your income is low, your husband may qualify for Medicaid, which offers different home 
and community-based services that can pay for in-home care. To investigate this, contact your local 
Medicaid office. 

Also see if PACE – which stands for “Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elder-ly” – is available in 
your area (see NPAonline.org). PACE provides in-home care, including help with activities of daily 
living, such as meals, dental and medical care, among other benefits. 

Veterans Benefits: If your husband is a veteran, the VA also offers some bene-fits that can help. Two 
programs to inquire about are “Aid and Attendance or Housebound Allowances” and the “Veteran-
Directed Care” program. Both pro-grams provide monthly financial benefits to eligible veterans that 
can help pay for in-home care. To learn more, contact your regional VA benefit office (see Benefits.
va.gov/benefits/offices.asp or call 800–827–1000). 

To look for these and other programs in your area that can help pay your hus-band’s home care, go to 
PayingForSeniorCare.com and click on “Find Financial Assistance for Care” to access 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. 

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett 


THE REAL COST TO YOUR FAMILY: HAVING NO 
ESTATE PLAN AT ALL 

When it comes to 

You have no control over your medical, financial, or 
putting off or refusing 

legal decisions in the event of your incapacity 
to create an estate 

Most people assume estate planning only comes into 
plan, your mind can 

play when they die, but that’s dead wrong. Yes, pun 
concoct all sorts of 

intended. 
rationalizations: “I 
won’t care because 

If you become incapacitated and have no plan in place, 
I’ll be dead,” “I’m too 

your family would have to petition the court to appoint 
young,” “That won’t 

a guardian or conservator to manage your affairs. This 
happen to me,” or “My family will know what to do.” 

process can be extremely costly, time consuming, and 
But these thoughts all come from a mix of pride, denial, 

traumatic for everyone involved. In fact, incapacity can 
and a lack of real education about estate planning and 

be a much greater burden for your loved ones than even 
the consequences to your family. Once you understand 

your death. 
exactly what planning is designed to prevent and 
support, you’ll realize there really is no acceptable 

You need Powers of Attorney which grant the person(s) 
excuse for not having a plan, provided you are able to 

of your choice the immediate authority to make your 
plan and truly care about your family’s experience after 

medical, financial, and legal decisions for you in the 
you die or become incapacitated. With that in mind, 

event of your incapacity. You can also provide specific 
here are some of the things most likely to happen to you 

guidelines detailing how you want your medical care to 
and your loved ones if you fail to create any estate plan 

be managed, including critical end-of-life decisions. 
at all. 
You have no control over who will raise your children 

Your family will have to go to court 

If you’re the parent of minor children, the most 
If you don’t have a plan, or only have a will (yes, even 

devastating consequence of having no estate plan is 
with a will), you’re forcing your family to go through 

what could happen to your kids in the event of your 
probate upon your death. Probate is the legal process 

death or incapacity. Without a plan in place naming 
for settling your estate, and even if you have a will, it’s 

legal guardians for your kids, it will be left for a judge 
notoriously slow, costly, and public. 

to decide who cares for your children. And this could 
Depending on the complexity of your estate, probate 

cause major heartbreak not only for your children, but 
can take years to complete. And like most court 

for your entire family. 
proceedings, probate is expensive. In fact, once all your 
debts, taxes, and court fees have been paid, there might 

You’d like to think that a judge would select the best 
be nothing left for anyone to inherit. And if there are 

person to care for your kids, but it doesn’t always work 
any assets left, your family will likely have to pay hefty 

out that way. Indeed, the judge could pick someone 
attorney’s fees and court costs in order to claim them. 

from your family you’d never want to raise them to 
The expense and drama of the court system can be 

adulthood. And if you don’t have any family, or the 
almost totally avoided with proper planning. Using a 

family you do have is deemed unfit, your children could 
trust, for example, we can ensure that your assets pass 

be raised by total strangers. 
directly to your family upon your death, without the 
need for any court intervention. 

If you have minor children, your number-one planning 
priority should be naming legal guardians to care for 

You have no control over who inherits your assets 

your children if anything should happen to you. This 
If you die without a plan, the court will decide who 

is so critical, we’ve developed a comprehensive system 
inherits your assets, and this can lead to all sorts 

called the Child Protection Plan® to accomplish this 
of problems. Who is entitled to your property is 

goal. 
determined by California’s intestate succession laws, 
which hinge largely upon on whether you are married 

No more excuses 

and if you have children. 

Given the potentially dire consequences for both you 
Spouses and children are given top priority, followed 

and your family, you can’t afford to put off creating 
by your other closest living family members. If you’re 

your estate plan any longer. And once you have a plan 
single with no children, your assets typically go to your 

in place, you’ll gain the peace of mind that comes from 
parents and siblings, and then more distant relatives 

knowing that your loved ones will be provided and 
if you have no living parents or siblings. If no living 

cared for no matter what happens to you. Don’t wait 
relatives can be located, your assets go to the state. 

another day. 

Keep in mind, intestacy laws only apply to blood 

A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a mission 
relatives, so unmarried partners and/or close friends 

to help parents protect what they love most. Schedule 
would get nothing. If you want someone outside of 

an appointment to sit down and talk about ensuring 
your family to inherit your property, having a plan is an 

a legacy of love and financial security for your family 
absolute must. 

by calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.CaliLaw.com for 
more information. 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …July Birthdays*

V,Nina Bartolai, Mary Lou Caldwell, Louise Neiby, Betty Hansen, Christine 
Durfort, Shahrzad Azrani, Jeanne Borgedahl, Janet Cox, Dorothy Montgomery, Bess 
Pancoska, Janet Swanson, Linda Thunes, Barbara Watson, Pat Alcorn, Karma Bell, 
Alice Clark, Dorothy Jerneycic, and Betty Dos Remedios

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. 
YEAR of birth not required 
SENIOR ACTIVITIES IN SIERRA MADRE 

CHAIR YOGA 

Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 amChair yoga with Paul is coming back! Class be held in the Covered Pavilion in Memorial 
Park in front of the Senior Center. Please join us for some gentle stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall 
relaxation. Classes will maintain a distance of 6 ft between participants. ALL participants must be wearing 
masks for the duration of the class. All equipment used will be sanitized after each use before it is stored. Each 
participant is responsible for providing their own water, masks and needed equipment or supplies for each class. 
Class size is limited so please call 264-8923 to reserve your spot. 

TAX ASSISTANCE 

If you are in need of assistance with your 2020 taxes please know that help is a phone call away. Don Brunner, Tax 
Saver, is not accepting in person consultations at the moment but available for a phone or email consult. Please 
call him at 626-447-8829 or email TAXSAVERD@gmail.com 

CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP 

Have you ever thought about trying your hand at writing? Do you have an idea for a book and no idea how to 
begin? This program may be for you! Katy Nishimoto, Senior Editor with Random House, has graciously volunteered 
her time to lead this incredible writers workshop for seniors. Program participants will be given a prompt, 
a 10 minute writing task and a group reading. Discussions, readings and feedback to help guide your creative 
thinking into creative writing. If you have interest in writing nonfiction, a memoir, fiction or poetry then please 
call or email today to reserve your spot. Class will be limited to 10 participants. No writing skills or experience is 
required. Call Lawren Heinz at 626-355-7394 to reserve your spot and receive class information. 

MUG CRAFT 

Tuesday, May 18 at 11:00 am Join Lawren in making a delightful, colorful and artistic nail polish marbled mug! 
All supplies will be provided for you and we will meet in the Hart Park House patio. Please wear clothes you don’t 
mind getting nail polish on. To reserve your spot or ask questions please call Lawren Heinz at (626) 355-7394 or 
send an email to lheinz@cityofsierramadre.com 

IDEAS

 Do you have any ideas for programming? Is there a class or club you would like to see in our Senior Community? 
Please call or email Lawren Heinz with ideas or questions. 626-355-5278 x 704 lheinz@cityofsierramadre. 
com

 City staff are monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement 
and interfacing less with the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses 
are being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner. If at any time additional information 
is needed, please contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 355-7135, Monday-Thursday from 7:30a 

– 5:30p, as they are taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate per-son. For messages that may trickle in 
otherwise, please note our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the Community Services Department, 
(626) 355-5278 x702. 
SIERRA MADRE SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS PLAN 

The City of Sierra Madre is following these procedures to provide current communication in light of COVID-19 
and keep the Senior Community and families informed of essential information and resources. City staff are 
monitoring email communication daily, and although employees are minimizing direct engagement and practicing 
social distancing in the community, please note that voice messages, emails, and social media responses are 
being addressed in the most efficient and timely manner.
If at any moment additional information is needed, please contact City Hall Administrative Services at (626) 
355-7135, Monday-Thursday from 7:30a – 5:30p, as they are taking messages and e-mailing the appropriate 
person.

For messages that may trickle in otherwise, please note our team is remotely checking voicemail daily at the 
Community Services Department, (626) 355-5278 x702.
Community Services Department will continue email communication with Senior residents and aging community 
members.

If you know of family members or neighbors who may benefit from accessing information electronically, and 
to receive the department’s Seniors Newsletter via email but may not otherwise have been included on an email 
group list, please send your request with email address to the following team members: Lawren Heinz Lheinz@ 
cityofsierramadre.com and Clarissa Lowe Clowe@cityofsierramadre.com.

City Social Media will continue via Facebook as well as Instagram, and information sharing will include updates 
as details becomes available. 

OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

I AIN'T 16 ANYMORE! 

I’ve had so many birthdays in 

money for lunch today." 
my life that I really don’t know 

My father looked at me and said, “I thought you 
how old I am. All I know is that 

were in control of your life?” 
I’m one year older than I was 

“Yes, dad, I’m in control of my life; I'm my own 
last year. I would not be able to remember when 

boss." 
my life began if it wasn’t for paperwork.. 

"Then," my father said, "that means you have to 
To many people, numbers are very important, 

pay for your own lunch. If you're in charge, that 
but in my opinion, a number is just a number. 

means you have to pay for what you have." 
As I look forward to another birthday, I would 

He turned around and walked away, and I stood 
like to go back to being 16 again. Those were the 

there glaring at him. I did not know that being 
good old days, as they say. 

in charge meant I had to pay for everything. 
When I was 16, I was rather oblivious of things 

He should've explained that to me a little more 
that were happening in the world. We didn't 

clearly. 
have TV back then and only got a TV when 

One Saturday, I needed to borrow my father's 
President J. F. Kennedy was assassinated. Dad 

car to go to a baseball game. "Dad, can I borrow 
had to get a TV to keep up with what was go-

your car so I can go to my baseball game this 
ing on. 

afternoon?" 
I had no internet, computer, cell phone, video 

"You sure can," my father said, "and by the way, 
games or anything of the like. So in all actuality, 

the car is low on gas, so you’ll have to put gas in 
I was on my own. 

the car." 
One thing that really impressed me about be-

I began to have different feelings about being in 
ing 16 was that I could get a driver’s license and 

charge of my life. I had no idea that my life was 
drive a car. The disappointing aspect about this 

so expensive. Now, I had to get a job so that I 
was, I didn’t have enough money to buy a car 

could pay for everything and be my own boss. 
and so had to borrow my father’s car when it 

It took me a long time to realize how great 
was convenient for him. Oh boy, those were the 

my life was before I turned 16. If I would have 
days. 

known that, I think I would've lived more ex-
At 16, I believed I had become a certified adult. 

travagantly on my dad's credit card. 
I was at the stage now where nobody could tell 

After celebrating my 16th birthday, I cooled 
me what to do. I was my own boss. 

down a little bit to realize that life really is hard, 
At least I thought I was my own boss. However, 

and getting old is not for sissies. Plus, it's very 
I still was in high school, and for some reason, 

costly. 
my teachers thought they were in charge of the 

Before I was 16, I thought everything was free, I 
class. How little did they know? 

could do whatever I please, and there would be 
It took being sent to the principal's office five 

no accountability. 
times before realizing I was not really in charge 

Turning 16 turned my life completely around. 
of my class. 

Another thing I experienced when I turned 16 
I also began to realize that being in charge of 

is that I did not know all that I thought I knew. 
your life is very expensive. Before I was 16, my 

When a person thinks they know everything, 
par-ents paid for everything for me. But now 

they don't know exactly what they don't know. 
that I'm 16, that income stream dried up. 

One of the most important lessons I have 
I remember my father saying to me, "Son, you're 

learned since I turned 16 was that it is essential 
16 now, and you are in charge of your life." 

to know what you don't know. If you think you 
My smile flashed all over my face, I was now set 

know everything, you're missing out on a lot of 
free, and I can do whatever I wanted to do. 

life. 
My father wasn't quite done with me yet, "Now 

Right after turning 16, I ran across what has 
that you are 16, you're going to have to pay for 

become my life verse from the Bible. “Trust in 
your things.” 

the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto 
At the time, I didn't know what he meant, but 

thine own understanding. In all thy ways ac-
I shook my head energetically and smiled, and 

knowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” 
was now ready to go out into the world and be 

(Proverbs 3:5-6). 
my own boss. I was so anxious to get started in 

Looking back, I can see that it serves no purpose 
this life-style of being in control. 

not to trust in the Lord. However, I experience 
The next day as I was ready to go to school, I 

things that are beyond my experience and unstopped 
and asked my father, "Dad, I need some 

derstanding, and that's when God steps in. 

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