by Greg Dill-  Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories.

If you have Medicare, there’s a good chance you have two or more chronic conditions such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or dementia.

Two-thirds of the 57 million Americans with Medicare have two or more chronic illnesses. Having multiple chronic conditions increases the risk of death and functional limitations, decreases quality of life, and leads to higher health care spending.

Managing chronic diseases can be difficult, to say the least. You often face multiple visits to one or more doctors; you must take multiple drugs at different times on different days; you have to make extra trips for tests. It can all be a bit overwhelming.

At Medicare, we recognize the challenges you have in managing your conditions, working with your health care providers, and trying to stay healthy. Two years ago, we added a new benefit called Chronic Care Management, or CCM. This program provides additional payments to doctors and other providers to help you live with chronic disease.

For example, through the CCM benefit your primary-care doctor will help you keep track of your medical history, medications, and all the different health care providers you see. You’ll receive a comprehensive care plan that outlines your treatments and goals. Additionally, you’ll have 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week access to health care professionals for urgent needs from the comfort of your home.

To be eligible for CCM services, you must be enrolled in Medicare or in both Medicare and Medicaid. And you must have two or more chronic diseases that are expected to last at least 12 months and place you at significant risk of death, acute exacerbation/decompensation, or functional decline.

Other examples of chronic conditions include, but are not limited to, asthma, atrial fibrillation, autism spectrum disorder, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, heart failure, hepatitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, ischemic heart disease, osteoporosis, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and stroke.

Specific CCM services may include:

• At least 20 minutes a month of chronic care management services;
• Personalized assistance from a dedicated health care professional who will work with you to create your care plan;
• Coordination of care between your pharmacy, specialists, testing centers, hospitals, and more;
• Phone check-ins between visits to keep you on track;
• 24/7 emergency access to a health care professional;
• Expert assistance with setting and meeting your health goals.

How much do CCM services cost? You’ll be responsible for the usual Medicare Part B cost-sharing and may have a deductible or coinsurance/co-pay. However, many people with Medicare have Medigap supplemental insurance that may cover CCM cost-sharing.

Chronic Care Management means having a continuous relationship with a dedicated health care professional who knows you and your history, gives personal attention, and helps you make the best choices for your health. CCM gives you and your loved ones the assistance you need to manage your chronic conditions so you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy.

Ask your doctor about Chronic Care Management and get the connected care you need.

For more information, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit: go.cms.gov/ccm.

You are 62 years or older and you own a home. Or your parents are 62 or older and own their own home. You hear about reverse mortgages from a news article or an advertisement or a website. Or maybe from a friend or relative. Or you might contact a reverse mortgage lender on the phone or on the internet. You hear that you can borrow against the equity in your home while you still live in it. You hear that this is a loan you do not have to pay back until you leave the home permanently. Your interest is sparked.

This might be just the right financial solution for a current or a future need. You can use a reverse mortgage to pay off your existing mortgage and lower your monthly expenses. You can use it to pay for health care. Or it might just provide you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have cash available.

Senior citizens considering a reverse mortgage and those who already have them now have new tools from the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association to help them better understand these unique loans.

The free guides, posted to NRMLA’s consumer education website, reversemortgage.org, explain the benefits and responsibilities of this type of home equity loan used by more than a million homeowners to age in place, according to NRMLA.

“Part of our mission as an association is to educate consumers about the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage by being transparent about how the loan works,” said NRMLA President and CEO, Peter Bell.

“The new consumer guides are another way to provide reverse mortgage borrowers with information about loan terms, guidance for working with the lender after the loan is closed, and the process for repaying the loan when it comes due.”

“We consulted professionals from all areas of the industry to ensure the information we are sharing is clear, comprehensive, and responsive to the most common questions posed by borrowers and their families. We hope to see a broad adoption of the guides by policy makers, consumer advocates, and other professionals whose clients can benefit from learning more about reverse mortgage loans,” said Bell.

St. Germain with a few of her award winning paintings and  buddy Goldie .

by Jill Forman

“When I’m painting, I feel like I’m alive.”
~ Jeanne-Marie St. Germain, Ventura artist

For most of her 96 years, St. Germain was a professional violinist/viola player.  About 10 years ago, arthritis and bursitis were affecting her arms and she had to stop being a musician.  She had played everything from classical to the Boston Pops to accompanying some famous pop singers (Tina Turner, Sammy Davis Jr., Peggy Lee,) so this was a crushing change in her life.  She felt she was not doing what she was meant to do, not being creative or artistic.

She tried other instruments, continued to teach and perform through her students.  But she was looking for something personal, her own creativity.  Her daughter Michelle Nosco, an artist herself, kept giving her art kits and supplies.  One day St. Germain was sitting at home looking at a plant, and said to herself, “I could draw that!”  She had a pencil and a sketchbook, and started using them.  She still has that book, and the viewer can see that even at the beginning she had a feel for shapes, and an uncanny ability to capture the spirit of a person or animal or even a still life.

Since her son and daughter live in California, she had moved to Santa Clarita after living in Boston, Maine, Canada, New York, Detroit, among other locales.  In Santa Clarita she discovered Lorelle Mille, a famous chalk artist and started to take lessons.  An amusing sidelight, while living at Bouquet Canyon Villas she wrote a column for the Senior Center newsletter named “Pet Talk;” whenever a new person moved in, she would interview them about their pets!

A purist, she stayed with pencil drawings for a while because she didn’t want to try color unless it would be “perfect.”  She still has her first attempt at a color picture, reddish flowers with some nice shading.  After that, she was ready to take the next step.

A year ago she came to Ventura, and lives with her daughter and their two dogs, Jack and Goldie, in the Working Artists’ Village(WAV).  She began watercolor classes at Ventura Adult Education with Judy Klement.  At a reception at the Ojai Museum, she discovered the work of Ojai-based Alice Matzin, who does paintings of older people; she was motivated by Matzkin’s art to go into watercolors more deeply.  She and Matzkin met later, at an exhibit at the Government Center (St. Germain had an Honorable Mention) and she was able to explain how she was inspired.  That was a memorable meeting for both.

This influence shows in her vivid portrait of Mother Teresa, for which she won a First Prize with a cash award at the Ventura County Fair.  St. Germain is happy with her accomplishments and only wishes she had discovered painting earlier in her life because “there are so many more things to paint.”

The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) has declared

May 14-20 National Senior Move Managers Week. During this recognition week NASMM members around the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia are promoting the value of Senior Move Management and Senior Move Managers’ commitment to assisting older adults and their families with later lifestyle transitions.

Senior Move Managers assist adults and their families with both downsizing to remain in their current home, as well as the entire process of moving to a new residence. Senior Move Managers specialize in helping their clients with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through a lifetime of memories in the transition process, while providing them with effective options and resources to increase efficiencies and reduce stress. The theme of this year’s celebration, “A Circle of Experts,” underscores the unique skills and professionalism Senior Move Managers® offer their clients and families throughout the downsizing, relocation or aging in place process.

“For adults who have lived in their homes for 30 or 40 years, it’s far more than just a move: It’s a lifetime of memories being uprooted. Most of my clients are also relocating to much smaller living situations so there’s a lot of downsizing to do. This means that a lot of possessions need to be sold or given away. Although, sometimes people don’t want to let go of all their valuables so we have to find an Alpharetta storage unit for them! We’re often considering floorplans of the new home and determining what furniture will fit,” said Beth Sutherland, Founder of Your Estate Assistant, LLC.

“Whether you’re moving or downsizing to stay in the home, the organizational and physical tasks of this process can be overwhelming. In my experience, both Clients and families find it a great relief to bring in a neutral third party who specializes in Senior Move Management. “

Founded in 2002, The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) is a not-for-profit, professional association of organizations dedicated to assisting older adults and their families with the physical and emotional demands of downsizing, relocating, or modifying their homes. As the only professional association of its type devoted to helping the rapidly increasing 55+ population with middle and later lifestyle issues, NASMM’s 900-plus members are committed to maximizing the dignity and autonomy of all older adults.

NASMM is internationally recognized for its innovative programs, leadership and expertise on issues related to

Senior Move Management, aging in place, and transition and relocation issues affecting older adults. Before achieving full general membership, all NASMM members are vetted for experience and insurance and must pass four certificate classes. Additionally, all NASMM members sign and adhere to the NASMM Code of Ethics, and agree to the guidance and oversight of NASMM’s Ethics Compliance Commission.

For more information about your local Senior Move Manager and how she may assist you please contact Your Estate Assistant at 861-8341.

For more information on Senior Move Management or NASMM, visit www.nasmm.org.

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The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group will meet Wednesday, May 10 for a “Round Table” discussion at 1pm at the Lexington. They welcome all of their members and their care-partners for this meeting. Everyone is welcome to come and share a little about themselves and their history with Parkinson’s Disease. Get to know and support each other better by sharing common problems, knowledge, experience and coping solutions to the daily challenges of Parkinson’s Disease.

The meetings are every second Wednesday of each month from 1- 3pm at the Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston Street in Ventura. Please check in at the front desk for directions and sign-in at the meeting. Extra parking is graciously available across the street from the Lexington in the Baptist Church parking lot. Call Patty at 766-6070 for further information. Reservations are not required.

Zumba Gold classes held during day and in the evening.

Check out the schedule at Ventura DANZAR’s website at venturazumba.com.

Zumba Gold Toning and a chair class called Zumba Sentao.
These classes are low impact and also good for those starting their fitness journeys.
Classes are low cost and affordable.
You will have a blast while getting fit and healthy.

Ventura Danzar  2640 E Main St.

A Senior Song Circle is held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the SCAN Health and Wellness Center, 6633 Telephone Rd., Ste., 100.  The next one is May 9 for those 55+ and guests, Marty Capsuto will guest sponsor all song makers under 55. For more information contact Marty at 658-0365 or [email protected].

When the owners of Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura decided to create a scholarship fund for local high school students wanting to pursue a college degree, the Cypress Place Senior Living “Senior to Senior Legacy Scholarship” was created. 

Cypress Place Senior Living is an independent, assisted, and memory care community for seniors.  By awarding two $2500 scholarships to local high school seniors, residents at Cypress Place are attempting to pass on opportunities for young people in the community, according to Steve Spira, executive director at Cypress Place.

Applicants need to have a verified 3.2 or higher GPA and to have applied for fall 2017 admission to a college or university with the intention of obtaining a degree.  Applicants are also asked to submit  an essay about their reason for pursuing higher education along with a personal account of how a senior or seniors has affected their life, including specific examples of intergenerational experiences of the applicant.

Residents on the Resident Scholarship Committee at Cypress Place will read the essays, then hold oral interviews with the semi-finalists to determine the two award winners.

The scholarships are open to senior students at Ventura High School, Buena High School, Foothill Technology High School, El Camino High School, and St. Bonaventure High School.  The deadline for submitting a completed application packet is Friday, April 21,  at 5:00pm.  Qualified applicants will be invited to a mandatory oral interview on May 12.   The presentation of the two scholarships will be held Thursday, June 1,  at 5:30p.m. at Cypress Place Senior Living. The recipients must be available to attend the presentation event to receive an award.

For more information or to receive an application packet please contact Pam Staniland, Director of Sales and Marketing at Cypress Place Senior Living, 805-656-9500 x 201,or via email at [email protected].

Cypress Place Senior Living is at 1200/1220 Cypress Point Lane, Ventura, CA 93003.  To learn more about Cypress Place Senior Living of Ventura, visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.

Alzheimer’s Association Ventura County Office announces SAVVY Caregiver workshop series planned for May at Meditech Health Services located at 1650 Palma Drive, Ste. 101, Ventura.

The Savvy Caregiver is a 4-week program for family caregivers offering 12 hours of face-to-face training with dementia experts. This is the opportunity to go beyond introductory education offerings and truly hone caregiving skills and techniques.

The Savvy Caregiver program addresses your biggest concerns:

• Understanding Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.
• The toll of caregiving.
• Managing daily life and behaviors.
• Caring for yourself while caring for others.
• Decision making.
• Communicating with a person with dementia.
• Taking control.
• Goals for caregiving.

Workshop dates are Wednesdays May 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. Advanced registration required. Contact Monica Schrader at 494-5200, Ext. 101 for details.