Tag Archives for Medicare

Surviving, even thriving, when caring for a person with Alzheimer’s

Published in RINewsToday on March 3, 2025

Last Wednesday, Colleen Kelly Mellor, author and former feature writer for the Providence Journal, captivated a crowd at the Coventry Library with a talk about her caregiving journey. In her inspiring presentation, Mellor shared how she not only survived but thrived while caring for her husband, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

Mellor, 79, has had a multifaceted career—raising two daughters, teaching school for over 30 years, and working as a realtor for nine years. The prolific writer is no stranger to seeing the devastating impacts of Alzheimer’s. Her father, two brothers and two cousins died of the cognitive disease.  And for the past 15 years, she has been her husband’s primary caregiver. For 13 of those years, she single-handedly managed his care, from ensuring he attended doctor’s appointments to overseeing his medications.  

This journey led her to write her latest book, Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s.

The 284-page book, published last May, is a must-read for America’s caregivers. “The caregiving journey was so demanding, I felt compelled to write a book about what I learned—something that could help others,” Mellor explained. “I want to make sure they don’t repeat the mistakes I made, especially when I was uninformed, like not knowing about veteran benefits.”

What is the core message of Az and Me? Mellor stresses the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves. “Caregivers need to prioritize their own well-being, just like the airlines say: put the mask on yourself first, then on your child,” she says, adding that her book provides caregivers with the tools they need to do just that.

The Caregiver Journey Begins

“You can step out of the wreckage of your life’s journey,” Mellor encourages. “Keep stepping forward—even when you don’t want to and can’t see any change for the better. It will come if you persist.”

Mellor knows firsthand what that perseverance looks like. She admits that when her partner, Paul Wesley Gates, was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she was unsure of what it truly meant to be a caregiver. But her message to caregivers, shared during last week’s library talk, was clear: find your footing and keep moving forward.

Mellor acknowledges that she paid the price for being uninformed. “I was one of those caregivers,” she says. Seven years ago, Mellor suffered a herniated disc and became disabled. At that time, she had no support system in place to help care for her husband, a 20-year career military veteran with Alzheimer’s. As she received medical treatment, she had to bring Paul to her appointments and medical tests because she had no support. “I prayed he’d still be sitting in the waiting room when I came out,” she recalled. During this period, Mellor had to place her husband in a care facility for a brief time. The cost? $8,000. Despite initially planning to keep him there for a month, Mellor pulled him out after just four days. The services promised to her were never delivered.

Through this experience, Mellor learned a valuable lesson: the importance of understanding available benefits. “I was paying full price for day care when I could have used my husband’s veteran benefits, which would’ve covered three of the four days,” she said. “No one—no doctor, social worker, or even facility—told me about the benefits he was entitled to,” Mellor added. “He could have stayed at a Vet-approved facility for free because of his military service, and I could have received respite care.”

For the past two years, Mellor has been visiting Paul, now 83, at the Veterans Home in Bristol. She and Paul married at her daughter’s home in East Greenwich last December so that, according to federal rules, she could be buried with her husband in Rhode Island’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery.  

A Guide for America’s Caregivers

Mellor is an advocate at heart, which is reflected in all of her self-published books. “I’m an advocate for people,” she says. In her children’s books, Grandpa and the Truck (Books 1 & 2), Mellor highlights the important role of truckers in our daily lives. In Boomerrrang, her real estate background shines through as she cautions people about buying and selling property. And in Az and Me, she champions the cause of caregivers and veterans.

Her Alzheimer’s book is easy to read, with super short chapters (just 1-2 pages). It’s meant to reach out to caregivers and share her journey, as well as provide practical tips to avoid the mistakes she made. Through her book and group presentations in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, Mellor helps caregivers avoid pitfalls while navigating the demanding role of care provider.

Mellor shares snapshots of her and her husband’s life, highlighting the challenges they faced and offering practical strategies she used to cope with the stresses of caregiving. In her book, she explains how to determine eligibility for Veterans’ benefits and what those benefits cover. She also advises hiring a certified elder law attorney if needed, someone who understands the complexities of Medicaid eligibility, nursing home admissions, Medicare, Social Security, guardianship, and estate planning.

In her book, Mellor offers several practical tips for managing the challenges of caregiving. For example, when caring for someone with short-term memory loss, she suggests dressing your loved one in bright, easily visible colors. This makes it easier to spot them if they wander. She also recommends giving them a fake handbag or billfold, rather than the real deal, so you can easily access important medical documents. Mellor also shares tips on how to handle tough decisions, like when it’s time to take away the keys to the car. It’s one of the hardest decisions, she admits, but it’s necessary when it’s no longer safe for them to drive.

She advises caregivers to join an Alzheimer’s support group, choose a doctor they feel comfortable with, and divide caregiving responsibilities among family members. “A son can take Dad to his regular haircut appointment, then they can go out for lunch,” Mellor suggests.

Finally, she encourages caregivers to find moments of humor throughout the experience. “Laughter can be a lifesaver,” she says.Mellor likens her book to a box of chocolates: some pieces are sweet, others not so much—but all are essential. “There’s humor in it because my mission is to help caregivers cope and even thrive, not just survive,” she says.

In the end, Mellor sees Az and Me as a love story—one that shows how she and her husband found joy, even in the face of his debilitating disease.

To purchase Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s ($20) or for more details about scheduling a speaking engagement, go to colleenkellymellor.com or call 401-480-3403.  

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First Senate Aging Committee hearing of new congress looks at wellness

Published in RINewsToday on February 3, 2025

Over a week after the 119th Congress began on Friday, Jan. 3, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) took the reins of the U.S. Special Committee on Aging, becoming its 20thchairman. He follows in the footsteps of former Chairman Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), a 3-term Democratic Senator, who lost his reelection bid for a fourth term to Republican Dave McCormick. a West Point graduate, combat veteran and bronze star recipient, a national security, expert, and former hedge fund manager.

On Wednesday afternoon, on Jan. 15 in SD 106, Scott chaired the first Senate Aging Committee hearing of the new Congress, entitled “Improving Wellness Among Seniors: Setting a Standard for the American Dream.” The hearing, lasting two hours and seven minutes, put the spotlight on America’s senior health, personal and community safety and the benefits of socializing and working later in life. 

While established in 1961 as a temporary committee, the Senate Aging Committee became a permanent Senate committee in 1977.  Over the years, aging advocates say that committee has operated in a bipartisan manor.  And the Florida Senator says he will carry on this tradition.

In his opening statement, the Republican Chairman stressed that aging is not a partisan issue. “Whether or not we’d like to admit it or note, we are all aging, and it impacts every single one of us regardless of political party” he said.

“I believe we have a big opportunity in this Committee to work in a bipartisan manner to support and improve the lives of America’s current senior citizens and create change that will improve both the lifespan and health span of future generations, said Chairman Scott, pledging that he and his staff will “work together with all the members here to find common ground and ways we can advance or shared goals.”

As chairman, Scott’s goals are to make sure every senior can say that they are physically healthy, financially secure, live in a safe community and has family and community support. “If you have all four of these things, your senior years can be the best time of your life,” he notes.

Sen. Kristin Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), the ranking member who has served on the Senate Aging Committee since 2009, congratulated Scott for assuming his chairmanship position, “I look forward to working closely with you during this Congress,” she said, in her opening statement.

According to the Democratic Senator, the Senate Aging Committee has a long history of bipartisanship. “I hope we continue that tradition to advance an agenda that makes sure our loved ones can age with the support they need and with dignity and respect,” she said.

Gillibrand reported that she hopes to continue working on lower prescription drug costs, continuing to guard against financial scams, and protecting programs that older adults and people with disabilities rely on, such as Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare. 

The ranking member noted that this hearing would address how to promote wellness among older adults. “We’ll address issues like accessible housing, financial security, and engagement with the community,” she said, the importance of giving people the tools to live and age well. “Those tools are different for everyone, but include resources like nutrition assistance programs, Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, supportive housing programs, Medicare and Medicaid, and Social Security,” she added.  

 Ways to Improve the Health and Wellness of the Nation’s Seniors

During his testimony, Sheriff Bill Prummell rattled off a list of proactive and effective ways that the Sheriff’s Office serves and protects seniors and disabled adults residing in Charlottee County, Florida.  Prummell shared a number of innovative programs with the Senators that could easily be replicated throughout the nation.  

Here are just a few…

According to Prummell, who serves as President of the Florida Sheriff’s Association, his office utilizes trained volunteers to reach out weekly to isolated age 60 and over seniors and disabled adults. The volunteers get to know these individuals thru their weekly phone calls, by giving them Christmas gifts and mailing birthday cards to these individuals on that special date, too. 

Meanwhile, Prummell noted that efforts like Project Lifesaver (using GPS tracking bracelets to locate wanderers) and DNA Scent Kits (enabling participants to keep a DNA scent article at home to be used by K9 Deputies) to assist his deputies in finding missing wanderers.  

And, Operation Pill Drop, even allows individuals to dispose of expired or unwanted medication in drug receptacle boxes at participating district offices, he says, noting that this keeps family members and others from accessing the senior’s medication cabinet to take old and unused medications. 

While she has seen dramatic improvements in preventative and health promotion programs, “we still have a long way to go,” says Witness Maria Alvarez, Executive Director of New York Statewide Senior Action Council.  She used the Senate Aging Committee hearing as a bully pulpit to call for a 2025 White House Conference on Aging be held to “help the country chart a course for addressing the needs of the growing older population as 20 percent of this country is now over the age of 65.”

“But we cannot ignore the need to recognize that having health care and preventive services available is not sufficient if they are not affordable or if discrimination, actual or perceived persists,” Alvarez says.

According to Alvarez, along with Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, the Older Americans Act “has had seismic effect on the elderly population. “These programs provide a framework that seniors can rely on to continue to live and thrive and live with dignity, she says.

Witness Dawn Carr, Ph.D., director of the Claude Pepper Center at Florida State University, told the attending Senators that it’s time to reframe aging policy to promote healthy aging, noting that this “will require an expansion of our current aging-related policy goals.” These goals must emphasize supporting healthy aging throughout a person’s lifespan, she said.

“It means expanding healthy aging research, improving health care literacy and access, and incentivizing health behaviors and health interventions based on optimal health function goals,” says Dr. Carr, adding that this means “thinking about viewing older people as a critical resource that improves our society, rather than as a barrier to societal progress.”

Finally, during her testimony, Professor Emerita Dr. Susan Hughes, Ph.D., in the Division of Community Health Sciences and Founding Director of the Center for Research and Health and Aging at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) described the imitations of current funding for health promotion programs for older adults, calling for “transformational re-thinking” of a historical focus on post-acute care.  According to Dr. Hughes, this has resulted in  funding gaps in supporting long-term care and preventative programs for older adults, especially for those with chronic conditions like arthritis. 

Increased funding for wellness programs could reduce health care costs and improve out outcomes, she says, citing the success of UIC’s Fit & Strong! Program, a low cost, evidence-based intervention that helps senior’s manage osteoarthritis through physical activity.

But, despite the success of programs like Fit & Strong! lack of funding and reimbursement mechanisms, limit their impact, charges Dr. Hughes. calling for the Older American’s Act (OAA), particularly Title III D (or a new title), to support the funding of physical activity programming. 

“Ultimately, however, we will see much bigger returns if we develop demonstrations and/or regulations or reimbursement mechanisms that support the dissemination of and access to evidence-based health promotion programs as extensively as possible through Medicare, says Dr. Hughes. 

Walking the Talk

“Helping older people is a bipartisan issue — and the Aging Committee has a history of addressing the challenges that seniors face.  The work that the Senate Aging Committee does is especially critical today, with 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, and given the uncertainty about the future of critical programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security,” says Max Richtman, President & CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Taking the reins of the Senate Aging Committee, Chairman Scott pledges to work with Ranking Member Gillibrand in a “bipartisan manner” to improve the lives of America’s seniors.  Will he walk his talk or are these just empty words?   

Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Aging Committee MUST work together to push the Republican-controlled Senate to allocate increased funding for the AOA and Medicare, or create additional reimbursement mechanisms to promote health and wellness programs.  Research tells us that these programs increase physical activity, brings people together to socialize, and enhances brain health, and even cuts medical costs.  Even with a federal budget deficit, in this case Congress must not be penny wise and pound foolish. 

To watch this Senate Aging Committee hearing go to 

https://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/improving-wellness-among-seniors-setting-a-standard-for-the-american-dream.

National survey says care for older adults needs urgent rethinking 

Published in RINewsToday on January 27, 2025

With President Trump’s administration beginning and a new Congress poised to rethink, among other issues, Social Security, Medicare and federal aging programs and services, it might be prudent for the president and lawmakers to take a quick glance at the findings of a recently released national survey, “Meeting the Growing Demand for Age-Friendly Care: Health Care at the Crossroads.”

This 52-page national report, was released on Sept. 17, 2024 by Emeryville, California-based Age Wave, a think tank that studies the social, financial, healthcare, and business impacts of aging and The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF), a New York based-foundation dedicated to improving care of older adults. The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll, a marking and analytic company tracking public opinion in existence for over sixty years ago.  

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, America’s population of adults over 65 is expected to skyrocket, from 56.1 million in 2020 to 82.1 million by 2050. The enormous  increase in the number of older adults is forcing states, Congress, and the private sector to rethink their approaches to health care, social services, housing and more, to help older adults live well as they age.

As millions of Baby Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) age, living longer than previous generations and seeking ways to maintain wellness and independence to age in place, this nationwide survey shows deep dissatisfaction among older Americans aged 65 and over with health care and services they receive that do not meet their specific needs and preferences. 

Finding Policy Solutions to Maximize “Golden Years”

The national survey reported that four in five older adults (82%) say the U.S. health care system is not prepared for the growing and changing needs of America’s aging population. Just one in 10 (11%) give the health care system an ‘A’ grade. Instead of the status quo, older adults say they want solutions that will maximize their golden years, like interventions that make care more affordable, innovations to reduce or prevent cognitive decline and health care providers who understand what matters most to them when assessing care options.

“Older adults are stuck in a health care system that is not responsive to their goals and preferences. Boomers want health care that maximizes their health and ability to function, and they want their providers to listen to them,” said Terry Fulmer, JAHF’s president, in a Sept. 17 statement announcing the release of the report. “It is not too late to pivot to age-friendly care, which prioritizes the needs and desires of older adults in their care plan. There are many innovative approaches to help older adults live every year to its fullest, not just increase the number of years they live,” she says.

International longevity and aging expert, Ken Dychtwald, founder and CEO of Age Wave, added: “The United States is on the brink of an age wave of unprecedented proportions, and American health care requires a radical and immediate rethink to match our health spans, or being able to live every year to its fullest, to our lifespans.”

Dychtward urged policy and business leaders to prepare for older adults making up a large and growing percentage of the U.S. population. “Everyone knows this day has been coming, but our survey shows that older adults do not like the choices or care currently offered to them. And the fact that although we spend more per capita on health care than any country in the world yet have worse lifespans and health spans is cause for alarm,” he said.

The age 65 and over survey respondents called for America’s health care system to offer “age-friendly care.” Most older adults (94%) say it is more important to maintain quality of life than it is to live as long as possible.

Only three in five older adults with a health care provider (58%) report that their providers currently ask about what matters to them. Though older adults fear Alzheimer’s and dementia more than any other health condition, for example, less than half (40%) say their health care providers routinely evaluate their cognitive health and brain functioning. Similarly, less than half of older adults (45%) say their health care providers evaluate their mental health, and although the ability to walk freely without pain is top of mind for older adults, just 55% say their medical care providers evaluate their mobility and physical fitness. 

The national survey findings indicated that the older respondents say that there are not enough qualified care providers. Nearly all older adults (94%) say that health care providers should be trained on the unique health issues of people 65 or older, but only 10% of medical schools require a rotation in geriatric care, compared to 96% that require a rotation in pediatric care. 

Between 2000 and 2022, the U.S. population of adults aged 65 and older rose 60%, but the number of geriatricians dropped by a whopping 28%. says the report. 

Not surprisingly, the survey findings indicate that health care costs are viewed as “unaffordable” and of a bigger concern to older adults than living expenses, inflation, tax increases and an economic downturn or recession. For instance, just 16% give an ‘A’ grade to satisfaction with their out-of-pocket costs. Older adults are especially concerned with the cost of long-term care, stressing that one of their greatest concerns is not being able to afford future health and long-term care needs (68%), and that the government should prioritize having Medicare cover long-term care (80%).

Differing Views of the Quality of Nursing Home Care

An estimated 36 million Americans have a family member or friend living in a nursing home or memory care facility today, according to the survey. Just 37% of those adults ages 18+ say their family member or friend living in a nursing home or memory care facility receives high-quality care. Only half (50%) say these facilities are the safest place for them.

There must be more coordination between primary care providers and other health care providers. While 52% of Medicare beneficiaries see more than three physicians per year, half of older adults from the survey say their primary care provider does not coordinate their treatment with their other health care providers. The report notes that this may be attributed to the increasing shortage of primary care providers, which makes it less likely for people to have a usual source of primary care or long-term relationship with a primary care provider.

As noted in Primary Care in Rhode Island, in 2024, from 200,000 to 400,000 Rhode Islanders lack access to a primary care provider, resulting in a shortage of 133 to 266 primary care physicians to treat them.

Finally, more than half of older adults (56%) say it is challenging and very stressful to navigate the current health care system, while nearly two in three (62%) say health insurance plans provide too many confusing choices. Research has shown that more than half (55%) mistakenly believe Medicare will cover a long-term stay in a nursing home, the report added.

As the new Congress begins its debate on aging policy, regardless of political party, the national survey reports that their older constituents want public policies enacted that support quality care.  The survey findings indicate that adding long-term care to what Medicare covers is supported by most Republicans (76%), Democrats (84%) and independents or people with other political affiliations (79%). Additionally, there is bipartisan support for improving quality at U.S. nursing homes also earns bipartisan support (Republicans 62% support, Democrats 68% support, independents or people with other political affiliations 65% support). 

“Better federal and state policies can encourage the development of age-friendly health systems, that focus on improving patients’ well-being and quality of life,” predicts JAHF’s Fulmer. “Policies could include new options for affording long-term care insurance and developing a federal strategy to ensure disadvantaged populations are prioritized in a national strategy for age-friendly care,” she says.

Report Offers 5 Key Suggestions to Improve Care to older Americans 

After reviewing all survey findings, JAHF identified five key recommendations to improve health care provided to older adults and to promote healthier, happier aging.

JAHF calls for promoting age-friendly care that can assist the nation’s older adults maintain their health, ability to function, thus maintaining their independence in the community. Pursuing scientific breakthroughs could bring the end to diseases like Alzheimer’s adds JAHF, calling for social isolation must be addressed. 

Assist family caregivers with skill-building tools, policies that allow flexibility in taking paid leave and ensuring care providers coordinate among multiple providers the health care system easier to navigate. 

Finally, JAHF calls for the creation of a ‘national master plan for aging’ that will be focused on meeting the needs of older adults. This plan would identify and address barriers that contribute to inequities, also creating a strategic plan that would provide a roadmap to reform the financing of long-term care, enhance the quality of nursing home care and to create systems to assist people to age in place at home rather than being admitted to acute and congregate settings. 

“We are at a unique crossroads. However, changing America’s health care system to meet older adults’ expectations is possible, practical and could lead to greater health at a far lower cost—and can benefit the government, private enterprise and consumers,” said Dychtwald. “Older adults deserve health care partners who understand what they are going through, have the skills to most effectively support their patients and act on what their customers want,” he says.

The Nuts and Bolts Behind the Study 

The study was conducted by Age Wave on behalf of The John A. Hartford Foundation and in partnership with The Harris Poll. After thorough review of secondary research and through qualitative research with older adults through online focus groups, a  nationally representative online survey was conducted from April 17 to May 9, 2024. Of 5,023 adult (age 18+) respondents, 2,516 were age 65 and older. Data were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population, including by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, household income, size of household, marital status, and political party affiliation. 

Note:  The full report, Meeting the Growing . for Age-Friendly Care: Health Care at the Crossroads, can be found at https://www.johnahartford.org/images/uploads/resources/The_Growing_Demand_for_Age-Friendly_Care_Report_FINAL.pdf.

To watch the “Webinar: What Older Adults Want: Emerging Breakthroughs & Opportunities for Age-Friendly Care, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK6D4-G3KPw.