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March 2009
Information and News |
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The Law Practice of
Dennison Keller, LLC
8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 700
Cincinnati, OH 45236
513.792.2292
www.elderlawcincinnati.com
Specializing in Elder Law
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Dear Friend,
Spring is upon us and the daffodils are in bloom! Our nation's economic challenges and introspection have caused many individuals to regroup on careers, spending habits, and other priorities. Being wise and thoughtful about how we spend our time and energy is equally important. Consider the following:
The Dash
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone
From the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came the date of his birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved him
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
(You could be at "dash mid-range.")
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
Our goal is to share useful information and updates in elder law and elder services. We would like to hear from you! Take a moment to offer your suggestions, questions, or helpful information by contacting us at info@elderlawcincinnati.com.
We look forward to communicating with you!
Dennison Keller, Attorney
Letitia Mundew, RN.C.
Elder Care Coordinator
Lisa Titus, MEd
Elder Care Coordinator
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Medicaid Waiver ProgramsParticipants Are Pleased, Annual Satisfaction Surveys Show
Older Ohioans served by three Medicaid home- and community-based services waivers are overwhelmingly satisfied with the services provided, as well as with the work of their case managers.
Taken from Ohio Department of Aging, Aging Connection, March 2009.
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State Seeks Stories, Advice from the Great Depression
Lessons Learned Then Can Help Ohioans of All Ages Today
Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Aging is soliciting stories from Ohioans who lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s so that the sacrifices they made and the lessons they learned may be shared with other generations currently facing tough economic times.
"The Great Depression strained and challenged the world, the nation, families and individuals. It touched everyone who lived through it, rich or poor, in some significant way," said Barbara E. Riley, director of the department. "Their stories of perseverance, sacrifice and triumph over adversity are just what we need today to give us hope as well as insights into how we can best adjust to today's economy."
The children of the Depression are today's elders - most of them in their 80s and 90s. The challenges they watched their parents face and the sacrifices they themselves made stayed with them throughout their lives. It influenced their attitudes toward saving and spending money, it instilled a certain work ethic and created in them a sense of family and community unique to the times.
The department is asking for Ohioans who lived during that time in the nation's history to share their stories. Lessons and advice drawn from these accounts will be shared in department publications as well as on its Web site. Stories should be about 500 words long and include the individual's name, location and current age. Mail them to:
Ohio Department of Aging
Attn: Communications Division
50 W. Broad St. / 9th Floor
Columbus OH, 43215-3363
Stories may also be e-mailed to Depression Stories.Stories should be received by April 10, 2009.
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Have you been to our website yet?.
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FREE Continuing Education Programs!
The Law Practice of Dennison Keller, LLC is offering CEU programs for professionals such as nurses and social workers in 2009.
Topics will include:
--The Changing Face of Elder Law
--Medicaid is an Eight Letter Word
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New Service Helps Seniors Find Food Assistance
To help people who need assistance paying for food, BenefitsCheckUp has a new Web-based service that provides easy access to information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program. The SNAP Application Forms Service helps older Americans or their caregivers find information about food programs where they live, eligibility standards, application information and a state-specific hotline phone number, if available. There are also links to state Web sites, available application forms, including those offered in multiple languages and the BenefitsCheckUp eligibility screening page.
BenefitsCheckUp is a service of the National Council on Aging. |
More vets eligible for care through VA
A 6-year-old rule that bars most middle-class veterans who weren't injured in the military from enrolling in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical system is being rolled back, starting with the enrollment of an additional 265,000 veterans.
Under VA rules slated to take effect by July, single veterans in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky could enroll if they earn as much as $40,755 a year, and veterans with one dependent could enroll if they earn as much as $46,585. Under the old policy, the limits were $37,050 for a single veteran and $42,350 for a veteran with one dependent.
For more information and to read the entire Cincinnati Enquirer article of March 26, 2009, go to MORE VETS ELIGIBLE. |
Governor Strickland Proclaims April as Ohio Aging Eyes Month
Early Detection and Prevention are Keys to Preserving Sight
Columbus, Ohio - Governor Ted Strickland has joined with the Ohio Department of Aging and Ohio's Aging Eye Public Private Partnership to proclaim April as Ohio Aging Eyes Month and promote awareness of age-related eye diseases that affect more than one million Ohioans.
For more information about age related eye disease and what is available through Ohio's partnership called Ohio's Aging Eye Public Private Partnership, click on AGING EYES. | |
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Prescription Drug Plan Publications Offer Guidance
The Social Security Administration has new, free publications that provide helpful information for Medicare beneficiaries and benefits advocates about saving money with Medicare prescription drug plans. Titles include: Getting Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, Information for Medicare Beneficiaries with Disabilities, Tips for Completing the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs and Help Someone Save an Average of $3,900 on Prescription Drug Costs.
Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the extra help if they have limited income and resources.
For more information and to see if you qualify for additional help, click on
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What's On Your Mind?
Topics for future editions
We would love to hear from you! Our goal is to share useful information and updates in elder law and related services. What would you like to see in the next issue of Elder Law NewsWire? Please email topics of interest to Elder Law NewsWire Topics We will use our reader's input as we choose articles for future issues.
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The Law Practice of Dennison Keller, LLC is located at 8044 Montgomery Road, Suite 700, Cincinnati, OH 45236.
Dennison Keller is an Elder Law Attorney in Cincinnati. Elder Law Firms, here and across the country, have traditionally focused their practices on Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning Guardianships and Probate. However, the Law Practice of Dennison Keller seeks to move beyond the transactions and build relationships, arriving at a holistic solution to legal and care needs through the Life Care Planning process. Elder Care Coordinators are on staff to advocate for the elder client's quality of life and care needs for the remainder of that client's lifetime. For more information, check out our WEBSITE or call us at 513.792.2292.
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