JEFF GOLL, SENIOR ADVISOR
Support Services for Seniors and Their Families
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Aging Well Digest
Useful, interesting, and informative news for seniors and their families
from Jeff Goll, Senior Advisor
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Dear Friends:
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This is the fourth edition of the Aging Well Digest and I hope that you have been able to find something useful, informative, or just plain interesting in each of the earlier editions. I will continue to be on the lookout for the best and most helpful information on issues related to aging that I find each month and I encourage you to contact me if there are topics you would especially like me to investigate.
In this issue, you will find links to articles concerning (1) the Beers Criteria, a list of drugs normally contra-indicated for seniors, (2) the effect of insurance pre-authorization wait times on patient care, (3) NC SHIIP, a free Medicare counceling service, and (4) Senior PharmAssist, a Durham based drug education and assistance program for seniors.
Of course I am here to work with you if you need more personalized help with any of these issues or other aging related concerns. Your first consultation is free in order for us to determine if and how I can help you.
Thanks, Jeff
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Aging Well Digest Archives
Click these links to view earlier issues
ISSUE 1
ISSUE 2
ISSUE 3
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Jeff Goll: Senior Advisor
jeffgollsenioradvisor.com
919-602-8483
jwgoll@mindspring.com
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Services Offered:
- Patient Advocacy
- Housing Transitions
- Medicare Counseling
- Daily Money
Management
- Executor Tasks
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Beers List Criteria
|  The Beers Criteria is a list of potentially inappropriate medications for the elderly. These medicines tend to cause adverse side effects in older patients primarily related to the physiological changes of aging. It was originally formulated by the geriatrician Mark H. Beers in 1991 and updated in 2003. If you are a senior and are being prescribed one of these drugs, ask your doctor about its safety and appropriate alternatives.
Read the article:
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Preauthorization and Patient Care
|  A new AMA survey measures the impact of preauthorization policies on patient care and finds that they can significantly delay access to needed care. Twenty four hundred physicians were surveyed and some of the findings were disturbing. For example, 63% of doctors wait several days to receive authorization from an insurer for tests and procedures while 13% wait more than a week.
Read the full story:
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NC SHIIP - Medicare Counceling
|  Since we are in the six week open enrollment period for Medicare I thought I would take the opportunity to recommend a great North Carolina resource called SHIIP. SHIIP is the State Health Insurance Information Program whose mandate is to council seniors on their Medicare options.
As you may be aware, the costs and benefits for Original Medicare change each year. Moreover, Part D drug plans, Medigap supplementary policies, and Medicare Advantage plans can and do change dramatically from one year to the next. On top of that, the health needs of seniors are often in flux. North Carolina has trained Medicare counselors in each county offering free assistance to help you review changes, understand your options, compare costs, and enroll for the 2011 year. To find your local SHIIP office visit their website at http://www.ncdoi.com/SHIIP/shiip_county_sites.asp or call 919-807-6900 for live help. To access the main Medicare plan finder and enrollment site go to
https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx
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Senior PharmaAssist
|  Senior PharmAssist is a Durham not-for-profit that advocates for Durham seniors by helping them obtain and manage needed medications and by providing health education, community referral and direct financial assistance. Senior PharmAssist can help Durham County residents with incomes of up to 200% of the federal poverty level ( $1805/mo. for individuals and $ 2428/mo. for couples) pay for drugs from their own formulary which is selected by community health care providers and staff trained in geriatrics.
Find out more about Senior PharmAssist here:
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While I hope that this digest will contain something useful, interesting, or informative for you in every monthly edition, I don't want to burden the inbox of anyone who would prefer not to receive it. If you would rather not get this email digest again, please just click on unsubscribe at the bottom of this page.
Alternatively, if you would like to send this digest to someone, just click on Forward email at the bottom of the page. Also, let me know if there are any topics you would like to have me include in the Aging Well Digest.
I intend to provide coverage on a wide range of senior issues so that even if you are a professional in the field of aging, I hope you can learn something in every issue.
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"It takes a long time to become young."
Pablo Picasso
"With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come."
Merchant of Venice 1.1.80
artwork by I. Wellman and N. Danson
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