Those caring for seniors often find themselves assisting or making major purchases for their senior. Whether it’s a major appliance or even a car the caregiver can often find themselves in the middle of an important buying decision. The caregiver may want to be neutral and truly look out for the senior’s best interest. One of the best ways to make that happen is to have a neutral party to help them with the buying process. The Shopping Buddy Program is a special project with the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Florida.

This program not only helps seniors with making informed purchasing decisions but also assists in protecting them from fraud.  This program is free to the public and has other experienced seniors who volunteer their time and experience in helping the senior purchaser.

In this show Valerie Norton the office manager in the Regency Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Substation explains the Shopping Buddy Program for us.  She is a volunteer and liaison for between the program and Eldersource, the local area on aging.

Click here to listen to the podcast!

Here are some helpful resources:
Seniors vs. Crime 1 800 203-3099
Seniors vs. Crime in Jacksonville 904 721-6516
Book a Speaker (ask for Jax Regency Office) 904 412-8292

Senior Medicare Patrol – Questions or Complaints for Medicare Billing Fraud 1 866 357-6677

This episode of the Informed Eldercare Podcast is sponsored in part by Eldersource.  The show is produced by Bold City Media LLC., the only company in Jacksonville Florida specializing in Podcasting.

Just like caring for a child for the first time, many caregivers find themselves caring for an elder for the first time.  With no experience or guidance they can feel overwhelmed, frustrated and uncertain that their care is right.  Caregivers want to make informed decisions not only for themselves but for the elder.  Enlisting the help of a professional Geriatric Care Manager alleviates all those concerns.

Many times a care manager can help the elder to stay in their home longer, maximize their resources, and give them a quality of care that is in the elder’s best interest.

In this show Nancy Allen with Solutions For Care, Inc.. explains how a care manager can help caregivers achieve their goals in caring for their elders.  She is also the author of the book Survivor – Ten Practical Steps to Survey Survival, a guidebook in home health care for seniors.  Nancy has over 25 years experience in home health and long term care for seniors.  She is a board certified specialist in home health by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has attained the highest level of certification as a geriatric care manager by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers.

Click here to listen to the show!

Here are a few more resources:

• National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
• Solutions For Care

The Informed Eldercare Podcast is sponsored in part by Eldersource the aging resource center in Northeast Florida.

This program is produced by Bold City Media LLC., the only company in Jacksonville Florida specializing in Podcasting.

With the continued need and awareness of charities there happens to be continued fraud. Many elders fall victim to fraudulent people posing as legitimate charities. These fraudulent people steal money for themselves and not a legitimate charity. Not only does the donation fail to go to a needy charity but the charitable giver can also become prey to identity theft leading to other problems. Elders and their caregivers need to know how to qualify the legitimate from the illegitimate charities to protect themselves.

Our guest to help us identify and prevent charity fraud is Slade Dukes. Mr. Dukes is an attorney and program fellow for the Elder Consumer Protection Program and the project fellow for the Financial Scam and Fraud Elder Awareness Project at the Center for Excellence in Elder Law at Stetson University College of Law. His extensive experience in law and advocacy in the area of elder consumer protection make him an excellent resource on this topic. Look at the bottom of this post for more information and resources!

Listen to this podcast right here on this player!

The Informed Eldercare Podcast is sponsored in part by Eldersource and produced by Bold City Media, the only company in Jacksonville, Florida specializing in Podcasting!

• Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance 703 276-0100
• National Charities Information Bureau 212 929-6300
• Internal Revenue Service Charities & Non Profits 1 800 829-5500
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 1 800 HELP-FLA or 1 800 435-7352

Watch the video right here on this player!

For more information, here are a few more links:
SecondWind.org
Living with Alzheimers

The Informed Eldercare Podcast is sponsored in part by Eldersource. It is produced by Bold City Media, the only company in Jacksonville Florida specializing in Podcasting!

For many caregivers and professionals the biggest hurdle in Dementia care is understanding what it’s like to have it.  This brief preview video will give a few examples of those who took the Virtual Dementia Tour.  This tour is hosted by Nicole Wolfson Director of Community Relations with Sunrise Senior Living.  This tour was founded by P.K. Beville, M.S. with Second Wind Dreams.  The Virtual Dementia Tour provides awareness of the effects of Dementia, in hopes of becoming more caring, patient and understanding for those suffering from Dementia.

We will post the video in it’s entirety this month, so be on the look out for it!

Watch the video here!

The Informed Eldercare Podcast is produced by Bold City Media LLC the only company in Jacksonville, Florida specializing in podcasting.

If you or someone you know is using Medicare for their health insurance needs not only is the costs of Medicare in jeopardy but the coverage itself.

“Medicare has at least $80 billion worth of fraud a year. That’s a full 20 percent of every dollar that’s spent on Medicare goes to fraud.”

This was reported by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. in an interview on the Aug. 24 edition of Fox News Channel’s On the Record With Greta Van Susteren. Not only is this important to the agencies supplying this service but the recipients of the insurance. Medicare Fraud raises health care costs and prevents many from receiving the products or services they really need.

In addition Medicare recipients may find themselves vulnerable to the people perpetrating this fraud.

In this episode Stephen Quindoza with IntegriGuard provides vital information to help you protect your Medicare coverage.

Click here to listen to the podcast!

This podcast is sponsored in part by Eldersource.

Here are some other helpful numbers
1 800-MEDICARE
1 800-HHS-TIPS
1 866-417-2078 HOTLINE
1 866 357-6677 SMP HOTLINE

Here is Steve Kroft’s story on 60 minutes

Watch CBS News Videos Online

The Informed Eldercare Podcast is produced by Bold City Media LLC, the only company in Jacksonville Florida specializing in Podcasting.

On Saturday January 30, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida will be hosting a free caregiver workshop for caregivers. At this workshop you can expect to receive information from experts as well as great stories to help you with the exhausting and sometimes difficult role as a caregiver.

Look at the sessions that are being offered:

• Caring for the Caregiver
• Balancing Work with Caregiving
• Understanding Advance Directives
• Managing the Challenging Behaviors of the Alzheimer’s Patient
• Choosing a Long Term Care Facility
• Medication Management
• Nutrition for Seniors
• Preservation of Assets in the Medicaid Process

Free Adult Day Care provided. Chances to win a door prize. Additional information from vendors on hand.

When: Saturday January 30 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Where: Ramada Inn-Mandarin 3130 Hartley Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32257 MapTo register contact: Nikki Tubig at 904 807-1225

Click on this free download for more information.

• AARP Driver Safety Program

• CarFit Official Site

• Keeping Seniors Safe and Mobile

Other professional assistance in the Jacksonville Florida area:

For a classroom driver refresher course contact: Bertha Richardson, AARP 904 356-9306

Driver Rehabilitation Specialists and Occupational Therapists contact:
Peggy Gannon with Brooks Rehabilitation
904 858-7242
Peggy.gannon@brookshealth.org

Click here to download a free document on driving wellness for seniors!
6 Tips For Driving Wellness

The Informed Eldercare Podcast is produced by Bold City Media, your expert podcasting company in Jacksonville, Florida and sponsored in part by Eldersource.

If your 50 and beyond your now facing a whole new set of decisions, and many times the best way to make those decisions come by way of an expert.  Fruit Cove Baptist Church will be hosting an Information Expo for adults 50 and beyond. There will be experts from the local community offering seminars on many important issues.  The event starts with a dinner on Friday night with the various sessions to follow.