May your journey be gentle and beautiful!
In Love & Light,
Gail
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In Memory of Tony Gaglio August 9th.

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CAREGIVER CONCERNS

Gail Mitchell
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Five Questions Cancer Patients May Not Know
To Ask Their Oncologist

An estimated 10 million Americans alive today have faced a cancer diagnosis. Fortunately, advances in cancer care and treatment have dramatically improved survival rates and overall quality of life. That improvement is largely due to patients who are taking an active role in their cancer treatment. The next step is to find out how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and properly care for your entire body.

"Many patients focus on questions about their cancer treatment, so they often don't think about other facets of their disease," said Dr. G. David Roodman, Director of Myeloma Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Director of Bone Biology Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center."One important consideration that is often overlooked is the impact of cancer on the bone, which may lead to fractures and can be debilitating. When faced with cancer, it is important to remember that no question is inappropriate."

Here are five questions cancer patients may not know to ask their oncologist:

1. Will cancer and its treatment affect other parts of my body?

Several of the most common types of cancer (e.g., breast, lung, prostate and kidney) can spread from the original tumor site to invade the bone, a process known as bone metastasis. Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, can also progress to the bone. It is important that you visit your oncologist to conduct a full medical examination to determine if your cancer has metastasized and learn how you can take action to protect your bones.

2. Should I be concerned about other medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease and their impact on cancer?

Preexisting medical conditions put you at higher risk for developing complications throughout your cancer treatment. It is important you speak with the doctor who has been overseeing your condition as well as your oncologist to determine the most appropriate treatment option.

3. Do I still need to see my other healthcare professionals (primary care physician, gynecologist, dentist) since I am under the care of my oncologist?

It is extremely important that you visit your other healthcare providers to ensure you are not neglecting other potential health problems. It is crucial to talk about your cancer diagnosis and treatment with your other doctors, as they make up your overall healthcare team.

4. How can I maintain intimacy with my partner after my cancer diagnosis?

While some people experience little or no change in their sexual desire and energy level, others find that their sexual interest declines due to the physical and emotional stress of having cancer and undergoing treatment. Just as it is important to speak with your doctor about the side effects of treatment, you must speak with your partner about your feelings and concerns so the two of you can work through it together and find ways to attend to this important part of your life.

5. Are there certain foods or drinks I should be sure to include in my diet as a result of my cancer or the treatments I am receiving?

In order to maintain the best possible health, cancer patients need to exercise and eat a healthy diet. Talk to your doctor about creating a customized exercise and diet plan—and stick to it.

or more information, visit www.FiveCancerQuestions.com, an informative website that provides education to patients and their families about the impact of cancer and cancer treatments on their bones.

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Top Of Page

You are invited to attend and participate in a "town hall" forum discussing Long Term Care and why it is becoming a top public policy priority. Join elected representatives, political pollsters, industry reporters, business leaders, and advocates in a wide-ranging debate on this important issue.

In just a few years, 78 million Baby Boomers will begin retiring. Current care provided by family members or friends is estimated to be $306 billion per year. The program intends to cover these important issues that are defining what long term care is..

• What is Long Term Care (LTC)?
  
• How much does Long Term Care cost?
  
• Are Americans adequately planning for their Long Term Care?
  
• Why is this a Women's Issue?
  
• What benefits can employers offer their employees?
  
• What can Congress and the government really do?
  

Attendance is free but RSVP is mandatory as space is limited. To reserve your place, please RSVP as soon as possible but no later than September 12th to LTCsymposium@clsdc.com with "Long Term Care Symposium" in the subject line.

The Wellness Community. Org
Cancer Support, Education and Hope.

The expo brings together the latest resources products and offerings for the caregiving community. A one stop shop for caregiving best practices and know-how. Admission is free for all. www.caregiverexpo.com

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Pan American Conference on Family Caregiving

November 29 – December 1, 2006
Hyatt Regency Coral Gables - Miami, FL

This event will be a unique opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned in creating programs to assist family caregivers both in the US and in developing nations. Eight Latin American countries – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru will participate in the conference, which will include panel discussions on Hispanic caregiver programs, an international view of caregiving policy and program development, and roundtables on such topics as working with the media, conducting outreach to Hispanic populations and developing Alzheimer's support groups. If you have questions now or would like us to send this email and future information about the conference to others, please contact Aileen Worrell from National Alliance for Caregiving at: aileen@caregiving.org.

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Conscious Aging in Albuquerque
September 9-10,
“Reaping the Harvest of a Lifetime: The Path of the Sage.”

The workshop will provide a new way of looking at one’s elder years as a time of growth and development, of joy and fulfillment, and of spiritual growth and giving back, that may be the very best years of your life.A flyer for the workshop with additional information is attached. If you or others you know may be interested in attending or have any questions, please call Gary Carlson at 505.897-1850.

For more information call Alison Kestenbaum at: 212. 836.1673. This event is sponsored by the Caring Coalition of Meto NY. www.caringcoalitionmetrony.org.

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Jewish Home & Hospital Lifecare System
Fifth International Palliative Care in the 21st Century Conference
Wednesday, November, 15, 2006, a
t Columbia University.

Social Work Clinical Best Practices in Long-Term Care conferences. The first SW program is going to be held on September 14 at The Jewish Home & Hospital Lifecare System, Manhattan Division; and the second is going to be held later this year on December 7, also at The Jewish Home & Hospital Lifecare System, Sarah Neuman Center for Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Westchester Division. There is also a half-day

Best Practices in Intergenerational Programming: Engaging Seniors and Teens symposium to be offered on Thursday, October 26, 2006, at The Jewish Home & Hospital, Manhattan Division. Continuing Education Units (CEU) for Administrators, Social Workers, Nurses, Case Managers, Dietitians and Recreation Therapists will be awarded. To view, print the program agenda and register online, please either visit www.lifecareinstitute.org/public. You can also view and print the program agenda and registration form (second page) by clicking on the links below:

• Palliative Care Conference:
  
• Social Work Clinical Conferences:
  
• Best Practices in Intergenerational Programming:
  

If you have any question, please call (212) 870-4762 and speak with Naim Gribaa

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Among the organizations collaborating on this program are the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, the Lupus Foundation of America, the NAACP, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and the National Medical Association. To access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by phone, you can call toll-free, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

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Help for Those in Need

Many people have difficulty affording health care, including prescription medicines. A number of patient assistance programs provide help to patients who lack prescription drug coverage and earn less than 200% of the federal poverty level (approximately $19,000 for an individual or $32,000 for a family of three).*

In 2003, more than 29 million people in the United States make less than 200% of the federal poverty level and have no health insurance.

https://www.pparx.org/ViewCompanies.php

This week, CMS announced the publication of an Extra Help/Low Income Seniors (LIS) Outreach Toolkit. The outreach and education initiatives outlined in this plan are designed to identify all remaining likely LIS eligible beneficiaries who have not yet applied for the LIS or joined a plan; ensure that these beneficiaries complete the LIS application process; and encourage them to make an active choice of Medicare drug plans. CMS will strive to coordinate to the fullest extent possible with relevant federal, state and local partners to maximize the effectiveness and return on investment of all outreach efforts.

There is a Special Enrollment Period for people who qualify for the LIS. Those who qualify will be able to join a Medicare drug plan immediately without paying a penalty, and will not have to wait for the next open enrollment period. The enrollment period for people who qualify for the LIS began on May 16 and will continue through November 15, 2006.

If you think you may qualify, we encourage you to look into it. You might also want to mention it to friends and family whom you think could benefit.

The Toolkit is available at the following website address: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/partner.asp Or call: Medicare 1-800- 633-4227 and Social Security 1-800-772-0778

When you will have an SEP, how long it will last, and when your new drug coverage will begin depends on your circumstances. Log on to Medicare Interactive at National Organization for Empowering Caregivers' website at www.medicareinteractive.org/nofec to read more about qualifying for a SEP, to read tips on applying for Extra Help and choosing a Medicare drug plan. You can also find up to date information on penalties and which ones will apply to you. This internet resource is provided by the Medicare Rights Center, the largest independent source of health care information and assistance in the United States for people with Medicare.

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Alzheimer's Association Launches New Web Tool
Care Options for Families

The Alzheimer's Association has developed a new Web tool to help individuals and family caregivers find care options ranging from home and community-based care to assisted living and nursing home care. The tool allows users to input personalized information, special needs, abilities and preferences, and receive a customized summary report with care recommendations and specific questions to ask potential care providers. For more information, visit: Alzheimer's Association CareFinder

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National Family Caregiver Support Program

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) has been reauthorized again.Changes to NFCSP:

1) Currently up to 10% of NFCSP funds can be used to provide caregiver support services to grandparents or other relatives caring for a child under 18. The definition of child has been expanded to include adult children with a disability. The age at which grandparents or other individuals caring for a child or an adult child with a disability was lowered from age 60 to 55.

2) The current definition of family caregiver, "an adult family member or another individual who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual," was expanded by adding at the end "or an individual with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder with neurological and organic brain dysfunction."

3) The section on use of volunteers was expanded to encourage the use of trained volunteers to provide core services and to coordinate with other volunteer programs to expand available services.

4) Under "reporting requirements," the state must now report on any mechanism used in the State to provide family caregivers of an older individual and relative caregiver of a child or an adult child with a disability, information about and access to various services so that caregivers can better carry out their care responsibilities.

5) Under Activities of National Significance, AOA is expanding their reach by adding new research areas, including programs providing support and information to families who have a child with a disability or chronic illness and to other families in need of such family support programs.

The National Quality Caregiving Coalition of the Rosalynn Carter Institute has released Caregiving: A National Profile and Assessment of Caregiver Services and Needs. The study looked at the services that exist and those that are needed by caregivers at national and state levels, and analyzed caregiving prevalence nationally among target populations (populations targeted by age, race, or gender). Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the researchers found overall caregiver stress levels to be high nationally, but found regional and state level differences in other areas such as number of caregivers by state, caregiver coping strategies, and the needs of caregivers. The report is available online at www.RosalynnCarter.org.

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Citizen's Healthcare Poll

Your opinions matter! Answer these on-line questions today and help shape the recommendations we send to Congress and the President. Join thousands of Americans who have told us what they want. Questionaire:

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Leeza Gibbons on Walgreens Health Corner TV

I decided to wash my car. As I started toward the garage, I noticed that there was mail on the hall table. I decided to go through the mail before I washed the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and noticed that the trash can was full.

So, I decided to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first, but then I thought, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I took my checkbook off the table, and saw that there was only one check left. My extra checks were in my desk in the study, so I went to my desk where I found the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I was going to look for my checks, but first I needed to push the Coke aside so that I dodn't accidentally knock it over. I saw that the Coke was getting warm and, I decided I
should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I headed towards the kitchen with the coke a vase of flowers on the counter caught my eye -- they need to be watered. So, I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discovered my reading glasses. I had been searching for them allmorning. I decided I'd better put them back on my desk, but first I'm was going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, filled a container with water and suddenly I spotted the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realized that tonight when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote, but nobody will remember that it' was on the kitchen table.

I decided to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'd water the flowers. I splashed some water on the flowers, but most of it spilled on the floor. I set the remote back down on the table, went to get some towels and wiped up the spill. Then I headed down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car wasn't washed, the bills weren't paid, there was a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers weren't watered, there was still only one check in my checkbook, I couldn' t find the remote, I couldn' t find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then when I tried to figure out why nothing got done today, I was really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I was really tired. I realized that this was ia serious problem, and I would try to get some help for it, but first I would check my e-mail.

Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent. Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming! And if I have sent this to you before, ... well, now you know why you're getting it again.