Volume 5 Issue 1 “Education, Fellowship, Resources & Support” May 2005 – June 2005

Disclaimer

The San Antonio Polio Survivors’ Association Newsletter, THE PHOENIX, is intended to share, with our readers, information of interest to them, including medical opinion of others. It is not intended to offer specific advice or as a substitute for professional health care. Opinions, products, or services mentioned, herein, are not necessarily endorsed by the San Antonio Polio Survivors’ Association or the Warm Springs Resourcenter for People with Disabilities or Warm Springs Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc.; 5101 Medical Drive; San Antonio, Texas 78229-4801

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We start off this newsletter with an interesting article on communication skills from the Monthly Motivator which is a part of the Daily Motivator by Ralph S. Mars ton, Jr. via the email and the internet with his permission as stated by the following remarks: Copyright 2005 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. Used by permission. From "The Daily Motivator" at http://DailyMotivator.com .
The Daily Motivator is quite inspirational and gives you food for thought through the e-mail and through the picture clips of the countryside. He is from the Texas Hill Country and many of the country scenes are from around Kerrville, Texas.

THE MONTHLY MOTIVATOR - February 2005
COMMUNICATION SKILLSJ
anice Kn Pssst. Want to know a secret? Want to hear one word that can sum up a world of opportunity? In one word, it is -- communicate. The biggest opportunities of our day are available to those who can communicate most effectively.

We live in a world that rises and falls on the quality of communication. Do you want to earn more money? Then learn how to communicate better. Do you want to be more highly admired? Then improve your ability to communicate. Do you want to truly make a positive and meaningful difference in the world? Then work on better developing your communication skills.

Look at the world around you and you'll see a world that thrives on communication. The explosive growth of the Internet in the last few years is all about communication. Other communication technologies, including wireless telephone and data, satellite, audio, video, fiber optics and others, drive the world's largest, fastest growing and most successful industries. The opportunities for the average person to engage in meaningful, affordable communication grow on a daily basis. High technology devices and services are increasingly connecting us to each other, breaking down the material barriers of time and space. The ability to communicate is the most widespread and fastest growing wealth-producing resource of our time. Those who understand this, and who take advantage of the growing opportunities for communication, can significantly improve the quality of their own lives, as well as the lives of many others, through the use of effective communication.

Communication skills are much more than just an impressive-sounding phrase on a job application. Communication skills are essential to success in every area of life. Those who are most successful in the world today, those who make the biggest positive difference for the largest number of people, are those who have harnessed and effectively utilized the ability to communicate. In business, health, travel, sports, spirituality, relationships, parenting, leisure, education, and just about any other endeavor you can name, communication skills play a major role. Without question, the more effectively you can communicate, the more successful you will be.

So lets take a look at effective communication, and discuss ways in which you can take advantage of this powerful resource -- the ability to communicate -- which has recently become so abundant and widely available.

Communication begins with respect

Effective communication is based around mutual respect. By very definition, communication is an activity between two or more unique individuals. In order for that activity to be successful as possible, there must be respect on all sides.

Almost every technique and strategy for effective communication revolves around respect for others. So when attempting to communicate, it is a good idea to first put yourself in a respectful state of mind.

In your communication, don't talk down to others, and don't talk over their heads. By the same token, don't second-guess what is being communicated to you. Make a point to respect the unique perspectives of all parties involved.

Communication is nothing without respect. Maintain a genuine respect for those with whom you communicate, and you're well on your way to adding significant value to the information you communicate.

Communication is a two-sided process

Effective communication depends on being able to receive as well as send out information. Listening is just as important to spoken communication as is speaking. Reading is just as important to written communication as writing. Watching and experiencing is just as important as performing.

Communication is learning as well as teaching. Communication is a process in which useful information flows from one party to the other. It takes at least two to communicate effectively, a sender and receiver. Both sides of the equation are equally important.

Skilled communicators are just as skillful at listening as they are at speaking, just as skillful at reading as at writing. Communication depends on understanding, and on being understood. Both sides are necessary for effectiveness. Keep in mind that a primary goal of communication is understanding. That requires effort and skill at both ends.

Communication is a two-way process

Not only is communication two-sided; it also is most effective when it flows in both directions. The explosive growth of the Internet has been due largely to the fact that it is the first truly interactive mass medium. It facilitates communication just as easily from its users as to its users, and does so on a large scale. The most successful Internet websites are the ones that provide the highest degree of interactivity with their visitors.

To effectively communicate with others you must not only provide them with substantive, meaningful information. You also must solicit substantive, meaningful information back from them.

It is in this realm of true two-way communication that technology has so richly empowered us in recent years. The ability to produce and reliably distribute quality communications has literally exploded with the wide availability of innovations such as the Internet, lower and lower costs for long distance phone calls, powerful desktop computers and software, digital video and audio recording and playback devices, and other such marvels. The real breakthrough afforded by technology has not been the services and devices themselves, but their increasingly lower cost, improved quality and wider availability. Technology has opened up widespread two-way communications for a variety of powerful media. Those who take advantage of this newfound capability will be the most effective and successful people in the years ahead.

What do you want to express and why?

Just because communication has become logistically easy and accessible, does not mean that it is an effortless undertaking. The widespread availability of communication power has changed the nature of the effort. Rather than spending time, effort and resources on the "how" of communication, as was the case in the past, we are now free to focus more on the "what" and "why" of our communications.

Effective communication begins with an agenda. What do you wish to express? What specific information are you seeking to convey? And just as importantly, why? What is the purpose of your communication? What results are you seeking to obtain? Why do you desire these results in the first place? These are questions that can improve the quality of any communication, from a brief e-mail to a business proposal to a feature-length film.

Sure, you can communicate. Everybody can. But what is the point of your communication? What do you wish to accomplish? Now that you have your state-of-the-art multimedia computer and high-speed Internet connection, what do you plan to do with them? It's great to have powerful capabilities. Just make sure you put some effort into purposefully using them.

Consider the purpose of each communication. Determine what you wish to express and why. Infuse your communication with real, solid purpose. And it will likely accomplish precisely what you intended for it to accomplish.

Knowing and understanding the people you're addressing

The more you know about the people with whom you're communicating, the more effective your communication will be. Put yourself in the shoes of the people on the other end of your communication. What do they want to know? What are their concerns and motivations? What value can they receive from communication with you?

What method of communication would be most useful and appropriate to them? This is a key question. We tend to determine our method of communication based on what is most convenient for us. But to effectively communicate, you must also take into consideration what would be the most useful for those with whom you wish to communicate. For example, it might be easy and, on the surface at least, cost effective to run an advertisement in the newspaper. But your potential market (the people with whom you wish to communicate) might be better served by an informative website. So although the website initially requires more time and money to put together, it can make your overall communication much more effective.

Always keep in mind that someone other than yourself will be on the opposite end of your communication channel, whether you're speaking, sending a letter, writing a book or producing a video presentation.

Don't take communication for granted

We live in a world where communication is fast, easy and affordable. As such, we tend to take communication, and the ability to communicate, for granted. That is a mistake. When you fail to appreciate the power of communication, the quality and effectiveness of your communication suffers.

If you go ahead and send your communication with the assumption that "if I get it wrong, I can always fix it later" then you reduce the power of your communication. Just because communication is readily available is no reason to let yourself become sloppy at it. Though the ability to communicate is easily available to you, the opportunity to communicate with specific people may be limited. You've no doubt heard the aphorism "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." That's an important maxim to remember when communicating.

The fact is, yes, communication is readily available to everyone. So in order to use it effectively you must make your communication stand out. It used to be that just being able to communicate was enough. Now, with so much information coming at them, people are forced to discriminate in what they pay attention to. So the easy access to communication necessitates better quality in each attempt at communication. In order to make yours stand out and get noticed, you must craft them carefully, with substance, depth and respect.

Be accurate

Your level of accuracy affects not only the quality of the communication at hand, but also the effectiveness of future communications. If you make a sloppy error in your communication, then the next time you communicate, your credibility will be somewhat lowered. The effort you put into making sure you're accurate right now, can bring you benefits long into the future.

Because communication has become so highly and instantly interactive, the accuracy of the information you send out can significantly affect the quality of information you receive back. So avoid communicating any information of which you're not confident. A high speed Internet connection is of no positive value if you use it to download erroneous data. Being a dynamic public speaker won't get you very far if what you speak about is consistently wrong.

Make the effort to make your communications accurate. Only then will you reap the powerful benefits which quality communication can bring.

Be precise

All communication uses representations of reality. The more accurate your representations reflect reality in the mind of the person with whom you're communicating, the more effective the communication will be.

Avoid the use of ambiguous language or images. Be clear and precise in your communication. This is of course facilitated by knowing exactly what you intend to say, why you're saying it, and whom you will be addressing.

Not only must you be precise, you must be appropriately precise. A doctor counseling her patient must, for example, use terminology the patient understands. Highly technical medical terms won't communicate anything of value to the average person. Be precise, while also making sure the precision facilitates, rather than obscures, understanding.

Keep in mind that your communication is directed toward people who are not you. This may seem obvious, but far too many people communicate as if they are communicating with themselves. You cannot assume that the people with whom you're communicating already know what you're talking about.
Communicate with clarity, keeping in mind the perspective of those who will be on the other end of the line.

The same principle applies when receiving as well as sending information. When reading an e-mail sent to you by someone else, for example, keep in mind that he or she is writing from a different perspective than your own, and does not necessarily know the same things you know. If someone else communicates with you in ambiguous terms or in ways that you're unable to clearly understand, ask for clarification. Keep in mind that communication takes place with unique, individual people who are not the same as you. Craft your outgoing communications and interpret incoming communications accordingly.

Pay attention to protocol

Successful communication depends on adhering to agreed-upon protocols. In written communication, these protocols include grammar, vocabulary and spelling. In electronic communication, technical protocols are often critical. If you were to send a letter written in English to someone who understood only Arabic, your communication would have a serious protocol problem. Similarly, if you were to distribute a video presentation on DVD to people who were only equipped to view VHS tapes, the mismatch in protocol would entirely doom that effort at communication.

With the advent of the Internet, technical protocols have become vital to successful communication. When you're sending a communication over the Internet, think protocol. For example, if you're sending a file as an e-mail attachment, make sure the file is in a format that can be opened and read by the person on the receiving end. Sure, you may be able to open the file without any problem, but the person receiving it may not have the same software. So take that into consideration. Learn the most appropriate protocol and use it.

Learning protocols and adhering to them takes effort and discipline. Yet in a world where fortunes rise and fall on the quality and effectiveness of communication, it can be well worth the effort.

Whether you're communicating by telephone, e-mail, multimedia presentation, mail, public speaking, video, web page, or any other kind of medium, there are certain protocols to which you'll want to adhere. In any particular communication there are often many levels of protocol at work -- technical, social, linguistic, political, cultural, and more. Consider what the various protocols may be, and keep them in mind when crafting your presentation. Remember that protocols are not designed to limit the content of your communication. Rather, they are in place to make your communication more efficient, effective and widely understandable.

Be truthful

Deception has no place in effective communication. Though the truth sometimes hurts, it is far preferable than the alternative. Keep in mind that the most powerful communication is two-way, interactive communication. As such, any deceptions you send out will likely come back to you. Though deception may appear to give you a quick, easy advantage, adhering to the truth is a far better course. Lies must continually be maintained and expanded. The truth stands very well on its own. In a world that runs on communication, you'll soon find yourself at a serious disadvantage if you're not sincerely committed to being truthful. Simply put, truth is more powerful, more effective, and more efficient. Always use it when communicating.

Say enough but not too much

What you don't say can be as important as what you do say. Often when you tell too much, the essence of your message gets lost. Learn to state things as briefly as possible, while still supplying the important details.

Thoughtfully organize each communication, whether it is a web page, a voice mail message, a slide presentation, or anything else, so that the essential information is clearly evident and readily available. Avoid confusing the issue and wasting time with a lot of irrelevant data.

The quantity of your communication has little to do with its quality. Avoid adding "fluff" just to make it longer. Longer is not necessarily better. Give plenty of good, appropriate, accurate information but don't dump in a lot of junk.

To communicate effectively requires restraint. In our wired, digital world there is plenty of information available. We suffer from information overload. People must make choices about what to heed and what to ignore. The challenge of effective communication is to be concise without being shallow, to communicate in depth without overwhelming your audience. All the components of your communication -- whether they are words, pictures, sounds, graphs, charts, or colors -- should add substance and value to the message you're seeking to communicate.

Avert misunderstanding

Bolster the effectiveness of your communications by making an effort to correct misunderstandings before they happen. People who have names that are easily misspelled are already skilled at this. Someone named "Kathy" will often say, when giving her name, "Kathy with a K." That's because she knows that many people are likely to spell it with a "C." Instead of wasting the time to go back and correct it later, she makes sure the other person understands the correct spelling up front.

You have to assume that most people are not going to be very careful about getting information right, or about interpreting it in the way you intended. The extra effort you spend to make sure they do get it right the first time can save enormous amounts of time. Errors in communication are frequently compounded. One case of miscommunication, such as an incorrect phone number, a misquoted or misunderstood expression, or a name not spelled correctly, can be quickly repeated and amplified, sometimes to the point that it is impossible to fully correct. So be sure to get it right the first time. Do what is reasonably necessary to anticipate and avert possible misunderstandings.

Style is important but substance is essential

When we think of the various ways of communication, particularly methods that utilize more than one medium, we tend to consider that there must be a tradeoff between style and substance. That is outdated thinking. It used to be that it took a lot of time and effort to create crisp, stylish presentations, and that meant less time available for developing the substance of the content. But with today's computerized tools, that is no longer the case.

Audio, video, text, graphics and hyperlinks can be created, edited and adjusted at the click of a mouse button. Two very important rules apply in this new environment. Number one -- great, substantive content is no excuse for sloppy, aesthetically deficient packaging. Number two -- slick packaging is no substitute for shallow content.

Instead of having to choose style over substance or substance over style, today's effective communication demands both.

Communicate understanding

The ultimate goal of communication is to create, maintain and strengthen understanding. Understanding comes from respect and a commitment to integrity. Communication is a way to bring people closer together, not literally but in terms of understanding, awareness, spirit and wisdom. As such, there is no activity that offers more possibilities than effective communication. With communication, you can achieve great things for yourself and your world.

You live in a time in which communication is the defining resource. The ability to communicate in all sorts of different ways is available to you in abundance. Take hold of that enormous opportunity. Become an effective communicator and let your communication take you wherever you wish to go.

Ralph Marston Copyright 2005 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All rights reserved.
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The following is an article concerning “Shingles” and how common it can really be among chronically ill and the elderly. I found it in the NIH web sites and thought it might be of interest to our group. I copied (& pasted) it so that you might have the opportunity of reading it.

NINDS Shingles Information Page

Synonym(s): Postherpetic Neuralgia, Herpes Zoster
Condensed from Shingles: Hope Through Research

Table of Contents (click to jump to sections)
What is Shingles?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?

Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information
Additional resources from MEDLINEplus

What is Shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) are an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin that is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox - the varicella-zoster virus. The first sign of shingles is often burning or tingling pain, or sometimes numbness, in or under the skin. You may also feel ill with fever, chills, headache, or upset stomach. After several days, a rash of small fluid-filled blisters, reminiscent of chickenpox, appears on reddened skin. The pain associated with shingles can be intense and is often described as "unrelenting." Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for shingles. Scientists think that in the original battle with varicella-zoster, some of the virus particles leave the skin blisters and move into the nervous system. When the varicella-zoster virus reactivates, the virus moves back down the long nerve fibers that extend from the sensory cell bodies to the skin and cause the characteristic blisters of shingles .

Is there any treatment?

The severity and duration of an attack of shingles can be significantly reduced by immediate treatment with antiviral drugs, which include acyclovir, valcyclovir, or famcyclovir. Antiviral drugs may also help stave off the painful after-effects of shingles known as postherpetic neuralgia. Other treatments for postherpetic neuralgia include steroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents.

What is the prognosis?

For most people, the lesions heal, the pain subsides within 3 to 5 weeks, and the blisters leave no scars. However, shingles is a serious threat in immunosuppressed individuals — for example, those with HIV infection or who are receiving cancer treatments that can weaken their immune systems. People who receive organ transplants are also vulnerable to shingles because they are given drugs that suppress the immune system.

What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct shingles research in laboratories at the NIH and also support additional research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Current research is aimed at finding new methods for treating shingles and its complications. Recently, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a nationwide trial — the Shingles Prevention Study — to study an experimental shingles vaccine. There is hope that scientists are close to creating a vaccine capable of preventing this painful condition.

Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

Organizations

American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850
ACPA@pacbell.net
http://www.theacpa.org
Tel: 916-632-0922 800-533-3231
Fax: 916-632-3208

National Chronic Pain Outreach Association (NCPOA)
P.O. Box 274
Millboro, VA 24460
http://www.chronicpain.org
Tel: 540-862-9437
Fax: 540-862-9485
VZV Research Foundation [For Research on Varicella Zoster]
40 East 72nd Street
New York, NY 10021

vzv@vzvfoundation.org
http://www.vzvfoundation.org
Tel: 212-472- 3181 800-472-VIRUS (8478)
Fax: 212-861-7033

National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain
P.O. Box 70045
Houston, TX 77270
markgordon@paincare.org
http://www.paincare.org
Tel: 713-862-9332
Fax: 713-862-9346

Related NINDS Publications and Information

• Pain: Hope Through Research
Chronic pain information page compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892

NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.

All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.

Last updated Feb 2005
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What Is a Physiatrist?

A physiatrist (fizz ee at' trist) is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries. They see patients in all age groups and treat problems that touch upon all the major systems in the body. These specialists focus on restoring function to people.

To become a physiatrist, individuals must successfully complete four years of graduate medical education and four additional years of postdoctoral residency training. Residency training includes one year spent developing fundamental clinical skills and three additional years of training in the full scope of the specialty.

There are 80 accredited residency programs in physical medicine and rehabilitation in the United States. Many physiatrists choose to pursue additional advanced degrees (MS, PhD) or complete fellowship training in a specific area of the specialty. Fellowships are available for specialized study in such areas as musculoskeletal rehabilitation, pediatrics, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and sports medicine.

To become board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, physiatrists are required to pass both a written and oral examination administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R). The ABPM&R also has agreements with each of the boards of pediatrics, internal medicine, and neurology to allow special training programs leading to certification in both specialties.

Physiatrists treat acute and chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders. They may see a person who lifts a heavy object at work and experiences back pain, a basketball player who sprains an ankle and needs rehabilitation to play again, or a knitter who has carpal tunnel syndrome. Physiatrists' patients include people with arthritis, tendonitis, any kind of back pain, and work- or sports-related injuries.

Physiatrists also treat serious disorders of the musculoskeletal system that result in severe functional limitations. They would treat a baby with a birth defect, someone in a bad car accident, or an elderly person with a broken hip. Physiatrists coordinate the long-term rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injuries, cancer, stroke or other neurological disorders, brain injuries, amputations, and multiple sclerosis.

Physiatrists practice in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and in private offices. They often have broad practices, but some concentrate on one area such as pediatrics, sports medicine, geriatric medicine, brain injury, or many other special interests.

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Theft Protection
Please Read

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:

The next time you order checks, omit your first name and have only your initials and last name put on them. If someone takes your check book they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks (DUH!) you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.

Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad.

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc.

Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily.

File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do this).

Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done.

There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The numbers are:
Equifax:1-800-525-6285
Experian:(formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union:1-800-680-72 89
Social Security Administration(fraud line):1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything. Pass this information along. It could really help someone you care about .

SPEAKERS OF NOTE – PAST AND THE FUTURE!

In March, the new president of the Texas Polio Survivors Association of Houston, John Hartman was our speaker. He explained what their plans were for the coming year including the tentative plans for their associate support groups in the state. There are approximately ten. If you care to find out more about TPSA their e-mail is tpsa@flash.net or the web site www.texaspolio.org .

In April, we had no speaker, so we had a general discussion of how we wanted the organization to progress. As it happened, Tracie Harrison, RN, MSN, PhD from the University of Texas @ Austin School of Nursing, a former speaker, dropped by to see how our group was progressing and to find a group of polio survivors of Hispanic origin for a study they are doing. Tracie would appreciate talking with you about what the study is about and get your input. If you are interested, you could contact her at the e-mail address listed below:
Harrison, Tracie tharrison@mail.nur.utexas.edu

May 10th Sylvia Ojeda, Specialist for C.O.I.L.(Coalition for Independent Living )/Community Development Corporation spoke to the group about the increasing availability of affordable, accessible housing for the aging plus the disabled populations of San Antonio. For more information you may reach her @ sojeda@coilcdc.org ;210.599.0056; 210. 599. 3369 FAX; or at her office address: 6292 Queens Court #201, San Antonio, Texas 78218.

June 14, we will have Mr. Jess Hernandez of the Pulmonary Care and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department of the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital talking with us about the problems we have as we age with the Respiratory System like COPD, Bronchitis, Asthma, etc. and how we can prevent and maintain ourselves when these respiratory conditions occur in our every day lives.

July 12, we will have Cathey Horsak, Director of Field Services, Alpha-1 Association of the Alpha – 1 Organization to speak about Alpha – 1 Antitrypsin Protein Deficiency which affects
the Lungs and Liver and is another one of the inherited diseases that there is little known about.

August 9, we will have Tina Richards Smith to speak with us about the changes in AACOG and the changes in the Medicare Benefits that effects us all.

Hopefully we will be able to line up the speakers for September, October, November and December that will be of interest to the entire San Antonio Polio Survivors’ Association. If you know of someone, please don’t be hesitant to let us know soon, so we can call or you can call and schedule them for a specific time. IT could be a demonstration of new equipment, product or a get together somewhere ( like a brown bag type of thing—we are open to suggestions at the meeting and contacts with the leaders of our group anytime.)

CONGRATULATIONS

FOR THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER YEAR OF

THE SAN ANTONIO POLIO SURVIVORS’ ASSOCIATION

“EDUCATION, FELLOWSHIP, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT”

The newsletter for all elder caregivers. Sent twice a month, and only by request. You are welcome to pass on Elder CareTips™ to anyone you think might be interested. You'll find information about how to get your personal subscription below.

Finding A New Doctor: Part 2

When you're looking for a new doctor, sticking a pin in the Yellow Pages probably isn't the best way to go. Using directories and other referral sources is a bit better (see Part 1 for two possibilities). Getting suggestions from friends is even better.

However you gather names, you still don't know whether you'll have a good fit until you do a little more checking. This time it will involve actually meeting the doctor and his staff.

A patient-(and consumer-) savvy doctor should be willing to give you a short "get acquainted" appointment without charge. Don't expect that this appointment will be very long, as doctors are insanely busy with patients. Be prepared with your written list of important questions and things you want to observe. Don't hesitate to take notes - you might not remember everything after you leave the office.

Here's a starter list. Add any additional items important to you:

Physical location

Convenient parking
Easy entry, with a good wheelchair ramp and roomy elevator
A safe place to sit while someone gets the car if it's raining or
too cold/hot
Room to maneuver a wheelchair inside the office

The Office

Staff is friendly and welcoming
Office is clean and neat
Convenient office hours (evenings? weekends?)
How long is the wait for an appointment?
Are patients usually seen close to their appointment time?
Who returns calls to the doctor (doctor, nurse, other)?
Is there a particular time of day when calls are returned?
Does the doctor ever communicate by email?
How are requests for prescription refills handled?

Other Practice Details

How many physicians are in the practice?
Are there multiple specialties in the practice?.
If yes, what specialties are represented?
Is the physician affiliated with one or more hospitals?
Which hospital does the physician prefer to use?
Does a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant sometimes see patients instead of the doctor?
Does the physician see and treat patients in the hospital?
Does the physician see and treat patients in the emergency room?
Who covers for the physician at night, on weekends or when he/ she is away?

Financial Details

Does the doctor accept Medicare assignment?
If not, will the office take care of filing Medicare claims on the
patient's behalf?
If the doctor is asked to complete other forms will there be a
charge?

The Doctor

Medical school attended
Special medical interests
Board certification(s)
Treats the patient with respect
Makes good eye contact and listens well
Allows sufficient time
Answers questions completely and clearly without medical jargon
Has a personality that is a comfortable fit with the patient's needs

Pay attention to your feelings during your get acquainted meeting. How you feel about your doctor will play a large part in how you both communicate and how well you and your elder follow through on his or her recommendations. If you like and trust the doctor you are much more likely to take his or her advice to heart. If you don't, odds are you are much more likely to be "noncompliant."

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Elder CareTip: Beware the Opportunist

Some people prey on the relatives of a deceased person whose name has been obtained from the obituary column. The victim's family receives authentic-looking bills, usually for relatively small amounts so they don't set off warning bells. The family member responsible for clearing up final matters often pays these without question.

If you've got a Reader Tip you'd like to share, please send it to me with the subject line "care tip."

Let me know if I can use your name. Or if you'd rather have me leave your name off, that's OK, too.

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I believe in loyalty. When a woman reaches an age she likes, she should stick to it.
- Zsa Zsa Gabor

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When A Loved One Is In Trouble

One of the most terrifying things about Alzheimer's Disease and the other related dementias is the constant worry that your loved one may wander away or suddenly become lost. The first incident almost always comes as a surprise. I can't tell you how many times a caregiver has told me, "Oh mother would never wander." And then, it happens.

Even when you've taken all the obvious precautions it can happen. In a stressful situation our loved ones with dementia often can't produce the information police and other emergency personnel need to get them identified and back home safely or treated in a medical emergency.

MedicAlert and the Alzheimer's Foundation are now offering an identification bracelet specifically designed to help individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias in emergency situations.

In an emergency, the emblem alerts medical professionals or first responders to call MedicAlert's 24-hour hotline to access vital information about the wearer.

Membership in the program includes a bracelet, a health record summary, 24-hour emergency response service, patient identification, emergency contact and family notification service, and 24-hour customer service.

You can get more information from MedicAlert.

Usual disclaimer: No referral fees or other payment received for this information.

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Updates:

Keeping Everyone Informed

You can spend hours talking on the telephone or writing to each of your concerned relatives and friends, updating them on a loved one's condition. You could create a message for your answering machine, but that still means that the phone rings incessantly if you're at home. If you're at the hospital you don't want to leave a message to the world that no one is at home and the house is ripe for a break-in.

So how do you keep everyone who can't be with you at this time up to date and informed? You can create a "CarePage" and give everyone updates all at once.

CarePages is a free service that allows you to create your own web page with information about an ailing loved one. Today, caregivers have created
more than 11,000 CarePages.

Pages are password-protected, and you control what information is released, so you don't have to worry about privacy issues. Bookmark this page if you don't need it now. You never know when you will.

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Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.
- Unknown

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It's May! Three male mallards have taken up residence in my yard - I wonder where their wives are. Maybe it's boy's month out while the mammas take care of the kids. They're certainly having a honking good time driving all the scaredy cats nuts. Then again, if I were a sensible cat being rushed by three great mallards with wings akimbo I'd beat a hasty retreat, too.

I really don't want to rush them off 'cause they're entertaining as all get-out, but have you ever seen what ducks leave behind when they're agitated? Oh, my!

'Till next time,

Don't keep us a secret. If you know other people who should be reading this too, then do them and us a favor by telling them about Elder CareTips(TM). Just send them this link: http://eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm

© 2005 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from Elder CareTips: Mastering The Eldercare Maze(TM) as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link and email link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where the material will appear.

To subscribe, send a blank email to eldermatters@aweber.com

Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
http://www.eldercareteam.com
molly@eldercareteam.com
(972) 395-7823

Read this issue in full color online:
http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm

You are receiving this email newsletter because you asked to receive it. If you've changed your mind, or if you want to leave us for any reason at all, you can remove your name below.

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>> When You Have To Find a New Doctor <<

As many of you know, I live and work in Dallas, TX. For lo these many years I have relied on a group of senior medical centers where my clients could get quality medical care from geriatric specialists who would accept Medicare without complaint and who were located in or near the neighborhoods where my clients actually live. This meant that older folks could drive themselves to their regularly scheduled appointments on streets they knew.

Now, because Medicare payments to doctors are being reduced again, these neighborhood centers are being closed down and consolidated into one facility near a major downtown hospital where the traffic is congested, the homeless roam, and traffic is a nightmare of confusing one-way streets. Chances are, many of my clients will need to find a new doctor. This is a tragedy for them, and for their families. For that matter, it's a minor tragedy for me, too. I attend a lot of doctor appointments and I don't like driving in that part of town either. But I can cope with it. Many seniors can't.

So what do you do when you have to find a new doctor who takes new Medicare patients? If you don't have a recommendation from someone you trust (the first option), and you don't have access to an eldercare specialist like me...the best option...(smile) you'll have to dig in and do some research. There are a few tools that can make it a bit easier, but nothing will replace good old fashioned footwork.

You can use the Medicare website at http://www.medicare.gov
Scroll down to "Find A Doctor."

The Medicare website lists physicians who have agreed to accept Medicare assignment from their patients. This means they have agreed to accept the amount Medicare says they should charge for an office visit, and they have agreed to bill Medicare for the amount they are owed. They will only ask the patient to pay the required co-pay amount.

The Medicare website is a good place to start but you should be aware that the website is usually pretty out of date. Many of the physicians listed are no longer accepting new Medicare patients, or they aren't accepting assignment. This latter means the patient will have to pay for the office visit and send in a claim to Medicare for reimbursement.

You'll have to telephone the office to see if the website information is still correct. And, of course, Medicare gives you their addresses but not their telephone numbers. Helpful.

You can also use the American Medical Association website at http://dbapps.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm .
This site gives more complete information about doctors (including telephone numbers) but doesn't tell you whether the doctor takes Medicare. So that's another phone call unless you compare the results side-by-side with the Medicare site. And even then, you can't be sure. So you have to call.

Using these two websites can give you a starting-point list of possible doctors to follow up with.

Next issue: What to ask when you're looking for a doctor.

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Stdueis hvae sowhn

you should be able to read this...

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.

So much for spelling!

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>> Elder Care Tip <<

Warmth is comforting, even in the middle of the summer. If you or your elder can't sleep, try a hot water bottle. A hot water bottle can be cuddled like a baby or snuggled against your feet. It is much safer for the elderly than a heating pad, which can get dangerously hot. Wrap the bottle in a towel and pin it closed - much more soothing than the bare rubber. Warm water, please - not boiling.

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If you've got a Reader Tip you'd like to share, please send it to mailto:molly@eldercareteam.com with the subject line "care tip."

Let me know if I can use your name. Or if you'd rather have me leave your name off, that's OK, too.

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A Request: Do you live in Texas? Are you working on applying for Medicaid help with paying for nursing home care for someone?I need three reader-reviewers to comment on a just finished short guide to the Medicaid application process in Texas. I will send a copy for review to the first three people who will commit to giving honest feedback about how easy this guide is to understand and follow, and whether it is useful to you. This invitation will not appear on the website copy of today's newsletter. Only you, as a subscriber, are invited to participate.

If you are interested please send me an email with "Review Copy" in the subject line. I'll send you a pdf copy. I ask only that you read it and tell me what you think within the next week. It's short, only 20 pages, so it will be an easy read. You must be willing to permit me to use your comments in possible future promotional materials.

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One of the most difficult things to contend with in a hospital is the assumption on the part of the staff that because you have lost your gall bladder you have also lost your mind.
-- Jean Kerr

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Scripps Howard News Service
April 28, 2005

- SACRAMENTO, Calif. - An assisted living facility for the elderly was raided by state game officials who seized 22 mutilated wild Canada geese that they suspected would be cooked and fed to the residents.

The California Department of Fish and Game was investigating the owner for trapping wild birds and mutilating them so they couldn't fly away before they were needed to feed elderly residents.

- Sacramento Bee

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- -

I have to admit that this story caught my eye. Didn't the residents of this peculiar assisted living ever have any visitors? Did not one person ever notice a gaggle of wounded geese staggering about the yard?

I think I must be slipping, because never in a million years would I have thought to include "look for wildlife on the dinner menu" on an evaluation checklist. Nevertheless, this true story illustrates just how careful you have to be when looking at a residential care facility. Use your eyes, use your ears and your nose and, most of all your common sense. If something doesn't feel right, believe your feelings until they have been proven absolutely wrong.

For the inside scoop on what to look for in an assisted living (hint: it's not usually geese) you should read the Insider's Guide To Assisted Living, now available at http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/knowassistedliving.htm
as well as on Amazon.com. Read it before you look and you'll know so much you'll worry the manager.

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That's it for now. Don't keep us a secret. If you know other people who should be reading this too, then do them and us a favor by telling them about Elder CareTips(TM). Just send them this link:http://eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm

Until next time - Happy Mom's Day to all Moms everywhere! Hope you'll soon be sharing chocolate and flowers (or whateveryour own favorite brand of vice) with someone you love.

Best Regards Always,
Molly

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© 2005 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from Elder CareTips: Mastering The Eldercare Maze(TM) as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link and email link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where the material will appear.

-----------------------<<< >>>------------------------

To subscribe, send a blank email to eldermatters@aweber.com

Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
http://www.eldercareteam.com
molly@eldercareteam.com
(972) 395-7823

Box 700291
Dallas, TX 75370