Entries for October 2009

Question: My spouse no longer has insurance. I have Medicare, but what is available to cover just an individual alone? Your spouse is in a difficult situation. I am running into this dilemma more and more. Sometimes it is due to retirement, sometimes being laid off, sometimes COBRA ending, sometimes because one spouse ages into Medicare. The reason doesn’t really matter, but the result is the same; A spouse or individual without insurance.

The Chautauqua Cares Coalition, the local Advance Care Planning initiative, held its annual meeting at Webb's Captains Table in Mayville. The meeting not only celebrates the group's accomplishments for the previous year, but also honors select partners for their extra effort. This year there were four awards given. The Physician Advocate Award was given to Westfield Family Physicians for their delivery of patient centered care that incorporates advance care planning conversations. The Attorney Advocate Award went to Brautigam and Brautigam, LLP, for making submissions of healthcare proxies to the registry part of their estate planning process. Rev. Jim Bailey and the members of Park United Methodist Church received a Community Advocate Award for continued support of Coalition programs through the use of their facility. A second Community Advocate Award was given to April Reynolds, Department of Social Services, to recognize her volunteer accomplishments in support of key Coalition activities.

Senior Life Matters, a program of Lutheran Social Services, will host a series of free educational sessions for people who are living with long-term conditions and their caregivers. "Living with a chronic illness can take its toll on the individual and his or her caregiver," said Janell Sluga, Senior Life Matters certified geriatric care manager. "We've had numerous requests to provide programs that offer tips on managing chronic illness and helpful ways to improve communication." On June 18, Kerry Mihalko will speak on the secrets to Being the Leader of Your Healthcare Team.

During the last several weeks, health care has received an unprecedented amount of media coverage. Despite allegations that pending health reform legislation would create panels to decide which patients were worthy of living, the facts are clear—and they clearly disprove these misrepresentations.

Speakers from across the state will be in Chautauqua County on Wednesday discussing the “age wave” and its affect on rural communities. Chautauqua County Executive Gregory J. Edwards, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), Chautauqua County Office for the Aging (OFA), and Chautauqua County Health Network (CCHN) are pleased to present a one-day conference, “Preparing for the Age Wave – Is Your Organization Ready”?