FREE Seminar:

What exactly are VA benefits and what can I expect?

December 13th , 1:00-2:30 PM

Join Board Certified Elder Law Attorney, Linda Chamberlain, as she explains VA benefits, including the most common VA benefits received by our clients. She will share the types of VA benefits, the eligibility process, what to expect during the process and when you receive benefits, and important tips for identifying and getting your Veterans benefits. Linda and our team have helped thousand of Veterans, and she’s here to provide the inside scoop to make things easier for you. This workshop will help you understand and navigate your benefits. We thank all Veterans for their service and we appreciate the opportunity to help you with accessing the benefits you deserve!

Friends and clients welcome. Questions encouraged.

Call to reserve your seat  TODAY (seating limited to 20). RSVP to 727-447-5845 or admin@easylivingfl.com.

Download the VA Benefits Workshop flyer to print or share with someone you know who might benefit.

*Informational materials presented are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. You should contact an attorney for advice on specific legal problems.

Sign up for our newsletter to hear about the latest events (free monthly workshops) and important news and updates on aging wisely and well.

Join Board Certified Elder Law Attorney Linda Chamberlain for this free workshop to learn insider’s tips on advocating for your loved one or client who is in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Linda offers over 20 years of experience in social work, elder law and care management working with clients with disabilities and elderly clients. She has helped many families in all aspects of elder advocacy, including a great deal of time working with clients in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. She understands the inner workings of care facilities and can help you best navigate the rules, regulations, and processes, as well as understand various staff members’ and others’ roles in helping you and your loved one.

Elder Advocacy Workshop:

How to Be an Advocate for Your Loved One or Client in a Nursing Home

October 11, 2016

1:00-2:30 PM

EasyLiving Office, 1180 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 701, Clearwater

Call to reserve your seat TODAY. RSVP to 727-447-5845 or admin@easylivingfl.com.

Friends and clients are welcome. Questions are encouraged. Limited to the first 20 attendees. Download the October workshop flyer to print/share.

Memory Disorder Diagnosis Workshop

You’ve been diagnosed with a memory disorder such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, or Vascular Dementia…now what happens? The memory disorder diagnosis is a very important step to understand what is going on when someone’s having memory and cognitive issues. A full diagnostic workup helps to rule out possibly reversible/treatable causes (such as medication effects, deficiencies, and depression). But, after you get the memory disorder diagnosis, what happens next?

This workshop will address the important steps you and your family should take after a memory disorder diagnosis. This is a vital time for planning, as there is a lot that can be done to prepare for the future. At the early stages of diagnosis, the individual can be involved in planning and decision-making in a way that often becomes impossible as the disease progresses. We will share key resources and steps to take, so you’ll be prepared but also not completely overwhelmed. We know it is an emotional time and we want to help put some control back in your hands.

Workshop: You’ve Been Diagnosed with a Memory Disorder: What Happens Now?

September 13th, 2016 1pm to 2:30pm

EasyLiving Offices, 1180 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 701, Clearwater, FL 33756

Flier for Memory Disorder Workshop: download to print/share.

RSVP to reserve your seat today. Call 727-447-5845 or contact us online. We receive great feedback on these workshops and seats fill up fast!

We offer free Aging Wisely workshops each month. You will get tons of great information from our experts and we limit attendance to 20 so you’ll have the chance to ask questions. Sign up for our newsletter to make sure you know about the latest workshops.

There are so many great technology tools for caregivers, whether you live near or far from your aging loved ones. Our team has worked with thousands of families over the years and we stay updated on the constantly evolving technology tools for caregivers and care management.

From electronic pill dispensers to in-home safety systems and online care portals and apps of all kinds, we’ll help you understand and identify the tools that might be most useful for you. Join us to learn more!

Technology Tools for Caregivers Near and Far

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016  1pm to 2:30pm

EasyLiving/Aging Wisely Office

1180 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 701, Clearwater

Download the Caregiving Technology Workshop flier for details and share with your friends.

Limited to the 1st 20 attendees. Call to reserve your seat TODAY. RSVP to 727-447-5845 or linda(at)agingwisley.com.

Join us this summer for our Aging Wisely workshops, conveniently offered in the evenings for working professionals. Back by popular demand, instructor Linda Chamberlain will share her most well-received topics and provide valuable information you will rarely get (for free!). Make plans to join us as the limited slots fill up quickly!

All these Aging Wisely workshops will be held from 7:00-8:30 PM. Questions are encouraged and you will receive free organizational tools to help you put what you learned into practice. Please call 727-447-5845 to RSVP.

EXIT STRATEGY SEMINAR

JUNE 28TH

What you should do before you get sick

FOCUS ON YOUR HEALTH

JULY 26th

Organizing your health records, making the most of your doctor visits, utilizing insurance benefits,  dealing with a diagnosis

LEGAL DOCS EVERYONE MUST HAVE

AUGUST 30th

Preparing for your legal consult, key decisions

Download, print, share:

Aging Wisely workshops: summer evening series flyer

Workshop: How to Develop a CarePlan to Ensure the Best Care for Your Loved One

Join us Tuesday, July 12, 2016 for a free educational workshop. Instructor Linda Chamberlain will help you understand how a careplan can ensure the best care for your aging parents/loved ones and clients. Linda Chamberlain, Board Certified Elder Law Attorney and Founder of Aging Wisely, LLC and EasyLiving, Inc., will share her expertise from working with thousands of families over the years. Come learn:

• the important role a careplan plays in improving care delivery, quality of life and outcomes
• how a careplan provides better guidance for those assisting with the care of your loved one (and how to communicate the information)
• what goes into a careplan
• how to develop a careplan
• when to review the careplan and update it

Tuesday, July 12, 2016 

1pm to 2:30pm

EasyLiving Office: 1180 Ponce de Leon Blvd., #701

Clearwater, FL

Call 727-447-5845 to RSVP

Seating limited to 20 attendees.

Click here for  the flier for the care plan workshop.

Related posts:

The Aging Wisely Careplan

Benefits of a Geriatric Care Management Assessment

Getting the Best In-Home Care: The EasyLiving CarePlan

Getting Organized with an Exit Strategy

Join instructor Linda Chamberlain at this special evening workshop, back by popular demand, about creating your “exit strategy”.

Getting Organized Exit Strategy Workshop

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

7 PM-8:30 PM

1180 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 701, Clearwater, FL 33756

727-447-5845

This workshop will focus on getting organized with your affairs, what decisions you need to make and how you may want to make them, categorizing and documenting your wishes, and tips and tricks on “really” getting it done.

A FREE “getting organized” tool will be provided to all attendees. You will not want to miss this! Limited to first 20 attendees.

About the presenter: Linda R. Chamberlain is a Board Certified Elder Law Attorney who has practiced in the Clearwater area since 1991. Linda has Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating as an AV® Preeminent™ Attorney. Her practice includes Medicaid planning, Medicaid applications, and long-term care issues. Linda is the Founder and President of Aging Wisely, LLC, a professional care management company and EasyLiving, Inc., a non-medical private duty home care company which have now merged to offer integrated services.

Click here for the Exit Strategy Workshop Flier. Reserve your seat today by calling 727-447-5845 or contacting us online.

At some point it’s bound to happen. Your home becomes over whelming: the expense, maintenance, lack of mobility, increasing health care needs, and/or loneliness. It doesn’t help that there are many types of living arrangements with very specific titles and purposes. How do you determine which one is the best for you?

Our assisted living workshop is designed to help you and your family better understand your options and how to even get started in this process. How do you know if it might be time for a move to an assisted living facility? What options (and associated costs) are there for assisted living and supportive care? How can you and your family come to a decision? There are hundreds of assisted living facilities in Pinellas County alone (and then add independent living communities, multilevel CCRCs, nursing homes!). Wading through information from multiple sources and picking an assisted living facility that is best for your situation only adds to the stress of this major life change.

Linda Chamberlain is a Board Certified Elder Law Attorney and the founder of EasyLiving. She will share her expertise in helping thousands of families and our team’s best tips and resources from helping many clients through the assisted living facility transition.

Reserve your seat today! Click here for the downloadable/printable flier (you’re welcome to invite a friend but act soon as seats are limited to 20 and our free workshops fill up quickly).

Join us to learn more about filing a Florida Medicaid application for long term care benefits! Our expert, long-time elder law attorney and advocate, Linda Chamberlain, has filed thousands of Florida Medicaid applications for clients and she’s here to take some of the mystery out of this process for you! Make plans to join us on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 1:00-2:30. RSVP to reserve your seat, as they’re limited to the 1st 20 attendees.

What will you learn in the Florida Medicaid application workshop?

• What long term care services does Florida Medicaid cover? What are the programs and options for care?
• Who qualifies for long term care assistance under Florida Medicaid?
• How to file a Florida Medicaid application for long term care services
• What documents are required when filing a Florida Medicaid application?

This workshop specifically covers long term care services under Florida Medicaid, not other types of Medicaid programs. Please contact us if you need resources about other Medicaid programs or are not sure about what types of services or programs you might need. Our seasoned elder and disability advocacy team can help you find all the right resources!

*Informational materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. You should contact an attorney for advice on specific legal problems.

Click below for the event flier with all the details:

Filing a Florida Medicaid Application workshop flier

RSVP for the Florida Medicaid application workshop by calling 727-447-5845 or emailing lashford(at)agingwisely.com.

Do you and your family have a plan in place for what you would do if you need ongoing care when diagnosed with a chronic illness? Do you have the legal documents needed to handle your affairs? Do you understand Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care insurance? Do you have an understanding of the costs and options for long-term care? Do you know what’s involved with paying privately for care options versus your choices under Medicaid?

Long term care can be defined as the range of services or support that a person receives to meet their personal care needs, which may include medical, social services and various support services. One of the keys to long-term care preparation is to start planning early!

This Aging Wisely educational series brings you expert advice from Linda Chamberlain, Board Certified Elder Law Attorney and founder of Aging Wisely and EasyLiving home care. Linda has been practicing elder law in Clearwater since 1991, and has achieved Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating as an AV® Preeminent™ Attorney. She specializes in Medicaid planning, Medicaid applications, and long-term care issues.

Make plans to join us for the first class in this series on October 27th from 1:00-2:30 pm.

What you should do before you get sick:

If you are nearing retirement age, it is crucial to start planning now. While specific decisions depend upon your unique personal circumstances, there are a number of steps that everyone can take, regardless of their circumstances. This is the time to ask questions about expected potential long-term care costs and options, to understand Medicare versus Medicaid and what is covered. This is prime time to gain control over your choices in the future, should you need assistance.

Click here to get the Aging Wisely educational series long term care flier. We invite you to share this great resource with anyone you know who might be interested!

Call us at 727-447-5845 for any questions about long-term care issues, to RSVP or to get information about future events. Sign up for our newsletter for all the latest educational events and news.

Our founder, Linda Chamberlain, will be speaking at an upcoming Alzheimer’s education event in Clearwater. The event, at the Madonna Ptak Center for Alzheimers and Memory Loss at Morton Plant Hospital, will feature the movie Still Alice and a discussion of important Alzheimer’s information.

Still Alice is a movie based on the 2007 novel by the same name, about a woman diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s disease. It is a touching portrayal of the disease and its effects on the individual and family.

In addition to the movie, the event will offer Alzheimer’s education from Dr. Diana Pollack, Director of the Memory Clinic and specialist in Alzheimer’s and other dementias. She will speak about brain health and answer Alzheimer’s education questions. Linda Chamberlain’s Alzheimer’s education section will contain legal information that individuals and their families need to know when facing Alzheimer’s disease.

Join this important Alzheimer’s education event on June 5th, from 10:30-1:00. Please RSVP to Celisa Bonner at the Madonna Ptak Center for Alzheimer’s and Memory Loss by June 2nd (spaces are limited): 727-298-6384 or Celisa.Bonner(at)Baycare.org.

If you have questions about Alzheimer’s education or services, we also welcome your calls to our eldercare team. We offer comprehensive assessments, care planning, patient advocacy and assistance with a wide array of services and programs (and help navigating them). Contact Aging Wisely at 727-447-5845 any time!

One of the biggest challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be handling changing personality and behaviors, and learning new ways to react. Your usual reaction of logical arguments and reasoning won’t work, and it is easy to become frustrated.

Here are a few basic tips for reacting to dementia behaviors, from sundowning to agitation and repetitive behaviors or paranoia and arguing:

1. Use “Yes, and…” statements, as a means to acknowledge the person’s feelings and beliefs (which are very real to them) without arguing about realities, and to lead the focus on to another issue or behavior. For example, the person with Alzheimer’s disease states “I want to go home or I need to be at work now” and you might say “Yes and why don’t we go over here and…” or “I understand, and maybe we should go find out what those people are doing in that group over there.”
2. As follow up to #1, acknowledge the person’s feelings, fears, concerns, even if the solutions they seek are not an option, or the fears seem unfounded. Focus on the feelings, not the behavior or argument.
3. Know that your emotions and state of mind will impact the interaction. This is one reason why having assistance or respite can be so important. If you are rushed and upset, the person will usually reflect those attitudes in their behavior.
4. Try to identify underlying causes of behavioral changes or agitation, such as changes to routine, noises, infections/underlying medical conditions. If you notice a sudden, severe change in behavior, there is almost always an underlying cause. Be vigilant in pursuing possible infections or medical concerns with medical and care professionals.

We offer one on one consultations with our care managers, who have in depth education and experience in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Caregiver consultations may include: techniques for managing behaviors, ideas for adapting the environment, resources to assist or offer respite, understanding the diagnostic process or getting an evaluation for specific needs.

You may also wish to visit our page about Sundowner’s Syndrome or sundowning behaviors, and we invite you to sign up for our email newsletter, with regular updates on eldercare and caregiving tips. Let our experienced geriatric care managers work for you, to help support you as an Alzheimer’s caregiver and to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of your loved one.

Aging Wisely offers innovative new service to help individuals wade through complexities of Medicare & healthcare reform

Clearwater, Fla. (September 20, 2010) – Aging Wisely, LLC, a local geriatric care management and consultation firm, announces a new service to help individuals make sense of their retirement healthcare choices.

Medicare (can) Make Sense
download now

“With the large variety of options available for retirees to get healthcare coverage and more confusion since healthcare reform passed, consumers have been asking us for individualized advice on their best options,” says Linda Chamberlain, President and Founder of Aging Wisely. “We designed this program to specifically address that need and the desire for objective advice from professionals who navigate the healthcare system daily and see the inner workings.”

The Medicare Analysis package uses a personal assessment of the client’s situation, needs, and priorities to identify the best options and educate the client at the same time. Clients that have been benefiting from this service include professionals nearing retirement age, couples who have different employer/retiree options, family caregivers of aging parents, and anyone concerned with the overwhelming costs of healthcare and long term care in retirement. For more information visit www.agingwisely.com, call 727-447-5845, or download the Medicare Analysis flier. Consultation services are available for clients throughout the United States.

About Aging Wisely: Founded in 1998, Aging Wisely, LLC is a professional care management and consultation company, serving families faced with illness, disability and caregiving concerns. Based in Clearwater, Fla., Aging Wisely provides expertise, consultation, assessments, advocacy and coordination of services for clients in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties and for families throughout the nation. Additionally, Aging Wisely is often called upon by organizations and publications as an expert resource on eldercare issues and aging. In 2009, Aging Wisely was recognized as a finalist in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Healthcare Heroes awards. For more information, please visit www.agingwisely.com.

Media Contact:
Shannon Martin
shannonmartin@agingwisely.com

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FGCMA sponsors And Thou Shalt Honor, May 8, 2008 at 8pm on WEDU