Review of November workshop: Redesigning long-term care
The November workshop in our series, Living Well in Later Life, was a two-part discussion moderated by Dr. Robert Kane, director of the Center on Aging and advisor to UMRA Care Guides. Part 1 was a panel of UMRA members who are Care Guides or have been involved in caregiving for another. They were: Ron Anderson, Maggie Catambay, Van Linck, Andy Phelan, and Earl Nolting.
Part 2 of the workshop was an open discussion with the audience, panel, and Dr. Kane on the problem of getting better care with less confusion and hassle.
In Part 1, the panel spoke of the importance of learning as much as possible about the medical problem(s), being willing to ask for help when nothing is working the way you think it should, and being flexible enough to change and adapt to new circumstances created by an illness.
In Part 2 several comments were made about what was important: Independence, Compassion, Control (as much as possible), and Freedom from financial worries.
Several people mentioned the difficulties in conversations with adult children about a present or future illness of one or both parents, especially terminal or life-threatening situations. One person spoke with concern about the current (and future) shortage of gerontologists and neurologists, which makes it difficult to get appointments with physicians in these specialties. Long waits to be seen makes ongoing care difficult.
Finally, all present looked upon the outcome of the recent election with concern, remembering the oft-stated campaign plans to make significant changes to Medicare, Medicaid, and repeal of the Affordable Care Act. These possible changes have created new worries and uncertainties for many retirees as they think about their own personal care needs in the next four years.
—Earl Nolting, chair, Cares Committee
November 15 Workshop: If you could redesign Long Term Care...
Tue, November 15 2016, 1:30pm
Campus Club ABC
In a conversation with UMRA members and representatives from Care Guides/Cares Committee, we will look at how we would change long-term care. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Robert Kane, director of the University Center on Aging.
The workshop follows the luncheon program on November 15; it will be an open discussion about “Redesigning Long- Term Care—Getting the Care We Really Want.”
Often the current care system is a jungle of regulations, specialized facilities, and insurance (private, Medicare, Medicaid) rules—often conflicting and almost always confusing. Dr. Kane consults widely on these challenges and has freely offered his experience and expertise to UMRA members.
As families go about making arrangements for situations that demand different types of treatments or resources for their loved ones, they quickly learn about the problems and dysfunction of the current care system. The format of this workshop is an open discussion on the challenges in achieving care that is healing and satisfying for both patient and family.
“We want to tap your experiences, and concerns as well,” said Dr. Kane. “What lessons have we learned? How would we like to see care changed to bring it more in line with what people really want?”
Whether we are confronting an imminent health care problem of a loved one or considering what we would want for ourselves when the day comes for us to receive special expertise in settings for our own care, improving the current care system is in all our best interests.
Dr. Kane, UMRA Care Guides, and audience members will discuss the options and obstacles to “getting the care we really want.” Join us at 1:30 p.m. on November 15th.
— Earl Nolting, UMRA Cares Committee
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.