Older Folks and Vaping Back Porch - Part 2

[Iffy]

Janet,

Excellent info!!!

My new LTHC agent is very independently wealthy and does what he does based upon his own 'difficulties' and love for his elder clients. He did mention that the info you presented is now based upon your primary care physician's decisions, not a governmental social worker!

He also cautioned to avoid Medicare Advantage. Use Medicare A & B, plus a supplement policy. The price may be near the same, but not the health care!

PLEASE, do not take my, or his, 'word' as gospel! As Janet suggested, get in touch with a health care lawyer or consultant. There are multiple ways to protect life savings and property.

OK, what got me on the ol' fart health care path? My dear independent financial adviser of seven years! I do STRESS da 'independent' aspect. I'd still be working had I not visited his office. I also would be paying a bit less for my LTHC had I took his advice back then...

Seriously, please be proactive!!!

 

[AndriaD]

...Then this evening, she had another fall. I exceeded some 'rules' gettin' home after her call! Fortunately, as in the past half dozen falls, she broke nuttin' but her pride.

Thank god for that... my mom fell and broke her hip last year... this summer, she broke the other one... 6 wks after she was home from the 2nd one, her whole body suddenly became septic and she had to be hospitalized *again* for IV antibiotics... which it turned out, right away, that she was allergic to -- I mean, total crash, anaphylaxis, the whole ICU trip.... All that time spent with her at the hospital was just one of my motivating factors for getting interested in e-cigs -- my njoy came in damn handy in the bathroom of her room! But, considering she broke her tailbone when I was a kid, while rollerskating with moi, she's been instructed that she cannot fall again, she's broken her ... 3 times now, and has no further ... to break!

We're just hoping she can a) stay well and b) not fall anymore, because even though she and my stepdad have medicare and good insurance, it's straining even *their* resources; she has diabetes and cirrhosis, so this time right now may well be the calm before the real storm.

Andria

 

[Iffy]

Andria,

Broken hips are deadly with our older folk, especially females! Can't count how many check in and don't check out.

Best o' luck to your Mom!

 

[Rat2chat2]

and good thoughts to all those in need on the porch.

 

[amoret]

Thank god for that... my mom fell and broke her hip last year... this summer, she broke the other one... 6 wks after she was home from the 2nd one, her whole body suddenly became septic and she had to be hospitalized *again* for IV antibiotics... which it turned out, right away, that she was allergic to -- I mean, total crash, anaphylaxis, the whole ICU trip.... All that time spent with her at the hospital was just one of my motivating factors for getting interested in e-cigs -- my Njoy came in damn handy in the bathroom of her room! But, considering she broke her tailbone when I was a kid, while rollerskating with moi, she's been instructed that she cannot fall again, she's broken her ... 3 times now, and has no further ... to break!

We're just hoping she can a) stay well and b) not fall anymore, because even though she and my stepdad have medicare and good insurance, it's straining even *their* resources; she has diabetes and cirrhosis, so this time right now may well be the calm before the real storm.

Andria

Nothing quite like an antibiotic allergy. That was a major part of my problems last year. Had surgery for a biopsy of a spinal cord tumor (that turned out to not be a tumor, but an autoimmune process that they still haven't been able to figure out) followed by an infection. Made it through that, but then at the end of the antibiotic treatment I decided to have a violent reaction to the antibiotic. That is what put me in the hospital for months, followed by three months of dialysis because it had messed up my kidneys. You know you've come up with something fun when you become a regular tour stop for the residents and med students.

The spinal cord problem is what ended me up on disability, but now I'm in the waiting period before I can get Medicare. That was the only bad thing about my kidneys recovering. Turns out that the kidney disease folks had good lobbyists, and you can get instant Medicare coverage when you get certified as having permanent kidney failure. With my usual good timing my kidneys recovered just as I would have gotten Medicare. The only disadvantage of surprising the doctors in a good way.

Didn't mean to run on with my history, just wanted to confirm that an antibiotic reaction can be a lot worse than people think. It sounds relatively mild when you just hear the words, but it sure can mess up a person's body.

 

[williegntx]

This was heavy reading this morning. I do wish and pray for the best to each of you and your relatives. I've got some things on the back burner that need moved to the front, before something catastrophic reins down. Ditto see an attorney!

 

[MattB101]

Yiddle - HI! Don't be such a stranger, we miss you.



Oh my Matt, that's a tough place to be in - taking care of her and getting it all sorted out. If you can search out someone besides the admin's at the care facility to talk to about the monies - maybe there's a way to protect some of it instead of draining it to zero.

yeh, We're going to do that. Would like to think that we could trust them but they're not on our side as much as they act like it. After all they are in this for profit. Can't blame them and they are helpful but, an unbiased opinion and advice is required.

Sent with my arthritic thumbs with proofreading help from the hound!

 

[MattB101]

Actually, to add to the above post - we should all get our financials in order now while we can. If you wait until a nursing home is needed you could loose a lot if not everything. Contact an eldercare lawyer about financial planning. There are all kinds of things you can do to protect your money, but they must be done well prior to being admitted to a nursing home. The laws are changing all the time and they also can vary from state to state and it's not as simple as it sounds. Best to get it taken care of now before you're in trouble.

Thanks. We are definitely finding out that prior planning and NOT denial is the way to go. Mom was really good in some areas of that but didn't want to go to a home so ignored the long term care aspects.

Sent with my arthritic thumbs with proofreading help from the hound!

 

[AndriaD]

Nothing quite like an antibiotic allergy. That was a major part of my problems last year. Had surgery for a biopsy of a spinal cord tumor (that turned out to not be a tumor, but an autoimmune process that they still haven't been able to figure out) followed by an infection. Made it through that, but then at the end of the antibiotic treatment I decided to have a violent reaction to the antibiotic. That is what put me in the hospital for months, followed by three months of dialysis because it had messed up my kidneys. You know you've come up with something fun when you become a regular tour stop for the residents and med students.

The spinal cord problem is what ended me up on disability, but now I'm in the waiting period before I can get Medicare. That was the only bad thing about my kidneys recovering. Turns out that the kidney disease folks had good lobbyists, and you can get instant Medicare coverage when you get certified as having permanent kidney failure. With my usual good timing my kidneys recovered just as I would have gotten Medicare. The only disadvantage of surprising the doctors in a good way.

Didn't mean to run on with my history, just wanted to confirm that an antibiotic reaction can be a lot worse than people think. It sounds relatively mild when you just hear the words, but it sure can mess up a person's body.

God, yes, they can; the hospitalizations for both the hip-replacements were relatively short, considering her other medical problems, but this infection-antibiotic thing, god, we nearly lost her; the hospitalization for that little dosey-do was 21 DAYS! She told me the bill they got in the mail (their co-pay!) was... $90,000... I just about fell in the floor. But for me, by far the worst part was that she was just out of her head for almost 2 wks -- I spent an entire day there during the first wk, to give my stepdad and aunt a rest, and she didn't even know I was there -- she just kept hollering for Phil (my stepdad) to make the nurses stop whatever they were doing -- usually it was bathing her, because bed baths are FREAKIN COLD! And she got bedsores... which are bad enough, but this woman is diabetic! It's been just since before T'giving since she got out of the hospital, and she STILL has some of those sores; diabetics just don't heal fast at all.

It's all very well for the self-righteous to say, well she brought it on herself; yes, mostly she did, but she is sure suffering for her poor choices (sugar and wine!). I'd like to see those self-righteous look at their own suffering parents and say something that hard-hearted.

Andria

 

[DancingHeretik]

 

[Uncle Willie]

Aging is a ..... .. I've said since I was a young whipper-snapper that I would never retire .. I do what I like and I like what I do .. the only guy that complains to me is the guy I look at in the mirror ..

I've seen too many friends and family that have whithered away in a sub-par Nursing Home or what not .. I've seen relatives that thought a semi-well off loved one was living too long and went as far as to have them put in a Home, where they were suddenly jerked into a germ ridden environment and taken out of a house they had lived in for 40 years only to pass from a Nursing Home provided germ ..

I've watched as folks slowly degenerated into dementia and Alzheimers .. losing what grip they had on reality .. yet Modern Medical Science, the miracle or curse that it is, is able to somehow keep people going, regardless ..

What few relatives and friends that I have left I refuse to go out with them seeing me in that sort of state ..

So, yes, I have a Directive .. and I know it sounds callus and cold, but I, if at all possible, will go out under my own terms .. that's how I've lived, that's how I'll go ..

And the physical goods / real estate / etc will be cashed out / auctioned to the highest bidder and proceeds provided for scholarship funds for an Education in the Arts .. with my cremated remains sprinkled into the Mighty Mississippi, the Mother River of the Blues .. making their way to the Delta, the Gulf and the Ocean ..

 

[AndriaD]

So, yes, I have a Directive .. and I know it sounds callus and cold, but I, if at all possible, will go out under my own terms .. that's how I've lived, that's how I'll go ..

I agree 100%... and on the basis of the fact that no one gets out of here alive, I've chosen to drink my english breakfast tea just as it is, thank you very much, and none of that de-caf crap that just doesn't taste right -- if I have a heart attack or stroke from all the caffeine, that's a much better end than the lung cancer my dad went out with -- which is why I decided to really try this time, with the e-cigs, to do something about my own smoking. Up until I have that heart attack or stroke, I'd really like to be able to breathe!

My husband says he wants to live to 99, and be shot by a jealous husband. I figure that's fine, because to me, 88 sounds like the right time (senile dementia runs in my family, and my husband says I'm already demented enough, so I really don't want to get worse!), so he'll outlive me, as I've always told him he must. He could get along without me, if he had to; I never could, without him. Not even for a minute.

Andria

 

[txtumbleweed]

I've had a good day so far not too many major problems so so I'm goiing to rejoioce and be gald while I can!

 

[AndriaD]

I've had a good day so far not too many major problems so so I'm goiing to rejoioce and be gald while I can!

The only thing I'm glad about today is that this storm has so far been mostly sleet rather than freezing rain, so we have power; freezing rain in GA usually brings the damn pines down on the lines, which makes a bad situation infinitely worse. But as it stands, my husband will be losing 2, or possibly even 3 days work, and that is going to make paying the bills very, very difficult, if not impossible.


Andria

 

[Janet H]

I've had a good day so far not too many major problems so so I'm goiing to rejoioce and be gald while I can!

Glad to hear that Tx. We had a good day too. I got some keys on my laptop replaced and bought a "skin" to help prevent my keys from cracking anymore. You'd think for the price of these things they should replace keys for free or at least not charge me $26 for the skin!

Mike finally picked out new glasses at Lens Crafters and will see the doc on Friday for the exam. That's assuming we'll be plowed out by then. We're seeing predictions of 10-20" of snow tonight and tomorrow. I sure hope this storm fizzles and we don't get it as bad as they say. As long as we don't loose elec though we're about as prepared as we can be so at this point we won't be going anywhere until Friday. Good luck everyone in the path of this storm.

 

[3mg Meniere]

We're seeing predictions of 10-20" of snow tonight and tomorrow. I sure hope this storm fizzles and we don't get it as bad as they say. As long as we don't loose elec though we're about as prepared as we can be so at this point we won't be going anywhere until Friday. Good luck everyone in the path of this storm.

CNN is reporting on it almost non-stop. Beyond the bitter cold, this winter is outright boring for us.

 

[3mg Meniere]

I've had a good day so far not too many major problems so so I'm goiing to rejoioce and be gald while I can!

Tex, we are just happy to see your posts!!

 

[umanbean]

I've had a good day so far not too many major problems so so I'm goiing to rejoioce and be gald while I can!

Good evenin' Mr. tx, it's so good to hear from you. I'm glad you've had a good day, and I wish you and everyone here many more.

I've wanted to thank you for starting the Older Folks and Vaping (Part 1) thread, so I'm also glad you've been visiting here lately. I came into that conversation after many thousands of posts; but, starting last April, that thread and the regulars there were the "glue" that helped me hold my resolve while learning what I needed to know about vaping... and which helped me smoke less than a total of one pack of cigarettes the whole 292 days since then, instead of a pack/day. Thanks to your thread, I and many others have realized the benefits of better health and personal welfare. You are an inspiration to us all.

In the immortal words of Red Skelton:

Good night, and God Bless...

 

[amoret]

As my brother always says, the only good thing that you can say about getting old is that it beats the alternative.

 

[AndriaD]

The crazy thing about this storm down here in GA... it's like, 3 inches of sleet... there was a very brief period of light snow this morning, just enough to turn it white, but it's all ice pellets, and it's still sleeting. If anyone from up north saw this, they'd laugh; it's ridiculous for a whole damn humongous metro area to be completely shut down over 3 inches of ANYTHING, but there's just no infrastructure for it; the ONLY plows/salt trucks are on the interstates and maybe the Perimeter. All the other roads are pretty much completely impassable, and many of them have turned into parking lots. And the people on TV are just beside themselves to report this "snowpocalypse". I really hate it down here when it's like this, and I'm FROM here!

Andria