Try: If cr lnows the provider suggest that cr call their office to ask about the incorrect charge s the person cr speaks to may help him her better understand the services or supplies cr got or cr’s provider may realize a billing error was made if cr has contacted the provider and he she suspects that medicare is being charged for a service or supply cr didn’t get or cr doesn’t know the provider on the claim suggest that cr call 1-800-medicare 1-800-633-4227 tty users should call 1-877-486-2048 to report the suspicious activity

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical

Information: With him her to medical appointments suggest that cr take medications at the same time every day

References: fraud and abuse by the centers for medicare and medicaid services no date available at www stopmedicarefraud gov

Keywords: Medicare fraud medical bills medicaid fraud scams scammers

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: When cr gets health care services suggest that he she record the dates on a calendar and save the receipts and statements he she gets from providers to check for mistakes suggest that cr compare this

Materials: Calendar pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical

Information: With the claims medicare processed to make sure he she or medicare weren’t billed for services or items he she didn’t get encourage cr to check his her receipts and statements early , the sooner cr sees and reports errors the sooner they can be corrected or fraud can be stopped

References: fraud and abuse by the centers for medicare and medicaid services no date available at www stopmedicarefraud gov

Keywords: Medicare fraud medical bills medicaid fraud scams scammers

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that cr try joking around about the friend or relative’s absentmindedness for example if cr’s friend relative chronically forgets his her wallet assume that he she will do so the next time the cr goes out to dinner with them before cr leaves for the restaurant suggest that he she smile and poke fun you sure you’ve got your wallet this time if they want to borrow something that probably isn’t going to get returned suggest that cr say something to the effect of pretty soon you’re going to have my entire wardrobe suggest that cr maintain a cheery disposition – the moocher should register that cr is on to them although that that’s not always enough to make them stop at a restaurant suggest that cr ask for separate checks when he she orders if cr’s friend relative tends to not order anything but then picks incessantly at cr’s dish suggest that cr cough lightly on his her food and say something like you might not want to eat these nachos i think i might be getting the flu why don’t i order you a separate dish when cr orders suggest that he she ask for that dish to be on a separate check if cr’s friend relative thinks that that’s poor etiquette suggest that cr say something like i’m writing it off as a business expense; i have to have separate receipts in case i screw up and get audited suggest that cr casually mention on his her way out to eat that he she only brought enough money to pay for yhim herelf or suggest that cr say when he she is planning the outing that everyone will be paying for themselves encourage cr to stick to this when the bill comes encourage cr to get to the root of his her friend relative’s financial woes every time they’re short on cash encourage cr to make it a point to bring up the friend relative’s money issues in private shortly afterward suggest that cr approach the matter delicately but encourage cr to make it clear that he she has noticed the friend relative’s pattern so that they don’t feel like their mooching can slip under the radar for example cr sould say something like i’ve noticed lately that you’ve been having a hard time pitching in when we go out is everything ok or i’m a little worried about you; you seem to be short on cash even though you just got a job raise did something happen

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Personal, Social

Information: n/a

References: how to deal with a mooching friend by web contributors 2011 available at www wikihow com

Keywords: Moochers taken advantage of financial dependence mooching friendships relationships relatives family

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Cg should be suspicious of financial abuse if he notices cr seems confused and executes a power of attorney cr’s bank activity is erratic unusual or not characteristic of the cr such as unusual withdrawals cr’s bank activity is inconsistent with the cr’s ability e g the atm card has been used when the cr is housebound there are changes in the cr’s property titles will or other documents particularly if the cr is confused and or the documents favor new acquaintances cg notices forged or suspicious signature on cr’s financial legal documents the cr doesn’t have necessities or amenities when he can afford them cr has recent new acquaintances particularly those who move in with the cr there is suspicious activity on cr’s credit card accounts or other financial accounts cr brings strangers with him to meetings or while he is conducting financial transactions cr doesn’t receive services that he has paid for cr starts behaving like a hoarder and carries all of his financial legal papers in large bags all the time

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from financial abuse of the elderly risk factors screening techniques and remedies by lori a stiegel bifocal vol 23 no 4 summer issue 2002

Keywords: Finances legal abuse hoarding

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that cr develop an inventory which lists all his her assets and liabilities the following items should be included bank accounts pass books certificates of deposit money market funds stocks bonds precious metals jewelry real estate deeds promissory notes contracts insurance policies safety deposit boxes including location of the key and retirement or pension benefits location of the records for each asset and liability also should be included other important documents such as birth and marriage certificates social security numbers divorce decrees and property settlements income tax returns state and federal death certificate of spouse if any and wills including the attorney attorney’s name and executor or trust agreements should be listed and the locations designated other important documents such as birth and marriage certificates social security numbers divorce decrees and property settlements income tax returns state and federal death certificate of spouse if any and wills including the attorney attorney’s name and executor or trust agreements should be listed and the locations designated make copies of the inventory and keep it in a safe place possibly with a relative or friend encourage cr to update the document every year

Materials: Paper and pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: n/a

References: caregiver’s handbook by the caregiver education and support services seniors counseling and training case management services of the san diego county mental health services no date available at www acsu buffalo edu

Keywords: Assets liabilities finances money bank accounts financial state ents wills legal

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that cr ask friends or other professionals for recommendations cr could also contact a lawyer referral service county bar association or senior citizens legal services before agreeing upon a particular attorney encourage cr to ask if he she has previously done what cr requires

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal

Information: n/a

References: caregiver’s handbook by the caregiver education and support services seniors counseling and training case management services of the san diego county mental health services no date available at www acsu buffalo edu

Keywords: Attorney lawyer legal will

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Work closely with the doctor to learn which medicines to use for cr’s condition how much to use and when to use them check with the doctor to see if medicare or private insurance will cover the cost of the medicines find out if it’s possible to buy the non-brand also called generic type of the medicine they often cost less than the brand name medicines

Materials: Pillbox

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: New medication trying different medicines affording medications

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Ask the facility staff the following questions so that you can find the best fit for the cr what is a typical day like for someone with cr’s condition is there a safe place for the person to go outside how do staff members speak to residents, with respect what is included in the fee how do people get to medical appointments

Materials: n/a

Categories: Financial, Medical Physical, Social

Information: n/a

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Choosing a facility nursing home assisted living long term care care facilities can’t live at home moving to a facility

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Try to find out if long-term care insurance medicaid or medicare will pay for any of the costs cr should keep in mind that medicare only covers nursing home costs for a short time after cr has been in the hospital for a certain amount of time

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: Choosing a facility insurance long term care costs paying for long term care nursing home assisted living long term care care facilities can’t live at home moving to a facility

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: As soon as possible after the doctor says cr is dying the family should try to discuss with the medical team what approach to end-of-life care they want for cr that way decision making for crucial situations can be planned and does not have to be done quickly

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

References: caring for a person with alzheimer’s disease your easy-to-use guide from the national institute on aging by national institute on aging 2011 available at www nia nih gov

Keywords: End of life care important decisions communicating with the doctor family meetings health care decision-making

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed