NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PA I D CINCINNATI, OH PERMIT NO. 5205
The Pro Wire Vol. 16 • February 2015
Pro Seniors Newsletter 7162 Reading Road Suite 1150 Cincinnati, Ohio 45237
Financial Exploitation Resolution Project Success Story Pro Seniors’ legal staff has been working hard to resolve many client issues related to personal financial exploitation of seniors. This is a serious problem that has the potential to devastate seniors’ financial security, physical health and mental well-being. A recent case involved a 71 year old stroke victim, Marjorie, a retired social worker who rented her home for herself, her daughter and three grandchildren in Price Hill. Marjorie’s water bill arrived in the mail quarterly and she paid it when due until March 2014 when it suddenly increased to over $400. Marjorie’s calls to the water works resulted in no further information regarding the sudden jump in the bill. It wasn’t until the next bill, which had increased to $3,000, that the water works was able to tell her that her landlord had added water bills for his other properties to her bill. However, the problem remained unresolved and after receiving a final bill for over $7,000, her water was shut off. Marjorie tried to get water service restored for nearly three weeks including the Thanksgiving holiday. Meanwhile, neighbors and friends brought gallon jugs of water to help them meet their basic needs, but baths and regularly flushed toilets were out of the question. Finally, Marjorie called Pro Seniors. We advocated on her behalf with the water works and water service was restored in two days. Her landlord ended up selling the property, so Marjorie, who always liked where she lived but had considered moving, decided to stay. As Marjorie said to the Pro Seniors’ attorney who handled her case, “Thank you! You (Pro Seniors) were there for me!”
Agency Partner
Board of Trustees Jennifer G. Anstaett, J.D. - President Christine A. Buttress, J.D. – Vice President Stanton H. Vollman, J.D., CPA (Inactive) – Treasurer Joshua Goode – Secretary
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
George R. Brown Jeffrey Daniher, CFP Linda A. Glass, J.D. Michael M. Kennedy Helen Fanz LeVay Chad S. Levin, J.D. Annie McManis Mary V. Meinhardt Molly F. Prues Julia E. Tarvin, J.D. Thomas Welch M. Jay Wertz, CFP James D. Yunker, Ed.D
“Rock ‘n Bowl for Seniors” Sunday, August 9, 2015 And watch the Pro Seniors Facebook page for important updates!
Rhonda Y. Moore, J.D., Executive Director
Pro Seniors
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513.345.4160 1.800.488.6070 fax 513.621.5613 www.proseniors.org
Our strategy for the Senior Financial Exploitation Resolution Project includes not only helping individual victims but also building innovative partnerships with other area organizations to coordinate and improve the local response to this issue. The project has received generous major funding from the Annie W. and Elizabeth M. Anderson Foundation with additional support provided by The George and Margaret McLane Foundation and the Josephine Schell Russell Trust. Your support of Pro Seniors will help us continue to address this problem, as well as other elder law issues affecting Ohio seniors.
SAVE THE DATE! Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2015 from 2-5 p.m. Crossgate Lanes on Hunt Rd. in Blue Ash Mark your calendar and get ready to once again “Rock ‘n Bowl for Seniors” – our family-friendly Sunday afternoon event from 2:00–5:00 p.m. at Crossgate Lanes in Blue Ash. Start now to organize your own bowling team, sign on as a sponsor, or plan to attend as a non-bowler and enjoy the fun, food, raffles, and more! For more information about sponsorship, registration and event updates, visit www.proseniors.org and watch the Pro Seniors Facebook page.
Pro Seniors 7162 Reading Rd., Suite 1150 • Cincinnati, OH 45237 • www.proseniors.org • 513.345.4160 • 800.488.6070
Helping older persons resolve legal and long-term care problems
Music & Memory: The Healing Power of Personalized Music Pro Seniors Ombudsman team is assisting nursing facilities implement Music & Memory through a partnership with the Ohio Department of Aging and the Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman. Music & Memory is an example of the type of innovative, person-centered care that Ohio is embracing across all care settings. Imagine being trapped inside your own body, your connections to memories and people you hold dear, muddled, confused or inaccessible. For many Ohioans with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, this is their world. Now, imagine that something as simple as a beloved song could change that, if just for a moment. As we all know by hearing a song popular from our teen years, music is profoundly linked to personal memories. In fact, our brains are hard-wired to connect with long-term memory and this is no different for persons with severe dementia. Reaching a resident with advanced dementia can often be difficult. With Music & Memory, nursing home staff create and provide personalized playlists on digital music players for residents to enable those struggling with dementia to reconnect with the world through memories triggered by the music they love. The process builds lasting, caring relationships and improves the care experience for all involved. If you would like to support the Music & Memory program please contact Bob Vines. Managing Ombudsman at 513-458-5514. We can use donated iPods, iTunes gift cards and volunteers to make the program a success. Learn more about this innovative new approach to dementia care at the Ohio Department of Aging’s website: www.aging.ohio.gov/services/music-memory.
2015 Consumer Protection Forum ~ Learn to Stay Safe from Fraud You’ve probably had the calls or emails telling you, “You’re A Winner - It’s Your Lucky Day!” Unfortunately, these “prize” offers are one of several ways that scammers persuade people to hand over money or their confidential information, and the results can be devastating. You don’t have to fall victim to these swindles. Please join us to learn how to recognize and avoid these scams and other crimes at our Annual Consumer Protection Forum at Maple Knoll Village Auditorium (11100 Springfield Pike) on Wednesday, March 25th, from 4pm to 6:30pm. Participating panelists include experts from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Social Security Administration, the FBI, the IRS, Ohio Department of Insurance and Office of Inspector General. Panelists will cover subjects relating to health care fraud, identity theft, scams, etc. with a special focus on Ohio’s senior population. Counselors and social workers can earn free continuing education credit by attending this free event presented by Pro Seniors, Ohio SMP, Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio, the Caregiver Assistance Network, and WMKV Radio 89.3 FM. A light supper will be provided. Tell a friend, bring a neighbor and enjoy this important event. Call 513- 458-5505 to register.
By The Numbers Pro Seniors’ staff and volunteers accomplished some amazing things on behalf of seniors in 2014! Highlights include: • Helped more than 7,400 seniors with legal and long-term care problems • Made over 1,450 visits to long-term care facilities • Made over 350 community education presentations to 24,767 seniors, their families, and caregivers, as well as to professionals who help older persons • Assisted 140 seniors and their families with nursing home selection • Health-related issues (Medicare, Medicaid) made up the biggest percentage (26%) of seniors’ legal problems. 17% of the legal problems related to consumer issues, while about 17% represented housing issues. The remainder of legal problems concerned probate/estate issues, income/pensions, and family issues. • Our Mid-America Pension Rights Project helped retirees obtain over $4,600,000 (cash accumulated value) in retirement benefits • Pro Seniors’ dedicated Ohio SMP, ombudsman and legal volunteers provided over 2,200 hours of service to seniors
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Pro Seniors Celebrating 40th Anniversary in 2015! 1975 was a memorable year indeed - the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series, Microsoft was founded, and the first episode of Saturday Night Live aired. Gerald Ford was the President, and the nation was dealing with the fall-out from Watergate, a recession and an energy crisis. On the brighter side, Pro Seniors began its mission of helping protect the legal rights of seniors in 1975. We’ve remained dedicated to that mission in the decades since 1975, but over the years have added new ways to help seniors as their needs evolve. Our long-term care ombudsman program was established in 1978. In 1990 the Legal Hotline began helping seniors all across Ohio access legal advice. The Pension Rights Project was added in 2001 to help seniors secure financial stability in retirement. The Senior Medicare Patrol Project was established in 2002 to help seniors combat health care fraud. Although times change, Pro Seniors continues to be here to help seniors!
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