AUGUST 2021
MAGAZINE
Rocking OUT SCHOOL OF ROCK HITS THE BIG STAGE IN ZIONSVILLE
EXPANDING CARE & OUTREACH How The Cabin Counseling & Resource Center Has Approached the Pandemic Pivot
INDIANA MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM
An Alternative to Nursing Homes
TownePost.com
MAKE YOUR DREAM KITCHEN A REALITY WITH SHELFGENIE
Enjoy up to 50% more space in your kitchen and better access to your mostused items with our custom pull-out shelves installed in your existing cabinets
50% OFF INSTALLATION* *Limit one offer per household. Must purchase 5+ Classic/Designer Shelves. EXP 9/30/21
Schedule Your FREE Design Consultation: ®
(877) 327-0520 Hours: Mon - Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 10am - 4pm EST
Your Home Remodeling Headquarters!
www.drexelin.com Shop Our 2 Locations 3217 N. Shadeland Ave. • Indianapolis
317-720-3171 14570 River Road • Carmel
317-563-0934
FIN
month
BL E
INT
12
EE
EST FR ER
AN CING AVAILA
del o m e R l l u F laabls.le! i a v A s e c i Serv ned by profession ls. Desig rofessiona p y b d e ll Insta
CABINETRY | COUNTERTOPS | FLOORING | REMODEL TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 3
Bring Your Landscape to Light!
custom outdoor lighting solutions that make your property shine and add safety and security to your home
francoland.com 317-858-3858
Contact Us For A Free Lighting Demo
4 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
A TOWNE POST NETWORK PUBLICATION
For advertising information, contact:
IN THIS ISSUE
AUGUST 2021
FOUNDER/CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com 317.496.3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com 317.810.0011 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ROBERT TURK rob@townepost.com 317.810.0011 PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT JOSH BROWN CREATIVE DIRECTORS TONI EADS VAL HACKER GRAPHIC DESIGNER ROBBY BERRY COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS
REAL-TIME ANALYTICS Scan the QR code to see this magazine’s real-time reach and distribution numbers.
9 6
EXPANDING CARE & OUTREACH
How The Cabin Counseling & Resource Center Has Approached the Pandemic Pivot
9
17
ROCKING OUT
School of Rock Hits the Big Stage In Zionsville
13
Helpful Steps to Take When Arranging For Elder Care
Henry Community Health
#SPOTLIGHTINGLOCAL FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT franchising.townepost.com
18
PROPER PLANNING
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: 317-810-0011
TRAVELING WITH MEDICARE
20
14
SAFE SURROUNDINGS
Choosing the Proper Elder Care Facility is Vital
INDIANA MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM
An Alternative to Nursing Homes
KEY CONTRIBUTORS AMY PAYNE / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / JULIE YATES MEGAN ARSZMAN / MICHAEL WILHELM
EXPANDING CARE & OUTREACH
HOW THE CABIN COUNSELING & RESOURCE CENTER HAS APPROACHED THE PANDEMIC PIVOT
Writer / Megan Arszman Photography Provided
Executive Director Deidra Rausch
It’s hard to find a silver lining surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, but if anyone can, mental health specialists can. The specialists at The Cabin Counseling & Resource Center in Zionsville certainly learned how to continue providing their care for current patients, while also growing to accommodate the needs of a growing 6 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
number of Hoosiers realizing that mental health is very important for their overall health. “I think the pandemic really shined a light on mental health because so many of us had a lot of space to do introspection and realize that we were either more anxious than we’d like, as well as the skyrocketing numbers suffering from loneliness and depression,” says Deidra Rausch, Ph.D., LMFT,
Walnut Street). The three Cabin locations offer individual, couples and family counseling. The Retreat offers more lowcost opportunities in the form of seminars, workshops and group sessions. “With 30% of our population qualifying for a reduced fee and financial assistance through our Samaritan Programs, we really wanted to make our mental fitness and wellness programs available to everybody,” Dr. Rausch says. She hopes that people have learned, coming out of the pandemic, that mental wellness is just as important as physical wellness, and that just as you have a yearly physical with your general practitioner, mental health checkups are just as important. “I’m not saying that everyone should go to individual counseling year-round,” she says. “But it’s more as a way to find support and an outlet.” Resources are available for people of all ages, with collaborative groups such as “Am I the Only One?”, a group for teen girls, and mediation yoga groups to help people learn how to deal with their breathing and being still. Summer programming grew out of the pandemic as a way for practitioners to meet with their patients in a socially distanced way, with adventure and art therapy groups. “Being creative is one of the hallmarks of The Cabin,” Dr. Rausch adds. “We don’t only provide traditional counseling, but we have formats that have been very attractive to folks who don’t have any desire to just sit in an office.” Adventure therapy allows for a patient to tackle walking trails or kayaking with their Executive Director at The Cabin. “For the first 20 years, we did a great job therapist, or even go fly fishing in Eagle cultivating the Cabin Counseling Center, Creek. Eye Movement Desensitization Couple that with the Indianapolis Colts’ but we needed to provide more of a Reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique new campaign “Kicking the Stigma”, mental resource,” she says. “The Retreat is where we utilized for trauma, and eight therapists with health has taken a starring role in many can provide education, wellness and mental The Cabin provides this service that assists Hoosiers’ lives. fitness to greater numbers of people.” with trauma from post-traumatic stress, resistant anxiety and depression. This is why The Cabin has expanded its Since its inception, The Cabin has grown outreach and resources, and why Dr. Rausch to have four locations: three in Zionsville All of these new resources and offerings says they focused on emphasizing the (including the Retreat at 25 East Pine have meant not only the increase in space, “Resource Center” of their name. Street) and one in Westfield (121 South but also in hiring to accommodate the TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 7
growth in patients. “From May 2020 to May 2021, our critical hours are up by 45%,” Dr. Rausch says. “Coming out of the pandemic and seeking care is a real thing now. I don’t ever take pleasure that more people are needing therapy, but I am happy that people are choosing to seek it out.”
Is your patio ruining your summer fun?
DIRT & WEEDS
BROKEN PAVERS
UNEVEN PAVERS
from foot traffic
from Indiana weather
from ground shifting
LOVE YOUR PATIO AGAIN!
Dr. Rausch goes on to say that the stigma of seeking counseling has been that it’s only needed for those hanging on by a thread, but she’s hoping the turn to realization of the importance of mental wellness will help people realize that it’s not normal to live an anxious life and have disconnected relationships in their lives. Also, that depression and anxiety are a disease like heart disease and diabetes, needing routine care and intervention. “My heroes through the pandemic, in addition to our first responders, were the people with young kids because they were managing the household, working their jobs inside and outside of the home, teaching their children and managing their wellness,” Dr. Rausch says. “That disconnect and the additional stress most families experienced added burdens that weren’t there before. And now, we’re seeing the effect of the need to be healthier not only physically, but mentally.”
PAVER REPAIR
PAVER CLEANING
PAVER SEALING
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE
Book your f ree estimate today
P A V E R
R E S C U E
317-259-4880 paverrescue.com 8 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
To learn more about The Cabin Counseling & Resource Center and their services, you can visit them online at thecabin.org, or headquarters in Zionsville at 220 South Elm Street. You can also call the Zionsville office at 317-873-8140.
ROCKING OUT SCHOOL OF ROCK HITS THE BIG STAGE IN ZIONSVILLE Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne
“I thought the way they taught music was so different in that the focus is on getting the kids out and playing,” says McFarland, whose own children took traditional music lessons years ago and despised the experience of learning notes, chords and scales.
Steve McFarland describes himself as a sports guy, not a music person. Nevertheless, he’s found himself in the world of rock and roll, and passing along that passion to others, which thrills him. It At School of Rock, students approach learning started nearly a decade ago when McFarland in a whole different way that makes it fun. read about School of Rock in a magazine. TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 9
“We’ll do a demo day where I’ll tell parents, ‘Give me 30 minutes and I’ll have your kid playing in a band,’” McFarland says. After breaking into groups, students learn a three-chord song by AC/DC. “These kids who have never touched an instrument in their lives are suddenly playing a rock and roll song,” McFarland says. “Who
wouldn’t want to be a part of that?” Ten years ago, McFarland met with School of Rock executives in Chicago, who sold him on the concept once they shared the impact that this style of learning has on students. It was a phenomenon he witnessed firsthand once he opened his first School of Rock in Carmel nine years ago. During a parent get-together following their first season, one mom described the incredible transformation she had witnessed in her daughter. “Prior to this program, she had no friends and was not plugged into anything - in fact, I’m not sure we could have made it another year if School of Rock had not come along because I know she had contemplated suicide,” the mother said. “Now she has friends, she’s connected, and she’s doing something she loves.” According to McFarland, these kinds of stories unfold often. “I’m constantly hearing, ‘This has been lifechanging for our family,’” says McFarland, who opened a second location in Fishers five years ago and, most recently, a third school on South Main Street in Zionsville. Enrollment among all three schools is at nearly 400 students. When he hires instructors, he doesn’t seek teachers so much as music mentors with a passion to inspire kids to rock on stage and in life. “I’m looking for musicians with street cred, who love what they are doing and
can inspire kids that want to do more with music,” McFarland says. Students, who range in age from 6 to 17, learn guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals and drums. Adult lessons are also offered. “We even have a rocker mom group,” McFarland says. Weekly lessons are 45 minutes in length for younger kids, while older students have three-hour rehearsals. “It’s cool to see how fast these kids learn,” says McFarland, noting that unlike traditional lessons where parents often have to nag their child to practice their instrument, students at School of Rock are self-motivated to improve. “The fact that we put them in shows is a powerful teaching tool. It not only allows them to ramp up their skills much faster, but they also know that when they come in, they’re going to be rehearsing with their peers in a band. They’re not going to be embarrassed in front of their friends so you’ll never have to bug your kids to practice again.”
“They couldn’t play together because different speeds of the internet didn’t allow them to sync up, but they could do group check-ins and play their part of the songs,” McFarland explains. After being shut down last spring for three months, they returned to live sessions last June and have been open ever since. Now that the school is offering in-person learning again, McFarland has implemented some stringent safety protocols. “When the students hit the front door, they sanitize, then go straight to the bathroom to wash their hands,” he says. “Everyone wears masks and remains 6’ apart, even in lesson rooms. Plus, there’s a plastic barrier between the kids and the teachers, and vocalists sing with masks and use their own microphones.” Providing a safe in-person environment was important, as the students were craving face-to-face interaction for their mental well-being.
“After having to do online schooling, the last thing these kids wanted was more When the pandemic hit, the school screen time,” McFarland says. “They transitioned to remote lessons even before needed to come back, connect with their the governor’s stay-at-home orders were friends and do what they love. This is their issued, simply because they were committed community, their place to hang out and just to keeping both staff and students safe. be themselves.” “I went to Best Buy and bought 15 iPads for my teachers so they could teach from their homes via Zoom,” McFarland says. Though lessons were easy to do remotely, rehearsals were trickier.
10 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
At the end of each semester, the students perform. They also do preview shows midsemester, so students perform at least six times per year. Back in March, they did a preview show that was live streamed in order to keep attendance down. That
Music Director Cyrus Youngman
allowed anyone, near or far, to watch from home.
Blue Moon H AIR P L AC E
The technological aspect of pivoting during the pandemic has equipped the students with tools they can use moving forward. For instance, future snow days don’t have to signal a canceled lesson, as everyone now has the ability to participate virtually. The same is true if a student has transportation issues. In addition, live-streamed concerts enable traveling parents or elderly relatives to still be able to enjoy the show.
$10 off any haircut! New customers only. Must mention Zionsville Magazine at time of redemption. Offer expires 8/31/2021.
“Those are the silver linings that COVID-19 brought us,” McFarland says. Students can audition to join their house band or try out for the AllStars, which encompasses all School of Rock locations. This summer School of Rock also offered summer camps. “What’s cool about camp is that kids come on Monday, some of whom have never laid hands on an instrument before, and on Friday they put on a show,” McFarland says. “Parents are always blown away, and kids love it.” School of Rock is located at 675 South Main Street in Zionsville. For more information, call 317-344-0307, email zionsville@schoolofrock.com, or visit schoolofrock.com.
NEUMA PRODUCTS
SPECIALIZING IN MEN’S AND WOMEN’S PRECISION HAIRCUTTING AND OTHER SALON SERVICES
CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! 317-873-9750 105 North Main St., Zionsville / Located in The Village since 1996 The Blue Moon Hairplace @bluemoonhairgirl TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 11
12 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
Dr. Davisson discusses spinal stenosis with a patient.
Dr. Scott Taylor (left) and Dr. Andrew Davisson (right) have years of experience in the field of physical medicine, pain management and rehabilitation.
Interventional Spine & Pain New Castle Family & Internal Medicine Forest Ridge 2200 Forest Ridge Pkwy, Suite 310 New Castle, IN 47362
765-521-7385
HENRY COMMUNITY HEALTH Writer / Julie Yates Photography Provided
Henry Community Health (HCH) is a medical facility and integrated health system known for its exceptional care, cutting-edge technology and experienced staff. The center serves patients from nearby areas such as Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield, and has been ranked in the top 5% nationwide for patient satisfaction for seven straight years by Healthgrades. One aspect that draws patients to HCH is its distinction as a Center of Excellence for spinal stenosis.
One of the team’s goals, Taylor says, is to treat the condition prior to surgery with the Vertiflex system.
hchcares.org
CONNECT
“This outpatient procedure optimizes function and improves the patient’s quality of life, plus it is covered by Medicare. It is a process that opens the spinal canal area by inserting a removable device that is less than an inch long. Patients can walk out of the facility on the very same day, since it is a much less invasive method than traditional surgery,” Taylor says. “A lesser level of anesthesia is required, which lowers the risk for those with underlying conditions. Patient Spinal stenosis is a degenerative process during which the spinal canal satisfaction is at 89 percent. They report they would do it again, as narrows and pressure is put on the nerves. It often goes unnoticed well as recommend it to a friend.” until the patient experiences numbness and pain. Typical treatments involve pain-reducing drugs, steroid injections and, as a last resort, HCH was the first facility in the state to use the Vertiflex system, and surgery. HCH has three physicians who are highly trained in treating continues to treat the largest number of patients in the state who the condition using the Vertiflex system. Doctors Andrew Davisson, opt for it. Afterwards, patients are advised not to lift objects over Rakesh Patel and Scott Taylor have years of experience in the field of 10 to 15 pounds, and to keep twisting and bending to a minimum. physical medicine, pain management and rehabilitation. After a follow-up X-ray, patients are typically back to their favorite “Eighty percent of people get back pain at some time in their life,” Taylor says. “Many start to experience it when they are in their 60s - right at the point where they want to enjoy life, such as working in their yard or taking up a hobby. They have to sit down to get pain relief.” Taylor, a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, grew up with a brother who suffered from cerebral palsy. During medical school he discovered physiatry, a branch of medicine that treats and manages pain related to disabilities of the nerves, bones and muscles. He felt that he had found his calling.
activities within six weeks. The doctors at the facility who perform this method are now trained to instruct other physicians to perform the procedure.
“Many people experience back pain right at retirement time, and it makes enjoying the things they like to do impossible,” Taylor says. “Typical patients have already tried physical therapy, medication and injections. The Vertiflex system is a way to treat pain before resorting to surgery, which is very invasive and involves cutting bones. It’s a step between living with pain and having irreversible changes made in surgery, and it can possibly improve the quality of life.”
TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 13
SAFE SURROUNDINGS
CHOOSING THE PROPER ELDER CARE FACILITY IS VITAL Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
It’s human nature to want to retain our autonomy, and when asked about preferences regarding late-in-life care, elderly parents often resist the idea of moving into a care facility. Family members may wish their loved one could remain in their home, and yet have lingering worries
that they may fall or have a stroke. Carol Applegate, an attorney with Applegate & Dillman Elder Law, understands these feelings and concerns, which is why her practice helps families navigate elder care. According to Applegate, the first thing to do when choosing a facility is to determine the level of care needed. These levels vary 14 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
drastically, from independent living to round-the-clock attention. Independent living consists of cabins, cottages or apartments designed for those who are still autonomous and able to handle daily tasks like cooking and driving. Assisted living is for those who require a bit of help or supervision. These folks can enjoy
meals in a cafeteria, then retreat to their own one- or two-bedroom apartments. They can also have access to a nurse if necessary. These people may need reminders for when meals or served, or help with washing their clothes. Skilled or custodial care is 24-hour care from a nurse, and is for patients who are bedridden or in a wheelchair. They often need help bathing, taking medications, and getting to and from therapies. Memory care units are for those struggling with memory issues, and rehabilitation is for anyone who has sustained a fall or injury and requires intense therapy, usually following a hospitalization. “What’s great is to find a continuum-of-care facility that has all these levels of care on one campus,” Applegate says.
When searching for a facility, Applegate also suggests looking beyond the walls - literally - as pretty painted walls and dynamite decorating don’t always equal the best patient care.
“New facilities may be beautiful, but sometimes it’s the older ones who have stable staff that have been there for a long time,” says Applegate, who suggests inquiring about staff turnover, and checking the state board of health for complaints. “Think of couples who have been married “If you have an elder law attorney or staff for 60 years,” Applegate says. “They want to like I have, we are intimately connected to be together at the end of their lives, but their some of the facilities and can answer these needs are totally different.” questions. We hear what the turnover is in those facilities and when it’s been sold to When choosing a facility, it’s important another company. Those things tell you if to know the costs and whether or not the there is stability there.” facility will accept Medicaid. Not only is this ideal if a patient has to transition from one type of care to the next, but it’s also nice for couples who are at different stages of life.
“If you know that in six months or a year you’ll be short on money, you need to find a place that will accept Medicaid when the time comes, because moving an elderly person is really hard on them,” Applegate says. “It’s one thing to move from home to a facility. That becomes their new home and you don’t want to have to uproot them again.” It’s not uncommon for Applegate to see clients in their 90s. One of the biggest common fears is running out of money before dying. She reminds clients that since they paid taxes their whole life, they have earned the right to use government resources.
Applegate also suggests choosing a location close to the family that is going to be caring for their loved one. “If mom and dad are clear on the other side of town, your chances of going to visit decreases,” Applegate says. “I moved my mom to a place that was practically right across the street from me, and it was comforting to her knowing that if she needed something, I could be there in five minutes.” Applegate’s primary piece of advice, however, is to explore facilities early on before you need the service. Visit different places, pick up information, and go on virtual tours. Starting the search process a TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 15
year or two before you think your folks may need the service can help, because you’ll know what’s available in your community. This can also give parents time to ease into the idea, and to weigh in on where they’ll feel most comfortable living. When Sandy Galyan and her brothers sat down to talk to their mom and dad about shopping around at assisted-living facilities, they weren’t initially open to the idea. Galyan and her brothers backed off. A month or two later, they all toured a nearby facility. “When we took mom and dad to check it out, their decision was, ‘We’re not ready,’” Galyan recalls. After some time had passed, however, her dad concluded that it was time. “Ultimately, it was their decision and we did not tell them what they had to do,” Galyan says. “We felt it was much better for them, and they did not tell people their kids made them move.” Applegate says making sure parents are part of the decision is crucial to a smooth transition. “They need to feel like they are still in control,” she says. “Making that choice makes them feel worthwhile.” For more info on Applegate & Dillman Elder Law, visit dillmanlawgroup.com.
TRAVELING WITH MEDICARE Since travel is beginning to open, we want to help you understand what you need to know about traveling with Medicare insurance. Medicare’s coverage of healthcare services while traveling depends on where you travel and how you receive your Medicare benefits.
TRAVELING INSIDE THE U.S. If you have Original Medicare or Original Medicare with Medigap coverage, you will typically have the same level of coverage anywhere in the United States, (including Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other territories of the U.S.), if services are provided by doctors and hospitals that accept Original Medicare.
care anywhere in the U.S. without additional cost sharing. You should contact your plan prior to traveling to determine what rules and costs apply when you travel within the U.S. Check the rules closely to determine if your plan offers a visitor or travel benefit. Only certain areas or timeframes may be included, certain services may not be covered, you may have cost-sharing or potentially be responsible for the entire cost of care if you see providers that are outside the plan’s network.
TRAVELING OUTSIDE THE U.S.
Medicare usually does not cover medical care outside the U.S. However, some Medigap policies provide limited coverage for travel abroad. Medigap plans C through If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, your benefits may or may not cover services G, M, and N may cover 80% of the cost of received outside of your service area. Some emergency care abroad, (with a $250 annual plans may cover providers that are out-ofdeductible and $50,000 lifetime maximum). network or out of your service area, but may Some Medicare Advantage Plans also have have higher cost-sharing, or restrictions limited emergency coverage. Keep in mind, such as prior authorization. Some plans offer although your plan may provide travel telehealth services which would allow you to benefits, you may still be responsible for the connect with a physician via phone or video entire cost at the time of services and then chat to receive a medical assessment. All responsible to seek reimbursement upon Medicare Advantage Plans are required to your return home. Check your policy for provide coverage for emergency and urgent specific coverage rules. 16 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
TRAVELING BY CRUISE SHIP Medicare may pay for medical care you get on a cruise ship if you receive the care while the ship is in U.S. territorial waters. This means the ship is in a U.S. port or within six hours of arrival at or departure from a U.S. port. Medical care received while in a foreign port or foreign waters will likely not be covered depending on how you receive your Medicare benefits. Travel Health Insurance is strongly encouraged, and sometimes required, when traveling out of the U.S. We recommend all Medicare beneficiaries call and discuss your health plan benefits and the options for travel insurance with your trusted Medicare insurance advisor when planning any trip outside of your service area. Happy Traveling!
Contact the Shepherd Insurance Medicare Insurance Team at 317.343.3215 or medicare@shepherdins.com
WE ARE HERE TO HELP. Shepherd Insurance has a dedicated Medicare Insurance team that will provide you with a comprehensive consultation of Medicare Insurance options for all scenarios of life. OUR MEDICARE INSURANCE TEAM CAN ASSIST WITH: • • • •
Understanding the A, B, C, D’s of Medicare Insurance Medcare Supplement (Medigap) Plans Medicare Advantage Plans Prescription Drug Plans
Contact us today for a complimentary review. 317.343.3215 or medicare@shepherdins.com Disclaimer: Not affiliated with the U.S. government or federal Medicare program. A licensed agent may / AUGUST / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 17 contact youTownePost.com regarding this2021 insurance-related information.
Carol Applegate
PROPER PLANNING HELPFUL STEPS TO TAKE WHEN ARRANGING FOR ELDER CARE Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
Aging is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy or seamless. Caring for elderly parents as you simultaneously raise your own family is especially challenging. The best gift parents can give their children is to plan for their future and have that plan in place before a major crisis occurs. According to Carol Applegate, an attorney with Applegate & Dillman Elder Law, as parents age, families should look closely at three areas of concern. The first is the health care of the loved one. Families should ask, “What health challenges are my parents facing? What is the prognosis of their condition? Where are they living now and where might they need to live in the future? Do they have physical disabilities or have they had an early diagnosis of memory loss or early Alzheimer’s. How will we know they are receiving good care?
“At some point, extra caregivers will most likely be needed,” Applegate says. “The home is not always the answer, because they may not be safe in that environment.” The second concern is finances. Will they have enough money to pay for their health care or will they “run out” of money to care for themselves.” Ask, “What are their assets? Where are they holding their assets? Are those assets going to be enough for the remainder of their lives?” Consider implementing legal documents, such as power of attorney, to help with their financial situation, as well as their health care representative to help with decisions about their health care. These documents must be signed while a person is still competent and clearly able to express their wishes. Also, of upmost importance are wishes regarding end-of-life treatment. A living will allows a person to express their wishes concerning life support. COVID-19 changed this area drastically. Applegate has 18 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
had several clients call her saying that the parent was on the way to a hospital with a likely diagnosis of coronavirus. Each was frantic because their parent had a living will and there was a chance that a respirator would help a patient improve but they had a living will that said they did not want life support. They wanted to know if they could override their parent’s living will. “These emotional kinds of conversations must take place prior to the crisis,” Applegate says. On the way to the hospital is too late.” Such documents are meant to put families at ease, because if a parent ends up in the hospital, and they have a living will and health care power of attorney, families will know their loved one’s wishes are being honored. If the elder patient is no longer able to make decisions for themselves and are determined to be incompetent - or if they
end up in quarantine due to COVID-19 those documents can’t be signed, notarized or witnessed. Court intervention may be necessary and is much more complicated and expensive. The final area to consider involves public benefits that can be used to help pay for care. The help of a professional or an Elder Law attorney is usually needed to apply and receive those benefits. “It’s important to start planning five or six years in advance to be eligible for those benefits,” Applegate says. “I hear all the time from clients, ‘we should have been in your office five years ago to start this process.’ Getting a plan in place does not mean it can never be changed. Life changes quickly and adjustments to that plan must be made.” Making decisions in the time of crisis are based on emotion and the options are limited. Planning in advance allows for sound decisions based on facts and not emotion. “When we are making decisions in a crisis, we are making emotional decisions,” Applegate says. “When we plan ahead, however, we are making logical decisions.” “COVID has proven to us that our lives can change overnight.” Applegate says. “Many people were caught off-guard during those first few months of COVID, as they recognized that they should have talked about [these topics earlier] but never did. And now it was too late.”
No doubt these are tough conversations to have. The words “nursing home” can strike fear in elderly individuals, but talking issues through makes for a smooth, less stressful transition. “The greatest gift you can ever give your children is to sit down and talk to them about end of life, and what you want to have happen, even down to the funeral planning,” says Applegate, who knows firsthand how doing so can lift the weight of the world off one’s shoulders. “My mom died when my sister was on a cruise,” recalls Applegate, who was instantly both grief-stricken and overwhelmed by the TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 19
thought of having to make all the funeral arrangements. She soon learned, however, that her mother had already taken care of everything, even down to noting that she preferred not to have an obituary printed in the local newspaper. “That was such a relief because when you’re grieving, you don’t want to deal with the nitty gritty of arranging a funeral and all the decisions that go with it,” Applegate says. “Preplanning is truly a gift.” For more on Applegate & Dillman Elder Law, visit dillmanlawgroup.com.
INDIANA MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAM AN ALTERNATIVE TO NURSING HOMES
20 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
Writer / Michael Wilhelm
As an elder law attorney, I am often asked by clients how they can protect assets from potentially substantial long-term care expenses in an institutional setting, such as memory care or custodial skilled nursing. While that conversation can be complex and revolves around many factors, the following touches on an alternative to nursing homes that continues to grow in popularity. Throughout human history until the second half of the 20th century, most people aged and died at their home or the home of a family member. By the 1980s, only 17% of Americans died at home, as the experience of aging and death in the industrialized world shifted to hospitals and nursing homes. This dramatic change was caused by many factors including longer life, fewer children, and children with duel-income families (leaving fewer children available to care for aging parents). Even as more and more of our elderly population ages in hospitals and nursing homes, their preference for living at home remains strong. Nearly 90% of seniors want to stay at home as they age, which is often referred to as aging in place. Indiana has adopted the concept of aging in place, and has implemented certain programs and policies to reverse the trend of aging in hospitals and nursing homes. One such program available to seniors in Indiana is the Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver. The program began as a response to the national trend toward providing home and community-based services (HCBS). In
the past, Medicaid paid only for institutional long-term care services, such as nursing homes. The Medicaid Waiver program waives the requirement of an admission into a nursing home in order for Medicaid to pay for HCBS. The overall goal of the Medicaid Waiver is to take people out of institutions, or prevent them from going there in the first place, by allowing them to live at home. Specific goals of Medicaid Waiver services are to provide the person with meaningful and necessary services and supports in the home or community, to respect the recipient’s personal beliefs and customs, and to ensure that services are cost effective. Some of the services and supports available include bathing assistance, dressing assistance, restroom assistance, mobility assistance,
homemaker services, assistance with taking medications, nutritional supplements, transportation, and case management. These Medicaid Waiver services directly address the needs of the elderly who find it increasingly difficult to remain in their homes, and help to reverse the trend of aging in institutions. A resident of Indiana must meet a combination of state and federal requirements in order to be eligible for a Medicaid Waiver. DeFur Voran LLP’s elder law group develops and implements plans for clients so that they meet Medicaid resource and income guidelines. If you would like to discuss the Medicaid Waiver program with an elder law attorney, please call 317-585-8085 or visit defur.com.
$0 MORE PLANS AVAILABLE FOR $0 The Affordable Care Act Federal Special Enrollment Period Ends August 15, 2021.
DANNA GREEN
Licensed Insurance Agent
(317) 430-7094 Walk-ins welcome!
*Premium subsidies vary by address and subject to eligibility. Cost sharing (deductible and coinsurance) may be higher. TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 21
are you a WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS?
SUBMIT YOUR BUSINESS LISTING ONLINE AT TOWNEPOST.COM/WOMAN-OWNED TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR SPECIAL OCTOBER ISSUE
Is your zionsville business listed on TownePost.com? TownePost.com is evolving into a Local Search Directory designed to support the small businesses in our communities. Our website features new functionality and services for area businesses - for FREE - such as:
• Self-managed business listings • Coupons + discounts • Event calendar • Lead generation form • Photo gallery • Map of your location
22 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com
• • • • •
Complete contact info Store hours Social media links Listing of nearby businesses and much more!
Garbage smells. Bin Scrub works.
Garbage Bin Cleaning Clean
Sanitize
Deodorize
binscrub.com 317.798.0000
NOBLESVILLE
14753 HAZEL DELL CROSSING, SUITE 400 317-566-8222 mywbu.com/noblesville
CARMEL
9830 A N. MICHIGAN RD 317-334-1883 mywbu.com/carmel
BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS • GARDEN ACCENTS • UNIQUE GIFTS
TownePost.com / AUGUST 2021 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / 23
KEEPING ATHLETES IN THE GAME TREATING YOUNG ATHLETES, LIKE NO OTHER, WITH OUR SPORTS MEDICINE TEAM. ■
■
■
■
■
Dr. Dan Kraft, sports medicine fellowship trained physician Specialized pediatric/adolescent sports medicine care Sports concussion management Sports related physical therapy Certified athletic trainers
Witham Sports Medicine is now accepting patients at the following locations! LEBANON
CRAWFORDSVILLE
2705 N. Lebanon Street, Suite 210 Lebanon, IN
407 East Market Street, Suite 101 Crawfordsville, IN
ANSON IN WHITESTOWN
FRANKFORT
6085 Heartland Drive, Suite 204 Zionsville, IN
2485 East Wabash Street Frankfort, IN
Call 765.485.8896 or visit witham.org. 24 / ZIONSVILLE MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2021 / TownePost.com