So long Wuesthoff, hello Steward BY MARIA SONNENBERG
SENIOR LIFE Walter Kiely
Melanie Fulbright, left, attorney William A. Johnson and Sharon Fienning helped people gather information about estate planning at Senior Life’s Boomer Guide Expo.
It’s crucial to make a plan for tomorrow and beyond BY FLORA REIGADA
Maria worked hard for more than 50 years. She retired at 65 with considerable savings. Selling vacation timeshares added to her nest egg. But in her 80s, Maria began to fall and break bones. With no legal planning, she wound up in a nursing home, on Medicaid and with her finances drained. “The costs of institutional care are astonishing,” William A. Johnson, a Brevard County attorney who specializes in elder law, wrote on his website. “Nationally, it is roughly $96,000 annually. In the Brevard County area, it can be up to $10,000 per month.” Johnson stresses the importance of planning ahead for the legal, financial and practical considerations of growing older. “We provide compassionate guidance for elders and their loved ones,” he said. “Our firm can assist with
the countless legal issues that affect seniors.” Johnson offers resources such as a book he wrote, “The Florida Long Term Care & Nursing Home Answer Book.” It can be downloaded from his website or a copy can be picked up at his office. Melanie Fulbright, a paralegal with Johnson’s firm, cited an example of how the book has been helpful to the community. “A local clinical social worker who routinely helps seniors remarked that the book answered questions and provided information she has been otherwise unable to find,” Fulbright said. With some legal guidance, things can work out differently than they did for Maria. SL William A. Johnson’s office is at 140 Interlachen Road Suite B, in Melbourne. For information, call 321-426-1865 or go to the website floridaelderlaw.net/
You may notice something different about Wuesthoff Health System hospitals in Rockledge and Melbourne, and it’s all in the name. Wuesthoff Medical Center Rockledge has evolved into Rockledge Regional Medical Center and, in Melbourne, the former Wuesthoff Medical Center now is Melbourne Regional Medical Center. Both now are part of the Steward family of hospitals. The name change is part of the hospital system’s integration into the patient-centered Steward Health Care System, the largest private hospital operator in the United States with 36 community hospitals nationwide. The Steward network also includes more than 26 urgent care centers and 42 preferred skilled nursing facilities. The Brevard hospitals, which became Steward family hospitals in May of last year, still are in the process of replacing signage to reflect the new branding. “This is about much more than just updating hospital titles,” said Josh Putter, central division president of Steward Health Care. Putter notes that the hospital’s connection with Steward ensures a continuum of services for patients, plus more. “Our service availability and our physicians’ network will also grow regionally in Florida as they have in other states,” he said. “That will mean better access,
SENIOR LIFE Walter Kiely
Sandy Williams answered questions about Rockledge Regional Medical Center and Melbourne Regional Medical Center at Senior Life’s Boomer Guide Expo.
higher quality and more coordinated care for patients.” One of the first major investments being implemented at the Rockledge and Melbourne Medical Centers is an advanced electronic health record system for patients. The system offers care coordination that connects every point of patient care anywhere within the spectrum of healthcare. The technology is expected to go live in Rockledge and Melbourne this summer. SL
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SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2018
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