Senior Living Spring 2023 - Prime Times - Queens Chronicle

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• VOLUNTEERING: WHERE TO PITCH IN ACROSS QUEENS • KIDNEY MONTH: DOCTOR’S TIPS KEEP THEM HEALTHY • REHAB CENTERS: HOW TO PICK ONE AFTER SURGERY

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CONTENTS Volunteering: where to pitch in across Queens Page 4 Kidney Month: doctor’s tips keep them healthy Page 6 Rehab centers: how to pick one after surgery Page 8 Publisher - Mark Weidler Section Editor - Peter C. Mastrosimone Marketing Coordinator - Debrah Gordon Layout - Gregg Cohen

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Senior Living Guide

Where to volunteer in the World’s Borough

by Naeisha Rose

register to help with forest and wetland restora- information about the festival, assisting at the filmmakers’ lounge and other duties as tion, planting and pruning street trees, harvestassigned. ing and propagating native seeds and monitorVolunteering is beneficial to any communiThe theater operations role entails managing ing wildlife in the borough, by going to the ty, but for seniors the act of being of service lines, ticket and passes, ushering audiences and Upcoming Stewardship Projects section of the comes with the added benefits of decreasing also providing information about the festival webpage and clicking Queens. dementia risk, improving mental health and (this role will require volunteers to be on their Saturday, there is a Kissena Park forest resincreasing longevity because it keeps one physfeet for a significant period of time). toration initiative from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the ically active and the mind sharp, according to If interested go to movingimage.us/join-andintersection of Fresh Meadow Lane and Kisthe National Institute of Aging. sena Boulevard near Booth Memorial Avenue. support/volunteering/.

Queens has volunteer opportunities at nonSeniors can also give back at the DepartOn March 24, people who are interested may profits, women’s groups, art centers, parks, city provide tree care at Newton Road and 41st ment for the Aging. agencies, civic groups, museums, hospitals and “The volunteer opportunities at the DepartStreet in Astoria from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. more. ment for the Aging give New Yorkers, no matThere are also volunteer opportunities at the The Hellenic American Neighborhood city Civic Engagement Commission for anyone ter their age, an opportunity to give back to Action Committee, an Astoria nonprofit that their communities, while staying socially 18 and up. provides social services throughout the city, is The commission is seeking participatory active and engaged,” said DFTA spokesman seeking volunteers, according to Enrique Joyce Matheson, a NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Greg Rose. “There are many activities NYC budget outreach and language assistance proJerves, HANAC’s legal victim assistance provolunteer, creates care and welcome packages to Aging volunteers can do, including packing gram outreach volunteers, along with CEC volgram director. end of life patients and to parents of newborns. food for home delivered meals, helping older unteer leaders.

“People who are interested in volunteering PHOTO COURTESY NY-PRESBYTERIAN QUEENS adults care for their pets, or sign up for the right A participatory budget volunteer will particcan email a resume,” Jerves told the Chronicle. health coverage.” Rose said some of volunteers “They just have to answer questions on why organization as they come,” Kilawan-Narine ipate in community need assessments via canhave been of service for decades and continue told the Queens Chronicle. “We have worked vassing, phone-banking and digital outreach, they are interested in volunteering at a specific hard to cultivate spaces that feel inclusive which will form the basis of project proposals to give invaluable support to residents in every program.” borough.

Jerves said he would need a copy of a photo across all different identities and across differ- that New Yorkers will vote on.

People can sign up at agingvolunteers.cityof For three hours a week, language assistance ID and that people can volunteer at HANAC ent generations too!” newyork.us.

Programming at SQWM spans culturally volunteers will phone bank, create digital flyfor one to three days.

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens is just one “We are open Monday to Sunday from 10 responsive mutual aid efforts to bridge system- ers and support CEC text-info lines to bring hospital in need of volunteers for its programs, awareness to language assistance services. a.m. to 5 p.m., so we are available on week- ic inequities, pop-up food pantries and distribuaccording to its spokeswoman Rachel FriedCEC leaders will train for eight hours a ends,” Jerves said. “We’ve worked with senior tions for essential items and civic mobilization week on how to be an ambassador for the orga- man Packer. efforts, which include voter engagement street volunteers in the past and they are very good.”

“We work closely with AmeriCorp RSVP nization, train and coordinate other volunteers HANAC has coordinated with retired law- outreach and community cleanups. In addition, (Retired Seniors Volunteer Program) that not SQWM also conducts art workshops on gen- and convene meetings. yers who provided free services for its clients, To learn more visit nyc.gov/site/civic only helps connect senior volunteers with said Jerves. It also seeks volunteers to provide der-based violence.

“Volunteers fuel our movement,” Kilawan- e n g a g e m e n t / g e t - i n v o l v e d / v o l u n t e e r- NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, it also edufriendly visits, clerical, technical and adminiscates, provides help and assistance to these volNarine said. “Without them, we could never opportunities.page. trative support, arts and crafts, greeting, teleThe Museum of the Moving Image has vol- unteers,” Friedman said via email. accomplish as much as we do ... Age is not a phone reassurance, music, dance, exercise, To sign up go to nyp.org/queens/volunteer. unteer opportunities for film lovers of any age, computer instruction, event planning and lunch barrier when it comes to volunteering with the The Queens Interagency Council on Aging, South Queens Women’s March. When volun- according to Hayley Brinkman, a spokeswomservice, according to the group’s website. which operates out of Borough Hall at 120-55 an for the Astoria institution.

To volunteer at HANAC email Jerves at teers register for any volunteer opportunity we “We’ve recently restarted our volunteer pro- in Kew Gardens, provides food for those in ejerves@hanac.org or visit hanac.org/about-us/ have, we always ask what roles they may be gram after Covid-19 and look forward to wel- need, and will restart those operations after late volunteer/. People can also call (718) 396-5042 comfortable with to also account for any physiMay since losing people to retirement or death coming many new volunteers, including a few for more details. HANAC is located at 27-40 cal limitations. who are senior citizens, to help us with our due to the pandemic, according to QICA Exec“Different generations stand to benefit so Hoyt Ave. South. utive Director Bruce Cunningham. QICA is in annual First Look festival this week,” she said.

The South Queens Women’s March, a non- much from dialogue with one another and I need of dependable people with past volunteer There are volunteer roles for hospitality and profit group located at 130-01 Liberty Ave. in personally see that play out whenever we are experience, one as a bookkeeper and others as theater operations, and the festival runs until together in community volunteering. Seniors South Richmond Hill, is definitely looking for March 19. MoMI also lists a six-month volun- food servers, as it feeds up to 150 people. volunteers, according to SQWM Founder and the knowledge they bring to the table are City Hall also has a volunteer calendar of teer program with various duties. invaluable assets.”

Aminta Kilawan-Narine. events across the Big Apple at nycservice.org/ The hospitality role includes greeting and To learn more about the SQWM call “I am so proud to underscore that the South Q calendar. directing guests and filmmakers, providing Queens Women’s March is as intersectional an (929) 367-0010.

The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, a multidisciplinary arts center located at 161-04 Jamaica Ave., does not have an official volunSPECIAL teer program, according to Tyrel Hunt, JCAL’s PRICING for spokesman. However, JCAL is in the process of building one and is accepting inquiries. People SENIOR CITIZENS who are interested can email Patrick Scorese at and FACILITIES pscorese@jcal.org.

Throughout the years, JCAL has worked to inspire youths’ interest in the arts, showcased ◆ Home Cleaning emerging artists and performers and has deliv◆ Painting Service ered multicultural programs. ◆ Window Washing To learn more, visit JCAL.org. ◆ Commercial The Parks Department has a year-round NYC Parks Stewardship program that anyone Cleaning who may be willing to get his or her hands ◆ Carpet Cleaning dirty can join sending an email to stewardship@parks.nyc.gov or calling Via its NYC Stewardship program, the Parks Email: SUPERSHINECLEANINGNYC@GMAIL.COM (718) 392-5232.

Department has volunteer opportunities plantWebsite: SUPERSHINECLEANINGNYC.COM Visit nycgovparks.org/reg/stewardship to PHOTO COURTESY NYC PARKS ings and pruning.

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Senior Living Guide

Good health habits are healthy kidney habits

by Michael Gannon

“So when it happens they can go on not knowing about it,” Goldman said “Which is Kidney disease can strike people young or old, and can do why it is so vitally important to so without warning. But with March being National Kidney Month, Dr. Michael Goldman, a nephrologist with Jamaica go on getting regular checkups and, as determined by their Hospital Medical Center, said routine checkups and common-sense care can avoid problems, or at least catch them doctor, when people need lab work. A lot of time, we find early enough to make an important difference. kidney problems and can do “The job of a kidney is to filter blood,” Goldman said. something about it; meaning “They’re vital organs. Most filtration and other things hapbefore it’s become problematic. pen in the liver. But what the kidneys do is generally unique We find it in blood work. Peoto the kidney, so you can’t live without them. ple don’t have symptoms.”

“There happen to be other functions. For example, they’re While blood can be visible in involved in the signaling for making blood, so ... when peourine, trace amounts or excesple get a kidney problem they can get anemic. They also sive protein in the urine can be have to do with the bones in terms of hormonal signaling. detected only through testing.

“When things go wrong, there’s a little bit of a problem.”

Dr. Michael Goldman, left, of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, says regular checkups and rouGoldman used the example tine tests can detect and arrest kidney problems before symptoms show up. COURTESY PHOTO, LEFT And the elderly, Goldman said, are more prone to kidney of live kidney donors to show disease. can catch it early,” Goldman said. “But we have to slow how a loss of function caused by illness can go unnoticed for “The elderly are more prone to everything,” he noted. some time. He said when the donor gives up one kidney, they down the process of what is bothering their kidneys. So it’s Goldman said hypertension, or high blood pressure, is important for people — young and old — to get checked well-known as “the silent killer.” But it is not the only condi- in effect lose half their kidney function and can still not only out.” survive but be healthy and well. tion that can be insidious. Hypertension and diabetes, he Along with regular checkups, Goldman said, healthy lifeAn asymptomatic kidney condition likewise in some said, are major causes of kidney disease. style habits are healthy kidney habits. cases can reduce a patient’s kidney function considerably “When somebody has appendicitis, they know,” Goldman “In terms of diet and lifestyle, what you have to remember before a problem manifests itself. said. “Their belly hurts and it’s off to the hospital. With the is that the kidneys have one million to two million filters,” ‘The person could lose half the function in their kidneys kidneys, you don’t know.

“Most of the time, when people get chronic kidney disease and we wouldn’t pick it up on a blood test,” Goldman said. he said. “Those filters are basically tiny blood vessels. The things I tell people to do or to avoid are because they’re “The difficulty is by the time we pick up something there’s a or kidney problems, it’s asymptomatic, meaning they don’t heart-healthy. They’re going to be healthy for the kidneys. lot of damage.” feel it.”

“That person can have plenty of kidney in reserve if we Sometimes there are no symptoms at all. continued on page 10 Senior News Editor

THE TRUTH ABOUT MEDICAID

Community Medicaid eligibility is changing! any transfers during the two and one-half (2.5) years prior to fi lling, applicants will be disqualified for a period of time depending on the amount transferred. Disqualifications cannot be more than two and one-half years.

Presently, applicants can transfer any amount The last extension was from October 1, 2022 of money one month and become fi nancially to January 1, 2023; however, the earliest date eligible for Community Medicaid the following that the state will seek implementation is month. This window of opportunity is slowly March 31, 2024. closing in. Potential applicants should keep in What does it mean to new applicants once the mind that the only way to avoid this issue is new regulation goes into effect? If there were to apply before the rule is enforced.

“Protect your life savings, your monthly income and homes, and at the same time apply for Medicaid medical assistance at home or in a nursing home.”

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In October 2020 a new look-back period was passed forcing applicants to surrender two and one-half (2.5) years of financial statements.

However, due to the pandemic Medicaid was unable to enforce this new regulation and kept extending the starting date.

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Senior Living Guide

Rehab not one-size-fits-all, say experts

by Deirdre Bardolf Editor

Having a loved one go to the hospital for surgery, or having to go yourself, can be a stressful time, especially as the patient gets older. Caregivers have an increased responsibility, as do care providers and the needs evolve with age. And what comes next, the transition of care postsurgery, is almost as important as the actual procedure itself.

Discharge planning is key and ensures that patient recovery continues and that they get the care needed to return to health.

The transition of care can include going back to the home, where there is a myriad of ways to be nursed back to health, or being admitted to a residential nursing facility or an alternative: a short-term rehabilitation center, many of which are in Queens.

Hospitals in New York are actually legally obligated to give patients the opportunity to name a caregiver who is willing to be a part of planning for the time following discharge. In 2015, the New York State CARE Act, short for Caregiver Advise, Record, and Enable, was signed into law and requires hospitals to give patients the opportunity to name a family caregiver willing to be part of planning for discharge and providing care at home, according to the United Hospital Fund. New York joined over 30 other states that adoped similar legislation.

“That helps ensure good follow-up, adherence to the plan of care and help, and then we also help with figuring out what is the best place for the patient to go, either home or to a rehab facility,” said Dr. Isabella Park, associate medical director and direct of geriatrics and palliative care at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills. “And when we’re giving options for rehab, then giving choices about which rehab facility they would prefer,” she said.

There are several questions to consider when choosing

Rehab options for seniors after a hospital stay can cater to patients’ specific needs, like at Forest View Center in Forest PHOTO COURTESY MONICA WIEDEMAN Hills, above. between home or a rehab center, she said: “What is home like?

What are your needs? What is already in place?”

Older patients often do best at home, in familiar surroundings, she said, but that might not always be an option.

Home physical therapy can be useful if patients have trouble getting to a facility, said Dr. Emily Fatakhov, a doctor of rehabilitation and physical medicine and sports medicine at Mt. Sinai Queens, but it can limit treatment options. “Home care, while convenient, is definitely more limiting in terms of the modalities they can use. They don’t have any equipment. It’s a lot of whatever they can do in the confines of their own home,” she said.

“So, it’s good on one level and not great, long-term, on another level.”

SECURE ACT OF 2022

Understanding Medicaid: Frequently Asked Questions What is Medicaid medical assistance?

Medicaid is a joint federal and state funded program, run by the state and local counties, providing medical insurance, home-care services (assisting with all activities of daily living) and nursing home medical assistance to the poor, elderly or disabled.

However, individuals requiring home-care services or nursing home medical assistance, in addition to fi nancial requirements, also will need to have a medical need for these services.

Who can apply for Medicaid?

• Doctors • Hospitals • Prescriptions • Nursing Homes (room & board) • Home-care Services, such as home attendants, home health aides and nurses

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Medicaid is for anyone who meets the income and resources restrictions.

What services does Medicaid provide?

What is an MLTC?

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MLTC stands for Managed Long-Term Care. One example: When an applicant has been approved for Medicaid home-care services, the applicant has to choose one MLTC from several approved Medicaid plans. Upon joining an MLTC a coordinator will be assigned and this coordinator will be the point person between the applicant/recipient and the MLTC.

Changes with Community Medicaid eligibility!

Due to Covid-19 once again the new rule regarding transfer of assets for Community Medicaid has been extended from October 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023; however, the earliest date that the state will seek implementation is March 31, 2024.

What does the new regulation mean to the applicant?

Once the new regulation is in place, applicants wishing to apply for community Medicaid and receive homecare services paid for by Medicaid will need to submit two and one-half years of bank statements. If there were any transfers during that period, other than spouse to spouse, the applicant will be disqualified for a period of time. Presently, applicants can transfer any amount of money one month and become financially eligible for Community Medicaid the following month. This window of opportunity is closing in fast. There is no time to procrastinate. The only way to avoid this issue is to apply before the new rule is enforced.

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As for rehab facilities, Park recommends reading the reviews online and contacting the centers for a tour.

A private geriatric care manager, who are typically paid by the hour, can also be used to help research and recommend facilities based on the patient’s specific needs, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. A social worker can also give advice and support.

Every rehab center is different and caters to different needs, beyond just physical therapy. They can be specialized for a patient with complicated wounds, someone with a lung disease on a BiPap machine, or who needs dialysis.

“If they have any kind of skilled needs, meaning requiring nursing care like wound care, antibiotics, drainage care — after surgery sometimes they have drains put in by the surgical team that need to be monitored so they could heal appropriately — they may not need to be in a hospital anymore, like an acute care facility, but maybe a subacute facility,” said Park.

A subacute facility offers a short-term program of care, which can include one to three hours of rehabilitation per day, at least five days per week, depending on the condition, according to Columbis University.

So rehab facilities no longer just do physical rehab, said Park.

“They do complex skilled nursing care ... now insurances are paying for this type of care in the rehab facility.”

That is especially the case as hospital systems have increasingly tigeth requirements to stay in the hospital, she added.

Insurance is a key consideration, then, too.

“What can Medicare provide? What can the managed Medicare provide? Because there are restrictions with managed Medicare. And if they’re eligible for Medicaid too, Medicaid continued on page 10

By Donna Furey, Esq. On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed a law which makes major changes to IRAs, 401(a), 401(K), 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans (hereinafter “retirement plans”) with the passage of the SECURE 2.0 ACT OF 2022 (“Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement 2.0”).

Some changes are discussed below.

for the payment of premiums for certain specifi ed long-term care insurance contracts effective 2025.

Unfortunately, the provisions in the SECURE ACT of 2019 eliminated “Stretch IRAs.” Previously, the owner of an IRA or similar retirement plan could leave their retirement plan assets to benefi ciaries and the benThe age at which a person must efi ciaries would not have to take take Required Minimum DistribuRMDs until they reached 70½. Under tions (RMDs) from their retirement the 2019 law, the beneficiaries must plan has increased from age 72 to 73 begin to take RMDs immediately and in 2023 and increases to 75 in 2033. withdraw the entire IRA within 10 This allows the retirement plan to years of the owner’s death and pay grow tax-deferred before a person is the required income taxes on withrequired to take RMDs. drawals. This change does not apply SECURE 2.0 reduces the penalty to benefi ciaries who are surviving for failure to take RMDs from 50 to spouses, minor children, chroni25 percent. Furthermore, if the failcally ill, disabled, or no more than ure is corrected in a timely manner, 10 years younger than the deceased as defi ned under the Act, the failure IRA owner. is further reduced to 10 percent beIn light of these new laws, you may ginning in 2022. However, it exempts the 10 percent penalty on the distri- want to review your estate plan with bution of up to $2,500.00 per year your attorney and financial advisor. ©2023 M1P • DONF-081849

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Good health is kidney health

Considerations post-surgery

continued from page 6 “A good diet and exercise, and specific to diet, a low-sodium diet. The kidney doesn’t like sodium. Smoking in the long term is not healthy for the kidneys. It can cause progressive damage. Exercise — there’s not a direct link between kidney health and exercise, but it’s part of a group of things that is heathy for all the blood vessels.”

Staying hydrated, Goldman said, also is good advice for anyone.

“I don’t recommend that people drink a certain amount, but they should stay hydrated,” he said. “The young, age 20 or 30 years old, they know ‘I’m thirsty, but I’m busy at work so I’m not going to get a drink.’ Your body has a very sensitive signal for that, which is what thirst is ... the elderly can lose sensitivity to that. Sometimes the elderly don’t drink enough because they don’t get the same signals from their body. Nothing works quite the same way.”

While Goldman does not subscribe to the strict “eight cups a day” regimen, he said the elderly or caretakers should make a conscious effort to get enough water.

Research, Goldman said, indicates that African-American and Hispanic-American patients are more predisposed to kidney disease.

Many men, starting at about 50, can begin experiencing prostate disorders, he

continued from page 8 provides a lot of services, especially for long-term services,” said Park. “So it’s important for for us as well as the patients to work together to really know the ins and outs of what their insurance can provide.”

The CFW Group in Queens operates three specialized nursing facilities in Queens. The short-term rehabilitation and subacute care units are located at Cliffside and Woodcrest, both in Flushing, and Forest View in Forest Hills.

Monica Wiedeman is the regional director of marketing and business development for the centers. She detailed the different focuses of the three centers.

Forest View has short-term capabilities that specialize in physical rehab, following a fall, for example. Cliffside offers rehab for people who need dialysis as well as pulmonary rehab or ventilator services. Woodcrest focuses on bariatric care, for patients weighing between 300 and 500 pounds.

The ultimate goal, Wiedeman said, is for patients to get strong enough to go home.

Each facility has different capabilities and in order to achieve the best results, patients should go to the one that is a good so they do not have to return to the hospital.

“We recently had a patient that came here and she was on a ventilator and we weaned her off and within three months or so, she was able to go home,” Wiedeman said. “And she said that she was given a second chance

noted, which can have the effect of blocking or backing up urine, thus damaging the kidneys. And, he said, many prostate treatments are noninvasive.

“Those with family members with a history of kidney disease or dialysis are at greater risk,” he continued. “They should be aware of that and need to be extra careful. They need to make sure they go to their doctor.”

The elderly also suffer more from arthritis, adding a wrinkle depending on the kind of pain relievers the patient uses, including Motrin, ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil and naproxen, so-called nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs that can damage the kidneys, though not commonly.

“Even patients with kidney problems can take those two or three times a week,” Goldman said. He still is not a big fan, based on those he treats when they do have reactions.

“To be fair, from my lens — to a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail — I’m seeing the ones with problems.”

He said balancing medication use is where listening to their regular doctors is vital.

Goldman also reiterated that along with regular medical checkups, early detection and generally healthy habits, there is a new generation of medications available for kidney patients, and another one showing promise that soon could be on Q the way.

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Personalized health care plans...

at life.”

Those are the moments that staff are there for, she said.

There are other considerations following the surgery to consider, too.

Studies have found that improvements in hospital discharge planning can dramatically improve the outcome for patients as they move to the next level of care, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance, a nonprofit based out of California.

Although patients, family caregivers and healthcare providers all are involved in maintaining a patient’s health after discharge, there is a lack of consistency in the quality and process of planning across the health care system, the nonprofit states.

Park says the effort to close that gap is a priority in her departments, as is keeping caregivers engaged in the process.

Patients and caregivers should get a copy of their discharge paperwork to bring to their physician.

“When patients are admitted to the hospital, oftentimes it’s now the trend that their community docs don’t come to the hospital so they’re being taken care of by a different medical team that they have never seen before ... So it’s up to us to reach out to the community doctors to inform them and update them,” she added.

Having hospital staff connect with the patient’s community doctor ensures a Q smoother handoff, Park said.

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