Resources for Tax Time 2011

Find subsidized tax preparation assistance.

• (nationwide) – AARP provides subsidized tax preparation assistance to low and moderate income seniors.
• (nationwide) – the IRS offers subsidized tax preparation assistance to low and moderate income tax payers through its VITA program.

Find private pay tax preparation assistance

• Find a certified public accountant through the American Institute of CPA’s.

Find tax forms

• Federal tax forms
• DC tax forms
• MD tax forms
• VA tax forms
• Other states

Learn about tax deductions and credits

• AARP article entitled, “The Most Overlooked Tax Deductions.”
• IRS web page on the Earned Income Tax Credit for certain low and moderate income individuals younger than age 65.
• Alzheimer’s Association web article on Alzheimer’s related tax deductions.
• Learn about state home-owner and renters’ tax credits elsewhere on this blog.

DC Metro Congregate Meal Sites

Federally and state funded congregate meal sites offer on-site hot lunches to seniors for little or no cost.  Many also offer recreation programs.

Find meal sites in DC

• Iona’s Active Wellness Program at St. Albans provides free hot lunches to DC seniors, age 60 and older.  Morning and afternoon activities include computer classes, fitness, and movies.  For more information, see our website or call 202-895-9448.
• Find other congregate meal sites in DC.

Find meal sites in MD

• Find meal sites in Montgomery County.
• Find meal sites in Prince George’s County.

Find meal sites in VA

• Find meal sites in Alexandria.
• Find meal sites in Arlington County.
• Find meal sites in Fairfax County.

Advanced Directives

Advanced directives, which include living wills and powers-of-attorney, allow individuals to state in advanced how they wish to be treated at the end of their lives.  Advanced directives also can allow individuals to choose, in advanced, who will help them with financial or healthcare decision-making if they are no longer able to do so.

Learn more about Advanced Directives

• This guide, from the United Health Fund, describes healthcare powers-of-attorney, living wills, and Do Not Resuscitate Orders.  The guide is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.
• This articled describes financial powers-of-attorney, including durable, general, and limited.

Find Healthcare Powers-of-Attorney (POA) Forms

• Free healthcare POA forms, recognized in all 50 states and DC, are available online from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
• The Five Wishes form is recognized in 42 states and DC.  The form is available in multiple languages for a modest fee.

Find an attorney to help with Financial POA

Find a subsidized attorney

• (DC Metro) – Find subsidized legal assistance in the DC metro area from Iona’s free senior Resource Guide.  Legal resources start on page 88.  Request a free copy of Iona’s Resource Guide by phoning 202-895-9448 or email Info@Iona.org.
• (national) – Find subsidized legal assistance from the American Bar Association website.

Find a private pay attorney

• (national) – Search for private pay elderlaw attorneys from the National Academy of Elderlaw Attorneys.

Arthritis

Information about Arthritis

• Free federal National Institute on Aging publication entitled, “Age Page: Arthritis Advice.”   The 6-page publication (available in English and Spanish) includes general information on arthritis types, symptoms, and treatment.

Information about Medications

• Free federal AHRQ consumer guide to osteoarthritis medications includes general information on over-the-counter remedies, prescriptions, and medication risks.
• Free federal AHRQ consumer guide to rheumatoid arthritis medications includes general information on rheumatoid arthritis, oral medications, injections, and medication risks.

Information about Non-Medication Treatments

• Arthritis Foundation web page entitled, “Managing Your Pain,” includes links to information on heat and cold therapy, massage, bio-feedback, acupuncture, and other treatments.
• Arthritis Foundation web page entitled, “Preventing Pain,” includes links to information on how exercise, movement, and sleep can help with pain.
• Federal CDC guidelines for arthritis exercises.

Discharge Planning: Patient Guides

Discharge planning occurs whenever an admitted patient leaves a hospital or skilled nursing facility.  When a patient is discharged home, his/her discharge plan may include follow-up steps the patient needs to take, referrals to in-home care providers or skilled care, prescriptions, and other directives.

Learn about the discharge process

• United Hospital Fund publication, “Hospital to Home,” describes the discharge and appeal process, and includes questions for the caregiver to consider.  The guide is available in multiple languages.
• United Hospital Fund publication, “, “Rehab to Home,” covers discharge planning from a skilled nursing rehab facility.

Find a discharge planning checklist

• This Medicare checklist provides action steps patients and their families can take to prepare for discharge.  The publication also describes Medicare’s appeal process.
• United Hospital Fund publication, “Going Home: What You Need to Know,” includes questions patients and their families may consider when preparing for discharge.  The publication is available in multiple languages.

Follow-up after discharge

• This guide from the federal AHRQ describes information patients may wish to gather to prepare for follow-up medical appointments after discharge from a hospital or rehab facility.
  

HIPAA Guides

Among other things, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects patient rights by restricting  to whom medical professionals can share patient health records.  Learn more about HIPAA from the resources below.  Note: Your employer may have privacy rules that surpass HIPAA requirements.

Consumer Guides

1. HIPAA Overview – This 3 page federal DHHS document describes when medical professionals can and cannot share patient health records with friends and family.  the document also explains how the law stands on written permission and proof of relationship.
2. HIPAA and family caregivers – This 3 page guide, from the United Health Fund, describes HIPAA, explains why it matters to caregivers, and provides advice on what caregivers can do if they have difficulty accessing information about a family member’s health.  The guide also is available in Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.

Clinician Guides

1. HIPAA Overview – This 5 page federal DHHS document describes when medical professionals can and cannot share patient health records with friends and family.  The document also explains how the law stands on written permission and proof of relationship.
2. HIPAA Overview – This 1 page United Health Fund document describes in brief when medical professionals can and cannot share patient health records.  The document covers how the law defines “family.”

For more information: See these two federal DHHS websites: 1 and 2.

Retirement Planning Guides: Social Security and Health Insurance

1. 2 page AARP consumer guide entitled, “Money Matters: Timing Your Retirement,” includes advice on when to draw from Social Security
2. 28 page Metlife Mature Market Institute consumer guide entitled, “Retirement Planning: Health Care Considerations.”  The guide includes information on Medicare and other health insurance options

Grief Support Groups, DC Metro Area

Many organizations, in the DC metro area, offer grief support groups.  A few are listed below.

District of Columbia

• Sibley Hospital and Iona’s Bereavement Support Group for Widows and Widowers.
• The DC Centers Bereavement Support Group for the LGBT community.
• Capital Hospice grief support groups.
• The William Wendt Center offers grief support groups, counseling, and other resources.

Maryland

• Montgomery Hospice offers grief support groups and workshops.

Virginia

• Capital Hospice grief support groups.

Medicare Open Enrollment 2010 Guide

From 11/15/10 through 12/31/10, Medicare beneficiaries may make changes to their health and medication converage plans.

Understanding Medicare: Need a refresher on Medicare?  These resources may help.

1. Learn about Medicare Parts A and B  here and here.
2. Learn about Medicare Part D here and here.
3. Learn about Medicare Part C (Advantage Plans) here and here.
4. Learn about Medigap plans here.
5. Learn about what health benefits are new to Medicare starting 2011.

Understanding Assistance for Low-Income Beneficiaries

1. Learn about Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, etc.).
2. Learn about the Low Income Subsidy–extra help for Part D.

Understanding Open Enrollment

1. Read an explanation of the process here.

Understanding How to Compare Plans: During open enrollment, benefiaries may choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage for their health plan, and among many Medicare Part D plans for their prescription coverage.  These federal resources may help.

1. Learn how to use Medicare’s online comparison tool via this video.
2. Use Medicare’s online comparison tool here.

Understanding How to Change Plans or Enroll in a New Plan: During open enrollment, beneficiaries may change health or Part D plans by calling Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.   Beneficiaries may change Part D plans by calling Medicare or online at www.Medicare.gov.  For more detailed information, see the resources below.

1. Learn here how to change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan.
2. Learn here how to change from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.
3. Learn here how to change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
4. Learn here how to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan.

Medicare Counseling: These organizations provide free Medicare counseling to benefiaries and/or professionals.

1. The Medicare Rights Center provides free Medicare counseling to professionals (1-800-333-4114 or professional@medicarerights.org) and to consumers (1-800-333-4114).  Spanish and English spoken.
2. Every state has at least one State Health Insurance Counseling Program (SHIP).  To find state SHIPS, visit this website.

Subsidized senior housing search sites

1. (DC, MD, VA) Search for subsidized and private pay senior housing throughout the midatlantic at Retirement Living’s website.
2. (all states) Search for federally (HUD) subsidized senior housing.
3. (all states) Search for federally (HUD) subsidized public housing.