We’re Young, We’re Poor, & We Need a Cure. Our Lives Depend on It

By my friend and fellow young advocate, Kathy Ritchie

As I write this blog, I’m trolling Twitter. Just seeing what’s out there in the way of caregiver support, resources, news, etc, etc, etc. Turns out, there’s a lot shaking in our world. A quick scroll on my feed shows Tweets about everything from incontinence and nursing homes to tips on how to be an organized caregiver (“organized” and “caregiver:” two words that don’t really go together). Lots of information. Some of it useful; most of it scary.

(No, you don’t and won’t have enough money to grow old).

While you’ll absolutely find information about caregiving or being a caregiver, much of what’s out there is geared towards Baby Boomers… because let’s face it, Baby Boomers are a hot commodity right now.

Why? They’re rich and they’re going to get sick.

As for the under 40 set, well, we’re sort of preoccupied with paying off our student loans, buying our first home (or drowning in it, as the case may be), finding our dream job, finding Mr. or Ms. Right, making babies, having babies and/or getting divorced.

You know what else we’re doing? We’re NOT saving. Saving for the day we develop a long term illness like dementia.

That said, we’re about as undesirable as they come. And you should be pissed off about that. After all, we’re not safe from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias… there are no cures, no means of prevention. NADA.

Still not convinced? Just Google, “Alzheimer’s and 2050.”

This is the quiet before the Tsunami.

Here are a few things you should know:

• Alzheimer’s disease is just one of several types of dementias (my mom has frontotemporal dementia).
• HIV/AIDS was once considered a death sentence; today it’s a “manageable disease.” That’s because a lot of money was thrown into the research bucket and antiviral drugs were developed.
• Medicare will NOT pay for nursing home/assisted living care.
• You can’t afford to grow old. According to Genworth’s 2012 Cost of Care Survey, which I found in an online article on Next Avenue,  “one year of long-term care ranges from $39,600 for an assisted living facility to $81,030 for a private room in a nursing home.” (source: Next Avenue; Genworth)
• Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. (source: 2012 Alzheimer’s Association, Facts & Figures report)
• Have you ever changed an adult’s diaper? More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  (source: 2012 Alzheimer’s Association, Facts & Figures report)
• In 2012, the direct costs of caring for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias to American society will total an estimated $200 billion, including $140 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Unless something is done, the care costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias will soar from $200 billion to a projected $1.1 trillion (in today’s dollars) by 2050.  (source: 2012 Alzheimer’s Association, Facts & Figures report)

What can you (reasonably) do?

• Become an advocate. Make your voice heard.
• Get information: Call Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, the Alzheimer’s Associationor the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
• Call your Representative and make an appointment to tell your story (remember, politicians are technically supposed to work for you).
• Attend local town halls. 
• Join YAAA! – Young Adults for Alzheimer’s Awareness!
• Walk to End Alzheimer’s
• Write an editorial for your local newspaper.
• Connect with others via social media (Facebook, Twitter), support groups, or your local Alzheimer’s Association.
• Meet new people at the Alzheimer’s Forum in Washington DC.
• Participate in clinical trials.

Here’s the myth: Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are diseases old people get. Here’s the truth: People in their 30s, 40s and 50s are developing dementia. Here’s the other truth: This disease will touch your life one day, if it hasn’t already.

Dementia is not an old person’s disease.

www.mydementedmom.com 

VA Benefits

VA benefits are often confusing, as is the process for applying for them. Many people believe they are not entitled to benefits because they did not serve long enough in the military or they did not go overseas during a war. Both of those assumptions may be incorrect. A veteran, or surviving spouse of a veteran, may qualify for some sort of VA benefit if the veteran served 90 days of active duty and one of those days was during a declared state of war. The veteran did not have to be overseas, or even see combat, if one of those 90 days was during a declared state of war.

There are two types of VA benefits: compensation and pension. Compensation is for veterans who have a service connected disability or injury. The disability or injury is rated as a percentage of loss (10%, 20%, etc., up to 100%), and the percentage can increase after a claim is filed.

Pension is a benefit for a veteran or an un-remarried surviving spouse who is either unable to work due to disability or is age 65 or older. This benefit requires that a veteran have been on active duty for 90 days with one day during a declared state of war, and with a discharge other than dishonorable. It is a benefit based on income, assets and need. Along with pension, a veteran or surviving spouse may qualify for additional money if they are housebound or in need of aid and attendance.

First, the dates of the declared states of war are as follows:

Mexican Border Period: May 9, 1916 – April 5, 1917

World War I: April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918

World War II: December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946

Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955

Vietnam Era: August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975 (begins February 28, 1961 if in the Republic of Vietnam at that time)

Persian Gulf: August 2, 1990 – date yet to be determined

The maximum available pension resource is the maximum pension a veteran or surviving spouse can receive depending on need. The maximum monthly pension rates for VA for 2010 are:

Veterans Benefits:

$985 – Basic Pension – Veteran without a Spouse

$1,291 – Basic Pension – Veteran with a Spouse

$1,204 – Housebound Pension – Veteran without a Spouse

$1,510 – Housebound Pension – Veteran with a Spouse

$1,644 – Aid and Attendance – Veteran without a Spouse

$1,949 – Aid and Attendance – Veteran with a Spouse

Surviving Spouse Benefits:

$660 – Basic Pension – Widow/Widower

$807 – Housebound Pension – Widow/Widower

$1,056 – Aid and Attendance – Widow/Widower

The maximum available pension resource is reduced by income. Income, for VA purposes, is gross household income less any out-of-pocket medical expenses, also referred to as unreimbursed medical expenses. Examples of these expenses include Medicare premiums, other health insurance premiums, in home care, hygienic supplies, adult day care, nursing home or assisted living expenses, etc…any medical expense that is incurred and not reimbursed.

If the VA counted income is more than the maximum available pension resource, the VA will not pay any benefits to the veteran or surviving spouse. For example, a veteran without a spouse who has $1500 per month in gross household income and unreimbursed medical expenses of $500 per month would receive no benefit ($1500 – $500 = $1000, which is greater than $985).

If the VA counted income is less than the maximum available pension resource, then take the maximum available pension resource and subtract the VA counted income, and that is the pension amount. For example, a veteran who is married and needs assistance, with $1500 per month in gross household income and $3000 per month in unreimbursed medical expenses would receive $1949 per month, because his or her VA counted income is $0. However, if the unreimbursed medical expenses were $1000 per month, the veteran would get approximately $1449 per month ($1949 {maximum pension} – $500 {VA counted income, which is $1500 – $1000} = $1449).

“Housebound” is when a person is substantially confined to his/her house/immediate premises for reasons that are likely to continue through his/her lifetime. “Aid and attendance” is when a person is unable to perform their activities of daily living without the assistance of another person (i.e. dressing/undressing, transferring, bathing, etc.).

The VA will also consider a veteran’s/surviving spouse’s assets before determining pension entitlement. Assets that are not considered include the home, vehicle, personal possessions, assets in an irrevocable trust, or certain types of annuities. The general guidelines for the VA in determining pension eligibility based on assets is $80,000 for a married couple and $50,000 for a single veteran or surviving spouse. However, there is no exact resource limit. The VA will review the age of the applicant, the costs of care and the illnesses of the applicant.

Unlike ALTCS (or Medicaid), there are no look back periods related to VA benefits. The VA does not penalize the veteran or surviving spouse for transferring or gifting assets.

We have tried to give you a brief overview of compensation and pension benefits available through the VA. The VA offers many more benefits, such as reduced pharmacy costs, burial plots, nursing home benefits and others. Each benefit has its own set of eligibility criteria. There is a lot of misinformation in the public domain! Please be sure to get correct information by contacting the Arizona Department of Veteran’s Services, any other veteran’s service organization or an attorney with experience in this area.

By The Kile Law Group