TheProfessional - Guardian Association of Pinellas

TheProfessional
MAY 2014
Guardian
A publication by the Guardian Association of Pinellas County for the purpose of promoting advocacy & education.
Calendar
& Coming
Events
MAY 20, 5:45 P.M.
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
“Advocating for the Mentally Ill”
JOHNNY LIMBAUGH
Consumer - Activist
NAMI Pinellas County, Florida, Inc.
1 CEU available
Hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m., Cypress Palms
MAY 20, 3:30 P.M.
GAPC BOARD MEETING
REGAL PALMS
VERANDAH ROOM
MAY 30, 9 A.M.
MAY SPEAKER
ADVOCATING
FOR THE MENTALLY ILL
Johnny Limbaugh
Johnny Limbaugh is an Aconsumer-activist@
for persons with mental illness. Thirty five patrol
officers spontaneously applauded his
Aconsumer Perspective@ presentation in
March 1999 during Florida's first CIT (Crisis
Intervention Team) event. Since that memorable
day Johnny has continued as a presenter for over
1,100 officers from 15 jurisdictions in five counties.
He speaks of his life-long battle with mental Johnny Limbaugh
illness, specifically, the terror experienced during his numerous
involuntary examinations when officers would not talk to him or tell
where they were taking him.
Johnny is a NAMI nationally trained Peer-to-Peer mentor and NAMI
(National Alliance on Mental Illness) Smarts instructor. He was selected as the Consumer Council Representative on NAMI Florida's Board
of Trustees in the early 1990's and served for five years as Director of
two consumer-run drop-in-centers. He currently serves on the NAMI
Pinellas Board of Directors.
GAPC NETWORKING BREAKFAST
INDIAN OAKS MANOR
11355 - 131st Street No., Largo
Speakers: Bill Sanders
& Diane Zuckerman
He is recipient of the National CIT Consumer of the Year (2006) and
was selected as the NAMI End the Mystery Consumer of the Year in
2006.
RSVP to Association Website:
www.guardianassociation.org
As the Life Enrichment Director’s Assistant at Cypress Palms Senior
Living, Johnny has been awarded “Employee of the Month” three
times. He is loved by all his residents who he considers family.
Regular Monthly Meeting
the third Tuesday of each month
at 5:30 p.m. at Cypress Palms
400 Lake Avenue NE, Largo
ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS
P.O. Box 1826
Pinellas Park, FL 33780
Info@guardianassociation.org
www.guardianassociation.org
Did you know...
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.
The 2014 theme of “Mind Your Health”
is a reminder of the importance
of mental health to overall health and wellness.
2014 Board of Directors
Officers
FROM THE DESK OF
President ................................................Sue Schramek
advocaretrustinc@verizon.net
791-3972
THE PRESIDENT
Vice President ...................................LynnMarie Boltze
lynnmarieguardian@gmail.com
813-625-8734
Sue Schramek
Secretary...............................................Rebecca Weitzel
info@SeasonsALF.com
282-5303
Treasurer .....................................................Ken Shoop
637-7667
pgkenshoop@yahoo.com
Board Members
Mel Coppola
813-505-5251
mel.coppola1@gmail.com
Tina Costa
813-334-3472
tcosta@arcadiahomecare.com
Trisha Randall
553-5100
trandall@seniorlivingonline.com
Ron Viele
533-5100
proguardian.tb@gmail.com
Cynthia Van Vliet
253-3735
cynthiavanvliet@tampabay.rr.com
Bruce Wallace
804-8933
pinellasguardian@yahoo.com.com
Laverne Welch
248-7068
mkt.crc.lar@SMAcommunity.net
Past President
Irene Rausch
784-4200
irausch@tampabay.rr.com
Committees
Committees
Administration Committee
Sue Schramek, Chair
Budget & Finance Committee
Ken Shoop, Chair
By-Laws Committee
Ron Viele, Chair
Education & Program Committee
Laverne Welch, Chair
Conference Committee
Cynthia Van Vliet, Co-Chair
Tina Costa, Co-Chair
Membership/Public Relations Committee
Trisha Randall, Chair
Newsletter Editor & Breakfast Facilities Coordinator
Phyllis Johnson
596-8919 or pjohns3@tampabay.rr.com
THOUGHTS FROM THE PRESIDENT...
I am happy to inform you that Senate HB 1157 and its
companion bill SB 412 have not been heard by their respective
committees and will not be voted on this session which ends
May 2. This is something we will continue to monitor in
upcoming sessions but for now there will be no changes in the
law governing how professional guardians are paid.
The Board met with Florida State Guardian Association
(FSGA) President Scott Greenberg at our April meeting. While
the Board has not had a formal discussion on this issue, I would
like to know how our members feel.
FSGA is very interested in our Association becoming a chapter
of their organization. They feel FSGA will bring a more unified,
judicial and legislative lobbying effort on issues which affect
guardians as well as more educational opportunities. There would
be an increase in dues as they charge $100 per membership
which would be in addition to the GAPC membership fee.
Many of our members have been around more years than I
have, so we need to hear from you. If you have comments
regarding joining this group please email me at the address
below. We will also take some time to hear your comments on
the subject our next general meeting May 20th.
We as a Board are committed to continuing the high quality
of education and networking opportunities for our members.
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
SUE
advocaretrustinc@verizon.net
The Guardian Association of Pinellas County, Inc. is a non profit corporation,
formed in 1977 as a voluntary group. It is a professional association which
allows the receiving of tax deductible contribution of goods and services. The
association is governed by an elected Board of Directors and meetings are open
to all members. The purpose of the association is primarily that of education,
thus promoting a better quality of service for elders by developing and improv-
Association email
info@guardianassociation.org
2
ing the capabilities of guardians and their relationship with other entities within
the community.
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
3
MAKING YOUR MONEY LAST
With more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Bill Sanders is
dedicated to helping his clients meet their financial goals. He concentrates on assisting
individuals and businesses in the areas of investment planning and money management.
Prior to establishing Palma Ceia Wealth Management in July of 2013, Bill served as
Senior Vice President-Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. He earned a Bachelor
of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Tampa. In addition, He received both his
Bill Sanders, CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™(CFP®) and Chartered Retirement Plans
Specialist(CRPS®) certificates from the College for Financial Planning and a Certified Divorce Financial
Analyst™ (CDFA) designation from The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts. He was listed in the
Consumers' Research Council of America's Guide to America's Best Financial Planners in Retirement &
Financial Planning based on criteria that included client assets under management, ethical standards and
outstanding client service.
Bill is a member of Kiwanis Club of Tampa, South Tampa Chamber, Greater Tampa Chamber; The
Economic Club of Tampa and a current Board member of Impact Tampa Bay, Alumni of Lifework Leadership
and also serves on the board of My Choice Counts, a non-profit 501(c)3 with the mission of empowering and
educating this generation to make healthy choices for today and tomorrow.
Bill is President of Palma Ceia Wealth Management of Wells Fargo Advisors in Tampa. He can be reached
at (813) 448-1122.
FINANCIAL CRITERIA FOR THE
INSTITUTIONAL CARE PROGRAM (ICP)
Diane Zuckerman has her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from University
of South Florida and her law degree from the University of Florida. She spent most of
her legal career defending doctors, nurses and long-term care facilities as a partner
in a law firm. In 2008, she opened her own practice and now does guardianship,
probate, trust and probate litigation, estate planning and elder law. Diane is certified
to practice in the middle district of Florida. She is a member of Tampa Kiwanis and Diane Zuckerman, Esq.
the Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council.
Come join us May 30th at 9:00 a.m., Indian Oaks Manor, 11355 - 131st Street North, Largo. Don’t miss
this great networking opportunity, filled with lively discussion and a great breakfast.
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F INS CTOR G
EN
NO
IO
IN G
T H E P U B LIC
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Division of Inspector General
5
Office of Ken Burke
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
For Pinellas County, Florida
A TWO-WEEK INTENSIVE INVESTIGATIVE TRAINING!
Recently, the Division of Inspector General (IG) sent three IG employees to attend the
“Essentials of Inspector General Investigations” training course at the Federal Law Enforcement
Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia. The training, which was two weeks, was conducted by the
Inspector General Criminal Investigator Academy.
The
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
training consisted of daily lectures from instructors on topics such as:
Criminal, Civil and Administrative Remedies
Common Fraud Schemes
Employee Misconduct Investigations
Interviewing Techniques
Investigative Writing
Sworn Statements
Administrative Organization Hearings
In addition, the training consisted of a case study with an informant in a mock investigation
occurring at a local fictitious company. The class was broken up into 18 teams of two; each
person was assigned alternating primary and secondary roles for the interview sessions. The case
study provided a great deal of interviewing skill techniques and investigative writing skills.
It was very common during the two weeks there, to hear explosions, why you ask? FLETC is a
1,600-acre federal law enforcement training facility, which has demolition ranges used for explosives
training, multiple firearms ranges, a physical techniques facility complete with an obstacle course,
a computer forensics laboratory, and other laboratories for fingerprinting and identifying narcotics.
FLETC serves as an interagency law enforcement training organization for 91 different federal
agencies or Partner Organizations many being state, local, territorial and international law enforcement
agencies.
The Division of IG, Public Integrity Unit, Investigative Services, conducts investigations of
fraud, waste, and abuse on behalf of the citizens and employees of Pinellas County. The Public
Integrity Unit, Guardianship Services, investigates fraud, waste, and abuse of guardianships.
The training was grueling! After all the classes and mock investigation, all three IG employees
then had to take an exam. All three IG employees passed (Anne DiNatale, Greg McCullough, and
Mary Beth Makrianes) and graduated from the Inspector General Criminal Investigator Academy.
Please note: If there is a topic you would like discussed in any of our upcoming monthly
newsletter articles, please email it to aDiNatale@plinellascounty.org.
HOW TO CONTACT US:
If we can be of assistance, please call:
Division of Inspector General, PIU ............... 464-8371
Division of Inspector General, Fax .................. 464-8386
Probate Court Records ................................ 464-3321
Guardianship Hotline ............................... 453-FRAUD (453-7283)
6
April 15th Membership Meeting
Regal Palms, Largo
With a few quips and some crowd sourcing to get feedback, Russell Winer delivered relevant information as the
speaker at the April regular Guardian meeting. Among
topics he tackled were liability issues associated with
handling intangible as well as tangible assets,liability
issues associated with IRS and State Tax reporting and
those associated with a ward's actions. "The good news
is if you are a guardian you are not liable for your ward's
actions. Who would want to sue a guardian? It's more
likely the facility housing the ward would bear the brunt,"
Regarding Court dealings,"a Court approval is not a get
out of jail free card," he said. With accounting issues he
recommended hiring a CPA not a bookkeeper. He
stressed the importance of documentation."If you cant
find the document you are looking for that means you
don't have it."
7
Aging in America: What You NEED TO KNOW
About Navigating our Healthcare System
by Karyn Rizzo
Karyn Rizzo, owner of ELITE Marketing & Consulting has over
20 years in the healthcare industry.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, she has lived in Florida for over 20
years.
Her work in Physician Office management and subsequently in
the senior healthcare Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing
Centers has given her a unique outlook on the entirety of the
industry.
She has helped families connect to local resources and receive
knowledge and assistance for many years and as a patient advocate she has
worked diligently to protect seniors and their families from those who would take
advantage for their own personal gain.
Following is a chapter from her recent book.
Chapter 10 - HOW TO PREVENT NEGLECT OR EXPLOITATION
WAYS TO PROTECT A SENIOR FROM NEGLECT & EXPLOITATION
According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, Bureau of Justice, there were over 5 million
reported cases of abuse in 2010. That means that 9.5% of the senior population reported some
sort of neglect or abuse in that year. There is no way to know how many UNREPORTED cases
occurred.
Of the reported cases of elder abuse 58.5% were for neglect, followed by 12.3% for financial
exploitation.
Interestingly, 67.3% were females with the average age being 77.9 years old.
Fast facts:
• The average exploitation per reported case is $128,288.
• For those with mental illness, that amount climbs to $143,068. If Medicare costs are
included, that amount climbs to $171.600.
• The closer the exploiter is to the senior, the greater the average amount will be exploited.
• The average loss per case when an adult child is the perpetrator is $157,326.
• The average loss per case when a family member is the exploiter is $125,193
(a 47 percent increase more than the average exploitation).
...continued
8
• The average loss per case when a grandchild is the perpetrator is $45,496.
• The average loss per case when a paid caregiver is the perpetrator is $18,350.
• The average loss per case when the perpetrator has some sort of addition issues
(alcohol, gambling) was $25,688.
* The average loss per case when a stranger is the perpetrator is $30,219.
METHODS OF EXPLOITATION INCLUDE BOTH FINANCES
AND PROPERTY
These methods include scams, withdrawals from bank account(s),
cash, check (forgery), credit card (open debit without knowledge,
identity theft, or borrow credit or debit cards), loans, personal
property, house (stolen through transferring the property), car theft
or borrowing, rent (living off senior despite agreement), Medicaid
(exploited seniors are forced to be dependent on medicaid).
To prevent financial exploitation, many banks offer seniors a third
party oversight on any “shared” accounts, requiring the bank’s
approval on purchases. Many elder law attorneys also help in a
third party role to oversee any real estate, or asset transfers. Having
a trained and trusted professional as a third party overseeing any
financial decisions is the best way to guard against exploitation, regardless of how trusted a
Durable Power of Attorney may be.
Too many seniors are taken advantage of by people they know and trust. How does this happen?
Most seniors try to maintain their independence for as long as they can, many times much longer
than is safe to do so. They may have family members or a support system that takes advantage of
them financially. Some seniors have a family member that has recently lost a job, or is going
through financial difficulties and sees caring for an aging relative as a meal ticket.
On a weekly and daily basis we witness sons, daughters, and neighbors that can’t afford to live
on their own move in with an aging relative to help out, only to later take advantage. Many times a
senior may need more care than the caregiver can offer which may block proper help.
Many state aid long term care programs, such as Medicaid in a Nursing Home or Assisted Living
Facility, have a requirement that to qualify for the benefit, the state will pay all healthcare costs for
the senior, however, any monthly income they receive must be turned over to the center.
When an adult child lives with an aging relative, some have forgotten how to live within their own
financial means. The dependence on that senior’s income and/or assets develops over many years
and can become difficult to sever when the senior’s medical needs change. When this transition has to happen, they may panic, and in MANY CASES insist they can take care of their aging
relative although they are physically not able to. This is usually evidenced by repeat trips to local
hospitals, and physician visits.
...continued
9
Seniors with mental illnesses are especially at risk. Recently, a confused and homeless senior was
Baker acted into a hospital and then sent to a skilled nursing center for physical therapy. All she
had as an emergency contact was a friend / former neighbor.
For those that may be shaking their head, or thinking, that will never happen to me or my loved
one, consider this. Many have been affected by our uncertain economy, and in many cases, an
adult child loses their job and in a desperate state insist they can take care of Mom and Dad to get
their monthly social security or pension.
In one case, a daughter of a nursing home resident lost her job, and although her mother had been
living in the nursing center for many years insisted that she could take care of her mother at home.
The nursing staff that had been caring for her mother was alarmed, and her physician adamantly
objected; however, the daughter insisted she could take care of Mom at home. I asked the daughter, “You do realize that if she dies, you will not be able to live off of her income any longer.” She
of course thought I was being dramatic but her mother was dead within 4 weeks.
To witness a senior go through their final moments not receiving the care they need is horrific .In
one case the son of a 92 year old woman learned to “work the system” efficiently. As the woman
was declining at home with her son, he would bring Mom to a hospital, subsequently get some
rehab for her at a nursing center under her medicare (100 days) and still keep her monthly income.
He would also get a break from caring for her. He would bring her home on the 101st day and
start the whole process over with a different hospital in another area. However, as her condition
worsened, he became increasingly desperate, and ultimately the state authorities had to remove his
involvement in her care.
One remarkable 78 year old woman, who was very hard of
hearing, had been living with her daughter for many years.
However, as Mom’s care became more demanding, the daughter
was getting more and more afraid, insisting that she not lose
her mother’s $1400 monthly income. She had developed a
system though. She would put Mom in 2 diapers in the morning
when she went to work, leave her some snacks during the day,
and when she returned home 8 - 10 hours later, put Mom in
another 2 diapers to last the night. Mom developed wounds
and when the state authorities got involved, this very deaf
woman wrote on a piece of paper “I don’t want to live with my
daughter!”
HIRING HOME CARE HELP
Many have made the mistake of hiring local help in the home only to find that the person had taken
full advantage of their aging relative.
It costs more per hour to use a licensed private duty home care company, however, the staff are
usually bonded and insured and have a positive background check.
...continued
10
Be very leery of private duty companies that have unfavorable
state surveys, and / or multiple finds assessed. Since the
more reputable companies do insist on clean background
checks, the chance is better that their staff will be more professional.
Statistics show that seniors living in Assisted Living centers live
3-5 years longer. This is due to the nutrition, socialization and
nursing assistance. A sign of possible financial exploitation
is when a caregiver for a senior is not open to this living
alternative when it is required, especially if recommended by
a physician.
This outlines the importance of trusting medical and financial decisions to the most responsible
persons in a support system. They need to be financially independent themselves. Many seniors
involve an attorney and / or bank officer as a third party to monitor both their finances and
healthcare choices.
It’s important for families to have a realistic aging plan. Chaos and stress hit the highest levels when
families are suddenly bounced around our healthcare maze, searcing for answers and struggling to
know where to go and what to do next. Hospitals have strict guidelines on how long someone can
stay, based on the insurance company involved, and will sometimes give families less than a day to
decide on a rehab center, assisted living or home care support choice.
if you suspect that a senior is being neglected or exploited, there are signs that could mean they are
vulnerable at this time or in some kind of a neglectful living situation. Potential signs include
frequent hospital stays, social isolation, bereavement, become very suspicious, changes in ability to
perform activities of daily living, have an overly protective caregiver, seem fearful or distressed,
financial responsible for Adult Child or Spouse, depression or mental illness.
A family suspicious of neglect or abuse for an aging relative can also petition a judge to appoint a
Professional Guardian who report their findings to the court. They can also be useful to mediate a
situation that arises if differing family members can’t decide on the right care for their relative.
For some families that are disputing over the decision-making of an aging parent (usually a wealthy
aging parent), having a Professional Guardian involved can be a good alternative to family bickering.
All parties would still receive an accounting of any funds used in the care of their relative and all
involved can still visit and be involved, however, there would at least be one neutral individual, the
Professional Guardian, to make the final decision in question.
Most states mandate that if you see or suspect neglect or abuse of the elderly report it to the
authorities at once. They take the alert anonymously, so the investigators make sure to protect the
one reporting it.
11
...continued
If you suspect abuse of any
human being, please contact
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
at
1-800-252-5400
or
www.apsnetwork.org or your
local police department which
can then connect you to the correct organization. Below are
some of the websites that offer
additional ways to protect an
elder from neglect or exploitation.
• www.ncea.aoa.gov –
National Center on Elder Abuse
• www.aoa.gov or 800677-1117 – Administration
for Community Living
• www.211.org – United
Way
• www.seniors.gov or 800333-4636 – U.S. Government
• www.cmsa.org or 800216-2672 – Case
Management Society of
America
• www.caremanager.org –
National Association of
Professional Geriatric
Managers
• www.caregiver.org or
800-445-8106 – Family
Caregiver Alliance
• www.longtermcare.gov –
U.S. Department of Health &
Human Services
12
Announcements
❖ Senior Care Counselor, Diane McGauley, has been at Arbor Terrace, Largo for
7 1/2 years. She has recently accepted the SCC position at the new Arbor Terrace
community in Citrus Park. She will be greatly missed.
❖ If your ward has had the power disconnected or had delinquent notices, he/she
may be able to receive help through the Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly
Program (EHEAP). Vouchers for fans, heaters, blankets, etc. may also be available. For more information, call (727) 823-4101, Ext. 10.
❖ “Great Strides Walking Group” meets every Monday - Friday at 9 a.m., Paradise Nutrition,
Indian Shores. Contact Dave at (727) 424-3458.
❖ Save the Date - November 21, 2014.
The New Age of Caregiving Symposium - “The Many Faces of Caregiving”. Created by Kim Linder,
Host of the Caregiver Hour Radio Show. For more information, contact Kim Linder at kim@thecaregiverhour.com.
❖ Free two week trial of structured alkalized antioxidant water, call Lori at (727) 560-8861 or
Marcus (941) 720-4422.
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Deadline for ads with payment is the 25th of
each month. Same deadline for editorial copy. A
complimentary copy of each issue is sent to our
advertisers.
13
Computer Corner
by Bruce Wallace
Professional Guardian
“The Thinker”
Some guardians only have a
single computer and a single
printer. But, when the
guardian purchases a notebook computer or another
computer and discovers that
they need to print a document from the notebook
or laptop computer, a problem arises. How do I
share a device like a printer with other PC’s? A
simple answer: a print server.
According to Wikipedia, a print server, or printer
server, is a device that connects printers to
client computers over a network. It accepts
print jobs from the computers and sends the
jobs to the appropriate printers, queuing the
jobs locally to accommodate the fact that work
may arrive more quickly than the printer can
actually handle it. Ancillary functions include
the ability to inspect the queue of jobs to be
processed, the ability to reorder or delete waiting
print jobs, or the ability to do various kinds of
accounting which may involve reading data
generated by the printer(s).
Prior to purchasing a wireless inkjet printer,
that problem existed in my own office. The
solution of course was to purchase a small
device that is USB-compatible. The printer I
chose to share at the time was a Brother all-inone printer. By installing the accompanying software on each computer I had, I was able to
print from the selected PC to my Brother printer.
The device is plugged into your network router
and the other USB cable is plugged into the
printer of choice. A print server can be
purchased at your local Best Buy or Tiger
Direct store locally or you can find them on
Amazon.com.
Now, many inkjet printers are “wireless”. Most
laptop or notebook computers generally have
“wireless” capabilities. Simply install the software
on your computer of choice and look, ‘no wires,
MA!”
If you need assistance, I can help. If you have
any questions about this article, please call
Bruce @ 727-585-0783 or 727-804-8933.
The Guardianship
Association
of Pinellas County, Inc.
does not endorse or
recommend any products or
services. The views and
opinions expressed in
articles published in the
e-Newsletter do not
necessarily state or reflect
those of the Association
or its members.
14
MAY COMMUNITY CALENDAR
To advertise your event on this calendar,
submit information to Phyllis Johnson at pjohns3@tampabay.rr.com by 5/22
Bayfront Medical Ctr.
701 6th St. S.
St. Petersburg
Attendance Limited
RSVP (727) 776-2266
or ethics@email.com
North County
Networking
Freedom Inn / Countryside
3260 N McMullen Booth Rd
Clearwater
RSVP Terri Bolander
(727) 768-2928
9:00
AM
Brunch ‘n Learn
The Fountains at Boca Ciega
Bay, 1255 Pasadena Ave.,
St. Petersburg
RSVP Jennifer Naster
(727) 735-7315
5/14
Wed.
9:30
AM
Motivational
Marketing Breakfast
Grand Villa - Largo
750 Starkey Road
Largo
RSVP Laverne
(727) 593-0164
5/14
Wed.
2:00
PM
Heart Disease & Diet
Dr. Vakesh Ratani
Regency Oaks
2720 Regency Oaks Blvd.
Clearwater
RSVP
(727) 252-0540
5/14
Wed.
5:00
PM
Wine Down Wednesday
Arbor Terrace
333 16th Avenue S.E.
Largo
RSVP Diane / Jackie
(727) 588-0020
5/15
Thurs.
10:00
AM
Referral Networking
Group
Arbor Terrace
333 16th Avenue S.E.
Largo
RSVP Diane / Jackie
(727) 588-0020
5/20
Tues.
3:30
PM
Guardian Association
Board Meeting
5/20
Tues.
5:30
PM
Guardian Association
Regular Meeting
Cypress Palms
400 Lake Avenue
Largo
5/21
Wed.
4:30
PM
No Name
Marketing Group
Location TBA
RSVP Terri
(727) 403-0017
5/22
Thurs.
10:30
AM
GAPC
Legislative Committee
Meeting
Office of
Atty. Christopher Young
2255 5th Ave. N., St. Pete
All are welcome
Hawaiian Luau
Grand Villa - St. Petersburg
3600 34th Street South
St. Petersburg
RSVP by 5/19
(727) 219-7015
5/5
Mon.
8:00
AM Noon
FSGA Spring Session on
Medical Ethic / Medicare
5/6
Tues.
8:30
AM
5/7
Wed.
5/22
4:00 Thurs. 6:00 PM
(3 CEU’s for Guardians)
northcounty2008@aol.com
Regal Palms, Verandah Rm.
RSVP to website:
300 Lake Avenue
www.guardianassociation.org
Largo
RSVP to website:
www.guardianassociation.org
15
MAY COMMUNITY CALENDAR
To advertise your event on this calendar,
submit information to Phyllis Johnson at pjohns3@tampabay.rr.com by 5/22
5/22
Thurs.
4:00 6:00 PM
Professional Women in
Healthcare Anniversary
Party (no reg. mtgs this month)
Westminster Palms
830 North Shore Dr. NE
St. Petersburg
RSVP Susan
(727) 484-0563
5/28
Wed.
8:30
AM
Monthly Networking
Breakfast
Arden Courts
9300 Antilles Dr.
Seminole
RSVP to Bernadette
(727) 517-7800
5/30
Fri.
9:00
AM
Guardian Association
Monthly Breakfast
Indian Oaks Manor
11355 - 131st Street
Largo
6/3
Tues.
8:30
AM
North County
Networking
Freedom Inn / Countryside
3260 N McMullen Booth Rd
Clearwater
6/4
Weds.
9:00
AM
Brunch ‘n Learn
The Fountains at Boca Ciega
Bay, 1255 Pasadena Ave.,
St. Petersburg
RSVP to website:
www.guardianassociation.org
RSVP Terri Bolander
(727) 768-2928
northcounty2008@aol.com
RSVP Jennifer Naster
(727) 735-7315
16
"AS
CONNECTED
GUARDIAN... ARE YOU PREPARED TO HANDLE ISSUES
TO MEDICAL DECISIONS MADE ON INCAPACITATED PATIENTS?"
A
Professional Guardians should be referred to as patient advocates because the
bulk of our duties involves the healthcare of our patients (wards). The courts
have declared the patient incompetent and now all rights for both financial and
healthcare decisions are transferred to the guardian.
The court and attorney place heavy emphasis on the finances of the patient
requiring annual accounting, but I will argue that what is most important is how,
when, why and where our patients receive healthcare and end of-life issues that
are absent in the current plan of care documents the Sixth Circuit requires
guardians to file.
Fernando Guttierrez
Because health takes precedence over finances (you can t buy good health),
most guardians lack medical training and therefore rely heavily on the diagnosis and prognosis of the attending physician. If true fiduciary relationships exist, why does the annual care plan not require a bioethics hospital chaplain, or another physician to concur, especially when the patient is near death?
Use and knowledge of a patient predictor to help make medical decisions for incapacitated patients is
training patient advocates (guardians) should pursue if they want to distinguish themselves from the pack.
Future training sessions will deal with issues such as care of older adults with multi-morbidities; patient
autonomy impact in a bioethics consult; spiritual assessment models; principle of double effect; respiratory
therapy procedures for intubation & extubation; and the role of the healthcare surrogate.
Fernando Gutierrez is certified in healthcare ethics and a registered guardian. For more information visit
www.ethics4healthcare.com
The Palms of Largo is an Independent, Assisted & Memory Care Campus!
17
April Networking Breakfast
April 25th at
ARBOR TERRACE
The brain makes new pathways
contingent on one staying active
and engaged at any age. That's
the message Katherine Campbell
conveyed at the April breakfast at
Arbor Terrace. An Agelss Grace
Certified Trainer and Educator,
Katherine uses chair exercises
with music to get seniors' joints
jumping. She demonstrated her
technique leading everyone at the
breakfast into an energetic session
of swinging arms and legs.
18
Guardian Association
Membership Request
of Pinellas County, Inc.
Membership Year: August 1 through July 31
Membership Application:
New
Renewal
Guardian $45.00 (must be a Guardian or taken the State Guardian Competency Exam) SPGO#
Affiliate $60.00 (Non-guardian, Individual)
Corporate $75.00 (company is owner of the membership, includes two members, transferable between employees)
Date:
Category for listing on GAPC website (Please check appropriate boxes and print legibly)
Professional Guardian
Assisted Living Facility
Attorney
Care Manager
Other
Family Guardian
Nursing / Rehab Facility
Paralegal / Legal Assistant
Finance / Banking
Health Care Agency
Power of Attorney (POA)
Government / Court Personnel
Name
Business Name/Organization
Address
City
State
County
Home Phone
Email Address
Zip
Fax
Website Address
Please make check payable to Guardian Association. Mail to GAPC c/o Ken Shoop, Treasurer, 2803 Gulf to Bay Blvd., #166, Clearwater, FL 33759
To apply or renew membership online, please visit our website at www.guardianassociation.org
Pay Pal Accepted. For more information contact: 727-637-7667