by: Jill Gilbert

Millions of low-income seniors struggle financially on a daily basis, trying to make ends meet. Coupled with the exorbitant cost of prescriptions, many other necessities, like nourishing food and medical supplies, fall to the wayside. Fortunately, low-income seniors reliant on their medications have recourse – the majority of pharmaceutical companies offer ‘discount medication’ programs and/or prescription assistance services, provided, of course, that these seniors can prove financial hardship. Though many low-income seniors take advantage of these incredible discount offers, many more are unaware that these prescription assistance programs exist. For eligibility information, seniors should contact the manufacturer directly; however, basic criteria for each savings program can also be found below.

AstraZeneca: For more than 30 years, AstraZeneca has offered a prescription assistance program, and in 2008 alone, AstraZeneca helped over 440,000 low-income seniors and patients fill 2.7 million prescriptions, which amounted to a savings of $600 million (1). To qualify for the AZ and Me Prescription Savings program, individuals must make $30,000 or less or a family of four must make less than $60,000. Eligibility requirements also stipulate that applicants must have spent or currently be spending 3% or more of their annual income on prescriptions. AstraZeneca offers its prescription assistance program to people without insurance, people with Medicare Part D, and healthcare facilities.

AstraZeneca medicines include CRESTOR, NEXIUM, PRILOSEC, and SYMBICORT, though you can view a full list of medicines here: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/our-medicines The website also provides a quick questionnaire to help determine eligibility in just a few moments. In addition to AZ and Me, the company also directs low-income seniors and patients to a number of other helpful prescription assistance and savings programs, including ElderCare, Associations of Clinicians for the Underserved, BenefitsCheckUp, Health Resources and Services Administration, Medicare (and My Medicare Matters), Partnership for Prescription Assistance, RxAssist, RxHope, and Rx Outreach.

Eli Lilly: In 2007, Eli Lilly donated more than $244 million in pharmaceutical products to patients and agencies in need around the world (2). With seven prescription assistance programs, Eli Lilly is dedicated to helping patients get the prescriptions they desperately need. Two of the discount medication programs, geared towards low-income seniors, are Lilly Cares and the LillyMedicareAnswers program.

Lilly Cares, in particular, is a patient assistance program that provides access to Eli Lilly products for legal U.S. residents who are uninsured and whose income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Eligibility is based on inability to pay for prescriptions as well as a lack of third-party drug payment assistance, such as Medicaid or Medicare. To begin receiving prescription assistance benefits, patients must complete an application and have it signed by their doctor. The medication can then be picked up from your doctor’s office. Medications covered by Lilly Cares include CYMBALTA, PROZAC, and ZYPREXA. Please visit http://www.lillycares.com for more information or to download an application.

In addition to Lilly Cares, Eli Lilly also offers the LillyMedicareAnswers program, which makes medications more affordable. Eligible program participants should also be enrolled in Medicare. LillyMedicareAnswers covers FORTEO, ZYPREXA, and HUMATROPE, among many. Other eligibility requirements include enrollment in Medicare Part D, income criteria satisfaction, low-income subsidy denial, and signed certification that medications paid for by the LillyMedicareAnswers program will not be claimed as out-of-pocket expenses. Medications are shipped to the patient’s home. For more information on either Eli Lilly prescription assistance program, please call 1-877-RX-LILLY.

GlaxoSmithKline: Bridges to Access, GlaxoSmithKline’s patient assistance program for non-oncology medicines, provides prescription benefits to individuals without any other insurance or third-party payment aid. Bridges to Access allows low-income seniors and patients to enroll over the phone so they can begin receiving benefits the same day. Enrollment is necessary only once per year, though participants must have an ‘advocate,’ usually a doctor, to be eligible. Medicines from GlaxoSmithKline include ADVAIR, FLONASE, IMITREX, PAXIL, and ZANTAC. For a complete list, please visit http://www.bridgestoaccess.com/ProductList

Low-income seniors and patients eligible for or currently enrolled in the Medicare Part D Plan can also receive benefits, though GlaxoSmithKline offers this prescription assistance program through a separate program called GSK Access. Criteria stipulate that you must have spent at least $600 on medications through the Part D plan, are a legal U.S. resident, and your total household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (3). Visit http://www.gsk-access.com to download an application and enroll.

Merck: The Merck Patient Assistance Program was created to make medicines more affordable to everyone, whether they meet insurance criteria or not. To be eligible for the prescription assistance program, low-income seniors and patients must submit proof of financial and/or medical hardship as well as inability to pay for their prescriptions. Applications are completed only once per year, and if accepted, medicine is provided free of charge. Merck requires that applicants are a U.S. resident, have a prescription for a Merck medicine from a licensed U.S. doctor, do not have insurance or third-party coverage options such as Medicaid and Medicare, and annual household income is less than $43,320 for individuals, less than $58,280 for couples, or less than $88,200 for a family of four (4). Medicines covered by Merck include COSOPT, COZAAR, JANUMET, JANUVIA, SINGULAIR, and TRUSOPT. For more medications that are covered by this program, please view the full list here: http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/patientassistance/whats_covered.html Or, for questions relating to the Merck Patient Assistance Program, please call 1-800-727-5400.Pfizer: With seven prescription assistance programs, Pfizer offers low-income seniors and patients of all means the ability to get the medication they need. Four in particular, Connection to Care, FirstRESOURCE, The Pfizer Bridge Program, and Pfizer RSVP Program, all provide medications either free of charge to qualifying patients or at reduced costs through reimbursements and appeals. Eligible medications include CADUET, CELEBREX, DETROL, LIPITOR, LYRICA, and ZOLOFT.

Most of Pfizer’s prescription assistance programs require that you have no prescription coverage or are eligible for a hardship exception, meet household income criteria, and are a U.S. resident. To learn more about the programs that Pfizer offers, please visit the Pfizer website (http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Find/FindAll.aspx) to download applications and read pertinent program information.

Wyeth: Through the Wyeth Patient Assistance Program, uninsured and/or low-income seniors and patients are able to receive their prescription medications free. Though the prescription assistance program is not usually extended to patients with Medicare (or Medicare Part D), the company will evaluate situations on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility. To enroll, low-income seniors and patients should obtain and complete an application and privacy authorization form with help from their doctor or healthcare provider, who should also write a prescription for a one, two, or three-month supply, specifying up to three refills. The privacy authorization form should be given to the doctor, and the application and prescription write-up should be mailed to the address provided on the paperwork. Depending upon the circumstances, the medication will be mailed either to your home or your doctor’s office.

For information on the Wyeth Patient Assistance Program, please call 1-800-568-9938 or visit the Wyeth website: http://www.wyeth.com/contact?rid=/wyeth_html/home/shared/footer/Patient/contact_patient_assist.html Eligibility is determined by an individual’s inability to pay for the medications, lack of insurance, annual household income is at or less than 200% of the federal poverty level, sufficient evidence of significant financial hardships, and is a resident of the U.S. or Puerto Rico. Medications covered by the prescription assistance program include EFFEXOR, ENBREL, PREMPRO, NEUMEGA, and RELISTOR.

Taking Advantage of the Programs

Usually, enrollment in any of these prescription assistance programs can be done quickly, and eligible low-income seniors and/or patients can pick up their prescriptions on a regular basis, either at no cost or at a significantly reduced price. Pharmaceutical companies know that many low-income seniors with tight budgets are unable to afford the high costs of their prescriptions, so taking advantage of these deals is not only economical but recommended to stay in the best of health.

Sources

1. http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/help-affording-your-medicines/

2. http://www.lilly.com/responsibility/programs/

3. http://www.gsk-access.com/

4. http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/patientassistance/home.html

About The Author

Jill Gilbert is the President and CEO of Gilbert Guide, a senior care website that offers a comprehensive senior housing guide along with valuable tools and resources on caring for aging loved ones. She authors the monthly “Leading by Example” column in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, the chief industry publication for long-term care providers and is currently working on a new book, Gilbert Guide to Senior Housing (Penguin/Alpha Books, 2009). Jill has been quoted in numerous publications, including The San Francisco Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News. Gilbert Guide, the leading source of senior care and aging information on the Internet, was founded on the concept that quality matters, and its primary goal is to educate consumers on a breadth of senior care issues. To learn more about finding the right senior care provider, please visit http://www.GilbertGuide.com.

Caregivers want to give their loved one the best care possible.  They almost abandon their own personal lives.  However, caregivers must be aware of stress, which leads to burnout.  Guilt, frustration, anger, exhaustion, and loss are just a few of the emotions commonly felt. 

Here are a few suggestions to help you.

• Find out what resources are available to you in your community.  Unfortunately, in the current economic environment, less government programs are available.
• Ask for help and gladly accept any assistance offered.  Maybe the help you’re being offered isn’t what you really need at this time.  Accept it – if you don’t, people will quit asking.  Also, a volunteer may do a chore differently than you, but gets the same results.  So what – is it really important.
• Know your limits.  It doesn’t do anyone any good, if you get so wearin out that you get sick or injure yourself.  Let others know that you need help.
• Take time just for you.  Take a long hot bath,  afternoon nap, or read a book.  The dishes will still be there when you get around to them.

If you are a caregiver, please e-mail me to let me know how you relieve your stress.  I will publish them to help others in the same situation.

 Call Judy Doyle-Martin at 586-914-4630 or judy@seniorchoicesllc.com. SENIOR CHOICES, LLC, located in Macomb County, Michigan will help you make informed decisions for peace of mind.  Serving Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

How many times have we not said something to someone because we love them, and don’t want to hurt their feelings?   How often have we not acted because by taking action the person you love may become very upset and possibly angry with us?  Or it may be that by saying or doing something, a situation becomes more real and it then needs to be dealt with.

Frequently, adult children with aging parents don’t want to hurt their parent’s feelings so they endanger their safety instead.  A few examples are allowing them to cook when they forget to turn off the stove; taking medication unsupervised knowing they aren’t  taking it as prescribed, a drug taken too often can be extremely dangerous, and if not taken, no benefit can be derived from it; and allowing parents to continue to drive when they are putting themselves and others at high risk. 

These are just a few of the very difficult issues adult children must confront when dealing with aging parents, grandparents, other relatives or friends.  It is hard to watch our parents change, mentally and physically.  The role of parent and child are exchanged. 

When we were young, our parents didn’t hesitate to tell us we couldn’t do something because it was dangerous.  Often we couldn’t see the danger and argued with them, but they stood firm, because it helped to keep us safe and they loved us.  Now we must do the same for them.   These changes may put additional work and/or stress on adult children.  However, the changes need to be made, and there is help available. 

Yes, Seniors should remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.  However, you need to take a step back and objectively look at your parent’s situation.   How steady is their balance – do they tend to fall easily?  What can be done to make their home safer?   Do they need help with the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning or laundry?  Is it safe for them to drive – how is their vision – do they get lost going to familiar places?  Are they safe in their current residence or do they need to move to a community where help is readily available?

These are not easy decisions, but they must be made with safety in mind.  When this is done, love shines through.

If you or someone you know is in this difficult position, there is solution! Call Judy Doyle-Martin at 586-914-4630 or judy@seniorchoicesllc.com. SENIOR CHOICES, LLC, located in Macomb County, Michigan will help you make informed decisions for peace of mind.  Serving Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

These are very difficult economical times.  Everyone is trying to cut back on unnecessary spending.  The stress level throughout the nation is very high.  And yet, life goes on – we still have to deal with our kids, house, career, and oh, yes, our aging parents. 

SENIOR CHOICES was designed and developed to help you, the sandwich generation, care for your aging parents and to allow your parents to live their remaining years with as much comfort and dignity, as possible.  This may be keeping them in their current home, and bringing the products and services to them, or, if necessary, finding them another community to live where their needs will be cared for.  I know you want what’s best for your parents, yet you’re thinking I can do this myself – I don’t have to spend money to do this.   Let me offer you 5 reasons you should retain SENIOR CHOICES to help you determine the next action steps to take for your parent’s welfare.

1.      SAVES YOU TIME – As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know.”  There is a large variety of products and services available to Seniors.  I have researched them and will help you determine which are the most appropriate for your parent’s particular situation.  Rather than you doing the research, then trying to decide which ones to investigate further, I have the information already available.

2.      COST EFFECTIVE – I understand the current economic situation.  I understand what will and will not be covered by Medicare, health insurance or will private pay.  I will only suggest solutions that are appropriate and financially affordable in your situation.  Because you and your family are my clients, I work for you.   My primary concern is to help your parents live safely, with comfort and dignity.

3.      MAY OFFER IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU HAVEN’T CONSIDERED – As I said, there is a large number of products and services available – some you may have heard about, others you may not.  Some you may have dismissed because you felt you couldn’t afford them or wouldn’t work in your situation.  Let’s review all the options, before making a decision.

4.      OBJECTIVE – I have been in your shoes – I have dealt with aging parents.  I know you want what is best for them.  However, these decisions should not be based on emotions alone.  Yes, your parent’s preferences should be strongly considered.  However, these issues need to be rationally and objectively evaluated.  I am that voice of reason.  Sometimes it helps to have an outside opinion when family members disagree as to what you should do to help Mom and Dad.

5.      REDUCES THE STRESS – I share your burden.  I understand what you are going through.  Instead of you having to figure out the next steps for your parents alone, I am here to help.  I listen to your problems and concerns and develop an action plan.  Then I help you implement the plan.   I care – I am committed to helping you, help your parents, make the lifestyle changes that will give everyone peace of mind.

Please contact me for a free half-hour consultant.  If I can’t be of service to you, I will let you know. 

When it is necessary to place a loved one in a Skilled Nursing Facility, first establish a list of potential facilities, based on physical location and, if necessary, whether the home accepts Medicare and Medicaid.  Most Nursing Homes accept Medicare, but not all accept Medicaid.  Medicare will cover a maximum of 100 days per illness, however serveral criteria must be met before an individual is qualified.

  It is imperative that you personally visit the facility.  When visiting, don’t only talk to the admissions director giving you the tour, but also talk to other staff members, as well as, patients and their families.  Notice how the caregivers are performing their duties.  Are they interacting with the patient or are they just doing their job?  How do patients and families feel about the care given in the facility.

Another important consideration is the acuity level the skilled nursing facility is able to treat.  Some skilled nursing facilities are able to handle the patients that need the most intensive care. This may cause the facility to have a lower standard according to Medicare’s Nursing Home ratings when compared to facilities with a more normal population.  These patients, because of their diagnosis, may also be more prone to complications.

SENIOR CHOICES, LLC, has conducted quality of care research, which will provide you with valuable information to help you determine the facility that best serves your care and financial needs.We will provide objective and unbiased advice.  Ofter, SENIOR CHOICES will suggest options then family may never have considered.  SENIOR CHOICES will assist you make informed decisions, with less stress and with peace of mind.

If you or someone you know is in this difficult position, there is a solution! Call Judy Doyle-Martin at 586-914-4630. SENIOR CHOICES, LLC, located in Macomb County, Michigan will help you make informed decisions for peace of mind.  We service Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

The years go rushing by and you begin to slow down.  There may be a few more aches and pains, you don’t remember things as well as you used to – that is all part of the aging process.  You no longer feel the need to actively fill every minute of the day – you are content to stay at home and watch TV or read a good book.   Welcome to what many experts refer to as phase two of retirement.  You are still independent and able to make your own decisions and take care of yourself – life is good.

During the third phase of retirement, life as you know it, begins to change.  This phase may begin gradually.  It may take a while to notice it or it may strike without warning. What do you do if your spouse enters this phase before you and you are faced with making decisions regarding the care of your spouse?  Who can you turn to for help?

In years past, elderly people lived at home until they could no longer live alone or it became too difficult for the family to care for them.  Then they were placed in a “nursing home”.  Most people, when they hear “nursing home” think of a urine smelling building, where people went to die.  For a child, it was scary to go to visit Grandma or Grandpa.

As seniors need to make changes in their lifestyle, the options have also increased considerably over the past few years. The choices are now more complex.   Can they stay in their own home, or should they move to a Senior Community?   Should they move into a senior independent living apartment, where assistance is available or move to an assisted living facility where they will receive constant care?  What is the difference?

Within each option are more options.  For example, you decide to stay in your home.  Do you need some simple modifications, such as grab bars in the tub, to make the environment safer?  If help is needed, do you need a skilled nursing agency, non-medical agency, or chore services?  In many cases, medical professionals, including doctors and dentists, will make house calls.  Is this the right option for you?  What other products and services would help you live your remaining years in the comfort of your own home and with your dignity intact?

Of course, in making any decision, the question of “what can I afford?” always arises.  Will some of the services be covered by Medicare or Medicare supplemental?  Will a long-term care policy cover any of these options?   Are you eligible for Medicaid or perhaps Veterans benefits?   Is your power of attorney up-to date?  What about your will and/or trust?   Questions like these are endless.   There is no right or wrong answer for any of them.  The answers come from the individuals and families involved.
SENIOR CHOICES, LLC, was created to provide you with valuable information to assist in the decision making process during this difficult time.  We are an independent liaison between families and facilities.  We also partner with companies offering products and services that may make it possible for you to stay in your home.  We will evaluate your personal situation and we will work with you and your family, to find a solution(s) that is in your best interest.  We will make recommendations and create an action plan.  Once the best course of action has been determined, we will help you implement your plan.

If you or someone you know is in this difficult position, there is solution! Call Judy Doyle-Martin at 586-914-4630. SENIOR CHOICES, LLC, located in Macomb County, Michigan will help you make informed decisions for peace of mind.