Minutes for October 9, 2012 held at United Methodist Church, Saratoga Springs, NY
Present: Cindy Harrington (Shelters of Saratoga), Dawn Lincoln & Jocelyn Blanchard ( Saratoga County Options for Independent Living), Jane Hurst (RSVP), Karen Clark & Ann Quinn (Home Health Care Partners), Katie George (Eddy Lifeline), Richard Amico (St. Edward the Confessor Church), Pam Clark & Debbie Verni (Herzog Law Firm), Jess Froehlick (Eddy DayBreak), Donna Rudzinski (Experience Works), Diana Martin (Wesley Evergreen Adult Day Care), Robin Peters & Caitlin St. George (Eddy VNA), Shelly Casserly (Burke &Casserly), Maria Geizer (Home Instead Senior Care), Ben Nichols, Mary Rickard & Patrick Harrington (Saratoga County Office for the Aging), Wendy Koreman & Christina Auarezilsi (All Metro Health Care), Cathy Tucker (Ameriprise), JoAnn Zales (National Grid), Karen Britt & Teresa Boring (Alzhieimer’s Association NENY), Rebecca Zohn ( Concepts of Independent Choices, Inc.), Kym Hance (Home Helpers), Cara Hanley (Schyler Ridge)
Introductions
Cindy Harrington, SOS, announced that the Aging and Disability Network has been existence for 5 years. It was established to educate the members about each other agencies and their services. She introduced today’s speaker, Debbie Verni, Attorney at the Herzog Law Firm, who spoke on Advance Directives.
Participants introduced themselves.
Jess Froehlich, from Eddy DayBreak, announced that Schyler Ridge Adult Day Care is entertaining an open house on Wednesday, October 24th from 3 – 5:30 pm. Schyler Ridge is located at 1 Abele Blvd. in Clifton Park. They will provide information about their program and services.
Donna Rudzinski from Experience Works stated that there are openings available in the program and that she is currently accepting referrals.
Jocelyn Blanchard informed the group that Saratoga County Options for Independent Living is hosting a Harvest Gala fund raiser on Saturday, October, 20th at the Saratoga Springs Holiday Inn from 6 pm – 12 am. For more information and to pre-register for tickets contact, Jocelyn, Outreach Coordinator, at sailoutreach@gmail.com or for more information go to www.sail-center.org.
The Lions Club is offering a Health Fair on Saturday, October 27th from 10 am – 2 pm at the Saratoga Springs High School, Saratoga Springs. The event is free of charge. More information is available on the Lions Club website, www.saratogalions.com.
Joanne Zales, National Grid, reminded the group that the Home Energy Assistance Program, HEAP, was reopening on November 19th. She provided the group with detailed information about the program.
The Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York announced that they will offer an Educational Forum on Tuesday, November 13th from 5 – 9 pm. It will be held at the Great Escape Lodge in Queensbury, NY. You may register at http://bit.ly/AlzEdForumADK or by contacting the Alzheimer’s Association of NENY at 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY 12205. The cost is $10. On–site respite care will be provided by Lena’s Adult Day Care Services, space is limited. Call 867-4999 x200 by November 8th to arrange for respite care.
Cindy Harrington informed the group that Nonprofit Works is offering a Grant Seeking Basics course on October 31st from 9 am – 4 pm. It will be held at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs. The cost is $160 which is all inclusive. More information is available at the website www.nonprofitwork.com.
Presentation
Speaker: Debra Verni, Attorney from Herzog Law Firm
Topic: Advanced Directives
Advanced Directives provide information for your family as to your wishes, if something happened to you. DNR is the most common directive.
A Will provides direction as to how you would like your estate divided. If you do not have a will, New York State will first allow your spouse with 50% of your assets the remaining would be divided among your children. If you have no spouse or children, then your estate would go to your parents. If there are no living parents then to nieces or nephews and second to them, to once removed family members. New York State would only take over the estate if no relatives can be found. If there is no will, your assets would be distributed by the court through probate.
Health Care Proxy (HCP) names someone to make medical decisions, if you are unable to make them yourself. You should appoint one person and a backup. It is not wise to appointment two people at the same time. If you are a Health Care Proxy, you can not serve as a witness on the form. It is best to prepare the form ahead of time and tell the person that you are appointing them as your Proxy. A Health Care Proxy form is available on the New York State website.
A Living Will is a form that provides direction to your Health Care Proxy regarding end of life decisions. You may give specific instructions.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR order) is a New York State form. There are two kinds, in hospital and out of the hospital. If an EMT is called, they must resuscitate you unless you have a DNR form readily available.
New York State Life Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Enrollment Form is used to donation all or any part of your body. This form must be included with your Health Care Proxy and Living Will. If you are donating your entire body to science, you should make sure that the family is notified so that proper funeral arrangements can be made.
Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains appoints someone to be in charge of your remains. It directs how things should be done and who is in charge. On the form, you can be specific. Funeral Homes have encouraged this document so that there will be no misunderstandings at the time of death. You should revise this document every 2 – 3 years.
Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) is a New York State form and is used for cases where there is a terminal illness. The first sections include DNR instructions. The form provides a section to list any other Directives on File. The later section provides a space to state you wishes regarding: the use of feeding tubes, instructions for intubation and mechanical ventilation, use of antibiotic etc. The last section is a record of review and renewal of the MOLST orders.
Power of Attorney (POA) designates someone to handle your finances. In New York State, the short form is 13 pages long. The form was changed in September 2009. POA on file prior to that date are still valid. After September 2009, it is required that you tell the person that you have appointed them POA, earlier POA’s it was not required. The form can be used to sell a house, change beneficiaries and for banking purposes. A Statutory Gift Rider can be attached that limits the amount of money that a POA can gift themselves. Earlier forms had unlimited gifting power. A POA is effective as soon as it is signed. Debra warned that you should choice someone you can trust and that has your best interest in mind for this appointment. You may appoint successors. You can also appoint two persons, who both must sign, before a financial transaction can be completed.
If you do not have a Power of Attorney is place and become incompetent the next step in Guardianship, which is a costly and lengthy court process.
More information on these forms are available on the Bar Association website.
A question was asked about Living Trusts. Debra stated that there are two kinds. A Revocable Trust states yourself as a Trustee and your assets can be distributed without probate. With an Irrevocable Trust, you must choose someone else as a Trustee. It is used to safeguard your assets from Medicaid. It must be in place 5 years in order to be effective.
There was a discussion about how someone would know what your wishes were if you have no living relatives. Debra stated that officials would look through your personal possessions and information on your phone for emergency contact information.
Debra suggested that you update your beneficiary information on your life insurance, pension benefits, etc. on a regular basis.
The Herzog Law Firm can assist with any of these forms. Free consultations are available. The cost of their services vary according to a person’s needs and the cost would be provided at the initial consultation.
Next Meeting Information
The next Aging and Disability Network Meeting will be held on November 13th at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 569 Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Park from 2 – 3:30 pm. It will be a networking meeting, including information about local support groups. The Alzheimer’s Association will offer a Virtual Dementia Tour. You must sign up for a designated time slot before the meeting. Cindy will send an email allowing you to sign up before the meeting. The November meeting will start a little earlier to accommodate everyone who wants to go on the virtual tour.
Respectively Submitted,
Jane Hurst
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