WCCF offering $40,000.00 in Spring Grant Cycle – NEW DEADLINE

WCCF has opened their Spring Grant Cycle. Funds for the $40,000 grant cycle are made possible through our generous donors and the Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow Funds.

Applications can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website at www.wccf.biz. Click on the Grantseekers icon and then click to download the application. The application deadline will be 3:30pm, April 22, 2020. Applications can be submitted via email: program.officer@wccf.biz or by regular mail. The Foundation’s mailing address is PO Box 50 in Salem.

Grant preference may be given to organizations submitting grant applications for projects or programs to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

For more information or to request an application, you may call Judy Johnson or Lindsey Wade-Swift at the Foundation office. The number is 883-7334.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

End

Important Legal Documents

What legal documents do I need to prepare to help my family after I am gone? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help.

There are four essential legal documents to consider including in your estate plan. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legally enforceable and clear. It may also help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family. Proper documentation can assist your health care providers if you become seriously ill or pass away. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them.

Will: This document lets you spell out your wishes of how you would like your property and assets to be distributed after you pass away, whether it is to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardians if you have dependent children.

In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a revocable living trust. This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you pass away) and helps ensure your estate’s privacy.

Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to designate someone you trust to handle your financial matters if you become incapacitated.

Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are a “living will,” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable.

You may also consider including a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) as part of your advance directive, since advanced directives do little to protect you from unwanted emergency care like CPR. To create a DNR, ask your doctor to fill out a state appropriate form and sign it.

Get Help

Hiring an attorney to draft an estate plan to ensure it is enforceable and executed properly according to state law is advisable. It is highly recommended to hire an attorney, if you want or need assistance or if you have considerable assets, a complicated financial situation or a blended family. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you are gone.

Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 to $2,000 for a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney and advance health care directive. If you want your estate plan to include a living trust, that can run anywhere between $1,500 to $5,000.

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC.org) are two good resources that have directories on their websites to help you find someone in your area.

If costs are a concern, check with your state’s bar association (see www.FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. You may also call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published March 13, 2020

The luncheon scheduled for this Friday, March 20 will be postponed until a later date.

We will make an announcement once the new date has been set.

The Nonprofit Board Training scheduled for March 17 has been cancelled. We will offer this later in the year.

We apologize for any inconvnience. We willoffer this program later in the year.

2020 Census Tips

Can you offer some tips to help seniors guard against census scams? With the 2020 census gearing up, I have read that there are a lot of potential scammers out there looking to take advantage of older people and I want to protect myself.

Unfortunately, scams have become a persistent problem when the U.S. Census Bureau does its once-a-decade count of the U.S. population. Here is what you can expect from the 2020 Census in the coming weeks, and how you can protect yourself from potential scams.

What to Expect

In mid-March, U.S. households will receive invitations in the mail to respond to the 2020 Census. This year, you will have the option of completing the 2020 census questionnaire either online, by mail or by phone. The invitation will include detailed instructions of what you need to do.

If you do not respond to this invitation letter, you will receive several follow-up postcard reminders from the Census Bureau by mail. If you still do not respond by late April, a census worker will come to your door to collect your response in person. It only takes a few minutes to complete the census questionnaire.

While census participation is very important and required by law, you also need to be vigilant of census-linked scams. This is especially important for seniors who tend to be prime targets.

The Census Bureau warns against phishing email scams, as well as con artists masquerading as census workers who will try to solicit your personal financial information. Here are some tips that can help you protect yourself.

Guard Your Information

Do not give out your personal or financial information. The Census Bureau or a legitimate census worker will never ask for your Social Security number, bank account number, credit card number, money or donations. They will never contact you on behalf of a political party. If you are asked for any of these, whether it be via phone, mail, email or in person, it is a scam and should be reported to ois.fraud.reporting@census.gov.

Avoid Online Scams

The Census Bureau will not send you an unsolicited email to request your participation in the 2020 Census. Ignore any emails you get that may direct you to a census website that looks real. This website is fake and may be infected with malware. Also, do not reply to the email or open any attachment because they could contain viruses that could infect your computer. Forward the email or website address to the Census Bureau at ois.fraud.reporting@census.gov. Then delete the message.

Be Safe at Home

If someone visits your home to collect a response for the 2020 Census, make sure you verify their identity. A legitimate census taker must present a field badge that includes the worker's photograph, a Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. Census workers will also be carrying a Census Bureau laptop or cellphone, as well as a bag with a Census Bureau logo.

Remember that a census worker will only ask you the questions that appear on the questionnaire – your name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, phone number, type of residence and number of people living with you. They will not ask for sensitive personal information, such as your Social Security or credit card number.

If you have questions about their identity, you can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative. If it is determined that the visitor who came to your door does not work for the Census Bureau, contact your local police department.

For more information on the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published March 6, 2020

10 Things Medicare May Not Cover

I will be enrolling in Medicare in a few months and would like to find out what they do not cover so I can avoid any surprises.

While Medicare (Part A and B) covers a wide array of health care services after you turn 65, it does not cover everything. If you need or want certain services that are not covered, you will have to pay for them. Some additional benefits may be available to you if you have other insurance or if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage health plan. Here is a look at some common medical services that original Medicare may not pay for.

Most dental care: Routine dental care including checkups, cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions and dentures may not be covered by Medicare. However, some Medicare Advantage plans cover basic dental care services.

Routine vision care and eyeglasses: Medicare does not cover routine eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses (except following cataract surgery). However, some tests, treatments and surgeries for medical eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration are covered. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer routine vision benefits.

Alternative medicine: Acupuncture, chiropractic services (except to fix subluxation of the spine) and other types of alternative or complementary care may not be covered by Medicare.

Prescription drugs: Medicare (Part A and B) does not provide coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. You can buy a separate Part D prescription drug policy that may provide coverage. A Medicare Advantage plan covers both medical and drug costs.

Cosmetic surgery: Most cosmetic procedures are not covered, however, if the surgery is due to an injury or deformity, it may be covered. For example, Medicare will cover a breast prosthesis for breast cancer survivors.

Hearing aids: Medicare will not pay for hearing exams or hearing aids. It may cover a hearing and balance exam, if your doctor determines it is necessary. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer hearing benefits.

Long-term care: Nursing home care and assisted living facilities are not covered by Medicare. Medicare will help pay up to 100 days of skilled nursing or rehabilitation care immediately following a hospital stay of three or more days.

Personal home care: If you need to hire help for bathing, dressing or getting out of bed, Medicare typically will not cover these costs. In some cases, such as if you are homebound and are also receiving skilled nursing care, Medicare may provider coverage. Housekeeping services, such as shopping, meal preparation and cleaning may not be covered, unless you are receiving hospice care. A few Medicare Advantage plans offer in-home support services.

Routine foot care: Medicare does not cover most routine foot care, like the cutting or removing of corns, calluses and toenails. But Medicare may cover medically necessary podiatrist services for foot problems like hammertoes, bunion and heel spurs. Exams, treatments and therapeutic shoes or inserts may be covered if you have foot problems due to diabetes.

Overseas coverage: In most cases, health care outside of the United States is not covered by Medicare except for very limited circumstances – such as on a cruise ship within six hours of a U.S. port. Medigap supplemental plans D, G, M and N cover 80 percent of emergency care abroad. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover emergency care abroad.

The best way to find out what Medicare covers is to talk to your health care provider. Visit Medicare.gov/coverage and type in your test, item or service or download the Medicare “What’s covered” app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. To look for Medicare Advantage plans that offer additional benefits visit Medicare.gov/plan-compare.

Keep in mind that even if Medicare covers a service or item, it may not pay 100% of the cost. You will have to pay a monthly Part B premium (which is $144.60 for most beneficiaries in 2020) and unless you have supplemental insurance, you will have to pay your annual deductibles and copayments too. However, most preventive services are entirely covered by Medicare without copays or deductibles.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published February 28, 2020

WCCF OFFERS NON-PROFIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TRAINING

In 2018, the Foundation announced that all non-profit organizations that receive any type of grant from Washington County Community Foundation would have the opportunity to complete Board of Director training in order to receive grants in 2020. Two sessions were offered in 2019 and one session will be available in 2020. Nonprofits that have Board members that completed the training in 2019 are to be commended for their prompt action and response! If a nonprofit is unsure as to whether they have any board members who have gone through this training, please reach out to the Washington County Community Foundation to find out.

Members of nonprofit Board of Directors are invited to this informative, fast-paced training on March 17, 2020, presented by David Bennett. David served as the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne for 22 years. At the last session, attendees gave very positive feedback on the presentation content and style. Several local non-profits have sent multiple board members as a way of providing cost-effective training for their board.

David formed the Community Foundation Research and Training Institute (CFRTI) in 2017. CFRTI provides a variety of training opportunities for community foundations and nonprofit organizations, along with strategic planning facilitation and the preparation of organizational risk assessments.

David is a life-long Hoosier. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Williams College, and a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University. He currently resides in Grabill, Indiana. David is President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne and has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

The 2020 session of Board of Directors training will be March 17th beginning at 8:30 AM at the Community Learning Center at 1707 N. Shelby Street in Salem. The training will be an all-day event and should end by 4:30 PM. Please plan to stay for the entire session so your organization gets credit for attending.

Beginning this year, Washington County Community Foundation will require that nonprofits that receive funding from us have at least one current board member that has completed this valuable training. Board members will sharpen their knowledge of the most critical elements of nonprofit management. Nonprofits that already have board members that attended a previous training in 2019 are encouraged to send more to this highly informative training. Non-profits that do NOT have a Board member that has completed the training will NOT be eligible for any type of grants until this requirement is completed. If an organization had a former Board member that attended the training and is no longer on their Board of Directors, they will to need have another Board Member attend in order to receive grants.

A refundable fee of $100.00 is due by March 10, 2020. Upon successful completion of the program, Washington County Community Foundation will reimburse the organization or individual.

If you should have any questions or would like to reserve a spot(s), please contact Judy or Lindsey at 812-883-7334 or program.officer@wccf.biz

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

When Should Memory Care Patients Stop Driving?

Is there a good rule of thumb on when memory care patients should stop driving? My 82-year-old mom has early stage Alzheimer's disease but still drives herself around town just fine.

Most doctors agree that people with moderate to severe dementia should never get behind the wheel. However, in the early stages of Alzheimer's, the determining factor should be driving performance, not the disease itself.

With that said, it is important to realize that as your mom's driving skills deteriorate over time from the disease, she might not recognize she has a problem. It is very important that you work closely with her doctor to monitor her driving and help her stop when it is no longer safe for her to drive. Here are some additional tips that can help you.

Watch for Warning Signs

The best way to keep tabs on your mom's driving is to take frequent rides with her and be on alert for key warning signs. For example: Does she have trouble remembering routes to familiar places? Does she drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate, drift between lanes or fail to observe traffic signs? Does she react slowly or make poor driving decisions? Has your mom had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on her vehicle? All of these are red flags.

If you need some assessment help, hire a driver rehabilitation specialist who is trained to evaluate older drivers. Visit AOTA.org/older-driver or ADED.net to locate one in your area.

Transition Tips

Through your assessments, if you believe it is still safe for your mom to drive, you should start recommending some simple adjustments to ensure her safety. For example, she should only drive in daylight, on familiar routes, and avoid busy roads and bad weather. Also, ask her to sign an Alzheimer's "driving contract" (visit ALZ.org/driving to print one). This contract designates someone to tell her when it is no longer safe to drive.

You may also want to consider getting a GPS car tracking device (such as MotoSafety.com or AutoBrain.com) to help you oversee her driving. These devices will let you track where she is driving and allow you to set up parameters for zones and speed limits. You can receive alerts on your smartphone when she exits a specific area, if she is driving too fast or braking harshly.

Time to Quit

When your mom can no longer drive safely, you will need to talk to her. It is actually best to start having these conversations in the early stages of the disease, before she needs to quit driving, so she can be prepared.

You also need to have a plan for alternative transportation (including a list of family, friends and local transportation options) that will help your mom after she can no longer drive.

For tips on how to talk to your mom, the Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence offers a helpful guide called "At the Crossroads: Family Conversations About Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia and Driving." You can get the guide at TheHartford.com/Publications-on-Aging.

Refusing to Quit

If your mom refuses to quit, you have several options. First, suggest a visit to her doctor who can give her a medical evaluation and prescribe that she stops driving. Older people will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family.

If she still refuses, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if they can help. Some states require doctors to report new dementia cases to the DMV, who can revoke the person's license.

If these fail, consider hiding her keys or just take them away. You could also disable her vehicle by disconnecting the battery. Alternatively, you can park her car in another location so she cannot see it or have access to it.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Published February 21, 2020

Youth Foundation Now Recruiting

The Washington County Youth Foundation is now recruiting new members for the 2020-2021 school year. The Youth Foundation is a group of students from Washington County committed to making our community a better place to live. The group has members who are sophomores, juniors and seniors in any area high school or are home schooled.

The Youth Foundation averages one meeting a month. Times and location will vary; however, most meetings occur on Sunday afternoons. During the school year the Washington County Youth Foundation will offer one grant cycle, several community service activities and one peer community awareness/asset development event. Also, Washington County Youth Foundation members will be expected to be volunteers in the Happily Ever After Project. All members make financial contributions to support the service activities of the Youth Foundation.

Application, permission slip and more information can be downloaded from the Washington County Community Foundation’s website at www.wccf.biz. Additionally, information can be obtained from current Washington County Youth Foundation members or by calling the Foundation office at 883-7334. Applications are due by 4:00 pm on April 15, 2020.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

End

WCCF offering $40,000.00 in Spring Grant Cycle

WCCF has opened their Spring Grant Cycle. Funds for the $40,000 grant cycle are made possible through our generous donors and the Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow Funds.

Grant applications for the spring grant cycle are available at the WCCF office located on Shelby Street in the Learning Center complex or by calling the WCCF office. The application deadline will be 3:30pm, April 15, 2020. For more information or to request an application, you may call Judy Johnson or Lindsey Wade-Swift at the Foundation office. The number is 883-7334.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

End

Get Help

What to Expect

Guard Your Information

Avoid Online Scams

Be Safe at Home

Watch for Warning Signs

Transition Tips

Time to Quit

Refusing to Quit

More Articles ...