Tip -What is “homebound”?

If you are homebound, do you never, ever leave your house? No, that’s not it.

Medicare defines homebound as not being able to leave one’s home without help “because of an illness or injury,” if leaving the home is not recommended “because of your condition” or because leaving home is “a major effort.”

You don’t need to be bedridden or use a wheelchair to be homebound. You can leave home for short infrequent trips, such as to a doctor appointment. You may be temporarily homebound if, for example, you were in a car accident and broke both legs. Eventually you will recover, but at this point you are homebound.

But being unable to drive and not having transportation is NOT considered homebound, however.

If you do not have Medicare coverage, check your insurance policy for its definition of “homebound.” Insurance companies make their own rules about this health status.

 

Exercise Tip- A Way to Keep Motivated

It can be difficult to stay motivated to exercise daily. Instead of considering your exercise session as a “should do,” think of it as an important self-care commitment. Regular exercise helps you stay healthy and balanced.

Older Adult Peer Support: Our Time Has Come

May 17th at 2:30 pm by Robert Walker, MS, COAPS from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

Older adults and their caregivers are sometimes left out of peer support.  Peer support allows people with similar life experiences to help each other learn strategies for self-empowerment and build self-fulfilling lives. Peer support groups exist for many types of disabilities, but are less likely to serve older adults and their caregivers. 

Many think that depression, loneliness, loss of hope, and memory loss are all part of aging with a physical or mental disability. Robert Walker will describe a short-term, evidence-based model of peer support for older adults, which holds promise as a way to assist older adults in leading healthier, values-driven lives. This model has been piloted with older adults and caregivers of older adults with Alzheimer's Disease.

Robert Walker works with the Massachusetts (US) Department of Mental Health in the Office of Recovery and Empowerment. His work involves both researching peer interventions and training peer specialists. He is interested in the behavioral health issues experienced by older adults.

Intergenerational programs – bringing youth and elders together to enhance social connectedness

On May 17th at 1:00 pm by Jessica Simionato from La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia)

Both adolescents and older adults are dealing with identity issues.  They find themselves at a similar psychological cross roads – one trying to find their identify, the other trying to maintain the identity they have created for themselves.  Jessica Simionato is researching the components which make intergenerational programs bringing together teens and older adults successful and impactful.  

With community and connection ever changing, we looked at the components that may make for successful and impactful intergenerational programs involving adolescents and older adults. We will present review level evidence and the practical application of it, including possibilities for the virtual world.

Jessica Simionato has a clinical background in Speech Pathology. She did her research at La Trobe University in Melbourne Australia. She is interested in how community social outcomes can build intergenerational connections sustainably, including possibilities for the virtual world.