Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Thursday, December 31, 2020 avvya yavvy en oniorior avvy S ior io iori by Jim Miller What Caregivers Should Know About Medicare Dear Savvy Senior, I am the caregiver for my 81-year-old mother, who recently fell and broke her hip, and have a lot of questions about how original Medicare works and what it covers. Where can I get some help understanding this program? Overwhelmed Caregiver Dear Caregiver, Excellent question! Having a working knowledge of Medicare can help you take full advantage of the coverage and services it provides to ensure your mom receives the best care possible. Here’s what you should know. Medicare Assistance A good starting point to get familiar with Medicare is the offi cial “Medicare & You” handbook that overviews the program. It’s mailed to all benefi ciaries every fall and provides an up-to-date description of all services and benefi ts. You can also see it online at Medicare.gov/medicare-and-you. If you have a particular question, you can call and visit with a Medicare customer service representative at 800-633-4227. Medicare also works closely with State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) to provide free health insurance counseling. To fi nd a SHIP counselor in your area visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675. Caregivers also fi nd Medicare’s secure website – MyMedicare. gov – especially useful. After setting up a personal account for your mom, you can view the details of her coverage, track recent health care claims and keep up to date on the preventive services she qualifi es for. Compare Tools Medicare can also help you locate the right health care providers for your mother. At Medicare.gov/care-compare you can fi nd and compare doctors, hospitals, home health agencies, dialysis facilities, inpatient rehab facilities, long-term care hospitals and nursing homes in your mom’s area. What Medicare Covers Medicare can reduce many out-of-pocket medical expenses your mom incurs, but it doesn’t cover everything. Understanding what Medicare does and doesn’t cover can save you time and spare you frustration when navigating the caregiving maze. Here are some key points for caregivers: Besides basic hospital and physician services (which includes telehealth services) and optional prescription drug benefits, Medicare covers home health care too. To qualify, your mom must be homebound, under a physician’s care and in need of part-time skilled nursing care or rehabilitative services like physical therapy. Medicare also helps pay for oxygen, catheters and other medical supplies that a doctor prescribes for home use. The same is true for medically necessary equipment like oxygen machines, wheelchairs and walkers. In addition, Medicare covers skilled care in a nursing home for limited periods – up to 100 days – following hospital stays. But it doesn’t cover long-term stays. Patients who need custodial care (room and board) must pay out of pocket unless they’re eligible for Medicaid or have private long-term care insurance. Medicare pays for hospice care too, for someone with a terminal illness whose doctor expects to live six months or less. The hospice benefi t also includes brief periods of respite care at a hospice facility, hospital or nursing home to give the patient’s caregivers an occasional rest. Besides long-term nursing home stays, original Medicare typically doesn’t cover regular dental care or dentures, regular eye exams or eyeglasses, and hearing exams and hearing aids. Likewise, it won’t pay for nonemergency ambulance trips unless a doctor certifi es they’re medically necessary. To fi nd out what Medicare covers, visit Medicare.gov/coverage and type in the test, item or service you have questions about, or download the Medicare “What’s covered” app in either the App Store or Google Play. Financial Assistance If your mom lives on a limited income, you should check whether she qualifi es for help with prescription drug costs or with other Medicare-related premiums, deductibles and copayments. For help with drug costs, visit SSA.gov/prescriptionhelp or contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 and ask about the “Extra Help Program.” For help with other Medicare costs, go to Medicare. gov or call 800-633-4227 and ask about the “Medicare Savings Programs.” Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ City of Malden Conservation Commission Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 131, Section 40, Wetlands Protection Act (as amended) of the Massachusetts General Laws that a Hearing of the City Of Malden Conservation Commission will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom, Hearing of a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for the review of the wetland map(s) along the railroad Right-of-Way (ROW) within the City of Malden as part of the renewal of the five-year Vegetation Management Plan (VMP). The Objective of the VMP is to eliminate, control and manage vegetation along the ROW that represents “any real or potential condition that can cause injury, illness, or death; damage to or loss of the facilities, equipment, rolling stock, or infrastructure of a public transportation system; or damage to the environment” as required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). In accordance with Governor Baker’s 3/12/20 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L.c.30A, Sec 18, and the Governor’s 3/23/20 Revised Guidance on Order by the Governor Prohibiting Assemblage of More than Ten People, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation. In person attendance by members of the public is prohibited, and all effort will be made to permit public attendance of this meeting, in the manner specified below, via remote access by internet, telephone, and if available via public broadcast of the meeting by Malden Access Cable Television on public access television channels. Public access will also be provided by posting draft minutes, and/or a transcript, recording, or record of the meeting on the City of Malden website at cityofmalden.org as soon as practicable after the meeting. Meeting information is as follows: https://cityofmalden.zoom.us/j/94611752392?pwd=cTRVemhsc2RDSWxNcVlqNWt6ZGhKdz09 Meeting ID: 946 1175 2392 Passcode: 379565 Or join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) Isaac Slavitt Chairman December 31, 2020 ~ Home of the Week ~ CHELSEA...Spacious 2 bdrm., 2 bath Condo located in desirable Admirals Hill offers open concept dnrm., lvrm. w/ sliders to a private balcony, newer galley kit. w/ granite counter tops & stainless steel appliances, master bdrm. offers master bathrm. w/ new vanity & wainscoting, separate entrance to balcony, spac. 2nd bdrm. is on the other end of the unit which is an ideal layout that offers privacy, 2nd bath has newer vanity & is adjacent to the 2nd bedroom. This unit offers 2 deeded parking spaces and has been freshly painted throughout, cent. air, in-unit laundry, lots of closet space and additional storage space on the main floor of the building. 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