SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 17 Page 18 ing its people and festivals since 1976. In her photograph exhibit on display this month in the first floor reading room at the Saugus Public Library, she focuses on the ninth day of the annual 10-day Pongala festival held in Trivandrum, Kerala, South India. It is the largest gathering of women in the world; up to two and a half million women attend each year, and though primarily Hindu, the festival is open to all devotees of any faith. The color photograph display and the photo captions are worth checking out. St. John’s Christmas Fair Dec. 7 St. John’s Episcopal Church, at 8 Prospect St., Saugus, plans to hold its annual Christmas Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 7. The church is located near the Saugus Iron Works National Historical Site, at the corner of Central and Prospect Streets. The fair will feature holiday crafts tables, yard sale items, homemade candies and baked goods, lunch, books and puzzles, a raffle table, face painting, jewelry and knit items. Wills, Trusts and Asset Protection Presentation The Saugus-Everett Elks Drug Awareness Committee and Eagle Bank are sponsoring a Free Presentation for Wills, Trusts and Asset Protection. This event will be held on Monday, Dec. 16, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Saugus Senior Center (466 Central St. in Saugus). Eagle Bank will be providing an attorney to discuss many issues: estate taxes, Medicaid, probate, property assignments, advantages and disadvantages of wills and living trusts, and much more. To attend this free event, please call the Saugus Senior Center at 781-231-4178. Light refreshments will be served. Walk-ins welcome. A Video for Vets Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and Veterans’ Service Officer Paul Cancelliere have collaborated on a video that highlights the work the Town of Saugus’ Veterans’ Services Office does to help local veterans and their families. In the video, Cancelliere explains how the Veterans’ Services Office follows three main pillars in advocating for veterans. These pillars are: · Implementing a variety of state benefits to aid veterans and their families RON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 22, 2024 · Processing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims for veterans and offering assistance for things such as homebuying, education, life insurance and burials · Community outreach by working with the Saugus Veterans Council to help put together events such as the Memorial Day Parade, POW/MIA Recognition Day and the Veterans Day ceremony The Saugus Veterans’ Services Office is located on the main floor of Saugus Town Hall at 298 Central St. Paul Cancelliere serves as the veterans’ services officer and Nancy Stead is the administrative assistant for the department. For more information call 781-2314010 or email pcancelliere@saugus-ma.gov, veteransservices@saugus-ma. gov or nstead@saugus-ma. gov About The Saugus Advocate We welcome press releases, news announcements, freelance articles and courtesy photos from the community. Our deadline is 6 p.m. on Tuesday. If you have a story idea, an article or photo to submit, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a message at 978683-7773. Or send your press release to me in the mail at PO Box 485, North Andover, MA 01845. Let us become your hometown newspaper. The Saugus Advocate is available in the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Senior Center, Saugus Town Hall, local convenience stores and restaurants throughout town. Sa Say nior Say nr y Senior Senio by Jim Miller How to Choose a Memory Care Unit for a Loved One with Dementia Dear Savvy Senior, My dad has dementia and has gotten to the point that he can’t live at home any longer. I need to fi nd a good memory care residential facility for him but don’t know where to turn. Any suggestions? Only Daughter Dear Only, Choosing a good memory care residential unit for a loved one with dementia is a very important decision that requires careful evaluation and some homework. Most memory care units, sometimes called special care units, are housed within assisted living or nursing home facilities. At their best, they off er staff extensively trained in caring for people with dementia, individualized care that minimizes the use of dangerous psychotropic drugs, a home-like environment and activities that improve resident’s quality of life. But at their worst, they can off er little more than a locked door. Here are some steps that can help you fi nd a good facility and avoid a bad one. Make a list: To identify some good memory care residential units in your area ask your dad’s doctor for a referral or use an online search tool like Caring.com. Make sure the facilities on your list are close to family members and friends who can visit often, because residents with frequent visitors usually get better care. Research your options: Once you’ve made a list, call your local long-term care ombudsman (see LTCombudsman.org for contact information). This is a government offi cial who investigates assisted living and nursing home complaints and can tell you which facilities have had problems in the past. If you’re looking at a memory care unit within a nursing home facility, use Medicare’s nursing home compare tool (Medicare. gov/care-compare), which provides a 5-star rating system. Call the facilities: Once you’ve identifi ed a few good facilities, call them to fi nd out if they have any vacancies, if they provide the types of services your father needs, what they charge and if they accept Medicaid. Tour your top choices: During your tour, notice the cleanness and smell of the facility. Is it homey and inviting? Does the staff seem responsive and kind to its residents? Also be sure to taste the food, and talk to the current resident’s family members, if available. Also, ask about staff screening and training procedures, their turnover rate, and their staff -to-resident ratio. Make sure they provide quality activities to keep your dad engaged and fi nd out how they respond to residents who may wander or become aggressive. Because transitions can be unsettling for dementia suffers, make sure that your dad will be able to remain at the facility for the foreseeable future. And fi nd out what, if any, health conditions might require him to leave the facility or move to a higher and more expansive level of care. It’s also a good idea to make multiple visits to the facility including an unscheduled visit in the evening or weekend when the staff is more likely to be stretched thin. To help you choose a good facility, the Alzheimer’s Association off ers a list of questions to ask at CommunityResourceFinder.org/ Alz/Tips – click on “Tips for choosing a residential care facility” under Housing Options. Paying for care: The national average costs for memory care within an assisted living facility is over $6,000 per month, and over $8,500/month for nursing home care, but costs can vary widely depending on location and services. Since Medicare does not cover long-term care, most residents pay for care from either personal savings, a long-term care insurance policy or through Medicaid (if available) once their savings are depleted. Or, if your dad is a veteran, he may be able to get funds through the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefi t. To learn more, ask the facility director or contact the regional VA benefi t offi ce at 800– 827–1000. 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. ior
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