Newswise — The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) joined a panel yesterday of the aging industry's top experts to unveil a new online initiative aimed at educating caregivers of seniors and people with disabilities.
NAELA was asked by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to partner in the organization's new "Ask Medicare" Web site (http://www.medicare.gov/caregivers) program " which features insight from caregiving professionals as well as representatives of the healthcare industry. The consumer friendly Internet resource, which was detailed at an announcement event for some of its stakeholders Thursday, provides Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers with a wealth of tools and materials designed to help them make informed healthcare decisions. In addition to NAELA, other partner organizations invited to attend the CMS "Ask Medicare" launch include the AARP, Alzheimer's Association and the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.
"This truly is a one-stop site that will help lighten the burden on caregivers," said Bethesda, MD-based elder law attorney Morris Klein, a NAELA representative in attendance at the "Ask Medicare" announcement. "It was inspiring to see so many organizations come together at the launch, all united by a mission to help protect our nation's most vulnerable citizens. This Web site will help put caregivers in touch with the experts and organizations that can help them address any challenges and concerns."
Medicare is a national health insurance program ($331 billion in 2006) for people age 65 or older, in addition to individuals with certain disabilities regardless of age. Enrollment in the program is expected to reach 77 million by 2031, when the Baby Boomer generation is fully retired.
In the meantime, many Baby Boomers today are a "sandwich generation," wedged between the cost of caring for their children and their aging parents. There are nearly 45 million Americans " or one in five adults " who provide unpaid care to a loved one valued at a staggering $306 billion each year. That nearly doubles the amount spent on homecare and nursing home services combined ($158 billion).
CMS representatives hope "Ask Medicare" helps many of these people recognize their own role in the caregiver industry.
"Many caregivers don't even think of themselves as a caregiver in the traditional sense. All they know is that a friend or family member needs their help," said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. "In addition to raising awareness of Medicare benefits, we hope this site actually helps many of these caregivers self-identify. Their work is exhausting but essential " and often goes unrecognized."
Designed by and for caregivers, "Ask Medicare" seeks to shed light on the national insurance program by streamlining resources and bringing together several organizations that specialize in issues impacting the senior population and people with disabilities. The Web site " which links to a number of caregiver directories and advocacy organizations like NAELA " will feature a bi-monthly electronic newsletter filled with stories about caregivers and how they responded to industry challenges.
Medicare leaders also hope the site will clear up many misconceptions over what the federal healthcare program does and does not cover. According to a 2003 Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health poll, for example, 39 percent of individuals aged 18 and older erroneously believe that Medicare covers the cost of extended long term care, such as nursing home care and home care.
NAELA leaders say they are thrilled CMS chose them as a partner in the Web-based "Ask Medicare" program.
"Medicare is the cornerstone of healthcare security for seniors and people with disabilities," said NAELA President Craig Reaves, an elder law attorney based in Kansas City, MO. "We are pleased to support an effort that will help raise awareness of the programs and resources available to caregivers and Medicare beneficiaries".
ABOUT NAELAEstablished in 1987, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is a nonprofit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations and others .Members of NAELA are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to establish NAELA members as the premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance and services to enhance the lives of people with special needs and people as they age. NAELA currently has more than 4,000 members across the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit http://www.naela.org.
ABOUT ELDER LAWElder Law is a specialized area that involves representing, counseling and assisting seniors, people with disabilities and their families in connection with a variety of legal issues, with a primary emphasis on promoting the highest quality of life for individuals. Typically, elder law addresses the convergence of legal needs with the social, psychological, medical and financial needs of individuals. The elder law practitioner handles estate planning and counsels clients about planning for incapacity with health care decision-making documents. The elder law attorney also assists clients in planning for possible long-term care needs, including at-home care, assisted living or nursing home care. Locating the appropriate type of care, coordinating public and private resources to finance the cost of care and working to ensure the client's right to quality care are all part of the elder law practice.
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