IN THE SPOTLIGHT Condit and Associates, LLC

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser

Condit and Associates, LLC

in the Phoenix SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options

Our Mission

We provide professional, dependable financial and personal care services for those who want life to be simple, easy, or no longer a struggle. To give respect and honor the dignity and livelihood of those who have raised, nurtured and mentored the rest of us.

It is our privilege to provide quality care and management for those who are in need of protection and assistance.

What is a Licensed Fiduciary

A fiduciary is someone entrusted to protect property, oversee matters and manage care when people become unable to do so for themselves.

Through the Arizona Supreme Court, Fiduciaries are bonded, background checked, fingerprinted and eventually become licensed. The licensing means a knowledge of the law that applies to caring for others and their finances. They are held to a high standard under the law and are accountable to their clients, their families and the courts. Fiduciaries are expected to be advocates for the clients they serve and help to protect them from abuse and exploitation. Many Licensed Fiduciaries are either former personal trust officers, medical professionals, or human services professionals.

How Can You or a Loved One Benefit?

In today’s busy world, having the time to attend to needed family and loved ones is a challenge.

• We fill the gap for busy families and treat clients like adopted parents, aunts and uncles.
• Rescue and relief for busy families.
• Help for loved ones to live an easier, simpler, and more carefree life.

Licensed Fiduciary Condit and Associates, LLC offers financial peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

TYPES OF SERVICES

Financial Management Services

Keeping the finances organized, current and in good standing are important. We work with your investment advisor, income tax preparer, trust officer, and attorney to provide bookkeeping services such as bill payment, filing of records, bank account reconcilement, letter writing and organization of all your records and documents.

Care Management Services

Our clients benefit from a team of expert medical professionals such as a Geriatric Care Manager, Registered Nurses (RN) Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and several in-home care and health care agencies. Our medical professional team works privately with elders, challenged adults, and their families.

Property Management Services

Condit and Associates offers property management responsibilities in regard to the marshalling of assets. A Property Management Coordinator is assigned to facilitate instructed property management services, coordinate, delegate and supervise services among staff and arrange for outside support if applicable.

Some types of property management services included are, but are not limited to

• Conduct Pictorial Inventory 
• Arrange for appraisal(s) 
• On-site staffing during formal inventory/appraisal, maintenance/repairs/installation. 
• On-site staffing for removal/disposition of property and arrange for and management of appropriate labor. 
• Obtain bids for sale of personal property
• Records Management (Sorting)
• And other property management related services

Additional Services

• Needs Assessment – to help determine the level of care needed and appropriate living environment.
• Care Plan Development – a written plan explaining how care needs will be met.
• Quality Check Visits – periodic, unannounced or announced visit to determine the quality of care being given to a person and their living conditions.
• Moving Arrangements/Relocation Assistance – sometimes having to downsize can be overwhelming after years of accumulating personal property. We help to find appropriate living alternatives, organize and facilitate the move.

How Services Start

Services are started by written agreement or by court appointment. Depending upon the types of services desired, Condit and Associates LLC may be named in any of the following documents to carry out services in the event the client becomes no longer able to do certain tasks they otherwise could do for themselves either temporarily, long term or upon death. 

Legal Documents signed by the client and expressly directing specific duties be performed by the licensed fiduciary firm are:

• Durable, Spring or Limited Power of Attorney for Financial purposes
• Health Care Power of Attorney for medical purposes
• Mental Health Power of Attorney for treatment and hospitalization
• Trustee and Successor Trustee of a Trust
• Personal Representative under Last Will and Testament
• Engagement Letter is used when the licensed fiduciary is acting as Agent to the client, power of attorney, trustee or personal representative.

Court appointments may occur for different reasons. Some examples of why a court appointment is necessary are when a person is incapacitated, has assets that will dissipate if not protected, can no longer take care of themselves and is vulnerable. A court of law appointments an attorney to represent the alleged person in need of protection.

A court investigator is assigned to the case and consults with all interested parties, including the alleged protected person, reviews medical reports from physicians and any other professionals that may be part of the case as a witness. A court hearing occurs to determine if in fact the alleged protected person does need protection and is at risk.

Some types of Court Appointments are:

• Conservator – responsible for all financial matters outside of a Trust, if one exists.
• Guardian – responsible a person's welfare and well being.
• Trustee – responsible for all trust assets, trust administration and carrying out the terms and conditions of the trust agreement.
• Personal Representative – responsible for carrying out the terms and conditions of the decedent's Last Will and Testament.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary visit contact us at
Phone 623-546-6082 Fax 877-784-6938
Email:  mjcondit@conditandassoc.com

Visit us online @ http://www.conditandassoc.com/

Silverado Senior Living SPOTLIGHT Story - Love Lives Here

Love Lives Here

Love Lives Here is a new documentary short that explores the innovative way Silverado gives life to residents. Produced by retired Rutgers University professor Dr. Cathy Greenblat and award-winning Australian filmmaker Corinne Maunder, this film is the third installment in Fire Films' documentary series Side by Side: Love and Joy in Dementia Care.

Detailing how Silverado gives life to residents through our philosophy of love and recognizing the value of the human spirit, Love Lives Here was shot at four different Silverado communities in California, and features interviews with associates, residents, family members and dementia-care experts as well as photographs and video footage of the daily life at Silverado.

http://www.silveradocare.com/features/love-lives-here/

 “Silverado has a unique approach that sees them getting people to do things that the top neurologists in the world said was impossible, which presented an ideal opportunity to create a thought provoking piece about dementia care,” says Dr. Greenblat, who has been photographing at Silverado communities since 2001. Her books Alive with Alzheimer’s (2004) and Love, Loss and Laughter (2012) both feature numerous photos from Silverado communities. Galleries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East as well as the World Health Organization, the United Nations and the US National Academy of Sciences have all exhibited Dr. Greenblat’s photographs.

Ms. Maunder, who produced and directed the film, was initially inspired to explore Alzheimer’s care in films by her grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Since 2013 she has produced over two dozen short films and educational videos about dementia, with more currently in production.

Dr. Greenblat says, “The vision for Side by Side is to create a multimedia resource for individuals and organizations to learn about better practice person-centered dementia care.” The first two films in the series, Finding the Why (Starrett Lodge, Uniting, Australia) and It Takes a Community (Arcare Helensvale, Australia), have informed and inspired countless viewers and have been used in universities, professional forums and care facilities around the world.

“The beautiful thing about this series of films is that the creative process has been very organic,” says Ms. Maunder. “There are no scripts, no marketing departments, no one telling me what messages to push. I’m free to capture and present everything just as I see it, which makes it very authentic. These are real stories about real people.”

Visit us online @ www.silveradocare.com 

Tips to Help Avoid Medication Mistakes

Ninety-one-year-old Fred lives in an independent retirement community and is usually skilled at managing all of his many medications. After a bout with congestive heart failure, he was prescribed a diuretic to help eliminate fluid from his system. It worked and he got better. So he quit taking the medication. It was one less pill he had to remember to take. He viewed the prescription as a temporary medication when the doctor actually intended for him to keep taking the prescription. Soon the fluid began to build up again and Fred was back in the hospital.

Nearly 20 percent of seniors who are taking five or more prescription medications surveyed by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network, reported challenges in managing their medication regimen including understanding directions for taking the medications.

Such medication management uncertainty could put seniors at higher risk for a medical issue or emergency due to incorrect dosage or adverse medication interactions. And that can lead to potentially devastating consequences. Each year, there are nearly 100,000 emergency hospitalizations for adverse drug events in U.S. adults aged 65 years or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Following, from Home Instead Senior Care and Dr. Jane Potter, geriatrician and director of the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, are suggested ways to help minimize the risk of medication mistakes.

Get a pill organization system or service

Approximately 50 percent of patients do not take their prescriptions as prescribed, according to the 2011 study, “Medication Adherence: WHO Cares?”. That’s why a pill organizer can be such an important tool.

Check out Simple Meds℠ to learn more about the benefits of an organized system for medication management. Simple Meds pharmacists dispense prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and vitamins in simple, multi-dose packets. The medications will be sorted and conveniently organized into single serving packets, labeled with the date and time they should be taken as prescribed by the senior’s doctor.

Make one doctor the gatekeeper to manage medications

It’s typical for an older adult to have multiple doctors, which is potentially dangerous. Dr. Potter suggests that your senior designate a primary doctor as the gatekeeper. Most people assume that doctors talk to one another, but you can’t assume that’s the case. They may not be aware of everyone involved in your older adult’s care. It’s best to keep a list of all providers and who is managing what, and update the list at least annually or whenever a change in medications is made.

“Bring into doctor appointments the actual medication bottles along with bottles of over the counter drugs your senior is taking so the doctor can cross check those each time,” Dr. Potter recommends. Medication tracker worksheets, where you can help your loved one record all the necessary information, can help as well.

Know why your loved one is taking the medication

What specific condition(s) or symptom(s) was the medication prescribed to help alleviate? Make sure your senior can read and understand the medication’s instructions. And verify with the pharmacist that the medication being given is what the doctor prescribed. Double check with the pharmacist to make sure the medication won’t interact with any other prescriptions being administered. Make sure you and your senior are aware of all potential side effects.

Call the doctor about any changes in how your senior is thinking, feeling or looking

Many people have a sense when they feel different, especially after a change in their medication. But your senior could also develop a reaction after years on the same medication. Be sure to bring these issues to the attention of a health care provider.

Keep regularly scheduled appointments and an open dialogue with your loved one’s health care provider

Encourage your senior loved one to keep a regularly scheduled appointments and maintain open communication with the doctor to help avert medication problems. Consider writing down questions in advance so you and your loved one remember everything you intended to discuss during an appointment.

If your senior is having trouble paying for medications, talk with the doctor

One of the biggest deterrents to medication adherence is cost. If an older adult is having trouble paying for a medication, discuss this with the doctor and pharmacist. Generic options can be cheaper and some pharmaceutical companies offer discounts.

Tell your senior loved one’s health care provider if you suspect he/she is depressed

Depression might make sticking to a medication regimen more difficult. Furthermore, some medications can contribute to depression. Be sure to let your doctor know if your senior loved one seems depressed.

Discuss any problems an older adult may have in taking a medication, such as the inability to swallow or difficulty opening a pill bottle

Solutions exist for some medication challenges. For instance, a liquid can be prescribed as an alternative to pills for some medicines. What’s more, pharmacists are required to provide easy-open bottles that can help individuals with arthritis. Discuss these options with your senior’s pharmacist.

Tell a health care provider if you suspect a loved one is forgetting to take a medication

It’s easy to become confused about the medications that have been prescribed, when they should be taken and how often. Confer with your senior’s health care provider about the appropriate level of medication assistance for your loved one.

Consider a caregiver

Help a senior assess the risk of medication mismanagement or side effects by going to the Let’s Talk About Rx℠ Solutions Guide. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unable to manage medications—or you’re a family caregiver worried about an older adult’s ability to manage medications—consider hiring a caregiver companion. Contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office to learn more.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT ~ Mobile Dentistry of Arizona

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser

Mobile Dentistry of Arizona

in our Phoenix SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options

Mobile Dentistry of Arizona provides comprehensive dental services with a personal touch! This practice caters to individuals who find it problematic to leave their home due to mobility challenges, or find it hard to take time off of work. Bringing dental care directly to our patients also allows them to age in place. We know from experience that many people who have difficulty obtaining dental care are often faced with tooth decay and gum disease. This is a national concern and compromises the entire health of an individual. 

Our staff includes professionals that are the very best in their field.  Our practitioners are highly skilled in caring for patients with very complex medical histories as well as behavioral and cognitive concerns.  We pride ourselves in providing comprehensive care both in our mobile unit as well as at your bedside. 

Our fully equipped mobile dental office is complete with a lift for mobile scooters, wheel chairs, and ambulatory devices. Our staff consists of three dentists, six assistants, two hygienists and a fully staffed business office. All are caring and experienced, providing that special touch with the aging population, and anyone who needs that extra personal assistance.

Visit us online @ www.mobiledentistryofaz.com