Holiday Greetings and Announcement

During this 2009 holiday season, Audrey Zabin & Associates wants
to wish all of our clients and colleagues, past and present, our
sincere best wishes for the coming year. To those of you with whom
we have worked for a long time, we express our heartfelt gratitude
for your support. To those whom we have met this year for the first
time, we offer our thanks for our new relationship, and we look
forward to working with you in the future. We want you all to know
that we feel deeply fortunate to be part of an industry that works
toward improving the quality of life for so many.

In the spirit of the New Year, we also want to share some exciting news.
Audrey Zabin & Associates will be introducing AZA Care Management and
Home Care, a new name and brand to reflect what we have always done
while celebrating an expansion of our services for the future.  

Since its inception, Audrey Zabin & Associates has specialized in
Care Management for elders, for those affected by Alzheimer's disease
or dementia, for those suffering from mental illness, and for the disabled
adult population.  We have provided Care Management for clients with
young-onset Alzheimer's disease, stroke-related problems, and substance
abuse issues.  Audrey Zabin & Associates has also worked with in-home and
facility caregivers to make sure they are providing the highest possible
quality of care for their clients.  

Now, we are enhancing our professional Care Management services by adding our
own Home Care division.  With this exciting expansion, we are changing our name
to AZA Care Management and Home Care, and launching a new website. We know
that our clients will benefit greatly from the broadened continuity of care
that we can now provide.

We look forward to working with you in the coming year.
We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and a peaceful New Year.

Watch for the launch - coming soon! 

Veterans Day Celebrations

Some may say Veterans Day is perhaps the quietest and lowest-key of American holidays. As pointed out by a columnist in Fayetteville, Georgia’s Fayette Daily News, the weather isn’t conducive to Memorial Day or Labor Day style barbeques; the kids still have to go to school and most of us will still go to work. Most of us will not be invited to a “Veterans Day Dinner” or turn on the television to watch a special Veterans Day Parade or sporting event. It may be hard for most of us to know how to celebrate this most solemn holiday.

Fortunately, in our work, we often have the opportunity to help veterans find care in the later years of their lives. For Veterans who served in war time, there are certain benefits to which they are entitled for care and housing. We often consult with elders and their families on how to connect to and utilize these resources. However, our work serves only a small portion of the 23.2 million veterans in the United States.

We are hoping you will join us this Veterans Day in supporting the brave men and women who have served our country by sharing the information below. We have compiled a list of free or discounted offers being made by vendors in Massachusetts and around the nation for dining, shopping and entertainment on or around November 11^th, 2009. Please pass this along to anyone you know who has served or is serving our country, along with our gratitude. (To qualify for most offers, individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service.)

RESTAURANTS

Applebee’s Restaurants, Nationwide

Date: Wednesday, November 11^th, all day
Veterans and active duty military members who present proper ID will eat free on Veterans' Day at Applebee's. For information on proper identification and to find a location near you visit http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx.

Boston Market, Nationwide

Date: Every day, including November 11^th

This offer isn't exclusive to Veterans Day; as a matter of fact, this has been around since the spring. Veterans and those active in the military can receive 20% off at any Boston Market by showing their Veterans Advantage membership card. http://www.bostonmarket.com/locations

Golden Corral Restaurants, Nationwide

(The only Massachusetts location is 436 Parker Street, Springfield, MA).

Date: Monday, November 16^th, 5:00-9:00 PM
The Golden Corral's annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner is offered to anyone who has served in the military (retirees, veterans, active duty, National Guard or Reserves).

http://goldencorral.com/military/

Krispy Kreme, Nationwide

Date: November 11^th, all day

Veterans and active military personnel are invited to visit any participating U.S. Krispy Kreme store on Veterans Day, November 11, and enjoy one free doughnut of any variety.

http://www.krispykreme.com/

Outback Steakhouse, Nationwide

Date: November 11^th

All Veterans will receive a free drink and Bloomin' Onion

http://www.outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday2009.aspx

Uno Chicago Grill(® ), Nationwide

Date: November 11^th

This Veteran's Day, UNO(®) invites all members of the military, both veterans and active duty, to enjoy a free entree or individual pizza with the purchase of an entree or pizza of equal or greater value. http://www.unos.com/index.html

ENTERTAINMENT

Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston, MA

Date: November 12^th

In honor of Veterans Day, the Boston Symphony Orchestra will offer complimentary tickets for active members of the military for the orchestra’s concert.

(888)-266-1200, http://www.bso.org/bso/index.jsp?id=bcat5220002

Boston Harbor Cruises - Fort Cruise

Date: November 11^th

Join Department of Conservation and Recreation and National Park Service rangers on this special cruise highlighting the military history of Boston Harbor, with stops to tour Fort Warren on Georges Island and Fort Standish on Lovells Island. Veterans sail for FREE and tickets for family members and the general public are $10.00. Reservations are required and can be made online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/87454
http://www.bostonislands.org/VeteransDay_Flier_2009.pdf

Kings Restaurant and Bowling, Boston, MA

Date: November 10^th, noon till 4:00 PM
Veterans and their families are invited to an afternoon of free bowling, free food, and entertainment.

50 Dalton Street, (617)-266-2695, http://www.kingsbackbay.com/bowling/

Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, MA

Date: November 11^th

FREE Community Day sponsored by Bank of America from 10 am to 9:45 pm offering free admission to the entire Museum.
465 Huntington Ave., (617)-267-9300, http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=8280

National Parks Honor America’s Armed Forces, Nationwide
Date: November 11^th

Free Admission on Veterans Day. To learn more about how national parks preserve and commemorate the service of the American military, visit Honor America’s Veterans at Battlefields and Military Parks Preserved in the National Park System. Or search for a close-to-home national park by clicking on “refine your search” and entering your zip code in the park finder.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2009/11/fees_waived_at_national_parks.html

Plimoth Plantation, Plymouth, MA

Date: November 11^th

The Plantation invites all Veterans and active military to the museum today, as our guests, for FREE! Family members receive a special discount too, of $4 off adult and $2 off child combination tickets to Plimoth Plantation and Mayflower II. We thank you for your service!

http://www.plimoth.org/calendar/index.php?ev=2455147&mo=11&yr=2009

SHOPPING

Build-A-Bear Workshop®, Nationwide

Date: November 11- 15^th
Build-A-Bear Workshop® is showing support for all military families in honor of Veterans Day. Members of the armed services including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Reserve Officer Training Corps will receive a 20% discount on any one transaction at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores with the presentation of a government issued military identification card.
www.BuildABear.com.

Cabela's, Nationwide

Date: November 11-12^th

Cabela's is having a Hometown Heroes Celebration by offering Employee Discounts to Military Personnel, Veterans, Law Enforcement, Firemen and EMS.

http://www.mdva.state.mn.us/Events/veteransday2009/CabelasHometownHereosCelebration2009.pdf

Home Depot, Nationwide

Date: November 5^th- 11th

A Special Thanks for Your Military Service - 10% discount for active duty personnel, reservists, retired military veterans, and their families. SAVE Up to $200 in store on single-receipt purchases.

www.homedepot.com

Lowe's Companies, Inc. , Nationwide

Date: November 6-11^th

Lowe’s will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10% discount on in-store U.S. purchases. The discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to $5,000.

www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/lowes-veterans-day-discount.asp .

Viva Amore Bridal Salon, Watertown & Boston, MA

Date: November 10-13^th

Viva is offering Free Wedding Gowns to honor Military personnel who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, or whose fiancées are on active duty. To qualify, brides must be engaged, on active duty in the military, or have a fiancé on active duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan. All military brides must show ID, copy of deployment papers, orders or other qualifying proof. Brides do not have to reside in the area where the giveaway is taking place.

http://www.vivaamoreboutique.com/

NEWS BLAST: Geriatric Care Management Featured in New York Times

I was so pleased to participate in a piece recently published in the New York Times featuring Geriatric Care Management services and the families that we help. The article is particularly notable because it acknowledges the positive role GCMs play in eldercare.

Please see the September 26, 2009 edition of the New York Times for the article which is entitled "When Elder Care Problems Escalate, You Can Hire an Expert".

Here is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/health/26patient.html


(Please note, links only last a few days. If this link does not work, please go to www.nytimes.com and search for "Audrey Zabin".)

Demystifying the Healthcare Debate

As summer draws to a close and the Senate and House have reconvened, the healthcare debate has reached a fervor pitch. Senators and Representatives alike have been bombarded at town hall meetings by constituents from both sides with passionate, often emotional pleas.

While debating the issues is valuable, a lot of the reaction from the general public has been based on inaccurate or inflammatory statements being circulated about what the new health care bill provides for. In an effort to gain clarity, I did some research of my own and would like to share what I found out.

Statement #1: The new health care bill mandates that everyone receiving social security benefits be given counseling about “euthanasia” every five years, resulting in what some have referred to as “senior death panels”.

The Truth Is: The referenced portion of the bill actually describes a modification to Section 1861 of the Social Security Act that adds “advanced care planning consultations” as a voluntary Medicare benefit. This measure allows Medicare to pay doctors for taking the time to talk with individuals about difficult end of life decisions and provide them with better information about their options. In fact, this provision could lead to better communication between doctors and older patients.

Statement #2: Increased government involvement in the health care system will inevitably result in the rationing of services, with senior citizens being the group most adversely affected.

The Truth Is: There is no explicit reference in any version of the bill to rationing health care and the White House has insisted it does not intend to institute a rationing policy. However, despite the intent, critics of the bill fear that high costs will create an environment that leads to rationing.

Statement #3: Obama is proposing a system much like the single payer system in England and Canada.

The Truth Is: The President wants to give Americans the option of government health insurance that will compete with private insurance plans, not replace the entire medical system with a single payer, government funded system. Skeptics maintain, however, that a public insurance plan will drive private insurers out of business, thus setting the stage for government run insurance.

Statement #4: Even if this bill is passed, it will take many years to see any changes in our health care system.

The Truth Is: If the health care bill is enacted in October, it will take years for the plan to go into effect. However, some benefits will start immediately. For example, once passed, the bill will require a minimum level of coverage for private insurers, improvements to Medicare, provisions to decrease administrative costs, and targeted assistance for people ages 55-64.

The healthcare debate is an issue that affects all of us, young and old. As a result, teasing out fact from myth about what the health care bill includes will be of utmost importance over the coming months. As geriatric care managers, it is our responsibility to be on top of these issues and you can count on us to interpret how all these changes will impact our clients’ lives.