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Exercise Is Good for People of All Ages There are many benefits of following a regular exercise program. This is true even for people who have joint or back pain. Or if you have arthritis. It’s also true for people who are recovering from an injury. Or people recovering from surgery.

Exercise can help people of all ages. That’s because it helps:• Lower blood pressure• Lessen the risk for falls• Make you more flexible• Tone muscles• Build stronger bones

• Make it easier to sleep• Ease tension and stress• Reduce joint and muscle

pain

It’s never too late to start an exercise program. Take care when starting to exercise. Talk with your doctor or other health care provider. He or she can help make sure the exercises you choose are best for you.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDVILLAGE CARE

NEW YORK

Advance Directives: Appointing Someone to Make Health Care Decisions ...2

A New Medicare Card Is Coming Your Way .................3

Are You Down in the Dumps, or Is It Depression? .................4

Lose the Stress of Bladder Trouble........................5

MAX

villagecaremax.org

VillageCareMAX154 Christopher StreetNew York, NY 10014

IN THIS ISSUE:

11083MA

2 HEALTHFOCUS Member Services: 1.800.469.6292 (TTY 711)

YOU MAY BECOME SICK AND LOSE THE ABILITY to make health care decisions. The New York Health Care Proxy Law allows you to appoint someone to make those decisions for you. It should be someone you trust. This could be a family member or close friend. This person makes sure health care providers follow your wishes.

Choosing someone who will speak for you is a very important task. Each adult needs to make this decision, no matter your age or health status. The person you appoint will make sure you get your preferred treatment.

Your health care agent decides how your wishes apply as your condition changes. You may allow him or her to make all health care decisions. Or only certain ones. Hospitals, doctors and other health care providers must follow his or her decisions as if they were your own.

You need to fill out a “health care proxy form” to list your wishes. It can also list if you want to donate organs or tissue. The forms come in a variety of languages.

A VillageCareMAX social worker can help answer your questions. Please call our Member Service Department at 1-800-469-6292 (TTY 711), 24 hours day. This call is free.

Advance Directives: Appointing Someone to Make Health Care Decisions for You

JOIN OUR MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Do you have ideas on how we can make VillageCareMAX a better health plan?

Do you or your caregiver want to tell us how we can better help you?

Join our Member Advisory Committee. Meetings are every three months. We provide transportation to meetings.

Are you interested? Call us today at 1-800-469-6292 (TTY 711). Our hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, 7 days a week. This call is free.

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villagecaremax.org SPRING 2018 3

A New Medicare Card Is Coming Your Way

VILLAGECAREMAX OFFERS A NURSE ADVICE CALL LINE. You can use it during the evening and weekend hours when your Care Manager may not be available to speak directly with you. With a phone call to us, you can connect with a nurse at any time. The nurse can help you with any questions you may have about your health.

Contact the Nurse Advice Call Line with:• Any questions about your health• A change in your health status• Symptoms you may be having

The nurse will tell you if you have an urgent care need, and will help you get the services you need.

You will receive a new Medicare card by April 2019. Here’s what you need to know:

• Your new card has a unique Medicare number. It does not use your Social Security number. That helps protect your identity.

• Your coverage and benefits stay the same. • You don’t need to do anything to get your new card.

But make sure your mailing address is up to date.• To correct your address, contact Social Security at

ssa.gov/myaccount. Or call 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

• You’ll get more information from Medicare with your new card.

Where is a nurse when you need one? Just a phone call away!

Did You Know You Could Call Our Nurse Advice Call Line?

How to reach the Nurse Advice Call Line:You can reach the Nurse Advice Call Line when our offices are closed. To get connected, contact our Member Service Department at 1-800-469-6292 (TTY 711), 24 hours day. This call is free.

NOTE: If you are having an emergency and need immediate care, please call 911.

4 HEALTHFOCUS Member Services: 1.800.469.6292 (TTY 711)

Everyone feels low, blue or sad at times. If these feelings are strong or don’t ease up, you may wonder whether you or a loved one is depressed.

IT’S A QUESTION WORTH ASKING. Depression is a serious medical condition. But treatment can help you feel better.

It’s normal to feel down and sad at times. Especially if you’re dealing with a discouraging situation or major, life-changing event such as:• A serious illness• Retirement • Divorce or the end of a close relationship• The death of a loved one

Symptoms of depression include:• Feeling hopeless or pessimistic• Feeling helpless, or having low self-worth• Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed• Low energy• Trouble concentrating• Difficulty getting to sleep or over-sleeping

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!As your health plan, we want to know what we are doing well and what we can do better to meet your health care needs. Contact us anytime. Our email address is: TellUs@villagecare.org.

We look forward to hearing from you. If you need immediate service, please call the Member Service Department at 1-800-469-6292 (TTY: 711). We’re open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, 7 days a week.

Are You Down in the Dumps, or Is It

Depression?

• Appetite and/or weight changes• Restlessness or irritability• Thoughts of death or suicide

Timing is key. A blue mood may last a few days or even a week or two. It may come and go, lifting at times so that you feel better and can enjoy life for a while. That likely is not depression.

Depression lasts for weeks, months or even longer. You can’t just “snap out of it.” One exception: Grief after the loss of someone close to you may last for a while without being considered depression.

Depression can affect people in different ways. So talk with your doctor if you suspect something isn’t right. Remember, depression is a medical condition, and it can be treated.

villagecaremax.org SPRING 2018 5

YOU MAY CONSIDER URINE LEAKAGE EMBARRASSING or just part of getting older. But it can almost always be treated.

Normally, your bladder muscles work to help you relieve yourself. But small changes in this process cause urine to leak when you don’t intend it. Causes of these problems include: • Infections• Certain medications• Nerve damage• A medical problem that makes

it difficult for you to reach the toilet in time

• A blockage to your urethra, caused by urinary stones, tumors or an enlarged prostate in men

Think back over the past six months. If you’ve had leakage but haven’t talked with your

doctor, make an appointment. He or she will ask questions, examine you and might do some lab tests to find the cause of your troubles.

Treatment depends on the cause. Relief can come as easily as changing a medicine or cutting back on caffeine. Other options include:• Exercises to strengthen the

muscles around your bladder• Losing weight• Bladder training, such as

timed bathroom breaks• Devices that use electric or

magnetic forces to stimulate nerves

• Medications • Surgery, in severe cases

Seek medical help today if this is a problem for you. You’ll take steps toward finding confidence, control and happiness.

The State of New York has created a system that helps you get the best possible health care. We need your help so you can benefit from it.

The system allows health care providers to share details about your care. It tells us if you go to the emergency room or are admitted to a hospital. This helps us be sure your hospital care is coordinated with the care you get when you return home.

VillageCareMAX has partnered with Healthix for this service. We sent you a Healthix form to fill out and send back to us. This allows us to access your medical records to better serve your needs.

Allowing us to get this information has many benefits:• Improved quality of care• Less chance of bad reactions

to medications• Fewer repeated tests and labs • Faster treatment in an

emergency• Better communication

between doctors and other caregivers

Do you have questions or need help filling out the form? Please contact our Member Service Department from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday, at 1-800-469-6292 (TTY 711). This call is free.

Lose the Stress of Bladder Trouble and Regain Your Life

HELP US HELP YOU GET THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE

6 HEALTHFOCUS Member Services: 1.800.469.6292 (TTY 711)

LEARN ABOUT OUR Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program

In our Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP):• You can choose, hire, supervise and dismiss

your personal assistant.• You can direct your care.• You can schedule when to get personal

assistance. This is based on your care plan.• You are responsible for overseeing the care

being provided.

Do you want to know more about our CDPAP program or have questions about these services? Please call our Member Service Department at 1-800-469-6292 (TTY 711) and

ask to speak with your case manager.

We never give up on him– so he won’t either

Medicaid fraud and abuse reminder:• Please be mindful of New York state laws and

regulations.• Always know whom you hire as your personal

caregiver to prevent fraud.