She was born in Chester, South Carolina on January 4,1917, to Thomas and Dora Buckson. Her mother was a teacher, while her father commuted to Baltimore to work at Sparrows Point.

Following several brief hospitalizations, Mrs. Ardis Watkins has enlisted the services of P-B Health Home Care Agency to remain in her home while recuperating.

As a young woman, Miss Ardis Buckson moved to Baltimore City to start her adult life. Here, she met and married Mr. Norbon Watkins, and from this union three children were born.

“We had a wonderful life together until his death in October of 2005,” stated Mrs. Watkins.

Throughout her adult life, Mrs. Watkins worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital and then the old City Hospital. After retiring from City, she volunteered at Bon Secours Hospital for seven years, earning many awards for her service.

Additionally, Mrs. Watkins has been a long time member of The Village Baptist Church and retains her membership today.

After so many years of caring for others, the time came when Mrs. Watkins needed care for herself. Through the Department of Aging, the family was put in touch with P-B Health Home Care Agency.

Following a thorough evaluation of her needs, P-B Health began providing personal care and chore services to Mrs. Watkins. Olivia Cross, a CNA and home health aide, was assigned to her care.

“Olivia has been very courteous, caring and helpful in assisting with my personal needs,” said Mrs. Watkins. “Ms. Cross is a fine representative for P-B Health, and my family and I have become very fond of her.”

In her later years, Mrs. Watkins has had several brief hospitalizations, after which skilled home health services were prescribed. These services have provided Mrs. Watkins with the benefits of nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, and nutritional counseling in the comfort of her own home.

“Each [staff member I have worked with] was skilled and provided exceptionally good service,” reported Mrs. Watkins.

Mrs. Ardis Watkins continues to do well and to live in her home. If she ever needs services again following a hospitalization or illness, she will not hesitate to call P-B Health to help her recuperate.

Morgan and Rosalie Johnson have explored the world and lived a life helping each other, they now call The Hermitage of Northern Virginia, retirement community home.

As a graduate of the seminary with a degree in fine art, Morgan Johnson found his calling in life when he realized the effect of using pictures to teach people to read in Africa.  After a three-year term utilizing his talents and education as a missionary, however, Morgan returned home, wishing to get married before he traveled back to Africa.  

Fate kicked in when his mother, a professor, invited her student, Rosalie to dinner.  “She had quoted her son quite frequently in class, so I was very curious to meet him,” said Rosalie.  The two eventually married and after she finished medical school at Emory University, they began an adventurous life in Africa together.

There, Rosalie had ample opportunity to assist others as a physician as Morgan continued teaching and shared his passion for art through weekly illustrations in the local newspaper. All but one of their five children were born in Africa.Unlike most missionary families, the couple’s children attended the local village schools even in a time of intense segregation.”Our children have told us they are proud they attended the local schools,” said Morgan.”They have all done very well.”

When their kids were grown and in college the couple returned to Atlanta.  “Some people think that we sacrificed on our mission work, but for us it was so much fun,” said Rosalie.

In 1991 Morgan officially retired and was researching a book while Rosalie spent the following decade working at an AIDS Clinic. “It was fascinating and rewarding work, since I had seen my first AIDS patients in Africa when we had no treatment or medication,” she said.

As their children began starting their own families, they were primarily congregating around the Washington, D.C. area, so after Rosalie’s retirement, the Johnsons moved to an apartment in Silver Spring, Md. to be closer to everyone.

Soon they started thinking about their future and how they could continue their engaging lifestyle even if their health changed.As a result they started looking at retirement communities, and were drawn to the Methodist roots they found at the Hermitage in Northern Virginia, a not-for-profit community located in Alexandria.”We got a sense of belonging very quickly after moving here,” said Morgan.

Although they have a unique history, the Johnsons have truly enjoyed meeting their fellow residents at the Hermitage and hearing about their interesting experiences and varied passions.”We learn so much from each other here,” said Morgan.

Most importantly, they feel secure in knowing that their potential healthcare needs will be met with the assisted living and nursing care that is available at the Hermitage. “It really gives you peace of mind,” said Rosalie. “So far we haven’t needed it but it’s great to know that it’s here.”

Morgan continued saying, “Our family can rest easy knowing that we are well taken care of here, too.”

With this security and freedom from home-maintenance, the Johnsons enjoy the abundance of activity the Hermitage has to offer.”We have things going on here all the time,” said Rosalie, who, like Morgan, is involved in several committees and the Resident Council.

Between their years spent in Africa and the numerous opportunities and amenities they have found at the Hermitage, it may be safe to say that for the Johnsons, life is, and will continue to be, a constant adventure.

According to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA), there are 25 million veterans currently alive, and three of every four of those veterans completed their service during a period of war or hostility. Their website notes that “approximately 70 million people are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members, or survivors of veterans.” Countless organizations, associations, and communities serve the large concentration of these veterans and their family members who live in the D.C. metro area.

From independent living to nursing care, there are communities in the D.C. area available to serve the needs of military retirees. Many of these communities cater specifically to retired officers and their spouses. Communities are often located near military hospitals or medical centers, and transportation is often provided. These communities provide a vital service to retired military personnel, and combine lifestyle amenities with readily available services.

In addition to turning to the resources listed below for assistance, veterans should be aware of the benefits available through the VA. Disability Pension benefits include a special benefit for Aid and Attendance. The Aid and Attendance benefit is for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular assistance of another person with activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting. Nursing home patients, assisted living residents, and individuals who are blind are also covered under this benefit.

War veterans with 90 days of active duty and/or their surviving spouses are eligible for this benefit. Beneficiaries must also meet certain medical and financial requirements. In order to qualify, applicants must file appropriate paperwork, receive a medical examination by a physician, meet net worth and net income limitations, and submit information detailing out-of-pocket medical expense costs.

Those deemed eligible for benefits can use the Aid and Attendance benefit to pay for care in their homes, in a nursing home, or in an assisted living community. Veterans and their spouses will receive set monthly payments.
To apply for any of the VA’s wide range of benefits, call 1-800-827-1000 or visit their website at www.va.gov. Other benefits for veterans and their family members include: Education, Home Loan Guaranty, Disability Compensation, Disability Pension, Dependency Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA), Medical Care, Burial, and Life Insurance.

Both military and government retirees should investigate all of the benefits, services, and options that are available to them. The adjacent list includes contact information for many of these resources.

What to look for in a Nursing Care Facility
Before choosing a facility, contact the long-term Care Ombudsman Program of your Area Agency on Aging. Ombudsman programs promote the highest quality of life and care for residents of nursing facilities and can help families and staff with inquiries and complaints.

Tell the ombudsman which facilities you are considering and request any information they have about the facility. Visit prospective facilities at different times of day. Talk with residents and staff members. Be persistent about getting your questions answered.

Entering and Adjusting to Nursing Home Life
Although some people enter a nursing home temporarily for a short-term stay, it is still a sad day for most people and sad feelings are normal. Reassurance from family and friends that love and contact will be maintained can ease the transition. In addition, there are steps to take that may help lessen the trauma of the change:

–Talk about the admission in advance
–Visit the home with the prospective resident beforehand, if possible
–Involve the prospective resident as much as possible in the decision-making
–Describe the home in detail before moving there
–Decide together what items to bring to the nursing home
–Get to know the administration of the nursing home
–Maintain contact with the resident after admission
–Maintain contact with the home after admission
–On the day of admission, be available the entire day to help settle the resident and provide emotional support.

Paying for a Nursing Care Facility
Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and personal assets are all used under various circumstances to pay for services in a nursing care facility. If a facility is not certified by Medicare and Medicaid, the care will have to be paid for entirely with personal funds.

In general, Medicare pays for skilled nursing care following hospitalization for the same illness or condition at 100% of the cost for days 1 – 20. However, on days 21 – 100 the Medicare subscriber is responsible for a co-pay. Medicaid, a government program for the indigent, covers nursing home care for individuals who meet strict medical and financial eligibility requirements. Some long-term care insurance pays for nursing home care; insurance payments are usually a fixed amount for a specified number of qualified days. On the subject of buying long-term health care insurance, the National Council on Aging can be helpful, providing practical, objective information on what to look for. Call 1-800-373-4906 and request the “Long-Term Care Insurance” booklet. The cost for the booklet is $14.95 for non-members. Information is also available online: www.ncoa.org.

The “Consumer’s Guide to Nursing Home Contracts,” published by Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Inc., provides additional information and advice on paying for nursing care services. Below is an excerpt from the guide.

What is the Basic Daily Rate?
The basic daily rate is the standard charge the nursing home bills to all residents, which covers the fundamental services every resident receives, including rent for the room, housekeeping, meals, and general nursing care.

It is important to understand all the services and amenities that are not included in the basic daily rate. The fees and charges for “supplemental services” often increase the expense of the nursing home bill dramatically, to the surprise and dismay of the recipient of the bill. Often services expected to be included in the basic daily rate, such as extra nursing services, pharmaceutical needs, and telephone services are extra charges.

Does the basic daily rate include all the nursing care I will need? Probably not. The basic daily rate includes “basic” or “general” nursing services. What is provided with basic or general nursing care may vary from nursing home to nursing home.

But the basic daily rate often does not include many common nursing services. Physical therapy, glucose monitoring, incontinent care, hand or tube feeding, etc. might each involve extra fees. In addition, prescription and non-prescription medicines are not included in the basic daily rate.

How can I avoid being surprised by added costs?
To understand which additional services (and additional costs) a resident will require, the first place to look is the Resident Assessment. This assessment is required by law and analyzes what kind of nursing and other care the resident needs. For example, if the new resident is incontinent, the assessment should indicate this fact.

To get an accurate assessment of the costs, make sure you understand what is covered by the basic daily rate. Then, ask the nursing home representative to discuss the resident assessment and to explain to you what additional nursing and services, beyond what is covered by the basic daily rate, are necessary. The nursing home should give you an itemized list of supplemental services and the costs above the basic daily rate.

Also, decide what additional amenities you want (telephone, beauty care, etc.) and add these costs in. Request an estimate of the total bill. You should have this estimate long before the end of the first month, so that you know exactly what to expect.

Since paying for care in a nursing care facility can be both expensive and confusing, it is a good idea to contact your local department of social services or Area Agency on Aging for more information.

Evaluating Nursing Homes

Use this checklist to judge and compare the nursing homes you call and/or visit.

– Is the facility accepting new patients?
– Does the facility offer skilled nursing care?
– Is the facility Medicare-certified and/or Medicaid-certified?
– Are the home and its current administrator licensed?
– What type of education and training do staff members have? How many Registered Nurses (RNs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are on staff?
– Are background checks conducted on all staff members?
– Is there a care plan developed for every resident?
– Are care plans reviewed and updated by providers and family members?
– Is the interaction between residents and staff members warm and respectful?
– Are public areas and resident rooms clean and comfortable?
– Are there a variety of activities available for residents?
– What is the staff to patient ratio at night and on weekends?
– Do staff members respond to residents requests for assistance promptly?
– Are there enough staff members available to assist residents during meals?
– Does the food in the dining room look and smell appealing?
– Are there handrails in hallways and grab bars in bathrooms?
– Are exits clearly marked?
– Is the facility outfitted with smoke detectors and sprinklers?

Adapted from Medicare’s Nursing Home checklist. For more information, see www.medicare.gov.