April - June 2015 Newsletter

Gasconade County R-2 Students Gear Up for a New Year

Heartland Independent Living Center held their first of three events on Friday July 10^th at the Rosebud American Legion Hall. By the end of the event, 173 students (Kindergarten thru 12^th grade) left with backpacks loaded with the necessary supplies for the upcoming school year.

Each student came through the door and was able to pick their backpack color. Then they traveled among the tables and gathered information and the school supplies as they went. Height and weight checks provided by Capital Region, a portable germ center provided by the Medical Clinic of Owensville, and hearing checks provided by the Lions Club, among other services were provided at the event.

Twenty-six vendors helped to make the event a success, by providing additional supplies to those purchased by community donations and Heartland funds. The supplies provided included Crayola markers, crayons and colored pencils; as well as, loose leaf paper, notebooks, books (donated by Scholastic), shampoo and conditioner (donated by Unilever), and much more. In total each student left with approximately $30 to $40 worth of supplies purchased by Heartland staff, plus all the extras provided by the vendors.

Heartland would like to give a very heartfelt thank you to all the donors, vendors, and community that made the event possible in the first place.

“Heartland was very pleased with the community’s response to our first Back to School Fair for students living in the Gasconade Country R-2 school district,” said Patrick Chamber, Executive Director of Heartland Independent Living Center. “We appreciate the cooperation of the American Legion Post in Rosebud, and the 26 vendors who provided students with school supplies and information at the event.”

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.  

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July 2015 Board of Directors Agenda

Governor Proclaims June 30th Arthrogryposis Day

Getting a proclamation signed by the governor is not the easiest thing to do. It involves writing, rewriting and then waiting, but that is exactly what Andrea Gerloff did. She petitioned Governor Jay Nixon to proclaim June 30^th Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC) Day in Missouri.

AMC is a general term for the development of non-progressive contractures (tightening and shortening of muscles and joints leading to loss of joint motion) affecting one or more areas of the body prior to birth, according to the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine. The disease results in decreased flexibility to the joints, which can include muscle weakness or stiff joints.

Gerloff’s hope is to raise awareness and promote learning about a disease that affects one in every 3,000 live births, she said.

Gerloff holds the proclamation signed by Governor Jay
Nixon making June 30th Arthrogryposis Multiplex
Congenita (AMC) Day.

“I’m just hoping it will get out there so people will know what Arthrogryposis is and how it affects people’s lives,” Gerloff said. “I’m still learning things about my disability, like 84 percent (of people) are affected in all four limbs and 16 percent in either the arms or the legs.”

Gerloff who is affected by AMC in all four limbs, uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility and requires help to remain independent in her home.

“You can’t do everything you’d like to do, like bike riding or going for a walk,” Gerloff said. “You can go with people, but it’s different because you’re in the chair.”

As a daily routine, Gerloff relies on her fiancé to help her get dressed in the morning. During the day she takes online courses toward a degree in information technology with the intent of web design and development. However, if Gerloff needs to use the restroom or eat, she must call someone to come help her.

“Everything I’ve been through, I go around with a smile on my face every day,” Gerloff said. “There’s no need to be down.”

After a month of waiting, the proclamation finally came in the mail and Gerloff says she couldn’t have been more excited.

Missouri joins 28 other states that recognize June 30^th as AMC day. 2015 will be the 6^th annual celebration, and it is requested that you wear blue on June 30^th in awareness of Arthrogryposis.  

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.  

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JUNE 15TH HEARTLAND INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER BOARD AGENDA

Board Meeting Agenda for April 20th, 2015

Heartland Independent Living Center

Board of Directors - Monthly Meeting 

Monday April 20, 2015 - 11:00a.m. 

Owensville Office of Heartland Independent Living Center

Agenda

Minutes    Time 

1               11:00 a.m.             Call to order - Mark 

1               11:01 a.m.             Roll Call - Deborah 

1               11:02 a.m.             Welcome & Introduction of Guests - Mark

1               11:03 a.m.             Approval of Agenda - Mark

3               11:06 a.m.             Consent of Agenda - Mark & Pat

                                                                     

                                               E.D. Reports for March with explanation; including:

                                                     - Informational Narrative

                                                     - Dash Board Monitoring Report

                                                     - March Income Statement

2               11:08 a.m.             Approval of Minutes - Mark

                                                     - Minutes of March 16 Meeting 

25             11:33 a.m.             Board Training - Mark

                                                     - TAP Adaptive telephone program - Debbie Skasick

                                                     - Policy Governance Scenario 6.2 & 6.5 - Board & Pat

20                                           Working Lunch with Continuation of Agenda 

60             12:53 p.m.             Board Process Work -  Mark

                                                     - Update on Owensville Building Renovation - Pat

                                                     - Review & approval of new & revised 

                                                            Employee Policies

                                                     - Review of proposed investment policies - Pat/Katrina/Brett

5               12:58 p.m.              Old Business -  Mark

                                                     - Review of the recent Blooming Craft Fair Event - Pat

5               1:03 p.m.                New Business - Mark

                                                     - Plans for upcoming fundraising events - Pat

2               1:05 p.m.                Public Comments - Mark

                 1:05 p.m.                Adjournment - Mark

Alert for Medicaid recipients who do not receive Social Security or SSI.

1)      Have you received any communications recently from the state that have the words MO HealthNet Adverse Action Notice at the top?

2)      If you have received the letter, you MUST take it to the FSD office in your area (preferably) or if you cannot take it to an office, you must call 855-373-4636.

3)      If you have NOT received the letter, watch your mail for a letter from the state with the words MO HealthNet Adverse Action Notice at the top and as soon as you get it, take it to an FSD office to get it corrected.

4)      There is nothing that you as a consumer have done wrong. The state is merely needing you to complete a Medical Review to verify that you still have a disability. Anyone with SSDI or pending SSDI (who do not also have Social Security or SSI) are getting the letter, not just you. Even if you recently completed a medical review, if you get the letter, you MUST go to visit an FSD office to take care of it.

5)      If you get the letter and you do not follow-through on it within the timeframe listed on the letter, your Medicaid WILL be terminated.

6)      As long as you visit the FSD office or call and ask for a review/hearing by the date listed in the letter, you will be able to continue your Medicaid at the same level until the hearing/review process is done. 

Moll scholarship offered to students with disabilities

Heartland Independent Living Center is looking for qualifying students to sponsor for the Gary Moll Memorial Scholarship for the 2015 – 2016 school year.

Applications for the Gary Moll Memorial Scholarship program are being accepted through Friday May 1, 2015. The Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council (MOSILC) intends on awarding two $1,000 scholarships. Qualified students are strongly encouraged to submit one or two letters of recommendation with their applications and must be sponsored by a Missouri Center for Independent Living.

The scholarship program is for Missouri students with disabilities who are attending, or will be enrolling in, a junior college, college, university or accredited vocational school located in the state of Missouri. Proof of their enrollment is required with the completed application.

“Gary Moll was a tremendous advocate for people with disabilities, and the Centers for Independent Living.” Executive Director Patrick Chambers said. “Because of his disabilities, he understood the challenges facing the disability community. It is an honor for Heartland to recruit students for these scholarships in his honor.”

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.   

Heartland Independent Living Center receives $11,300 from United Way

Heartland Independent Living Center received $11,300 from the Franklin County Area United Way to help serve individuals with disabilities throughout Franklin, Maries and Gasconade counties. This is an increase from what Heartland was allocated last year. The funds will go to support Heartland's mission which is to create accessibility for all. Heartland seeks to empower people with disabilities by helping them to live independently with dignity and Security.

For the full news release written by the Missourian follow the link.

United Way to Allocate to $900,000 to 54 Agencies and Programs



*Heartland is a non-profit, non-residential, community based 501(c)(3) organization. 

Heartland October-December 2014 Newsletter

2014 has been another extremely busy and productive year for Heartland Independent Living Center and HILC In-Home Care. I’ll have a summary of the goals we accomplished in the next newsletter, but at this time I’d like to make you aware of a major state-required change coming for everyone involved in the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program.

Telephony, a relatively new method of recording the attendance and tasks of all Personal Care Attendants (PCA’s), must be implemented by all agencies contracted with the Department of Health and Senior Services no later than July 1, 2015. Heartland’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program, and our HILC In-Home Care program, are both DHSS vendor programs. 

In very general terms, Telephony is an electronic method of tracking when an attendant or aide reports to their worksite, the tasks they perform while working, and then the time they leave the worksite. This is accomplished with phone calls made by the attendant and consumer. Data is collected through codes entered during each call by the attendant and consumer. Telephone calls go directly to the computer system and are not answered by an actual person.

The Telephony program is intended to replace paper time sheets which have been the means of tracking employee activity since these programs began. Long standing concerns related to possible Medicaid fraud is the primary reason Telephony is replacing paper time sheets, but there are situations where paper time sheets may still be accepted after July 1. Those situations will be reviewed and considered on a case by case basis.

Heartland will begin installing our Telephone equipment right after the first of the year. Phone lines and toll-free numbers are being ordered specifically for this program. Our staff will be trained so they can begin training their consumers. We expect to begin using Telephony on a limited basis in January or early February.

Pat Chambers

Executive Director

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The Care of a Loved One

Carol Heidbrier takes care of her mother, 99-year-old June Rehmert. After a fire destroyed her home, she and her husband rebuilt with the mindset of moving June in with them. Eventually Carol realized she needed support and approached Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) to assist with her mother’s care.

June lives with a series of health conditions; including, dementia, bladder incontinence, hearing loss, congestive heart failure, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), which require she live with 24-hour care. HILC’s In-Home program helps Carol care for June with four-day-a-week aides who come into the home. The aides assist by cleaning, bathing, and sometimes just socializing with the person to give family members some much needed rest.

“There are a lot of individuals in her situation,” HILC In-Home Coordinator Sandi Johnson said. “Families are unaware of the services out there to avoid nursing homes. This is better than assisted living facilities because they get to live in the home with family members.” June is often times restless throughout the night and that affects Carol, who must get up to care for her mother.

“You know I think the most difficult thing for me is probably the nights,” Carol says. “The lack of rest for me because you know she gets up to go to the bathroom two or three times a night. … But I try to get my sleep in. Sometimes if I try to take a nap during the day it’s kind of difficult. I’m sitting in there in a chair and she doesn't want me to sleep. She wants to talk to me.”

The overwhelming stress 24/7 care puts on families is something Heartland hopes to alleviate by expanding to overnight respite care. 

“It’s a constant worry about whether they are doing enough for them,” Johnson said. “They’re working 24/7 essentially. It can be very tiring and patience can wear quickly, even though they love them. Having someone there (overnight) would allow her daughter to get some rest, while she knows her mom is being cared for.”

Carol is in a constant juggling act of caring for her mother, caring for herself, and completing her own work. 

“Of course I have my own housework to do,” Carol says. “Sometimes if I’m raking outside I have to tell her where I’m going. If she can see me she can watch me from the window. But in the

summertime, I can take her outside. If I’m working in the garden, I take her outside and let her sit on the porch. I put a straw hat on her so she can watch me wherever I’m at, because you can’t leave her alone for very long periods of time because you don’t know what she is going to do.” 

Heartland’s aides relieve Carol, giving June company and allowing Carol an opportunity to work or run errands.

“People like Mrs. June are what makes me love my job,” said Kyla Tungate, one of June’s HILC’s In -Home aides. “She makes it all worth it, and there’s no better feeling in the world than knowing that I made a difference in her life, as well as others. I strive to make every day an enjoyable and memorable one. Through the rough times in my life I've learned that you never know when one day may be someone’s last, so you've got to make every day count.”

Carol does what she does because she always has. Her mother is not the first person she has cared for when their health declined. Though her mother is deserving of all the care she can give, Carol says. “I love my mom very much and I know here she has the family environment,” Carol says. 

“You see, my dad died when she was 39-years-old and she lived alone for a long time. She never got remarried. From that point on she was the family provider and care giver for the children. My youngest sister wasn't even a year old at the time. She has been a wonderful, wonderful mother and she’s been a caring mother. She’s carried a heavy load and personally I feel that she needs the same love and care that she gave her family. I really do.” 

Carol knows that as time progresses her mother’s needs are going to change and it could become harder to care for her. 

“Sometimes it gets difficult and you get tired,” Carol says. “Which I am today – I’m tired. It really helps to have the girls (from HILC) come in. As time goes on I know I’m going to need more things to take care of her and make it easier. It’s going to get harder. I think at the rate she’s going she may outlive me. Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but sometimes I feel that way.”

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2015 Holiday Schedule

for Heartland Independent Living Center

Heartland’s business offices will not be open on these dates:

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Show-Me Employment Project

Do you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) OR Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits? Are you worried about losing your Medicare or Medicaid? Do you want personalized employment planning assistance? Are you confused about the rules and regulations of the benefits you currently receive? 

If you answered YES to the above questions, then please contact the Show Me Employment Project. Their Certified Work Incentive Coordinators can assist you in gaining a better understanding of your benefit options with regards to employment. 

These Specialists explain the effects of wages and earnings on monthly SSI/SSDI payments. They explain any Social Security work incentives that permit beneficiaries to remain eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, and cash benefits while testing their ability to work. 

Specialists are available to answer questions from the general public, community based organizations and state agencies about Social Security programs that support employment.

Any recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability (SSDI) living within the Show Me Employment Project Service area is eligible. If you live in Gasconade, Franklin or other counties surrounding St. Louis, your Certified Work Incentives Coordinator is Evelyn Austin. She can be reached at (314) 357-4212 or at cwic_eaustin@paraquad.org. Individuals living in Maries, Osage, Cole, Crawford, Phelps, Pulaski and other central Missouri counties should contact Maria DeBord, Her phone number is (573) 263-1760. You can reach by email at cwic_mdebord@paraquad.org. 

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Best Wishes for a Great New Year

The Heartland Independent Living Center staff wants to wish our consumers and community partners a happy and healthy 2015. Here’s a photo of who are behind the voices when you call our main office in Owensville and our Christopher Manhart office in Union.

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Couponing Class is Coming Soon!

Heartland is in the process of planning several fun and informative new activities for our consumers in 2015. One of these events is a couponing class that we did three years ago.


Everyone’s budget can use a helping hand these days, and coupons are a great way to make your food shopping dollars go farther! A Heartland staff member who just started using coupons and price matching a couple of months ago said she is saving more than $200 a month on her family’s grocery bill!

We are just starting to plan for what we hope will be a class that will be offered on multiple occasions. We’ll announce the class on our website, Facebook page, and other social media as soon as the plans are completed. 

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