Spent most of yesterday getting the OCCC session in shape. It looks pretty good, I think. We'll work on resume-writing, cover letters, and applications during the first portion, and interviewing techniques in the second. Will also exchange job listings. Last week, I asked everybody to bring in two openings that correspond to what somebody in the class (one could be themselves) is looking for, and we'll talk about them and discuss sources. I picked up applications from a nursery school (for one of my students, who wants a teaching assistant job) and a nursing home (for activities director), and talked to a man who runs a boatworks (for the repairperson in the class).
I'm going to have a mock interview, with me as the interviewee, then I'll ask the class to critique my performance. Will also discuss legal and illegal interview questions--some of which are subtle.
Joanne, director of the Academy, asked if I'd repeat my class next semester (October) and I agreed. She asked if two sessions were enough to cover the material and I said I thought it was, but I'm having second thoughts about that. Think I'll tell her three successive weeks would be better.
Pat's lung condition has been causing some nasty mucus-producing congestion recently. I called the doctor and she prescribed an antibiotic. Last night, he seems to have been able to sleep better, although he took the medication only once. Incidentally, seven pills came to $70 with the supplemental insurance for which we pay almost $2400 a year. I'm no math whiz, but even I can tell that's $10 for each pill. How in the hell do they calculate this stuff?
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Had a delightful lunch with my new (Wellspouse) friend, Mary L. yesterday. No problem getting to TGI Friday's in Toms River--in fact, ...
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Thursday, August 23: Lunch with the most recent gang of company was nice. Had the menu I planned and everybody seemed to like it; just serve...
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Ellen scrambled eggs for breakfast, then she and I went to the meadow preserve and took a long walk. Here are some pics from that very enjoy...
4 comments:
Hey Rosemary,
You've got some great teaching techniques. Sounds like a fun class where they'll learn useful info.
Can Pat get some of his meds from the VA? Seems like my cousin's husband drives somewhere up there (mid or central jersey) to get them.
Have fun today.
As a rule, Pat gets ALL his meds from the V.A. His primary physician is in the V.A. and, until last year, he (or we) used to have to drive the 3-hour round trip to Philly to see his doctors. When he went in the hospital, though (he's been in four times in the last year), I took him to a local one, after which we got a bill for $33,000, the portion Medicare didn't pay. That's when we enrolled him in AARP (that's the $2400 a year) so he could see doctors here (he goes to 9 specialists), plus hospital costs are covered. He still has to see the V.A. doctor at Fort Dix at least twice a year and, to get the meds prescribed by other doctors, we would have to call him, get him to prescribe it through the V.A., wait the weeks until it would be filled--etc. I didn't want him to have to wait so long. And I'm only filling you in on the least of it. I'm quite serious when I say I work as a case manager--I have files and folders concerning Pat's medical care that would fill an office.
I went to the pharmacy a year ago to see what it would cost us to get all Pat's meds there--it would be $1200 a month--and some have been added since. Incidentally, keep in mind that I'm in Horizon Medicare Blue, not AARP, and for that we pay $2500 a year. If you add in what's taken out of Social Security for Medicare, plus what we spend for OTC for Pat, plus mileage and incidentals, I figure we're out of pocket roughly $10,000 a year--and we're lucky.
P.S. Keep in mind we don't get meds from the V.A. for free. We pay a portion of it and it has gone up considerably in the last two years.
Whew! Rich says you should write to your congressman and/or senator and tell them you and the many millions are unhappy with the services of the VA. Not sure it would help tho'
OK here's my suggestion....take a list of every med Pat is on when he has a VA visit. Tell/or ask (whatever works) the doctor to write a script for each med. Tell or ask the doc NOT date it...so you can get them filled when you run out of the ones from your local pharm. You might ask him to write for an antibiotic Pat has taken for flare ups so you'll have it on hand.
Then you can mail them in when it is best for you.
I often ask my doc to write scripts and NOT date them ...I date them before I send them in. The reason for not dating is it gives you more time....the script is only good for a year from the date it is written. Hope that makes sense and is useful info.
/p
Pat, thanks for the suggestion, but actually, all the regular medications Pat is on he already gets from the V.A. It's the added ones and the OTC ones we pay regular price for. As for being dissatisfied with the V.A.--ha! I haven't even touched on the problems encountered when he goes for an appointment. He has an audiology appt. on the 27th, as his hearing aid is not working and getting back and forth to Philly will be a real hassle. Oh, well, we're dealing with it as best we can. Thanks for your interest.
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