Bill... Thank you for the workshop topics-outline...it looks quite
interesting... It's just that in your  previous message you thank me for
taking on the job of giving the  workshops for Parkinson Toronto. I
responded with my feeble sense of humour since I am not the one giving these
workshops.   Hopefully I can attend.

Hoping I did not offend you.
Joan U(rquhart)
-----Original Message-----
From: William Harshaw <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 1:41 PM
Subject: Re: REPOST: Re: cyber PD and serendipity


>Joan,
>
>Attached is an outline of some of the topics that will be covered in the
>financial planning workshops
>
>Thank you for agreeing to take on the job of giving the workshop(s) for
>Parkinson Toronto.  I envision the following topics, among others, being
>covered:
>
>•  the possibility/probability of having to go on long-term disability
>(LTD)
>• implications of LTD usually 60% of salary, integrated with CPP Disability
>benefit
>  • Example salary $50,000   LTD $30,000 made up of
>         CPP $10,500
>              Company Plan  $29,500
>  • CPP is taxable income
>  • LTD is tax free if you pay the premium; but taxable if your employer
>pays the premium.
>    • in the example if you pay the premium, your LTD will be $XX,XXX
>    • if your employer pays it will be $YY,YYY
>    • which is a difference of $ZZ,ZZZ a year or$zzz a month
>   • therefore if you have the option of paying the premium, do
>  • medication cost can be crippling if you don't have a drug plan
>   • find out the details of your company plan
>    • is there a cap on benefits
>    • is there a copayment & is it capped
>    • you might be able to ‘top up' the company plan with the Ont. Govt's
>Trillium Drug Plan
>    • Does your spouse/partner work?  Can you use his/her plan
>• What about your mortgage?
>• What about your RRSP?
>• What about your children's education?  RESPs?
>• What about uninsured (by OHIP)  medical expenses?
>• What about making your house barrier-free?  Is financial help available?
>• Is it better to
>  • maximize my RRSP?
>  • pay off my mortgage?
>  • maximize non-registered savings/investments?
>• should I claim the disabled income tax credit?
>• what benefits are available through the income tax system?
>• What about Homecare?  Are benefits taxable?
>• What about the Assistive Devices Program?
>• What about participating in clinical trials as a cost reduction measure?
>
>John, you can see that the above list of topics, which is by no means
>exhaustive, would probably easily fill two sessions.  If I may be so bold
to
>
>make a suggestion, Arthur I. Fish, Counsel to the law firm of Borden &
>Elliot is a leading expert on the law regarding health and disability.  You
>might find it useful to consult him on the government programs.  His phone
>number is (416) 367-6178, Fax (416) 361-2719 and E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
>Timing is as yet uncertain, but I would think mid-September to late October
>would be appropriate.
>
>John, when you have had an opportunity to review this memo, please get in
>touch with me.
>
>Thank you for agreeing to elp.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: joan carol urquhart <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 11:33 AM
>Subject: Re: REPOST: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>
>
>>Your work and words are inspirational.
>>
>>Can you tell us more about the financial planning workshops inToronto run
>by
>>the Toronto Chapter...or  more about the 800 number?
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: William Harshaw <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 10:55 AM
>>Subject: Re: REPOST: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>>
>>
>>>Dear Hilary,
>>>
>>>    At the Toronto Chapter of the Parkinson Foundation of Canada, of
which
>>I
>>>am the Chair, we try to address these issues:
>>>
>>>    1)    This fall we are holding workshops "Financial Planning for
>>>Parkinsonians" which will cover, among other things, planning for LTD,
>>>optimizing use of the health care system and government aid programs.
>>>
>>>    2)    In 1994-5, we were instrumental in securing the adoption of the
>>>Trillium Drug Plan by the Ontario government - see my article in the
>>current
>>>issue of the National Parkinson Foundation "Report" - which provides,
>after
>>>a graduated modest co-payment, a drug plan for those that don't have one.
>>>
>>>    3)      We are holding workshops on "Creative Expression for PWPs"
>>which
>>>explores art and writing as a medium of expressing feelngs about PD,
under
>>>the overall direction of a psychiatrist.
>>>
>>>    4)    We have a full time psychiatric nurse on staff who answers our
>>>"800" line as well as local calls and visits local support groups
>>>
>>>    Its not enough, but its a start.
>>>
>>>    Bill
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Date: Monday, September 06, 1999 9:14 AM
>>>Subject: REPOST: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>>>
>>>
>>>>REPOST:
>>>>
>>>>I am reposting this series of exchanges because I think that some of the
>>>>issues raised are very important and , I fear, may have been lost in the
>>>>hub-bub over the SPARKLE issue. Particularly my last letter - which is
>>>listed
>>>>first. (reverse chronology)
>>>>>
>>>>>  Once again, I agree with you totally. The health care provided for
the
>>>>>  so-called 'indigent' is woefully inadequate. Not only PWPs but right
>>>across
>>>>>  the board. THere are many diseases going undiagnosed and untreated.
>And
>>>I
>>>>>  believe this will be a political issue - should be, MUST be -
>>>>>  on a local, state and federal level. But this is not specific to PD.
>>I'm
>>>not
>>>>>  suggesting we abandon these people. I'm just suggesting - hoping -
>that
>>>others
>>>>>  will adddress their needs.
>>>>>
>>>>>  Meanwhile there are those among us, members of our own communities -
>>>members
>>>>>  of this list - who are facing hardship. Individuals who are known to
>us
>>>>>  personally through the net, or support groups, or maybe we've met
them
>>>at a
>>>>>  conference. Or just heard their stories on the list. BUt they are
>>people
>>>with
>>>>>  names (and sometimes faces) that we recognise. Who are having hard
>>>times.
>>>>>  Maybe a marriage is breaking up because the strains of dealing with
PD
>>>have
>>>>>  baecome too great. Maybe someone is facing foreclosure because the
>cost
>>>of the
>>>>>  disease has overtaken his financial resources - maybe someone does
not
>>>have
>>>>>  medical insurance. or cannot afford the medication or has lost his
job
>>>becuse
>>>>>  of PD but doesnt qualify for SSI -  whatever.
>>>>>
>>>>>  What i am trying to say is that there are people close to home that
>>need
>>>help.
>>>>>  We don't have to go out and look for them. I dont know how we would
>put
>>>this
>>>>> into practice, but wouldnt it be nice if there ws some kind of fund
>that
>>>people
>>>>>  on the list could tap into in their time of need - maybe get low
>>>interest
>>>>>  loans, or outright gifts. Or even some sort of pension fund.  TO
>>>supplement
>>>>> the woefully inadequate Social Security payments - but without
>>>prejudicing the
>>>>> rights to those payments. It is all very complex. Sometimes the
>>>assistance
>>>>> needed is not simple money.
>>>>>  The cost of adequate care is very high to those who do not have it.
>Not
>>>all of
>>>>>  us are blessed with spouses or adult children capable of caring for
us
>>>>>  Maybe one of the large home health agencies would sponsor  home care
>to
>>>some
>>>>> needy individuals. THe field is ripe for investigation - into supply
>and
>>>>> demand. We dont even know what people need, let alone how to fill
those
>>>needs.
>>>>>
>>>>> I suggest that this area is as important a one for investigation and
>>>funding
>>>>> as finding the cure. Because we have to stay alive to get the cure.
And
>>>for
>>>>> some of us, just  a little extra financial support may make that
>>>difference.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hilary Blue
>>>>>
>>>>> > William Harshaw wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> > >
>>>>> > > Hilary  & Michel,
>>>>> > >
>>>>> > > My concern is with the people in our society who are undiagnosed
>>>through no
>>>>> > > fault of their own, except perhaps that they live in the inner
>>cities
>>>of our
>>>>> > > large metropolitan areas.  Some years ago I challenged the
>Parkinson
>>>>> > > Foundation of Canada to conduct an inner city census to get an
idea
>>>of who
>>>>> > > had what and was undiagnosed.   we do so little for the inner city
>>>residents
>>>>> > > except to belittle them and libel them by stereotyping them as
lazy
>>>n'er do
>>>>> > > wells.  To my shame nothing was done.
>>>>> > >
>>>>> > > -----Original Message-----
>>>>> > > From: Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> > > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> > > Date: Saturday, August 28, 1999 5:19 PM
>>>>> > > Subject: Re: cyber PD and serendipity
>>>>> > >
>>>>> > > >Yes, I agree with you 100%. It would be wonderful if every PWP
had
>>a
>>>>> > > computer
>>>>> > > >and access to the internet.   ANd I regard that as a basic need.
>>>For me
>>>>> > > >personally, I think I would stifle without the ablility to
>>>communicate with
>>>>> > > my
>>>>> > > >fellow human beings.  And as my  hand writing shrinks to nothing,
>>>and my
>>>>> > > voice
>>>>> > > >fades to a mumble,  the internet assumes more and more
importance.
>>>>> > > > BUT, and this is a great big but, there are many of the basics
>>that
>>>some
>>>>> > > >people would consider even more important than computers !!!
>>>>> > > >I refer to
>>>>> > > >housing,
>>>>> > > >food,
>>>>> > > >clothing,
>>>>> > > >medication
>>>>> > > >and
>>>>> > > >CAREGIVERS.
>>>>> > > >>From time to time, we see appeals on the list.
>>>>> > > >Or hear stories of people in need.
>>>>> > > >My concern is with those people.
>>>>> > > >What say you?
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >Hilary Blue
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >
>>>>> > > >Michel Margosis wrote:
>>>>> > > >>
>>>>> > > >> > My concern is always with those who don't have
>>>>> > > >> > access to a computer or to the net. They are the ones who
>>suffer
>>>is
>>>>> > > >> > isolation.  If I could advocate for anything it would be to
>>give
>>>every
>>>>> > > PWP a
>>>>> > > >> > computer with free  internet access
>>>>> > > >> >
>>>>> > > >> Thank you, Joan, for your note.  With respect to your thought
>>>expressed
>>>>> > > >> above, our support group (Capital Chapter of NPF) did exactly
>>>that.  One
>>>>> > > >> of our members had a source of usable computers that were
>>>surplused by a
>>>>> > > >> large company and these PC's were donated to individual PWP.
In
>>>my
>>>>> > > >> mind, that is a worthwhile activity for any support group.
>>>>> > > >>
>>>>> > > >> Michel
>>>>> > > >
>>>>
>>>
>>
>