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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 >>>>> > > > >>>> >>> >> >