Everything Elderly is on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m., on 1290 AM WLBY, sponsored by Senior Helpers. We very much enjoyed our guests this weekend. We learned a lot about elder law, and about speech and swallowing therapy.

We first had the pleasure of speaking with John Arenz and Rosemary Frenza, both elder law attorneys with the Legacy Law Center here in Ann Arbor. They both bring a great deal of enthusiasm, experience and knowledge to that legal practice. Arenz specializes in long-term care, special needs issues, as well as Medicare and Medicaid concerns. Frenza handles general probate law, guardianship and conservatorships, as well as taking court appointments.

The firm’s motto is “Eldercare and Advocacy” and the focus is on serving the person. Terry Bertram, the practice’s lead attorney, wants more than simply being a law firm that prepares good documents, he wants the firm to be a trusted resource, and a valuable part of their clients' lives.

Arenz spoke about planning for the “what if” situations, those requiring different types of long-term care. The focus is on helping people live comfortably, without financial stress.

Frenza is also a practicing mediator, serving as a neutral third-party to foster resolution when parties are not in agreement, rather than using the court system. While mediators are not licensed, Frenza referenced the local Dispute Resolution Center, that can connect people with qualified, local mediators.

To contact either Arenz or Frenza, or the Legacy Law Center, call 734-995-2383, or visit their website legacypllc.com. To listen to the 12-minute discussion, please click on this audio file Everything Elderly Frenza and Arenz 0821.mp3.

We next had an interesting discussion with Kathleen Baines, the clinical coordinator of Speech Language Pathology at the Chelsea Community Hospital. The hospital has many specialty programs and a full-service emergency room. The hospital is very focused on customer service. They are also now part of the St. Joseph Mercy Health System. Baines provides therapy for swallowing, speech and language, and cognitive communication. Her patients tend to be more elderly patients, as a lot of the issues are caused by strokes. Many other patients have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

We got an insightful lesson about how swallowing works. When you swallow, your Adam's apple goes up and back down in about one second. That action keeps food and liquids from entering the airway passage. Swallowing is a delicate mechanism, ”you know when you are choking, your body has safety mechanisms that protect you”. For example, “when food goes the wrong way, you want to cough!”

Baines spoke of a patient that responded very well to swallowing therapy, emphasizing that the patient was a good student. “People have to participate and do their homework, and when they do, they have better results”.

Baines works with a large team of experts, who meet and talk frequently about their patients. Baines shared “Breaking News” that the hospital just introduced new technology. They are now able to produce digital recordings of swallow studies.

To get in touch with Baines or the Speech Language Pathology department, call 734-475-4138, or visit their website cch.org. To listen to the full 12-minute talk click on this file Everything Elderly Kathleen Baines 0821.mp3.

Alan Caldwell is the owner of Senior Helpers, providing in-home care services, primarily for the elderly. He can be contacted at acaldwell@seniorhelpers.com, or at 734-927-3111.