Di Bartolomeo Law Office - April 2021

Di Bartolomeo Law Office - April 2021

Makin’ It Better NEWSLETTER

April 2021

Oregon Workers’ Compensation | Personal Injury | Social Security Disability

1139 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-8600 • JoeDiBartolomeo.com

Making the Most of April Showers

DON’T LET THEM GO TO WASTE! “There are plenty of ways to make the most of April’s rainy days and escape their dreariness at the same time.”

“April showers bring May flowers.” I’ve heard this phrase hundreds of times throughout my life, and now that April has arrived, so have those rainy days. When I wake up in the morning to find that it’s cold and rainy outside, instead of beautiful and sunny like I wanted it to be, the weather could dampen my spirits. It’s easy to just shrug my shoulders and say, “Well, April showers bring May flowers, I guess.” While it’s true that the rain will make for some beautiful green days down the road, I always try to remember that the rainy days aren’t a waste — they’re an opportunity. Let me explain what I mean. Sure, after a long, cold winter, we’d all prefer for every day of spring and summer to be sunny and cloudless, but those rainy days are good for more than just dreaming about the warm

summer weather. Rainy days cause you to think more creatively about how to use your time; they might even force you to do some chores that you’ve put off! This April, if you’re looking to do more on your rainy days than just sit around waiting for the sun to come out, here are a few ideas. MAKE RAINY DAYS FINANCE DAYS (OR OTHER NOT-SO-FUN CHORE DAYS). Handling your finances and tweaking your budget can be stressful. It can also seem impossible to work on when the warm spring weather is beckoning you outside — at least that’s the case for me! That’s why I’ve often found that rainy days make the best days for sorting through any lingering finance tasks that I need to get done. I can’t go outside, so why not tackle some not-so-fun chores while the nice weather can’t distract me?

LEARN SOMETHING NEW. Rain is often synonymous with boredom, but it doesn’t have to be. The internet has opened up many new avenues for us to learn almost instantaneously. Why not find your next favorite hobby or learn some new, random facts to impress your friends? Here’s a fun idea: Pick a country in the world at random and learn everything you can about it. You could even plan an imaginary vacation to that place if it seems like there’s a lot of fun to be had there. All in all, there are plenty of ways to make the most of April’s rainy days and escape their dreariness at the same time. I hope that some of these ideas inspire you to maximize every day you’re given — even the ones that bring you showers instead of sunshine. –Joe Di Bartolomeo | 1

MAKE A COZY NOOK FOR READING BOOKS.

Rainy days can make you want to disappear into another world where things are a little less dreary. So, why not create the ultimate reading experience for yourself with a nook specially designed to immerse you in another world? I always try to find the coziest corner of the house, whether that’s on the couch in the living room or sitting on a bench with some pillows and blankets in front of a wide window. Hot beverages and snacks are always allowed to join me, of course!

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

HIGH QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

tuning in to your body’s needs and cues, but it goes further than that. As a Harvard Medical School article put it, “In essence, mindful eating means being fully attentive to your food — as you buy, prepare, serve, and consume it.” And that includes focusing on how different foods and eating habits make you feel, both physically and mentally. While this may feel … intuitive ... it’s easier said than done in a culture with consistent and often confusing messaging around what constitutes healthy eating. Even the tried-and-true method of calorie counting has raised doubts in recent years due to inaccuracies in calorie calculations for the nutrition labels and research on how calorie restriction can backfire by changing your hormone levels and even slowing down your metabolism. Kristen Smith, a registered dietitian and the spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says it’s also linked to disordered eating habits. Intuitive eating may just be the antidote. Singer Demi Lovato, who has been open about her struggles with an eating disorder and body-image issues, credits a more mindful approach to eating with helping her overcome harmful eating patterns. HOW DOES IT LEAD TO BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES? Having a regular exercise routine and eating well have long been known as the two pillars of physical health. When it comes to the latter, intuitive eating helps you create healthy and sustainable eating habits. The upshot is that when you eat better, you’ll feel better. Being attuned to that connection is the foundation of mindful eating. Most of us know that we should eat whole foods, including lots of fruits and vegetables, but feeling the outcome of increased consumption of these foods will help you stick with and build the habit.

How Intuitive Eating Can Help You Quit Diet Culture

The concept of mindfulness has fully saturated mainstream culture at this point. Though it’s more likely to conjure up an image of someone sitting cross-legged with closed eyes than sitting at a table looking wide-eyed at mealtime, it’ll serve you just as well on your dinner plate as it will on your yoga mat. WHAT IS INTUITIVE EATING? Eating mindfully, also known as intuitive eating, is trending in the health and wellness world. But it couldn’t be more different from fad diets or other trends like fasting and cleanses, which have restrictive lists of rules and foods to eat or avoid. Intuitive eating starts by simply

YOUR WORKERS’ COMP CLAIM HAS BEEN ACCEPTED! Now What?

ANTICIPATE AND UNDERSTAND THE CLAIM CLOSURE PROCESS. If you will not be able to return to the same physical condition you were in prior to your injury, your claim may go to closure. You must first undergo an independent medical exam, and your doctor must agree you are “medically stationary,” meaning you’re as good as you will get (even if some permanent impairment remains). The Notice of Closure means you are no longer entitled to restorative medical care or time loss (disability) benefits.

Once your Oregon workers’ compensation claim is accepted, you may feel relief and optimism about getting the medical care you need and getting back to work. Here are six important things to do at this stage to ensure your claim proceeds smoothly. CHECK YOUR NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE. Once the insurance company accepts your claim, it will issue a Notice of Acceptance, which includes the medical condition accepted and what treatments it will provide benefits for. The insurance company is only legally obligated to cover treatments for the accepted medical condition. ENSURE YOU’RE GETTING PAID FOR ALL LOST INCOME. You may qualify for supplemental temporary disability if you were working more than one job when injured, and your injury prevents you from working that second job. You’ll need to notify the insurance company within 30 days of submitting your claim and be

prepared to provide documents to verify employment and earnings.

CONTINUE TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR REGULARLY.

If you’ve been disabled due to an injury on the job, it’s important to continue checking in regularly with your doctor to ensure proper ongoing documentation. UNDERSTAND MODIFIED WORK RESTRICTIONS. During your recovery process, your employer may offer you a modified job position to accommodate any limitations you may have. If you are working in an approved modified position, keep documentation of your work restrictions with you. If asked to do anything beyond your approved work, politely let your supervisor know you haven’t been approved to do that task. If you encounter any difficulty or push back, contact us right away.

CONSIDER VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION.

If you won’t be able to return to your prior job duties, even after medical treatment, you can ask the insurance company if you qualify for vocational rehabilitation, or the opportunity to receive training for a new job with equivalent pay to your previous occupation.

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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Ticket to Work Program The Perfect In-Between Arrangement

QUALIFICATION A person qualifies if they are between the ages of 18–64 and receive Social Security benefits due to a disability. If you fit these qualifications, the SSA may have already sent some information regarding the program. For any additional questions you may have regarding your qualification, visit ChooseWork.SSA.gov or call the Ticket to Work Helpline at 866‑968‑7842 (voice) or 866‑833‑2967 (TTY). SERVICE PROVIDERS The Ticket to Work Program works with public and private service providers, such as the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency or independent employment networks (ENs). Before deciding on a provider, research those in your area to find one best suited for your needs and employment goals. PROGRAM DETAILS Both VR and EN require you to agree to an employment plan. This plan consists of milestones you will need to reach within set time frames. Whichever

service provider you choose will work with you to find employment or education opportunities. If you stick to this plan, the SSA will not conduct a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) of your medical condition. BENEFITS As you find gainful employment, many of your benefits, including medical, housing, Social Security, and food stamps, will be affected. However, some programs, such as the Employed Persons with Disabilities program (EPD), allow you to keep some benefits. The EPD gives working folks with disabilities the option to receive Medicaid while earning wages. If, over the course of the program, you find your disability is still too great of a hindrance for you to return to work, you will be placed on a fast track to get your benefits restored. If you’re still unsure if Ticket to Work is right for you, get in touch with our law office. Our team is ready to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Call today at 503-325-8600.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers the Ticket to Work Program to people who fall between the gray area of “unable” and “able” to work. The program acts like a bridge between someone’s benefits and gainful employment, helping those who are looking to learn a new skill or reenter the workforce. Here’s what you need to know about Ticket to Work.

PUZZLE

Rhubarb Oat Bars Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups fresh rhubarb, chopped • 1 cup packed brown sugar, divided

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/3 cup butter, melted

• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice • 4 tbsp water, divided • 4 tsp cornstarch

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish. 2. In a medium saucepan, bring rhubarb, 1/2 cup brown sugar, lemon juice, and 3 tbsp water to a boil. 3. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rhubarb is tender (about 5 minutes). 4. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and remaining water, stirring until smooth. 5. Gradually add to the rhubarb mixture, return to a boil, and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside. 6. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, coconut, salt, and remaining brown sugar. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly. 7. Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spread rhubarb mixture on top, then sprinkle with remaining oat mixture. 8. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely before enjoying!

The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com

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1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103

What’s Inside

1

Making the Most of April Showers

2

What Is Intuitive Eating? 6 Things to Do When Your Worker’s Comp Claim Is Accepted

3

The Gray Area: Working and Collecting Benefits Rhubarb Oat Bars

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AI Is Helping Us Explore Space!

GENIUS TECHNOLOGY 3 Ways AI Is Changing Our Lives for the Better

Artificial intelligence (AI) became a household feature when Apple introduced us to Siri, and it expanded with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home. However, AI can do so much more than tell us the weather or answer our customer service questions. Today, AI is more advanced than ever, and as engineers continue to tweak its capabilities, it continues to shape the way we think about the future. Here are three ways AI is expanding beyond computer programs. EXPLORING MARS Putting humans on Mars is NASA’s ultimate goal, so it’s probing for safe landing sites on the big red planet with the help of AI. For the past 15 years, scientists have relied on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to send photos and other valuable >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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