Archive for year: 2013

[title size=”1″]Eliminate Confusion With Some Definitions[/title]
When dealing with social workers in regards to senior care services, you may find yourself trying to understand terms that you haven’t heard before. Understanding the different acronyms and abbreviations can help you make better choices and stay with the conversation. On top of that, the experts are likely to take you more seriously when you’re able to speak their “language”.

[title size=”2″]Common Senior Care Terms[/title]
AAA – Area Agencies on Aging – Nonprofit agencies who provide local seniors with convenience services to encourage older adults to remain at home.

AD – Advanced Directive – All the documentation regarding preferred care after death (i.e. Living Will).

ADL – Activities of Daily Living – ADLs refer to your typical, personal tasks and activities, such as eating or showering.

AHCD – Advanced Health Care Directive – Similar to the AD or living will and is used during medical complications which prevent a patient to speak for themselves.

CCRC – Continuing Care Retirement Community – Also known as a life-care community, CCRC is a retirement community which provides a variety of services from independent living to end-of-life hospice care.

DME – Durable Medical Equipment – Medical equipment used at home such as, wheelchairs, hospice beds, oxygen tanks, and more.

DNR – Do Not Resuscitate – An order from the doctor stating that no effort will be made to restart a patient’s heart or restart breathing if either were to stop. Based off the wishes stated in the living will, AD, or AHCD and is legally binding.

DPOA – Durable Power of Attorney – A legal document that allows another person or relative to decide financial decisions and is often times combined with an AHCD.

DSM – Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – A DSM refers to documentation that describes a diagnosis regarding a mental illness, depression or other mood disorder.

EHR or EMR – Electronic Health Record or Electronic Medical Record – EMRs are patient’s medical records which are shared within a healthcare organization. EHRs are patient medical records which are shared amongst multiple healthcare agencies.

GCM – Geriatric Care Manager – A GCM is essentially a consultant for future living arrangements and housing options.

HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act – HIPAA is a release form which allows another person or family member to receive medical information regarding a patient.

IADL – Instrumental Activities of Daily Living – Interchangeable with ADL but more specifically refers to more complicated daily tasks such as meal preparation or managing finances.

LTC – Long-term Care – Extended health care living arrangements such as assisted living or on-going in home care for seniors.

MMSE – Mini-Mental Status Exam – An exam used to diagnose dementia.

NEMT – Nonemergency Medical Transportation – Means of transportation to or from a medical facility for appointments which not emergencies and do not require an ambulance (Wheelchair van, medi-car, taxi, ect…).

OT – Occupational Therapy/Therapist – Occupational Therapy is learning or relearning skills needed for independent living.

PERS – Personal Emergency Response System – A device used to send a signal to emergency response personnel.

POLST – Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment – Allows a patient to state their preference in regard to the use of life-extending actions such as CPR, feeding tubes, ventilators and others. It’s similar to an AD or AHCD but much more comprehensive.

PRN – Pro Re Nata – Meaning “according to circumstances”, PRN is used to describe treatment that is recommended on an as-needed basis.

PT – Physical Therapy/Therapist – Treatment involving physical exercise, stretching, and massage therapy in order to regain movement that was lost in result of an injury or illness.

RCF – Residential Care Facility – 24-hour supervised living arrangements which may or may not include full medical services.

ROM – Range of Motion – ROM refers to the full amount of potential movement in a joint.

SNF – Skilled Nursing Facility – The highest level of care available after hospitalization, a SNF is a facility that provides 24 hour nursing care.

[title size=”1″]Covering The Costs of In-Home Senior Care[/title]
If you or a loved one as come to the point in life where in home care has become a necessity, you may be considering the best way to pay for it. While in home care can be quite affordable when only needing a few hours a day of service, long hours can really rack up the costs. Many seniors will turn to Medicare or Medicaid when attempting to cover those costs. While both can be helpful, it is important to understand the difference in order to get the best coverage possible.

[title size=”2″]Medicare Won’t Cover Long-term Care[/title]
Medicare can be extremely helpful in covering the costs of intensive in home care when a serious medical condition occurs or in the event of sudden health problems, but, unbeknownst to many, Medicare does not cover long-term home care. When facing an event that requires short-term, intensive care at home, your best bet is to look into utilizing Medicare while determining a long-term solution.

Click here to learn about recent changes with Medicare coverage.

[title size=”3″]Medicaid Can Assist With Long-term Care Coverage[/title]
Unlike Medicare, Medicaid can provide assistance on a long-term basis but must by qualified for by presenting financial records over the past 5 years which indicate a low income and little or no savings. So if you or a loved one is facing the need for long-term, in home care and can’t afford it, then you should look into applying for Medicaid. If you are unable to qualify for Medicaid, then you may want to look into some of these other ways to help pay for in home care.

Caring For The Elderly In Your Family

Assisted living centers are common in the United States. They offer facility care for seniors who are unable to handle their own medical needs. This seems like a good idea in theory, but in practice there are many disadvantages of assisted living. Contact us at 480-498-2324 to learn how we can help senior loved ones age comfortably in their own home.

As you or your loved ones age, the need to have a dedicated care provider increases. The greatest fear of seniors in their old age is that they will lose their freedoms. This fear is likely to be realized if they are entered into an assisted living center.

The Disadvantages of Assisted Living

Assisted care facilities work on paper but when it comes to reality there are many issues that make them unfavorable places to live.

• They are typically understaffed, leading to negligent care.
• You are not guaranteed a private room.
• There may be limited visitation times.
• The amount of time you can leave the facility may be greatly restricted.
• Patients are not allowed to clean up after themselves.
• All meals are made for you under strict dieting guidelines.
• Assisted living facilities are known for their incredibly high prices.

Avoid Assisted Living With A Better Alternative

The disadvantages of assisted living are certainly daunting. That is why many people turn to in home care instead. In-home care does not require you to leave your place of residence, and allows you to continue to enjoy the quality of life and freedom you love.

Learn more about the benefits of in home care by clicking here.

[title size=”1″]Do You Or A Loved One Need Medical Care?[/title]
You, like many other Americans, may be seeking a way to get necessary medical care without giving up your independence. In-home senior care can provide the clinical services necessary while allowing seniors to keep the freedom they desire.

In-home care means that your medical services are brought to you. Many seniors prefer at-home care over other health care services. If you are interested in senior home care, learn about some of the many benefits here.

[title size=”2″]List of Great Benefits of Senior Home Care[/title]
There are many excellent benefits of home care for seniors. The below list includes just some examples of why seniors prefer in home care.

• You get to stay in the home you love.
• Care at home allows families to keep living together.
• Studies have shown that people tend to heal faster at their homes.
• Home care is suited to your individual needs.
• Home care has been shown to reduce stress.
• You can choose your home care agent.
• Home care increases the average life spans of patients.
• At-home care, provided early enough, can reduce the chances of necessary institutionalization.

[title size=”3″]Making The Right Call[/title]
If the many benefits of senior home care appeal to you, then it’s time for you to make the call. Contact us today and set up an appointment with one of our senior care experts to learn more about in-home senior care and how you can take advantage of this great alternative to the dreaded nursing home.

Also Related: Ways to pay for in-home senior care

Also Related: In-home senior care vs assisted living

[title size=”1″]Are Your Golden Years Being Lived To The Fullest?[/title]
Our golden years, they can be the happiest times of our life, but they can also be some of the most challenging. As we age, our bodies are not what they used to be, and we might need help doing the things we enjoy.

Senior care is the necessary medical care that elders need to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle. After living a full and prosperous life there is no reason you or your loved ones need suffer in their golden years. The right elder care will allow seniors to live their life to the fullest.

[title size=”2″]What Exactly Is Senior Care?[/title]
Senior care is a blanket term for the many ways health care providers help elders on a daily basis.

Some of the most common services that elder care companies provide include:

• Keeping track of your medicines.
• Ensuring that you are taking the correct dosage.
• Help with grocery shopping.
• Any necessary cooking and cleaning.
• Helping you get dressed and ready in the morning.
• They help seniors put on physical therapy braces and other necessary medical devices.
• Work with seniors to help them retain or regain movement and mobility.
• Running seniors through physical therapy exercises.

[title size=”3″]The Advantage of In-home Senior Care[/title]
Many people dread the term senior care because it makes them think of nursing homes or other assisted living facilities. But, there is an alternative senior care that can be brought to you without the need to leave the home you love.

In-home elder care is preferred by many seniors over the more traditional methods. Studies have shown that when seniors are treated at home they recover faster, and live their lives with less stress. If you are interested in learning more about in-home senior care, contact Endeavor Home Care today.