Long term care planning for the loved ones in your life is a very important decision to make. In a previous blog, we discussed why it can be difficult to know when to find qualified help for elderly care.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Sep
2015
27
Sep
2015
25
There are many types of assistance available for senior citizens (in and out of the home), and it can be difficult to know which type of care is appropriate for yourself or a loved one. It can be especially difficult to discern how the costs of each compare to one another, and how this information can help your family make the right decision. Thankfully, there is hard data available; the 2014 Genworth Cost of Care study that was recently published offers a good look at different types of elderly care, and what the median costs are.
Sep
2015
23
When most people think of In Home Care, they likely think of elderly care. While older Americans definitely comprise a large segment of the in-home care population, you might be surprised to learn that many other families use these services as well. Special Needs Care is a type of In Home Care where the client is not necessarily a geriatric patient, but still requires assistance with day-to-day tasks.
Special Needs Care is appropriate for those with mental, emotional, or physical issues that impede their ability to function completely independently. An example might be an adult child with Down Syndrome whose parents have passed away, or a recent heart attack victim. Some of the assistance that can be provided includes help with errands, transportation, and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) like bathing, toileting, meal preparation, and more.
Sep
2015
21
Did you know that there are an estimated 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease right now? Although this represents a very small portion of the U.S. population (less than 2% according to 2014 numbers), Alzheimer’s stands out because it is one of the very few diseases that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed down. Even if it does not impact a majority of Americans directly, the nature of the disease is such that it has a huge impact on both the person suffering, and their family and friends. But what is Alzheimer’s disease? Let’s take a closer look at this disease in-depth to better understand what it is, what can be done, and how to care for those living with Alzheimer’s.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Sep
2015
08
Did you know that the population of Americans 65 and older is projected to be more than 47 million this year? Additionally, data from the 2010 census showed that the number of Americans in this age demographic was higher than it had been in any previous census. As the population continues to age, more and more elderly Americans have some sort of senior care made available to them, whether it’s a family caregiver, moving to a nursing home, or receiving in home care services. A very unfortunate reality of this growing demographic is that instances of elder abuse might also rise. Let’s take a look at what elder abuse is, how to identify it, and where you can turn to get help.
Sep
2015
04
Discovering that an elderly parent needs in home care can be distressing news for adult children to handle. This is especially so if there are disagreements about how a parent should be cared for, who should be the caregiver, which funds are to be used, and so on. But take heart! There is no need for families to break up or fight incessantly over senior care; in this blog, we’ll cover some tactics that can be helpful in keeping the peace.
In Home Care for Parents: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
The absolute best tactic to avoid sibling strife is to discuss in home care options with parents before the need for it arises. The key to bringing this topic up is to do so respectfully, earnestly, and without an agenda. It’s also important to remember that all the details need not be hashed out in one discussion. While this may be an uncomfortable discussion to have (for everyone involved), it does two very important things:
Sep
2015
02
Most people have heard the term “HIPAA” but they may not know what it means or how it relates to their personal life (as a side note, it’s often misspelled ‘HIPPA’). Although it’s not well understood, HIPAA-compliance is an important piece of the puzzle to consider when choosing home care assistants or a Registered Nurse Geriatric Care Manager. Let’s take a quick look at this legislation, what it means, and how it relates to in-home health care services!
What does HIPAA stand for?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was enacted by the Clinton administration. Also known as the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act, its purpose is “(1) to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, (2) to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, (3) to promote the use of medical savings accounts, (4) to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, (5) to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes.”
Sep
2015
01
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 29 million Americans have diabetes, and sadly, the number keeps rising. As the general population gets older, the incidence rate of diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed) continues to increase: “The percentage of Americans age 65 and older remains high, at 25.9%, or 11.8 million seniors” according to the ADA. This is a significant portion of the population, and it’s very likely that someone you know personally will suffer from diabetes. Let’s take a closer look at this disease, who it affects, and whether in home care is appropriate in certain cases.
What are the basics of diabetes? What’s the difference between Types 1 and 2?
Diabetes refers to the amount of glucose (sugar) in your system, and how your body produces or uses insulin. Insulin is a hormone created by your pancreas that transfers glucose from your blood into your cells. If your body does not create any or enough of this hormone, then the amount of glucose in your blood may increase to unhealthy levels, and this can have serious ramifications. For instance, your cells may initially be starved of energy (since glucose is staying in your blood instead of transferring into cells), and over time, your eyes, kidneys, heart, and other vital organs may be negatively impacted. One hopeful note, however, is that diabetes symptoms can generally be controlled with exercise and diet, which can positively affect other aspects of your life as well.
Aug
2015
31
Hiring Registered Nurse Geriatric Care Management for a loved one is one of the most important decisions a person can make. Whether you are caring for a beloved spouse, parent, aunt, or uncle, a Registered Nurse Geriatric Care Manager can make a world of difference for your family and loved ones. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know when hiring someone for this position is the right move to make…so let’s take a look at four signs that mean you should consider it!
But first…
What does a Registered Nurse Geriatric Care Manager do?
At Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses, our care managers are available to meet almost any need your family requires. We like to think of it as “Your Daughter For Hire.” ℠ Consider all of the help that a family member can provide for an older person…escorting to appointments, picking up medication, grocery shopping, Client Advocacy, paying bills, and more. Our Geriatric Care Managers are Registered Nurses, thoroughly screened, and uniquely qualified to help elderly family members through this fee-for-service model. It’s like having a resource to turn to with any medical question you encounter. Read more about our GCM service here.
