Hello everyone, thank you for stopping by our Caregiver Profile! Every month, we will highlight some of our outstanding employees. You’ll learn a little bit about our caregivers, the in home care services we provide, and what makes Pennsylvania Agency of Nurses so special (spoiler alert: it’s the people!).
It should come as no surprise that selecting an agency or individual to provide In Home Care for a loved one can be a somewhat complex process. How do you know when to get help (read here for some guidelines), and what questions do you need to ask? Choosing a registry or agency to care for your loved ones is a big decision; this is a person that will be in your (or your parent’s) home, and depending on how much care is required, may be there as little as a few hours per week, up to round-the-clock care. So let’s take a look at some of the differentiators and things you should consider before making a hire.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with COPD, there are some important things that you should know. According to the American Lung Association, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD for short) is a disease of the lungs which causes difficulty in breathing. The progressive nature of this condition means that it worsens over time and can lead to early death. Shortness of breath and wheezing are often accompanied by a buildup of mucus, leading to coughing fits and an inability to clear the lungs.
Over 11 million people in America have been diagnosed with COPD, and it is estimated that another 13 million have the disease but are undiagnosed. The number one cause for COPD is cigarette smoking. Other contributing factors are long term exposure to air pollution, chemical fumes and second hand smoke. Long term smokers, even those who have quit, are at risk for developing COPD, which was the third leading cause of death in 2011, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. So, what is COPD all about?
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.
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!
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.”
