Archive for the ‘Care Plans’ Category

What sort of training is typical of a geriatric care manager?

Posted on: April 23rd, 2012 by aagingbetter

Knowing the credentials of a geriatric care manager (GCM) or geriatric agency can also help explain how a GCM or agency will advocate on behalf of your loved one.  Geriatric care agencies and managers are trained and experienced in one or more fields related to health and long-term care options, including, but not limited to:

  • Nursing
  • Gerontology (the field of elderly, over 65 year olds)
  • Social work
  • Psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care

Plus, professional geriatric care managers and agencies have a combined working knowledge of:

  • Human development
  • Health and psychology
  • Family dynamics
  • Public and private resources and funding sources

Besides older adults and their families, geriatric care management services are appropriate for:

  • A company whose employee is losing work time because of caregiving responsibilities
  • An attorney or trust officer who is managing the estate of an older adult and that elderly individual needs in-home care to remain safely and effectively at home
  • A physician who recommends in-home assistance or monitoring
  • A clergy who would like to arrange assistance for an older adult

Care management embraces a comprehensive range of services, and the role of the care manager or home-care agency manager is multifaceted.  To learn more about geriatric care management services from the perspective of an in-home care agency, contact us at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls (Main Office) or Hayden Lake areas; at 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas. We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and the five northern counties of Idaho.  If you or your loved one needs assistance in the home, we would be privileged to care for them.

 

 

Getting to Know: Geriatric Care Managers

Posted on: April 2nd, 2012 by aagingbetter

Are you in charge of your loved one’s care?  Managing finances and hiring new services to make living at home possible for aging or frail elderly relatives can be overwhelming for most family members. Many simply don’t know where to turn to seek advice or find a supportive advocate for their aging loved one.  Professional geriatric care managers (GCMs) are an excellent resource in these situations.  GCMs work with families to design and manage a care plan that suits each senior with services such as:

  • Care planning assessments to identify needs, problems and eligibility for assistance, such as Medicaid or possibly Medicare, if the individual’s physician orders specific Medicare-covered home services.
  • Mediation between siblings or family members who cannot agree on the type of care the loved one needs or should have.  Unfortunately, this type of situation is not uncommon among family members with strong opinions about their parent or loved one.
  • Communication and coordination efforts across all medical and other care providers.  A good example of this would be coordinating appointments between doctor’s offices, physical therapists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, social workers, etc.
  • Act as a liaison for families at a distance, reporting back with any adjustments in care or financial issues.  When a son or daughter is trying to set up home care or other appointments from another state, a GCM can be invaluable in coordinating much of that work for the son or daughter and then reporting the results back to him or her.
  • Client and family education on management of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS, heart disease and diabetes.
  • Information on costs, quality and availability of local resources, connecting to specialists when needed or helping family members make a determination of which agency or resource to use based on ratings, reputation or performance feedback.
  • Screening, arranging and monitoring in-home help or other services.
  • Containing costs by avoiding inappropriate placements in such institutions as Assisted Living Facilities, nursing homes, etc., or duplication of services, and crisis intervention to avoid hospitalizations.

Payment for geriatric care management services is generally out of pocket, invoiced by the hour or by the project.  These types of services are not covered by Medicaid, Medicare or most private health insurance policies.  However, some services may be billable to long-term care insurance if the loved one has such a policy.  In that case, the insurance representative that sold the policy to the parent or loved one would be able to tell the family member exactly what the policy covers and what it doesn’t when it comes to in-home care.  Checking with this individual first before making too many decisions for a parent or frail relative could save the family a lot of money out of their own pockets.  Insurance policies seldom pay after the fact.  All services must be pre-approved by the insurance company before any in-home services are started.

If you are concerned about the care of a loved one, or would just like further information on geriatric care managers in our area, contact us online or call us at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Hayden or Post Falls (Main Office) area; at 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River area; or 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst area.  We serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area and all five North Idaho counties.

 

Home Care is Helpful Care for Those with Diabetes

Posted on: March 19th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Earlier in this month’s blogs, it was pointed out that neglecting to care for your diabetes, or your loved one’s diabetic needs, could lead to serious complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetic coma or amputated limbs.  AAging Better In-Home Care provides support, in-home care solutions and ways to remain upbeat and healthy with the proper care and help from well-trained caregivers.

With an AAging Better In-Home Care caregiver at your side or caring for you loved one:

  • Obtain the right information and repeat education on proper diabetic care.  You may have been told about your diabetes when you were first diagnosed but it takes continued education to stay abreast of new developments in diabetic care and learning how to properly care for the disease.
  • Avoid situations that could disrupt a care schedule.  We can’t always predict what each day will bring but certainly planning a day’s activities or chores in advance help keep you on track with medications, diet and exercise.
  • Speaking of exercise, always try to do it with a buddy or a caregiver being present to avoid excuses for not exercising or in the event of an injury.  Someone will be there to assist you if that should occur.
  • Uncover depression or other emotional concerns over having diabetes and the limitations if brings.  Just recognizing that you’re now in a new phase of your life often helps to face the challenges, limitations and changes that happen over time to your body.  Seeking professional counseling or joining a diabetic support group can work wonders in keeping things upbeat and realistic.

As you consider your disease or your loved one’s diagnosis, try and reframe daily care into easily recognizable benefits.  It’s a proven fact that proper care and good diabetic control helps prevent the serious complications of the disease.  But if the threat of significant complications is not enough to stay on track with meds, diet and exercise, you might also consider other benefits that would better influence quality care.  Just one example is that proper care can result in the ability to more easily enjoy hobbies and interests.  And have a longer, healthier lifetime to enjoy your loved ones!

If you or a loved one needs help with diabetic care management, AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you carry out the care plan your doctor or nutritionist created for you and assist with all your care needs. From receiving insulin injections by one of our nurses, to assisting with the activities of daily living, our agency is here to help you or your loved one.

For more information, contact us online or by calling (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.  We’re here to help you 24-hours a day, seven days-a-week.

Diabetes Self-Care Measures Made Easier with an In-Home Caregiver

Posted on: March 12th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Diabetes care requires a high level of mental function, given the need to follow a treatment plan that includes diet, exercise, and medication components as well as blood sugar testing and other self-care measures.  While it may not be intentional, seniors who skip care steps may experience a quick decline in health with additional complications linked to diabetes.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may need help keeping up with diabetes care, consider getting the services of an in-home care agency that can provide a well-trained caregiver to assist.  Here are a few ways a caregiver can help:

  • A senior with reduced vision may not see a small foot sore that could quickly develop into a major problem.  The agency caregiver can inspect the diabetic’s feet daily, provide proper wound care and can coordinate care with the physician’s office to ensure the client’s feet are kept appropriately healthy.  This is a common condition AAging Better sees in many of its clients and trains its caregivers on the latest information for diabetic foot care.
  • An in-home caregiver can help ensure the client receives proper nutrition through the planning and preparation of tasty, diabetic-appropriate meals.  Again, this is a critical service AAging Better caregivers are well-trained in.
  • An in-home caregiver can assist with a physician-approved or physical therapist approved exercise program.  AAging Better’s caregivers frequently work with doctor’s offices and physical therapists’ instructions to ensure the client appropriately and correctly performs the exercises as outlined by these professionals.
  • A caregiver can provide reminders for glucose testing and can schedule regular physician checkups.  Reminding clients it’s time to test their blood sugar or take their medications is one of the most frequent services in-home care agency caregivers provide and all AAging Better employees must take and successfully pass a course called “Assistance with Medications” before being allowed to work in a home where they will be assisting clients with this function.

A little extra assistance from a compassionate caregiver can provide mental and physical stress relief for diabetic seniors at home.  AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you determine the right care plan and assist with your care needs.  For more information, contact us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

AAging Better In-Home Care Offers Expert Tips for Diabetes Care

Posted on: March 5th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Diabetes is a life-changing diagnosis—for both the person with the diagnosis and their family members who may be in the role of offering personal care assistance and support.  Maintaining a proper diet, keeping up religiously with prescribed medications, monitoring blood glucose and other health stats are daily care duties, and if ignored, diabetes can lead to serious and potentially life threatening complications.  While constant health management can be stressful, there are ways to help cut back on the stresses and strains of a new diagnosis of diabetes, while keeping up with the appropriate care necessary for good health.

  1. Be OK with not being perfect. Taking good care of yourself doesn’t mean having to be perfect in every way.  Some days your glucose will fluctuate for one reason or another, and that’s fine.  If it fluctuates too severely and may be a danger, certainly act on that by calling the doctor or office nurse and following their advice.  But, in general, learn from your mistakes and forgive yourself–and go on with pursuing a happy life.
  2. Identify roadblocks. Do you need to know more about diabetes care?  Are you making too many excuses to not exercise?  Do you have eating issues tied to emotions as opposed to hunger?  Whatever is keeping you from maintaining your blood sugar properly, identifying the problem is the first step on the road to better health and less stress.
  3. Accept help when and where you can get it. Don’t let pride get in the way of accepting help from friends or family when you need it.  We all need someone to lean on sometimes and joining a support group or talking to supportive family can be a big benefit.
  4. Create a daily care plan. Having a routine will help take the guess work out of managing your care.  Don’t forget to plan for disruptions to your regular schedule, such as eating out or taking a trip, and have a back-up plan by making the right choices in restaurants or taking the appropriate snacks with you on trips.  Don’t get caught without a back-up plan if you can help it.

Most importantly, always try to keep a positive attitude.  Think of diabetes care as leading to a healthier lifestyle – it’s a positive thing for your body and your life.  Uplifting self-talk is motivational and creates solutions.  If you or a loved one needs help with diabetes care management, AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you determine the right care plan and assist with any personal care needs you might have. For more information, contact us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; and (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

Planning for Long-Term Care: Things to Consider

Posted on: February 13th, 2012 by aagingbetter

As individuals age, the ability to perform certain everyday activities usually begins to falter in the sixth or seventh decades of life, often to the point that extra assistance in maintaining a home or personal needs become essential to remain safely at home.  For family members, understanding the care needs of older loved ones and what is involved with different levels of care is an important first step in coordinating a long-term care plan.   The activities of daily living (ADLs) are often the first items of care that an elderly person will require help with.  Traditionally, these include but are not limited to:

  • Assistance with Bathing
  • Assistance with Dressing
  • Assistance with Grooming or Personal hygiene
  • Exercise
  • Walking, transfers and repositioning
  • Meal planning and preparation
  • Housekeeping–cleaning and laundry

Other non-medical services that may need to be included in a “Plan of Care” for the elderly or disabled individuals are companionship services, as well as respite services that are designed to provide relief and “a break” for a family caregiver who may be caring for a loved one.  In-home care agencies, like AAging Better In-Home Care, are valuable resources for families to consult and discuss what services or accommodations might be needed.  Our agency provides a free in-home assessment to determine the care requirements of each new client and then works closely with the client or family member/s to develop a Plan of Care, provide guidance along the way, and implement and monitor continuing care and services.  As industry experts, in-home care agencies know how to maximize available resources to assure that all needs are met and that the care provided at home ensures a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable environment for the loved one.

At AAging Better, we take pride in helping families coordinate long-term care for their aging loved ones.  To find out more about our services, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

 

Shedding Some Light on Seniors with Low Vision

Posted on: August 22nd, 2011 by aagingbetter

Making a few adjustments to lighting can make a significant difference to a senior with reduced vision.  For example, cutting the distance between a light source and the task in half by bringing the light closer to the work will make the brightness of the light approximately four times greater.  Here are some other lighting tips to help a senior with low vision:

A.)  To ensure better light in a work area for reading, cooking, using the telephone, or doing crafts, use a “task lamp” with a flexible arm or gooseneck so light can be focused closely and directly on the work area.

B.)  If one eye has better vision, position the lamp on that side of the body, slightly to the side. Take caution in placement however, so that the light is not reflecting from the page into the eyes of the reader.

C.  Make sure all light bulbs are covered with some sort of shade in order to reduce glare.

D.)  To reduce the heat of a higher-wattage bulb, use a lamp with an internal reflector (a double shade).  This reduces the heat significantly, and allows the lamp to be closer to the face than with a single shade, especially one made of metal.

E.)  Install extra lighting in places where it may be difficult to move around, such as hallways and stairs.

F.)  Install dimmer switches for controlling the amount of light in the room.

G.)  Install under-cabinet lighting for tasks in the kitchen or work areas.

In addition to lighting changes, consider home care as an option to help you or your loved ones adapt to low vision problems.  The experienced caregiving team at AAging Better In-Home Care will identify a disabled or senior’s specific challenges with the activities of daily living  and help to provide solutions.  These solutions can mean the difference between living safely in the comfort of home or moving into a much more expensive facility like a nursing home or Assisted Living Facility.

Contact AAging Better In-Home Care at (208) 777-0308 in the Hayden, Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Priest River or Bonners Ferry areas,  or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Kingston or Wallace areas to learn more.

Developing A Care Plan For The Future

Posted on: March 16th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Preparing a long-term care plan may seem daunting, but will help alleviate the burden if and when the time comes and it is necessary. Key things to consider when developing a long-term care plan are:

  • Start by identifying what types of care services may be needed. Sit down with family members and physicians and/or an AAging Better In-Home Care care manager and discuss what is perceived to be your loved one’s caregiving needs.
  • Next, outline the duties and responsibilities the caregiver will be required to provide. This helps to define the caregiver role that works best in your situation and will help clarify which type of caregiving situation is most appropriate for your loved one’s needs.
  • Compare and understand long-term care insurance options.
  • Communicate with family and friends and decide who can be counted on for help.
  • Establish clear legal directions.  A home-care company can help define these for you.
  • Focus on available finances.
  • Learn what is offered in your community.  Call the Area Agency on Aging for a list of home-care companies in our area.  That number is (208) 667-3179.
  • Make home improvements, like a ramp leading up to the front door, if necessary.
  • Take control of health and personal needs.

Asking the right questions is extremely important, as well as involving the senior who requires in-home care in the planning process.  After all, it is most often their home that the care will be given in and seniors want to maintain control of their environment and themselves for as long as possible.  For further assistance with eldercare planning in Idaho, contact AAging Better In-Home Care at (208) 777-0308 in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls or (208) 263-7889 in Sandpoint or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg area.

You may also want to check out Medicare.gov’s Long-Term Care Planning Tool, which was created with the goal of helping people better understand what long-term care services are available, how much one can expect to pay for long-term care, and what financing options are available to support long-term care costs.  The tool asks between twelve and twenty questions and then provides long-term care results by comparing your answers to those of individuals with similar profiles. Click here to view the tool.

 
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