Articles - The Main Categories
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Caregiving
Caregivers
“There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” A quote by Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady of the United States as the wife of President Jimmy Carter. It takes a special person to be a caregiver to others. The struggle to balance family, life and work at the same time as
Cultivating Caregiver Wellness Connecting with nature is good for family caregivers.
The health benefit of gardening is well documented throughout history. Benjamin Rush, a prominent Philadelphia physician and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the first to document the therapeutic benefits of working in the garden with individuals with a mental illness. By the 1950s, the practice of horticulture therapy expanded to treat war veterans and gained acceptance in benefiting a wide range of disabilities and diagnoses. Today, therapeutic gardening or horticulture therapy, benefits
Social Filters Can Come and Go When Living With Dementia
When working properly, our brains have a social filter. This is a thinking skill that most people have developed over time and can control without even realizing it. We all have unkind thoughts from time to time, but we do not always say out loud what we are thinking. Our social filter helps us use words and actions that show kindness and consideration to others. An example of this is when we get a handmade
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Elder Law
You Can Be Sued For Your Parent’s Nursing Home Bill
Yes, you read that title correctly. In Pennsylvania, a nursing home can sue adult children for a parent’s unpaid nursing home bills. This law is called the Filial Responsibility Law and you need to be aware of it if your parents are currently receiving care or may need care in the future. This law has been in existence for decades but has only recently been used by nursing homes to recover a parent’s unpaid medical
Medicaid Spend Down Planning
When you go into a nursing home and want Medicaid to pay the bill, you must be below the government’s asset thresholds. Unfortunately, you essentially must go broke before the government will help pay for your care. When someone with assets goes into a nursing home, they must pay privately for care or take other legitimate actions to get the countable assets low enough for eligibility. The process of decreasing assets to become eligible for
Why Would I Consider a Trust For My Estate Planning?
Everyone needs an estate plan, it doesn’t matter what your socio-economic circumstances are. A simple estate plan will typically contain at least three documents. This will generally include a durable medical power of attorney and a durable financial power of attorney. The other document typically found is a way to pass your property upon death such as a will. However, there are times when a trust might be an option in your estate planning instead
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Health at Home
Pennsylvania Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
Do you or your loved one have a serious medical condition? Examples of such conditions include advanced heart, lung or kidney disease, cancer, liver failure, Parkinson’s and dementia. Have your or a loved one been told you are moving close to the end of life? Such patients often want to make very clear their wishes regarding the type of care they want to receive, or do not want to receive, if their condition progresses. There
Connecting With Relay Colorado
Making calls through Relay Colorado is liberating, enjoyable and convenient. Relay Colorado, a no cost, 24-hour service, allows callers who are deaf, hard-of -hearing, deaf-blind or those who have a speech disability to call anybody using relay services. All calls are confidential, and no records are kept. Relay Service-Dial 711 and call anyone, anywhere, anytime with Relay Colorado. The Communication Assistance (CA) will dial the other party’s number and the CA will relay the conversation
Medicare Advantage Plans and Non-Medical Home Care
Seniors have the option to “opt out” of traditional Medicare plans and “opt in” to a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans are rapidly growing because they offer benefits not covered by traditional Medicare including: eyeglasses, dental care, and non-medical home care. 2019 is expected to be the year in which this new benefit will be introduced and is expected to gain momentum with more plans offering the enhanced benefit over the next 2 to 3
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Healthy Aging
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common chronic, progressive, neurologic disease, behind only Alzheimer’s. Due to a dramatic increase in the age of our population, genetics, and environmental factors associated with an increased risk for the disease, many physicians believe that we may be on the cusp of an emerging pandemic. Parkinson’s is a disease of the central nervous system that touches almost every aspect of daily living, including movement, mood, speech, eating and drinking,
Living Longer, Stronger Lives
The goal for most of us is not to simply to live longer lives, but to continue to live healthier, more engaged, more vibrant lives. Groundbreaking scientific studies now reveal that only about 30-35% of the chronic diseases we acquire are genetically based. This is really big news, because it means that approximately 70% of diseases that afflict us can be avoided by making good choices about our health and our lifestyles. What can be
Diabetes and The Eye
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among people between 25 – 74 years old. Half of people with diabetes are unaware they have it. Of those who are aware only 50% get appropriate eye care. Most people think that blood sugar levels are the most important risk factors for vision loss in Diabetes Mellitus. However, blood glucose control only accounts for 10% of the risk of vision loss in DM. Other factors such as
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Money
Qualified Charitable Distributions
If you want to help others and would like to get a tax break along with it, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) may be exactly what you are looking for. Ordinarily, all deductible contributions to a traditional IRA, plus earnings, are subject to federal income tax when they are later distributed. However, if the IRA owner meets certain requirements (see below), he or she may be able to transfer funds directly from the IRA to a
What is a Reverse Mortgage Loan?
A reverse mortgage can be used to turn a portion of the equity in your home into cash that can be used for many different purposes that may enhance and extend your retirement. If you currently have a mortgage, a reverse mortgage could eliminate your mortgage payment (taxes and insurance must still be paid, and the home maintained), and also allow you to access any additional equity (over and above your mortgage balance), to create
How to Preserve Assets When Faced With Long Term Care Costs
It is estimated that over 70% of people over 65 will need some type of Long Term Care(LTC) according to the US Department of Health & Human Services. Meet Charlie and Fran. They have three children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren…so far! They have hopes and dreams for their future generations and have worked hard to ensure their legacy is passed on. As they age, they realize that if either one of them needs
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Professional Services and Resources
Hospice Aides and Nursing Assistants: On the Front Lines of Healthcare
When a patient with an advanced illness is ready to start the conversation about hospice, one concern inevitably arises: Where will I receive care? VITAS® Healthcare has over 40 years of experience providing hospice care that focuses on improving quality of life, and we’ve found that most patients fare best where they’re already most at ease: in their home. Choosing Home over Hospital Studies show that more than 70% of people would prefer to die
Consider this Scenario…
A patient is seen by her physician every month; she complains of weight loss and confusion. She is given referrals to specialists and told to follow up. Month after month; the same story. The referrals sit in her purse because she can’t figure out how to navigate the phone tree at the specialists’ offices. The weight loss and confusion continue, month after month. She’s lost over 50 pounds in 5 months and she now cannot
An Intergenerational Approach to Adult Day Services
ADS Centers offer meals, socialization, and daily activities such as exercise, bingo, music, and art projects that are directed towards clients’ needs and cognitive abilities. In turn, you as a caregiver receive respite during the day to work, attend to household tasks, or rest knowing that your loved one is being cared for by qualified staff in a safe, secure, enriching environment. Many ADS Centers have a registered nurse on duty who can distribute medications
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Senior Housing
Home, Sweet, Well-Designed Home
When selecting a senior living community, the design is important. A personal evaluation will help. Today’s prospective residents are looking for design trends that facilitate a more active and engaged lifestyle. Designs that promote engagement, encourage social living and include plenty of spaces for both privacy and community are in high demand. Consider an overall holistic design that promotes different elements and dimensions of wellness, including: SOCIAL EXPERIENCES: Communities should provide a neighborhood concept with
Choosing a Senior Living Community
Senior living has many options – what’s best for you? Do you require care? Are you independent and seeking an apartment community where you feel safe, can socialize and have activities right at your fingertips? Yes? An independent living community would fit your lifestyle. Check out senior apartments or a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). A CCRC allows you to move-in as a healthy adult, but if your needs change, you can access higher levels
Integrating Health Care/Wellness Insurance Consultations for Seniors
Senior housing facilities who receive tax credits are required to provide Supportive Services as part of their agreement with the Pennsylvania Health Finance Agency (PHFA). These services are designed to help seniors age-in-place by addressing barriers to healthy food, transportation, health & wellness services, financial assistance and social activities. Although non-tax credit properties may not have an escrowed budget to pay for such services, there is evidence that the cost of property management can be
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Uncategorized
Qualified Charitable Distributions
If you want to help others and would like to get a tax break along with it, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) may be exactly what you are looking for. Ordinarily, all deductible contributions to a traditional IRA, plus earnings, are subject to federal income tax when they are later distributed. However, if the IRA owner meets certain requirements (see below), he or she may be able to transfer funds directly from the IRA to a
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View Articles by Edition
Hospice Aides and Nursing Assistants: On the Front Lines of Healthcare
When a patient with an advanced illness is ready to start the conversation about hospice, one concern inevitably arises: Where will I receive care? VITAS® Healthcare has over 40 years of experience providing hospice care that focuses on improving quality of life, and we’ve found that most patients fare best where they’re already most at ease: in their home. Choosing Home over Hospital Studies show that more than 70% of people would prefer to die
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common chronic, progressive, neurologic disease, behind only Alzheimer’s. Due to a dramatic increase in the age of our population, genetics, and environmental factors associated with an increased risk for the disease, many physicians believe that we may be on the cusp of an emerging pandemic. Parkinson’s is a disease of the central nervous system that touches almost every aspect of daily living, including movement, mood, speech, eating and drinking,
Consider this Scenario…
A patient is seen by her physician every month; she complains of weight loss and confusion. She is given referrals to specialists and told to follow up. Month after month; the same story. The referrals sit in her purse because she can’t figure out how to navigate the phone tree at the specialists’ offices. The weight loss and confusion continue, month after month. She’s lost over 50 pounds in 5 months and she now cannot
Hospice Aides and Nursing Assistants: On the Front Lines of Healthcare
When a patient with an advanced illness is ready to start the conversation about hospice, one concern inevitably arises: Where will I receive care? VITAS® Healthcare has over 40 years of experience providing hospice care that focuses on improving quality of life, and we’ve found that most patients fare best where they’re already most at ease: in their home. Choosing Home over Hospital Studies show that more than 70% of people would prefer to die
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common chronic, progressive, neurologic disease, behind only Alzheimer’s. Due to a dramatic increase in the age of our population, genetics, and environmental factors associated with an increased risk for the disease, many physicians believe that we may be on the cusp of an emerging pandemic. Parkinson’s is a disease of the central nervous system that touches almost every aspect of daily living, including movement, mood, speech, eating and drinking,
A patient is seen by her physician every month; she complains of weight loss and confusion. She is given referrals to specialists and told to follow up. Month after month; the same story. The referrals sit in her purse because she can’t figure out how to navigate the phone tree at the specialists’ offices. The weight loss and confusion continue, month after month. She’s lost over 50 pounds in 5 months and she now cannot