Entrusting the care of your loved one (or yourself!) to someone else can be nerve-racking. But it can also improve their quality of life and provide care partners with a much-needed break.  So how do you choose the best caregiver for your senior loved one? Asking the right questions will help. Here are six questions to ask a home health provider before hiring one.1. What Days and Hours Are Home Health Services Available? A potential home health providers availability is important information when deciding which home health provider to hire. Think about when you most need help and ask whether caregivers are available during those hours.  You may need a very different schedule if you want help with appointments or care for your loved one while you work than if you want a break on the weekends. Its important to make sure your schedule aligns.2. Are They Willing to Show All Appropriate Documentation? Before hiring a home health provider, its important to know they are up to date on all required documentation. This includes things like insurance, CPR and first-aid certifications, required immunizations, certifications related to your loved ones condition, and background checks on employees.  Your senior loved ones safety is critical, so ensuring all appropriate documentation is in order is your best assurance that the home health provider you are considering is a reputable agency that follows the law.3. What Services Do They Provide? Some home health agencies mainly focus on medical care. Others mostly help with personal care and assistance around the home. Still others, like Celtic Angels Home Health Care, offer a variety of medical, personal, and homemaking services. Make sure your needs align with the services the home health provider offers. 4. How Is Transportation Handled? If you need a caregiver to help with your loved ones transportation to things like medical appointments, outings, or shopping trips, its a good idea to ask how the home health provider handles transportation. Do they use company cars, their personal vehicles, or will they drive yours?  Be sure to ask about expenses, too. For example, is the cost of transportation included in their fee, or will you be expected to reimburse the home health provider for gas or mileage? 5. What Experience Do They Have with Your Loved Ones Conditions? Its important that you feel confident in the care a home health provider will give to your senior loved one, so be sure to ask about their experience caring for people with your loved ones conditions.  For example, do they have experience caring for people with dementia, Alzheimers, or Parkinsons Disease? Heart condition? Diabetes? Are they able to perform all the necessary tasks needed to care for your loved one? Gather all the information you need to feel comfortable with a provider before making a decision to hire one. 6. How Do You Handle Difficult Situations, Like Care Refusal? Sometimes, as seniors age, they develop conditions that make caring for them difficult. For example, seniors with cognitive disorders, like dementia and Alzheimers disease, often refuse care.  Ask how caregivers would handle these situations. Their answers will give you an idea of how they will approach your senior loved ones care.  Would you like to learn more about Celtic Angels Home Health Care and the services we provide? Were happy to answer all your questions! Contact Us today to get started.   By Maria Burke, RN, Owner Celtic Angels Home Health Care

In Massachusetts, as mandated by the Federal government, if you die with a probate estate (assets in your own name), and have received MassHealth benefits at any time after age 55, or at any time during your life if you end up in a nursing home, MassHealth can recover the benefits paid from your estate. Two recent developments and a proposed law are important to know. In the last few years, the use of Senior Care Option and PACE programs, which provide complete health care to elders in need, began expanding. While these can be great programs, what wasnt known is that MassHealth, who pays premiums to private companies that provide these programs, will seek estate recovery for these premiums (as much as $3000 per month), after the death of the MassHealth recipient. This could mean a substantial lien against the home or other assets of a MassHealth recipient. Once this became clear, Elder Law attorneys went to Court and obtained a ruling that MassHealth can only collect these premiums if they give Notice to beneficiaries in advance. You may have received such a notice if you are receiving or have received MassHealth benefits. At the same time as this was going on, Elder Law attorneys and advocates put a bill together and filed it with the Massachusetts legislature to make changes to Estate Recovery laws to make it fairer and limit Estate Recovery to only those things the Federal government mandates. This bill is pending. As a result of both advocacy and the filing of the Estate Recovery bill, MassHealth made revisions to their own regulations this last fall. These revisions expand exemptions to avoid Estate Recovery (no estate under $25,000 is subject to Estate Recovery, Caretakers), and deferments to collection of Estate Recovery (spouses, deaf and disabled children). If you or a loved one need or are receiving MassHealth benefits, you may want to consult an Elder Law Attorney to see how these changes in Estate Recovery may affect you.   This article was submitted by Estate and Elderlaw Attorney Timothy R. Loff, Esq. of the Law Offices of Timothy R. Loff, Newton, 617-332-7021 or information@lofflaw.com. 

Inpatient RehabilitationFacility vs. Short-term Rehabilitation Facility You have just gone through an illness (stroke, brain injury, amputation, prolonged hospital stay, etc.) now what?  You are not ready to go home, where should you go?  The hospital service isrecommending rehabilitation, but which type and where?  There are two different types of facilities that you reside/stay while you get your rehab: inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) and short-term rehabilitation facility.  What is the difference? Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Short Term rehabilitation -       Hospital level of rehabilitation -       24/7 in-house physician care -       24/7 nursing care -       Intensive therapies: regulated by CMS o   Individualized therapy session o   At least 3 hours/dayx6-7 days a week -       Shorter stay: average stay is 14 days -       Nursing car level of rehabilitation -       Physicians available but not always in-house -       24/7 nursing care -       Less intensive therapies: o   30min-a few hours, a few times a week (this varies among facilities)-       Longer stay: average stay is 20-30 days  Your medical team has determined you qualify for IRF level of rehabilitation.  Where should you go?  VA Boston Healthcare System (BHS) has an accredited IRF just for Veterans, regardless of service connection located at the West Roxbury Campus. Our physicians trained at some of the best rehabilitation medicine facilities in the country.  They are board certified in rehabilitation medicine and brain injury medicine.  Our therapy staff also trained at some of the best facilities in Boston and have advance certifications.  Our nursing staff are caring, loving, and Veteran centered too.  What separates BHS IRF from community IRF?-       We are Veteran centered-       We can provide equipment that other community facilities may not be able to -       A sense of comradery with other Veterans can help with improvement in mood and function -       We understand PTSD and other mood changes and can offer on-site services -       We provided outpatient follow-up after discharge from IRF to assess, manage and treat issues that may interfere with your function and/or quality of lifeHow do I contact BHS IRF?-       Please have your case manager in the hospital call Boston Healthcare System Flow center and request referral to BHS inpatient rehabilitation program: 857-203-3835-      The rehabilitation physician will review your medical record and provide a decision to your medical team            This article was submitted by Dr. XinLi, Medical Director of Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility at West Roxbury VA, Boston Healthcare System. Information Contact:  David Hencke, US Dept of Veterans Affairs, Directors Office, VA Boston Healthcare System  Veterans Outreach Coordinator  O: 857-364-5934; C: 617-275-6101  David.hencke@va.gov 

Health effects of untreated hearing loss  About 48 million Americans are living with hearing loss. While 80% of hearing loss cases can be successfully treated with hearing aids, only one in four people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them.1 Most people are not aware that untreated hearing loss is associated with serious illnesses and conditions, including: Dementia: The 2020 study from the Lancet Commission2 shows that hearing loss is the largest modifiable risk factor against dementia. According to the report, dementia risk varies based on the level of hearing loss:3 Mild hearing loss doubles the dementia risk Moderate hearing loss triples the risk Severe hearing impairment increases the dementia risk up to 5 times The study states that "hearing loss might result in cognitive decline through reduced cognitivestimulation." By being proactive and treating hearing loss as soon as possible, the risk for cognitive decline and dementia can be reduced. Heart Disease: The Centers for Disease Control found that cardiovascular disease and hearing loss are linked due to blood flow. Its believed that heart disease can reduce blood flow to the ear and cause damage to different parts of the auditory system. This damage typically results in sensorineural hearing loss, which is permanent and often managed with amplification.4  Depression: Hearing loss, left untreated, can have serious emotional and social consequences,especially for older people. Poor hearing often leads to anxiety, insecurity and social withdrawal. Feelings of loneliness often culminate into depression. Older adults who use hearing aids are less at risk of suffering from depression.5 Increased risk of falling: What you can hear (and don't hear) directly affects your balance. Even mild hearing loss can triple your chances of falling. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids can help serve as a "balance aid."6 Not everyone with hearing loss will develop the conditions outlined above, but being educated about the potential risks can help you make smart decisions about hearing loss treatment. Today's hearing devices are equipped with many features that could greatly enhance your quality of life. Helping to protect your overall well-being is certainly one of the better reasons to seek treatment for hearing loss.  1www.hearinghealthfoundation.org; 2G Livingston, Jonathan Huntley, Andrew Sommerlad, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet. July 30, 2020; 3G Livingston, A Sommerlad, V Orgeta, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. The Lancet. July 20, 2017; 4Hull, R. H., & Kerschen, S. R. (2010). The influence of cardiovascular health on peripheral and central auditory function in adults: A research review. American Journal of Audiology,19, 9-16;5Bigelow, RT, Reed, NS, et al. Association of hearing loss with psychological distress and utilization of mental health services among adults in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jul 1;3(7):e2010986; 6www.healthyhearing.com/report/53220-Hearing-loss-falls-balance-hearing-aids