Prime Healthcare Passionate about SeniorsAt St. Joseph Medical Center, weve made changes to provide specialized care tailored to seniors. As the first accredited geriatric ER in KC, we identify seniors that may need extra support during or after their hospitalization. Our inpatient Senior Behavioral Health Unit provides care for adults over 55 years of age experiencing acute behavioral symptoms associated with dementia and/or other mental health conditions.Paul Hura, MD, Senior Care Services Medical Director shares, "It is an honor and privilege to care for our seniors, and these philosophies remain very important to our physicians, nurses and entire healthcare teams at St. Joseph Medical Center.St. Marys Medical Center is a patient-centered community hospital in Blue Springs, Missouri providing comprehensive quality care with state-of-the-art treatment in a warm, caring environment.  With the only accredited Geriatric Emergency Department in Eastern Jackson County, Dr. Michael Liston, Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer, understands this well.  We take caring for seniors to heart.  St. Marys holds numerous Grade A and 5-star ratings, while continuing to offer hometown touches such as walk-in 3D Mammograms.   As a community partner with local schools, chambers, and charitable organizations, St. Marys is Your Community Hospital.  StMarysKC.comIn Leavenworth, Saint John Hospital offers Senior Behavioral Health for inpatient care. During a patients stay, the unit uses a multi-sensory and multi-disciplinary approach to care. Our specialized staff supports patients and family member with comprehensive nursing care 24 hours a day.Many times, the slow loss of a loved ones sense of self and memory is confusing and difficult for the individual and their loved ones through some of the more difficult aspects of dementia, says Dr. Amand, Psychiatrist and Medical Director.Providence Medical Center is a community hospital located in Kansas City, Kansas. Committed to excellence and award-winning patient care, Providence received an A grade on the 2023-24 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility. Providence achieved this honor through strong performance across metrics of health equity, patient outcomes, and value of care, out of more than 3,600 hospitals nationwide. Providence has received a five-star rating from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The star award is given based on metrics such as mortality, readmission, patient safety and patient experience. Providence is also nationally recognized in multiple service lines, receiving 18 awards with eight Five-Star ratings, according to research released by Healthgrades.

The Fear of Home Downsizing Home Downsizing.  Just the words tend to conjure up images and feelings of overwhelm to the point that a home owner freezes and does nothing. After more than 25 years of working with home owners (or their family members) that want or need to sell and move to a smaller home, apartment, or other senior living arrangement, I have witnessed numerous specific and personal needs a person has with the transition to senior living. Some of the items that need to be considered are timing, locating the right new home, apartment, or other senior facility, a move manager and/or moving company, selling the house youre currently in, including what to do with all the stuff in the house, and making this all happen with minimal stress. One of the first primary issues is timing.  If a person is just looking to sell a house and move to a smaller house or independent living community, this may be a one to three (or more) year process. Many home owners think about repairs and updates a house needs or should have done to get the house ready to put on the market, as well as taking care of all the stuff that may have accumulated in the house.   Finding the right new home, apartment, or apartment community may also take some time, especially if a person wants a ground level apartment, or one that takes pets, and in a particular part of town. If someone has a health emergency, then this timeline to find the right place to move to is pushed rapidly forward. Finding the right apartment or senior living community is also very important.  Sometimes the best communities or facilities are not always the closest or most convenient to family members, doctors, or other services that a person would like. It may be much more important to find a community or facility that provides the best care and services for your needs, instead of focusing solely on how close it is to family or friends. One issue I hear from sellers moving to senior living probably more than anything else, is what do I do with all this stuff.  If a person has lived in a house for 20, 30, 40 years or more, its understandable that a lot of stuff has accumulated. It most likely took a lot of years to accumulate the stuff you have, so dont feel you need to complete a project like this all at one time.   Taking small steps like starting with one room and labeling items that you know you want to keep or know you can part with is a start. Moving from where you are now to a smaller home or apartment is a big change, but if youve done some pre-move planning, it doesnt have to be stressful. Creating a floor plan of where you are moving to, so that you know what can be moved and where it will go, can help.  Knowing what you can and want to take with you can then help with parting with items that you know you dont want or cant take with you. Moving resources available range from those that just pick up and move furniture and items already boxed up, to companies that will do everything to move you, so that the only thing you need to do is literally get yourself to your new dwelling. Lastly, what to do with your house?  There are options.  Do you keep the house as an investment property?  Do you sell the house and use the proceeds to buy a smaller home or buy into a community?  Do you use the sale proceeds to invest as part of a retirement plan?  Do you sell the house and turn your equity into a monthly income stream? What you do with your house and how you sell will be determined by your specific situation and how best your house can help you achieve your goals. For all of the above items, the key to getting repairs and updates completed, getting the stuff taken care of, finding the right new home, apartment, or other senior living arrangement, and getting moved from point A to point B, is having the right team to assist you. Just know that there are local resources for each step of the process to help make the transition to a smaller home or apartment as stress free as possible. If youd like additional information about downsizing or downsizing resources, just call my office at (402) 450-0199. **************Ben Souchek is an author of the book Home Downsizing Secrets as well as the owner and founder of Home Downsizing Solutions by The Sierra Group, LLC, a company that specializes in helping seniors and their families transition to senior living by buying houses direct from sellers.  

Plan While You Still Can Do you know what healthcare treatments you would and would not want if you could not speak for yourself? Have you considered what wouldhappen if you were no longer able to make decisions for your healthcare or finances? These are hard questions to think about but taking time to answer them and make them official is essential. To make your decisions knownand give power to those you choose, you need legal documents in place; specifically, a Healthcare Durable Power of Attorney, an Advanced Directive,and a Financial Durable Power of Attorney. A Healthcare DPOA allows you to document who makesmedical decisions about your healthcare. The person designated as your agent is authorized to speak ONLY if you cant speak for yourself. An AdvancedDirective is a document that states your wishes for medical treatments at the end of life. These documents are essential for making your healthcare wishesknown and avoiding a Guardianship during incapacity. You can prepare these documents with an Estate Planning or Elder Law Attorney, or there are freeversions of them available with the Center for Practical Bioethics. A Financial DPOA is a document that gives authority from oneperson (the principal) to another person (the agent) for the agent to act on behalf of the principal. These are much more technical and require theassistance of an attorney to ensure they are prepared properly. Creating a Financial DPOA is essential for you to ensure your finances are in the hands ofsomeone you trust. If this year has taught us anything, its to plan while you can. Talk to your attorney to get started.Disclaimer: This is not intended to be legal counsel. The choice of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.This article was submitted by Aaron L. Love, JD, an attorney with The Love Law Group, LLC and may be reached at 816-554-3330 or by email at planning@lovelawgroup.com.

Safeguarding Seniors: Mitigating Fall Risks in the Home At Senior Helpers, the safety and well-being of our seniors are of utmost importance, and fall-related injuries are a significant concern. However, many of these accidents can be prevented with simple precautions within the home. Fall prevention not only preserves physical well-being but also contributes to the overall quality of life. Seniors often face a higher risk of falling due to factors like reduced mobility, balance issues, and diminishing muscle strength. To mitigate these risks, it's crucial to create a safer environment within their homes. Here are some key steps to consider:  Clear Pathways: Cluttered spaces can lead to tripping hazards. Ensure that walkways are unobstructed, and remove loose rugs or use non-slip mats to secure them. Proper Lighting: Inadequate lighting can make it difficult for seniors to navigate their homes. Install bright, energy-efficient LED lights and nightlights to illuminate hallways and key areas. Bathroom Safety: Install grab bars in the bathroom and a non-slip mat in the shower or bath. Consider a raised toilet seat for added ease. Medication Management: Many seniors take multiple medications, some of which may cause dizziness. Keep a record of their medications, their side effects, and consult with a healthcare provider if necessary. Exercise and Balance Training: Regular physical activity can improve strength and balance, reducing the risk of falls. Encourage simple exercises or consider programs designed to enhance balance. Regular Check-ups: Schedule regular medical check-ups to monitor and manage health conditions that could affect mobility. Emergency Response Plan: Ensure that seniors have access to a phone, emergency numbers, and an alert system in case of a fall or other health emergencies.  Senior Helpers uses a proprietary technology assessment tool called LIFE Profile which has been proven to reduce the risk of hospitalization by keeping seniors safe in their home environment. With LIFE Profile, we take a comprehensive and in depth look at 144 safety risks in and around the home, and it creates a customized plan for how a seniors home can be made safer.  For more information on how we can help seniors stay safe and thrive in their homes, please visit seniorhelpers.com/ks/overland-park.   Editors Note: This article was submitted by Jeff Rigler. Jeff is the owner of Senior Helpers Overland Park and may be reached at 913-851-4800 or by email at jrigler@seniorhelpers.com.