A newsbasket is on-line Internet publication containing comprehensive aggregated collections of information.


Sunday, November 30, 2014

Memory Lapses That Are Normal - Mary A. Fischer is an award-winning journalist and contributing editor to AARP The Magazine.

{Paraphrased Quotes, snips from article}
Brain freezes happen to most of us, to different degrees, as we age.?..... If your lapses aren't disrupting your life, there's no need to be actively worried, experts say.
Your lapses may well have very treatable causes. Severe stress, depression, a vitamin B12 deficiency, insufficient sleep, some prescription drugs and infections can all play a role.

Types of normal memory lapses that are not signs of dementia.
1. Absentmindedness
Focus on what you're doing or thinking in any given moment, and you'll head off a lot of these lapses. If you find yourself in the middle of one, retracing your steps, mentally or actually, can help.

2. Blocking
You know the word you're trying to say, but you can't quite retrieve it from memory. It usually happens when several similar memories interfere with each other.
If you find yourself stuck in the moment, try to remember other details about the event, name or place, which often will trigger the memory you are searching for.

4. Fade Out
The brain is always sweeping out older memories to make room for new ones. The more time that passes between an experience and when you want to recall it, the more likely you are to have forgotten much of it.
Events we discuss, ponder over, record or rehearse are recalled in the most detail and for longest periods of time. So one of the best ways to remember events and experiences — whether everyday or life changing — is to talk or think about them.
{END QUOTE}

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Protect YOURSELF From Frigid Winter Weather - AgingCare.com

How to Protect YOURSELF  From Frigid Winter Weather

Chilling temperatures and treacherous snow and ice can terrorize the elderly and their caregivers during the winter months. 

 

Here are a few things to keep in mind to help keep seniors safe during the frigid season approaches:

Protect Senior From Frigid Weather - AgingCare.com

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Questions To Ask Before Hiring An In-Home Caregiver

6 Questions To Ask Before Hiring An In-Home Caregiver

What are the agency’s rules of operation? Some
agencies require you to book a minimum of hours per week. Some provide
services 24/7; others go off-the-clock in the early evening.
Find out the agency’s cancellation policy and what backup procedure
it has in place if the caregiver doesn’t show. On a similar note, ask
how many caregivers will be assigned to your loved one. McVicker
believes two is the ideal number; more than that might create a
confusing lack of continuity, but having only one aide available could
lead to a gap in care, she said.

Monday, October 20, 2014

public health requirements for long term care facilities. Nursing Homes

Quoted from:http://tinyurl.com/pmmrher December 14, 2013 Long Term Care Facilities: Are You Being Treated Right? By CzepigaDalyPope LLC

The Code of Federal Regulations (herein either “the Code” or “CFR”) is a codification of rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Title 42 of the Code, Part 483, addresses public health requirements for long term care facilities.

Part 483 specifically addresses, among many other issues, the following:

Resident rights (§483.10) Admission, transfer, and discharge rights (§483.12) Resident behavior and facility practices (§483.13) Quality of life (§483.15) Quality of care (§483.25)

Most of the fundamental questions you have will be addressed, at least in part, in the sections cited above. Section 483.10, as one example, addresses resident rights and specifically provides for what a facility must do regarding issues that range from providing, for inspection, a resident with his or her medical records within twenty four hours of request, to prominently displaying information about how to apply for and use Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

Section 483.12, as one other example, lists the six permissible reasons to discharge a resident from a long term care facility. It is important to note, there are no other reasons for discharge beyond these six, any other purported reason for discharge that is not listed in §483.12 (a)(2) is a violation of Federal law.

6 Reasons for Discharge

The transfer or discharge is necessary for the resident’s welfare and the resident’s needs cannot be met in the facility
the transfer or discharge is appropriate because the resident’s health has improved sufficiently so the resident no longer needs the services provided by the facility
The safety of individuals in the facility is endangered
The health of individuals in the facility would otherwise be endangered
The resident has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for (or to have paid under Medicare or Medicaid) a stay at the facility.
The facility ceases to operate

For those who live in long term care facilities, it is your home and you are entitled to certain rights within it. For those of you who visit a loved one in a long term care facility, if you begin to question whether your loved one is being treated appropriately, simply go online, type into Google “42 CFR 483,” and start getting your questions answered.

A trial attorney who handles these types of matters, can give you lots of help,
however,
you would be surprised how effective Federal law is when properly cited during discussions with facility administrators and staff.

Posted in: Elder Law and Nursing Home Litigation

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Decrease Identity Theft Risk with MySSA Account - AgingCare.com

Decrease Identity Theft Risk with MySSA Account - AgingCare.com What can you do to prevent an identity thief from tampering with your MySSA account? Create a MySSA account. By creating your MySSA account you are preventing an identity thief from doing so using your information. Opt-out of MySSA. If you are not very computer savvy (or you prefer not to have online access), then you can contact the SSA and opt-out of the MySSA program. Doing so prevents you (or an identity thief) from being able to set up an online account in your name. This is a great option for those taking care of their aging parents. Living in an ever-more-connected digital world means that there are always going to be certain security risks surrounding our personal information. However, you can reduce some of that risk for you and your family simply by setting up a MySSA account or opting out of the MySSA program. Carrie Kerskie, Expert Author, speaker and identity theft expert

Monday, September 22, 2014

Saturday, September 6, 2014

California, Arizona, Florida - Senior Care Authority ORG

Assisted Living in California, Arizona, Florida - Senior Care Authority



Senior Care Authority™ is a free assisted living, dementia and residential care placement service providing hands on quality assistance throughout the selection process.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Elder Community Care | Marlborough, MA 01752

Elder Community Care | Marlborough, MA 01752
Elder Community Care a team of trained social workers & mental health clinicians

Elder Community Care is a network of agencies working together to serve elders in their own homes. We provide comprehensive assessment and counseling
services to elders and their families in Metrowest. We provide comprehensive assessment, counseling and referral services.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Need In Home Care for a Senior? 10 Tips to Find the Right Caregiver - OpenPlacement Community | OpenPlacement

Need In Home Care for a Senior? 10 Tips to Find the Right Caregiver - OpenPlacement Community | OpenPlacement

 7)    The Interview – Here are a few items you should discuss:

        Where did you get trained? What past experiences have you had? Do you have any specialized training?
        What did you like or dislike about previous caregiver jobs?
        Why did you choose to be a caregiver?
        Are you willing to perform the following duties: ____? (See #5)
        My loved one has this specific issue (arthritis, dementia, diabetes, etc.). How would you help him/her with this condition on a daily basis?
        Here are the wages and benefits I am offering. You will/will not get holidays off and holiday pay. Do you have any questions or concerns?
        Most importantly, trust your inner voice. You need to have peace of mind and if you don’t, then you will always be uncomfortable and worried.

- See more at: https://www.openplacement.com/community/blog/need-in-home-care-for-a-senior-10-tips-to-find-the-right-caregiver/#sthash.x3FqFOTp.dpuf



Saturday, July 12, 2014

What are person's forgotten active online accounts.

I discovered WebCease, Inc. 917 SW Oak Street, Suite 403 Portland, OR 97205 888.399.2768.

Here is what founder and CEO Glenn Williamson says:

WebCease identifies active online accounts instructs on the different options for retrieval, closure or memorialization in accordance with the policies of each site.

Digital assets include a person’s electronically stored content and online accounts, such as emails, photos, music, social networking profiles, career information, and blogs. They can have an emotional, sentimental, or monetary value. Digital assets usually fall into four main categories: Financial, Personal, Social, and Loyalty Rewards.

According to Pew Research, a recent survey conducted in January 2014 found that 87% of American adults now use the internet. Everything from emails to shopping to travel planning to social networking to photo sharing and more consume our online lives. Dozens of digital accounts can be created during a person’s lifetime. What happens once we are gone?

“If everyone planned you wouldn’t need our stuff. But, only 50 percent of people have a will and 90 percent don’t think about digital assets,” said founder and CEO Glenn Williamson.

WebCease, Inc. helps heirs, executors, trustees and administrators find online accounts that are digital assets for the estate of the deceased

--

http://www.webcease.com/about/about-webcease

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Medication Management in Disaster Planning | caregiver.com

Medication Management in Disaster Planning



A family disaster plan
can be of valuable assistance to every member of the family.
In order for it to be effective, however, it needs to
encompass all aspects of your current living situation. When
considering a home or family disaster plan, it is easy to
overlook medications and the special needs of family
members. Instead of waiting for an event to occur, think
ahead to these important areas:

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Medicare Available For Chronic Conditions, But Word Slow To Get Out | Lawyer For Seniors

The Law Offices of Osofsky & Osofsky 

The Osofsky Law Firm is a boutique Medi-Cal planning, Elder Law and Estate Planning firm in the East Bay Area.

{Q} Unfortunately, even though the Jimmo settlement is more than a year old,  we find that many healthcare providers are unaware of the end of the old “improvement standard”.  As a result, many seniors still experience premature Medicare coverage terminations because they are not improving.  This is especially problematic for person suffering with Parkinson’s disease, ALS, heart disease and stroke.  The good news, however, is that advocacy on your part can play a big role in correcting premature coverage terminations.
If you receive a notice that Medicare coverage is about to terminate, consider an immediate appeal.  Talk to your husband’s doctor and ask for a written chart note that continued therapy is necessary for your husband to “maintain” function and/or to “slow further deterioration”.  To further aid you in your appeal, download the excellent Self-help Packets available for free on the website of the Center for Medicare Advocacy at www.MedicareAdvocacy.org, or by calling 860-456-7790.  Individualized Self-Help Packets are available for denials of outpatient therapy, home healthcare, nursing home, and the misuse of hospital “observation status”. {EQ}

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Room-by-Room Home Safety Checklist

June_2
Most people want to remain in their homes as they age, but that
means making sure home is a place safe from hazards that could
jeopardize well-being and independence. Use this checklist to do a
thorough home safety audit.



Get Home Safety Checklist »
Share this checklist:





Brought to you by:







Home Instead Senior Care

Phone: 866-765-0585

Email: info@homeinsteadinc.com

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Tools Every Caregiver Should Add to Emergency Plan - AgingCare.com

Tools Every Caregiver Should Add to Emergency Plan - AgingCare.com



 Gloria Huang, social engagement specialist for the American Red Cross

Huang suggests that people taking care of elderly loved ones consider adding a social media component to their emergency preparedness plan.
"So many people are using social media as a way to communicate,
including emergency agencies, the Red Cross, etc.," she says. "If we're
putting all the information out there, it can be a good way to get
official reports on what's going on in your area."


The key, says Huang, is picking the social media resources that work best for you and your loved one.


Twitter probably isn't a go-to resource for seniors and their
caregivers, and a Facebook post is by no means a substitute for dialing
9-1-1. But, there are some simple (and free) downloadable tools that can
make useful additions to an existing response plan:



  • Emergency (free): directly dials the numbers for 4
    primary emergency services, including: police, firemen, medical and
    general. Also allows you to send an SMS text to request help that
    includes your current location.
  • First Aid by American Red Cross (free): offers treatment instructions for burns, bleeding, broken bones, etc.
  • Hurricane by American Red Cross (free): allows
    you to keep an eye on the weather conditions in your area and offers
    instructions on how to stay safe during a storm. Additional features
    include: a feature that turns your phone into a flashlight or emergency
    beacon, a directory of Red Cross shelters in your area, and a program
    that allows you to update your Facebook status, notifying others that
    you and your loved one are safe.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Community Transportation Programs- Helping with Dignity and Caring 

Community Transportation Programs- Helping with Dignity and Caring : Community Transportation Programs -
Helping with Dignity and Caring
By Sandra Ray, Staff Writer
(Page 1 of 2)



 There are a multitude of programs available to help the elderly and disabled reach appointments, go shopping, and perform other tasks associated with daily living. Not all of these are easily accessible or easy to find. The requirements often range from proof of age or disability, to income, as well as stating that no other transportation means are available. It is easy to become discouraged with the process and give up interacting with the community at large.





Independent Transportation Network (ITN):

The Independent Transportation Network (ITN) has
developed a viable model program that can be readily
duplicated across the United States, helping to solve
some of the transportation woes that communities are
facing today. Started in 1999 as a result of research
sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration, AARP,
and the Transportation Research Board, the Maine-based
non-profit offers the program to seniors and individuals
with vision impairments.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

While the other person is talking

Do not formulate your answer while the other person is talking.

People who don't listen decide how they are going to respond before you even stop talking. Don't be afraid to pause for five or ten seconds to consider, validate,  the what the person is saying.

Doing so demonstrates that you listened carefully and that you are giving them the courtesy of a thoughtful reply. If you actually give a thoughtful reply, no one will remember that it took you nine seconds to start talking.

 Repeat what the person is saying before you answer.
Never make the mistake of taking five minutes of a {person's} time answering a something s/he did not say. First, validate  the point by saying, "If I understand you correctly, you want to know (Repeat, validate, what the person is saying) Is that right?"

If necessary, allow the other person to clarify what they are saying. Only start your answer when you are 100% certain you understand what the person is saying.

It may seem like a waste of time to do this, but you will be demonstrating your ability to obtain and understand feedback.

Friday, April 18, 2014

How much electricity does your appliances use?

Bartholomew County REMC:

Bartholomew County Rural
Electric Membership Corporation
is an electric
cooperative located in Columbus, Indiana.


How much electricity does your appliances use?

 Take a look at what you can do for just a few pennies with the help of electricity:
 Use a 75-watt lamp for 14 hours for about 7 cents
Refrigerate food for a day for about 20 cents
Operate a window fan for about 1 cent an hour
Cook a meal on an electric range -using all the burners and the oven - for about 84 cents an hour.
 Use the self-cleaning feature on your oven for a total of 35 cents.
Wash a load of dishes in a dishwasher for about 7 cents

 What Does it Cost to Run My Appliances?

The appliance use chart above shows the most commonly used appliances and office equipment in homes, the average wattage of that equipment and the estimated average cost.

To calculate the exact use of your appliances, or for those not listed in this chart, use the following formula:

amps x volts = watts
watts x hours = watt-hours
watt-hours / 1000 = kilowatt-hours (kwhs)
kwh x .10 (10 cents) = estimated cost of using appliance.

Look for the serial plate on the bottom or back of the appliance. It lists the power used in terms of watts (120 watts might be written 120 w) or amps and volts.

For a larger appliance such as a water heater, remember that it is only running when it has clicked on and is actually heating water. The time your water heater is on varies according to how much you do laundry, take baths, or run the dishwasher. But, let's say your water heater is on for 3 hours on a particular day (the national average):

4,500 watts x 3 hours = 13,500 watt-hours
13,500 watt-hours / 1000 = 13.5 kwh
13.5 kwh x 10 cents = $1.35

There are several things you can do to use electricity more efficiently.

You will find that your electric furnace, air conditioner and water heater will make up the greatest percentage of your electric bill, so these are the areas in which to concentrate your energy management efforts.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

What is health care transparency

What is health care transparency?

{Q}There is no correlation between cost and quality. Prices for medical services can vary greatly - even for the same procedure, in the same area, within the same network.{EQ}

cloud-based software helps employers gain control over health care spending.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1769895 Until very recently, health care in the United States was delivered behind the secure walls of a fortress that kept information on the prices charged for health care and the quality of that care opaque from public view.

Over time, enormous and ever-increasing amounts of money have disappeared behind the fortress walls. Much good undoubtedly was done for patients entering the castle in search of succor. 

But it has been nearly impossible for prospective patients thinking of entering the health care system to know what they or someone else will have to give up in return for whatever care they will receive from the inhabitants of the fortress.
 in a recent article in The Journal of the American Medical Association, imagine a department store whose customers are blindfolded before entering. A shopper might enter the store seeking to buy an affordable dress shirt and a tie, but exit it with a pair of boxer shorts and a scarf. Sometime later, he would receive an invoice, whose details would be incomprehensible to him, save for one item: a dollar amount in a framed box with the words: “Pay this amount.”


http://tinyurl.com/kuzfyok {Forbes} {Q} Mr. Sonenreich is quoted from an appearance on public radio affiliate WRLN with this provocative commitment:

“We’d be willing to put our prices to all the insurance companies out in public and we would welcome that kind of transparency of everyone in the marketplace.”

He’s not talking about “chargemaster” rates here. These are the contractual rates that the hospital has negotiated with the insurance companies.{EQ} know, the secret ones. Here’s    commitment. I’ll publish (or link to) those rates when they do become public.{EQ}

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Denial: When it helps, when it hurts - Mayo Clinic

Denial: When it helps, when it hurts - Mayo Clinic

Refuse to acknowledge a stressful problem or situation


  • Avoid facing the facts of the situation


  • Minimize the consequences of the situation

  • In its strictest sense, denial is an unconscious process. You don't generally decide to be in denial about something. But some research suggests that denial might have a conscious component — on some level, you might choose to be in denial.

    Common reasons for denial
    You can be in denial about anything that makes you feel vulnerable or threatens your sense of control, such as:
    • A chronic or terminal illness
    • Depression or other mental health conditions
    • Addiction
    • Financial problems
    • Job difficulties
    • Relationship conflicts
    • Traumatic events

    Wednesday, March 5, 2014

    What would convince a doctor to refer his patients to YOUR assisted living facility? | Blog | Illumination Analytics | Health Reform for Assisted Living Communities | Better Healthcare and Lower Cost

    What would convince a doctor to refer his patients to YOUR assisted living facility? | Blog | Illumination Analytics | Health Reform for Assisted Living Communities | Better Healthcare and Lower Cost: What would convince a doctor to refer his patients to YOUR assisted living facility?
    March 1st, 2014



     Dr. Steven Fuller

    It always surprised me that not a single marketer offered me the one thing that would have made me choose THEM in a heartbeat:  metrics.  The one feature that would have made the greatest impression is the one thing I was never shown…some type of HEALTH PROFILE, anything that demonstrated they understood and were committed to the huge responsibility of managing my patients’ health.
    Here are just a few things that I wanted to know and whose answers would have made a lasting and very positive impression and would have resulted in my referrals:
        I wanted to know the types of chronic health conditions and medications that are currently managed in this marketer’s AL so that I could have an idea of what the health environment was like.
        I wanted to know whether an AL could manage my patient with heart failure or lung disease or severe arthritis or chronic pain or depression and who is taking 8 different medicines at different times of the day.
        I wanted to know whether a facility somehow differentiates or adjusts its staffing to account for the Risk Level of individual residents – that is, does it care for residents with many health needs any differently than it does for residents with only minimal needs.
        I wanted to know WHO is managing the health of all the residents.  Are these caregivers educated about the kinds of health conditions my patients have and the medicines they take?  And how do the caregivers keep track of and become informed of all the health needs that they are managing?  This is a huge task when caring for so many people.
        I wanted to know whether the AL PROACTIVELY manages the health needs of my patients, or do they just wait until my patients get sick before intervening or sending them to the ER.  And how can the AL demonstrate its answer to me?



    {He developed Illumination Analytics specifically for Assisted Living Communities in order to enhance health management and provide objective measures of care excellence in this setting.}

    Wednesday, February 26, 2014

    Jumping for Joy in the ER: When patients have clear advance directives by Monica Williams-Murphy, MD | It's OK to Die




    Jumping for Joy in the ER: When patients have clear advance directives by Monica Williams-Murphy, MD | It's OK to Die:



    <Q>“What’s going on out there?” the “leaving” doctor asked me in a curious manner.
    Before I answered him, I called out, “You guys come listen to this. This is a success story!”
    As you might imagine, a small group of curious Emergency Department staff had crowded around me in attempts to understand the commotion.




    Speaking in low but excited tones to maintain HIPPA compliance, I gushed the following story:
    “So, I just walked into room 48 to see Mr. Bronson. He’s an 85 year old man with COPD who had arrived in respiratory distress and the respiratory therapists had already started BIPAP because the patient arrived on his own machine and it wasn’t doing any good. So, here’s the kicker… he was too short of breath to even speak a word and when I listened to his lungs, I heard no air movement. There was no one in the room family-wise whom I could turn to for a discussion of next steps (meaning no surrogate decision maker). Just as I started to feel a twist developing in the pit of my stomach, assuming that I might have to intubate him without understanding his own personal wishes, the nurse whips out a piece of paper from behind his home med list and starts waving it at me.”
    “Voila!” She said smiling, “I know that you would want to see this.”
    With two steps in her direction, I was across the room and pulled it from her hand like a young child getting her first mail. <EQ>

    Friday, February 14, 2014

    An Optometrist Explains Cataracts

    An Optometrist Explains Cataracts

    A cataract is a clouding on the lens of the eye that can impair vision. The disorder is commonly associated with aging. In fact, more than 50% of all Americans over the age of 65 suffer from cataracts. Advanced Eyecare Center, an optometrist clinic in Torrance knows that aging however, is not solely responsible for cataracts. While aging may be the principal factor behind cataracts, it is not the only factor that can lead to cataracts.

    Saturday, February 1, 2014

    A guide on how to cut out cable television

    A guide on how to cut out cable television: Cable bundle bills that include phone, Internet, and TV can range from a $60 per month deal to upwards of $200 a month. But decreasing that cost is easily achieved by cutting cable out completely. Your bill has the possibility of going from $150 to $30 a month. But how do you still watch major network shows? With an antenna.

    Tuesday, January 28, 2014

    Free Information Download on Stroke

    Free Information Download on Stroke: How Do I Know It's a Stroke?
    bigstock-Asthma-Disabled-Senior-6268943.jpg
    Top 5 Signs of a Stroke
    Preview of Your Free Download on Stroke

    Approximately 795,000 people in the United States have a new or recurrent stroke each year (American Stroke Association [ASA], 2012a).

    Here are some signs and symptoms:

    SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.
    SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
    SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
    SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
    SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause (National Stroke Association, 2013)


    Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Post Stroke Rehabilitation available with FREE download.

    Monday, January 27, 2014

    How to Report Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation | LinkedIn

    How to Report Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation | LinkedIn: How to Report Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation

    Russell Forkey Attorney at Russell L. Forkey, P.A.

    How to Report, Senior, Elder and Retirement Financial Abuse and Exploitation:

    In addition to reporting the financial or other abuse to non-participating family members,most states have agencies to which elder financial and other abuse can be reported.

    Friday, January 3, 2014

    Medicare to Cover More Mental Health Costs - NYTimes.com

    Medicare to Cover More Mental Health Costs - NYTimes.com: The Medicare change follows new regulations issued last month by the administration for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which expanded the principle of equal treatment for psychological illnesses to all forms health insurance. But that law does not apply to Medicare.

    “Hopefully, older adults who previously were unable to afford to see a therapist will now be more likely to do so,” said Andrea Callow, a policy lawyer with the Center for Medicare Advocacy.