Home Instead Gives Back with Alzheimer’s Grant Program

The Home Instead Senior Care^® network has a long history of giving back to the local communities it serves. Now, through a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association and Hilarity for Charity, local Home Instead Senior Care franchise offices are delivering free caregiving services to families affected by Alzheimer’s or another dementia. You can help spread the word by encouraging your clients to fill out the Alzheimer’s Care Grant application.

Program Background

When comedian Seth Rogen married actress Lauren Miller, he married into the ‘Alzheimer’s family.’ Lauren’s mother was diagnosed with the condition a few years ago, at the young age of 55. Rogen saw the toll this condition took on his wife’s mother—and her family caregivers—and took it personally. In fact, he started a movement to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s within members of his own generation and created Hilarity of Charity.

Hilarity for Charity raises funds for research and support groups like the Alzheimer’s Association by hosting comedy events. Hilarity for Charity has also partnered with the Home Instead Senior Care network to provide free care services to families through the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Relief Grant program.

In addition to being the official care provider for Hilarity for Charity’s Alzheimer Care Grants, local Home Instead Senior Care franchisees across the United States and Canada have donated more than 37,000 hours of in-home care services, valued at $740,000 to supplement the monetary funding provided by Hilarity for Charity in order to serve as many Alzheimer’s families as possible.

How the Program Works

Anyone who has a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias is eligible to apply for a grant. Financial need is not necessarily a determining factor.

To apply for free care services, family caregivers simply need to complete the online grant application form. Feel free to share the online application in your own client newsletter or through other electronic communications.

The Hilarity for Charity Advisory Board will evaluate each application and determine which families receive a caregiving grant. The goal is to provide a grant to as many families as possible based on availability of funding and service hours at a local Home Instead Senior Care office.

Types of Care Services Offered through the Grant

Families that receive an Alzheimer’s Care Grant will get personalized services delivered by a skilled and trained CAREgiver^SM. Professional, in-home dementia care provided by the Home Instead Senior Care network can:

• Allow the senior to remain safe at home
•  Encourage engagement
•  Provide nutritious meals
•  Create social interaction
•  Provide mind-stimulating activities
•  Track changing behaviors
•  Honor who the senior was earlier in life
•  Support the family

Who Benefits from Free In-Home Care Services?

Professional in-home caregiving benefits everyone within the orbit of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. The affected loved one gets help with activities of daily living, and family members can obtain respite from the constant demands caregiving places on them. The Alzheimer’s Care Grants may be used to provide new caregiving services to someone who has never taken advantage of in-home caregiving before, or a grant may be used to fund respite hours for family members who need a break.

Apply Online Today

If you work with clients who could benefit by receiving free Alzheimer’s services, please encourage them to fill out the online application on HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com. Together, the Home Instead Senior Care network, Hilarity for Charity and the Alzheimer’s Association want to bring support to families struggling to meet the demands of this condition.

Alzheimer’s CARE Services

From the comfort of a favorite armchair by the fireplace to the familiarity of each floorboard that creaks in the hall, there’s no place like home. For a person with Alzheimer’s disease, research has shown that remaining in familiar surroundings helps to manage the challenges of memory loss.

The Home Instead Senior Care^® network’s person-centered approach to Alzheimer’s care, backed by advanced research and CAREGiver^SM education, can help seniors cope with the challenges of Alzheimer’s while enabling them to continue doing what they can on their own in the comfort of home. Home Instead’s unique Alzheimer’s and dementia training program was developed as part of its CARE: Changing Aging through Research and Education^SM program. This expert-endorsed program equips Home Instead CAREGivers to provide the highest quality of customized care that:

• Allows the senior to remain safe and calm at home
• Encourages engagement
• Provides nutritious meals
• Creates social interaction
• Provides mind-stimulating activities
• Manages changing behaviors
• Honors who the senior was earlier in life
• Supports the family

Most importantly, CAREGivers can provide assistance with enhancing and restoring the simple pleasures of life, such as a walk in the park, a ride in the car to get ice cream or spending time in the garden. Proven to maximize abilities and independence, such senior care activities remain one of the best non-medical treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

The dementia curriculum, CARE—Changing Aging through Research and Education has been reviewed by the Alzheimer’s Association® and meets the Alzheimer’s Association’s dementia care practice recommendations in the following topics as per report issued 11/11/13:

• Alzheimer’s and Dementia Disease Awareness
• Strategies for Caring for the Person with Dementia
• Communication and Understanding Behavior
• Social Needs and Activities
• Eating Well

If you need help caring for your loved one, use the home care finder on the right to locate a Home Instead Senior Care office in your neighborhood.

Want more information?  Visit http://www.homeinsteadwichita.com or call 316.612.7541.

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What Is Long-term Care Insurance?

Long-term care insurance can be an effective way to minimize expenses for older adults.

Long-term care insurance is intended to reduce out-of-pocket costs if someone winds up needing long-term care from a paid provider. Long-term care insurance can pay for a nursing facility or home care, and many policies also cover assisted living, though no policy will pay the full cost of any of these. People usually pay premiums for 20 or 30 years before reaching an age when long-term care is likely.

If, like most people, you never need or qualify for the policy’s benefits, or you collect benefits for only a short time, those years of premiums will turn out to have been a wasted investment. For that reason, it’s best to consider long-term care insurance as a “peace of mind” investment rather than as a sound financial one.

Who will need long-term care insurance?

Most people buy long-term care insurance in their 50s and early 60s. The cost goes up with age, but it’s still affordable for many people over age 65. Once you hit the mid-70s, though, the cost of a good long-term care policy becomes very expensive, and it may be difficult to qualify for if you already have health problems.

Even if you’re are in good health today, there’s a good chance that you’ll eventually need some type of long-term care, at least for awhile. By 2020, roughly 12 million people over the age of 65 will require some long-term care, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

But that only gives a general picture. The hard part is figuring out in advance whether you’ll need a long period of close monitoring — daily or even round-the-clock care — that you’ll have to pay for. Some 70 percent of the elderly don’t pay for their care but get it exclusively from family and friends.

The odds of needing two years or more of extensive, paid care is not high. Long-term care insurance, then, is security against a small but nonetheless real possibility of a lengthy, expensive period of care.

How much does long-term care cost?

The reason some people are willing to risk buying long-term care insurance is the staggering cost of care if it’s not provided by family and friends:

• A year in a nursing home costs more than $50,000 on average.
• Home health care can cost $1,000 a month or more.
• Assisted living facilities cost $2,000 a month and up, according to the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), a national trade group.

Health insurance or Medicare rarely covers any of these expenses. Medicaid does cover nursing facility and some home care costs, but you’ll have to meet strict income and asset requirements to qualify. Without long-term care insurance or Medicaid, you’ll be footing the entire bill out of your own pockets. It’s the chance that these bills will continue for three, four, or five years that long-term care insurance is meant to help guard against.

What types of policies are available?

Several types of long-term care insurance are available, but they work on the same principle as regular insurance: You pay an annual premium, and the insurance company reimburses you for a specified amount of long-term care costs, should one or both spouses end up needing and qualifying for care under the policy’s terms.

Some long-term care policies are “tax qualified.” This means the policy meets certain federal regulations, and therefore some of the premium amounts may be tax deductible (as an itemized medical expense, depending on income). The benefits collected would be tax-free.

In several states — California, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, and New York — there’s also what’s called “state partnership” long-term care insurance. These are the same as other policies, except they provide an extra benefit that might allow you to more easily qualify for Medicaid coverage of long-term care. To qualify for Medicaid coverage, you must have very limited income and assets. With a state partnership long-term care insurance policy, you’re allowed to keep more assets and still qualify for Medicaid coverage.

Long-term care insurance policies will pay benefits either on a per diem basis (a fixed benefit no matter what your costs) or on an indemnity basis (a portion of your actual expenses are reimbursed). Some policies pay only for a certified home care agency or licensed nursing facility, while others pay the policy holder directly, to use any way you sees fit.

How much does long-term care insurance cost?

The cost of a long-term care insurance policy is determined by several factors, including:

• The age of the person covered (the older the person, the more expensive)
• The amount of the benefit
• How long the benefit is to be paid
• The types of care covered
• The health status of the beneficiary when signing up for the policy
• Whether the policy includes inflation protection
• The cost of long-term care in the state where the beneficiary lives

For example, in 2005, a typical low-end long-term insurance policy cost $1,877 per year for a 55-year-old, $2,000 per year for a 65-year-old, $2,600 for a 75-year-old, and more than $5,000 for an 80-year-old, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These figures are higher today.

Premiums are lower for younger people, and the policy holder must be in reasonably good health to pass underwriting. So when thinking about getting a policy, it makes sense to do so sooner rather than later.

What does long-term care insurance cover — and what’s not covered?

Coverage depends on the plan you choose. Some policies cover only nursing home care, but many policies now include coverage for in-home care, including nursing care, physical therapy, and medical equipment. Many policies also cover assisted living, which is likely to be important, since this type of care is rapidly expanding.

Policies may also include adult daycare and respite care to give a break to a caregiver who is a family member. Almost all policies cover care related to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia (though there are exceptions, and since this is a common condition, you’ll need to be careful that the policy you choose does in fact cover Alzheimer’s). In general, the more types of care that are covered, the higher the premiums.

Most policies include a deductible or waiting period before the coverage begins, especially if the policy holder has any pre-existing conditions noted during the underwriting process. Most policies don’t include coverage related to alcohol or drug abuse. Also, no benefits at all are paid unless the insured person qualifies for coverage under the specific terms set by the policy.

Who’s eligible?

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 84 in reasonably good health can purchase long-term care insurance, according to the HIAA. People over the age of 84 aren’t usually eligible to buy new policies.

Many people can’t buy long-term care insurance, however, because they are rejected due to pre-existing health conditions. The Insurance Information Institute reports that in 2003 to 2004, 11 percent of people in their 50s, 19 percent in their 60s, and a whopping 43 percent of people in their 70s had their long-term care insurance applications rejected.

If one or both spouses don’t qualify for long-term care insurance because of health or age, some other insurance products — though not new insurance policies — are available that can help with the costs of long-term care. For example, viatical settlements, in which an older adult sells his life insurance for roughly the present value of the policy, can help fund long-term care. This type of product has some eligibility limitations, and the money obtained from selling the policy is taxable.

Life insurance policies may also offer something called an accelerated death benefit (ADB), which offers cash advances against the value of the policy while the affected person is still alive. These policies have some drawbacks — you have to continue paying the insurance premium, and the policies can generally be used only if the insured person has a terminal illness, needs nursing home care permanently, or can’t perform normal daily activities.

How do you purchase long-term care insurance, and what else should we be aware of?

If you’re going to look into long-term care insurance for someone in your care, check with his current or former employer, life insurance provider, or insurance broker to see if she can add long-term care coverage to an existing policy. If it’s for your parents, you may also be able to purchase a long-term care insurance policy through your own employer. If your parent is or was a local, state, or federal government employee or a veteran, he may be eligible for long-term care policies through a government-sponsored plan.

Insurance policies are legally enforceable contracts, but they don’t always match the sales pitch of the agent or the hype in the brochure — some policies require specific care providers or nursing homes, for example, so read the policy thoroughly. Before signing on, compare policies and prices from different companies, and consult with an elder law attorney or financial planner if you have any questions. Don’t rely exclusively on the word of an insurance broker or agent. If you’ve already bought insurance but find it’s not what you thought, the law provides for a 30-day cancellation period.

 

Remember that when it comes to older people and money, fraud is something to watch out for. If the sales pitch sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always check the insurance company’s rating and complaint history with your state insurance commissioner before signing any contracts or making any payments. You can also research the financial health of the insurance company through Moody’s Investors Services or Standard & Poor’s insurance ratings services.

For more information on what kind of long-term care insurance policy to look for, see A Buyer’s Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance.

This article originally appeared on Caring.com: What Is Long-term Care Insurance?

Caregiving Tips from the Pros: 8 Words of Advice

As a family caregiver, you play a vitally important role in the life of your aging loved one—a role that can also be overwhelming, exhausting and sometimes thankless. As our gift to you this season, and as an encouragement for all of the good work you are doing, we asked professional Home Instead^® CAREGivers^SM to share their best advice with you. Here are eight of our favorites.

1. Take a break without feeling guilty. Maggie, a Home Instead CAREGiver, says, “The one thing I would advise a family caregiver is to allow themselves respite time, at least a couple times each month, without feeling guilty. A refreshed caregiver is a much better provider of care when they themselves have taken a much needed break.”

2. Helping your loved one look good can help them feel good, too. CAREGiver Theresa says, “Washing their hair, getting a trim or a haircut can vastly improve how they feel and see themselves. Update their clothes as their size changes or they lose a lot of weight. Purchasing two or three brightly colored, patterned ‘senior bibs’ or ‘painting smocks’ that can be put on and washed every day can also extend the life of their clothes.”

3. Give them the freedom to forget. CAREGiver Lori says, “Do not assume your family member remembers even the simple parts of life they’ve always known. Do not assume they like what they’ve always liked: music, television, current events, travel, past favorite foods, visiting in large groups of people. Do not assume they remember the person in church greeting them, or the neighbor next door, or even you. Allow them the space to remember and forget at their own pace.”

4. Call or visit regularly. CAREGiver Renee says, “In my years as a caregiver, I have found that most seniors who do not get out much usually experience loneliness. Their phone seldom rings and the television is often left on all day for company. They want to hear the sound of other voices but that doesn’t take the place of visiting with other people or spending time out in public.” Renee suggests setting a specific day and time each week to call, to give your loved one something to look forward to. A simple letter or greeting card to let them know they are missed and loved can make their day and remind them that someone cares.

5. Allow them to change and accept when they do. “Whether it’s a physical incapability or behavioral, realize that it is okay that your loved one is not the person you remember. Step back and realize the only way they can get peace is to let them be.” – Jeannie, Great Lakes Region 2012 CAREGiver of the Year

6. Never make them feel incapable, or say “no” outright. Jeannie also advises, “Be considerate about things that may be embarrassing to them (e.g., helping them out of a wheelchair). Be as creative as you can be. If they’re confused about what is going on, ease the confusion by asking questions about their past and suggesting activities like going for a drive and pointing out all their favorite locations. Do what you can to make it feel like they weren’t denied anything.”

7. Be patient and respectful. Mariana, Central Region 2012 CAREGiver of the Year, says: “Regardless of the reasons they need care, it is important to provide loved ones care in ways that are respectful of their dignity and independence. You need to be patient.”

8. Accept help. “You need to take care of yourself to take care of someone else. If people offer to help, accept the help.” – Mariana

Determining the Best Place for Your Loved One to Recover

What do you do when your loved one is discharged from the hospital and needs continuing health care? Deciding upon the best course for care isn’t always easy to do so it is important to understand what options are available and what issues need to be considered before making this important decision.

Discharge Planning Starts Early

As the family caregiver your first step is to have a meeting with the appropriate hospital staff—often a case manager or discharge planner—and let them know you would like to be involved in after care planning, including where your loved one will go upon discharge from the hospital.

Key issues to discuss with the discharge planner include:

• Expected date of discharge,
• Type of aftercare required along with an explanation of the level of skilled care or services required to provide the necessary care,
• Staff recommendations for discharge options,
• List of providers for aftercare, and
• List of resources for additional information and support.

Options for Services and Rehabilitation After a Hospital Stay

There are three primary aftercare or rehabilitation options available and each has its own rules, regulations, and entrance requirements.

• Inpatient—Nursing facility/rehabilitation hospital—An inpatient option is typically necessary if your loved one’s doctor orders inpatient services or if your family member will benefit from specialist treatment following the hospital stay, such as intensive physical or speech therapy.

  Time spent in a skilled nursing facility or rehab center typically lasts for weeks not months, and if continued rehab is required beyond the inpatient stay it usually takes place at home or an outpatient center.

• Home—Certified home health care agency or in-home health care services—If your family member only needs part-time or intermittent rehab or skilled health care services such as wound care or monitoring of medications and equipment, then home health care may be the right option for them. Depending upon need, care can be provided by nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants or certified home health aides.

  We understand that making the decision to use outside help for caring for an elderly loved one is difficult but there are a wealth of senior care resources and Alzheimer’s and dementia care resources for you to consider. Often, depending upon your family member’s needs, a non-medical but trained home companion will be able to assist with mobility, medication reminders and special dietary issues. In addition, they will be able to provide caregivers the peace of mind knowing that their loved one is safely at home. You can find more information about the differences between medical and non-medical in-home care on HomeInstead.com.

• Outpatient—Rehabilitation center or adult day health center—If your family member’s rehabilation needs are not acute and don’t require inpatient services then he or she may be able to take advantage of outpatient services. Your senior loved one must be able to travel in order for his or her after care needs to be met by an outpatient rehab center or an adult day health center. Typically outpatient rehabilitation centers provide physical, occupational and speech and language therapy.

Your senior loved one might require additional services beyond those provided at the rehabilitation center. Often, a combination of outpatient rehabilitation services and in-home care services works well in this scenario. For example, caregivers provided by an in-home senior care agency like your local Home Instead Senior Care^® office could assist with transportation to rehabilitation and other home health needs such as dressing, meal preparation, and medication monitoring. Also keep in mind that it is common for top rehabilitation facilities to have waiting lists so it is important to start early to find a center that will accept your loved one when he or she is ready to be discharged.

Guidelines: Family Caregivers and Post-Discharge Issues

There are many important factors and issues to consider before your loved one is discharged from the hospital:

• What level of skilled nursing care or specialist rehabilitation services are required and for how long?
• Are these after care services covered by Medicare or other insurers and if so, for how long?
• Does your loved one need full-time/around the clock, daily or intermittent care?
• Will transportation be a factor for both inpatient and outpatient options? Consider issues such as the location of the center, length of travel time, parking, stairs and if travelling tends to cause your loved one to experience confusion or anxiety.
• Does the facility (outpatient or inpatient) have extended hours of operation, convenient visiting hours and are meals/snacks provided?

As the primary family caregiver there are also many personal factors for you to consider as well:

• How much time do you have to help out?
• Will you need to take time off from work?
• Do you have a back-up caregiver in the event of an emergency?
• Are you physically able to lift or move your family member?
• Can you handle additional tasks such as picking up medicine and taking care of your loved one’s home?

Once you have answered these questions your loved one’s medical providers and you can decide which post-discharge care option is best for your loved one. Knowing what options are available and weighing each against your loved one’s desires and needs can help you make a well-informed decision that will help to ensure a successful recovery.

What Do Our Clients Have to Say About Us?

Here are a few of the things our clients said about us during the most recent survey of our local office through JD Power & Associates:

“They go above and beyond to get things done. It’s not just the person who picks up, but also, if there are problems, they work with the office. They do a good job.”

“They are all such wonderful caregivers. They do such a good job.”

“They have been very accommodating and understanding. They listen to our needs and they take care of us.”

“I’ve had some very good experience with them. The person they sent is very dependable and the fees are reasonable.”

“They have gone above and beyond several times when we have had emergencies. They have found me staff for nights. They have just been wonderful.”

“I have had chances to be around the caregivers, and I have seen the quality of people they use to care for my dad. I am pleased with what I see.”

Are you happy with the care that your loved ones are receiving? If not, contact Home Instead.

http://www.homeinsteadwichita.com
316-612-7541

Hospice Care: 5 Tips to Help Your Patients Choose the Right Provider

At an extremely difficult time in the lives of your patients and their family members, you can be a great source of help and guidance.

A prognosis of less than six months left to live can send patients and their families reeling emotionally as well as logistically. There’s so much to coordinate, prepare for and finalize. One of the most important tasks will be to select a hospice provider to care and comfort their loved one during the last days of his or her life.

Here are five considerations from the Professional Patient Advocate Institute to help you guide patients and their families in selecting the right hospice care.

1. Location
Hospice care can take place in various locations, such as in a person’s home, at a nursing facility or in a hospital. Location can play a big part in how responsive a hospice agency will be to a patient’s needs, especially in case of an emergency.

2. Quality
Patients and their caregivers can use an online tool like WhereToFindCare.com (In Canada, HospiceDirectory.org) to compare hospice agencies according to how people rated the quality of care they received.

3. Levels of care offered
When choosing a hospice provider, an individual will need a provider that can accommodate his/her needs. Some hospice agencies provide only routine home care. Other kinds of care include comfort care, respite care and inpatient care.

4. Hospice staff
The composition of the hospice staff can vary greatly from one facility to the next. Ideally, patients and their family members and caregivers should look for hospice providers that have a full-time medical director, home health aids, chaplains and volunteers.

5. Recommendations
Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, family, co-workers and other acquaintances are helpful in determining the quality of a hospice provider.

Family members may also want to consider supplementing hospice care with in-home non-medical care services from a provider like the Home Instead Senior Care® network. Home Instead CAREGiversSM can take care of the cleaning, grocery shopping, and other home helper services, allowing family more time with their loved one. CAREGivers can also provide companionship and respite care during hours when other team members are off duty. When needed, trained CAREGivers may provide personal care services to relieve family members from this often difficult task.

While the weight of wanting to make the best hospice care choice may seem overwhelming to a patient and family, your guidance can ease the burden and help ensure the patient’s final care needs are best met.

Salute to Senior Service

The search is on for Kansas’s outstanding senior volunteer.

The Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Carenetwork, honors the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes.

Nominations for outstanding senior volunteers will be accepted between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2013. State winners then will be selected by popular vote at SalutetoSeniorService.com. Online voting will take place from April 15 to April 30, 2013. From those state winners, a panel of senior care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior Service honoree.

Home Instead, Inc. will donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite nonprofit organizations and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice.

“We all know seniors who do so much for our community,” said Michael Steinberg, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Wichita and all of Sedgwick County. “These silent heroes give selflessly, expecting nothing in return. And yet, their contributions often make a difference not only to the organizations they serve, but in changing how the public views growing older.”

Senior care professionals and those who work at hospitals, senior care facilities and other places where seniors volunteer are encouraged to nominate older adults. So, too, are family caregivers and the adult children of aging parents. Older adults also may self-nominate.

To complete and submit a nomination form online for a senior age 65 or older who volunteers at least 15 hours a month, and to view the contest’s official rules, visit SalutetoSeniorService.com. Completed nomination forms also can be mailed to Salute to Senior Service, P.O. Box 285, Bellevue, NE 68005.

For more information about Salute to Senior Service or the Home Instead Senior Care network’s services, call 316-612-7541.

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ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care® network is the world’s largest provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors, with more than 950 independently owned and operated franchises providing in excess of 45 million hours of care throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Finland, Austria, Italy, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ more than 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services – assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, incidental transportation and shopping – which enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. In addition, CAREGivers are trained in the network’s groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and EducationSM Program to work with seniors who suffer from these conditions. This world class curriculum also is available free to family caregivers online or through local Home Instead Senior Care offices. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while continuing to provide superior quality service that enhances the lives of seniors everywhere.

Holiday Program Helps Sedgwick County Seniors Struggling With Poverty and Loneliness

Be a Santa to a Senior^®, the popular campaign that in the last six years delivered more than 1.2 million gifts to local needy seniors, is being planned again this holiday season as older adults continue to face poverty and loneliness.

The Wichita area office of the Home Instead Senior Care^® network, the world’s largest provider of non-medical in-home care and companionship services for older adults, is joining local nursing homes and Dillons stores to provide gifts and companionship to seniors who otherwise might not receive either.

“Seniors faced with medical bills and the high cost of living can find they have little left at the end of the year,” said Michael Steinberg, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Sedgwick County. “That’s not the only issue, though. Personal needs may become magnified for so many living alone with no one to share their problems.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 9 percent of U.S. seniors 65 and older are living in poverty and 27 percent are widowed.*

Here’s how to help these struggling seniors: Pick up ornaments with the first names of seniors and their gift requests from Christmas trees, which will be on display at the Dillons Marketplace stores located at 10222 W 21st St N and 7707 E Central Ave in Wichita on November 15^th through December 13^th.  Buy items on the list and place them in the collection bins unwrapped, along with the ornaments attached.

“Helping a needy older adult can bring fulfillment to the giver as well as the receiver – it does make a difference,” Steinberg said.

For more information about the program, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com or (316) 612-7541.

* * *

*U.S. Census Bureau;

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff07.html

Editor’s Note: For more information, or to arrange photos, contact Michael Steinberg at 316-612-7541.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care^® network is the world’s largest provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors, with more than 950 independently owned and operated franchises providing in excess of 45 million hours of care throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Finland, Austria, Italy, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ more than 65,000 CAREGivers^SM worldwide who provide basic support services – assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, incidental transportation and shopping – which enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. In addition, CAREGivers are trained in the network’s groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and Education^SM Program to work with seniors who suffer from these conditions. This world class curriculum also is available free to family caregivers online or through local Home Instead Senior Care offices. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while continuing to provide superior quality service that enhances the lives of seniors everywhere.

Common Senior Conditions that Contribute to Hospitalization and Readmissions

While a number of factors can contribute to a senior’s readmission to a hospital after being transitioned home, there are six common conditions that are the most prevalent causes:

1. Arthritis
2. Congestive Heart Failure
3. Diabetes
4. Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
5. Pneumonia
6. Comorbidity

Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic disease, which is characterized by more than 100 conditions that primarily affect a body’s joints. Some of the most common forms are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and gout. The chances of getting arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, which is caused by the deterioration of a joint’s cartilage, increases with age, making it likely that a senior may suffer from the disease’s effects.

Some with osteoarthritis have knee or hip replacement surgery to help relieve the pain in their joints. Others use medication and lifestyle changes such as exercise and a proper diet to ease their symptoms.

But seniors with arthritis who have just completed a hospital stay and who live alone may have difficulty caring for themselves, particularly in areas of medication and nutrition management, as well as getting the exercise they need to ease their symptoms. If a senior misses needed doses of medications and becomes weak from poor nutrition, he could end up with setbacks and be readmitted to the hospital.

Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump blood throughout the body. It can be caused by narrowed arteries, high blood pressure, problems stemming from a heart attack, stroke, infection of the heart, and other factors. The symptoms of congestive heart failure generally include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, swollen legs and ankles, reduced appetite, nausea and weight gain. Congestive heart failure is a progressive disorder that affects the heart, lungs and kidneys.

Aging plays a large role in the risk of congestive heart failure, and the prevalence of heart failure approximately doubles with each decade of life. Congestive heart failure is one of the most common reasons for hospital readmissions. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should contact your loved one’s doctor right away.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels due to a lack of insulin. Diabetes is present in over one quarter of seniors age 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Fact Sheet. People who are over age 45, overweight or obese and physically inactive also increase their chances of getting diabetes. Diabetes can cause sight and hearing loss, nerve damage, and high blood pressure.

According to the article “Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Prevention, Diagnosis and Classification” in American Family Physician, foot complications are the most frequent reason for hospitalization in people with diabetes, accounting for up to 25 percent of all diabetic admissions in the United States and Great Britain.

Making sure that your senior loved one leads a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, exercise and strength training, and proper medication and insulin routines may help to limit complications from diabetes. Research presented in the Lower Extremity Review article “Exercise and Neuropathy: Not mutually exclusive” also shows that weight-bearing exercise does not increase the risk for foot ulcers, and that those people who were the most active actually reduced their risk for ulceration.

If you need some help, senior care agencies can provide assistance with making sure you senior gets exercise and proper nutrition. Many also provide transportation to activities and can help with grocery shopping.

Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

If your senior loved one suffered a myocardial infarction – also called a heart attack – she has much to consider when returning home from the hospital including: keeping and getting to follow-up doctors’ appointments and medical tests; properly taking medications; eating a healthy diet; getting to a rehabilitation program and more. Sadly, according to the US National Library of Medicine, having one heart attack increases one’s likelihood of having another episode.

The US National Library of Medicine suggests to prevent another heart attack, and thus readmission to the hospital, a senior needs to do the following:

• Keep blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol under control
• Don’t smoke
• Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in animal fat
• Get plenty of exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week (talk to the doctor first)
• Get checked and treated for depression
• Limit alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day for women, and no more than two drinks a day for men
• Stay at a healthy weight

All of this might seem like a lot of work, but it is vital to maintaining a senior’s good health and staying out of the hospital. As a caregiver you can help in many ways, but be sure to inquire with the senior’s doctors or discharge coordinators if you have questions about getting some outside assistance.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious condition that occurs when fluids accumulate in the air sacs causing irritation and inflammation in the lungs. As this occurs, blood and cells do not receive the oxygen required for proper function. Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs and can be caused by exposure to bacteria, viruses, irritants or exposure to chemicals. Since the elderly can often have chronic lung problems, the condition may be harder to detect, especially if a senior is already weakened from a previous hospital stay.

Seniors don’t always exhibit classic pneumonia symptoms such as chills, shortness of breath and chest pain. In fact, many elderly sufferers, particularly those just released from the hospital, often show no symptoms because their immune response may already be in a somewhat weakened state. Seniors may also have a lower than normal temperature versus a high temperature. Other signs of pneumonia in seniors include confusion, disorientation, severe weakness and bleeding or discoloration of the lips and nail beds.

According to the National Institutes of Health, pneumonia is one of the ten leading causes of death for persons over the age of 65. It is vital that you monitor your loved one for pneumonia symptoms and call the doctor if you suspect a senior’s health is off. Doing so can keep a senior healthy and risk free.

Comorbidity

Comorbidity is the simultaneous presence of two or more conditions or diseases in the same person, which may complicate her situation. For example, if a senior has congestive heart failure she is particularly vulnerable to infection, especially pneumonia and influenza. An infection can aggravate the underlying heart disease and could lead to rapid, frequent recurrences of the congestive heart failure, which could then result in readmission back to the hospital.

Discharge from the hospital is a critical transition point in your loved one’s care especially if he has multiple comorbidities. Be sure to ask several questions of the senior’s discharge coordinator so that you can make sure to be watch for warning signs and be ready to help manage them.

It may seem a daunting task to have to watch for all of these conditions and their various warning signs but doing so can mean the difference between a senior’s full recovery, a setback or worse. And always remember to take good care of yourself. Be sure to eat right, rest and engage in activities that you enjoy. Being a healthy caregiver is good for you and an even greater gift to your loved one.