To all - there is good news. The State of Colorado is leading the way in an attempt to reverse the social stigmas that have long been associated with long term care in nursing facilities. One of the foremost examples of the statewide effort is the passage of HB 1196, which allocated $200,000 in grant money for projects that serve to improve the quality of life for nursing home residents in Colorado through culture change. The grant monies were appropriated from the monies collected through civil monetary penalties (CMPs) issued to nursing homes for violations of Medicare or Medicaid quality standards.

Now, you are probably thinking that the general concept sounds good, but "what does culture change mean? In a nutshell, culture change refers to the national movement within older adult services toward individualizing care (recognizing that each resident is a unique individual with unique needs), giving residents choice, empowering residents and line staff, and providing a home-like environment (as opposed to institutional environment.)

Many interesting projects that perpetuated culture change were awarded grant money in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. For example, some of the monies were distributed to assist a skilled nursing facility attempt to decrease medications for residents with dementia through therapeutic techniques and behavioral approaches. Other grant monies went to education, such as the proposal to educate Colorado state surveyors on culture change ideas and identifying barriers within the survey process to culture change. One of the better known recipients, the Colorado Culture Change Coalition (CCCC) works tirelessly to educate consumers on the importance of the integration of resident-centered care principles.

In total $195,000 was dispersed by the Colorado Culture Change Accountability Board, a committee appointed by Governor Bill Ritter to oversee the distribution of funds allocated by H.B. 1196. September marked the new fiscal year which means new grant monies are available! The deadline for the first round of grant applications is December 31, 2010. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, keep the following things in mind:

1. The proposed project must involve culture change.

2. Residents must see a benefit from it.

3. Grant money cannot be used for capital improvements, per federal law.

For a link to the grant application, click here.

For a great overview of the vision of the Colorado Culture Change movement and what culture changes mean to the residents and staff affected by it, check out the video below. CCCC and the PioneerNetwork are two other websites you can check out for the most up to date info on the movement in your area, as well as upcoming events.

If you have questions about Colorado Culture Change, how to implement culture change, the grant process, or additional information you'd like to share on this topic, please leave your comments here. 

What does it take to find the right retirement community, assisted living, or nursing home? Evaluating the options - and there are a lot of them! Choosing the right senior housing option is truly a daunting task. When I tell people what I do for a living - assist families in finding the absolute best senior housing option that fits their care needs, personality, budget, and such  -the response is often: "I wish we had known about your services when we were conducting our search." For those of you that have yet to make the decision to pursue senior housing, read on for a few quick hints that can go a long way.

One of the biggest mistakes seniors and their families make is to wait until Mom has a really bad fall or Dad begins wandering, to determine that it is finally time to evaluate senior-specific housing alternatives. Choosing a senior housing option can be a stressful and time-consuming task in the best of times. Adding the pressure of finding housing or care for someone while in crisis-mode only compounds the situation. I always recommend that families take the time to explore the options earlier rather than later, if for no other reason than to gain familiarity with what is out there. By doing so, seniors and their families can make deliberate, informed decisions if they find it necessary to make a quick transition due to health problems.

When exploring senior housing options, it is important to take into account one's current state of affairs (finances, care needs, location of family & friends, etc.), as well as what may be coming down the pipeline in the future. For example, are there enough assets to last until the end of life or will there be a need to access Medicaid benefits? Or perhaps Mom and Dad are both functional enough to fit into an independent living situation, but Dad has early stage Alzheimers. Can Dad stay in the community as the disease progresses or will he have to move again? Taking time to be thoughtful and draw the big picture from the start will help people choose the most appropriate senior housing option for their needs the first time around.

All assisted living and skilled nursing communities are mandated by many state and federal laws. State survey results, complaints, Medicare ratings, and many other quality indicators can be found on the Internet. Unfortunately, figuring out where to find this information is often quite tricky. To help you minimize your time spent searching on Google, I've attached helpful links to the respective terms in this paragraph. In addition to verifying quality data online, when I tour a community I always like to ask questions like, "What were the results of your last state survey?" Or "Have you had any complaints lately and if so, what?"

You use an expert when you decide to buy a house, so why not use one when it's time for senior housing? A good senior housing expert will work with all retirement communities in the area that meet quality standards, not just a few exclusive ones. Working with preferred communities will limit their ability to truly meet the needs of a client. At Always Best Care, I personally work with over 200 communities in the Front Range alone, which allows me to give my clients the best options. Like a real estate agent, companies that assist with senior housing placement generally receive reimbursement directly from the communities themselves - which allows them to offer the service to clients for free! A top-notch referral expert will also be able to provide great references. Don't be afraid to request and check them. Someone who truly knows how to assess and meet their clients needs won't have any problem sharing them!

These are just a few of the many factors that play into the senior housing decision. Whether you choose to do your own legwork or work with a professional, I wish you the best of luck in your quest!

Click here  to refresh your memory on the video we introduced to you in Post I of this series.

Now that you have a better understanding of Medicare Parts A and B, were ready to help you understand Parts C and D in this post.

Medicare Part C serves as an alternative to Original Medicare. Commonly known as Medicare Advantage Plans, Part C allows consumers the option of purchasing Part A & B benefits through a private insurer. Medicare Advantage Plans are typically a lower-cost alternative to Original Medicare. The plans are required to cover all medically necessary costs and usually offer extra benefits to users as well, in addition to prescription drug coverage (Part D). When one purchases a plan under Part C, they still have to pay the premiums for Part B (and Part A if applicable); however, overall costs tend to be reduced as a result of the expanded coverage provided by the Part C plan.

Medicare Part D is generally utilized by those on Medicare, as well as anyone in a Medicare Advantage plan that lacks prescription drug coverage. The 2010 Part D deductible is $310. After meeting this deductible, Part D pays 75% of ones covered prescription drug costs. Once you reach $2,830 in total drug costs, Medicare Part D stops paying and doesnt start paying again until your total out-of-pocket costs reach $4,550 (this includes your annual deductible and copays). This gap in coverage is what is known as the proverbial donut hole of the Medicare system that so many recipients fall into.

In addition to a basic knowledge of Medicares parts, their benefits, and the associated costs, I always advise clients to stay informed on current events as they relate to Medicare. Additionally, each new year brings annual changes in Medicare rates (mostly increases!). Every legislative session attempts to alter the Medicare program in some way, shape, or form. Once informed, I encourage Medicare recipients to speak out when they feel their elected officials are not acting in their best interest.

If youd like to talk more about Medicare expenses and what to expect, contact Erin Nichols of Denver, Colorado, Always Best Care Certified Senior Advisor or feel free to post your questions and comments on this topic here.

Post I: Medicare Parts A and B 

 

Budgeting for Medicare and choosing the right combination of benefits for one's current and future care needs is extremely important. Unfortunately, too many retirees come to understand the true costs of Medicare after-the-fact. Without proper planning, a senior could easily exhaust a large amount of their retirement fund on unanticipated care expenses. One way to minimize the probability of this occurring is to become familiar with each section of the program and the associated costs.

 

Watch this video for a great crash course on Medicare Parts A, B, C and D.

 

After watching the video, read on for Post I of our series on Understanding Medicare Benefits, Coverage and Costs. Post I of our 2-post series on this topic will give you a quick breakdown of the major costs for Medicare Parts A and B.

 

Medicare Part A (Hospital, Skilled Nursing, Home Health, and Hospice)

 

Part A benefits assist with inpatient hospital care, post-hospitalization skilled nursing care in a facility, home health care, and hospice care. Most people, with ample working history, receive Part A coverage with no monthly premiums. Sounds great, right? It's a good start, but the program does not cover every associated expense. To begin with, only a specific number of days are covered for Part A service and access to service comes with various deductibles, co-insurances, and co-pays. For example, for days 1 through 60 of a

period of hospitalization, a Medicare recipient pays a $1,100 deductible; for days 61 to 90, $275 daily copay is required. For skilled nursing, only the first 20 days of skilled nursing care are covered 100% by Medicare; after that the next 21 - 100 days are covered with a $137.50 daily co-pay. After 100 days, Medicare no longer covers nursing services. If one does the math, a prolonged illness requiring a hospital say, could add up to over $6,000 out-of-pocket for a period of hospitalization (making it all the more important to budget for Medicare expenses).

 

Medicare Part B (Supplemental Medical Insurance)

 

Most people have to pay a premium for Part B, which is also referred to as supplemental medical insurance. The 2010 Medicare Part B premium ranged from $96.40 - $354.00, depending on a beneficiary's yearly income. From 2009 to 2010, Part B premiums increased by 15%. Most Medicare recipients are quite surprised when they learn exactly what Part B does not cover. For example, items such as routine physicals, eye and hearing examinations, certain immunizations, private nursing care, dentures, and the first three pints of blood in a transfusion are not included in Original Medicare coverage. Without being a conscious consumer, the costs can very quickly add up.

 

 

Stay tuned for our next post covering Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage). Find out how you can stay abreast of annual changes in Medicare premiums and how the changes will affect you personally.

 

If you still have questions pertaining to Medicare Parts A and B coverage, contact Erin Nichols of Denver, Colorado, Always Best Care Certified Senior Advisor , or post your questions and comments here.   

 

Tags: Home Health, Hospice, Hospital, Medical Insurance, Medicare Benefits, Medicare Costs, Medicare Coverage

Cognitive Therapies and Smell Tests Battle Alzheimers

Published by Erin Nichols on 8/4/2010

Categories: Alzheimers, Seniors, Resources, Treatments, Research

As the population of our country rapidly ages, the looming impact of Alzheimer's disease on our society becomes more and more evident. Research indicates that there are five times as many people living in the United States with Alzheimer's as there are with HIV/AIDS, yet despite these numbers the amount of federal dollars spent on the search for a cure for Alzheimers pales in comparison to HIV/AIDS

($615 million versus $2.7 billion).

 

Third-party organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association have been extremely successful in their attempts to raise money for Alzheimer's research, yet a lack of federal funding remains one of the largest obstacles in the search for a cure. Investing in research - now - will cost our nation far less than the cost of care for the rising numbers of Americans who will be affected by Alzheimer's in the coming decades, says Bill Thies, PhD, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer for the Alzheimer's Association. Despite the lack of funding, momentum in Alzheimer's research continues to increase. Here are two very interesting highlights:

 

Early Diagnostic Tools: Smell Tests

Researchers have been aware for quite awhile that people with Alzheimer's often have a reduced ability to perceive smells, as well as to identify specific odors. New studies even suggest that loss of smell may be one of the earliest indicators of the development of Alzheimer's disease. Using this information, scientists are hoping to soon provide an inexpensive diagnostic alternative, in the form of an

olfactory test, to replace costly brain scans. While the link between loss of smell and Alzheimer's is not a new one, it has recently rose again to the forefront of Alzheimer's research due to affirmative results of research on mice published by New York University's Langone Medical Center.

 

Onset Prevention: Cognitive Fitness and Innovative Therapies

Cognitive Fitness and Innovative Therapy (CFIT) is a first of its kind therapy program designed to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease. CFITs curriculum utilizes cognitive approaches such as puzzles, games and quizzes, in conjunction with physical practices like control of blood pressure and cholesterol. An exercise regimen and a meal plan based on the Mediterranean diet are also important parts of the program. A total of four CFIT clinics are on tap to be built in New York and California. Participation in the program costs $4,000/month. The programs founder, Dr. Kenneth Kosik of the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California Santa Barbara, recommends that individuals start efforts to prevent Alzheimers in their early 50s.

 

The Wall Street Journal published a sample of four CFIT brain teasers along with a feature article about the CFIT program back in March of this year. Admittedly, I found a few of the challenge questions a little difficult (should I be concerned?). Click here to give the puzzles a try yourself.

 

Tags: Alzheimers, cognitive therapies, research, smell tests

Eradicate Alzheimer's

Published by Erin Nichols on 6/24/2010

Categories: In-Home Care, Alzheimers, Seniors, Resources

Chances are if you are reading this blog you know someone who has been affected by dementia.  Alzheimer’s disease, being the most commons, accounts for an estimated 60 to 80 percent of all cases of dementia.[1]   Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. 

 

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s is staggering. For example,

• In 2010, nearly 5.5 million people in the United States alone will be living with the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
• By 2050, 16 million people are expected to be living with Alzheimer’s.
• Alzheimer’s-related dementia is the 7^th leading cause of death in the United States. 

 

For those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, one of the best things they can do is to seek out support for themselves, their family members and friends. The Alzheimer’s Association  is a great place to start a quest for information and support. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading organization in the U.S. committed to Alzheimer care, support and research. For families and those with Alzheimer’s, the Alzheimer’s Association is a priceless resource.

 

As the disease progresses, a family will want to reach out to a company such as Always Best Care for support within the home or assistance in finding the right memory care or assisted living community for their loved one.   

 

Always Best Care caregivers are some of the highest trained in the industry in working with families and sufferers of Alzheimer’s and/or other forms of dementia.    In addition to specialized internal Alzheimer’s and dementia training, Always Best Care caregivers attended the day-long 2010 Alzheimer’s Symposium held on March>>> by the Alzheimer’s Association.     

 

It doesn’t stop with our caregivers - the Always Best Care commitment to the education and advancement of research to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease runs even deeper. Always Best Care staff volunteer on a weekly basis on the Alzheimer’s Association HelpLine (1-800-272-3900), which equates to nearly 250 hours of volunteerism a year!   This commitment continues with our annual participation in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk.   

 

 The 2010 Denver Memory Walk will take place in City Park on Saturday, September 4^th. If you would like to join our team in the 2010 Denver Memory Walk, would love to have you! The Walk will take place Saturday, September 18th in City Park. To sign up, simply click here and fill out the form or contact Always Best Care directly at (303) 952-3060 / enichols@abc-seniors.com.

 

If you can’t directly participate, we can still use your help and remember - every little bit counts! If you would like to make a donation to the Always Best Care 2010 Memory Walk team, click here.

 

 

[1] Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Facts & Figures 2010.

Tags: Alzheimers, resources, support

Honoring Elderly Americans

Published by Erin Nichols on 6/22/2010

Categories: Alzheimers, Seniors, Volunteer

May marked National Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older. President John F. Kennedy established this month in 1963, when there were 17.5 million Americans over the age of 65. This age group continues to grow. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2008 there were over 38.9 million Americans age 65 and up.

Every President since JFK has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way or another to older persons in their communities. Here are some simple suggestions on how you can easily pay tribute to an older American in your life:

 

Listen! Seniors have wonderful stories to share about the past that can teach us lessons about history and life. Sometimes it takes a little prompting but asking questions like "Who was your favorite President?” or "Where did you meet his/her significant other?” can always spark warm memories and great stories.

 

Be Patient. As we age, our ability to hear, see, and compute information changes. Sometimes we get frustrated with older adults when they cannot hear what we are saying or have to ask us to repeat things several times. Be patient and remember that their ability to understand what you are saying isn’t diminished but their abilities to process information have simply slowed. Keep in mind you will go through the same experience eventually!

 

Make Time. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, sometimes we overlook the special older people in our lives. Though people’s and abilities may slow, one’s desire to feel loved and engaged with their family rarely goes away. Make time in your schedule to visit or call the older American in your life on a regular basis – it will mean more to them than you know.

 

Volunteer. There are countless volunteer opportunities out there to pay tribute to older Americans through volunteerism. Delivering food through Meals on Wheels, putting on a program at a local senior center, or enlisting in a friendly visitor program through your church are all great ways to give back. Always Best Care staff volunteer on a weekly basis with local organizations such as Total Longterm Care (TLC), the National Stroke Association and the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

This year ABC employees will contribute nearly 850 hours of service to local organizations that assist older people!

Tags: Alzheimers, Caregiving, Meals on Wheels, Seniors, Stroke, volunteer

Dealing with Alzheimer's at Home

Published by Erin Nichols on 6/22/2010

Categories: In-Home Care, Alzheimers

This is a sample blog post. Content copied from Web site.

 

Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease at home is a challenging task that can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new demands and opportunities as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior.

 

• Adjust your communication style
• Schedule visitors to avoid surprises
• Establish routines in activities
• Maintain social contacts and fun
• Set up a safe home environment

Tags: Alzheimers, Dementia, Home Care

2 comments -- Click to Read/Write Comments

Test Blog

Published by Erin Nichols on 6/15/2010

This is a test blog.

Tags:

	Your comment is in Moderation Queue and will be revised by a Moderator before publishing it