By Lois Jasmer, Certified Senior Concierge Care Advisor
As I watch college football today I marvel at the way the team works together. My favorite team is the Washington Huskies. Sorry if you are a Cougar. I guess what I am trying to say here is that there are many teams out there, and they all work together toward one united goal; to win. The team members are selected for their special abilities by a coach who was selected for his talents as well.
As an adult child of an aging parent or a senior you too should select a coach and a team to work with. Sometimes the coach is the Doctor or it could be a Senior Advisor like those at Concierge Care Advisors. Trying to navigate the course in senior care and senior living with no help would be a bit like trying to coach and play a football game without any plays available to call.
With a situation where the senior needs help whether while staying home or transitioning, having a coach, an advisor or a consultant to help with the game plan will make the whole event more doable and less stressful. As adult children, it’s often very difficult to let loose of the notion that a parent is still in charge. It is time to retire that coach and recruit a new one that knows how the game is played now.
Concierge Care Advisors are experts in transitioning seniors to safe and comfortable housing where they have an opportunity to thrive again. We train for it, we eat, sleep and breathe it. Get us on your team and we will help you have a winning outcome in this journey.
If you or a loved one is living with one or more chronic health conditions, you may know too well the cycle of doctor’s visits or trips to the hospital to help manage symptoms. Depending on your situation, it can be difficult or inconvenient to leave home, find transportation, or afford the additional medical bills.
Did you know that having home health services can also help you avoid costly out-of-pocket expenses and trips to the hospital? Home health services are focused on helping you manage a change in your chronic condition or recover from an illness, surgery or accident. Care is designed to promote health, independence, and a return to quality of life.
Here are eight ways home health can benefit both your budget and independence:
- More visits at the beginning of your care. When you begin receiving home health services, your care team will coordinate with your physician so your care extends seamlessly from where you were previously. You can receive concentrated visits at the beginning of your care and taper them off as you gain independence. By spending more time with you at home up front, you’re less likely to need to return to the hospital, decreasing hospital or ambulance bills. When you need less care, you’re still covered 24 hours a day, seven days a week should a need arise.
- Help setting goals. Your care team provides health evaluations that help you set realistic goals for long-term recovery, or condition management so you stay on track. By sticking with the plan, you’re less likely to re-injure yourself or suffer setbacks that could lead to additional physician’s office or hospital visits.
- Keeping track of early warning signs. Your care team will provide training for you or your loved ones so you’re able to identify early symptoms that could lead to complications in your care.
- In-home therapy. After a hospital stay, there’s nowhere you’d rather be more than home. With home health, you can receive occupational, physical and speech therapy from the comfort of home. By taking away the stress of transportation to and from inpatient appointments, you can focus on therapy in an environment you need to become used to again. They can help you get back into your routine of daily activity, walking up or down stairs, using a new assistive device or recommendations on how to conserve energy.
- Medication planning and reminders. Even the right prescriptions can cause poor reactions if you happen to take them incorrectly. Your home health care team can help you avoid unwanted reactions to prescriptions that could lead to hospital stays by teaching you about your medications, helping you get organized and going through the routine with you until you’re ready to do it independently.
- Education on leading a healthy lifestyle. An important part of the healing process is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and your team will work with you to make improvements to your nutrition and exercise, as well as leading a healthier lifestyle, such as smoking cessation.
- Social services. Care for your condition goes well beyond your health. Medical social workers are part of your care team and can help with financial and social resources available in your community. Maybe you need help with transportation or help establishing a long-term plan—the social workers on your team can help.
- Medicare coverage. Home health is covered 100% by Medicare as long as your doctor has referred you for skilled nursing or therapy services.
If you or a loved one is struggling to manage your condition at home, ask your doctor if home health care may be right for you. For more information about how Kindred at Home can help, call 1.866.KINDRED to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lois Jasmer
Concierge Care Advisors
253.509.3637
[email protected]
