Dispelling Myths About Home Care: What Home Care Is and Isn't

Dispelling Myths About Home Care: What Home Care Is and Isn't
by Vicki Salemi
Home Care. These two words may overwhelm families as they're considering viable options for their aging and/or ailing relative. Home Care allows a person with special needs to remain in their home, and may encompass a variety of roles such as personal care (i.e., bathing, washing your hair, getting dressed), homemaking (i.e., cleaning and yardwork), cooking or delivering meals, and health care such as having a home health aide come to your home.

While it entails a variety of situations such as people getting older, people who are chronically ill, recovering from surgery or disabled, there are many myths about home care to become aware of as you consider the possibility.

Home care is only for old people.
"People of all ages are eligible for home care," says Maxine Hochhauser, CEO of Visiting Nurse Regional Health Care System. In fact, she notes older patients aren't the only people receiving care; mothers and babies receive services as well as older individuals. In addition, home care may be necessary for a variety of life altering situations such as car accidents, unanticipated illnesses, or other mishaps.

The quality of care provided at home is inferior compared to institutionalized care.
According to Hochhauser, the clinical training of the staff for home care is the same if not better than training in institutions. She explains, "The clinicians need to be very well versed since they're on their own inside a home. It's not uncommon to have advanced medical treatments such as intravenous therapy and ventilator care to be done at home."

Home care is the solution to a problem.
In essence, Milca Pabon, RN, a home health care nurse with Adventist Home Health, indicates that home care is quite the opposite: it finds ways to solve the problem. "The purpose of visits is to teach family members how to provide care for their loved ones in the home." She adds, "It will open them to the resources in their communities that will be able to assist them to function at their highest level if possible where they were prior to hospitalization." For instance, patients and family members are taught how to do procedures such as uncomplicated wound care and post-orthopedic home exercises.

Home care is an alternative to other care options such as a hospital or nursing home.
This is simply not true, according to Charles Puchta, Home Helpers senior consultant. Actually, home care provided by professional caregivers often supplements other care arrangements and helps ensure patients receive the care they need and deserve. "Instead of viewing home care as a replacement for other care arrangements, it is about meeting people's needs and wants regardless of where or when services are provided or who else is involved in the care process."

Home care is expensive and only wealthy people can afford it.
Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers, says there are actually many ways for seniors to afford quality home care. "With new programs such as reverse mortgages, VA benefits, long-term care insurance, and access to state and local programs such as Medicaid, many more families are able to afford quality home care for their loved one."

Long-term care only exists in a nursing home.
This is not the case for many families according to Ross. He explains, "If the senior has medical issues that require health care throughout the day, a nursing home may be the right option however, most seniors require assistance and many times it is non-medical. Seniors want to live out their life in their own homes."

http://www.seniorsforliving.com/content/article/dispelling-myths-about-home-care-what-home-care-is-and-isnt/17/

Dispelling Myths About Home Care: What Home Care Is and Isn't

Good insight from Seniors For Living.

Local Seniors Warned of Dehydration Risks During Summer

            It’s a serious health issue affecting millions of aging Americans each year  – but more times than not, it’s also easily avoidable. As the dog days of summer are quickly setting in, the thermometer continues to rise and the threat of dehydration for Central Texas seniors looms larger and larger. 

Locally, Senior Helpers, a national leading in-home senior care provider with offices in Round Rock and Austin, is raising awareness to help seniors avoid the medical problems and hospitalizations that are a direct result of dehydration. These cases continue to make headlines every year, but they don’t have to.

“Seniors are bombarded with lists of things they can do to decrease their risk of health issues like heart attack, stroke and Alzheimer’s, but dehydration is among the most common, most serious dangers that’s easily forgotten,” said Frank Hayes, President. “Seniors are particularly susceptible to dehydration because they don’t drink or eat as much as younger people and their bodies don’t retain as much water to begin with. This means that elderly individuals typically take in less fluid over the course of the day and lose it more quickly, which is a dangerous combination, particularly in the summer.”

A recent study by the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research found that seniors are far more likely to experience adverse health effects related to dehydration than younger people. The report shows the average adult loses more than ten cups of water per day and states that thirst isn’t always a reliable gauge of the body’s need for water, especially among older adults who have less acute senses. 

Most times, dehydration can be easily prevented by paying attention to simple dietary measures and looking out for early warning signs. According to the Mayo Foundation, some of the most telling signs of dehydration include:

·         Dizziness

·         Blurred Vision

·         Dry, sticky mouth

·         Unusual sleepiness or tired feelings

·         Decreased urine output

·         Muscle weakness

·         Sudden or persistent headaches

“The hottest days of summer are still to come,” advises Frank Hayes. “Our professional caregivers are helping Central Texas seniors living on their own every day to make sure they are properly hydrated and doing all they can to stay healthy and happy through these long, hot summer days. If you have an aging loved one in the area, make sure they have the help and the resources they need to beat the heat.” 

For more information on Senior Helpers and to find out more about local in-home care services, visit www.seniorhelpers.com.

Social Security Administration Approves Early Onset Alzheimer’s for Disability Benefits

Early onset of Alzheimer’s disease is now considered one of a growing list of Compassionate Allowance
Conditions. If a patient is deemed to have one of the allowance conditions, as determined by a disability
case manager, then they may be eligible to access Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Social Security disability benefits are paid to individuals who have worked for enough years and have a condition that is so severe that they are not able to work any longer. Administered by the SSA, SSDI makes monthly payments to eligible disabled individuals and is a significant benefit for individuals with early-onset (younger-onset) Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to a monthly payment, it serves as entry to Medicare benefits for those under the age of 65. Family members (i.e. spouses and minor children) may also be eligible
for benefits based on the applicant’s work record. They can then use those benefits to pay for things they need, such as home care.

Once eligible patients receive their monthly payment, they can spend it on whatever they chose, but it will likely go towards their living expenses. However, after they receive disability benefits for 24 months, they will be eligible for Medicare.

Source: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10153.html

Additional Resources:

Full List of Compassionate Allowance Conditions:
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0423022080.

The Alzheimer’s’ Association’s Checklist for Applying for Social Security Disability and Supplemental
Security Income Benefits due to Early-Onset (Younger-Onset) Alzheimer’s Disease:
http://www.alz.org/documents/national/SSDI_checklist.pdf

Types of long-term care

What kind of care does your loved one need?

When most people contact us, they are not sure what type of care their loved one needs. Mom or dad may have been living independently for a long time and suddenly something happened and they can no longer manage on their own. This doesn't necessarily mean that your loved one has to go to a nursing home, but they may simply need some help to "get back to normal".

Types of long-term care

There are more options today for the person in need of care:

• Assisted Living Facility - a residential care setting that combines housing, support services, and health care for people.
• Continuing Care Retirement Community - a residential care setting that usually has an independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing facility on site.
• Nursing Home - a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living.
• Home Care - care delivered in the home to assist people with the instrumental activities of daily living, activities of daily living or limited skilled care.

Senior Helpers provides in-home care. This allows your loved one to remain in their home while still getting the attention they need and is typically more affordable than the other types of long-term care, depending on the schedule.
Sound like we can help? Please contact us to arrange a free, no obligation interview to see if we can make your life easier!