SENIOR HELPERS’ AFFORDABLE CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW/NO COST IN-HOME SENIOR CARE

SENIOR HELPERS’ AFFORDABLE CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW/NO COST IN-HOME SENIOR CARE

Hospitals, Care Providers and Seniors Benefit from Reduced Costs and Medicare Savings

(Round Rock, Texas) – Living at home can often be seen as a luxury for senior citizens because not everyone can afford to pay for care.  Senior Helpers of Central Texas, a leading in-home provider of senior care in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown and surrounding locales, is helping to make that a more affordable option for our aging loved ones.  Senior Helpers is now working with area hospitals, rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies to provide seniors with affordable or no cost access to home care.  These partnerships will ultimately produce more positive outcomes for seniors who are discharged to their homes.

“Many of our patients need more consistent care than we are able to provide due to Medicare guidelines,” says Traci Boyle, R.N. Clinical Team Manager at Home Care Dimensions. “This program allows for those patients who need more assistance in their homes to be able to have a peace of mind knowing there are more sets of eyes and helping hands available to help keep them safe and at home.  One of the largest obstacles facing the vast majority of our senior citizens today is living on a fixed-income.  The Affordable Care Program allows us to target the patients with the highest needs and risk of re-hospitalization.”  

The Affordable Care Program is funded solely by Senior Helpers.  10 percent of the services Senior Helpers receives from a health care provider’s referrals are donated to the Affordable Care Program.  Those funds can then be directed by the local health provider who can determine how to best help their respective patient base. Some patients may receive Pro Bono services and some may receive a highly discounted rate.

“Home Care Dimensions is able to select the patients who do not qualify for government assistance due to making too much money, but yet are clearly in need of care,” says Boyle.  “We refer to these people as the “lost middle”.   We are very grateful to Senior Helpers for creating this innovative program and working with us to serve our community.”

In addition to helping seniors improve their individual outcomes, the Senior Helpers’ Affordable Care Program can save hospitals and rehabilitation facilities tens of thousands of dollars in Medicare reimbursements and penalties. 

“Facilities we work with are sometimes charged by Medicare if their patients return to the hospital or a skilled nursing facility within a certain time frame after discharge,” says Frank Hayes, President of Senior Helpers of Central Texas. “The Senior Helpers program can provide more Aides in the home to ensure the senior is better taken care of and has the best chance for recovery.  We look forward to working with many health care facilities in Central Texas to expand the program to a wider audience.”

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About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers Provides in home senior care services throughout Central Texas servicing Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park and all surrounding areas. We provide a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Home care services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a thorough background check. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care. Learn more about Senior Helpers at www.HomeHealthCareAustin.com or www.SeniorHelpers.com/RoundRock .

Do You Know your Parent's Stay-At-Home Score?

NEW! 8-question quiz to help you find out how independent is your loved one.

Take the Stay At Home Quiz  HERE

Developed by senior care expert Dr. John Bowling, the quiz will help determine whether your parent can live independently in his or her own home.

The questions address a variety of factors that are critical to your parent's safety and well-being, including family support, mobility, memory, social interactions, and personal hygiene.

Each question can be answered on a sliding scale from "ALWAYS" to "NEVER." Simply move the slider to indicate your response.

Upon completion of the quiz, you will receive a quantifiable score that will indicate your parent's level of at-home independence and self-sufficiency.  

 www.stayathomescore.com  

How independent is my senior parent?

This 8-question quiz can help you find out.

Developed by senior care expert Dr. John Bowling, the quiz will help determine whether your parent can live independently in his or her own home. 

The questions address a variety of factors that are critical to your parent's safety and well-being, including family support, mobility, memory, social interactions, and personal hygiene. 

Each question can be answered on a sliding scale from "ALWAYS" to "NEVER." Simply move the slider to indicate your response. 

Upon completion of the quiz, you will receive a quantifiable score that will indicate your parent's level of at-home independence and self-sufficiency.

 Take The Quiz Now.

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

Good insight from Seniors For Living.

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!

Where Should Grandma Live?

From Senior.com

Anyone who is charged with the task of caring for an aging parent, particularly the only surviving aging parent, faces a tough decision at some time in the time of their caregiver years. And that decision is whether to have mom or dad move in with you.

When that idea first comes to mind, you can probably think of more negatives than positives. It really goes against your orientation since you moved out of your parent’s home as a youth. Since then your entire goal was to live separately from your parents, not to combine them again.

Read the whole article.

NEW Jobs Created By OLD Age - Press Release

National Job Growth in Booming In-Home Senior Care Industry­­­­­

 

(March 9, 2010) – With the national unemployment rate remaining stubbornly high at 9.7 percent and more and more news of companies going under, where on earth can you find a job? Look no farther than your aging parents and relatives, who are creating one of the biggest economic booms this country has ever seen. In the coming years, two out of ten people in the U.S. will be age 65 or older and there just aren’t enough people to take care of them. That’s why care giving for the elderly is an exploding sector of the growing national health care industry. This year alone, the in-home care industry is expected to grow by 12.5 percent, adding more than 100,000 new jobs.

“Senior care is a thriving industry with no sign of a slow down in sight,” says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers, the nation’s fastest growing provider of in-home senior care. “We employ more than 6,000 caregivers nationally and we are hiring at most of our 283 locations.  In-home care is recession-resistant, rewarding work that provides peace of mind for families who just can’t be with their senior loved ones all of the time.”

WHY JOB GROWTH IN SENIOR CARE?

• A recent study by the National Caregivers Association (NCA) shows that over the next 25 years as the Baby Boomers continue to age, the proportion of people needing care will increase while the number of adult children able to take care of them will decrease. Bottom line: There will be fewer American adults able to take care of aging parents! 
• More than 43 million people in the U.S. – 19 percent of adults – provide care for an elderly family member or friend.
• The NCA reports the typical caregiver is a middle-aged daughter caring for an elderly parent or grandparent while juggling a family and a job simultaneously. Nearly 100 percent report emotional strain, most report financial strain and 68 percent miss work because of care giving responsibilities.

“The burden usually falls on one of the adult children who already juggles a family, a job and all the responsibilities that go with their own life,” says Ross. “More and more seniors want to stay in their own homes and professional caregivers can make this possible by taking the burden off of adult children.” 

REWARDING WORK FOR AMERICANS – AN ECONOMIC BRIGHT SPOT

Nichole  Henry was out of work when she got the job as a Senior Helpers’ caregiver. She is studying to become a registered nurse (RN) and works helping elderly clients prepare meals, take their medication on time and simply listen when they want to talk. “I wanted a rewarding job and I’ve found my calling,” says Henry. “There is no job greater than helping others who can’t do for themselves. I listen to their concerns with an open heart and it makes all the difference in the world!”

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About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has 283 franchises in 39 states and one in Canada offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care.

For more information, please visit: http://www.seniorhelpers.com/
Media Contact
Sue Yannello  syannello@seniorhelpers.com 919.459.8162/919.557.7890
Jon Weiner     jweiner@seniorhelpers.com     919.459.8161/919.557.7890

Regular Analgesic Use Increases Hearing Loss in Men, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (Mar. 1, 2010) — In a study published in the March 2010 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, researchers determined that regular use of aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increases the risk of hearing loss in men, particularly in younger men, below age 60.

Read the whole Article at ScienceDaily.

Veterans Benefit That Helps Pay For In-Home Care

A benefit is available to most veterans and their surviving spouses that can pay for a large portion of in-home care. This little known benefit, called Special Monthly Pension, can provide up to $1,949 a month in assistance for care in the home, assisted living facility or nursing home.

Qualification for this Special Pension Benefit is straightforward. The veteran or their surviving spouse must:

· Be age 65 or older
· Have served 1 day during a defined period of war
· Received an honorable discharge
· Meet income and asset requirements
· Surviving spouse must have been married to veteran at time of passing

Most people have never heard of this benefit, but don’t let that discourage you. It is estimated that over 75% of the 2.5 million veterans who are eligible are not aware of the existence of this Special Pension. It is important that the veteran or responsible family member work with a competent and qualified individual or firm to fill out the appropriate documents that are necessary for approval.

Some people believe that they earn too much or possess too many assets to qualify. However, the important calculation is how much is left after deducting for all medical and care expenses. An experienced individual or agency can assist you in determining if you are qualified for this benefit.

And best of all – It’s Free!

Call us and we can answer any questions and help guide you through the paperwork. 512-388-4357.

FINDING HOME CARE FOR ILL OR AGING PARENTS

There are many different types of home care services, and they vary according to the care-receiver=s needs.  The more complex the problem, the more highly trained the caregiver must be, and the higher the cost.  The average cost per visit for a home care nurse today is more than $120; the average cost per visit for a home health aide is more than $60.

Good article on the ImagineAge Blog

FINDING HOME CARE FOR ILL OR AGING PARENTS

The American Legion Benefits Calculator

The Legion has a benefits calculator on their website to assist in determining if you are eligible for any benefits.

https://www.legion.org/benefitscalculator

By answering a few simple questions, they are able to help you determine your eligibility for hundreds of available benefits.

It's pretty cool; however, it did not recognize the eligibility for VA Aid and Attendance benefits for those veterans and spouses over 65.

Check Here to see if you are eligible.

I called the American Legion and discussed this with them and they have a fix in the works.

How to Afford Private Pay Homecare When It Seems Out of Reach

Paying privately for home health care services is often a necessary option for
seniors who want to remain living independently in their homes.
 
Homecare is the fastest growing segment of the health care industry. With more people in need of 24 hour care, live-in care allows the elderly to remain at home with a minimum of cost compared to nursing home or assisted living costs. Since Medicaid and Medicare typically don't pay for long term care, the burden of payment becomes that of the individual or their extended family.

How do the elderly afford quality homecare for themselves? There are several possible ways to afford private pay homecare, even when the costs seem out of reach.

Most major diseases such as Alzheimer's, MS, and Cancer offer programs to assist individuals with that particular illness. Check with your local agency supporting your illness for local community resources. Additionally, many religious organizations have some funds available for its members.

Statistics show that the majority of people are going to need some type of long term care in their lifetime. For those who don't have the savings available to pay for private pay home care, Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance is an option. Many insurance companies have brokers that specialize in this type of insurance. Make sure your LTC policy allows for substantial home care benefits since that is where most people prefer to remain.

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), formerly known as reverse mortgage is a loan you take on the equity you have accrued in your house. This option allows you the funds needed for homecare in order to remain in the comfort of your own home environment. It is not an equity loan that has to be paid back. This is beneficial in that you don't cause further financial difficulties by acquiring an additional mortgage payment. The lender recovers repayment on the loan from the proceeds of the sale of the property. Your heirs are not responsible for repayment of the loan. You can continue to own your own home and afford the care you require.

The Veterans Administration has established a pension program whereby the purchase of personal care and attendant home services are paid for through a Veteran's acquired pension title VA Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit. This plan helps senior veterans afford private pay home care. Individuals must have a qualifying medical condition that requires them to need the daily assistance of others for activities of daily living (ADL's). In addition , to qualify, the veteran must:

• Have received an honorable or general discharge
• Have doctor's orders stating they need the aide and assistance of others daily
• Meet financial requirements
• Have served 1 day during an active war and had no less than 90 days of service

The surviving spouse of a veteran may also qualify providing they were still married to the veteran when they passed. This veteran benefit process can take 4-6 months to process but all benefits are retro-dated back to the originally filing date. Since this process can be lengthy and confusing, the free assistance of an Elder Law Attorney is recommended. Your local county Office on Aging is an excellent resource that can assist you
with finding information on available funds through your county and state programs. The information they provide is available to the public and free of charge.

Institutionalized care such as nursing homes and hospitals has risen in cost to the point that has led many people to seek alternative care. Resources are available to offset the cost of private pay homecare. Asking your local agencies and seeking all options is the first step to making homecare affordable when it
seems out of reach.

H/T and Link

Does Senior Helpers help non-Seniors?

Of course we do!

We received a call from a former client asking if we could assist a young mother she knows after she comes home from surgery. She asked if we have a cut off or age limit on who we take as a client.


Our caregivers can provide the same services for a 30 year old as they do for a 70 year old: cooking, cleaning, transportation to and from doctors appointments, bathing, dressing, grooming and much more.

Thank you for the referral!

Backup eldercare helps caregivers balance work and family responsibilities

By Lydell C. Bridgeford

When UPS employee Diane Davies needed help in taking care of her dad, who is in his 80s, a coworker told her to try Senior Helpers, a service provider that offers backup eldercare.

"My mom had gone into the hospital to have an operation, and during the procedure she had a stroke," says Davies, who works at UPS's airline division in Louisville, Ky.

Her mother, also in her 80s, went into rehabilitation. "During that time, my dad really couldn't stay at home by himself, so my brother and I had to stay with him, but I also had to work," explains Davies, who didn't take the traditional route of contacting her employee assistance program for eldercare advice.

Davies' experience at UPS reflects how employers are recognizing that workers who are caring for an aging relative need an array of options to successfully manage professional and family responsibilities. Yet in offering eldercare programs and services, employers may sometimes struggle in communicating those efforts to their workforce.

When Siblings Fight About Elder Care

Don't forget to include what the parents want in the discussion!


Good advice from Carol Bursack in in Inforum.

Senior Helpers of Central Texas Job Fair: Thursday 1/7/2010

SENIOR HELPERS JOB FAIR
  THURSDAY, JANUARY 7th 5:00pm-6:30pm

SENIOR HELPERS OF CENTRAL TEXAS
301 Hesters Crossing
in the Westridge Office Park
Suite 206B (middle Courtyard)
Round Rock, TX 78681

Please PRINT OUT and COMPLETE this application and bring it with you:
http://seniorhelpers.com/files/4828/Caregiver_Employment_Application_MH.pdf


If you are UNABLE to attend, click on the link below and complete the online application.
http://seniorhelpers.com/location/4828/apply-online
We will review and set up an interview if your qualifications meet our requirements


Senior Helpers serves - Williamson, Travis, Burnet and Bell Counties

Senior Helpers, Central Texas’ premiere In-Home Care Agency, Ranked #2 in Entrepreneur Magazines top new franchises category, is now hiring!!!

Senior Helpers provides in home, non-skilled services, that care for a variety of people with various needs and disabilities. Our mission is to provide a full range of private pay in-home services by trained and qualified staff in a professional, courteous, and caring manner. We offer our caregivers FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES

Caregiving is as rewarding for the caregiver as it is for the person receiving the care. Our caregivers have the support of our trained staff and we provide on-going state-of-the-art education. We provide our caregivers at the skills to ensure professionalism, enthusiasm, and compassion for seniors. We offer our caregivers consistent cases where they establish a relationship with the client and family. Caregiving in the home is very rewarding enabling our clients to remain in control of their own lives with you as their personal assistant.

We are currently looking for applicants with the following skills:

If you're compassionate towards the elderly and would enjoy the satisfaction of helping them remain independent while living at home AND are a licensed caregiver (CNA) or a qualified Home Health Aide, a caregiving opportunity may be for you!

We require at least 1 year of experience working with the elderly in a companion and/or personal care assistance environment and a valid driver’s license with a dependable mode of transportation.

We are anxious to help you put your skills to work in the personal care field. We have flexible schedules ranging from short visits to live-in cases. Come join our team to become a part of a new and rewarding career.

You may also visit our website at SENIORHELPERS.COM  to read about our agency.

Senior Helpers Seminar: Paying for Home Care with VA Benefits

As our senior population increases, more families face increasing costs associated with providing personal care for themselves or their loved ones.

There is a little known benefit for Veterans called the "Aid and Attendance" benefit that pays for up to approximately $2,000 per month to help offset these costs.

Almost any veteran that served in a defined period of war and is over 65 can apply for this benefit - as well as their surviving spouses!

Frank Hayes, a veteran and owner of Senior Helpers of Central Texas will be conducting this 1 hour seminar at Mariposa at River Bend in Georgetown, Texas to go over all the details.

Lunch will be provided. There is limited seating available please call our office to reserve your place early.
Sign-up on the Senior Helpers of Central Texas Facebook Page

Senior Helpers In Home Health Care Austin, TX : Agency vs Registry Explained

When considering hiring a caregiver to help with services in your home, make sure you know the facts.  Being well-informed can save you money and protect you from potential legal problems. Below are six components of senior care to consider when evaluating available care plans for your loved one.

Concern #1: Service
 
Registry or By Yourself: You are responsible for knowing what services are needed for your loved one.
Senior Helpers: We are responsible for making sure you get the right services from the right caregiver. We match caregivers to clients based on their personalities.

Concern #2: Taxes&Injuries
 
Registry or By Yourself: You are responsible for reporting and paying taxes, social security, and worker’s compensation (in case of a work related injury in the home) for the caregiver. Failure to do so can result in penalties with extensive fines.

Senior Helpers: The caregivers are our employees—they are not 1099. You pay Senior Helpers directly, and we manage all taxes and expenses related to employment that are required by the state and federal governments.

Concern #3: Supervision

Registry or By Yourself: You are in charge and responsible for managing the caregiver’s performance.
Senior Helpers: We manage all of our employees and will perform unscheduled supervisory visits.

Concern #4: Background Check

Registry or By Yourself: You are responsible for performing a background check.  Neglecting to order and review a background check could place your loved one in danger.

Senior Helpers: All of our employees are screened through criminal background checks and license checks, and are required to provide the proper identification.

Concern #5: Hiring & Scheduling

Registry or By Yourself: You are responsible for the interviewing and hiring process. You will also be responsible for scheduling. If a caregiver calls out or doesn’t show up, you will need to find their replacement.

Senior Helpers: We have extensive experience on hiring compassionate and dependable caregivers. We are also responsible for scheduling and ensuring reliable and consistent care.

Concern #6: Theft

Registry or By Yourself: You will be responsible if the employee steals from you or your loved one.
Senior Helpers: Senior Helpers is licensed, insured, and bonded. All of our employees are bonded.

About Senior Helpers:
Senior Helpers Provides Many services in the Austin, Texas area. We provide a full array of Home Care services for seniors and the elderly living in this beautiful area. Our Home Care Services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a National Background check.
If you need Home Care services in Austin, Bartlett, Bertram, Briggs, Burnet, Cedar Park, Florence, Georgetown, Granger, Holland, Hutto, Jarrell, Johnson City, Killeen, Leander, Liberty Hill, Manor, Marble Falls, Pflugerville, Round Mountain, Round Rock, Salado, Spicewood, Taylor and the surrounding areas we are an excellent choice with impeccable references. Home Health Care for your elderly loved ones is never an easy choice but we can promise we will do our best to make it as painless as possible. For more information, please visit: http://www.homehealthcareaustin.com/.

We Love Client Testimonials! Thank you Bob!