Staff

Medical Assistance Changes Transfer Rules

Submitted by Jeffrey W Schmidt, Schmitz & Schmidt

Medicaid is the government program designed as a safety net to pay for medical care when an individual or a family can no longer afford that care on their own. The program is a cooperative effort between the state and federal governments. In Minnesota, this program is called Medical Assistance.

With Medicare available to cover basic acute care for individuals over the age of 65 and individuals with disabilities, Medical Assistance is used primarily to pay for long term care. Long term care can include the custodial care people need when they can no longer manage their own activities of daily living, whether that care is provided in their own home, an assisted living facility or a nursing home.

Financial / Legal Posted by Staff 14 Apr 2013 / 0 comments

Activities For The Person With Alzheimer Disease

Submitted by Jodi Melsness, Home Care Solutions

Activities are an important tool benefiting many clients with AD. The purpose of promoting activities is to improve emotional well-being and self esteem. They also encourage physical exercise, spiritual health and mental stimulation. Activities are a great way to lessen boredom, agitation and maintain social practices.

Activities should be planned around the persons needs and should always be voluntary. It may take a few times for the person to join in on the activities. The room should be quiet and as few distractions as able. Try to keep the activities in the same area/place every day. Make sure that a bathroom is close by for the client.

Health Care Posted by Staff 14 Apr 2013 / 0 comments

Home for the Holidays

Submitted by Jodi Melsness, Home Care Solutions

Staying in touch with your parents or loved ones during the holiday season

The sights and sounds of the holiday season will soon be upon us. The smells of baked cookies, fresh fir trees, and turkey roasting will spill over into our lives. While there is a lot of activity around the holidays, this is a good time to check in with your parents or elderly relatives about their care needs. Here are some suggestions of what to look for when visiting with your older family members

General / Health Care Posted by Staff 14 Apr 2013 / 0 comments

Depression In Seniors

Submitted by Jodi Melsness, Home Care Solutions

The term depression is used to describe a mood, a symptom or a disease. It is the most common psychiatric illness affecting older adults, often going undiagnosed and untreated in this age-group. Despite its high incidence in the elderly, depression should not be regarded as a normal response to aging.

Depression in later life frequently coexists with other medical illnesses and disabilities. In addition, advancing age is often accompanied by loss of key social support systems due to the death of a spouse or siblings, retirement, and/or relocation of residence. Because of their change in circumstances and the fact that they are expected to slow down, doctors and family may miss the diagnosis of depression and thus, delaying any kind of treatment.

Health Care Posted by Staff 14 Apr 2013 / 0 comments

Are You At Risk For Diabetes?

Submitted by Jodi Melsness, Home Care Solutions

Diabetes occurs when your body cannot properly use or produce insulin, a hormone made in your pancreas. Insulin helps your body bring glucose (sugar) from your blood into your cells where it can be used for energy. There are several types of diabetes, and all can be controlled with the right blend of lifestyle changes and medical management.

Millions of people nationwide already have this incurable disease and millions are at risk for developing it. This disease leads to serious complications such as kidney failure and blindness and is also related to another serious illness, heart disease.

Health Care Posted by Staff 14 Apr 2013 / 0 comments

Non-Medical Home Care vs. Home Health

Submitted by Paul Blom, Right At Home

Whether you have an aging parent or an ailing spouse, most of us are familiar with the concept of home health care. Even if we have no first-hand exposure, few people aren’t aware that you can hire an agency to provide regular visits by a home health aid to provide bathing, transferring and other medically-related services for your loved one. Many times these services are almost automatic when a loved one is being discharged from a nursing home or rehabilitation center and often are covered by Medicare or other insurances. Unfortunately those funds quickly run out, many times prior to the time that the patient is actually able to remain in their home without some sort of assistance. Usually, that assistance becomes the responsibility of the family.

Health Care / Housing Posted by Staff 14 Apr 2013 / 0 comments