Hospice 101: What Qualifies Someone For Hospice?

In an effort to continue to educate everyone about Hospice care I would like to talk about things that would qualify someone for Hospice. Keep in mind that Hospice is regulated by the government and ALL Hospice agencies offer the EXACT sames services. There is not an agency that can legally offer

As a reminder from the last post, Hospice care is skilled nursing, social services and spiritual support for a terminally ill patient who is not seeking curative treatment for their admitting diagnosis.  This care also helps support the patients family during, and after, the loss of their loved one.

A doctor must certify that, given the natural process of the illness, the patient's life expectancy is approximately 6 months. Many times there is not a terminal illness diagnosis but an elderly patient will still qualify under the Medicare guidelines for services.  Caregivers may be so close to the situation that they do not see the subtle changes on a day to day basis but their loved one could be receiving services and the caregivers load could be lightened.

Here are some signs to watch for:

Has the patient
Been hospitalized or taken to the emergency room several times during the past 6       months?
Been making more frequent phone calls to physicians?
Been taking medication to lessen physical pain?
Been spending most of the day in a chair or bed?
Fallen several times over the past 6 months?
Needed help from others for :

• Bathing
• Cooking
• Eating
• Dressing
• Getting out of bed
• Walking

Experienced noticeable weight loss?
Started feeling weaker or more tired?
Noticed shortness of breath, even while resting?

If you answered "yes" to four or more of the questions above, your loved one could likely qualify for services. Remember that we will still need a Doctor's order for Hospice care but giving our company a call would get the ball rolling.  We can, with your permission, contact your primary care physician and work hand in hand with him to get needed services started and help "make the most of every minute that is left."

Give our office staff a call at 801-225-3377 and let them help you  get services started.

What Makes Freedom Home Health And Hospice Different From All The Other Agencies?

Gena Bertelsen, Community Liaison Specialist

Many times during interviews with potential clients I am asked, "What can you do that other agencies can't?" The truth of the matter is this; ALL Home Health and Hospice agencies are regulated by the Federal Government and can only offer what is allowed by the government.  In short, we ALL provide the EXACT same services.  So what makes us different from a company that is owned by someone on the East coast whose bottom line seems to be the most important thing?  A few things set us apart from the rest:

We are locally owned, kind of like the mom and pop gas station or grocery store that used to be on the corner but has been pushed out of business by big box stores and chains.  We have always been locally owned and plan to stay that way.  We believe it gives us a better outlook on the needs of the patient and their family because we live here too!

100% of our past clients would recommend us to others. I love the fact that our team has provided excellent care, educates the patient and family about the process they are going through and, in many instances, gone above and beyond the call of duty such as checking on family members at home when a loved one has a hospital stay, attending Doctor appointments with the patient to understand and communicate with the Doctor about the patients care and taking the time to get to know each patient individually.   

We serve,educate and support the community. Next to excellent patient care, our primary focus lies in serving, educating and supporting our community.  

We educate groups at every opportunity about services and resources that are available to them or their loved one whether it be Home Health, Hospice, Private Duty, Medicaid and Medicare or other topics important to caregiving.

I facilitate 3 different caregiver support groups throughout Utah County sharing information, resources and my own personal experiences to help rejuvenate and energize caregivers who may be suffering from caregiver burnout.  Click the CARE meetings tab at the top of the page for a list of meetings.  These are free and you may come to one or all.

I realize that there are many choices....and who serves you is YOUR choice...but I hope that you will consider Freedom Home Health and Hospice when you are in need of Home Health or Hospice Services. 

After all....it is the American thing to do;)

Give our office a call with any questions you may have concerning Home Health or Hospice services, 801-225-3377.

Namaste Care in Hospice Provides Added Comfort

Namaste   Honoring the Spirit  Touching the Heart

For those who have participated in Yoga, Namaste (pronounced Nah MesTay) is the action of placing both hands together, fingers pointing upward, in front of your chest and accompanying it with a slight bow to another person.  This is a salutation or greeting honoring the person  you are with.  In Hospice Care, Namaste is a unique way of caring for the patient that honors them, their life and their wishes.

Freedom Home Health and Hospice offers Namaste Care in our Hospice program to meet the needs and wishes of those who prefer a more holistic approach to end of life care and comfort.

Namaste Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of compassionate and knowledgeable health care professionals as well as families and friends.  A holistic approach to care assures that the burdens and benefits of each medical intervention or nursing treatment are weighed so that they support quality of life.  Comfort and Pleasure are goals of Namaste Care.  Every effort is made so that the dying process is a pain-free, easy passing surrounded by people who care.

If you, or a loved one, is facing a terminal illness and are not seeking curative treatment, you may qualify for Hospice Care.  Please call our office today at 801-225-3377 and our staff will help answer any questions you may have concerning care.  

What Is Freedom In Health Care?

What is FREEDOM? 

The dictionary states: 

FREEDOM is the quality or state of being free, the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.

    Did you know that you have the Freedom of Choice in your health care? 

   When a situation arises and we need to choose which route to take through an illness, surgery and recovery, we often let someone lead us along the path without regard to our unique circumstances.  For instance, after surgery and when being discharged to your home with home health, you should be able to choose which company you would like to serve you. 

   All home health agencies offer exactly the same services as mandated by the government.  The only difference is the people who work for that company.

  Because of the health situation my family has had in the last month, I have had the experience of feeling that choice taken away.  Long story short, my husband broke his back and after almost a week in ICU and then to another room, the Discharge Planner/Social Worker from the hospital came in to help us plan for his care when we took him home. I found that my insurance company offered only two choices for Home Health Care.  Neither of them were Freedom, the company I work for and neither of them had the therapist I had hoped could care for my husband contracted with them.  I filed an appeal with the insurance company but they have the luxury of a thirty day time period in order to answer the appeal. The insurance representative assured me that I had a choice: I could choose one of the two companies they offered and it would be paid 100% OR I could go out-of-network, incur an additional $3000 in out-of-pocket deductibles and be responsible for 40% of the bill for the visits.  

   Maybe I am an oddity, but who, in their right mind, would want to add such a large amount to an already growing stack of medical bills?  I felt as if I were being punished for making a "choice".  With over 30 agencies serving in Utah Valley, all who can offer only the EXACT same services, why did I only have two to choose from? As time went on and we prepared to take him home, I had to make a choice.  The company we went with has done a wonderful job in caring for my husband.  They have been timely, professional and very knowledgeable. I am so grateful to have health insurance to help pay for these services and grateful that my sweetheart is continuing to improve.

   People who are not insured under Medicare, specifically, have not reached retirement age, rarely use their home health benefits from their health insurance and if they do, it is even more rare that they realize there is a choice.  Once in the Medicare system, you can choose ANY Home Health Agency as they all must be certified as a provider with Medicare. That still does not guarantee you will be given a choice, you MUST speak up and let them know what YOU want, what would be best for YOUR loved one.

   For me and my husband, we have a lifelong friend who is a Physical Therapist who had suffered a similar injury about three years ago.  He has gone through the steps of learning how to walk, healing and returning to work.  I felt that he would be the best person for my husbands rehabilitation not only for his knowledge and skill of therapy but for the mental connection and understanding he would have of the situation.  This boils down to one of my first statements; All home health agencies offer exactly the same services as mandated by the government.  The only difference is the people who work for that company. Why then, would I only be able to choose from two?

   One of the greatest lessons I have learned from this experience, so far, is that I value Freedom. I think the majority of Americans do too.  I hope to be able to help everyone understand that they DO have a choice in health care and they should fight for that right.  I think it is no coincidence that I chose to work for FREEDOM HOME HEALTH and HOSPICE.  Freedom is just the American thing to do;)

    

Activities for Loved Ones With Dementia

Activities for Your Aging Loved One With Dementia

Gena Bertelsen  

Caring for a loved one with Dementia can be difficult at times and I am often asked if I know of any activities that could be used to engage the loved one.  I have compiled a few of those ideas here and hope that they can help make a difference in each day for you and your loved one.  (If you have other ideas you would like to share, please contact me!) Many of these tasks can be utilized almost every day. Just undo what was done and re-present it to your loved one. Always keep the level of decision making and safety in mind when choosing appropriate activities for your loved one.

There is an inherent need in every human being to be needed.  If you can present each task or activity with the phrase, “I need your help with…” it can make a huge difference in the life of your loved one.  Once you don’t feel needed you cannot find the joy or necessity in living.

· Sock Matching: Have a basket of various pairs of socks and ask loved one to match them for you.

· Puzzles:  Make sure pieces are large enough to pick up and see for your loved one but also NOT geared to children.

· Yarn Balls: This is a great activity for anyone who has crocheted or knitted in the past.  Ask loved one to roll skein of yarn into a ball for you.  You can undo the ball on another day and have them do it again.

· Coupon Clipping:  You can use almost any newspaper and a pair of scissors (keep your loved one’s level of safety and decision making in mind) and have loved one search for coupons that will save you money and cut them out.

· Music:  Having a CD full of music that your loved one grew up with can help calm and relax them.

· Laundry Folding: Have your loved one fold towels or shirts.  Never fix it in their presence, just praise them and thank them for the help.

· Caring for a Doll: This would be appropriate for late-stage dementia sufferers.  Having a doll to hold and care for can calm and relax them.