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.

Adult Day Centers Offer Assistance and Respite

Susan Johnson, Aspen Senior Care

   Larry takes care of his sweet wife on a 24/7 basis. She has Alzheimer’s which makes life challenging for both of them. In his desperation to get some help he called the Alzheimer’s Association and learned about adult day centers. He was leery at first but felt he needed to try something. After several days of seeing his wife enjoy her time at the day center and himself getting the rest he needed, he was convinced he had found his answer. Now he brings her to the day center three to four times per week and they both get more of what they need.

   Adult day centers are designed to provide enjoyable activities along with needed assistance and supervision. Such centers provide for a wonderful social opportunity to all who come. They also provide much needed relief and respite to family caregivers allowing them the freedom to go to work, take care of personal business or just rest while knowing their loved one is well cared for and safe.
   The primary mission of adult day centers is to: 1) delay or prevent institutionalization by providing alternative and economical senior care, 2) enhance self-esteem and encourage socialization, and 3) provide respite to family caregivers.
   Here are some of the activities you can find at an adult day center:

· Social activities

· Reminiscing discussions

· Enjoyable exercise

· Daily art class

· Games and puzzles

· Catered lunch and snacks

· Musical sign-a-longs and events

· Assist with medication reminders

· Assistance with personal care

· Field trips

· And more…

   Adult day centers, like Aspen Senior Center, represent one of most economical senior care options for seniors wanting to stay at home or with loved ones. Some financial assistance may be offered through Medicaid, Alzheimer’s Association, Jewish Family Service, Veterans Administration, and Mountainland Association of Governments. To learn more about Aspen Senior Center go to AspenSeniorCenter.org or call 801-607-2300. 

 

 

Susan Johnson has spent the past 30 years serving seniors in her community. She is a Certified Nursing Assistant and has worked in hospitals and for home health agencies. Susan has also provided private duty care for seniors in their homes. Susan is currently employed by Aspen Senior Care and Aspen Senior Center as their Relations Manager. Seniors are dear to her heart and she is passionate about providing the best possible care for them.

What Services Does Home Health Offer In Your Home?

   What does Freedom Home Health and Hospice Offer to patients in their home?

   Our Home Health Team can provide Nursing, Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapies, Namaste Hospice Care, Cardiac Maintenance, Pulmonary Maintenance, Massage Therapy Evaluation, help with Personal Hygiene, Grooming and Dressing.  We can take care of IV Therapy, Medication Management and even Diabetic Management for those who qualify .

   In our Medicare CAHPS Survey, 100% of clients we have served say they would recommend us to their family and friends!

100%!!

  

 We could not ask for a better compliment.:)

   How do you know if you or your loved one would qualify for Home Health or Hospice services?  Just give us a call, 801-225-3377

and one of our experienced, friendly staff will help you through the process.

What is the Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid?

   Many people get confused with Medicare and Medicaid, what each insurance covers and who qualifies.  Let’s see if we can clear some of it up for you.

   Medicare is a federally funded health insurance covering those who are 65 or older or who are disabled or have End-stage Renal Failure and require dialysis. 

   Medicare Part A covers Hospital and Rehabilitation Care as well as Hospice or End-of-Life Care. Rehabilitation Care can occur in a Hospital or Skilled Nursing Facility, also known as a Nursing Home.  Medicare offers 100 days of rehabilitation by paying 100% for days 1-20 and 80% for days 21-100.  This can get a little complicated for patients who get discharged from care before they have utilized their 100 days.  Medicare will continue to pay for Rehabilitation Care as long as the patient is participating AND making progress in therapy.  Once the patient has peaked on improvements, Medicare will have the facility give you a three day notice of Medicare benefits ending.

  There is not a fee to be covered by this insurance if you or your spouse have paid into the Social Security system.

   Medicare Part B covers Doctor’s visits, out-patient hospital care and home health services including nursing and therapies. This part of Medicare costs about $100 each month.

   Medicare Part C is an option to choose a private insurance company to manage your Medicare benefits. They generally follow Medicare rules but costs and deductibles can vary.

   Medicare Part D can help with the cost of prescriptions.

   You must actually apply for Medicare to activate the insurance.  Just because you retire does not mean they automatically cover you. You can get more information about Medicare at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-Medicare.

   Medicaid is a state funded insurance program for those who qualify. Applications are available at any Work Force Services office or online at www.health.utah.gov. Medicaid can assist with health care, financial assistance and even long-term care in a nursing facility, if you qualify.

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;)

    

Help! Mom's Had A Fall!

 In the medical field, especially at the front desk of a doctor's office, this statement is uttered daily.  A caregiver of an aging loved one has stopped by to check on their charge and found that they have fallen. Sometimes the falls occur at least weekly.  They may even progress to daily and even several times each day.  What can the caregiver do? Plenty...

Let's first make sure that your loved one is okay.  Do they have any pain, other than general soreness? If you are ever in doubt, call 911 and  let the paramedics check them out or decide to transport them to the hospital.  If you, or the emergency responders, decide it's just some bumps and bruises, help your loved one get comfortable and read on.

One of the first things to look at when your loved one is experiencing falls is their medications.  Too much, too little, interactions with other drugs can all cause dizziness and potential falls.  Your pharmacist can be a big help to preventing adverse reactions and side effects with medications.  Ask the pharmacist why your loved one is taking each medication and what side effects it may cause.  Getting all prescriptions from one pharmacy is important too so that the pharmacist has the full picture.


Looking around the home for safety issues is our next step.  Are their rugs that could cause a tripping hazard?  Power cords in walkways? Do you have safety bars in the bathroom, including in the tub or shower? Are their hand rails wherever their are stairs? Taking measures to provide the safest environment possible can greatly reduce falls for your loved one.

What if you have done all of these things and your loved one is still experiencing falls? Many times, general aging, disease processes and illness can weaken your loved one.  The strength they used to have in their leg and core muscles has been greatly reduced and falls will naturally occur.  This is a great opportunity to have a Home Health agency work with your loved one through physical therapy to help restrengthen them.  The therapist will guide your loved one through the exercise and then teach them, and family members how to continue the strengthening on their own.  Several visits will ensure that your loved one improves and understands the techniques used to keep them strong.

The goal of Home Health is to bring the patient back to their prior level of functioning before they had their fall or illness.  Once that goal is met services will end.  This is often met with unhappiness on the part of the patient because they realize how much it has helped and sometimes, their level of functioning, even after therapy, has diminished and they still require help.  Please know that those who work for the Home Health agency want to keep serving you as long as you qualify for services.  This is how they get paid.  They don't want to put you in a position where you will potentially get hurt again BUT, if the documentation of their visits cannot show continued improvement they must discontinue services.  I have had some clients feel as if they were "kicked off" of services when they still needed them.  I always assure them that this is not the case but that the agency must follow the federal regulations and guidelines of service.

One of the most important things to know about Home Health is that it is designed to serve those who are homebound, meaning that it is difficult to get them out of the house to an appointment.  Are they unable to drive themselves? They are homebound.

One fall for your loved one can qualify them for a Home Health evaluation.  Call our office at 801-225-3377 and our friendly office staff will visit with you and gather some information.  This will include your loved one's primary care physician's name, insurance info and date of birth.  If your loved one has NOT had a face to face visit with their doctor in the last thirty days, they will need to make an appointment to be seen and at that time the request can be made for Home Health services. If they have been to the doctor in the last 30 days, a simple call to the doctor's office can be made with a request for Home Health services.  If the doctor agrees that it could be helpful, he will give an order for an evaluation.  PLEASE know that you always have a choice of which company you would like to serve your loved one.  Because a doctor's office is so busy, they may give the order to the next agency on the list.  If there is a company that you would like to serve, you must vocalize it..."I want FREEDOM!"  

Freedom Home Health and Hospice is locally owned and operated.  We are your neighbors, friends and associates and we would love to serve you.  We look forward to hearing from you! 801-225-3377

What Would A Caregiver Support Group Do For Me?

Did you know that more that one-third of the US population is providing cares for an aging loved one?  That number is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years due to the baby-boomer population.  If you have already found yourself in a caregiving position, chances are it's just around the corner.

Caregiving is a demanding, time-consuming, sometimes thankless job.  It is also a beautiful way of serving those we love. Being able to see the beauty in it is directly related to the support you have as well as the skills and tools that are available.  Support groups can offer skills, information, resources and tools as well as the knowledge of knowing you are not alone.

Having the opportunity to facilitate three CARE meetings in Utah Valley throughout each month helps me to understand the great need of sharing resources and information with caregivers. Having people come to the meetings is one of the greatest resources.  They are in the trenches of their caregiving experience and are able to share ideas, what worked, what didn't, and help others who may be having the same struggles.

Please come to one of our CARE meetings whether you are currently caregiving, have been a caregiver in the past or know that the time is coming for you with an aging loved one.

There is a CARE (Caregivers Allowed to Rejuvenate and Energize) Meeting tonight at Bel Aire Senior Living, 1088 East 390 South in American Fork tonight at 6 PM.  Feel free to call me @ 801-623-9595 with any questions.  Hope to see you there!

Namaste Care in Hospice

Namaste Care Philosophy

We believe that the spirit in each person lives regardless of their physical and cognitive status.   It is our  honor to  nurture each individual  through loving touch, meaningful activities and the presence of others.    We will do   everything in our power to make the passing on as gentle as possible.

Namaste Care Mission Statement

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.

Please call our office to see how we  could make a difference for your loved one 801-225-3377.

Are You A Caregiver?

If I had a nickle for every time I have found myself visiting with someone who is at the point of burnout when they didn't even consider themselves a caregiver, I would be able to buy a new pair of shoes.  Cute shoes!! So, in the interest of education, and my ever growing shoe collection, here are some hints for those of you who may be in denial about the part they play in their loved ones lives...

Do you do any of the following for your loved one:

Clean their home.

Prepare meals for loved one.

Take loved one grocery shopping.

Assist with grooming, showering, dressing, etc..

Pay their bills and/or manage finances for them.

Manage their medications.

Take to appointments such as medical or social.

 If you found yourself answering YES to more than one of the above, you are quite possibly a caregiver.  Give yourself a hug while repeating the phrase, "It's alright. I'm going to be alright." 

In all seriousness, you need to keep in mind that you are not alone.  In fact, there are more than 69 MILLION caregivers in the United States.  That's approximately one third of the US population serving 20 hours per week providing cares for an aging loved one. With the Baby Boomer generation, that number is set to increase by leaps and bounds.

More than ever, we need to educate ourselves about the role of caregivers so we will be prepared when our turn comes around....and it will! 
I invite you to explore our blog, find articles and resources that can help and PASS IT ON!  

If you have an article or idea that you think would be valuable for others, please contact me, Gena,  at 801-623-9595.