senior home care services

Mittens Before the Frost
I was asked today about the “mitten test.” It was one of our colleagues who had remembered something I...
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September 18, 2018
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A House is Not a Home (Part 3)
At CCM, home and safety are as important to us as to you, so it’s no surprise that it’s...
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June 18, 2017
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A House is not a Home (Unless You’re There)
At CCM, home and safety are as important to us as to you, so it’s no surprise that it’s...
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June 5, 2017
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In the Caregiver's Words

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1 New contact form submission received from CreativeCareManagement.com - Caregiver Counsel on Taking the Old Out of Aging [fullname] <[emailc]> info@creativecasemanagement.com, lynda@llvirtual.com From: [fullname] <[emailc]> Phone: [phones] Message Body: [question] -- This email was sent via the contact form on the Creative Case Management website, http://www.CreativeCaseManagement.com. Your message was sent successfully. Thanks. Failed to send your message. Please try later or contact the administrator by another method. Validation errors occurred. Please confirm the fields and submit it again. Failed to send your message. Please try later or contact the administrator by another method. Please accept the terms to proceed. Please fill the required field. The field is too long. The field is too short. Date format seems invalid. This date is too early. This date is too late. Failed to upload file. This file type is not allowed. This file is too large. Failed to upload file. Error occurred. Number format seems invalid. This number is too small. This number is too large. Your answer is not correct. Your entered code is incorrect. Email address seems invalid. URL seems invalid. Telephone number seems invalid.
Nearly 32 million people in America have measurable hearing loss, and more than one third of those people are 65 years of age or older. In fact, one's age is a fairly good predictor of whether and to what extent a person may have hearing loss with the prevalence increasing with age. Hearing loss also is much more common among men than among women. But one fact that you perhaps did not know is that hearing loss also is linked to dementia.

What, you say? Did I hear you right? Yes, a researcher named Frank Lin, MD, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has reported on the link between hearing loss and one's gait, and on the incidence of falls and most recently on the ties between hearing loss and dementia. Dr. Lin and his associates have been sorting through data collected over a long time and have found that people who have difficulties also have higher incidences of cognitive issues. And people with cognitive issues like dementia also are more likely to have hearing difficulties. In other words, they do not yet know which causes which.

One explanation is that people who have difficulty hearing are not as socially active - maybe even isolated - and so their mental processing tends to lag. Their second explanation is that people with trouble hearing are straining so hard to just hear the words that their ability to actively listen and respond becomes more diminished over time. Imagine that you are struggling so hard to hear that by the time you have deciphered what someone has said they already are on to the next sentence. It could be very confusing.

But potentially even more troubling, it may be that some common issue is causing both hearing loss and cognitive loss. Is that common issue a genetic defect, something in one's space, something about people's hearing aids, or something else entirely? The scientists are still at work, but the findings offer a cautionary note.

If you are a caregiver to an older adult or anyone who begins to show signs of diminished hearing, get immediate help for a clear diagnosis and then an intervention. We tend to think that a physician should catch a hearing problem, but that is far from the case with only about 13% of physicians routinely testing for hearing capacity. And don't forget that a physician's office tends to be a relatively quiet environment where patients can more easily hear what the doctor says because the background noises are minimal or nonexistent. Depending on which of the three possible explanations of hearing loss and dementia you accept, getting your loved one's hearing check will help their hearing, their social integration, their mental health or all three!

Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Case Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to ccbishop@creativecasemanagement.com.
According to research reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, approximately one in five Medicare beneficiaries discharged from a hospital will end up back in the hospital within thirty days. It usually is for the same reason they were admitted originally. This means that it not only is bad for the patient who has to go back to the hospital, but it typically represents an expense that could have been avoided. And it is these sorts of statistics that give me a chance to talk about a question I get asked a lot: “What is it that geriatric care managers do?” Let me explain.

The typical picture of an older patient who is readmitted is one without a lot of social support locally, and this older patient:
- May not fully understand their discharge instructions.
- May not be taking their medications as instructed.
- May have complications they cannot handle.
In most of these cases, if the patient had had someone to be the information processor, interpreter and implementer, the readmission would not have been necessary. A geriatric care manager would be available to make sure the discharged patient understands any limitations on activity that the medical professionals have stipulated or understands how active they should be to recover from being in bed for the number of days they were in the hospital. A care manager can help to make sure that all the patient’s medications are organized or that a new prescription gets filled and its dosing gets integrated into the daily regimen. (Remember that seniors are about 13% of the population, but they represent about 30% of all the prescriptions written.

The National Transitions of Care Coalition offers a checklist your care manager or you as a caregiver can use with an elder for whom you are responsible as they leave the hospital:
1. Have a method in place to assure safe use of all medications.
2. Have a plan to facilitate the big change from hospital to home.
3. Engage all members of the family and personal network of the patient.
4. Share important information with all care providers and caregivers.
5. Find and read any educational materials about the patient’s condition.
6. Facilitate any follow-up provider visits, therapy, etc.
As a caregiver (or through your care manager) advocate for the patient to physicians, discharge planners or other providers responsible for the continuity patient’s care.

Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Case Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families throughout metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to Charlotte Bishop.
If you are a caregiver to an older, qualified loved one who has not yet applied for Medicare, then December 7 is looming large for both of you. Or if you are a caregiver whose deadline is not this year, but is next year, then it is time for a crash course in what Medicare covers and what parts do what for your older loved one. You can refer to the basics as the ABCs, but you also need to add a D. The rest gets easier. Medicare Part A very simply is the part of the federally-sponsored plan that covers hospitalization for those enrolled. For all those over age 65, this is the longstanding part of the coverage that has no premium to be paid and covers what Medicare will pay to providers for inpatient stays. This is the easiest part, because you will not find too many hospital providers who do not accept Medicare's inpatient coverage. These outsiders are pretty much just military or VA hospitals along with the Shriners' Children's Hospitals. Medicare Part B covers generally the doctors' billings and outpatient care for those who are age-qualified and have enrolled, and it costs about $104.90 a month to enroll. But - and this is a critical but - the providers in these settings have to "accept Medicare assignment." In large part, because Medicare has such strong negotiating power, not every provider wants to accept what they will pay for services. These doctors and others who most likely will be holdouts on Medicare assignment typically are psychiatrists or some specialties. With some exceptions, the Mayo Clinics will not accept Medicare patients, so it is important that you help your older loved one check to be sure the providers they use are on the list. You can do this by going to WWW.medicare.gov and clicking on "Find doctors and other health professionals." Medicare Part C was originally called Medicare Advantage. It is available through private insurance carriers who create panels of physicians in Independent Practice Organizations or Preferred Provider Organizations and more to cover what Part B does not cover. They also will charge a premium. There is an alternative sometimes referred to as Medigap, and you will want to check out which offers the best coverage and access to the providers your older loved one will want. Medicare Part D is an optional plan that offers prescription drug coverage which none of the first three offer. Your loved one will have to "opt in" to this plan as offered by private insurers. Some of this will be changing under Affordable Care Act, so stay tuned for changes that will help to close what often is referred to as the "donut hole," the part that the covered person must pay after the initial coverage is exhausted and before the next threshold of coverage kicks in. So that is your crash course in getting your older loved one enrolled in Medicare, but you need to be alert to some potential landmines along the path: • Just because your loved one's doctors or hospitals are in the covered network this year does not mean they will be in the network next year; • Not every carrier's prescription coverage will be the same - be alert to language about coinsurance versus copays, step therapy and prior authorization, all of which will impact the out of pocket costs of medicines; • Make sure that when your loved one is hospitalized that it is an "inpatient stay" (covered) and not "observation" (not covered); • Know the rules on how you can appeal decisions on coverage. Charlotte Bishop is a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to info@creativecaremanagement.com.
Creative Care Management invites you to browse our FREE downloadable white paper resources – offering both personal and professional geriatric solutions for those who care for the elderly or people with special needs.

Caregiver Advice on Bad MedicineMany are unaware of the massive scope of the pharmaceutical market and all the ways in which seniors are taking more and more unnecessary drugs because of it. We discuss how caregivers can look out for signs that their loved one’s medication is over prescribed and how to spot warning signs.Get This White Paper

Caregiver Counsel on First Aid for the CaregiverIt is no secret that caregiving can be an everyday challenge, especially when managing a full time job and other family responsibilities. Discover tips about how caregivers can limit stress, boost energy, and stay positive in our latest white paper.Get This White Paper

Caregiver Counsel on Caregiving & the New NormalStatistically, more and more people will become caregivers to an older adult in their lifetime. Becoming a caregiver can be sudden and overwhelming as it is. We offer senior care options for preparing and reacting to different obstacles you may encounter.Get This White Paper

Caregiver Counsel on Taking the Old Out of AgingNo one argues that loss, isolation, or medical ailments may represent genuine setbacks as a person ages, but depression is a significant step beyond just feeling down or blue. Learn how to recognize symptoms of depression and how to be happy even at 100 years old.Get This White Paper

Caregiver Counsel on Senior Living OptionsFinding the best living options for your loved one can be tough. Whether it is picking the right senior living community or making your current family home safer, we help you to prepare for a productive conversation with your loved one about these transitions.Get This White Paper

A Caregiver's Guide Toward a Healthier Senior HeartHeart complications and disease are common issues that older loved ones face. Discover easy and practical ways to give you or the senior in your orbit a healthier heart.Get This White Paper

A Caregiver's Guide for Changes & AgingCoping with change can be difficult. It often involves tough decisions and conversations with the person you care for. Discover strategies to help you and your loved one feel more comfortable with transition.Get This White Paper

A Caregiver's Guide for the HolidaysHoliday stress is tough for everyone but especially for caregivers. Find out how to care for both yourself and your loved ones while managing these hectic seasonal times with friends and family.Get This White Paper

Roadmap to Alzheimer's Learn what to expect when you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's. Inside find tips for detecting dementia, how to best communicate with a loved one with Alzheimer's, and more.Get This White Paper

Making Home Safer Make sure your loved one can navigate daily activities as safely and independently as possible. Read about how to secure the most hazardous areas of the home and what action steps you can take to ensure your loved one is living comfortably too.Get This White Paper

Caring For the Caregiver Learn how to be as good for yourself as you are for your loved one. Are you becoming impatient with your loved one? Are you missing work or finding yourself easily irritated? If so, this white paper can help.Get This White Paper
When Medicare is defrauded by crooked providers, pharmacists, or any person posing as an expert who can make a telephone call or door to door solicitation, we all lose. Our tax dollars foot the bills. Anyone keeping an eye out for an elderly loved one knows the usual scams. The challenge is that the crooked folks keep coming up with new ploys to dupe Medicare recipients, and Medicare processes 4.4 million claims each day, all of which must be paid within 30 days. If you are a caregiver to a Medicare beneficiary or you, yourself are “of an age,” here are some of the latest scams.
1. Bait and Switch Okay, the notion of offering something that appears legitimate and of value, but then swapping it for something worth a lot less is not new. The latest scam, however, is new in that it promises a new high-tech osteoarthritis kit that “Medicare will reimburse.” So, the scammers promise state of the art, but they deliver cheap Velcro braces. And they bill Medicare for the high-end goods.
2. No Place Like Home Along the same lines of the bait and switch for arthritis, scammers have been known to deliver health services or other domestic help services to Medicare beneficiaries in their homes. But it is when the scammers turn around and up-bill Medicare for more costly professional services that the taxpayers get taken for a ride.
3. Mental Wealth Still another scam involves mental health services in outpatient settings. Medicare recipients are referred to an outpatient facility that in reality is just a social gathering. Socialization is good for one’s mental health, but the scammers up-charge Medicare for a psychological consultation instead. And as with the other scams, the taxpayers pick up the tab.
Medicare paid nearly one-quarter trillion dollars in 2013-the latest data available, and estimates of fraud range from 10% of this total to as high as 30%, but there are measures we all can take to help address these criminal activities. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommend: • Know your coverage under Medicare so that you are not duped by scammers. • Guard your Medicare number as closely as you do your social security number. • Beware of any medical service provider who reaches out to you unsolicited. • Ask your personal physician about any and all service or device prescriptions. • Scrutinize your monthly Medicare statements for anything unusual. • Say something if you see something…don’t hesitate to call 1-800-MEDICARE. All of this will help you or an older loved one to not fall victim to scammers, and it will keep the money with the taxpayers instead of the scammers. Charlotte Bishop is an Aging Life Care Professional and a Geriatric Care Manager and founder of Creative Care Management, certified professionals who are geriatric advocates, resources, counselors and friends to older adults and their families in metropolitan Chicago. Please email your questions to info@creativecaremanagement.com.

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Creative Care Management, Inc.

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senior home care services

Mittens Before the Frost

A House is Not a Home (Part 3)

A House is not a Home (Unless You’re There)

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