Elderly and seriously ill patients frequently rely on private long-term care or disability insurance to pay for their home care. More and more, however, these patients are being denied benefits as insurers rigorously scrutinize claims to determine the extent of coverage. Many patients turn to their caregivers to help deal with insurers or handle the paperwork, which is usually confusing and so filled with "legalese" it requires a lawyer to comprehend it.
Caregiving.Advisor.com
Helping senior parents and aging loved ones, and caring for the caregiver.
Timely insurance benefit payments often require a caregiver's attention to detail.
Strategies for taking away the keys when mom or dad should no longer drive.
Automobiles transcend other possessions. They are part of our identity, almost like a member of the family. After a lifetime of mobility, the prospect of losing that aspect of independence can be seriously frightening. But, what do you do when your parent is no longer safe on the road? Here are some suggestions.
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s has more than just medical implications — there are financial issues, too.
An estimated 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease; this number is expected to double by the year 2050 as the elderly segment of our population grows. Not only does the disease have a significant emotional impact on individuals and their families, it also causes severe family financial burden and places considerable demands on the greater public health system.
As hard as it may seem, talking with your aging parents about tough issues is easier now than it will be later.
The quality of communication between adult children and their senior parents leaves a lot to be desired, according to a study from the senior care company Home Instead. The findings of the study led researchers to coin the phrase "the 40/70 rule."
ICE campaign aims to help paramedics know who to contact in case of emergency.
Many of us carry a mobile phone with the phone numbers of our loved ones stored in a list of contacts, so if we were to get in an accident, the paramedics would have that information at their fingertips, right?
If your goal is to help your parent(s) stay in their own home as long as possible, bathroom safety should be a priority.
As Boomers age, we're helping our parents deal with livability issues. All too soon, we'll be dealing with these issues for ourselves and our spouses. Some of us — the "early aged," who have some sort of injury or debilitating condition — are already dealing with these challenges.
Julie Christie wins a Golden Globe for her protrayal of a woman with Alzheimer's.
2007 cinema gave us revealing looks at Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Academy Award winner Julie Christie earned a Golden Globe Award for her role in Away From Her. The film, directed by actor Sarah Polley, stars Christie as Fiona, a woman slipping away to Alzheimer's. It deals with how the disease affects her relationship with her husband of almost 50 years. Olympia Dukakisco-stars in the film. Both Polley and Dukakis have collaborated with the Alzheimer’s Association by becoming Alzheimer Champions to raise awareness about Alzheimer's.
Nursing home residents are at a high risk for falls. Here are some tips for prevention.
Q: My mom recently took a nasty spill in the nursing home where she's living. A friend of mine, who is a nurse, told me that this is fairly common in nursing homes. I thought my mom would be fairly safe there, so why do falls occur more often in nursing homes?
Ensure the very best nursing home care.
You might assume your loved one will receive high-quality care in a nursing home; however, that can be a dangerous assumption and your parent may instead be at risk of harm.
I feel VERY strongly that we need to get the law changed as to 'self submitting' of nurse/staff at any given time!!!
Your article referring to 'omnibus budget and reconciliation of 1997 ---- i...
Although it's a tough conversation to have, planning for a funeral now can save heartache later.
Q: A few months ago, my aunt was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She doesn't have any kids and she's like a second mom to my brothers and me, so we're very involved with her care. Although it's likely she'll be with us for quite a while, we've begun to realize that we might not have very long to find out what her wishes are for her care and funeral.
Ensure your parent is getting proper nursing home care.
Q: My dad has been in a nursing home for about 8 months and, in that time, he has lost about 15 pounds -- weight he could hardly afford to lose. I suspect his nutritional needs aren't being met, but I'm not sure what to do. He's picky, and it takes a lot of patience to get him to eat. I've spoken to the staff, and they insist he's eating. Do you think I should file a complaint?
I'm not sure of the nursing home protocols, but if they have more than one physician visiting patients, you might also opt for changing the physician that sees him.
My father (93 yrs. old), became...
How police and businesses in Japan encourage seniors who are no longer safe drivers to give up their driver's licenses.
In recent years, crashes involving drivers age 70 and older have jumped by 30 percent in Tokyo. Because it can be tough for family members to take the keys away from their older relatives, it's better for seniors to voluntarily give up driving.
Here are some tips for avoiding duplicate medications and potentially dangerous drug interactions.
Managing multiple medicines can be a daunting task. But, by knowing a few key things about each individual medicine your parent is taking, you can help eliminate the guesswork involved in managing many different medications and making sure these medicines work their best.
As your family changes, traditional holiday activities can result in more stress than comfort. Here are suggestions for traditions that are easier on the family.
Holidays can be difficult for anyone dealing with the changes of Alzheimer's, or any ailment, really. They are also stressful times for caregivers trying to maintain traditions.
While you are taking care of your loved one, who is taking care of you?
Caregivers need to pay attention to their own health and needs, so that they have the strength, stamina, and patience to care for their loved ones.
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