Heartland Hospice ~ Hospice Myths ~

Hospice Myths

The truth is: We enrich life in surprising ways. What you may not know about Heartland Hospice care:

Myth: "I thought that if my mother was under the care of hospice, she could no longer go to the hospital if she needed to. In the past year, she has been hospitalized several times because her pain got out of control."

Truth: While hospice strives to manage pain and other uncomfortable symptoms outside of the hospital setting, a hospice patient always has the choice of whether or not to go to the hospital. The Medicare Hospice Benefit covers short-term general inpatient care in the hospital when a patient's symptoms can no longer be managed in another care setting.

Myth: "I always thought that "hospice" was a place - that building that I passed on the way home from work."

Truth: Hospice is a philosophy of care, not a place. Hospice care can be provided in any place the patient calls home, whether that is a personal home, a skilled nursing center, assisted living facility or anywhere else.

Myth: "I didn't know that hospice care could help take care of my dad in his assisted living apartment. He could have really benefited from the support from the hospice caregiving team."

Truth: Hospice provides care wherever a patient calls home, including, but not limited to assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, independent living facilities and personal homes.

Myth: "The doctor said I had to sign a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order for my wife in order for her to get hospice. I just couldn't do that; it seemed so final."

Truth: A patient can receive hospice without having signed a DNR. The hospice regulation actually says that hospices cannot discriminate against patients because of any advance directive choices.

Myth: "I didn't consider hospice care early enough because dad was still getting blood transfusions regularly.  We weren't ready to stop because each time he would get one, it seemed to make him feel better for a few days.  We just wanted him to feel like himself for as long as possible."

Truth: "The Medicare Hospice Benefit may cover chemotherapy, radiation, blood transfusions or other treatments if those treatments are providing comfort for patients eligible to receive the benefit (life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course).

Myth: "I thought that hospice was only for patients with cancer. I didn't realize that my husband who suffered from Alzheimer's disease could have benefited from support from the hospice caregiving team too."

Truth: More than 60% of hospice patients nationwide have diagnoses other than cancer. Many patients have other diagnoses or advanced stages of chronic diseases like pulmonary disease, Alzheimer's disease, renal disease, HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular or neuromuscular diseases.

Myth: "I was under the impression that I had to be available as the designated caregiver 24 hours a day in order for my mom to get hospice."

Truth: While some hospices require caregivers prior to the patient being admitted, Heartland does not.  We help coordinate community resources to keep the patient at home as long as possible, and then help the patient find an alternative location to receive care when care at home is no longer possible.

Myth: "My dad lives at home. We weren't considering hospice for dad because we thought it was too expensive. Between the doctor's visits and the cost of medications today, we have to save everything we can to make sure we can care for his ongoing needs."

Truth: The Medicare and Medicaid Hospice Benefits cover services at 100%, so there is no cost to the patient. If patients have private insurance or managed care, Heartland assists in checking their benefit coverage to make sure patients and families understand and potential out-of-pocket costs.

Myth: "I wanted to learn more about hospice, but thought I had to wait for the doctor to bring it up first so he could order it for my brother."

Truth: Patients can choose for us to meet with them and discuss the benefit of hospice at any time. We cannot provide hands-on care to a patient without a physician's order. We work with each patient's physician to identify each patient's individual needs.

Myth: "I was so scared to even say 'hospice.' I thought it meant i had to give up. Give up hope. Give up trying. Give up praying for a cure."

Truth: In order to receive hospice, the patient must be eligible and have an understanding that hospice focuses on comfort care (palliative), not cure. But patients and families do not have to be "ready to die" before getting the care they need and deserve. Hospice helps patients and families deal with what is happening to them on their own terms and in their own time frame. It is important to get hospice early so that the benefit can help patients prepare and get ready for what is happening; it is not required that patients be ready prior to receiving care.

Myth: "Hospice is not palliative care."

Truth: All hospice services are palliative in nature, however, not all palliative care is delivered under the Medicare hospice benefit. Hospice focuses on physical, spiritual and emotional support to the patient and family including family counseling, help with end-of-life decisions and bereavement services.

Visit us online @ http://www.heartlandhospice.com/

Right At Home ~ Suffering from Insomnia?

Suffer From Insomnia? 

You May Be at Higher Risk for Strokes

posted by Rita Ude on August 18, 2015

by Hilary Young

There are many downsides to missing out on a good night’s sleep – cognitive decline, weight fluctuations and now, according to a research study published in the journal Stroke, higher risk of strokes.

The study examined the sleeping habits and health of more than 80,000 people over the course of four years and found that people who suffer from insomnia were 54 percent more likely to be hospitalized from a stroke than those who had more normal sleeping patterns.

While they couldn’t prove that insomnia causes strokes to occur, the researchers could link insomnia to high blood pressure and blood sugar levels along with inflammation of the arteries – three factors that play major roles in determining the risk of experiencing a stroke.

Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Many people struggle with sleep at some point in their lives. In recent years, studies have been done about the rise in prescription sleep aids, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the majority of people who are using these drugs are over the age of 80 or in their 50s. But experts agree that prescription sleep pills aren’t necessarily the best solution for troubled sleepers, so before talking to your physician about a prescription, try these all-natural solutions first:

• Control Your Light Environment. With technology hard to avoid these days, the lights we see from cellphones, computer screens and televisions in the bedroom can disrupt our body’s natural rhythms. It’s best to keep these bright forms of technology out of the bedroom to ensure a good night’s sleep. If you seem to be experiencing light disruptions from outside of your bedroom (like floodlights from a neighbor), it could be worth investing in blackout shades for your room.
• Practice Meditation. Many sleep problems stem back to not being able to quiet a busy mind, but meditation can assist in accomplishing this. The key to meditation is finding time every day to sit still and be quiet. Over time, you will learn to drown out negative thoughts and find inner peace. One thing to note – achieving a successful meditation really does take practice and discipline!
• Avoid Caffeine in the Afternoon. Caffeine is a great resource for helping us wake up in the mornings, but if you are a coffee lover, it’s a habit that literally can keep you up at night. Most sleep experts recommend cutting off your caffeine supply in the early afternoon, no later than 2 p.m. If you can’t live without an evening cup of joe, try switching to decaf!
• Exercise Regularly. Studies have shown that roughly “150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week, which is the national guideline, provided a 65 percent improvement in sleep quality.” While exercise can give your metabolism and energy levels a boost immediately afterwards, it also can help you sleep more soundly at night. The key is to exercise in the late afternoon, or at least three hours before you hit the hay.

Better Sleep, Better You

Sleep is essential for living a long and healthy life. Learning how to get your insomnia or sleep disruptions under control now can have positive long-term effects, including keeping your risk of stroke down.

“I think sleep is underrated in terms of its power, in how much healing occurs while you are sleeping,” said Dr. Demetrius Lopes, Director of the Interventional Cerebrovascular Center at Rush University in Chicago, Ill., and a spokesman for the American Heart Association. “Sleep helps the body coordinate blood pressure, manage hormones and reduce stress.”

If you happen to be feeling a little more stress than usual because you are caring for a loved one, contact Right at Home for information on respite care so you can sleep a little easier at night.

Visit us online @ http://www.rightathome.net/tucson/

Ability Center ~ What Wheelchair Van is Right for You?

Which Wheelchair Van is Right For You – Side Entry or Rear Entry?

Posted on August 11, 2015

At Ability Center, we specialize in helping our valued customers find the right accessible van for their needs, budget and lifestyle.  Many times families are curious as to what type of wheelchair van is best; a side-entry handicap van or a van with a ramp that comes out the rear of the vehicle.

When thinking of these two options, we have four things we will discuss to help you make the best decision; Parking, Position of the wheelchair, Passengers and Price(4 P’s).

Parking
One consideration when thinking about what type of wheelchair accessible van to purchase is parking.  Rear entry vehicles have an easier time in crowded parking spots because the entry and exit of the wheelchair passenger can take place in any parking spot; it doesn’t necessarily have to be a large handicap parking spot.  However, keep in mind that you will be loading and unloading the wheelchair passenger into the flow of traffic.  In areas of the country where much of the parking is done curbside/parallel, a rear entry van may not be the best option because you’ll need significant room behind the vehicle to load the wheelchair.   Side entry vans have the opposite benefits; it’s easier for parallel parking because the ramp can be deployed on curbs.  However, parking lot parking can be difficult at times with so many limited large handicap parking spaces that allow 8′ for the ramp to deploy.  

Position of the wheelchair
Ask yourself this question, where would I like the wheelchair to be positioned and where is the person using the wheelchair going to sit.  Some people with disabilities have the ability to transfer out of their wheelchair onto the front driver or passenger position.  If this is the case, a side-entry van is best suited for you since the whole floor of the vehicle is cut out making for an easy transfer.  Some people like to remain in their wheelchair and sit in their chairs in the front driver or passenger position after removing the front seat of the van.  If this is the case, a side-entry is best suited for you as the seats are on bases that are removable.  Rear entry vans have a portion of their floor lowered which makes for a nearly impossible option for the wheelchair passenger to sit in the front two seats.  If the person in the wheelchair has a caregiver and will not drive or sit in the front passenger position, a rear entry van is a great option.  Some rear entry vans have jump seats so the person in the wheelchair can be positioned in the middle of the van with brothers, sisters, grandchildren, etc. sitting next to them.

Passengers
The third thing to consider is how many passengers will be transported with the wheelchair van?   Rear entry vans can accommodate more people because many have fold down seat options in the middle.  However, there are some side-entry vans that have jump seats in the middle as well.  This question goes hand in hand with the position of the wheelchair; look at the family as a whole and how you will be using your van.

Price
Lastly let’s talk money.  In many cases rear entry vans are less expensive because they are geared towards caregivers so many of the conversion features are manual.  However, in the last couple of years there have been some reasonably priced side entry manual wheelchair conversions that are a great option as well.  

One more thing to think about is to try before you buy.  At Ability Center, we offer wheelchair vans for rent. Try a side-entry one weekend and a rear-entry the next weekend.  Many times, we will put the cost of the rental towards the van you purchase from us.  Our goal is to make sure you have the right van for your family.

Call us at 866-405-6806 or email info@abilitycenter.com or visit us online @

http://www.AbilityCenter.com 

A Senior Journey ~ Senior Adult Placement Services

About Us

Amanda has worked in healthcare for many years. Her experience ranges from working for physicians, surgeons, hospice, an Independent and Assisted living retirement community and a senior living placement agency. She has participated in many health fairs, chamber of commerce events, health and wellness meetings and a guest speaker in healthcare settings.

Amanda’s passion is assisting seniors and their loved ones.  She goes above and beyond to ensure that each client receives the best service, recommendations and education.  She will ensure you have all the resources that may be helpful to you and your loved one.  Amanda feels it is a privilege to help you and your loved one through this significant transition.

You can count on her for unbiased, experience-based advice that puts your loved one first. There is never a charge for her assistance.

Amanda is married and has four grown children and is the proud "Nana" to her two grandchildren.

How can working with A Senior Journey benefit you?

·         You will receive compassion and support from a caring advisor

·         We have an established relationship with various centers and homes in Tucson and outlying areas

·         Our experience and expertise help guide you to the best communities or homes that match your care needs, geographical requests and financial budget

·         We are frequently checking state surveys to ensure that we offer communities and homes that are in good standing.

·         We do the work for you to make this decision and transition as seamless and stress free as possible.

Visit us online @ http://www.aseniorjourney.com/

CareMore Brain Health Program In Tucson

CAREMORE EXPANDS ITS BRAIN HEALTH PROGRAM TO TUCSON

According to the State of Arizona, by 2020 one in four Arizonians will be over the age of 60. With such a dramatic rise in the aging population, programs targeted toward this age group are more important than ever. CareMore, a Medicare advantage health plan that exclusively serves the senior population has recently expanded its Brain Health program to the Tucson area to promote prevention and treatment for those affected by dementia and other conditions that affect mental health. The Brain Health Program is a great early intervention program for patients and their caregivers. It was first launched in CareMore’s Southern California market and has been well received. 

Early results show that CareMore’s Brain Health Program reduced emergency room visits, hospitalizations and falls. Nearly two-thirds of caregivers assumed an active role in monitoring medication for their loved one and 94 percent said they felt the program improved their understanding of dementia as well as their ability to provide better care.

“Patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s are profoundly mismanaged,” Dr. Pratty said. “After some struggle, they are given diagnoses — but little else in terms of guidance and support. This results in costly and unhelpful diagnostic workups, and countless avoidable emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Meanwhile, the patient often suffers from profound feelings of loneliness, isolation and hopelessness.”

Dr. James Pratty, senior medical officer for behavioral health and psychiatry at CareMore, and his team designed a model of care for those with brain health issues. It starts with identifying brain health patients early and assigning them to a multidisciplinary team that takes a broad view of their illness, including providing them with information on fall prevention, medication safety and adherence, legal documentation and nutrition.

 To learn more about the program, visit: www.CareMore.com or call (844) 624-3302. 

Heartland Hospice "End-of-Life Chemotherapy. Is it the Best Thing to Do?"

Visit us online @ https://www.heartlandhospice.com/Greenvalley