Cause For Alarm: Seniors And Emergency Room Visits
January 18, 2018
A visit to the emergency room can be a scary and upsetting event no matter what your age. But for an older person, it can also be a sentinel event that marks a downward spiral in the life and functional ability of a senior living in the community. Writing in…
Near And Dear: What Aging In Place Will Look Like In The Near Future
August 31, 2017
If you’re a caregiver for aging loved ones, you are likely worried about what’s going on when you are not around. And, if you’re someone on the receiving end of caregiving, you likely feel the burden of knowing your loved ones are anxious about your health and well being. But…
Home Game: The Challenge of Obtaining Medicare-Covered Home Care
May 11, 2017
Following a hospitalization, it’s not unusual for an older patient to require skilled nursing help. Many people prefer to receive that help at home, rather than go to a rehab center or skilled nursing facility. In theory, if a physician says this assistance is medically necessary, Medicare is supposed to…
Home Care: Doctors Need New Training For Making House Calls
December 15, 2016
Here’s an astounding statistic: By the year 2060, there will be 98 million senior citizens in the US. That number is likely to overwhelm our health system, especially our providers of long term care. As well, the trend is now for people to “age in place,” foregoing long term care…
Home Work: The Fragile State Of Home Health Workers
October 27, 2016
Safe, reliable home care is often a challenge to put in place, and perhaps the weakest link in the chain is the home care worker. She (the majority of such providers are women) is usually poorly paid, with few benefits and an often uncertain work schedule. It’s a tough way…
Just Ask: Seniors Can Age In Place If Asked What They Need:
September 15, 2016
Sometimes you just have to ask- and then you’ll get your answer. Our society faces a real dilemma as millions of seniors confront risks and unsafe conditions as they “age in place.” Most people don’t want to leave their homes. A new pilot study from the Center For Medicare & Medicaid…