Category: Education for Senior Providers

Financial Safety Tips To Avoid Identity Theft

Post by Laura Miller of Sapphire DMM
Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country, affecting half a million new victims each year.  Although stealing someone’s identity to obtain credit or money can cost consumers thousands of  dollars, it often goes undetected for months or even years.  Here are some tips on preventing such theft:

  • Photocopy the contents of your wallet, copying both sides of each credit card.  Keep the photocopies and account numbers at home in a safe and secure place.
  • Do not give personal information over the telephone, through the mail, or over the internet unless you have initiated the contact.
  • Shred documents and pre-approved credit applications received in your name.
  • Never use your Mother’s maiden name, your birth date, or the last four digits of your social security number as your password.
  • Do not carry your social security card, birth certificate, or passport unless necessary.
  • Do not print your social security number or driver’s license number on your checks.
  • Order your credit report at least once a year.  Reports can be obtained from:

Equifax – 1.800.685.1111 or www.equifax.com
Experian – 1.888.397.3742 or www.experian.com
Trans Union – 1.800.680.7293 or www.transunion.com

Laura Miller
Sapphire Daily Money Management
www.sapphiredmm.com

No Comments by conniemulligan on July 9, 2011
filed in Community Service, Education for Senior Providers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Senior Resource Alliance NW

Health Risks to Veterans by Specific War or Trauma

Blog Post by Mike Brunt
Content from www.WeHonorVeterans.org

I was talking last week with Liz Fischer from Hospice of Washington County, and she referred me to the web site www.WeHonorVeterans.org. We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The program invites hospices, state hospice organizations, Hospice-Veteran Partnerships and VA facilities to join a pioneering program focused on respectful inquiry, compassionate listening and grateful acknowledgment. By recognizing the unique needs of America’s veterans and their families, community providers, in partnership with VA staff, will learn how to accompany and guide them through their life stories toward a more peaceful ending.

One section of the web site, which I have found fascinating and useful in understanding veterans’ care needs, describes health risks unique to each war in recent American history. Factors such as extremely hot or cold climates, medication availability, chemical warfare, exposure to nuclear radiation, and other environmental hazards give each war it’s own array of common negative health effects for veterans.

Learn more about Veterans’ health risks specific to the wars and traumas listed to the right.

…

2 Comments by Mike Brunt on July 5, 2011
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Geriatric Psychiatry, Veterans Issues and Resources

New Toolkit Helps Track Senior Medications

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area

Proper Medication Tracking is Vital to Keeping Seniors Healthy
You’ve just walked out of your mother’s latest doctor’s appointment and your head is spinning. The doctor wants to change the dosage on two medications, stop a third, and start a new fourth medication. Some of the medications need to be taken on an empty stomach and some with food. Some medicines your mother should take twice a day and some just in the evening. Keeping it all straight is making your head ache.
Even more importantly, however, is what can happen if you, and your mother, don’t track her medications properly. On average, seniors ages 85 and older take 34 prescriptions, including refills, per year, according to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). And adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or noncompliance are responsible for 28 percent of all hospitalizations of the elderly, the organization reports.

The sheer volume of medications that most seniors are taking has the potential to create the perfect storm. Medication-related problems can cause, aggravate or contribute to common and costly geriatric problems including:

  • Depression

  • Dizziness

  • Falls

  • Incontinence

  • Insomnia

  • Loss of coordination

  • Malnutrition/dehydration

  • Memory loss

  • Psychiatric problems

 

Tools and Resources for Family Caregivers
Pill organizers can help track multiple prescriptions. So can the assistance of a family or professional caregiver. The Home Instead Senior Care® network offers many resources to help family caregivers stay on top of their loved ones’ medical situations.

In addition to in-home care services, Home Instead Senior Care has worked with Humana Points of Caregiving® to develop an information management toolkit and the Caring for Your Parents: Senior Emergency KitSM website to help you track medications and other important information regarding your senior loved ones’ health. This toolkit includes checklists and worksheets for medications, conditions, allergies, doctors, health advisors and important documents.

If you are facing caregiving challenges in your family, we want to help. Please contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office for more of these resources or to schedule a no-cost in-home consultation to learn more about how we can help you and your parents.

…

1 Comment by Mike Brunt on June 30, 2011
filed in Communication and Relationships, Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Practical Tips and Resources

What is Geriatric Care Management?

Blog Post by Sandra Hedges, Owner of S.A.G.E. Care Management, LLC

WHAT IS GERIATRIC CARE MANAGEMENT?

Geriatric Care Management encompasses a broad range of services provided by qualified professionals who specialize in understanding the needs of elders and their families. A Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) provides support, guidance, and solutions to meet those needs. Professional Geriatric Care Managers assist elders and their families through the maze of issues that come up during the transitions of aging. Geriatric Care Managers come from a variety of professional disciplines including Licensed Clinical Social Work, Nursing, and Physical and Occupational Therapy. They must be licensed in their fields as well as by the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM).

One of the most important functions of GCMs is to provide comprehensive and objective assessments that assist elders and their family members in making decisions. The GCM focuses on maintaining the well-being, independence, and dignity of elders while optimizing safety. GCMs specialize not only in meeting the needs of elders, but also in understanding and working within the environment in which the elder exists (such as high conflict families, challenging mental health problems, etc.).

GCMs are trained advocates for elders and serve the primary functions of assessing needs, planning care, coordinating services, and monitoring health. Following is a list of specific duties and roles of the Geriatric Care Manager:

  • Provide crisis intervention
  • Serve as a liaison with other professionals and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Facilitate communication with family members who live far away and be a mediator in high-conflict family situations
  • Be the “eyes and ears” at medical appointments
  • Organize details of returning home (enhanced discharge planning)
  • Provide objective home evaluations 
  • Create comprehensive care plans to reduce crises and re-hospitalizations
  • Reduce anxiety for patients and their families
  • Prevent unnecessary hospitalizations
  • Evaluate safety needs in the home and implement changes
  • Locate and arrange qualified in-home caregivers to meet individual needs
  • Provide on-going oversight and management of home care assistance
  • Arrange household management tasks
  • Help with bill organization and payment
  • Counsel during loss and transitions
  • Assist with end of life planning and decision making
  • Organize record keeping
  • Assist with coordination of down sizing / relocation

 

Choosing the appropriate GCM for your family is all about finding the right “fit.” All GCM’s have different backgrounds, specialties and personalities. This is a person you will be working closely with, so you’ll want to select wisely. The professional management a GCM provides allows adult children and other family members to spend quality time with their senior loved ones. Also, the GCM takes pressure off of families by moderating interpersonal and communication issues. When a smooth pattern is established, the GCM can monitor the situation from the background and be ready to directly re-engage as the situation requires. 

Assisting honored seniors on the path of aging involves many bumps and turns along the way. With a process this fluid, a GCM can be an indispensable partner on the journey – one who can help preserve positive family relations during the elder’s final years and beyond. 

If you are interested in learning more about Geriatric Care Management, please visit the websites below or contact S.A.G.E. Care Management at 503-688-3866 or shedges@sage-gcm.com.

Resources:
www.sage-gcm.com
www.caremanager.org

About Sandra
Sandra Hedges is a Board Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Professional Geriatric Care Manager. She is the owner of S.A.G.E. Care Management, LLC. Sandra is originally from Hillsboro, OR and spent the last 7 years on the East Coast. She attended New York University to earn her Masters of Social Work and moved up to Boson to work as the Director of Geriatric Care Management for Overlook C.A.R.E. She is happy to be back in Hillsboro near her family and to provide Geriatric Care Management services for her community.

No Comments by Mike Brunt on May 12, 2011
filed in Communication and Relationships, Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Geriatric Psychiatry, Practical Tips and Resources

Study Links Paid In-Home Senior Care With Fewer Doctor Visits

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area


Link to White Paper: Paid In-Home Care: MORE CARE & BETTER CARE FOR SENIORS

This Home Instead Senior Care-commissioned research project—entitled the “Value of Caregiving at Home” study—examined the perceptions and experiences of U.S. caregivers for seniors by conducting a survey among adults (aged 18 and older) who were providing and/or arranging care for an older adult (aged 65 or older).

Listed below are several findings from the study:

  • As the number of older Americans rapidly expands, paid in-home non-medical care can play a vital role in ensuring that seniors receive necessary and appropriate care even though the U.S. healthcare system is stretched thin in funding and staffing – a problem that likely will become more pronounced in the coming decades.
  • In an especially significant finding, the study indicates that on average, seniors receiving paid in-home non-medical care experience fewer doctor visits each year. This has major financial implications for seniors and their families, the healthcare system, and the federal budget.
  • The use of paid in-home non-medical professionals has a major impact not only on the quality of care that seniors receive, but also on the number of hours per week of care that they receive.
  • The use of professional in-home non-medical care may help delay or even prevent the need for more formal medical care, thus taking significant pressure off the country’s resource-strapped healthcare system – especially hospitals and nursing homes.

 

Link to White Paper: Paid In-Home Care: MORE CARE & BETTER CARE FOR SENIORS

No Comments by Mike Brunt on March 23, 2011
filed in Clinical Insights for Elder Care, Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Legislative and Political Issues

The U-Bend of Life, Why People Get Happier As They Get Older

Post by Mike Brunt
Source: The Economist, December 18, 2010

The U-bend of life: Why, beyond middle age, people get happier as they get older

 

ASK people how they feel about getting older, and they will probably reply in the same vein as Maurice Chevalier: “Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative.” Stiffening joints, weakening muscles, fading eyesight and the clouding of memory, coupled with the modern world’s careless contempt for the old, seem a fearful prospect—better than death, perhaps, but not much. Yet mankind is wrong to dread ageing. Life is not a long slow decline from sunlit uplands towards the valley of death. It is, rather, a U-bend.

Link to full article

2 Comments by Mike Brunt on March 13, 2011
filed in Baby Boomer Age Wave, Education for Senior Providers, Isolation and Depression, Senior Nutrition and Health, The Lighter Side of Aging

Win Your Copy of “Stages of Senior Care” Signed by Paul Hogan

Blog Post by Mike Brunt

Thanks to all of you who made time on February 10 to hear Home Instead founder, Paul Hogan, speak about his book, Stages of Senior Care, in Portland. We had a great turnout of about 100 people.

Everyone who attended the event received a free copy of Paul’s new book, Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions. Attendees had the opportunity to meet Paul personally and have him sign their copy of the book. 

I know there are many more of you who wanted to come to the event, but couldn’t make it. I had Paul sign five extra books, and I’d like to get them into the hands of people who want them. To make it a little more fun, I decided to make it a game. (Can you tell I have a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old at home?)

 

How to Win Your Signed Copy of Stages of Senior Care:

1. Follow this link to our Facebook page.

2. Click on the “Like” button.

3. First 50 people to do this will have a 1 in 10 chance to win one of the 5 signed copies of the book!

1 Comment by Mike Brunt on February 21, 2011
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Senior Care Reference Materials

White Paper: In-Home Care’s Growing Importance to Health Care

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area


White Paper Research Findings from Home Instead Senior Care

Paid In-Home Care: A GROWING PART OF THE MEDICAL-CARE CONTINUUM

The Home Instead Senior Care-commissioned research shows that as the number of older Americans rapidly expands, professional in-home non-medical care can play a vital role in shoring up a U.S. healthcare system that’s already stretched thin in funding and staffing – and that will become far more strained in the coming decades.

The study found that the use of in-home non-medical care can help families provide more and better overall care for older family members, and that it augments healthcare services seniors already receive – especially care provided in their homes by non-physician medical professionals.

For those older adults who have chronic health problems or who present demanding care-giving challenges, professional in-home non-medical care is an especially significant supplement to clinical medical care, and family care.

In a particularly compelling finding, the study indicates that on average, seniors receiving in-home non-medical care reportedly required 25-percent fewer doctor visits each year. It is our hope that further investigation can be done to deepen our understanding of this relationship, which has major financial implications for seniors and their families, the healthcare system, and the federal budget.

And overall, the use of professional in-home non-medical professionals has a major impact not only on the quality of care that seniors receive, but also on the number of hours per week of care provided to these older adults.

Finally, the use of professional in-home non-medical care may help delay or even prevent the need for more formal medical care, potentially taking significant pressure off the country’s cash- and resource-strapped healthcare system–especially hospitals and nursing homes. And in-home non-medical care may help lead seniors toward other labor- and cost-effective choices along the medical-care continuum.

White Paper:
Paid In-Home Care: A GROWING PART OF THE MEDICAL-CARE CONTINUUM

No Comments by Mike Brunt on February 17, 2011
filed in Baby Boomer Age Wave, Education for Senior Providers, Senior Care Reference Materials

What You Need to Know About Long-Term Care

Blog post by Mike Brunt
Content from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors

Get more info and download the free guide.

About 70 percent of people over age 65 require long-term care services to some extent, and the likelihood of needing care increases even more as you age. Yet the cost of long-term care often exceeds what the average person can pay from their income and other government programs. It is more important than ever for everyone, including seniors, their families and those professionals who work with them, to understand and plan ahead for long-term care.

The Society of Certified Senior Advisors has created a new comprehensive white paper on long-term care, What You Need to Know About Long-Term Care, that will provide you with invaluable information, including:

  • The importance of long-term care
  • What options for services are available
  • The costs associated with long-term care
  • How to determine whether long-term care insurance is right for you
  • Tools and guides to help you set up a plan

 

Get more info and download the free guide.

No Comments by Mike Brunt on February 15, 2011
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Practical Tips and Resources, Senior Care Reference Materials

Founder of Home Instead to Speak in Portland on February 10

Event Now Passed: See Photos on Facebook

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area

Those of you who have been following this blog for the past year probably by now recognize the name “Paul Hogan.” Paul and his wife, Lori, founded Home Instead Senior Care 17 years ago and last year wrote the USA Today Bestseller, Stages of Senior Care: Your Guide to Making the Best Decisions.

Mark Your Calendars!

On February 10, from 4-6 p.m., you are invited to hear Paul speak at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Portland. He will address long-term care professionals and family caregivers about the range of support services and resources available to seniors as they age. Paul’s presentation draws from ideas presented in the book including senior care options, pros and cons of each, relative costs, pitfalls to avoid, when each option is most appropriate, and how to deal with family conflict and caregiver stress.

CEU UPDATE
This event is approved by the Oregon Nursing Home Administration Board for 1 general hour of CEU credit.

Attendees will also receive a free, signed copy of the book, Stages of Senior Care, and will get a chance to chat with Paul for a few minutes.

Here are some examples of how Paul is a thought leader in the senior care industry:

http://seniorcare2share.com/2010/11/seniors-and-the-information-gap/
http://seniorcare2share.com/2010/08/caring-for-the-aging-time-to-create-a-new-model/

On a Personal Note…

Paul came to Bend, Oregon last year for a similar event where he spoke to long-term care professionals and adult children of aging parents. I decided to make it a father and son adventure with my just-turned-four-year-old boy, Henry. It was so much fun. Early in December, when I found out that Paul would be here for this event on February 10, I said to Henry, “Paul Hogan is coming to town.” He immediately responded, “Like Santa Claus?”

So, if you want to feel the excitement that a child feels at Christmas, just attend this event. You will be glad you did.

No Comments by Mike Brunt on January 18, 2011
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Practical Tips and Resources, Senior Care Reference Materials

Spouse on Medicaid? You May Need to Change Your Will.

Post by Elder Law Attorney, Geoff Bernhardt
Article on Geoff’s Blog

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Legislative Alert! Do You Have a Spouse on Medicaid? Oregon Law Now Requires You to Change Your Will

According to the State of Oregon, the average cost of long-term care is now $7,663 per month. Paying for this care for very long is beyond the means of most middle-class families. In an effort to obtain good care for an ill spouse and preserve enough assets for the healthy spouse to live independently, many people in this situation apply for assistance with care costs through the Medicaid program.

Once the Medicaid application is approved, most people neglect to consider a crucial question: What happens if the healthy spouse passes away before the ill spouse? While Medicaid allows an ill spouse to have only $2,000 in assets, a healthy spouse is permitted to maintain additional assets, as much as $109,560 plus the family home, for his or her support. What will happen to these assets if the healthy spouse dies first?

The answer depends on the will of the healthy spouse. Mostly, we see that the healthy spouse has made no change at all to an old will leaving all assets to the ill spouse. In that event, if the healthy spouse dies first, all assets pass to the ill spouse. This causes two problems. First, the ill spouse will immediately lose eligibility for Medicaid benefits. Second, due to illness, the ill spouse is usually unable to manage the inheritance. Sometimes the court has to appoint a conservator to manage the ill spouse’s inheritance and pay the bills. All of this results in large expenses for the ill spouse and extra hassle for loved ones.

Sometimes, the healthy spouse will go to the other extreme. Instead of leaving everything to the ill spouse, the healthy spouse signs a new will leaving nothing to the ill spouse. The problem with this is, under Oregon law, you cannot completely disinherit your spouse. An ill spouse has the right to receive a portion of the healthy spouse’s estate. If the ill spouse is on Medicaid, the State of Oregon will intervene in the healthy spouse’s estate, and the court will require that some of the healthy spouse’s estate be set aside for the ill spouse. As of January 1, 2011, that amount is being increased to one-third of the healthy spouse’s estate.

As a practical matter, this means that every healthy spouse who has an ill spouse receiving Medicaid benefits needs to update his or her will to comply with this change in Oregon law. At a minimum, one-third of the healthy spouse’s estate should be left in a support trust for the ill spouse. Remaining assets can be left in a special needs trust for the ill spouse (these funds will be protected from the Medicaid spend-down) or to other beneficiaries.

So, if you have a spouse in long-term care who now receives, or who may in the future receive Medicaid assistance, speak with an experienced elder law attorney to discuss bringing your will into compliance Oregon law. Prompt attention to this issue could save your family tens of thousands of dollars and avoid delays in Medicaid eligibility. Most importantly, updating your will helps to insure that the ill spouse will always receive good care and has the best possible quality of life.

No Comments by Mike Brunt on January 17, 2011
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Elder Law, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources

Volunteering May Save Your Life

Blog Post by Mike Brunt

John Tesh, Home Instead Senior Care spokesperson and popular radio talk show host, talks about volunteering’s positive effect on physical and emotional wellness.

  • Study by WebMD shows how selflessness and compassion for others seem to counteract the bad effects of stress on the human body.
  • Cornell University’s 30-year study on married women showed…
    • Biggest factor in extending a woman’s life expectancy was whether or not she did volunteer work.
    • People who are generous toward others have higher levels of the hormone, oxytocin, a stress-reducing chemical.
    • Helping others also releases dopamine in the brain which helps reduce anxiety.
  • Reducing stress boosts the health of your immune system and cardiovascular system.

 

Video 1.5 Minutes

Incidentally, the December meeting of SPIN (Senior Provider Information Network) provided a forum for all attendees to talk about community service and charitable giving opportunities during the holiday season. I found it inspiring to hear about all of the good work going on. I felt proud to be a franchise owner with Home Instead Senior Care, a company that has community service and charitable giving in its DNA. To find out more, read about the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation and the Be a Santa to a Senior program.

1 Comment by Mike Brunt on December 9, 2010
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Practical Tips and Resources, Senior Nutrition and Health

Seniors and The Information Gap

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area

Information from Paul Hogan, Founder of Home Instead Senior Care

Seniors and The Information Gap

We live in an information age. As consumers and citizens, information directs the way we invest or spend our money, ultimately determining how we live out our retirement years. Information is a game-changer for seniors. That’s how I view the findings of Home Instead, Inc.’s white paper Seniors & the Information Gap.

Home Instead Senior Care®, the company my wife Lori and I founded, commissioned the research report to discover how well seniors and their adult children understand senior care issues. As senior care advocates, it did not surprise Lori and me that survey respondents generally:

  • knew little about senior care options
  • were misguided about how much those options cost
  • were poorly informed about the financial resources needed to cover senior care costs

 

For example, 71 percent of adult children and 66 percent of seniors could name only two senior care options. And, by a large margin, the two they named most frequently were the most expensive options. In contrast, the book Lori and I wrote, Stages of Senior Care, lists nine choices in the senior care continuum.

Other survey findings showed:

  • 50 percent of seniors said they have not planned for their futures
  • respondents think senior care services cost more than they actually do, except in the case of skilled nursing homes. Nursing home care actually costs about $78,000 a year, but the majority of adult children of seniors thought it costs nearly $20,000 less than that.

 

These knowledge gaps are costly – and not knowing one’s financial options could quickly deplete a lifetime of retirement savings. In human terms, this may lead to seniors leaving their homes for facilities when that option is not necessary.  Seniors prefer to age in their own homes, and with safe and affordable in-home care, seniors can remain in their own homes much longer than they would be able to otherwise.

The senior care information gap also poses a major challenge for public officials, social workers, health care professionals, community planners and families. A lack of reliable facts on aging could result in serious disruptions in U.S. society, health care services and the economy.

Our country stands to lose too much, so elected officials must derail this impending crisis and reverse the senior care information gap. I know private sector thought leaders could contribute invaluable pro bono consultation through a public-private partnership to ensure the information age pays special attention to the age wave.

Seniors & the Information Gap affirms my belief that, together, we can have a far-reaching impact in senior care education. That’s why my personal goal and my corporate motto are the same: To change the face of aging. I stand ready to assist your efforts on behalf of seniors.

Sincerely,

Paul R. Hogan

Paul Hogan is Chairman & Founder of Home Instead Senior Care and, with his wife Lori, co-author of Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions.

2 Comments by Mike Brunt on November 5, 2010
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Legislative and Political Issues

When Too Much Stuff Becomes a Household Hazard

Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area

Breaking Point – When Too Much Stuff Becomes a Household Hazard

Those of us who spend any amount of time with seniors in their private homes or apartments know that most seniors find comfort in their familiar surroundings and treasured possessions. Although there is generally a natural tendency to accumulate things over a long period of time, seniors who have an especially hard time parting with their “stuff” can put themselves and their homes at risk.

“A lifetime accumulation of belongings combined with an influx of daily junk mail, bills, newspapers and magazines can quickly overwhelm seniors who are struggling physically, mentally, or emotionally,” said Paul Hogan, CEO and Co-Founder of the Home Instead Senior Care network.

The risks of overcluttered homes are many including slipping on loose papers, the threat of fire, and health effects of mold and mildew. I have been in the home of a senior who collected free food items that were donated to her local senior center. Her cupboards, counters, and multiple refrigerators and freezers were at maximum capacity and she had actually started stacking food on the floors. This kind of hoarding is obviously not a part of normal aging, but sometimes, the line between normal accumulation and pathological hoarding is hard to define.

Home Instead Senior Care has developed a public information campaign to address the problem of clutter creep. I really like the information because it goes beyond the idea of “just needing to clean up” and addresses the emotional attachments to things and the inability to organize that many seniors experience. Many times seniors’ objects have multi-generational significance to them and even help to tell their life stories. They can feel a strong responsibility to carry on the tradition and bequeath their things to others.

The web site for this public information campaign is called Breaking Point: Decoding the Problem of Seniors and Hoarding. Here you will find relevant and useful resources including the following:

  • “10 Reasons Seniors Hang On To Stuff”
  • “If Your Senior Won’t Let Go…”
  • “A Caregiver’s Guide to Spot Clutter Creep”

    •  

    Also, here is a link to a recent article in the New York Times about this topic.

    No Comments by Mike Brunt on September 20, 2010
    filed in Aging In Place, Communication and Relationships, Education for Senior Providers, Geriatric Psychiatry, Isolation and Depression, Senior Nutrition and Health

    Caring for the Aging: Time to Create a New Model

    Blog Post by Home Instead Senior Care offices in the Portland Metro Area

    Content is direct text of a white paper written by Paul Hogan, co-founder of Home Instead Senior Care, and one of the nations thought leaders on how to make sure health care reform includes providing for the care of America’s aging population.

    Link to full text of Hogan’s white paper:
    Caring for the Aging: The Old System is Obsolete, Time to Create a New Model

    Introduction

    Rational, economical, sustainable reform of America’s healthcare system is a national imperative. There are many parts to achieving reform, but no plan will be complete if it fails to address the issue of providing for the care of America’s aging population.

    Indeed, in view of the impending “age wave” of baby boomers that is descending upon the nation, it is not too much to say that senior care must be one of healthcare reform’s highest priorities. The current unstructured system for senior care evolved haphazardly during the 20th century and is hopelessly inadequate to the challenges that lie ahead. For decades, it consisted of what one might call a binary situation: You cared for mom as long as you could, then put her in a nursing home.

    Today, a range of options has grown up, from seniors aging in their homes while they are supported by nonmedical caregivers who provide companionship and help with daily chores, to assisted living facilities, to nursing homes – with many choices in between.

    Unfortunately, government regulations and financing have failed to keep pace with this dramatically changed landscape. It is necessary, therefore, as part of any healthcare reform plan, to develop a comprehensive national policy for senior care.

    When properly done, the policy will maximize the choices that seniors and their caregivers have while keeping costs manageable for all the parties involved. It will insure that the care is safe and well-regulated. It will keep seniors fully informed about their many options. And it will strive to maintain a supply of caregivers that is sufficient to meet the
    nation’s needs.

    Link to full text of Hogan’s white paper:
    Caring for the Aging: The Old System is Obsolete, Time to Create a New Model

    1 Comment by Mike Brunt on August 31, 2010
    filed in Education for Senior Providers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Legislative and Political Issues

    On Becoming A Certified Senior Advisor

    Blog Post by Mike Brunt

    ON BECOMING A CERTIFIED SENIOR ADVISOR

    In June, I was able to do something I had wanted to do for several years…take the course and pass the test to receive the Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation. This short blog post is to explain more about why I wanted to become a CSA, what I learned, and the process I followed to earn this professional designation.

    In 2002, I earned my Masters in Business Administration degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. In 2005, when I started my Home Instead Senior Care business, I felt I had an academic and professional foundation to start and run a business. Though I didn’t have a clinical healthcare background, I had a passion for serving seniors, the leadership skills to build my organization, and the tenacity to grow a senior home care operation from scratch starting with no clients and no CAREGivers.

    I have found tremendous advantages in being inside the franchise system that pioneered non-medical in-home care and that today is the largest and most trusted provider in this niche. Besides all the support from Home Instead, Inc., wonderful employees, and my family; I truly feel my Heavenly Father has watched over my endeavors and blessed me at many critical moments along the way.

    Five years and 500 clients later (and two children), I have a wonderful small business that gives me the opportunity to add value to society in so many ways. I have seen and learned so much in these five years, and I truly feel that the service my CAREGivers and staff provide has attributes of quality and personalization that set me apart from my competitors. Still, I suppose that some of my more clinical referral providers could question my qualifications to run an organization that makes such a difference for the health and well being of seniors.

    So, to me, earning the Certified Senior Advisor designation was an important step in my professional development. Also, I think it will help me demonstrate to my constituents that I have gone the extra mile to obtain knowledge and understanding about seniors, their needs, and their special circumstances.

    What did I learn in the process of becoming a CSA? The curriculum for the course is designed to support professionals of all kinds who work with seniors by providing broad-based knowledge of the health, social, and financial issues that are important to seniors. The course involved three full days of classes and on the fourth day was a 3-hour exam. Because we were covering such a massive amount of information across a broad range of topics, I did feel like I was drinking from a fire hose. However, the thick textbook that is the basis for the course is a great resource that I will be able to refer to regularly in my work with seniors.

    This list includes some of the things I learned:

    • Seniors’ three top fears – and how I can help seniors address them
    • Special physiological and nutritional needs of seniors
    • Signs of normal cognitive aging versus dementia
    • Where most seniors prefer to live – and the newest choices in senior housing
    • What seniors should know about Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
    • Key questions seniors should ask before they buy long-term care insurance
    • What advance directives do and don’t do
    • The stages and tasks of grief – and how to respond to someone who’s grieving
    • How to market ethically to seniors
    • Best ways to communicate with seniors – and what not to do

     

    In summary, I would definitely recommend the CSA designation to professionals who work with seniors in any capacity. As an owner and operator of an in-home care agency, the course gave me new knowledge, particularly about how Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid work. Also, the material served as an excellent overview of my existing knowledge base in regards to building relationships with seniors and their loved ones. It’s nice to have it all in one book.

    To learn more about becoming a Certified Senor Advisor, please visit the web site of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.

    1 Comment by Mike Brunt on July 1, 2010
    filed in Education for Senior Providers, Senior Care Reference Materials
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    At Home Instead Senior Care, we provide non-medical services to senior citizens in their own homes or apartments. Our services include companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, escorting to appointments, personal care, and dementia care. We help seniors maintain their independence and help them stay safe, healthy, and happy at home, wherever home may be.

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