Recovering After a Stroke Can be an Uphill Battle. Our CARE Program Supports Your Climb

Every 40 seconds, someone in the US has a stroke. Recovering from a stroke doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Recovering from a stroke can be daunting. Sometimes, one can suffer minimal effects after a stroke. But a lot of the time, a stroke can leave an individual and their family reeling. A stroke can cause paralysis, aphasia, cognitive issues, and trouble with one’s memory. These are just a few things people can struggle with recovering from a stroke. While a stroke can be devastating, the CDC reports that about 80% of strokes are preventable. It’s essential to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke, as well as lifestyle changes you can make to lessen your risk.

A stroke doesn’t just affect the individual who’s had one; recovery from a stroke has a heavy impact on their loved ones as well.

Taking care of a loved one after they’ve suffered a stroke can be overwhelming and daunting. Caring for someone while they recover can mean a loss of routine and normalcy, both in everyday life and in the dynamics of their relationship with the person who had the stroke. Many people find themselves making large lifestyle changes to accommodate the care needs of their loved ones. And studies show that family members caring for a loved one following a stroke experience psychological distress, depressive symptoms, lower quality of life, and lower overall life satisfaction. These detriments can be present for years after their loved one has had a stroke.

We’ve designed our Stroke CARE Program to help individuals and their families as they recover from a stroke.

A Place At Home has developed a Stroke Recovery CARE Program to address the specific care needs of those recovering from a stroke. This program includes:

  • A personal care plan complete with stroke-specific assessments to address your individual care needs.
  • Active and ongoing communication with all other members of your health care team.
  • A specifically trained Stroke Care certified care team.
  • Change in Condition tracking ensures that your care team addresses any concerns as they happen to prevent further risk or injury.

Recovering from a stroke can feel like an uphill battle. Having a team of professionals in your home supporting your recovery can help you make huge strides in your rehabilitation and quality of life. Reach out to us today to learn more about our Stroke CARE Program or schedule a cost-free consultation.

How New Medicare Advantage Changes Could Affect You

Medicare, in general, is more focused than ever on positive health outcomes, specifically on keeping seniors out of the hospital.

Medicare Advantage plans have been responding this, and to the competitive environment, they face, by adding extra coverage. For the first time, these extras may include basic (non-medical) in-home senior care.

This newly-offered type of care may provide for household support activities for seniors that help them  live comfortably and healthily at home. These essential tasks could include light cleaning, cooking, dishwashing, grooming and more. Home safety equipment may also be included. For more detail and background, read on.

About Medicare Advantage

Also called Medicare Part C, the Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and replace Medicare Parts A (hospital), B (doctors, office visits and tests) and sometimes D (drug coverage). You may have a choice of several Medicare Advantage plans, depending upon where you live. If you choose an Advantage plan, you must follow their rules and must typically use their network of doctors.

The private Medicare Advantage insurance plans must cover the same medical care that traditional Medicare does, but may charge more (or less) for specific services. These plans may also impose extra rules, such as requiring a referral to see a specialist, etc. (Referrals are not currently required in traditional Medicare.) Medicare Advantage may charge an additional monthly premium, over and above your regular Medicare premium ($135 monthly in 2019), and some Advantage HMOs charge no extra premium.

New Medicare Advantage Offerings

For a few years now, Medicare Advantage has been touting “extra benefits” like vision care (optometry and prescription eyeglasses), dental cleanings, hearing aids and/or free gym memberships. They hoped the extras would encourage people to switch from traditional Medicare, to Medicare Advantage. Recently, the private insurers that offer Medicare Advantage plans have been given permission to add even more extras, which vary from one plan and company to another.

What’s so interesting for seniors who need home caregivers is this: In the past, seniors could only get limited, skilled medical in-home care from traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage. They would not cover any “non-skilled” in-home care that seniors need. Now, these items may be included. Examples of new in-home supportive services Medicare Advantage may cover:

  • At-home custodial care (grooming, meal preparation, bathing, and more)
  • Transportation to medical appointments
  • Meal delivery
  • Shower grab bars and other home safety devices
  • Caregiver support
  • Adult daycare
  • And more

Keep in mind that coverage varies significantly by plan, so be sure to read the details before choosing among the Medicare Advantage plans, or deciding to stick with traditional Medicare.

Study Coverage Details and Rules Carefully

This extra at-home coverage is welcome news for seniors and their family caregivers. It’s very important to be aware, however, that different plans will have different specifics, varying rules about accessing these benefits, and limits on the maximum number of home visits allowed. Medicare’s guide to Advantage Plans may help you.

By adding this extra coverage, Medicare Advantage is acknowledging what we have known for so long—that proper in-home care (beyond skilled medical/nursing care) improves long-term health for seniors. This type of care can keep seniors living successfully at home, which saves seniors money and helps the senior to enjoy greater independence, as well as enhanced quality of life. It’s about time, and we hope for even more positive changes in the future.

Where to Get the Best At-Home Care for Seniors

At A Place at Home, we’re dedicated to serving Omaha seniors. Let us help you arrange friendly, dependable in-home senior care services. Contact us today.