9 Tips For Reducing Senior Loneliness During The Holidays

During the holidays, seniors often feel alone and isolated. Many get depressed during the holidays, and such feelings can be more pronounced due to losing friends and other older relatives due to the passage of time. If you think your older loved ones are feeling depressed this holiday season, here are a few ways you can help.

Remind Them That They Matter

Many seniors feel forgotten during the holiday season and may feel they no longer matter or have any importance to their family. Assure a senior family member that they do matter by making them a part of holiday activities.

Listen

Part of reducing loneliness is the willingness to listen. Not all conversations or topics will be positive ones. Allow your senior family members to discuss the things that are distressing them. Simply listening and being empathetic can allow them to address these issues and feel better about their life and its current state of affairs.

Send A Card

While traditional mail is not as widely used as it once was, holiday cards are an important part of many family holiday traditions. Sadly, as people age, many cards contain depressing news and the number of cards received go down for various reasons. By sending more upbeat and positive cards, you can improve the overall mood of their mail and help keep a tradition ongoing.

Focus On Togetherness

Your holiday plans don’t need to be overly extravagant or focused on large parties, shopping, or large dinners to have an impact. For many seniors, they can’t participate in holiday events like they once did. By focusing on togetherness and the emotional importance of the season, you make them a part of it while staying focused on what really matters.

Visit

If your senior loved ones live in a long-term care facility, make it a point to get involved during the holidays. Involve yourself in any planned activities the facility may have and bring younger family members to visit. Seeing younger members of the family is often a very uplifting experience for older relatives.

Arrange Gatherings

During the holidays, reach out to your loved one’s friends and arrange a special gathering. This doesn’t have to be an extravagant or expensive event. Even a simple get together is very valuable as it renews old friendships. Be sure to keep any special healthcare or aging-related needs in mind to make sure the event goes smoothly.

Spiritual Support

Another aspect not to overlook is their spiritual well-being. Check with your loved one’s preferred local religious institution as most offer support for those who are depressed or lonely during the holidays. Most are also willing to visit seniors in care facilities if such a visit is required.

Help Decorate

Help your older relatives decorate their homes for the holidays. Whether it’s their personal home or room at a care facility, bringing out prized decorations and the simple joy of decorating can brighten up the holidays.

Caring Is The Most Important Thing

The most important thing you can do to reduce seniors loneliness during the holidays is simply caring. It doesn’t matter what the activity is, just by simply being there and including them in holiday events, you’ve made their holiday better.

When reaching out to your older loved ones, remember the effort itself is the most important part. Taking time out of your busy holiday schedule to involve older members of your family in holiday events is what truly matters, not the size of the event itself.

Caring Heart: Chikodili Enendu

Chikodili Enendu has been named A Place at Home’s November Caregiver of the Month.

She recently became a caregiver with A Place at Home a few months back, but in that time, she has gone above and beyond to give her clients the best care possible.

While Chiko has only been with A Place at Home a short time, she is no stranger to caring for others. She dedicated a large portion of her childhood serving as a family caregiver to her senior relatives.

“While my mom was at work, I would step in and take care of my elderly relatives—bringing them to doctors appointments, walking with them, doing chores and laundry for them,” Chiko said.

Caring for her elders blossomed her passion for helping others, which led to her pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human services at the University of Baltimore. 

Working as a caregiver for A Place at Home has allowed Chiko the ability to expand her skills. 

“I am always looking to sharpen my skills so that I can take everything I learn as a caregiver and apply it to my future endeavors,” Chiko said. 

Chiko is currently working towards a masters degree in social work. “I would love to do clinical social work—working in the hospital. I want to counsel them and ultimately discover better ways to serve patients,” Chiko expressed.

Chiko also aspires to eventually own her own business in the human services field. We are certain that with all of Chiko’s drive and ambitions, she will continue to serve the community for years to come with her caring heart.

Become A Caregiver

A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

Private Duty Care Improves Rate of Reimbursement For Skilled Nursing Facilities

Recent changes in our nation’s healthcare laws could have a big impact on the future of skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and their patients. The key change that is set to affect SNFs going into 2019 is the SNF VBP (Value-Based Purchasing) program for Medicare reimbursements.

This program went into effect on October 1, 2018, the beginning of fiscal year 2019 for SNFs, and impacts performance dating back to 2017. As we enter the new year, the full impact will become much clearer as we work our way through 2019.

The What and Why of Skilled Nursing Facilities & Value-Based Purchasing

The 2014 Protecting Access to Medicare Act set into motion the SNF VBP program. Value-Based Purchasing seeks to shift our focus from quantity to quality of service, with reimbursements being tied more to quality.

More specifically, the changes to Medicare reimbursement for SNFs are meant to reduce re-hospitalization rates. There are several reasons for this shift including:

    • Re-admissions often have a significant negative impact on patients’ physical and mental well being.
    • Hospital readmissions cost Medicare billions of dollars every year, and reducing this cost remains a priority for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
    • CMS believes that many re-hospitalizations might not have been necessary if a higher quality of care had been provided earlier.

Bottom line, by providing incentive payments to SNFs that perform exceptionally well on service quality, and have fewer unplanned readmissions of their patients, CMS hopes to improve quality of care and save money at the same time.

Possible Risks / Rewards of Skilled Nursing Facilities and  Value Based Purchasing

All SNFs that are reimbursed under the Protective Payment System are included in the VBP program. That gives SNFs an opportunity to earn incentive payments but also exposes them to the financial risks of not earning those incentives.

Another possible outcome for receiving low performance scores when comparing your SNF to other SNFs include a negative organizational/brand image,which could impact the ability to acquire new patients.  The opposite holds true for those SNFs with high performance scores.

However, another major risk that could leave your SNF and some patients in limbo if not managed well is the 30-day all-cause readmission measure. This rule has been incorporated into SNF VBP, and for many fee-for-service Medicare patients involves an estimate of the risk of readmission, and a cessation of Medicare coverage of readmissions under certain parameters.

Typically, Medicare covers the patients costs for the first 21 days, and then the SNF can be penalized through VBP for any unplanned re-hospitalizations during the patients final nine days.

Going forward, it is essential for SNFs to bolster their quality of care by taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk of unnecessary readmissions.

How to Improve Your VBP Performance Score

There are several strategies which can be implemented to improve quality of care and your SNF VBP performance scores. The scores range from 0 to 100 for each performance period, and there is also a 0 to 90 point “improvement scale score.”

      • Investigate SNF VBP further and understand the metrics used.
      • Analyze and monitor your reports regularly so you always know where you stand.
      • Take advantage of quality improvement programs that help you identify the underlying causes of readmissions and then identify solutions.
    • Consider having your skilled nursing facility team up with a home care organization for the continuation of high-quality care for your patients, while reducing unplanned re-hospitalization rates.

A Place at Home Transition Care Management Program

A Place at Home’s major focus in 2019 is to prevent SNFs unnecessary readmissions by providing our Transition Care Management Program. The Transition Care Management Program is particularly relevant to SNFs who are looking to improve their scores, reduce readmissions and provide a quality of care that will set them apart from the rest of the pack. This program is a low-cost program that is designed to follow a high-risk patient home and get them re-acclimated back to their environment.

Around 20% of Medicare patients lack the sufficient resources to let them stay at home post-discharge, however, partnering with A Place at Home can provide these clients with the initial resources to get them home and assist them in staying home long term.

What does the APH Transition Care Management Program involve? Below are six key elements:

    1. Transitions patients safely from SNF to the home environment.
    1. Transports them to their home or to their primary care provider, as needed.
    1. Ensures full medication compliance post-discharge, including offering medication pick-up service and medication reminders.
    1. Help keep patients compliant with all discharge orders.
    1. Communicates to all physicians, specialists and ancillary providers that play a role in the patients care.
  1. Prepares meals, runs errands, grocery shopping, performs light housekeeping, assists with bathing and personal care, and additional common homecare duties.

Under new CMS rules, partnering with a home care provider is essential, especially for clients with chronic illnesses, frequent visits to the ER/hospital, numerous medications, at risk of falling or unable to care for themselves. APH Transition Care Management Program is designed to reduce the risk of unnecessary readmissions, keep SNF reimbursements high, improve patient quality of care, and most importantly improve quality of life.

If you are affiliated with a Skilled Nursing Facility, or work with SNFs and want to discuss this more contact me directly at 402-281-0737 or email at dustin.distefano@aplaceathome.com. Together we can make a positive impact on those we serve.

Author, Dustin Distefano, CEO

A Place at Home

A Place at Home Awarded Best of Omaha

Omaha, NE, November 8, 2018: A Place at Home, a company that specializes in many different areas of home-based senior care and assistance with alternative living options, has won the Best of Omaha 2019 award in the “Non-Medical Home Health” category.

The Best of Omaha award is an annual contest hosted by Omaha Magazine. Since 1992, Best of Omaha evaluates locally based businesses in over 300 categories, involving individual voters as opposed to advertisers. Every year, more than 900 businesses are nominated, with over 25,000 individual ballots casted. The vote count totals over 637,400 every year.

As a provider of comprehensive senior care services in Omaha and surrounding areas, A Place At Home makes it easier for seniors to age gracefully at home and to make any necessary transitions to assisted living. The company works closely with families, seniors, and medical providers to develop the best plan for aging seniors. From providing in-home care to discussing senior living alternatives, A Place at Home reduces the uncertainty, anxiety, and stress associated with senior care.

“Here at A Place at Home we live by the statement We are CARE – Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical, this award shows that we have a great care team and office staff that truly is passionate about their everyday job. This is all about them,” said Dustin Distefano, APAH CEO & Co-Founder.

The competitive Home Health Care category contained other quality senior care providers, but voters recognized the compassion, accountability, and attention to detail that A Place At Home provides to every person they work with. Because of these qualities, the company has also won the Employer Choice Award by Home Care Pulse for three years in a row.

“We attribute this success to the various caregivers, as well as the clients and their families who work with us every day,” Nick Bohunis, Staffing Services Coordinator. It is this individual attention to the needs of their clients that makes A Place at Home truly stand out.

Today, the company provides a wide range of services related to senior living and home-based care. From providing staffing options for assisted living homes to coordinating in-home services for the elderly, the company specializes in easing the burden of care planning for seniors and their families.

A Place at Home is proud to have won the 2019 Best of Omaha Award in the Home Health Agency category. The award will serve to motivate the staff, management, and clients of the company as they strive to become even better in the future.

About A Place at Home

Co-founded in 2012 by Dustin Distefano and Jerod Evanich, the company had the original goal of improving senior-focused care. Both Distefano and Evanich had personal experiences with their own loved ones, and they understand first-hand how challenging it can be to provide quality care without proper planning and necessary resources.

Over a lunch meeting, the two co-founders developed the initial concept for A Place at Home; a service designed to promote independence and adapt to the needs of seniors and their families. Today, A Place at Home provides home-based care, medical administration, medical appointments, and professional care planning for seniors.

ClearCare: Protecting Our Clients Sensitive Information

In the senior care industry, business owners and franchisees must manage a significant amount of sensitive client data. This sensitive information can include everything from payment information to confidential health records, which must be rigorously maintained according to HIPAA standards. Our industry-leading data security solution, ClearCare Online, makes it simple to keep confidential details under wraps.

What is ClearCare Online?

ClearCare provides a secure and user-friendly online platform and mobile framework for storing sensitive information, including confidential PHI (protected health information). This enterprise level, software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution has been adopted by thousands of home care businesses–and now forms an integral part of A Place at Home’s daily risk-management and secure data storage operations. This online info-security tool enables us to input, update, securely share and track client information, and analyze/refer to the data as needed, all while carefully controlling access and ensuring data security.

How We Use ClearCare

ClearCare offers online software that powers our secure daily operations as a senior care agency. ClearCare’s caregiver portal helps facilitate communication among members of the patient/client’s care team. ClearCare securely stores data and allows us to run reports for insight into customer behavior, client needs and other forms of crucial business intelligence. Data analysis helps us run our business efficiently, reveals trends, helps establish best practices, and allows for business planning.

Why We Selected ClearCare to Manage Sensitive Information

The trusted ClearCare Online platform is widely used and proven data security technology, customized for the senior care industry. In addition, ClearCare has recently earned CSF (Common Security Framework) certification from the HITRUST (Health Information Trust) Alliance, which evaluates information protection practices in detail; including access controls, password management and much more.

This certification indicates that the platform successfully meets stringent government privacy regulations and industry record-keeping requirements, and that its software properly protects sensitive information. ClearCare’s feature set also makes it a great solution for risk management. The platform enables us to securely connect with healthcare teams and payers, in accordance with industry cyber security norms that will withstand independent audits.

A Place at Home Securely Conducts Business with ClearCare

The secure ClearCare platform makes running your franchise business, and handling sensitive information, simpler on a daily basis. In accordance with our core mission, A Place at Home is dedicated to guarding client privacy, as an integral part of serving their senior care needs. To learn more, contact A Place at Home franchise today.

Keeping Seniors Active This Winter

For seniors, managing to find the time or energy to exercise on a daily basis can be hard enough. But when the wind is blowing and the snow is falling, low temperatures and icy conditions can prevent everyone young and old from getting active during the dreaded winter months.

Remember, physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body. Staying active is important for your whole body, including your brain. Performing a minimal amount of daily physical movement and exercise can even help to prolong some of the memory loss and cognitive decline associated with aging.

Focus on Realistic Goals

The key to finding the appropriate activity and exercise for you or your aging loved ones is to focus on realistic goals. What do you want to accomplish through the pursuit of a particular workout?
For older adults, exercises should help to target important skills and abilities that will keep them safe in their daily routines.

Improve Fall Prevention

Each year, one-third of Americans age 65 or older experience an accidental fall that could end their lives. For seniors, living in fear of falling should not have to be a part of the daily routine. Aging adults can mitigate both fear and risk by dedicating a small window of time towards working on balance each day.

For a comprehensive list of movements geared towards fall prevention, check out Medline Plus’ entry on balance exercises. The workouts are easy enough to perform from the comfort of your own home or at work with little space. Examples of appropriate balance exercises include standing on one foot or using a chair to perform leg raises.

Choose Low Impact Activities

Looking for an excuse to adventure away from your usual spot at home or work? Don’t underestimate the value of walking for your strength training. If the sidewalks are plowed and the temperature is bearable, then take a stroll around the block. If winter conditions are discouraging, visit a large store or indoor mall and get your exercise done while shopping for groceries or new clothes. Stairs within your home or office can also provide the necessary challenge for a quick,
effective workout.

As an alternative, many adults with joint pain and arthritis will turn to water aerobics or other similar exercises that can be done in the pool as their outlet for physical activity. Water provides a kind of low-impact resistance training capable of targeting your joints and muscles.

Retain Your Flexibility

Don’t forget to incorporate a simple stretching warm-up into your normal exercise routine. As we age, our muscles become shorter and lose their elasticity causing a
decreased range of motion.

For seniors, stretching is essential for staying limber and flexible enough to perform the basic activities needed to get through the day. Yoga can provide the necessary movements and kind of low impact workout needed to increase flexibility as we age. Retaining good flexibility and range of motion through stretching can be even more
important when wearing layers to combat cold temperatures.

Don’t Give Up

If these exercises feel overwhelming at first, don’t simply quit. It can take your body weeks to adjust to a new routine of physical activity. Be sure to start with reasonable and realistic goals based on your current abilities and limitations.

Caregiver of the Month: Scott Collier

Caregiver of the Month Scott Collier has dedicated nearly two decades to caring for others – as both a CNA and Medication Aide. He began in the early 2000’s caring for patients in nursing homes and at the hospital to now being a caregiver with A Place at Home. “Being a caregiver isn’t a paycheck for me, it’s my passion, it’s my calling,” Scott expressed. When Scott first began at A Place at Home over three years ago, he primarily worked with facilities. Until one day he filled in a shift taking care of veteran and stroke survivor, Ron. “I had been working at facilities, but after working with Ron – I knew that I wanted to continue to care for him full-time. He was just great. It allowed me more one-on-one time and truly being able to give my all as a caregiver versus trying to care for multiple patients at once,” Scott recalled. Ron’s wife, Deb instantly took to Scott from the very first time he cared for her husband and even requested that Scott become his regular caregiver. “From the very beginning, it was apparent just how much Scott genuinely cared for Ron. He is very attentive, dependable and incredibly trustworthy. He closely monitors changes in Ron both physically and emotionally,” Deb said. “For me, it’s key that whoever cares for Ron is someone that I can trust. And I trust Scott. If I have to run errands, I know that Ron will be taken care of very well. Scott isn’t just our caregiver, he is a part of our family.” Deb first discovered A Place at Home while Ron was at a rehab facility after experiencing a massive stroke back in September 2015, which ultimately affected his ability to move and talk. “The stroke was very devastating for our family, but even more so for Ron. He was no longer able to do basic tasks on his own. It was difficult, but I wanted to make sure that he was able to stay home. We’re blessed to have the support we’ve had to make it possible for him to be home. We don’t know what we’d do without Scott,” Deb expressed. Deb reiterates that it hasn’t been an easy road, but that she just feels blessed to still have Ron here, alive and well. “I can’t believe it’s been three years since his stroke. I have learned so much, but the most important lesson has been learning to cherish each day because you have no idea what could happen at any minute,” Deb said.

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place at Home senior care, we know that our in-home caregivers make us great. Our careful hiring practices and high standards ensure that seniors receive compassionate, reliable assistance with the activities of daily life. Our senior support services are planned around elderly individuals’ specific needs – and designed to maintain their dignity and independence. A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

Caregiver of the Month: Scott Collier

Caregiver of the Month Scott Collier has dedicated nearly two decades to caring for others – as both a CNA and Medication Aide. He began in the early 2000’s caring for patients in nursing homes and at the hospital to now being a caregiver with A Place at Home.

“Being a caregiver isn’t a paycheck for me, it’s my passion, it’s my calling,” Scott expressed.

When Scott first began at A Place at Home over three years ago, he primarily worked with facilities. Until one day he filled in a shift taking care of veteran and stroke survivor, Ron Poe.

“I had been working at facilities, but after working with Ron – I knew that I wanted to continue to care for him full-time. He was just great. It allowed me more one-on-one time and truly being able to give my all as a caregiver versus trying to care for multiple patients at once,” Scott recalled.

Ron’s wife, Deb Poe instantly took to Scott from the very first time he cared for her husband, and even requested that Scott become his regular caregiver.

“From the very beginning, it was apparent just how much Scott genuinely cared for Ron. He is very attentive, dependable and incredibly trustworthy. He closely monitors changes in Ron both physically and emotionally,” Deb said. “For me, it’s key that whoever cares for Ron is someone that I can trust. And I trust Scott. If I have to run errands, I know that Ron will be taken care of very well. Scott isn’t just our caregiver, he is a part of our family.”

Deb first discovered A Place at Home while Ron was at a rehab facility after experiencing a massive stroke back in September 2015, which ultimately affected his ability to move and talk.

“The stroke was very devastating for our family, but even more so for Ron. He was no longer able to do basic tasks on his own. It was difficult, but I wanted to make sure that he was able to stay home. We’re blessed to have the support we’ve had to make it possible for him to be home. We don’t know what we’d do without Scott,” Deb expressed.

Deb reiterates that it hasn’t been an easy road, but that she just feels blessed to still have Ron here, alive and well.

“I can’t believe it’s been three years since his stroke. I have learned so much, but the most important lesson has been learning to cherish each day because you have no idea what could happen at any minute,” Deb said.

 

 

 

 

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. This program is part of an effort to offer a safe and easy way to responsibly dispose of prescription medications. If you have any prescription medication that you no longer need, or which have passed their expiration date, this is the perfect time to bring them to an authorized location for proper disposal.

How Prescription Medications Can Be Dangerous

Drugs are prescribed by doctors for various reasons to treat many different conditions and diseases. These prescription drugs cause certain chemical reactions within our body, which can do wonderful things, such as reduce our level of pain, manage levels of hormones or other substances, kill dangerous microbes or viruses, and a number of other things.

However, this very chemically altering nature of prescription drugs is also what can make them dangerous. Here are just a handful of ways that prescription medications can be dangerous to a person:

  • If taken in the wrong dosage or at the wrong times
  • When mixed with certain other drugs or foods (known as “interactions”)
  • After the drug expires, since deterioration can change its chemical properties
  • If taken by someone who does not have the condition treated by the drug

Sadly, far too many people suffer from the ill effects of taking prescription drugs in a dangerous way – sometimes due to ignorance, and other times due to addiction. We can point to the ongoing opioid crisis as just one example of the importance of proper prescription disposal. The best way to prevent this from happening to you or one of your loved ones is to dispose of any leftover prescription drugs, so that they don’t become the cause of an accidental or intentional problem.

Disposing of Prescription Drugs Responsibly

The prevention of drug abuse and misuse is the primary reasons that the DEA established National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Sponsored  by the agency’s Diversion Control Division – which is tasked with preventing, detecting, and investigating the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals from legitimate sources – this day allows anyone to bring their prescription drugs to an authorized take-back location, where the drugs will then be properly disposed of.

Prescription drugs can be brought to DEA-authorized locations between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on October 27, 2018.

What If I Miss Take-Back Day?

If you miss the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, you still can safely dispose of prescription medications by following certain steps established by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

  • Follow any disposal instructions on prescription drug labels. Do not flush medicines down the sink or toilet unless the label specifically says you may do so.
  • Look for a year-round DEA-authorized prescription drug collection point.
  • If you cannot take your prescription drugs to an authorized collection point, remove them from their original packaging and mix them with dirt, used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or other undesirable substance. Then put them in an baggie and throw them away in your garbage.

When in doubt, you can also ask your local pharmacist how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. He or she will be able to direct you appropriately.

Staffing with CARE

A Place at Home is willing to share our Certified Nursing Assistants to health care offices in need of a little extra help.

Staffing Solutions

A fully staffed office or community is critical to the overall care of the patients or residents and to the proper functioning of a facility. Our service provides CNAs and CMAs to senior communities and health offices to fill in when there are staff shortages for short- or long-term needs.  The availability of a certified staff member to step in and understand how to care for clients, be it checking vitals, running medication carts, clothing or bedding changes, dementia care, or bathing, gives peace of mind to families and the facility managers.