Hospice Way: CARE During End of Life Stages

Considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury, hospice care involves a team-oriented approach to expert care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes. Hospice focuses on caring, not curing and in most cases care is provided in the patient’s home.

“At the center of hospice and palliative care is the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that our families will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so,” Aubre Phillips, Director, A Place at Home Omaha.

Aubre understands first-hand what it’s like for a family member to go through hospice. While providing majority of the care for both of her grandparents during their end of life stages – she witnessed just how challenging it can be for the patient and patients family.

“There are families all over the place with a loved one in their last days. It can be incredibly difficult to see someone during this time – many people experience hallucinations, and overall, it’s just a painful process,” Aubre expressed.

Although she realizes the hardships that come with a loved one passing, she doesn’t view death as the end, but rather a new beginning.

“I don’t believe that death is necessarily the end – it’s the passing to the next stage of our life. And I would imagine that that’s really painful and stressful. We need people who can be here helping to support and guide those that are passing on to reassure them that it’s okay and to make sure that they are comfortable when they are on this journey,” Aubre said.

Aubre’s passion for providing end of life care birthed A Place at Home’s Hospice Way – a program dedicated to supporting hospice patients with the compassion and care they deserve.

“A Place at Home has a team of specially trained caregivers that hospice is a passion for them. They understand that the journey is different for everybody, but that their role is to help the person passing on do so in as comfortable and with as much dignity as possible,” Aubre said.

What services are provided?

  • Manages the patient’s pain and symptoms;
  • Provides needed drugs and medical supplies
  • Coaches the family on how to care for the patient;
  • Delivers special services like speech and physical therapy when needed;
  • Makes short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, or the caregiver needs respite time; and
  • Provides bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends.

Beyond Hospice Care

Our devotion to the seniors we care for continues even after they have passed away. In their loving memory and honor,  we plant a tree through the Arbor Day Foundation. The newly planted tree memorializes the family’s loved one forever, living on to provide future generations an enduring symbol of lasting peace and comfort.

A Place at Home is rooted in CARE.

Join us in expanding our roots by becoming a franchise partner.

Combat Elderly Depression With Quality In-Home Care

Whether your senior loved one is dealing with the loss of a spouse, experiencing the grieving process, struggling with family conflict, or declining health, emotional and physical stress can have a big impact on their mental health.

If untreated, elderly depression can lead to early death and lower quality of life. In-home care provides an excellent remedy to prevent senior depression while improving senior longevity and daily life.

How In-Home Senior Care Helps Seniors Live Better Lives

Prevents Isolation and Loneliness 

In-home care companions provide a symbiotic relationship that enables the senior to thrive. On a social level having friends and companions enables seniors to talk about challenges, express grief, and to find resources to solve problems.

Assistance with Errands and Extracurricular Activities 

Seniors with mobility problems often stay home rather than visiting with others because it’s too much trouble, painful or even impossible for them. An in-home care worker can take them out for errands, to visit others, or just for fresh air.

Combats Caregiver Fatigue

If you’re caring for your loved one solo, the stress harms you, your senior parent and your family. Mom will notice and could feel guilty about caregiver overwork leading to depression or family strife. Our at-home caregivers relieve everyone of troublesome, unhealthy stresses.

Visual Problems and/or Declining Health

Vision problems can go undiscovered when seniors live alone, and depressed seniors may not admit to them. A regularly visiting in-home care worker can uncover health issues or behavioral changes, and alert our care coordinators or family.

Relieves Chronic Exhaustion

Senior listlessness/exhaustion can be a side effect of senior depression or a cause. Seniors may feel too tired to contact others, creating vicious cycles of loneliness, neglect, depression and poor overall health. We find senior parents look forward to our in-home provider’s visits, becoming more enthusiastic and energetic.

Eliminates Reluctance to Burden

Your senior loved one often don’t want to both you with their problems including depression and poor health, so she may hide them. Seniors know the in-home care worker’s job is to help, so they feel less guilt or burdensome

We’re Omaha Senior Care Experts, Ready to Help

Let A Place at Home help you and your family live better, without anxiety and elderly depression. We provide compassionate, friendly, capable, and carefully screened in-home care aides for your senior parent. We also offer care coordination helping you decide which services your parent needs, and help you access all needed services on the senior care continuum. A Place At Home is ready to assist you.

Staffing with CARE

As the Staffing Coordinator, Nick pairs caregivers with local health care agencies who need an extra helping hand.

It’s important to him that the company he works for aligns with his personal values, and A Place at Home does just that.

“I’m able to help people every day and we’re also doing things the right way here,” Nick said.

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.

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place at Home senior care, we know that sometimes you need a break from your caregiving duties. That’s when we step in. Whether you just need a few hours or 24/7 care—we are here to provide compassionate care solutions, where and when you need us. We offer a continuum of care for seniors ranging from in-home care services and care coordination to senior living alternatives. Contact us today for more information.

A Place at Home: Strongly Rooted, Dedicated to CARE

Trees hold significant symbolism which represents our strong dedication to compassionate care for seniors in our community. The Tree of Life concept spans multiple schools of thought, running through art, religion, and literature.

In essence, the Tree of Life represents the intertwining of all living things. At A Place at Home, we believe in extending our branches to the senior community – giving them a continuum of loving care throughout the aging process.

Our Mission: Caring for the Family Tree of Life

Like others, we see beautiful, enduring trees as a symbol of the vitality of life, connecting those that came before us, and those that will carry on after we are gone. The tree brings to mind the idea of generations of families and ancestors. It stands for strength, stability, and nourishment.

The term family tree is so appropriate—like natural trees, its branches grow and extend. The leaves rustling in the wind appear similar, yet each has its own uniqueness and texture. Deep roots keep the tree stable and extract nutrients from the earth, helping it to develop, grow, repair and renew. We are devoted to developing the best care plan for our seniors and renewing hope for families.

For A Place at Home Senior Care, Trees Carry Powerful Meaning

The care that we provide to families and seniors in need are the roots supporting the family system–at a time when the added strength is most needed. For us, dedicated senior care is a means to help nourish the lives of loved ones, assisting families when they can’t do it all themselves. We believe that caring, above all else, is the path to ensuring generations can live on, through past, present and future, with hope and happiness.

From Symbolism to Imagery: Our Tree Logo and Living Memorials

The A Place At Home tree represents our commitment to improving the lives of all that we serve. Our devotion to the seniors we care for continues even after they have passed away. In their loving memory and honor,  we plant a tree through the Arbor Day Foundation. The newly planted tree memorializes the family’s loved one forever, living on to provide future generations an enduring symbol of lasting peace and comfort.

A Place at Home is rooted in CARE.

Join us in expanding our roots by becoming a franchise partner.

Paying for Long Term Care: Will You Need More than Medicare?

About 70 percent of today’s seniors will need some type of long-term care.

Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t cover everything that a senior may require. Let’s look at some places where Medicare falls short so you can successfully prepare for future health care needs–and avoid unwelcome surprises.

Medicare Limitations and Senior Care Options 

Important limits, and costs to be aware of are bolded or linked:

  • Basic hospital coverage: Medicare Part A hospital coverage comes with a big deductible of over $1300 per benefit period, plus $335 daily after the 60th day through 90th day.  After 90 days, you enter Lifetime Reserve Days, of which you have 60.

  • Doctor visits and outpatient care: Medicare Part B has a monthly premium and a yearly deductible, then provides 80/20 coverage for medically necessary doctor’s office care, lab testing, certain medical equipment, and specific preventative screenings.

  • Prescriptions: Medicare Part D has a monthly premium, often in the $20 to $50 range per month, depending upon the plan selected. You also pay a co-pay for each Rx, depending on medication category. Coverage for brand name drugs may be 50 percent or less.

  • Private Medicare insurance option: Medicare Advantage (Part C) may have a monthly premium, (in addition to the monthly $135 Medicare premium amount), although some HMOs require no extra premium. Plans substitute for Medicare Parts A, B and sometimes prescription part D, but may charge different out-of-pocket amounts than Medicare, and have different rules. Some plans offer extra perks, like prescription eyeglasses, rides to doctor appointments and more. Unfortunately, some are unclear about the specifics of the extra perks. 

  • Residential board and care or skilled nursing facility: Medicare Part A covers only 20 days with no co-pay. You must pay $170.50 daily for days 21-100. End-of-life hospice care is covered if you meet the stated conditions.

  • In-home skilled medical care: Medicare offers coverage for 21 days, if ordered by a physician. The covered care must be skilled medical care, such as nursing or physical therapy. (Medicare does not currently pay for home health “custodial care” services, like senior grooming assistance, laundry, cooking meals, etc. 

Options to Fill Medicare Gaps

  • Medigap insurance: Some Medicare A and B recipients choose to buy optional, private Medigap insurance, which covers your share (of Medicare approved bills only), for a monthly premium, depending on the plan. You must purchase during a special Medigap enrollment period to avoid being charged for pre-existing conditions. 

  • Private long-term care insurance: Policies can be expensive. However, most people will require long term care, which Medicare does not cover, so insurance may be worth considering.

  • Affordable at-home senior care: Setting up compassionate, supportive at-home care, rather than a residential rest home, may reduce stress on the senior and save money.

Note: Dollar amounts apply to 2019 benefits, which may increase yearly.

Get Reliable In-Home Care for Omaha Seniors

Let A Place at Home in Omaha help. We will work with you to create a custom plan for in-home, long-term or respite, senior care. Contact us today.

Learning Invaluable Lessons From Seniors: Odillia Magut

Odillia Magut has been named A Place at Home’s February Caregiver of the Month.

While Odillia has only been a CNA for four months, she is no stranger to caring for others. She has dedicated nearly three decades to taking care of her older relatives, including her mother-in-law.

During her time as a family caregiver, Odillia soaked up invaluable life lessons that she now takes with her in her daily life.

“I have learned so much from being a caregiver – how to be patient, how to be compassionate, and how to live life to the fullest,” Odillia said.

From companionship to providing seniors assistance with day-to-day activities, Odillia truly cherishes her time spent caring for others.

“I love spending time with seniors and helping them with their needs. It makes me feel so fulfilled,” Odillia said.

In addition to enjoying her time with senior clients, Odillia appreciates the support she receives from the A Place at Home staff. “They truly listen and are always very understanding. They are kind and they motivate me to always be my best,” Odillia said.

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. Contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

4 Self-Care Tips for Caregivers

With the increased population of seniors in our society, caregivers have become some of the most significant people in supporting the lives of seniors.

Seniors often need companionship, laundry services, shopping assistance, and physical therapy. While caregivers may be essential to the well-being of seniors, they need to know the importance of their own well-being.

Regardless of the type of care that you provide, you should observe some practices that ensure a quality life of those you are caring for as well as your own care. Here are some tips that you should consider as you carry out your caregiving duties:

Sharing Responsibilities

Sometimes being a caretaker can take a toll on you, hindering your ability to perform duties outside of your workplace. Consider sharing responsibility with people around you or an in-home care agency to avoid overworking yourself.

Self-maintenance

Maintaining yourself is essential to living a healthy life. You cannot provide effective care if you have poor health or fatigue. For this reason, building good eating and sleeping habits are absolutely necessary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get at least 20 to 30 minutes of cardio a day. Get your heart rate up with a walk, a job, or an exercise class.  Ensure your eating stays on target by meal planning and prepping once or twice a week.

Seek Emotional Support

Caregiving can sometimes be incredibly stressful. This can take a toll on your mental health, making it difficult to carry out your responsibilities and other tasks. Support groups can help you deal with stress. These groups understand the hardships you are going through and can provide emotional support.

Take a Break

Caregiving can sometimes get extremely overwhelming. Set aside time for yourself whenever possible—do the things you love or just take some time to relax. It could be a short nap or a vacation, anything that allows you time to rejuvenate and refresh so that you have the energy and mental capacity to continue caregiving.

Your own care should always come first, and it is only when you take care of yourself that you can take care of others around you. Above all, surround yourself with a support system that will help you deal with emotional battles that may come your way.

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place at Home senior care, we know that sometimes you need a break from your caregiving duties. That’s when we step in. Whether you just need a few hours or 24/7 care—we are here to provide compassionate care solutions, where and when you need us. We offer a continuum of care for seniors ranging from in-home care services and care coordination to senior living alternatives. Contact us today for more information.

Living Out My Passion: Shena Cue

Shena has dedicated the past 17 years to being a caregiver. Her genuine compassion for others has nabbed her Caregiver of the Month for January.

Shena has been passionate about caring for others ever since her childhood. “When I was a little kid, I used to volunteer whenever I could. In high school, I helped out with the Special Olympics. Then my grandparents started needing help around the house, so I spent a lot of time caring for her. That’s when I realized caring for others is what I really wanted to do,” Shena said.

Shena’s dedication, passion, and love for her job are truly unmatched. Caregiving isn’t just a job, it’s her life’s purpose. “There is nothing else in my life that makes me as complete as being a caregiver. It just makes me feel so good being able to care for people – giving them the things that they really need,” Shena said.

With nearly two decades as a caregiver under her belt, Shena aspires to expand her compassion from caregiving for individual clients to caring for her entire community.

“I love being a CNA. That’s why I’ve been in this field for 17 years. I genuinely love doing what I do. But I want to broaden my reach someday by opening up a staffing or home care agency like A Place at Home,” Shena said.

Shena is the epitome of A Place at Home’s motto, We are CARE (Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical). Every day, she sets out to treat everyone she encounters with kindness and respect.

“Shena has to be one of the most compassionate people I know. She definitely has her heart in this job, and it really shows. She strives to do everything she can to make her clients happy,” Dani Pierce, HR Director said.

Congratulations Shena! Thanks for always showing A Place at Home seniors the CARE they deserve.

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.

 


A Place at Home Awarded 2019 Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice

OMAHA, NE – A Place at Home has received the 2019 Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice Award from Home Care Pulse. The Employer of Choice Award is granted only to the top-ranking home care providers, based on caregiver satisfaction scores gathered by Home Care Pulse, an independent satisfaction research firm for home care. A Place at Home is ranked among the best employers of in-home caregivers in the region.

“We congratulate A Place at Home on earning the Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice Award,” says Erik Madsen, CEO of Home Care Pulse. “Since this award is based on employee feedback, it shows the dedication A Place at Home has to provide their employees with great working experience while ensuring clients have well-trained, compassionate caregivers.”

Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice award-winning providers work with Home Care Pulse to gather feedback from their caregivers via live phone interviews each month. Because Home Care Pulse is an independent company, it is able to collect honest and unbiased feedback.

“We are honored to receive the Employer of Choice award for the fourth year in a row. Our caregivers are the backbone of our company, which is why they are our number one priority. We ensure they have the tools and support they need to succeed in providing top-notch service to our clients,” says Dustin Distefano, CEO & Co-Founder of A Place at Home.

In addition to receiving Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice for the fourth year in a row, A Place at Home also recently won the Best of Omaha 2019 award in the Non-Medical Home Health category.

“Our goal at Home Care Pulse is to empower home care businesses to provide the best home care possible,” says Erik Madsen, CEO of Home Care Pulse. “We are happy to recognize A Place at Home as a Best of Home Care – Employer of Choice, and we celebrate their accomplishments in building a team of happy, qualified caregivers to care for their clients.”

About A Place at Home

Co-founded in 2012 by Dustin Distefano and Jerod Evanich, A Place at Home saught to improve 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, care coordination, senior living alternatives, and staffing for the senior community. If you are looking for services for you or a loved one, we are here to help. Get in touch with us today!

When Clients Become Family: Katy Curlis

Katy Curlis has been named A Place at Home’s December Caregiver of the Month. For the past three years, she has dedicated her life to being a caregiver.

Katy always knew that she wanted to make a difference in her community, but had originally pursued a career in Early Childhood Development.

“I was close to getting my degree in early childhood development when I did some work with seniors. I loved hearing their stories, and just really connected with them. After that, I made the decision to switch over from child development to senior care,” Katy expressed.

During her time with A Place at Home, Katy formed an unbreakable bond with her client, Bill. After three years of working with Bill, he and his family became like family to Katy.

Katy and Bill had fun little rituals like going to get ice cream. She loved seeing how happy it made him. And when he struggled to get out of the house, she would bring him his favorite ice cream.

“I just loved making his day even with just a small gesture like getting ice cream. It’s the little things that make a big difference,” Katy said.

Katy’s close relationship with Bill made it even more difficult when she received the news of his passing.

“The family called me to tell me, ‘he’s passing, come quickly’,” Katy said. “Afterwards, it was really hard. I had prepared myself. I knew that he was going downhill, and in senior care, it’s unfortunately inevitable that clients may eventually pass away, but that didn’t make it any easier [losing him].”

To this day, Katy still keeps in contact with Bill’s family. “They will have always have a special place in my heart,” Katy expressed.

While Katy has worked for a few other in-home care agencies, she says that A Place at Home is by far her favorite.

“A Place at Home just has a better set-up. I get along with the office staff, they are easy to talk to and very supportive. And most of all, compatibility is super important to them. They do a great job pairing clients with the right caregivers,” said Katy.

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.