Care for the Aged

I don’t believe one grows older. I think that what happens early on in life is that at a certain age one stands still and stagnates.

– T.S. Eliot

It is always an attribute of humans to be associated with a family throughout his life. From infancy, early childhood, adolescence, and old age, we always are connected to our family. Maybe there are times where individuals value and seek independence from their “family of origin” to journey into the vastness of life, but when the sunset comes, we always long for care from a family.

Following the great development in medical technology and improved health care, studies show that people are seen to live longer. In the United States alone, more than 43 million Americans are above sixty years old and this number is expected to double by 2030.

Caring for the elderly has always been a primordial task of the children or the younger relatives. However, due to our current lifestyle, it is often considered a burden for the young, especially working professionals to take care of their elderly. Caring for the elderly is simply not easy and requires too much time and attention. Old people have lots of issues, they tend to be emotional, lonely, and deprived, not to mention loads of physical deterioration and mental health problems.

Red Flags

In caring for the elderly, one must be very vigilant to detect signs of impending risk and dangers; as well as formulate preventive measures for such occurrences.

• Weight loss. This could be caused by lack of appetite or sleep and are common signs of more serious medical conditions.
• General forgetfulness. Missing appointments, forgetting names, places, meal times, and other task normally are done by the patient regularly indicates mental problems that may be caused by old age or other illnesses.
• Personal hygiene. Deterioration of personal care capabilities like bathing, shaving, wearing of dentures, could be signs of physical and mental problems.
• Disorientation. Consistent disorientation like forgetting oneself, family members, and talking to someone not there is a cry for help.
• Paranoia. Suspiciousness and ungrounded fears is a danger sign of some thought disorder. The most common case is suspicions that family members and doctors are conspiring against him.
• Accidents. Accidents like burns, injuries, small fires, and overdose among others are dangerous signs that could be the result of forgetfulness, weakness, blackouts or dizziness.

Elderly Care Tips

• Professional care works for your advantage. There are many healthcare service providers that offer round-the-clock care and supervision for your elderly, especially when you are not at home.
• Prepare the house. When moving your elderly to a house, make sure the house is at least an accident-proof. There are many institutions you can approach for accident-proofing purposes. Devices like sensors or monitors are useful in monitoring your elderly remotely.
• Proper nutrition. Good nutrition is of vital importance, especially to elderly. Carefully structured menus and diet regimen helps prevent diseases and promote over-all health. A certified nutrition expert could be consulted in this regard.
• Medical care. Elderly are prone to lots of diseases due to weak immune system and old age. A regular check-up and proper dosage of medicine are vital in elderly care.
• Recreation. Always include recreation for caring elderly people. Elderly people are most of the time emotionally unstable and a good recreation activity can be effective in relieving such burden.
• Exercise regimen. Although elder people are generally weak, this does not mean exercise is not good for them. In fact, a carefully planned exercise regimen is recommended for elderly to help maintain overall health. A simple walk in the park could be a good form of exercise, just keep them mobile.
• Talk to them. Elderly people need someone to talk to. They are bored and needs a companion. Just listen and talk to some stories or news to them.

Elderly needs all the help we can offer and all the love we can give. It is also but fitting that we should take care of our elderly as they took good care of us when we were young with the hope that we can also receive such good treatments when our own sunset comes.

Getting the Most out of Your Health Insurance

We live in an uncertain world where an accident could happen anytime.  Additionally, we breathe in the air that is polluted, drink water that might not be clean and are constantly exposed to other health hazards.  Disease and illnesses can easily be contracted, at times when we least expect it.  That is why it is always good to get health insurance.

Health insurance may be anything that helps pay for any medical-related expenses.  It could be individually purchased, group insurance or availed through a social welfare program and paid for by the government.  Health insurance is often used interchangeably with health benefits and health benefits.

In 2007, the U.S. census estimated that around 85% of American has some form of health coverage, a majority of which get it from an employer and less than 10% purchase it directly.  However, no matter who pays for it, you deserve to know about your health insurance can adequately cover the costs you incurred in any medical situation.

To get the most out of your health coverage, you should:

1. Choose well.

There are many types of health insurance that are available for you.  If you are employed, you may be able to choose which plans to get.  You can discuss your options with your HR personnel, the plan administrator or perhaps your union.  Even if you are purchasing the coverage on your own, you should get as much information about the details of your plan to see if it matches your needs.

2. Know what services are covered in your plan.

Different policies often list different sets of covered services.  It is important that you know what services are covered and what are not because you would have to pay for any medical procedure or medical care that is not listed.

3. Do not ignore the Summary Plan Description.

The Summary Plan Description contains a lot of information about your health benefits and your rights.  It also tells you about the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, a law that governs health benefits for employees.    What is more, it holds information on co-pay services, dependent coverage, as well as plan termination conditions.

Keep a copy of the Summary Plan Description along with any communication about your health plan.

4. Upgrade your plan as necessary.

If you have more children, get married or adopt a child, you would need to revise your health benefits.  You might need to upgrade to adequately cover yourself and your dependents.  The same is true when there is a death in the family, or you get divorced, in which case, you would need to downgrade.

Other life events like resigning or transferring to another company may affect your health benefits.  When you get a new job, or lose your current one, you have the option to buy extended coverage for yourself and your dependents if you are qualified.

5. Coordinate health plans to get maximum coverage.

Spouses who are employed at different companies may have to discuss what plans each would avail of to make sure that they get maximum coverage.

6. Know the laws regarding health benefits.

There are several laws that govern health coverage, and it would make good sense for you to be familiar with them, so that you know your legal rights when necessary.  Some federal laws include the ERISA and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of HIPAA.

7. Participate in a Wellness Program if Available.

While not expressed mandated by law, the HIPAA enjoins companies to establish and sponsor a wellness program that aims to get employees to start working out, quitting smoking or other general health programs.  You’re not only enjoying a healthier life, but you might gain cost savings.

8. File an Appeal if claims against your benefits are denied.

You should know how to file grievances and appeals with your insurance company, should a health benefit claim gets denied, for some reason.

9. Retirement coverage.

Get to know what coverage and services would be available to you and your spouse in the event that you retire.  This would help you ascertain if you would need Medicare or Medicap.

10. Demand for quality healthcare.

The beauty of the Web is that you now have Health 2.0 Web sites that feature patient ratings and other clinical performance benchmarks.  This will help you find out if an accredited healthcare provider is up to par with set standards.

Happily Growing Old

Growing old and dying is one of the saddest moments in the lives of individuals and families. The sight of wakes, eulogies and funerals always unsettle people at the peak of their lives, perhaps not wanting to think about the sad inevitability of life – dying.

However, while growing old is inescapable, it is, nevertheless, becoming more enjoyable for more for people. Health care for older people, the baby boomers, is the best that has ever been. Home care for older citizens is also becoming less stressful with beautiful facilities and competent staff ready to answer to the needs of the elderly.

These retirement centers, is far from its origins of just a home and boarding center for the aged. It has become a recreation facility, a wellness destination, just like any resort where people relax and enjoy themselves. Accommodations in these facilities are top-notch and could rival any resort or hotel. The amenities and activities also ensure the senior residents enjoy themselves and make the most out of their “prime”—they play golf, they tour around destinations, they swim, they play sports. There are also wellness services that make these centers just like any ordinary spas.

On top of this is the availability of medical and health care facilities as well as of competent staff that will ensure the residents are well taken cared of. These retirement facilities have made growing old as stylish and enjoyable for senior citizens, so they feel the fulfillment of growing old and the happiness of finally having their time all for themselves.

Care centers for older people used to be a taboo for many families but for a significant number it has become a practicality and a necessity. The special needs of the elderly, especially the medical and health needs are not often met by family members who do not have the competence and the ability. In the long run, retirement facilities remain a viable and practical  solution. And with the way these facilities are improving, it has become a better proposition.

Growing old must be devoted on enjoying life and the fulfillment of having succeeded in the journey. It should never be a sad phase, rather a celebration and a vacation – a reward for people who have gone through life and came out winning.