Care By Faith

09/06/2022

The 2023 Home Health Proposed Rule was released by CMS. This will require significant advocacy on our part to convince CMS to change direction.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its FY 2023 home health proposed payment rule late Friday.  It comes with a

09/01/2022

“Grandma, how do you cope with pain?”
“With your hands, honey. If you do it with your mind instead of relieving the pain, it toughens even harder.”
“With your hands grandma?”
“Yes, our hands are the antennae of our soul. If you move them; knitting, cooking, painting, playing or sinking them into the ground, you send care signs to the deepest part of you and your soul lights up because you’re paying attention to it. Then signs of pain will no longer be necessary.”
“Hands are really that important?”
“Yes my daughter. Think of babies: they start to know the world through the touch of their hands. If you look at the hands of old people, they tell you more about their life then any body part. Everything that is done by hand is said to be done with the heart. Because it’s really like this: hands and heart are connected. Masseurs know well: when they touch someone with their hands, they create a deep connection. It is precisely from this connection that healing comes. Think of lovers: when they touch their hands, they make love in a more sublime way.”
“My hands grandma.... how long I haven’t used them like this!”
“Move them, my love. Begin to create with them and everything within you will begin to move. The pain will not pass away. And instead what you do with them will become the most beautiful masterpiece and it won’t hurt anymore. Because you have been able to transform its essence..

~Elena Bernabe ~

Artist Credit : Claudia Tremblay

09/01/2022

https://dailycaring.com/6-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-heat-stroke-in-seniors/?utm_source=DailyCaring&utm_campaign=7567e82e58-DC_Email_2021-07-13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_57c250b62e-7567e82e58-123703578&fbclid=IwAR3bs2K-vXD759dJESKoCAnD8_EACBasQB7n13aIt_WgBsFhgHCZrjYKDlQ

Aging causes many seniors to have a harder time falling asleep & staying asleep. Get tips that improve rest and well-being by solving senior sleep problems.

09/01/2022

You might think that you were done with shots once you finished your childhood immunizations, but a number of vaccines also are recommended for older people. Here are six reasons older adults should get their vaccines.

09/01/2022

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular exercise is one of the most important things older adults can do for their health. As we age, exercising is a key ingredient to staying healthy, maintaining independence and living longer. If you are a senior, or a caregiver of an older adult, and you would like to start an exercise routine, where do you start?
The National Institute on Aging recommends relating your goals to the following four categories of exercise:

1. Endurance – exercises that improve the heart, lungs and circulatory system
2. Strength – exercises that build muscles in the arms, legs, back and hips
3. Balance – exercises that prevent falls, which are common in seniors
4. Flexibility – exercises to help you move freely

09/01/2022

Does it seem like your elderly dad is always angry? Does he argue with news commentators, yell at other drivers, or suddenly become negative? Are you wondering if this is just a normal part of aging?
Negative emotions such as sadness and anger are natural, but anger in particular can be unhealthy. Increased anger could be a sign of a physical, emotional or cognitive health problem. If you are noticing an increase in anger in your loved one, schedule a visit with their doctor.

09/01/2022

Why would you modify or remodel your home to age in place?
Making modifications to your home can:
- Increase the safety of your home.
- Give you greater freedom to live independently.
- Provide peace of mind for family caregivers.

09/01/2022

The risk of dementia increases with age and family history. Managing certain things early on in your life can help reduce your risk of onset. The following are three things that have been shown to reduce your risk of dementia:

1. Get enough sleep. Trouble sleeping is linked to memory, thinking and mood disorders. Deep rest makes for a sound mind that’s clear of the brain fog that comes with sleep disorders.
2. Maintain good vision. New studies suggest an increased incidence of dementia in older individuals with untreated vision problems.
3. Manage stress. Find ways to release stress and keep your blood pressure at a safe level. Things like exercise, tai chi, yoga, meditation, music, communing with nature and other practices can help you chill.

09/01/2022

For older adults aging solo, some of the toughest decisions surround these questions: “Who will stand in for me and make decisions on my behalf if I am unable?” and “Who will keep an eye out on my finances when I am incapable?” Carol Marak, author of “Solo and Smart: The Roadmap for a Supportive and Secure Future,” suggests asking yourself these eight questions when determining if you want to appoint family or friends to be an executor, financial adviser or health care proxy.
1. Do they have time?
2. Will they outlive you?
3. Do they have a strong character to insist that the health care team follow your wishes?
4. Do they know how to manage investments?
5. Are they familiar with valuing and selling or transferring property?
6. Do they have experience with paying debts and liquidating assets?
7. Do they know how to manage cash flow needs?
8. Will you compensate them?

09/01/2022

Are you caring for a loved one? Being a family caregiver, while rewarding, can be challenging and frustrating at times. Do you relate to any of these top 10 family caregiver pet peeves?
1 - Most of the caregiving load falls on me.
2 - I’m too exhausted to know what to ask for!
3 - Caregiving costs a lot of money.
4 - My loved one and I butt heads about care.
5 - Friends and family from out of town criticize my caregiving!
6 - My loved one is living with a chronic illness, and friends have ghosted us.
7 - Friends often ask how my loved one is doing—but what about me?
8 - People often ignore my loved one and talk to me instead.
9 – I’m often left out of the loop.
10 - People say, “You are such a saint—I could never do what you do!”

09/01/2022

Here are five vaccines recommended by doctors for older adults. Some are new when we reach a certain age, and others are boosters of previous vaccines we likely received when we were younger.

09/01/2022

Remote monitoring for your elderly loved one is a great option when you can’t be there every day. From monitoring for falls to detecting wandering in someone with dementia, today’s technology offers many choices to help ensure a senior’s well-being.

https://www.rightathome.net/blog/remote-senior-monitoring-systems

Seniors raised on “The Jetsons” and “Star Trek” have lived to see some of the imagined technologies of those popular works of fiction come true.