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Welcome New Staff!
| Alberta Agbo
(Thanks Juliet S)
Linda Appiah-Kubby Joyce Ayensu (Thanks Stella) Matilda Owusu Mensah (Thanks Alberta) Anita Sali (Thanks Alberta) Faith Sibiya Nuelkie Tetteh (Thanks Juliet S) |
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"Happiness is the
by-product of an effort to make someone else happy."
~Gretta Brooker Palmer
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"Always let them think of you as singing
and dancing."
~Anita Brookner
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Join Our List
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Greetings!
Here at Always There Home Care, we are grateful you are slowing down to read our newsletter full of items that relate to home care, home health care, aging and eldercare, as well as some useful tips for daily living. Please enjoy in the spirit of community and cooperation in which this newsletter was sent.
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 Featured Article:
The Power of Positive Language
Lessons from Montessori for Alzheimer's Caregivers
By Tom and Karen Brenner
Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman to become a physician in Italy and the founder of the Montessori educational method, was also a pioneer in the use of positive language.
Her message to parents and teachers at first seems so simple,
"Instead of saying to a child, 'Don't be stupid, say,
'Please be wise.'
Instead of saying, 'Stop running!' say, 'Please walk.'"
When we use positive language, this one seemingly simple change from negative to positive, can change everything
in our lives. When we use of positive language changes a parent or teacher from being a nag, or a scold into a mentor, a coach. The expected results are the same; we expect children to try and be wise, to walk in the house, to be good people. With positive language, we demonstrate that we believe that children can achieve these results.
As with many universal truths, what seems so simple and so obvious is also difficult and profound. It is not easy to turn our language patterns around. It takes a lot of thought and even more effort to break the habits of a life time, but if we can just try being conscious of using positive language, we will begin to see very real differences in
our lives.
This is especially true when caring for someone who is living with Alzheimer's or other dementias. We use the Montessori Method as the foundation for the work we do with people who have Alzheimer's. Using positive language can make a huge difference in the lives of caregivers and the people they care for. When we work with someone who is living with dementia, we try to find the remaining strengths and spared abilities of that person. Building on these strengths and spared abilities, we can find ways to connect to that person, to reach people who sometimes seem unreachable.
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10 Things Medicare
Still Doesn't Pay For
Medicare will not pay for the long-term care needs of your aging parent. Surprised? Many people are. That's becauseMedicare is often confused with Medicaid, another health program for individuals and families with low incomes and few if any resources.Medicare (not Medicaid) is the coverage that your aging parent is most likely to have. That means that only by paying out of pocket can children of elderly or elderly themselves access each of the ten things below. This is important because your aging parent is likely to need one or even all of them at some point in the future.
What Medicare Still Doesn't Pay For
#1: Assisted Living Facilities. These facilities are usually privately owned and operated and the cost can be expensive. In a major city you can expect an assisted living facility to cost upwards of $4500 per month and this is just the entry-level cost. If your aging parent's needs change additional care is available on site, but be prepared to open your wallet.
#2: Home Maker Services. Most older adults want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. To do so many require assistance with tasks like making meals, keeping the home tidy and doing the laundry, for example. These daily tasks are considered by Medicare to be "home maker services" and are not a covered benefit.As a person ages, these services are often the first kind of assistance an older adult may need.
#3: Home Health Aides. "Home health aide" is the name given to the individual who would assist your aging parent with personal care (i.e. bathing, dressing, grooming, medication reminders, etc.). If your aging parent has mobility issues and/or is cognitively impaired, the services of a home health aide can often mean the difference between remaining at home vs. moving to a facility or nursing home. And here again, Medicare does not cover this kind of assistance. However, there is one exception to this rule. If your aging parent were homebound and already receiving skilled nursing care or physical therapy, then a home health aide's services would be covered for a limited amount of time.
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" Though no one can go back and make a
brand new start, anyone can start from now
and make a Brand New Ending"
~ Carl Bard
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Becoming "Long Term Aware"
(Part 2 of a 2 Part Series)
By: Kathy Ruane, CLU, CASL, CLTC
Long Term Care Advisor
New Series in Long Term Care Insurance
This is part 2 of a two part series on the often bewildering area of long term care insurance. We are proud to present these articles by a known expert in the field and hope our readers find them useful
Cancer survivors aren't eligible for long term care insurance-or are they? Being a cancer survivor does not automatically disqualify you. Many people who have a long term care insurance policy applied for coverage and were accepted subsequent to diagnosis and treatment. Every applicant is evaluated individually, as is every type of cancer. The type of cancer, the phase or stage, the type and length of treatment, the length of time since diagnosis and treatment, and your current health are among the factors the underwriters consider.
How do I find out if I can apply? If you have had cancer, speak to a long term care insurance agent/producer about your history. He or she will help determine if you are eligible to apply. For cancer survivors, as for everyone else, eligibility to apply does not guarantee that the underwriters will approve you; but finding out if you are eligible to apply is the first step in the process. The important truth is that having had cancer does not automatically exclude you from the option of long term care protection.
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KUDOS from Kelly
By Kelly McNamara
Stella Asante
Assuming the care of a long term (and much
loved) live in client V B following the abrupt permanent departure of her regular caregiver, can be an immeasurable challenge that very few can master. Assessing the current situation, respectfully suggesting changes to improve care and service, creating a warm and welcoming environment for the client and her friends, establishing new routines, while maintaining what is most important to the client, can be daunting to say the least. Yet Stella stepped into just such a situation, and
immediately set about improving all aspects of the client's life while maintaining the routines that were important to her. New adventures in dining, new field trips, more socializing, were all welcome changes. To do so while working hard to instill trust of the client in her care is a careful balancing act. Stella has risen to the challenge and recent very positive reports by the client following assessment visits bears out this success. Thanks for coming through for us Stella!
Antoinette Kahla
Caring for clients in facilities has become a specialty of Always There. Our caregivers earn the respect and affection of not only the client and family but also the gratitude of the staff, who they are there to support as well. Antoinette rose to a special challenge in assisting B.M. in adjusting to her new environment at the senior community, having moved across the country after selling her home and losing her husband. Antoinette understood what a difficult transition this was for the client as well as the family. She faced some challenging days with patience and grace. She also developed creative ways to help keep her client focused on her lovely new home and its many advantages. Thanks Antoinette for once again exceeding expectations for us as well as for the assisted living facility the client now calls home!
Lola Ballesteros
Yes, we know. Lola has become a fixture on this list. Not only does it make us so very proud of her, but also we have recently learned that her clients watch for her name in this column and celebrate with her! So here are extra kudos for both Lola and her loyal fans. Lola's skills as a caregiver and also trainer of new staff have been well documented here in past columns. Very few caregivers have honed these two skills equally well. Now, however Lola has also pitched in as extra office help during an especially busy period when research, organizing and other support work threatened to overwhelm us. Once again she came to the rescue, and directed her energy to reducing the piles of work in the office with ease and professionalism. Thanks, Lola for helping us out again ....and again..
Special thanks to all caregivers mentioned for their extra special care. They will all receive gift cards and our sincere appreciation! And again, from Regina and myself, THANK YOU!
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"The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping
with her."
~ Marcelene Cox
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Providers We Love
We are privileged to have received referrals from and be able to coordinate care with many Assisted Living facilities, rehab facilities, and Medicare Home Care and Hospice agencies. Our growth is in large part due to the trust the staff in these organizations have put in our caregivers. We are likewise impressed with them and we are committed to referring to them on a regular basis
Arbor Rose, Assisted Living, New Britain
Long a favorite facility of ours, Arbor Rose boasts a wonderful and caring group of staff, activity folks who keep life interesting for residents and a very welcoming environment for our pet therapy program. Our caregivers who are providing service for some residents at Arbor Rose have determined that Arbor Rose serves the best food and has the friendliest and most attentive dining staff of any facility in which they've worked. High praise indeed! Thanks to our colleagues at Arbor Rose for their continued support and trust in our caregivers. It is always a pleasure to work with all of you!
Seabury Active Living Retirement
Community, Bloomfield
One of Connecticut's first retirement communities, Seabury has grown impressively from its original facility. The sprawling campus now boasts several individual residences, from apartments to substantial single homes. Their memory care unit is superb. The surroundings provide lovely views in all seasons. An immense fitness facility, including a large pool promotes continued fitness of older adults. Seabury boasts an outstanding 85% of participation of its residents in the fitness facility. Seabury also has an innovative Life Care program and Seabury at Home service. Their home care program provides both Medicare as well as home private duty services for the community. And surrounding area. It is a privilege to work in co-operation with them.
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About Always There Home Care
Always There Home Care provides compassionate, dependable and professional one-on-one care for seniors who need assistance in the comfort of their homes or residential care communities. Services from highly qualified and trained caregivers range from companionship, meal preparation and incidental transportation to personal care, medication management and RN-directed case management. Available 7 days a week, services range from a few hours a day to 24-hour care.
Always There Home Care understands that every situation is unique and creates individualized care plans to help improve a client's quality of life.
Our caregivers are totally committed, highly qualified and carefully
selected individuals who are personally and thoroughly screened, bonded and
insured. Most are Certified Nurse Assistants or Home Health Aides. Most
importantly our caregivers are dependable and extraordinarily caring of others.
In addition to their previous experience, our caregivers receive continuous training
that includes dementia, hospice care, home safety, nutrition and other topics related
to seniors. These highly qualified and trained caregivers are ready to help you and
your loved ones with a variety of daily activities such as: Personal care / Meal planning and preparation Transportation to doctor appointments and other errands Caring companionship / Light housekeeping Medication reminders / Information and referral services Our personalized, nurse- supervised services are available 7 days a week and can range from a few hours a day to 24 hour and live in care.
For more information or service needs, call 24 hours a day at: 203-879-6675
or visit www.AlwaysThereHomeCare-CT.com
We are Always There! |
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