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JEFF GOLL
TRIANGLE ELDER CARE NAVIGATION
Support Services for Seniors and Their Families
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Aging Well Digest
Useful, interesting, and informative news for seniors and their families
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Dear Friends:
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Welcome to the September 2011 edition of the Aging Well Digest. I trust you will be able to find something useful, informative, or interesting in this issue. I will continue to be on the lookout for the best and most helpful information on issues related to aging that I find each month and I encourage you to contact me if there are topics you would especially like me to investigate.
In this issue I have 1) a link to the video of a TED talk given by Bill Thomas, one of the founders of The Eden Alternative, and a pioneer in the culture change movement in long term care , 2) a link to a filter that allows you to compare hospitals in terms of heart attack, hearth failure, and pneumonia outcomes ,
3)a reminder that Medicare open enrollment dates are coming up and the dates have changed, and 4) a video clip from the movie"End-of-Life Discussion"
If you are looking to get information on a particular nursing home, this Medicare site has information on health inspections, staffing, prevalence of bedsores, percentages receiving flu shots, overall quality ratings and more.
Of course I am here to work with you if you need more personalized help with any of these issues or other aging related concerns. Your first consultation is free in order for us to determine if and how I can help you.
Thanks, Jeff
triangleeldercarenavigation.com |
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What Are Old People For?
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 Bill Thomas has been a pioneer in both the practical arena of Nursing Home culture change ( Eden Alternative) and in thinking about the culture of aging in general. In his book, What Are Old People For?, Thomas describes what he thinks are the flaws in our perceptions of elderhood and suggests healthier, more life affirming understandings of aging. His view is that that seniors should not be judged by the competencies of adulthood but rather against appropriate developmental abilities and goals that are unique to them. In fact, Thomas suggests that the adult mind is not mature enough to excel at many of the competencies the elder mind is good at. You can find a more detailed accounting of his ideas at my blog, Aging Well / Elder Care Navigation .
Below is a link to a TED talk delivered by Bill Thomas in June of this year that gives a taste of his thinking.
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Comparing Hospital Outcomes
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Below is a link to a site that can help you evaluate specific hospitals in your area. Compiled from information collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it provides a filter that compares hospital outcomes, in terms of death and readmission rates, for heart attacks, heart failure, and pneumonia.
Hospital Comparisons
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Medicare Open Enrollment | 
The Medicare Open Enrollment period is coming up soon. That is the time when any existing Medicare beneficiary can review, alter, or enhance his or her current benefit choices. In particular, a beneficiary can change their drug plan or consider a Medicare Advantage plan. Its also a good time to review whether a Medicare approved supplemental health insurance plan would be beneficial. Below is a link to a Medicare document that, although lengthy, can answer most Medicare questions you may have. Remember, your plan may have changed significantly since last year. Think of this as a check up.
Medicare Document
Below is the link to the Medicare website which can help you compare the various plans and choices in detail.
The NC state SHIIP office ( Seniors' Health Insurance and Information Program) can answer your Medicare questions (919-807-6900) and there are free SHIIP counselors at county Senior Centers as well.
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End of Life Discussions
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Below is a link to an end of life discussion between a physician and his patient filmed by the Institute of Gerontology and the University of Georgia for the Georgia Geriatric Education website.
End of life discussions can be difficult for lay people and professionals alike. We need all the positive models and examples we can get.
End of Life Discussion video
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Services Offered
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-Housing Transitions / Coaching
-Medicare Counseling
(all Medicare Counseling is free of charge)
-Daily Money Management
-Executor Tasks
- Family Communication
-Education and Patient Rights
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Archived articles by issue and topic
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- Health insurance claim denial
- Hospital shift change - The most frequent medical error - Senior fraud schemes
- "Observation only" hospital stays
- Sleep issues in assisted living facilities
- Family mediation and senior issues
- Creativity and aging
- Sex, condoms, seniors
- Senior friendly products
- Common diagnostic tests
- Global dementia projections
- Beers list criteria
- Pre-authorization delays
- NC SHIIP
- Senior Pharmassist
- Poor nursing home pay
- The CLASS act
- Falls and Fractures
- Creative advantages
- Are we safer now? (hospital safety)
- Trauma center bias
- Nursing home practices
- Revocable Trust review
- Hospital discharge
- Home health agencies
- Geriatric MD shortage
- Bereavement counseling
- Hospital Re-admissions
- For-Profit Nursing Care Homes
- Reverse Mortgage Councilors
- Home Safety Checklist
- Health Care Literacy
- National Patient Advocacy Foundation
- 10 Ways you Get Smarter as You Age
- Driving Errors and Aging Drivers
Issue # 10
Most Drugs Don't Work for Most Patients
Six Steps to a Successful LTC Transition
Falls and Their Prevention
The Need for "At Home" Services
Issue #11
Hospital Safety Video
The Cost of Caregiving
The Hospital to Nursing Home Revolving Door
VA vs. Medicare Drug Price Comparison
Issue #12
Criminal Records in Nursing Homes
Consistent Assignment in LTC
The High Cost of Poor Nursing Care
The Culture Change Movement in LTC
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While I hope that this digest will contain something useful, interesting, or informative for you in every monthly edition, I don't want to burden the inbox of anyone who would prefer not to receive it. If you would rather not get this email digest again, please just click on unsubscribe at the bottom of this page.
Alternatively, if you would like to send this digest to someone, just click on Forward email at the bottom of the page. Also, let me know if there are any topics you would like to have me include in the Aging Well Digest.
I intend to provide coverage on a wide range of senior issues so that even if you are a professional in the field of aging, I hope you can learn something in every issue.
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"It takes a long time to become young."
Pablo Picasso
"With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come."
Merchant of Venice 1.1.80
photography by Jeff Goll |
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