As your parent's advocate, with HIPAA you have the right to obtain records. [Part 1 of 2] Managing your own health care, much less a parent’s care, can quickly become complicated as health problems arise. When we’re young and healthy, an annual physical checkup, a few screening tests, a dental cleaning, and an eye exam are easy to manage over a year. But as I recently … [Read more...]
Mom Has Dementia And Sexuality Is Still In Play.
Wait, What? Why? Parents and sexuality. Here are two words that adult children don’t want to put together or acknowledge. Add to that the word dementia and you go from TMI to complete disbelief and feelings that are incredibly difficult to process. I had the good fortune to hear Rebekah Wilson of Aging Care Coach, LLC present on just this topic: Sexuality in Dementia. … [Read more...]
Senior Falls And Traumatic Brain Injury
The Hidden Epidemic? A senior fall, a broken hip, and a downward spiral from which there is no recovery. This scenario is well documented and universally understood as a risk for our elderly. But what about those small, unreported falls that become cumulative? Can they lead to Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI)? The answer is yes. The question is, why are small falls such a risk … [Read more...]
Hospice Care and Palliative Care: What’s the Difference?
You may have heard these terms before, but never fully understood: Hospice Care and Palliative Care, and what is the difference between the two? Palliative Care is appropriate for anyone seeking pain and symptom management. You can receive palliative care at any age and at any stage of illness; you can also have it along with curative treatment and it is not dependent on … [Read more...]
GEP, IEP, Part A, Part B: The Maze of Medicare Enrollment
Medicare General Enrollment Period: 1/1 - 3/31. While some people can qualify early for Medicare due to disability or certain health conditions, most new enrollees in Medicare are people aging in at 65. This can be a confusing time. Most people have never had to make the health insurance choices that Medicare requires. Although Medicare sends a “Medicare and You Handbook” … [Read more...]