The way I lived my life. I recently came across my dad’s Five Wishes Advance Directive. He used this legal document to plan and ensure his end-of-life wishes were known in the event he was unable to communicate. The person he’d named as first was himself. My sister-in-law followed, and I was third. My father didn’t shy away from tough conversations or hard decisions. He faced … [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...]
Disenrollment from Medicare Advantage Plans is possible between January 1 and February 14.
Healthcare after age 65 can be confusing and complex. During a short window of time, no matter where you live in the country, you can disenroll from an Advantage plan and return to traditional Medicare. Why would you want to disenroll from an Advantage Plan? According to Phoebe Shagan, RN, CCM of Reliable Health Solutions, LLC, it is often a case of “I just found out…” or … [Read more...]