Understanding Medicare Part D. For over 40 years, Medicare offered no retail prescription drug coverage. Can you imagine? While Medicare Part B has always covered medications administered in a doctor’s office or hospital setting, just a few years ago our nation’s seniors often paid 100% out of pocket for their outpatient medications. It was not uncommon for people to … [Read more...]
Is It Signs of Dementia or Information Overload? Exercising Your Brain Will Help Keep It Fit.
Lifestyle Changes Can Guard Against Dementia. A poll taken in the UK shows that two thirds of people over the age of 50 fear they will develop dementia, while just one in ten said they were frightened about getting cancer. These statistics don’t surprise me, since I would be one of the two thirds in that poll. The number of times I walk into a room and forgot why I’m there … [Read more...]
Discharged From Rehab – Now What?
Leaving Rehab with a long list of equipment and lifestyle modifications – it’s overwhelming. Rehabilitation allows you to regain strength, manage a chronic illness, or relearn activities of daily living. Typically, you are not back to “normal” after your stay. Which is why a discharge care team starts planning your release almost the moment you enter the facility. … [Read more...]
Why the POLST conversation is THE conversation to request of your doctor.
POLST – The Final Advance Directive The POLST form (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) is a legal document designed to answer the question: “How do you want to live your life as you go through the process of dying?” This is a profound and important question, which makes it surprising that while 80% of patients would like to have this discussion with their doctors, … [Read more...]
DNR, DNI, DNH, POLST – The Alphabet Soup of Advance Directives
What is an Advance Directive? Advance Directive is a broad category of legal medical instructions for your healthcare. A Living Will, Health Care Proxy (Durable Power of Attorney for Health), Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR), Do Not Intubate (DNI), Do Not Hospitalize (DNH) and POLST are all types of advance directives. (Jump to Lessons Learned) Advance directive – This document … [Read more...]