I have always struggled with my weight. A recent class has helped me to fully understand the relationship between stress, cortisol and fat. In a nut shell, stress contributes to 80% of diseases including diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. And over the long term makes us fat. This Stress Level Barometer defines 5 levels of stress, and for me illustrated how often I … [Read more...]
Hospice, Who Pays for It?
Medicare is the Number One Payee for Hospice Care. Insurers that pay for Hospice care include: Medicare, Long Term Care Insurance, Private Pay, and in certain circumstances, Medicaid will pay for hospice. Here is the breakdown of insurers: (Jump to Lessons Learned) Medicare Over 90% of all hospice cases are covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit under Medicare Part A. … [Read more...]
The Two Biggest Misconceptions About Hospice
What Exactly is Hospice? My family recently lost a beloved member to cancer. The last days of my aunt’s life were spent at home with her family, under the guidance of a hospice agency. Hearing about their work and the support they gave to Aunt Mary Ellen and her family caregivers made me wonder, exactly what is hospice, who pays for it and how does it work? This first … [Read more...]
Caregivers Need to Set Boundaries
And not give into guilt. Like most people, I struggle with setting boundaries. It is especially hard with an aging parent who may feel vulnerable or frightened if you are not around. But setting boundaries with your parent, co-worker, or anyone in your life, is critical to the self-care that must be a high priority for caregivers. Request and expectations of others tug at … [Read more...]
How Caregivers Can Cope with Their Feelings as Parents Age
What feelings to expect at the first signs your elderly parents need help. Changes in your aging loved ones can be subtle at first. They start to forget appointments or names. They repeat the same story to you over and over again. You notice they are less organized, the house is messy, and their appearance maybe not be as put together. The realization sets in: “My aging … [Read more...]