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...]
Caregiving From a Distance? It’s All About Resources.
How to find local help you can trust. There is no “one size fits all” blueprint to caregiving for an aging loved one. Every family must look at time, money, and proximity to determine their plan. If you are caregiving from a distance there is a unique set of obstacles to overcome. Long distance care plans require local trusted resources and your parents’ willingness to accept … [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...]
Caregivers Don’t Go It Alone. Practical Tips On Asking For Help.
Say YES to everyone! My parents generation does not ask for help or share personal information easily. When I heard my mother tell someone on the phone there was nothing they could do to help while dad was in the hospital, I knew something had to change. (Jump to Lessons Learned) Dad's first hospital stay quickly proved that I could not do it alone. I was at the hospital by … [Read more...]