Elder Care Home Health Blog » Medicare

Navigating Senior Care Services – A Guide to Acronyms:

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:10 +0000

It is so difficult to understand people when they speak in letters rather than words. The medical profession and governmental organizations in particular seem to have their own language comprised of acronyms. This can be immensely frustrating to us civilians. Here is a guide to acronyms most having to do with Senior Care Services, Home Care, and some medical terms.

Acronyms and Abbreviations:

AAA: Area Agency on Aging

ABT: Arterial Blood Pressure

AC: Before meals

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act

ADC: Adult Day Care

ADHC: Adult Day Health Care (see ADC)

ADL’S: Activities of Daily Living (& see IADL)

AHCD: Advanced Health Care Directive

APS: Adult Protective Services

B&C: Board & Care Facility

CNA: Certified Nurses Assistant

Cap Dec: Capacity Declaration for Exclusive Informed Medical Consent

CCRC: Continuing Care Retirement Facility

CFAR: Center for Aging Resources

CFP: Certified Financial Planner

CFAR: Center for Aging Resources

CM: Care Manager or Case Manager

CSA: Certified Senior Adviser

COE: Conservator of the Estate

COP: Conservator of the Person

CONS: Conservatorship

C’TOR: Conservator

C’TEE: Conservatee

DAC: Disabled Adult Child Benefits or/ Disabled Adult Child

DD: Developmentally Disabled

DHS: Department of Health Services

DP: Discharge Planner

DPOAHC: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

DSM: Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

DSS: Department of Social Services

ESC: Eldercare Services Co-ordinator

FC: Family Caregiver

FID: Fiduciary

GAL: Guardian ad Litem

GCM: Geriatric case manager

HHA: Home Health Agency

HICAP: Health Insurance Couseling & Advocacy Program

HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act

HMO: Health Management Organization

IADL: Independent Activities of Daily Living (& see ADL)

ICF: Intermediate Care Facility

ICU: Intensive Care Unit

IMCU: Intermediate Medical Care Unit

IPU: Inpatient Unit

LC: Limited Conservatorship

PPN: Licensed Practical Nurse

LPS: Lanterman-Petris Short – Mental Health Conservatorship

LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse

MICU: Medical Intensive Care Unit

MMMNA: Minimum monthly maintenance need allowance

MMSE: Mini Mental Status Exam

NAPO: National Assn of Professional Organizers

NGA: National Guardians Association

OPG: Office of Public Guardian

PA: Physicians Assistant

PCP: Primary Care Physician

PF: Professional Fiduciary

PFAC: Professional Fiduciaries Assn of California

PDN: Private Duty Nurse

PDR: Physician’s Deck Reference

PHI: Personal Health Information

PICU: Pulmonary Intensive Care Unit

PPF: Professional Private Fiduciary

POA: Power of Attorney

P.O.L.S.T.: Physicians Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment

PT: Physical Therapy

RW: Respite Worker

RCF: Residential Care Facility

RCFE: Residential care facility for the Elderly

RCU: Respiratory Care Unit

RN: Registered Nurse

RNA: Registered nursing assistant or Rehabilitation Nursing Assistant

ROM: Range of motion

SCU: Special Care Unit

SDRC: San Diego Regional Center

SLMB: Special Low-income Medicare beneficiary

SNF: Skilled nursing facility

SNT: Special Needs Trust

SS: Social Security

SSA: Social Security Administration

SSI: Supplemental Security Income

SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance

SSP: State Supplemental Payment – augments SSI

T’tee: Trustee

USPHA: United States Public Health Admin

VA: Veterans Affairs

W&I: Welfare and Institutions Code

Read more: http://www.elder-care-services.com/blog/2011/11/06/Navigating-Senior-Care-Services-Part-1.aspx

Your Aging Parents Have A Personal Emergency Response System – Do They Test It Monthly?

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:30 +0000

For Every Senior Who Has an Emergency Response Button, You Must Test it Monthly to Make Sure it Works and Keeping You Protected.

It is so gratifying to see more and more clients who already have PERS button on their wrist or around their neck—especially when they live alone. We recommend to all clients and patinets to get such a system so that should they fall, help is immediately available by pressing a button.

The Pros of such a device are multiple:

*After a fall, limited waiting on floor, often in pain, for help to arrive.

*Your parent is known to the company and their vital info is stored, unlike with a 9-1-1 call.

*Emergency contacts (family members, sons, daughters) are notified of the incident and whether your parent is taken to the hospital.

*It can also be used as a security system for added peace of mind.

We at Boca Home Care Services believe it is a great gift that parents can give to their out of state children in particular. Often Adult children worry about their parent’s safety and the “what ifs”.

Yesterday I met a new client who has Congestive Heart Failure, just came out of the hospital, uses a walker and is feeling very weak. She showed me her PERS and said she hasn’t worn it in awhile even though she pays for it. However, this last hospital stay has scared her and now she won’t go without it.

I asked whether she tests it every month. She didn’t know what I meant. I asked does she press the button once a month to make sure it is working and that a representative from the call center responds to her signal? She said “no” she “hadn’t thought about that”. So we tested it, she pressed it 4 times and nothing happened, no phone call to check what the matter is.

She was stunned, got her personal phone book and called the company and left a message. She learned her lesson! It is a lesson I hope everyone with a Personal Emergency Response System will learn. The button is only good if it connects to help on the other end. Like smoke detectors and changing batteries, it is a good idea to press the button every month and test to make sure it is working in the event you do have an emergency. The companies expect such tests of their equipment.

Transitioning from Hospital (or Rehab Center) to Home Successfully

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:12 +0000

How to Transition Successfully from Hospital to Home

Hospital re-admissions are a scrooge of the health care system and costing huge amounts of taxpayer money. Soon hospitals across the U.S. will be penalized for an avoidable re-admission of each patient. This new tact will hopefully work towards lowering the re-admission rate. Since the hospital staff cannot really follow the person home, the Discharge Planner will have to co-ordinate ever closer with the patient, family member and Home Care services: both Medicare agencies and private duty companies.

A near seamless transition from hospital (or Rehab Center) to home takes concentrated efforts of communication and coordinating skills. A plan must be well thought out, preparations made and thought given to how an elderly, recuperating person can follow through on all the orders within the discharge plan.

Leaving the hospital no matter how serious the precipitating event, has some degree of difficulty for elderly patients. We know that mental attentiveness, including memory can be adversely affected after discharge. It is important that he or she has some support system in place to help manage this transition.

Even after a short hospital stay, the patient is likely discharged with a “To Do” list which includes new medications and doses (pharmacy stop), possibly medical equipment to be ordered and delivered, follow up doctor appointments, medical care instructions let alone needing to catch up on being away from home: mail, grocery shopping, rescheduling of other appointments, laundry and so forth. Remember, these responsibilities are given to an elderly, possibly ill person who just came out of the hospital!

Therefore the home care plan becomes critical. Boca Home Care Services and Boca Home Care are uniquely equipped to expertly complete your discharge plan. Most likely you will receive some medical services through Medicare Home Health; a visiting Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, bath visit to start. The Medicare agency will order the medical equipment which will be set up by a technician.

Optimally, there will be a well spouse, family member or friend to be there the first day and overnight. Additionally, hiring a home care aide will ensure a safer transition home by meeting you at the hospital or facility, packing up your things, taking you home, picking up food, medications and seeing that you are safely cared for at home. A home health aide will also be able to assist you with:

Bathing,

Dressing

Transferring and walking

Light housekeeping

Cooking,

Linen changes

Running errands

Medication prompts

Accompanying & driving you to your follow up doctor appointments

The first few days or couple of weeks home from the hospital are when most people benefit from in home assistance. Learning a new medication regimen, eating properly and keeping doctor appointments are keys to positive outcome. Often care is scaled back after the first week. The extra help often makes the difference between a successful transition home and complications resulting in a re-admission to the hospital.

Does Medicare Cover That?

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:36:36 +0000

We have addressed this matter previously but it is still our # 1 question regarding private duty home health care services.

Private duty care is either hourly or live in care. The caregiver will assist with personal “Activities of Daily Living” care such as: bathing, dressing, transferring (getting up form bed or chair), toileting and feeding. Additionally, a caregiver will cook, shop, escort to appointments, do laundry, change the linen, provide companionship, give medication prompts and provide respite care for the well spouse or caregiver.

These services are paid through a Long Term Care Policy or out of pocket; Not Medicare.

Medicare almost by definition covers visits (not staying with) by a Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, and a CNA- for a bath visit. The “skilled” medical professional comes in, does what is needed and goes onto the next patient’s home.

We at Boca Home Care Services try our best to dovetail the schedule of private services with the Medicare services through Boca Home Care –whenever possible to assist clients. We are also able to work with Hospice in home services to compliment their schedules.

We wish Medicare covered everything but as things in the U.S. currently stand Medicare covers Medical Home Health at 100% but not more extensive home care and safety.

Need For Medicare Home Health

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:00:57 +0000

How do I know I need home health care through MEDICARE?

If it is difficult or impossible for you to leave your home and you need a Registered Nurse (RN), physical, occupational, or speech therapist to visit you, you’re in luck as this is part of your Medicare Home Health benefit. A doctor will have to write the order before services can begin. You are also entitled to visits by a Medical Social Worker and a health aide for bath visits.

Reasons or situations in need of skilled home visits by a Registered Nurse for an evaluation:

You’ve been diagnosed with a new disease or ailment.
The doctor has changed your medications or ordered a new prescription.
Your current health situation has worsened.
You are post surgery or have had any type of incision or cut requiring “Wound Care”.
A marked change in either cognitive ability or emotional response.

Why you would need a Physical or Occupational Therapist home visit?

If you are experiencing chronic pain or limited mobility (getting up from a bed or chair and walking)
If you are physically weak, experiencing low level of endurance or tolerating exercise.
Having trouble managing personal care – bathing, dressing, toileting.
You have poor balance or diagnosed with Vertigo – basically at risk for falling or a history of falling.

A Speech therapist would come to your home if you needed help regaling speech or are having trouble swallowing.

A Medical Social Worker would come to your home to assess your environment, eligibility for other services, tell you about resources and discuss emotional difficulties like depression among other things.

Many people believe that you can only have Medicare home services if you have been discharged from the hospital or a rehabilitation center. This may be the most common uses of this 100 % covered benefit but anyone Medicare member who can benefit from these services can ask their physician about it and ask for an order to be written so an assessment can be made and a treatment plan begun.