|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 2009 Your Partners in Home Care Volume 2, Issue 3
In This Issue HCP Update Senior Browsers Sharpen and Strengthen Their Brains
HCP Profile Judy Garf, OTR
Article of the Month Thoughts to Share With Our Field Staff
Mental Health Transitioning Home From the Hospital
A Note from Melanie West
Swine Flu: the Evolving Pandemic
Suggested Reading Thank You Quick Links Contact Us!
Email us
Linda Jones, RN
CEOJulianne Stroud
Director of EducationMedical Social Work Manager
Medical Director
Dear Friends & Relations,
Lately the question on everyone's mind is how to insure all Americans and reduce costs? Hopefully the solution to this puzzle will arise soon from legislators working together to overhaul the current health care system. Each plan proposed from the following committees have similarities with common goals but nothing finalized. The committees are The House Democrats; Senate Health, Economics, Labor and Pensions Committee; Senate Finance Committee; The House Republicans and Obama’s Campaign Proposal. The plans' coverage ranges from 95% to 100% of Americans, excluding illegal immigrants.
Each plan’s cost differentiates from unknown to $600 million over ten years to $1.6 trillion over ten years. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid with $600 billion in unspecified new taxes include new levies on upper-income Americans. Employers must provide insurance to their employees or pay a penalty; certain small businesses are exempt depending on how much the government ends up paying for workers' coverage. $300 billion in revenue is proposed from a requirement for employers to pay into the Treasury for employees who get their insurance through public programs. Individuals will be required to have insurance enforced through tax penalty with hardship waivers.
Subsidies will be available for those with annual income from 100% up to 400% of poverty. Insurers wouldn't be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. A new National Health Insurance Exchange would be open to individuals and, initially, small employers; it would be expanded to large employers over time.
Another new government run public plan would be to compete with private insurers. The plan would be run by the government and doctors and hospitals would be paid based on what private insurers now pay. The Senate Finance Committee is looking at a compromise that would instead create nonprofit member-owned co-ops to compete with private insurers.
No new taxes are proposed from the House Republicans plan but reducing Medicare and Medicaid fraud is imminent. Also there are no mandates for individuals or employers, rather employers are encouraged to “opt-out” rather than “opt-in” for offering health coverage. Tax credits are offered to "low- and modest-income" Americans. People who aren't covered through their employers but buy their own insurance are allowed to take a tax deduction; low-income retirees, younger than 65 would be offered assistance. Insurers would have to allow children to stay on their parents' plan through age 25. No government run public plan and no new purchasing exchange is proposed. Health savings accounts and flexible spending plans would be strengthened. People eligible for Medicaid would be allowed to use the value of their benefit to purchase a private plan if they prefer.
President Obama’s campaign proposed all children and now-uninsured adults covered. Costs are estimated as high as $1.6 trillion over 10 years, proposed cuts within the health care system and raising taxes on households making more than $250,000 annually, with large employers required to cover their employees or contribute to the costs of a new government-run plan.
Insurers participating in a new health exchange would have to offer packages at least as generous as a new public plan. All insurers would be prohibited from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and would have to cover children through age 25 on family plans. A new public plan would have offered comprehensive insurance similar to that available to federal employees. Insurance will be chosen through a new National Health Insurance Exchange where individuals could buy the new public plan or qualified private plans.
What those of us in health care know is that home care is the most cost effective kind of care. What we provide in the home far outweighs any kind of institutionalized care. Paying for preventative care would ultimately decrease the cost of advanced symptomatic care for our most common diseases. We must, however, stop the abuse of our Medicare system. Right now we are waiting to reach mid-August for realistic confirmation that the proposed tax plans are indeed dead and if all Americans will be insured through government sponsored public policy plans. Stay tuned....
Joyfully,
Linda Jones, RN
Owner, Health Care Partners, Inc.
HCP Update: Senior Browsers Sharpen and Strengthen Their Brains
by Julianne Stroud, RN, Director of Education New research has uncovered another benefit from the Internet revolution: “web surfing” enhances the functioning of middle-aged and older brains, helping to retard the slowing down of brain activity associated with advancing age and browsing the Internet stimulates the brain better than just reading books.
The study conducted by University of California Los Angeles researchers involved 24 adults, ages 55 to 78. No one among the participants had dementia or any other neurological condition and they all had similar educational levels. One half of the group searched the Internet at least once a day, while the other half used it only once a month or never. The most noteworthy finding was that searching the Internet engages the neural network and circuitry of the brain on a scale larger than in reading — but this was significant only when there was prior experience with browsing. In short, the more experience in Internet searching, the greater the degree of engagement of the brain. Brain activity was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans on two separate activities: while reading text (formatted to look like a book and displayed on a computer monitor) and while performing web searches. The researchers found when both groups were reading, the same areas of the brain were stimulated involving brain regions that control language, reading, memory and visual activity. But the group that regularly went browsing on the web showed two times the brain activity when they went on a new Internet search. The most active regions during the search activity involved the frontal lobes, temporal lobes and cingulate areas, which are involved in complex reasoning and decision making.
Many previous studies have found that people who continue to engage their brains in mind-stimulating activity, even crossword or Sudoku puzzles, show better abilities at preserving cognitive functions and overall improvements in brain health. These findings suggest that older people can continue to learn as brain sensitivity has not deteriorated but only needs regular stimulation - so browse regularly, at least once a day!
Email: jstroud@healthcarepartnersinc.com
Ms. Judy Garf, Occupational Therapist Registered
Name: Judy Garf, OTR
Born: Detroit, Michigan. I grew up downriver.
Childhood Dream: To go to college and be successful.
Graduated: Taylor Center High, 1973 and Eastern Michigan University, 1978
Joined HCP: March 2005
Passion: My family, being with family and friends.
Greatest job demand: It depends on the day! Right now it is the transition from paper to computer. I’ve been doing home care for so long on paper; I often say I have a love/hate relationship with the computer. The worst thing that would happen before would be my pen would run out of ink, now I need tech support but I don’t miss the paper shuffle though.
Greatest impact in your life: Meeting my husband and the birth of my children.
Greatest invention ever: The Internet.
What makes your heart soar? I love being with family and seeing that my kids are successful. Having a circle of friends that I am grateful for. All couples that have been together a long time, a lot of sharing, give and take and we really enjoy each other’s company. I have wonderful parents and brothers and sisters-in-law that all get along really good and we’re all married and with kids, it adds up to over 248 years of marriage. It’s the gratefulness of that which makes my heart soar to have a great family and friends and being with them.
Email: jmgarf@yahoo.com
THOUGHTS TO SHARE WITH OUR FIELD STAFF
by Tom Barbas, Spiritual Care
Sometimes I think about the heavy work loads of our nurses, therapists and others who work directly with patients, about paperwork, Medicare regulations and other “side” requirements necessary to our work. As important and necessary as they are, these requirements can seem to get in the way and make ministering to our patients seem a little more difficult.
This leads me to that old joke: when you’re up to your hips in alligators, sometimes it’s hard to remember that you came here to drain the swamp.
But it helps a lot if we remember to see ourselves as HEALERS. We are not mechanics. A mechanic fixes things. A healer sees the patient as a whole person and helps the patient heal her or himself.
The famous psychiatrist Dr. Carl Hammerschlag, says, “A healer (looks) beyond a patient’s pathology and can help them see their strengths and mobilize them to move beyond their limitations.”
He advises healers to craft a healing experience in which both the patient and the healer are totally involved. He reminds us, “Healers are NOT dispassionate observers in the healing process.”
To me, that means, among other things, to allow myself to be the patient’s confidant if the patient wants to share some non-medical concerns, to keep my “antennae” up to see if intervention by our social workers or others is called for, to encourage the patient to communicate with others as much as possible, to not be reluctant to join in if the patient wants someone to pray with, to advise patients that keeping their minds active is part of their healing and to be constantly life-affirming.
The patient’s total well-being is my real concern, isn’t it?
Email: tombarbas@aol.com
TRANSITIONING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL
by Joanne Corbo Cruz, MSW, LMSW
Whether you have experienced your loved one being hospitalized for the first time or for the twelfth-time, it’s not something that one looks forward to. Being prepared for admission and discharge will make the transition home much less challenging. Start thinking about the need for continuation of care and gather necessary resources. Avoid last minute issues and start planning for your loved one’s discharge on the day of their admission into the hospital.
Keep these questions in mind before your loved one goes home:
Will skilled home care be needed?
Ability to do activities of daily living?
Will a skilled nursing rehab facility be necessary after the hospital?
What about meal preparation?
Any cognitive issues?
Ability to remember and to administer medication properly?
Is counseling for depression and being homebound a consideration?
If so, discuss the following resources with the discharge planner ahead:
skilled home care
private duty nursing
in-home counseling
meals on wheels resources
assisted living considerations
local Area Agency on Aging resources for the caregiver
medic-alert information
Make sure your questions are written down in a notepad and ask questions confidently. No question is a dumb question! Just ask!
Being prepared way before your loved one’s discharge aids in reducing stress, frustration and results in a satisfactory hospital stay and discharge transition to home care for the patient and the caregiver. For more information visit the links at the bottom of the newsletter.
Email: jcruz1@healthcarepartnersinc.com
Sunrise Caregiver Boot Camp
by Melanie West, MBA, MT (ASCP)
Administrator/Chief Operating Officer
Health Care Partners is a proud sponsor of the Sunrise Assisted Living Caregiver Boot Camp to be presented this summer at several of the Sunrise Assisted Living residences in the metropolitan Detroit Area and Grand Rapids. Many of us at Health Care Partners are also volunteers with the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), so we support this event enthusiastically because of our commitment to educate family caregivers about caring for people who are ill.
The Caregiver Boot Camp is the idea of Sunrise’s Linda Rose, Area Sales Manager. She recognized the need for family members and friends to learn more about how to provide care for their chronically ill loved ones. Ms. Rose has planned a three hour long program covering such topics as Organizing Legal Documents, Care Giving Basics, and Caregiver Community Resources. The program includes lots of very valuable information that caregivers need to know in order to provide quality care for elderly, chronically ill, or disabled persons. In addition, people will learn about the medical services that are available in the home so the patient does not always have to be transported outside the home with the caregiver taking time off work.
I encourage you to take some time and register for one of these Caregiver Boot Camps if you are caring for a loved one. It certainly will be worth your time. Here are the dates and times of the Sunrise Assisted Living Caregiver Boot Camp programs to be presented this summer.
July 23, 2009 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm Sunrise of Bloomfield Hills
6790 Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
248-858-7200
August 1, 2009 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Sunrise of Clarkston
5700 Water Tower Place
Clarkston, MI 48346
248-625-0500
August 2, 2009 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Sunrise of Bloomfield
2080 South Telegraph Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
248-972-0800
August 4, 2009 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Sunrise of Troy
6870 Crooks Road
Troy, MI 48098
248-293-1200
August 8, 2009 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Sunrise of Grosse Pointe Woods
21260 Mack Avenue
313-343-0600
August 11, 2009 11:30 am to 2:30 pm The Fountains at Franklin
28301 Franklin Road
Southfield, MI 48034
248-353-2810
August 13, 2009 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Sunrise of Shelby Township
46471 Hayes Road
Shelby Township, MI 48315
586-532-9559
August 16, 2009 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Sunrise of Farmington Hills
29681 Middlebelt Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-538-9200
August 18, 2009 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Sunrise of Rochester
500 East University Drive
Rochester, MI 48307
248-601-9000
August 22, 2009 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Sunrise of West Bloomfield
7005 Pontiac Trail
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
248-738-8101
August 22, 2009 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Sunrise Cascade
3041 Charlevoix Drive, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616-942-7200
Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn more about Care Giving!!
Email: mwest@healthcarepartnersinc.com
Swine Flu: The Evolving Pandemic
by Pedro V. Caing, MD
Medical Director, Health Care Partners, Inc.
At the end of June, U.S. health officials reported the swine flu virus infected as many as 1 million Americans including 3,065 hospitalizations and 127 deaths. The new flu virus affects the young (average age 12) and adults (average age 37) but it is deadliest to people age 65 and over, accounting for more than 2% of deaths among the infected elderly. Pre-existing health conditions contribute to the severity of the illness: 16% had diabetes, 11% had chronic heart disease, and 12% had immune system problems, one in three of hospitalized patients had asthma.
This novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV, informally known as swine flu) first appeared last April 2009 in Mexico and quickly spread to California and Texas. It is believed that this milder form virus is genetically a remnant or a continuation of the 1918 pandemic that killed 500 million people worldwide, including 600,000 in the United States. However, unlike the swine flu epidemic in 1976, exposure to pigs is not a risk factor for the current S-OIV virus infection. The Center for Disease Control has confirmed swine flu cases in 44 states while the World Health Organization reported cases in 30 countries.
Reported symptoms are: Cough, fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, runny nose, chills and muscle aches. Over half of the patients had nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea - symptoms that distinguishes it from seasonal influenza. This made the experts believe that the virus may also be transmitted via the stools in addition to the more common droplet or respiratory spread. The incubation period ranges from 2-7 days. The severe illness and deaths associated with infection are mostly from secondary complications, including primary viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia and flare-up of underlying chronic conditions.
Two antiviral drugs, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) have been found to be effective against S-OIV influenza. Antibiotics may be added to treat complications of bacterial infection. Otherwise healthy patients with uncomplicated fever from the flu do not require anti-viral treatment.
Hand-washing is the most important measure in prevention along with wearing a mask to reduce viral transmission. The vaccine for the new flu virus will be ready in September after tests are completed for safety and efficacy. Health Care Partners professional nurses caring for high-risk, home-bound patients are committed to provide rapid dissemination of information about the nature of the disease, its prevention and treatment, ask them for advice.
Dr. Pedro V. Caing is the Medical Director of Health Care Partners, Inc. He is an active staff member of Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, maintains a private practice in Internal Medicine at 3735 Monroe Street, Dearborn, MI 48124. telephone: 313-277-6560, email caing62740@comcast.net.
Author, Mary Theresa Vasquez, RN
An inspirational story of a daughter's commitment to do all she could for the mother who raised and loved her. The journey Mary T. Vasquez presents to readers is one nourished by the great qualities of faith, love, patience, and family.
Ms. Vasquez is also a volunteer member of the National Family Caregiver Association, (NFCA), CCAN, a Caregiver Community Action Network, and its representative for the Northern Virginia area.
Currently, the NFCA is launching a Family Caregiver Stamp Campaign and Ms. Vasquez is a co-chairperson. This campaign is a letter writing campaign and or signature petition to the Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee c/o Stamp Development for the U.S. Postal Service to recognize all family caregivers on a US postage stamp. The required amount of signatures and/or letters is one million. Please click on the letter below to assist in this campaign. Feel free to copy this letter & distribute to your family and friends and mail to Terry for count. She is happy to mail your letter to the Postal Service. The only requirements are name, city and state. The petition can also be signed online at www.thefamilycaregiver.org.
CLICK HERE FOR PDF: 2009 CAREGIVER STAMP.pdf
Thank you for your interest & your assistance with this very important project-
TO RECOGNIZE FAMILY CAREGIVERS ON A U.S. POSTAGE STAMP!
Send to co-Chairs, Caregiver Stamp Campaign:
Mary Theresa Vasquez, RN or Jane Cortez
317 N. St.Asaph St. 18000 W. Nine Mile, Ste. 400
Alexandria, VA 22314 Southfield, MI 48075
Email: terry16900@aol.com Email: jcortez@healthcarepartnersinc.com
Stay Cool!
by Jane Cortez, Executive Administrative Assistant
Older adults and those with disability are at a higher risk of experiencing heat-related illness. Existing health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and auto immune disease can heighten vulnerability. Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can also place a person at increased risk due to the inability to sweat by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and by certain heart and blood pressure drugs.
High temperatures can place abnormal stress on a person's body. When body temperatures rise even just a few degrees, individuals may experience muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion, and lethargy. This can result in dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and the most severe - heat stroke. Heat stroke can be life threatening and immediate emergency medical attention is vital. Symptoms of heat related illness could develop over several days or strike during a single burst of strenuous activity. The risk of heat-related illnesses can also be increased by lifestyle factors such as hot living quarters, lack of transportation, overdressing, visiting overcrowded places, and not understanding weather conditions.
The best defense is prevention. To ensure the safety of loved ones, please assist them in taking preventative measures. If illness does occur, please seek immediate medical attention. To prevent symptoms of heat stress, people of all ages should:
Drink plenty of water, even when you may not be thirsty.
Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks as they cause dehydration.
Wear clothing that allows good air circulation.
Limit vigorous activity.
Try to plan your daily activities prior to 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m.
If you are outside, seek the shelter of shade.
Use air-conditioning whenever possible.
If you suspect someone is suffering from a heat-related illness:
Get the person out of the sun and into an air-conditioned or other cool place. Have them lie down and rest.
- Offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juice. Don't offer alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
- Encourage the person to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water.
- Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists and/or neck, places where arterial blood passes close to the surface and can be cooled by the cold cloths.
Seniors who live alone and in older homes without air-conditioning are among those most at risk. Check on your elderly neighbors and family members to ensure they are staying hydrated and cool especially when there is an air pollution alert in effect. Offer to take them to an air-conditioned building such as a local designated cooling center, shopping center, library or senior center. The Detroit Public Library and the Dearborn Public Library are designated cooling centers. When a heat wave is predicted call 211 or your city hall for your local cooling center.
"To be the recognized standard home health care organization that exceeds the expectations of our patients and clients, by utilizing skill, knowledge and expert resources; to provide homecare that is meaningful, safe and respectful."
Thank You... to all of our referring physicians, nurses, social workers, rehab staff and office staff for providing excellent care to our patients -- Health Care Partners continues to provide compassionate quality care to all of our patients and communicates their progress to all of our referring physicians!
Don't forget we are on call 24/7!
Quick Links www.healthcarepartnersinc.com www.professionalparentcare.com www.thefamilycaregiver.org www.healingdoc.com www.senioroptionsmi.com www.banananose.com http://groups.google.com//MIfamilycaregivers
Contact Us For more helpful information, contact Health Care Partners, Inc.
Health Care Partners, Inc.
18000 W. Nine Mile Rd. Suite 400
Southfield, MI 48075Phone: 248-358-1186
Fax: 248-784-3919
Don't forget to add us to your safe sender list!
If you are having trouble viewing the newsletter, be sure it's not stored in your junk folder or junk mailbox.Your comments or suggestions for future issues are always welcome; or if you would like your name removed from this email please contact Jane Cortez.
For back issues of e-news, visit our website and click on the Contacts page at www.healthcarepartnersinc.com
The Health Care Partners e-news team Douglas Jones Jane Cortez Arnel Doreza email Doug email Jane email Arnel
Return to Top
