Alert Response

Housing Choices for Older Adults – From Aging in Place to High-Rise Communities

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:31:00 +0000

Today’s seniors have more choices than ever when it comes to deciding on where they should live as they get older. Traditional nursing homes have expanded to include a greater range of assisted living homes and senior apartment communities that are styled to function just like a regular personal home – but with greatly needed assistance and additional opportunities to socialize.

Many older adults find it necessary to move from the home that they currently live in. Some of the reasons for moving can include:
• The neighborhood has deteriorated and safety is a concern
• To be near children (more than half of those 65+ live within 1 hour of a child)
• Size and layout of a home (including multi-levels or staircases)
• Maintenance costs and requirements
• Proximity to necessary services and shopping, especially if they are no longer driving
• Need for daily assistance with medications and household tasks

Some assisted living communities are built like small, self-contained ‘neighborhoods’, with housing units styled to include private bedrooms and bathrooms, with a common living area and kitchen. 24-hour basic care is provided, along with meals, laundry services and transportation.

Apartment style living is also popular, with small apartments that also have the benefits of common dining and living, along with a dedicated staff and plenty of social activities and group transportation to shopping, as well as private transport for personal appointments.

Another lifestyle choice includes senior high-rise centers that offer different levels of care depending on the changing needs of the residents. These senior centers often include a ‘buy-in’ plan, much like purchasing a home, along with monthly care and maintenance fees. For seniors and families who have the financial means, this option can offer a lifetime of extended care. Housing ranges from stylized apartment living for independent seniors to moderate care and assistance to full time nursing care. As the seniors continue to age, they stay in the same high-rise building, but move from floor to floor as their needs change.

While many older adults choose to ‘age in place’ at home, often with constant or live-in help, many relocating seniors find satisfaction in group settings which can help them maintain social interaction and friendships, along with the benefits of having helpful, friendly staff and medical professionals around them.

Healthy Lifestyles for Older Adults – The Importance of Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:58:00 +0000

All of us have come to realize the importance of exercise in our lifestyles – regular, planned exercise routines help lower cholesterol, keep our hearts healthier, and of course strengthen our muscles and improve our stamina. Exercise is also very important to the overall wellness of older adults.

Staying fit with exercise and physical activity benefits people of all ages and physical conditions. Developing a consistent exercise program of walking, stretching and range of motion exercises can help prevent or delay a number of infirmities that face seniors as they continue to age, including dementia and decreased memory functions.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that even moderate exercise and physical activity can improve the health of seniors who are frail, or who have diseases that accompany aging.

Some older adults are reluctant to get up and get out. They may be fearful that they will fall or that strenuous exercise can hurt them. The NIH actually tells us that exercise is safe and beneficial for people of all age groups, and that older adults will hurt their health more with inactivity.

The first and most important step is to visit with your loved one’s doctor to determine what types of exercise will be safe and beneficial. Your may want to consider talking with a fitness instructor or physical therapist that specializes in working with older people. They can recommend the amount and length of activity to start with. As for anyone, a good physical fitness plan starts off slowly and builds up over time as the person becomes more fit and active.

Some of the areas that are especially important for seniors include strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. A trained professional can help you determine what areas need the most work and a good action plan to get started with.

It’s also important to recognize that it is never to late to get started with some type of exercise. Over time, exercise can both improve a senior’s overall health as well as prevent further deterioration in certain areas. Even if your loved one has never exercised or is confined to a wheelchair, therapeutic exercise can help their mental and physical state.

Getting older doesn't mean you have to lose all your strength or your ability to do everyday tasks. Exercise can help older adults feel better and enjoy life more, even those who think they are too old or too out of shape. It’s great to get moving at any age!

Getting Help for Mom and Dad – How to Get Started with In-Home Assistance

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:24:00 +0000

As we get older, we find it more and more difficult to keep doing many of the ordinary tasks required to keep up a home – laundry, meal preparation, and housekeeping can become harder to keep up with. If you have older adults in your family, you may see gradual changes in their ability to maintain their home – or you may see a sudden decline in their ability or interests to keep up.

How do you know when it's time to consider in-home assistance for your aging parents?
Try watching for these possible warning signs:
• Personal hygiene changes like a lack of interest in bathing or brushing their teeth or an inclination to wear the same clothes day after day
• Passive responses and a lack of interest in social engagement
• Clutter in a house that was formerly very neat or the house not being cleaned on a regular basis
• Lack of food in the refrigerator or placing to-go orders instead of regular meals
• Tiredness and constant complaints that can indicate depression or isolation
• Forgetfulness - like leaving food cooking on the stove, leaving the faucet on, not taking mediations as prescribed, the phone left off the hook or bills left unpaid
• Missing appointments to see their doctor, dentist, hairdresser and others

It may be time to bring a caregiver into the home that can help your loved ones maintain order in their lives and stay focused on personal health and well-being. Start looking for a caregiver by talking to friends or co-workers – they may be able to recommend a good service or individual. Check references, check the BBB and also contact state agencies who monitor senior care. You may need to interview several people or services before finding the right fit.

It’s often most helpful to include the seniors in the discussion and decision regarding in-home care. Your loved ones may feel insulted or fearful at the beginning, so treat the topic with patience and compassion for their feelings. You may meet with some (or a great deal of) resistance at first. It may be good to ease into the situation by bringing in a helper for just a few hours a day to help with light housekeeping or errands and let the seniors get used to the idea gradually. In some instances, the caregiver can simply be a companion to drive older adults to the movies or church.
Once you have brought someone in, you also have to manage the relationship. List the duties you and your loved one expect the caregiver to perform and clearly communicate the duties and the timing with the caregiver. Clearly explain your expectations and set boundaries for the caregiver’s personal phone calls, breaks, etc.

Make sure all family members and the caregiver understand that the paid worker is not a family member. The caregiver should NOT have access to credit or ATM cards, checks or any of the family finances. Also, monitor the relationship the caregiver has with your loved ones. If your or your parents feel uncomfortable or incompatible with the caregiver, take action immediately.

In-home assistance is an active step to prolong older adults’ ability to live in their home for as long as possible. Hiring an in-home caregiver is a proactive step that can help seniors continue to lead healthy, active and happy lives.

Medicare Open Enrollment – Make Your Choices By December 7th

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:25:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again - Medicare’s open enrollment period started earlier this year (October 15th) and ends on December 7th. If you or a family member is 65 or older, you have less than a month to make any changes, so be sure to review your options and make selections before the deadline hits.

Even if you are satisfied with your coverage plan, I highly recommend that you still review all the options available to you. While you choices may look the same as previous years, you’ll want to note the rate changes for 2012 and make sure that the options still fit your needs and your budget.

Open enrollment is the only time of the year that you can make changes (unless you experience a qualifying ‘event’ that would allow you to update your plan).

Like many private insurance programs, basic Medicare does not pay for all of your health care costs. You are responsible for paying premiums, covering deductibles, and handling coinsurance or copayments. Basic Medicare services – both Parts A and B – do not pay for long-term care or extended stays in skilled nursing or assisted living facilities. Basic Medicare also only pays for about 20% of your doctor’s charges, so if you are under the standard Medicare plan, you probably want to buy supplemental health insurance to give you adequate coverage and help out with deductibles.

While Medicare can seem a little confusing – especially if you are new to the program, there are really just two main options involved, plus the coverage for prescription drugs. Medicare programs work like an HMO, run by private companies.

Your main choices are whether or not to go with basic (also called ‘original’) Medicare or with a Medicare Advantage Plan. The Medicare Advantage Plan gives you additional services, including a standard prescription drug plan. You can also enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription plan as an alternative.

If you need assistance, you can contact Medicare directly to ask questions. You can also visit the Medicare open enrollment Web site at http://medicare.gov/open-enrollment/index. You’ll find that the Web site does a good job of explaining options and answering frequently asked questions.

Don’t wait too long! Just as the holidays are almost upon us, don’t let December 7th come and go with reviewing all of your health care coverage options.

Medication Management for Seniors – The Impact on Society of Med Noncompliance

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:12:00 +0000

According to PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America), more than 75% of adult Americans who take three or more medicines daily are non-compliant with taking their medications properly. More than half of our seniors who take multiple medications (and one in four of them take 10-19 mediations each day) either forget to take the correct dose or fail in some other manner to take the right medication. While we can see for ourselves the impact this can have on our loved ones, did you know that the economic impact to our society is in excess of $100 billion each year?

Medication non-compliance puts even more stress on an already over-burdened healthcare system, adding to the costs of healthcare and contributing to steadily rising insurance costs. It stretches our Medicare and Medicaid resources, and the demand causes even more shortages of healthcare professionals.

Wow. And it’s not just the dollars and cents – medication non-compliance kills more of our seniors every year than accidents, flu and pneumonia combined – it’s the leading cause of death of senior citizens in America.

Reasons from forgetfulness to fear of drugs and the high cost of prescriptions all lend to seniors not taking medications correctly.
What can we do? First, if we have an elderly family member, we should take extra precautions to make sure that they fill the right prescriptions and take both over-the-counter and prescription meds as directed. We may need to accompany them to doctor’s visits, engage a caregiver, or purchase medical alert systems that help with reminders and dosages.

We should also get involved with our neighbors – a simple welfare check every now and then on an elderly neighbor could mean a world of difference in making sure their loved ones or physicians are aware of any problems they are having with medications.

With such a systemic problem, we all have a certain responsibility to make sure that family members, friends and neighbors are educated in where to find help for taking medications properly. Many studies show that people who live alone are more likely to have problems with taking their medications as they should. We should all take more notice of our elderly neighbors who are by themselves.

Medication non-compliance is so widespread that it will take all of us to help solve the issues involved – not just the medical or care-giving communities. A study by PhRMA found that patients who regularly took their medications as prescribed significantly reduced their total health care spending and lowered the number of emergency room visits and the number of days a patient spent in the hospital.

If you have concerns about an older adult’s willingness or ability to take the right medications, speak up and let the people who care for them know. If your own family member is having a hard time taking their medications, take steps through technology or the family doctor to create a routine that will help your loved ones stay compliant with the doctor’s orders. It helps each and every one of us!

Medication Management for Seniors – The Risks of Med Noncompliance

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:54:00 +0000

Did you know that nearly one-third of older adults take eight or more medications every day? There’s no way I could keep up with what to take and when if I had that responsibility. Medication management can pose a challenge for adults of any age, but as we get older, we also face physical challenges and memory limitations that can make taking medication correctly a real issue.

First, of all, we have to remember that all medications – both over- the-counter and prescription should only be taken according to a doctor’s instructions. All drugs interact not only with our individual system and metabolism, but with each other. The wrong dosage or combination can make us sick or lead to serious side effects.

Sometimes older adults will simply stop taking their medications as prescribed – either because the side effects are troubling, certain symptoms start improving or because they have just forgotten the correct routine. Memory problems and depression may also contribute to forgetfulness. Self-medicating or stopping a prescribed medication can have serious consequences for our older family members – and any issues with med noncompliance should be discussed immediately with their doctor.

Older adults in particular should work with the nursing staff at the doctor’s office and perhaps take advantage of pharmacy services that offer additional information and consultations about medications and side effects. Pharmacies also have programs to help with auto refills of prescriptions and consultations about manufacturer changes to certain drugs. Many seniors may need the help of a family member or caregiver to help keep their prescriptions straight.

Forgetting to take medications or taking the incorrect dose can delay recovery, worsen a person’s overall health and even be fatal in the worst case. So what steps can you take to protect your older family members?
1. Document all medications and dosages on a detailed plan that is easy for the patient, caregiver and other family members to read and understand.
2. Keep all medications in a central place, preferably in an organization box with visible and/or audible reminders.
3. Take advantage of technology and use special machines that dispense proper dosages at the correct times – and send alerts to both the patient and the primary caregiver if something is missed.

If you have any concerns about an older adult’s ability to take medications as prescribed, step in and help them create an action plan or get the outside assistance they need. Complete compliance with medical prescriptions is the only way to keep your older family members safe and healthy as the doctor ordered!

Want More Money for Education? Take Your Medicine!

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:56:00 +0000

Laura Landro with the Wall Street Journal wrote a great article on medication adherence and I felt compelled to share. The most interesting figure to me is the $290 Billion wasted on patients who don't take their medications as prescribed. If you don't read anything else please read paragraph 5 of the article.

If you or someone you know struggles with medication management I encourage you to reach out to Alert Response or any other number of qualified companies and learn more about how technology can help save everyone a lot of time, energy and money.

When it comes to medicine, as many as half of Americans don't stick to their regimens. They fail to fill about 20% to 30% of prescriptions written by doctors, don't take drugs as directed, and don't refill medications when they run out.

Now, health-care providers have new strategies to increase medication adherence, as concerns rise about health risks and the high costs of treating noncompliant patients who have chronic illnesses.

Prescriptions that don't get picked up or refilled can be tracked using electronic medical records and prescribing technology. Clinical pharmacy specialists, case managers and other team members follow up with reminders, phone calls and counseling to get patients back on the wagon.

Consequences of non-adherence can be dire. Studies of heart-attack patients show those who don't fill prescriptions to help prevent another heart attack have a higher rate of death one year later. Meanwhile, patients who adhere to their medications have better health outcomes, and require less care, than those with similar conditions and poor adherence, research shows.

Research by the New England Healthcare Institute shows that patients who don't take their medications as prescribed cost the U.S. health care system an estimated $290 billion in avoidable medical spending each year. A study published last January in Health Affairs showed that while improved medication adherence for four chronic diseases leads to higher spending on drugs, it also produces substantial savings because of less hospitalization and emergency-department use.

Out-of-pocket costs are a major reason some patients don't take medicine, but even fully insured patients often drop or fail to start a prescribed drug, studies show. Patients sometimes aren't convinced the medicine is important, or they are concerned a drug may do more harm than good. Often, they worry about side effects. Some 32 million Americans are prescribed three or more medications, which can lead to drug interactions and confusion over schedule and dosages.

Medication Nation
• 32 million Americans take three or more medications daily.
• Nearly 75% of Americans report not always taking their medications as prescribed.
• Almost 30% of Americans stop taking their medicine before it runs out.
• Only about half of patients with high blood pressure take their prescribed doses of drugs
Source: PhRMA; National Council on Patient Information and Education; WSJ reporting
Barbara Forman, 65 years old, takes five different medications after undergoing a cardiac bypass surgery seven years ago. She has worked with several doctors to develop a regimen she can tolerate. As a small business specialist for the post office, she used to drive long distances, but a beta blocker she took to reduce blood pressure made her so drowsy she caught herself drifting off the road more than once.

She tried changing the time of day she took the medication; sometimes she didn't take it at all. She had muscle aches from her cholesterol-lowering statin, and a cough as a side effect of another medication. A new cardiologist has helped her better manage her medications, and they are still fine tuning her regimen, she says.
Ms. Forman, now retired from the post office, is president of the Dayton, Ohio, chapter of Mended Hearts, a patient-support network affiliated with the American College of Cardiology. She invites a local pharmacist to meetings to emphasize the importance of taking medications after cardiac procedures. She advises patients to advocate for themselves. "Read the sheets that come with the pills, and let doctors know if you are suffering side effects," she says. "There are other alternatives to many of these drugs."

In a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine last month, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, a big nonprofit health plan, reported that patients in systems like its own, with electronic health records linked to their pharmacies, collect new medications more often than patients outside such systems. In the study, 7% of patients with newly ordered medications for hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol didn't pick up their prescriptions. In contrast, in other studies of non-integrated systems, as many as 22% of patients failed to pick up new prescriptions.

Kaiser is using clinical pharmacy specialists who focus on managing medication therapy, to find out why patients aren't taking drugs and help with side effects or administration.

The personal touch worked for Ralph "Mitch" Bernal, 61, a retired deputy sheriff and avid hunter in Lakewood, Colo., who suffers from a lung injury and heart disease and takes several medications to control his blood pressure and cholesterol. During a hunting trip in 2009, he felt short of breath and achy. A blockage was found in one of his arteries and was treated with the placement of a stent.

After treatment he became a patient of Kaiser's cardiac-risk program. Clinical pharmacy specialist Alicia Cymbala was assigned to monitor his lab results, blood pressure and medications, and she checked in with him at least every three months. His blood pressure remained a problem, so she changed his meds to get it under control, including a single pill combining a medication to relax blood vessels so blood can flow more easily with a diuretic that causes the body to get rid of extra salt and water.

Last year, Mr. Bernal admitted to Dr. Cymbala that for two weeks he'd stopped taking his cholesterol drug because it was giving him digestive troubles. "She jumped right on it and told me it was a side effect, but I had to take something," Mr. Bernal says. She switched him to another statin, which he was able to tolerate.

Dr. Cymbala, who typically follows 800 to 900 patients, says Kaiser's electronic system would have eventually picked up Mr. Bernal's noncompliance through elevated cholesterol levels or a failure to refill a prescription. "We try to let patients know they can trust us and call us, and we care to know when they are having a problem," she says. Sometimes she will gently point out to people who claim to be taking their meds that they haven't refilled their prescription.

John Merenich, who heads disease management and prevention programs at Kaiser Colorado, says, "You can't just tell them, 'If you don't take this medication you are going to have another heart attack.' " Patients need ongoing reinforcement about their health goals, he adds, "We have to bring the patient back into the center of the conversation."

Happy 20th Birthday Alert Response

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:00:00 +0000

September 22, 1991 - Alert Response was founded by Spud Newton at a small desk in the corner of his living room much to the dismay of his lovely wife Jeanie. Fast forward 20 years and as the result of hard work and determination Spud has built a business that has served thousands and thousands of clients throughout the DFW area.

When I asked my Dad what the key to his success has been his answer was simple. "It's easy," he said, "provide a level of service unmatched by anyone else. The equipment is easy, it's just plastic, metal, and circuit boards. Providing a level of service that our aged and disabled population deserves is where you differentiate yourself."

As I look back today I am thankful for the business my dad started 20 years ago, not only because it means I have a job today but also for the standard he set when he began Alert Response. I am proud to be part of this company and what it stands for and especially thankful for all of the employees and community partners who have worked so hard everyday to provide our clients with an unmatched level of service.

And as a quick side note, 34 years ago tomorrow my dad also started something wonderful...me. Let me be the first to wish myself a happy birthday.

Have a great weekend.

Fall Prevention is NOT a Balancing Act - How Staying Healthy Prevents Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:05:00 +0000

We recently talked a little bit about making home a little safer for seniors. Making sure your loved ones are navigating an obstacle course at home every day can go a long way towards preventing a bad fall, but overall health and strength are really important, too.

The older we get, the more we have a tendency to just take it easy when we have some down time - I know I do! But sitting around, or being fearful of getting active can actually make mom & dad more prone to falling. Let’s look at some healthy lifestyle tips that can help prevent falls:

Regular exercise. An exercise program builds strength and stamina – from heart and lungs to muscle strength. Exercise also boosts energy and helps with depression. Whether it’s physical therapy, a few steps a day, light weight training or just stretching, exercise helps sharpen our natural balancing skills and improves our reflexes – at any age!

Diet. A healthy diet, supplemented with vitamins, can still help keep bones and muscles in good condition, even when we get older. Eating right isn’t just for kids! Don’t let dad have ice cream for dinner – make sure he gets some broccoli before he hits the Blue Bell. Vitamin D and extra Calcium can help as well.

Eye exams. Take mom and dad to get their eyes checked at least once a year – and more often if there is a noticeable change or problem with their vision. Wearing the wrong glasses can result in tripping over objects, misjudging distance or becoming a little disoriented – and all can lead to a fall.

Medications. Many meds have subtle side effects – including blurred vision or dizziness. Many older people also take multiple medications – both prescription and over the counter – that can interact to produce side effects as well. Make sure your loved ones’ primary physician knows ALL the medicines mom and dad are using on a regular basis and how they can affect them.

Medical conditions. Chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and COPD can cause dizziness and shortness of breath – which make us unsteady on our feet. Being aware of these conditions and taking extra precautions can help prevent an unnecessary fall.

In addition keeping a close eye on the overall health and well-being of the seniors in your care, you may want to think about an alarm system for a little peace of mind in case there is a fall. Alert Response offers the Personal Emergency Response Service (PERS), giving emergency help 24 hours a day. Staying as active as possible, eating right and seeing a doctor regularly can make a big difference, but it’s nice to know that extra help is there when we need it most.

Before the Fall – Simple Tips that Can Help Prevent Falls in the Home

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:51:00 +0000

I hate to admit it, but I’m a little clumsy – sometimes I get in too much of a hurry, and sometimes I just throw myself at the ground and miss. Fortunately, most of the time I can just pick up and dust off, but for older adults, falling is no laughing matter. Did you know that each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls?

As we get older, a fall can mean a serious injury resulting in hospitalization and a long recovery – but the good news is that many falls are very preventable. If you or your loved ones are striving to live independently, here are some simple tips to make home a little safer and help prevent a bad fall.

1. Have you ever noticed that your home is an obstacle course? Make sure that seniors have a clear walkway throughout every part of the house. Move furniture, cords, plant stands – any object that makes you swerve, step over or step around.

2. Take care that area rugs don’t slide or bunch up – either get rid of them, or secure them to the floor with a sticky backing or double sided tape.

3. Light it up! Older adults should not have to feel their way through the dark – replace light bulbs, use nightlights, and keep light switches and lamps within easy reach.

4. It’s ideal if the home is one level, but if mom’s house does have stairs, keep the steps well-maintained – no loose or uneven boards. Keep handrails secure and tight – and if the staircase doesn’t have rails, install them now.

5. Put the stepladder in storage and move hard-to-reach items down to eye level. Stools and ladders are just a bad idea, even if they seem rock-solid.

6. The bathroom gets an honorable mention here – we already know the bathroom is hazardous, with wet floors and hard edges everywhere. I’ll go ahead and remind you to put non-slip mats and safety strips in tubs and showers, and to install grab bars everywhere.

Even with good precautions, accidents can – and do – happen. It’s a good idea to have an alarm device handy. Alert Response offers the Personal Emergency Response Service (PERS), giving emergency help 24 hours a day with the push of a button. Above all, make sure everyone is patient and careful – that’s the best way to stay safe!

Fun with fall detection

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:41:00 +0000

I can get longwinded so I am going to try and keep this brief and educational. My office is getting more and more calls asking about fall sensors so I decided to use this forum to help people to understand the technology

First of all, fall detection is not and never will be perfect. I would say that of all the fall sensors I have seen the best ones predict falls somewhere in the 90-95% range. 90-95% is great unless you are part of the 5-10% then it's not so great.

Fall sensors come in two types of technology, the first and most basic is a tilt switch. A tilt switch is best worn on the belt and will send a signal for help if the pendant tilts past a certain degree. This unit is good because 100% of the time it will send a signal when it tilts past that degree mark, bad if for some reason a fall occurs and the client doesn't fall to that degree i.e. passing out and falling against a wall or into a chair. The second technology is more advanced as it will detect a change in altitude as well as the speed of that change. A quality fall sensor will be able to tell the difference between somebody passing out and subsequently falling to the floor and somebody bending over to tie their shoes. With this technology there are more false positives along with a higher chance of a slow fall failing to register and send a signal.

Any fall sensor should have a panic button with it as well so that the client can summon help in the event they are still conscious. Most fall sensors will allow a 30 second to 4 minute window to allow the client to get up and start moving around. Some will even send two signals, one that says the client has fallen, and one that says the client is not moving.

The technology is getting better every year and I get excited to see where it will be in 5-10 years, I know, I know, I'm a dork. Contact me or any of your local providers to see the latest systems, they might just save a life.

We recently received a new fall sensor that I had the pleasure of testing. The results were impressive and the girls thought it was funny to watch me fall repeatedly (see photo). Another good thing that came from my practice fall was a discovery of the dirty carpet. I had the carpet steamed cleaned the next day.

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:41:00 +0000

Get Smart About Senior Care Costs

There are a variety of options available for any budget.

It's never too early to plan care for an aging loved one.
Before their health begins to decline, you and your family
need to agree on the kind of care they need, and how it will
be paid for.

To get an idea of the average costs of popular senior care
options, see below. And keep in mind that while your loved
one may be fine with occasional care now, they could need
more serious and expensive care in the future.

So, How much does it cost?

In-Home Technology
Personal Emergency Response (Medical Alarm)
Allows your loved one to age in place while having the ability to summon help 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency.
Cost:$37 per month.

Medication Management via a monitored medication dispenser
Dispenses medication up to 4 times per day. In the event of a missed dosage the unit notifies a live operator who then notifies family members or caregivers of the missed dosage.
Cost :47 per month.

In-Home Care
Enables your loved one to stay at home throughout every stage
of aging.
Cost: $29 per hour on average, but costs vary. (Source: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services).

Assisted Living
Offers your loved one an independent lifestyle, with trained
personnel on the premises to attend to their needs.
Cost: $36,372 per year (Source: MetLife Market Survey of
Nursing Home and Assisted Living Costs).

Nursing Homes
For elders who cannot care for themselves or have
significant medical issues that require round-the-clock
care.
Cost: Private room, $77,380; semi-private room, $69,715
(Source: MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home and
Assisted Living Cost).

Occasional Care
Periodic assistance with lawn care, transportation, and
grocery shopping. Cost varies according to need.

Thank you ElderCarelink

A little humor to kick off our weekend.

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:28:00 +0000

An elderly gentleman...
Had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100% .
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, 'Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.'
The gentleman replied, 'Oh, I haven't told my family yet.
I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!'

Texas Legislative: Telemonitoring Bill Continues Progress Toward Passage

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:09:00 +0000

Thanks to the Texas Association for Home Care & Hospice for the following update and all their hard work on the telemonitoring bill.

Texas Legislative: Telemonitoring Bill Continues Progress Toward Passage
The TAHC&H initiated bill that would create a telemonitoring program for Medicaid home health patients has gained momentum in this final week of the legislative session. SB 293 is moving up the House calendar on this final day- Tuesday, May 24th-in which senate bills can be heard on second reading by the House. The session ends on May 31st.
In addition, key lawmakers in the House have worked with TAHC&H to add the telemonitoring program to SB 23 which contains several programs supported by the leadership. SB 23 has already passed the House and is being sent to a conference committee to work out differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. TAHC&H will be encouraging conferees to retain the telemonitoring program in SB 23 for final passage.

Click here for more details on the proposed legislation.

Dealer Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:53:00 +0000

I just returned from the annual dealer conference in Ohio and I feel excited and rejuvinated. It's always great to meet with other leaders in the medical alarm industry and visit with them about the positives and negatives of our always changing industry. I came away with great ideas on how to better serve our current clients and ways to offer our services to a broader range of users.
This year was especially beneficial due to the addition of the trade show. Home technology dealers from all over the country were brought in to show off the latest and greatest technologies. A few that impressed me were-
1. SimplyHome which is a comprehensive home monitoring system that along with basic personal emergency response it also can monitor doors, windows, oven/stoves, medicine cabinets as well as many other things. www.simply-home.com.
2. LogicMark which is pioneering the way for voice to voice pendant services. We currently offer this and have had good success with it.
3. The Care Watch or the LF500 which is a all in one two way voice watch or pendant that has GPS so a client can be located anywhere in the country. Alert Response will have this available hopefully within the next 1-3 months.

Overall it was a very informative trip and although I had to leave my new born and 22 month old boys with my wife for 3 days I think it was well worth it.

Who can help?

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:38:00 +0000

Resources you may not know...but you should.

One of the reasons I love this industry and the work we do is because everyone is different and every situtation is unique. All of our clients have different wants, different needs and definately different stories. Some of their needs we can meet but some we have to refer out. As part of our ongoing attempt at education, I want to provide you with a few helpful programs and agencies that may provide assistance in some of those unique situations.

First is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP. Their mission is to assist low income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs.

Second is the The Partnership for Prescription Assistance which brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free.

Lastly but one of the best local agencies in this area is the North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging. The North Central Texas AAA is a program of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). It plans, coordinates and delivers services to persons age 60 and over and their family caregivers who live in Collin, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell and Wise counties.

In the months to come I will be adding more programs and agencies to this list. If you have any suggestions please feel free to email them over to me at matt@alertresponse.com. I would love to share them with other people from our industry.

You can visit our website you you need more information on emergency response or medication management. www.alertresponse.com

Signs that your loved one might need help

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Next time you are visting a friend or relative, spend some time checking for signs that they might need help. Often times older adults in an effort to remain independent try to hide things that might cause concern for loved ones. Use the list below to help spot issues that might raise a red flag.

a. Daily housework not being performed
i. Tired
ii. Overwhelmed
iii. Forgetting

b. Mail piling up
i. Overwhelmed with amount of mail
ii. Constant letters from people asking for donations

c. Bills not being paid
i. Checking account not balanced
ii. Services being shut off

d. Weight loss
i. Shopping and food preparation not being done
ii. Eating habits changing

e. No food in refrigerator or spoiled food

f. Kitchen in disarray
i. Dishes piling up
ii. Pots with burned bottoms
iii. Water and mildew stains where water was left on
iv. Food left out

g. Poor hygiene
i. Wearing same clothing
ii. Not bathing regularly

h. Inappropriate clothing
i. Unseasonal clothes worn i.e. bathing suit in winter or sweater in the summer
ii. Clothes left off

i. Missing scheduled events
i. Church
ii. Doctors appointments
iii. Medications

j. Acting strange
i. Unusual conversations
ii. Phone calls at odd times
iii. Strange anxiety or nervousness

k. Depression
i. Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, oversleeping, or daytime sleepiness)
ii. Sadness
iii. Fatigue
iv. Abandoning or losing interest in hobbies or other pleasurable pastimes
v. Social withdrawal and isolation (reluctance to be with friends, engage in activities, or leave home)
vi. Weight loss; loss of appetite
vii. Loss of self-worth (worries about being a burden, feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing)
viii. Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
ix. Fixation on death; suicidal thoughts or attempts

If you have concerns feel free to contact our office, 972.318.0161, or visit us online at www.alertresponse.com.

Holiday Realization

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:54:00 +0000

The holiday season is in full swing. The radio is playing all of the classic holiday songs, toy drives and seasonal sales are constantly beaconing, we have even seen snow here in North Texas. It is during this time of year that we often get to spend extended time with family and friends.
For those of us with aging family members this time with them can be very telling. What we might have missed during a quick visit can suddenly become apparent. I recently experience this with a family member. After spending a weekend together I realized the extent of her disabilty was broader than I had known. She was struggling to accomplish simple tasks and to make mundane decisions.
So the question is when you realize a parent or family member is struggling what can you do. The silver lining is that we are not alone. Numerous families are asking themselves this same question, so the resources are out there.
We previously posted a checklist titled Signs Your Loved One Might Need Help. It is not all encompassing, but it is a good place to start.
If you feel that your loved one is in need of assistance please check out some of the resources we have listed on the right side of the page or feel free to contact our office. We will be glad to help you find the help your family needs. Happy Holidays from all of us here at Alert Response.

Veterans Day

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 03:42:00 +0000

After last week's celebration of Veteran's Day and the recent tragedy at Fort Knox we have been mindful of the great work and sacrifice that our armed forces contribute to our nation. We are thankful for the past and current service members who work tirelessly for our freedoms. Personally, I am very proud to call many of them family and dear friends.

Veteran's Day has passed, but let us be thankful all year! Here are a few ways you can reach out to say thank you. If you ask a service member they will tell you it means more than you know.

Welcome Home at Hero at DFW
http://www.dfwairport.com/heroes/index.php

Join the Red Cross in in sending cards through their Holiday Cards for Heroes Campaign or donate blood for Fort Knox
www.redcross.org

Get crafty and knit or crochet a hat with the Warmth for Warriors program
http://warmthforwarriors.com

Looking an employee Hire a Hero
http://www.hireahero.org/

Teach your kids or grandkids to be thankful for our troops with Kids Thank a Vet
http://www.kidsthankavet.com/?path=thankourvets

Or just hug the veteran or service member in your life!

Increased Security

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 01:38:00 +0000

No, we haven't started offering body guard detail, but we are increasing security here at Alert Response. We are excited to now offer vital signs monitoring in addition to emergency response and medication management.
Vital signs monitoring increases security and independence for individuals with a wide range of illnesses by allowing them to communicate daily with their doctors and health care providers while remaining in the comfort of their own home.
Vital signs are monitored through an easy to use modem that connects to the client’s phone jack. Each day the client takes their vitals and with the push of a button that information is communicated to the Care Center. If the client’s vital signs are out of line with set expectations or if vital signs are not received the client or necessary health professionals are contacted.

Blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen levels, weight, blood sugar, glucose and exhalation can all be monitored. This is imperative for patients with a wide range of illnesses including, but not limited to diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, asthma, and COPD.
Contact us today to see if Vital Sign Monitoring can provide security for you, your loved ones, or clients.

What is Medicare?

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:21:00 +0000

Medicare is the federal government program that gives you health care coverage if you are 65 or older, or under 65 and have a disability, no matter what your income.

Part A – Hospital insurance
Covers hospital, skilled nursing, home health and hospice care
Free if you have worked and paid SS taxes for 40 quarters/10 years

Part B – Medical insurance
Covers Doctors services, preventative care, Durable medical equipment, outpatient, lab tests, x-rays, mental health care, some home health and ambulance services
You pay a monthly premium for this.

Part C – Not a separate benefit
Policy that allows private health insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits.

Part D – Prescription drug insurance.
Provides outpatient prescription drug coverage.
Provided on through private insurance companies that have contract through the government.

Medication Management

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:38:00 +0000

They say that the memory is the second thing to go. What's the first? Well the truth is I can't remember. Let's face it, the older we get the harder it is to remember the simple things. Whether it's where you left your car keys or the name of that actor from a movie you saw last weekend last, it happens to all of us. Usually my mother calls me by my brothers name first then quickly corrects herself and calls me by my dads name and then again corrects herself and finally calls me by my name. Every once in a while she might even throw the dog's name in there if it is a really rough day(The dog's been gone for 17 years). It's easy to forget simple things, especially when it comes to medication.

Medication mismanagement is one of the leading causes of hospitalization for the elderly population in our country. Experts say that more than half of the elderly population mismanages their medication. Although people over the age of 65 represent about 13% of our population, they consume about 1/3 of all medication perscribed in the United States.

So what can we do to make med management easier? The good news is that there are few choices depending on the severity of a clients noncompliance issues.

For someone who might just be a little forgetful a simple pillbox might be the solution. They are inexpensive or even free if you know where to look and are simple enough to use that they should stop a lot of the confusion.

Now for someone who might be suffering from dimentia or alzheimer's, a more advanced approach is probably needed. There are a lot of options for pill dispensers. What's important is to figure out which options are right for the user. Some people might need to have the dispenser under lock and key due to medication overdose. Some people might want to be notified if a pill is missed. The iMD Alert Response medication dispenser is the cadillac of the industry. It provides medication to a client up to 6 times a day and is monitored by a live person 24 hours a day. If the client misses a dose then immediately the monitoring center will call them and and/or the family and notify someone there might be an issue. The iMD cuts noncompliance issues by 98%. But remember that research is key in a situation like this. A quality medication dispenser can keep a client independent and in there home for a longer period of time but you need to make sure you choose the right one for your loved one.

A third and the most costly option is a live in or visiting nurse, or an assisted living facility where the client can be monitored more closely. For clients with severe dimentia this may be the only option. If you do have to go this route make sure that you interview multiple nurses or facilities to find the one that will best take care of your loved one.

If you do have any questions feel free to view our website and contact us. We might not have the service you need but more than likely we can point you in the right direction. http://www.alertresponse.com/

Staying on your feet

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:44:00 +0000

As we grow older falling becomes a part of a lot of peoples lives and the aftermath of a fall can be very traumatic and costly. People who have fallen often spend weeks and sometimes months in the hospital trying to recover physically and mentally. Rehab centers are full of people spending hours upon hours in physical therapy to regain strength and confidence. I have heard horror stories of healthy older people falling and spending 12 or 15 hours laying on a bathroom floor or out on the back patio with no way to get help.

So what can we do? Well the best way to combat a fall is to try and prevent a fall. There a minor things we can do order to make our home safer and easier to ambulate around. Some of them might seem like common sense but they are still things people might not think about. Below is a list that might help you or a loved one prevent a fall sometime in the future.

1. In the mornings make sure you take your time getting up. All too often people wake up and immediately stand and begin to walk to the kitchen or bathroom. This can cause dizziness and sometimes blackouts. Give yourself time to sit up in bed and move your feet to the floor. Spend a couple minutes sitting in the upright position and then stand. If you are not feeling normal then sit down and wait a few more minutes and try again. Have a cane, walker, or some sort of aid to help in case you do not feel 100%.

2. Eliminate potential hazards. Below is a list of items that you may not have thought about but could potentially cause a fall.
-Wet floors
-Loose mats on slippery floors
-Dusty floors
-Sloped floors and uneven surfaces
-Loose or worn carpet and flooring
-Cables or wiring crossing a walking path
-Clutter in hallways and walkways

3. Medication management. Medication mismanagement is a big problem in the aging community and is the cause of a countless number of falls. Check with doctors and make sure the prescribed medications you are taking are not going to affect balance. Make sure the correct dosages are being taken and at the right times.

4. Understand limitations and don't be afraid to ask for help. If a light bulb needs to be changed or something heavy needs to be moved then ask for help. I can't tell you the amount of light bulbs I changed in the 5 years of installing emergency response units for the elderly.

5. Embrace technology. Because of the speed at which technology advances people become intimidated by new products. A lot of the products in the gerontological industry are meant to assist clients in being safe. Consult a caregiver or nurse and find out what products might be helpful. An emergency response button might not prevent a fall but it can build peace of mind and confidence knowing that if there is a fall then help is just a touch of a button away.

If you have any questions please visit us at http://www.alertresponse.com/ or call our office.

"Young men think old men are fools; but old men know young men are fools."
-George Chapman

Thanks for reading,
Matt

A Little Wobbly

noreply@blogger.com (Alert Response) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:10:00 +0000

I have recently started a new hobby in my life...worrying about my parents. It seems that I get more and more obsessed with the well being of my father especially. I describe him as "a little wobbly" but let's face it, he is prone to falls. The irony is that he started an emergency response company 17 years ago. For those of you who are not familar with what emergency response is then just think back to the 80's when you saw a commercial of an elderly lady on the floor yelling "help I've fallen and I can't get up."
Growing up and working for this business I have installed and serviced thousands of clients but not until recently have I realized what peace of mind this type of equipment provides not necessarily to the client but the clients family. It's not only equipment like emergency response, but it's the thousands upon thousands of people in this industry that make the aging process for our loved ones more comfortable. This industry amazes me with the selflessness of the many volunteers and educators that put forth there time and effort in order to make the final stages of life a little easier.
My goal as a first time blogger is to use the knowledge and experience that I have received during my time at Alert Response to maybe help out someone who may be experiencing something similar to what I am beginning to go through. I plan on sharing information about home health care, hospice, medicare, medicaid, and anything else I can think of that might impact someones decision for their loved ones. I might even share a few funny and interesting stories that come my way.

"Sure I'm helping the elderly. I am going to be old myself someday."
-Lillian Carter

Thanks for reading,
Matt

Learn more at www.alertresponse.com