What's in your hospice basic packet? @Agape_Senior #Hospice

HOSPICE Packet from Travise Smith

Home Care and @Agape_Senior can work hand in hand- #AskforAgapebyname

I was having a conversation with a family the other day that currently has home care aides coming in for non-medical assistance in the home.  The home care aide works for one of the local agencies and provides companionship, some light housekeeping and meal preparation. 

We talked about a few gaps in the schedules, but she kept reminding me that at this time $$ wasn't available to fill in the gaps.  She was watching her father decline with his congestive heart failure and didn't know what to do.  I asked if she had thought about hospice.  She said we did, but we don't want to give up the home care aide to bring in a hospice person to work for a couple hours a day.  I said wait-- and repeated what I heard.  She said exactly-- that is what I have been told in the past. What  great opportunity to EDUCATE her about what hospice really meant and how it is a covered benefit under Medicare.  The Hospice benefit allows for a C.N.A. to come in for up to two hours a day, access to a social worker, a chaplain, volunteers and a Registered Nurse once a week and best of all access to a MD 24:7.

I met with the home health agency manager and she also was unaware of the option.  After talking and everyone understanding we admitted the patient and both the Home Care agency & @AgapeSenior were able to work hand in hand to take care of the patient and the entire family! 

When you hear the word hospice- Ask for Agape by name!

Call let's talk! 803 457 1686 or 803 329 4544

#Alzheimers 60% of ALZ or other dementia will wander some will die- some will suffer injury

What you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe-

Technology has come a long way and their are some great options available that are made specifically for people with cognitive impairments that can be used in the home or in a facility.  Let me know if you would like more information.

Alzheimer's (terminal disease- latter stages may be appropriate for hospice benefits) disease destroys brain cells responsible for memory, thinking and behavior. As a result, people living with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder may become disoriented and lost, even in their own neighborhood or places that are familiar to them – this is known as wandering. Due to confusion, individuals with Alzheimer’s who wander are often unable to ask for help, leaving them vulnerable to weather, traffic and those who prey on the less fortunate.

More than 60 percent of those with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia will wander, and if a person is not found within 24 hours, up to half of individuals who wander will suffer serious injury or death.

A person with dementia may be at risk for  wandering if he or she:

Comes back from a regular walk or drive later than usual

• Tries to fulfill former obligations, such as going to work
• Tries or wants to "go home" even when at home
• Is restless, paces or makes repetitive movements
• Has a hard time locating familiar places like the bathroom, bedroom or dining room
• Acts as if doing a hobby or chore, but nothing gets done (moves around pots and dirt without actually planting anything)
• Acts nervous or anxious in crowded areas, such as shopping malls or restaurants

If you live with or care for a person with dementia, here are a few tips to help you reduce the risk of wandering:

• Move around and exercise to reduce anxiety, agitation and restlessness
• Ensure all basic needs are met (toileting, nutrition, thirst)
• Carry out daily activities, such as folding laundry or preparing dinner, to provide daily structure
• Reassure the person if he or he feels lost, abandoned or disoriented
• Avoid busy places that are confusing and can cause disorientation, such as shopping malls
• Place deadbolts either high or low on exterior doors
• Control access to car keys (a person with dementia may not just wander by foot)
• Do not leave someone with dementia unsupervised in new surroundings

www.Alz.org

Nurse Betty @PiedmontMedical will surely miss you!! Enjoy retirement and those mints!

Nurse Betty is calling it quits after 60 years in nursing!! She will be missed at +Piedmont Medical Center !  Nurse Betty we love you.

Breathe Easy Support Group -- know anyone with breathing issues? Come on out- @Agape_Senior

 

 

If you know anyone who has to deal with breathing issues-- you should STOP and sign them up for this monthly event.  This month I will be the guest speaker and would love to meet your loved one.  We will have a few refreshments--is a great fellowshipping opportunity to be with people who have some of the same struggles you have -- great tips to help make it through episodes-- Hope to see you - Here are a few of the diseases our patients deal with daily-

Chronic Bronchitis COPD Emphysema Cystic Fibrosis Lung disease Asthma Pulmonary Edema ARDS Pneummoconiosis

 

Let's chat before you get behind the 8ball! #hospice @Agape_Senior #agingparents #Senior @Aplaceformom

Behind the 8 ball! No one wants to be behind the 8 ball, but so many times that is exactly where people are when I talk to them.  I try to position people (you) in the best place possible, but people tend to wait until the situation becomes grave and all the decisions have to be made quick, fast & hurry.  I never want people to be in that situation and that is why you will always see me planning the NEXT education event—it is my goal to always Engage, Educate & Encourage you with every event that I sponsor.  It isn’t just about having an event—it is about educating you on the next step in your CARE PLAN for your loved one. Whether it be keeping them in the home, keeping them independent, learning more about rehab, hospice or any other options.  I will NOT have all the answers, but I have access to resources and would love to put you in the best possible place to make the best decisions NOW instead of LATER!!!

Call me today 803 329 4544

July 2015 Newsletter Rock Hill SC Agape Hospice

July 2015 Newsletter