Geriatric Care

• Improved user interface - easier to use, improved navigation, fewer steps to complete tasks, "finger tip" utilities, and improved look-and-feel.
• Dynamic creation of assessments for increased flexibility and new programs
• Assessment printing - blank forms and completed documents
• Improved reports
• Medication look-up
• Improved provider, service, and insurance listings
• Better organization of client data
• Integrated activity and time tracking
• Activity re-assignment
• Improved calendar event scheduling
• Better branding support
• Group and sub-group support
• and many more...

• Dramatically improve client interface with improved look-and-feel, better ease of use, action section, more data from the personal heath record available, and more.
• Self management of passwords
• Reports now available on-line for view and print
• Direct account management by geriatric care managers for quicker turn around on access requests
• Improved communication tools

• Continuity of Care Record (CCR) Interface for improved integration
• 67 New tool revisions

My last post covered some of the key points to consider if your aging loved one has dementia and may still be driving.

To objectively assess the older adult’s ability to drive the family and/or support systems should document and then share with others:

• The frequency, type and severity of accidents/incidents
• To reinforce that while everyone has isolated incidents; when there is a pattern, conversations about driving and decisions need to be made
• Take immediate action when the older adult is confusing gas and brake pedals and/or stopping in traffic for no apparent reason

If needed, an occupational therapist can provide assessment and remedial driving training. A professional geriatric care manager can help you locate a local resource. Other resources to assist in assessing driving skills are:

• American Occupational Therapy Association [301-652-2682 www.aota.org/olderdriver
• Excellent general information, self assessment and important links - Hartford Financial (http://www.thehartford.com/alzheimers/brochure.html)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [1-888-327-4236]http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

Beginning Q1 2010 My Health Care Manager is deploying a major extension of its Senior Care Navigation System (SCANS^TM). SCANS is now a software suite incorporating and enhancing the functions previously performed by the Navigator system. The modules and a brief description are as follows:

SCANS/Client Access provides clients and authorized care participants access to key personal health information, assessment results, reports, care plans, tools, and more.

SCANS/Care Manager provides geriatric care managers with a comprehensive system to assess, plan, implement, and track the care of seniors and their families.

SCANS/Care Advisor provides care managers with an extensive knowledgebase and decision support system bringing industry best practices, recommended actions, and real world practical tools to enhance quality, completeness, and efficiency in care planning and delivery.

• a hat
• gloves or mittens (mittens are warmer) 
• coat and boots
• a scarf to cover your mouth and nose and protect your lungs from very cold air

• Polka
• Asthma Journal by Ringful
• AllOne Mobile
• TheCarrot.com

1. Keep or adapt family traditions that are important to you. Include the person with Alzheimer’s Disease as much as possible
2. Recognize that things will be different, and have realistic expectations about what you can do
3. Encourage friends and family to visit. Limit the number of visitors at one time, and try to schedule visits during the time of day when the person is at his or her best
4. Avoid crowds, changes in routine, and strange surroundings that may cause confusion or agitation.

The Research and Development team at My Health Care Manager has rolled the latest release of our SCANS(TM) application into full production. 

SCANS is a one-of-a-kind decision support and knowledge management system specifically designed for geriatric care management.  The system provides families help with aging parents through comprehensive best practice information in 40 geriatric care categories.  This information is made available to Health Care Managers and other advisors working as licensees or directly for My Health Care Manager.  This information is support with an extensive list of practical, hands-on tools to help seniors living independently or in a senior health care setting. 

Version 1.4 introduces a major productivity advance - Point and Click Care Planning.  This feature improves productivity and saves money for clients.  At the same time it also improves quality and consistency. 

More new features include:

• Care Plan report delivered in consumer language
• 136 new tools in SCANS
• Medical Support Information database powered by Healthwise
• Automatic logo branding of SCANS tools for all affiliate and partner
• Full integration with Navigator

• Introduction of next generation Care Planning supporting a direct SCANS(TM) interface, identification of key findings and intervention, outcomes tracking, and more.
• Care Plan Reporting
• Improved Assessment Summary Report
• Client Portal Care Plan Review
• Client Portal Improvements
• Past Assessment Reporting
• Menuing improvements and more

Sometimes you think all the "predictions" of science fiction really will come true.  Well here's more support for your case.  GeckoSystems International Corp. announced limited trials of a "Mobile Service Robot" called Carebot.  Really... "carebot". 

This little guy can navigate through the home on it's own; provide assistance caring for aging parents with medication reminders, monitoring vital signs, delivering supplies, and other simple tasks.  The system works thought independent computers and software that work together to deliver coordinated activity.  GeckoSystems has gotten a bit cheeky by calling these  GeckoSavants(TM).  Each functional area has a "geckoname"  like, GeckoNav(TM), GeckoChat(TM) and GeckoTrak(TM).

This version of the Carebot is not likely to replace a geriatric care manager or other caregiver any time soon, but GekoSystems has been solving some of the most difficult challenges to making robot helpful in the home.  For example, Navigating independently in crowds or narrow spaces is something we take for granted, but it's actually a major challenge for a machine. 

I'm looking forward to Carebot II.
 

• Medicare overview
• Medicare Part D information

It is that time of year… Medicare health and drug coverage open enrollment begins on Nov 15 and ends on Dec 31.  With all the news on revamping America’s health care, you may have missed the announcement from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that seniors or other people with Medicare (and their caregivers and/or family members) can begin to review their 2010 coverage options through  Medicare’s improved online tools.  Medicare Health Options Compare and Prescription Drug Plan Finder is located at www.medicare.gov. 

Remember, caregivers, if your loved one is a Medicare beneficiary, they are eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage, regardless of income, health status, or current prescription expenses.

There are two types of Medicare plans that provide prescription drug coverage:

1) Medicare Prescription Drug Plans - These plans add prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare, and certain types of Medicare Health Plans.
2) Medicare Health Plans  - Some of these plans cover both health care and prescription drugs.

For caregivers and seniors that prefer to get information over the phone,

• Contact a Medicare customer service representative at toll free 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
• OR contact your local State health insurance Assistance Program office (find the number online at http://www.medicare.gov/Contacts/staticpages/ships.aspx) or other health advocacy agencies for free personalized counseling.

Medicare's customer service is available 24-hours a day and 7 days a week. English and Spanish-language customer service representatives are available.

A 2010 Medicare & You handbook for seniors and their caregivers, also available on www.Medicare.gov, will be mailed to the homes of all eligible beneficiaries this month.

Medicare can be complicated, and a qualified geriatric care professional can help you figure it out if you're a caregiver.  If you're a veteran (or a caregiver for a veteran) you can also see my previous blogs, which include Information on Veterans Benefits and Part 2: Additional Information on Veterans Benefits.
 

According the America Geriatrics Society,  a person is expected to live another 16 years after turning 65, a person who is 75 can be expected to live another 10 years and person 85 can expect to live another 6 years.  So even though vaccinations are focused more toward children, it is important to prevent disease as you age and practice prevention.    A recent post contained information about special vaccinations that you may need to travel to certain areas of the world, but vaccines are also an important consideration for everyday life.  Caregivers and seniors should make sure to stay on top of their preventative health plans.

A great eldercare resource is the American Geriatrics Society.  Through their site and publications you can know the latest recommendations not only for flu shots and the older adult, but also the recommendations for vaccinations and prevention tests.  Medicare does pay for some of vaccinations such as the costs of flu, pneumonia, and tetanus immunizations.


Some vaccine recommendations for seniors are:

• Influenza Vaccine - yearly
• Pneumococcal Vaccine - 1 dose at age 65
• Tetanus Vaccine - 1 booster dose every 10 years
• Shingles Vaccine - 1 dose in immunocompetent people

Always remember to discuss a preventative health plan with your health care provider.   
 

We’re pleased to announce an agreement with Anthem and Wellpoint, which was covered in the August 24 – 30 issue of the Indianapolis Business Journal.  My Health Care Manager’s Eldercare benefit (which provides senior care management and caregiver support services to covered employees) will be offered in Indiana through the Anthem 360 Health program.  After the Indiana pilot, My Health Care Manager’s benefit will be rolled out by Wellpoint to all 14 states in which they operate. 

The benefit will help working caregivers balance the challenge of providing care to a loved one with work responsibilities, and also help improve the care and quality of life for the senior.  Employers assisting their employees by offering the Eldercare benefit look to reduced costs associated with working caregivers such as absenteeism, workday distractions, and time taken off to provide care.  My Health Care Manager provides an experienced nurse, a Health Care Manager, to guide the caregiver through their personal situation – and can assess a senior in the home anywhere in the U.S.

To learn more about Eldercare benefits for your business, or geriatric care management services for your family, please contact us at (800) 499-8020.

 

Long term care insurance is separate from Medicare, and may be a good option depending on your situation and that of your loved one.  Senior and caregivers should thoroughly investigate the long term care insurance policies available, and consider finances, health, long term wishes and goals, and other factors.

Long Term Care Insurance

• Long term care is not covered by Medicare
• Long term care insurance can be purchased to cover the expense of long-term care
• Policies protect assets should you need extended care, such as a house for your spouse
• Many are standardized and may be purchased through authorized insurance brokers through the state.  Policies differ from state to state.  Each state must honor the policy from another state
• To find out more information about long term care insurance go to: www.medicare.gov then go to ‘search tools’ then go to ‘plan your long term care needs’

An experienced geriatric care manager can help you identify local resources.

My previous posts have dealt with Medicare, Medicaid, and Medigap.  Here are some of the other insurance options for seniors:

Other Government and Private Insurance Policies

1. Veterans Benefits
2. Employer Benefits
3. Union Benefits

Things to know about insurance:

• If you currently have health insurance benefits through another policy, it is important to know that if you cancel it, you may not be able to re-enroll in this policy
• There are several situations in which the other benefits may pay bills before Medicare benefits will be used
• Often Medicare pays second when you are covered by insurance through a place of current employment or liability claims
• Make sure to give all insurance documents when receiving care

Veterans health benefits, available to all veterans, are something caregivers and seniors should be aware of.  My next post will cover veterans benefits in more depth.  A geriatric care manager can also help you identify your options and identify local resources.

My previous two blogs have explored Medicare eligibility and the 4 types of Medicare policies.  Caregivers and seniors also need to know about Medigap, which can supplement your aging loved one’s regular Medicare coverage.  In addition, caregivers should also know about Medicaid in case their aging loved one qualifies.

Medigap
Medigap policies are health insurance policies sold by private insurances to supplement costs that may not be covered under the Original Medicare Plan - this may include coverage for co pays and deductibles, some policies may cover emergency health care outside the United States. You pay a monthly premium to the private health insurance company that sells you the policy. Medicare and the Medigap policy both pay their shares of covered health care costs.

Medicaid
Medicaid covers health care expenses for people with limited income or resources- this definition varies from state to state.  Medicaid will cover long term care and home care services for services that are not covered by Medicare.
A list of state Medicaid requirements is available at http://www.cms.gov/medicaid/statemap.asp and may be accessed by finding your state on a map of the United States.

Insurance is complicated and seniors have many options.  Look for my next post, as it will cover other insurance options.  Caregivers are often tasked with evaluating insurance options for their loved ones, and it’s important to know all of the options.  If you desire more assistance, a geriatric care manager can help you identify local resources for Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid information.