Western Pennsylvania Healthcare News

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4 Tips for Home Healthcare

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It can be difficult to accept the fact that an elderly relative’s health is in decline. Yet it is essential for their wellbeing that you provide them with the right level of care for their needs so that they can enjoy a greater quality of life. If you believe your parent, grandparent or another aging relative needs additional care, but you want to ensure they can remain at home, read the following tips for home healthcare.

1. The CDPAP Initiative

The last thing an aging loved one might want is for their home care decisions to be made by an outside party. The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) can, therefore, help qualified patients to choose a family member or friend to become a paid caregiver, if it isn’t their spouse. By using such a program, it could allow you to care for your relative without impacting your finances. Contact FreedomCare NY for more information.

2. Mobility Aids

Mobility aids can be a great support for dependent relatives, as it will allow them to move around their home without fear of falling or burning out. It can, therefore, provide a loved one with greater independence, so they can enjoy a better quality of life and will depend on others less for daily tasks. There are a wide variety of low-tech and high-tech mobility aids on the market, and there are options to suit various lifestyles and budgets. For example, your loved one could benefit from crutches, canes, walkers, rollators, motorized scooters, power wheelchairs, and manual wheelchairs. [Read more…]

How Does Technology Make A Difference For Home Care?

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By Arielle Kimbarovsky

Unfortunately, we don’t all live three minutes away from our parents, grandparents, or other older loved ones who need care. And even if we do, most family caregivers have full time jobs or other responsibilities that can prevent them from being accessible 100% of the time.

In situations like these, many family caregivers must skip work or important obligations, or hire home care agencies to fill the void. Unfortunately, home care agencies are usually expensive to hire, and don’t pay their caregivers enough. In addition to that, scheduling the care can prove to be pretty tricky- not to mention unpredictable.

Anyone who has dealt with hiring, using, or working in home care knows that it can be a very challenging field to navigate.

Image credit: Jurgen Appelo

But with the outbreak and evolution of new technologies, companies are making it easier on caregivers, loved ones, and their families to be a part of home care. Companies are enhancing specialized devices, simplifying and expanding communication channels, and centralizing information. It’s never been a better time to use or be a part of home care! [Read more…]

Dying Patients Who Received Palliative Care Visited the ER Less

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Community-based palliative care – care delivered at home, not the hospital – was associated with a 50 percent reduction in emergency department visits for patients in their last year of life.  The results of an Australian study were published online February 3rd in Annals of Emergency Medicine (“The Association of Community-Based Palliative Care with Reduced Emergency Department Visits in the Last Year of Life Varies by Patient Factors”).

Researchers studied nearly 12,000 records for patients who died of cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or liver failures in Western Australia from 2009 to 2010. Dying patients visited the emergency department on average twice a year during their last year of life. The average number of emergency department visits was reduced when patients received palliative care.

“It is encouraging that palliative care was associated with reduced emergency department visits for five different diseases, so isn’t limited to just cancer or heart failure, for example,” said study lead Lorna Rosenwax, PhD. of Curtin University in Perth, Australia. “Most patients who were in their last year of life visited the emergency department at least once, with one person visiting 74 times in the space of a year.  Only about one-third (32 percent) of the patients we studied received community-based palliative care but they were much less likely to require emergency medical treatment as a result.” [Read more…]

JEVS at Home Brings Home Care Excellence to Allegheny County

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JEVS at Home, a registered 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization providing non-medical home care support services to disabled and aging individuals, announced plans to open an office in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 5.

With a service area including Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks and now Allegheny counties, JEVS at Home is one of the largest home care service providers in Pennsylvania, continually recognized for their integrity of service, ethical focus, client trust and commitment to home care excellence. 

“Bringing a caregiver into your home for yourself or a loved one is a highly emotional process that also needs to include the practical decisions of cost, coverage, experience and service capabilities,” said Aurora Kripa, CEO, JEVS at Home. “JEVS at Home understands all this and it truly shows in our service model, training programs and culture. Since establishing JEVS at Home in 2012, we’ve honed our approach and capabilities, established our name, and built a stellar reputation in southeastern Pennsylvania. We’re excited to now bring all of this to the communities of Allegheny County and our commitment to these residents is as steadfast as it is to all those we’ve served in the past 5 years.”  [Read more…]

The Give-Back Program

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Screen Shot 2014-03-26 at 3.04.41 PMThe effects of aging could make some seniors feel they can no longer give back to their community or help family and friends.   

The “Give-Back” program is a series of activity resource sheets for caregivers and care community activity professionals who are trying to help keep even frail and isolated seniors engaged and provide them opportunities to help others. Some projects can be adopted by an individual; others are ideal for group projects or as a meaningful activity with friends.

The need to be needed does not diminish with age, experts say. Keeping seniors connected and giving back might even help them age with better health, and help reduce feelings of isolation and depression.  The Home Instead Senior Care® network has captured simple and adaptable ideas from seniors and care community professionals to create the “Give-Back” program.   Older adults across North America are proving that – with a little help – seniors can still make a difference.

Giving Back to the Community

Giving Back to Senior Care Communities

Giving Back to Children

Giving Back a Talent

Giving Back Holiday Cheer

Giving Back to Those Who Served Our Country

If you’re a family caregiver who needs help keeping your senior engaged, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office to learn how a CAREGiver could assist you and your senior. 

CAREGivers from Home Instead Senior Care can make a difference in the lives of older adults and their families by providing support with activities of daily living to help keep them independent for as long as possible.  For more information about Home Instead Senior Care visit www.homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh or call 1-866-996-1087

The 50/50 Rule℠: Solving Family Conflict

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5050-RPN-imageHelping You Help Siblings Overcome Family Conflict

Does your job as a senior care professional sometimes seem like that of a referee? If you feel that you’re always trying to resolve a family dispute, you’re not alone. This guide is designed to help adult siblings and their aging parents deal with those sensitive situations that arise among brothers and sisters as their parents age and need assistance.

The downloadable guide covers a variety of sibling caregiving topics such as:

How do siblings divide the workload?

What’s the best way to build teamwork between brothers and sisters?

How can they reach agreement as a family on important topics to avoid family conflict?

Download the guide:
The 50/50 RuleSM brochure (PDF 950KB)  http://www.caregiverstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/The-50-50-Rule-Helping-Siblings-Overcome-Conflict.pdf

The 50/50 guide is designed to help adult siblings and their aging parents deal with those sensitive situations that arise among brothers and sisters as their parents age and need assistance.

CAREGivers from Home Instead Senior Care can make a difference in the lives of older adults and their families by providing safety and supervision and support with activities of daily living to help keep them safe and independent for as long as possible.  For more information about Home Instead Senior Care visit www.homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh or call 1-866-996-1087

Vantage® Expands Home Care Services Into Pittsburgh

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Screen Shot 2014-02-15 at 3.07.11 PMVantage® Healthcare, the regions “Hospital and Home Healthcare Connection” has expanded its Infusions Therapy Services into the Greater Pittsburgh Market. Their new office will be located at 2009 Mackenzie Way, Suite 100, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, 16066. With office accessibility in Monroeville, One Oxford Center and Foster Plaza. Vantage has recruited a highly professional staff to facilitate its new office presence in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.  Vantage also intends to bring additional skilled staff opportunities to the area. The Home Infusions Therapy Services support team will initally take root in Pittsburgh. 

Since 1994, Vantage® Home Infusion Services has serviced thousands of patients in the USA who need intravenous medication treatment in the comfort of their home. This division operates and maintains a state-of-the-art compounding pharmacy where medications are prepared, including; pain management, antibiotic, inotropic (cardiac) and nutritional (TPN) therapies.
[Read more…]

Anova Home Health—Providing Compassionate Home Health Care

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By Kathleen Ganster

When someone mentions “home health care” many may think of care for seniors. But home health care is for anyone of any age needing assistance with daily living and chronic conditions.

“We provide caregivers in the home to those in need and that includes children. We have had patients from newborn children to 104. We have a patient right now who is 104,” Patty Knouse, branch director of the Anova Home Health Care Offices, Inc. Pittsburgh office said.

Home health care allows people to live at home for as long as possible, as comfortably as possible. For someone with chronic conditions, activities of daily living that are simple for most may be difficult or impossible without assistance.

Direct care givers from Anova assist with the tasks of daily living such as taking a shower safely, preparing meals, and needing assistance to walk or get in and out of a chair, shopping or doing the laundry, said Peggy Gursky, executive vice president.

“Help with these daily tasks can make all the difference in being able to remain independent,” Gursky said.
[Read more…]

Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias Daily Companion – iPhone App & Book

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Alzheimer-APP-iphoneThe new Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Daily Companion App and Confidence to Care book are essential tools to help those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias become more confident in their ability to understand, manage and even help alleviate dementia-related behavioral symptoms that a loved one may be prone to exhibit.

Family caregivers may encounter frustrating situations as they care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Without understanding what triggers the behaviors associated with the disease, or knowing practical techniques to help counter them, it’s easy for family caregivers to feel overwhelmed.

The new Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Daily Companion App was created as a pocket guide to help family caregivers get through all the dementia care situations they likely never dreamed they would have to face.  A family caregiver can download this free app now so when they have a question about the best way to handle a situation, they will have quick, helpful tips from experts and other caregivers instantly at their fingertips.
[Read more…]

Checklist for Sibling Family Caregivers

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Family_checklistThe following checklist can help siblings better manage the care of their senior loved ones.

  • Identify and list the needs that your senior loved ones have that will enable them to remain independent and avoid family conflict throughout the aging process. Tasks to consider include meals, housekeeping, scheduling doctor appointment, bill paying, grocery shopping and companionship. Key needs include:
    • Medical
    • Housing
    • Activities of daily living
    • End-of-life including advance directives such as living will and long-term care
    • Estate planning and funeral planning
  • Research the options that can help you meet those needs.
  • Divide the needs of your senior: those needs that will be met by family members and those that will be contracted.
    • Divide the tasks so that each family member has input in the process.
    • Make sure the tasks fit the needs of your siblings as well as your senior loved one.
  • List the tasks for which those in your family will be responsible. Remember to keep the list flexible for the changing needs of your senior as well as the demands on you and your siblings. You’ll need a plan and overseer as well if you’re contracting outside services.
  • Promote sibling teamwork and decision-making by including in your plan regular times to stay in touch with your siblings to avoid miscommunication and misunderstanding.
    • Make sure no one is doing too much. If you are the primary caregiver, ask for help if you need it. If you are a long-distance caregiver, ask for ways to help the primary caregiver. Long-distance caregivers can help facilitate online orders and bill-paying, as well as provide companionship through telephone calls, letters and emails.

CAREGivers from Home Instead Senior Care can make a difference in the lives of older adults and their families by providing support with activities of daily living to help keep them independent for as long as possible.  For more information about Home Instead Senior Care visit www.homeinstead.com/greaterpittsburgh or call 1-866-996-1087