Drugs and Seniors Home Care Path LLC

Professional prescribers agree drug administration changes across the life span. From the pharmacological view point adult hood begins at age 12. Generally adult dosages are meant for individuals 12 years and older. Seniors (over 60) normally have decreased glomerular filtration rate, cardiac index, maximal breathing capacity, and hepatic blood flow. In addition, as the body ages , the percentage of fat increases and the percentage of total body water decreases. These physiological changes mean that a greater proportion of lipid soluble drugs may accumulate in the body fat, a higher plasma concentration of water soluble drugs may be noted , and drug metabolosm by the liver and excreation by the kidneys may be diminished. Which in part is why one is asked their age in the clinic office visit. Age is a clinical characteristic that is considered with the practice of prescribing medication. Home Care Path LLC http://homecarepath.com accompany seniors to medical visits and record MD instructions for improved follow through in the home setting.

Fibromylagia Home Care Path LLC

Seniors suffering from fibromyalgia often feel alone in part because fibro does not have a fun trendy cosmetic treatment. Fibromyalgia manifest in the body as chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, tender areas in joints, muscles, tendons and widespread soft tissue. Seniors with fibromyalgia experience an enhanced pain sensation. Touch is uncomfortable. Symptoms are accpmanied by sleep disruption, chronic stiffness, headaches, tingling numbness in hands and feet, clouded thought process, changes in memory. Fibromyalgia has coorelation with the emotional depression, anxiety. The actual cause has not been identified, but fibromyalgia is known to change how the nervous system processes pain. One identifying system is body wide pain greater than 90 days. Physical therapy can provide visits to help manage the chronic pain. Barriers include the daily variation of chronic pain (too sore to move), deconditioning (too sore to do any physical activity for long while), and changes in other body systems (loss of sleep, chronic fatigue). The physical therapists strategy is to help the senior with fibromyalgia learn to interpret pain signals, and decrease symptoms through regular exercise. Regular moderate exercise is the treatment for chronic pain secondary to fibromyalgia. Stretching, strengthening, swimming are top of the list. readers are reminded that fibromyalgia is an individual type of disease process. Fibromyalgia does not manifest entirely the same in all individuals. Physical therapy plans are often individualized for this reason. Home Care Path LLC http:homecarepath.com helps seniors who expereince loss of physical function.

Home Safety Home Care Path LLC

Monitor living space to maintain independence.
Electric cords properly plugged in and tucked away
Do not over load extension cords
Fresh batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Electric outlets are cool, not warm to the touch
Areas are well lit inside and out
Nightlights in hallways, stairwells, bedrooms and bathroom
Electric heaters away from curtains, rugs, and furniture
Seperate elctrical appliances and water
Fireplace chimmneys are checked and cleared yearly
Light switches on both top, bottom of stairs
Light switches found near room entrance
Stair ways well lit and free of objects
Stair hand rails sturdy
Floors are not slippery or highly polished
Carpet on stair secure
No holes or snags in carpet
Carpet edges secure
Reduce hot water temp to prevent burn
Water faucets marked hot, cold
House smoking rules established
Check furnace yearly
Drawers and doors open and shut easily
Flashlights available in main rooms
Cleaners and poisons marked and in seperate space
Door locks secure and work correctly
Staff at Home Care Path LLC http://homecarepath.com practise safety with all home visits. Part of maintaining a stable living environment is monitoring the seniors home for potential hazards that can be corrected to reduce risk of harm.

Home Care Path LLC
608-432-4286
email seniorcare@homecarepath.com
Keeping seniors safe at home, serving south central Wisconsin

Home Care Path LLC Falls At Home

Seniors falling in the home are at risk of unintentional injury. Occupational therapy can assess seniors in the home setting. An occupational therapist will identify lead contributors such as loss of muscle strength, loss of coordination, loss of balance, loss of range of motion. The occupational therapist may recommend the senior see a physical therapist for balance and strengthening exercises to help reduce falls. Recall medicare is a pay source for physical therapy, occupational therapy services. Strategies for seniors who fall include:
portable toilet near bed with night rest
place phone within reach at all times
use several night lights
wear supportive shoes avoid high heels
grab bars near tub and toilet
raised toliet seat, bracket with handles
use bath bench
use hand held shower head
wipe up fluid spills on floor
have chair in kitchen to sit with chores
slide dishes along counter to keep one hand free
place cooking pans within reach
use a reacher, grabber
use rails with any stairs
outside light for entering dwelling after dark
sidewalks free of snow, ice
Grab bar close to door
Falls can stand in the way of a seniors independence. Take steps to lower the risk of a fall.

Home Care Path LLC
http://homecarepath.com
608-432-4286
seniorcare@homecarepath.com
Facebook page senior care at home care path .com
Twitter page seniorcareWI
KEEPING SENIORS SAFE AT HOME, serving south central Wisconsin

Medicare Post Hospital Home Care Path LLC

Post hospital home health services are provided under medicare insurance. In each benefit period payment can be made for the reasonable cost of up to 100 days of post hospital extended care services. Post hospital extended care services include room and board, skilled nursing care by or under the supervision of a registered nurse, physical-occupational-speech therapy, medical social services, and other services ordinarily furnished by a skilled nursing facility. No payment may be made for custodial care or for items or services which would not be covered in a hospital. Custodial care is another term for non medical elder care service. Custodial care involves daily services a senior may need secondary to changes in physical function and mental capacity related to the procuess of aging. Home Care Path LLC http://homecarepath.com provides custodial, nonmedical elder care service to the south central Wisconsin area. Home Care Path LLC helps seniors who experience difficulty walking, dressing, talking, eating, cooking, climbing steps, remembering medications, setting up bath, oral care, hair care, reading mail, washing dishes, discarding expired food, taking garbage out, consistent forgetfulness, too much time alone isolated, weight loss, changes in cognitive function. At this point in time, medicare is not a valid pay source for long term in home non medical elder care service.

Independence Myth Home Care Path LLC

Some seniors become captives of the independence myth. The independence myth essentially means existing alone. I do not need the assistance of another, never have and never want to. I am a proud independent person. Independence on planet earth is a falsehood. All things occur with the participation of another. Everyone needs everyone else to have a better quality of life. For example the independent business could not be more dependent. The business depends on employees cooperation, on providers who deliver product, on advertizing outlets who voice the business product, the bank that delivers financial exchange. Any break in the chain of dependence results in a poor outcome for the independent business owner. The independent businesss owner is very needy and accepts the help of the community to keep going. Seniors that continue to deny needing help even though its evident to all around have become a captive to this myth of independence. The senior needs to drop the perception of independence and adapt a more healthy perception of interdependence. Interdependence speaks of active participation. Much like the independent business who needs the help of the employees to make it through the day. So can the senior see themsleves actively participating in their own care with the assistance of another. The thought perceptions under this resistance to help of another include:
Lack of Trust
Restore their position of power within the family
Stall tactic to avoid facing a decision they are not yet ready to make
As an attention getting device. (once the problem is solved you may not give them the attention they receive now)
Seniors who resist an organized healthful approach to assistance form reciprocal relationships within the community to cope. The senior has restaurant staff giving him food daily and stopping by to check on him when he does not show up to eat. The senior calls the tow truck driver from the hospital ER for help getting home. The senior has libray staff clean up the bathroom after his bowel accidents. The bartender is constantly dialing the seniors family so he can talk with them. The senior sits with the insurance office receptionist when he does not feel good. The mail carrier helps to properly turn on the air conditioner. The senior is seeking out and accepting help throughout the community but some how still maintains a perception of being independent. The senior clearly needs help, and this need is progressing. All those assisting the senior in out of the ordinary roles verbalize the seniors need for help. Home Care Path LLC http://homecarepath.com staff assist seniors with daily chores to prevent the senior from getting so run down they end up in the emergency room or permanantly placed in an assisted living facility. Home Care Path LLC recognize seniors captivated by the myth of independence. Often the solution is repetitive contacts discussing identified needs. Eventually the senior begins to recognize and accept what the community already knows. It is ok to accept the help of another.

Medicare Hospital Home Care Path LLC

Hospital insurance is a basic part of medicare insurance. It is designed to help seniors defray the expense incurred by hospitalization and related care. Typical inpatient covered services include:
Bed and board
Nursing and other related services
Use of hospital facilities and medical social services ordinarily furnished by the hospital for care and treatment of inpatients which are (drugs, biologicals, supplies, appliances and equipment).
Diagnostic or other therapeutic items or services furnished by the hospital or by other providers under arrangements made by the hospital
Services by interns or residents in training under approved teaching programs
Cost of blood and administering

The senior is entitled to payment on there behalf for up to 90 days of inpatient hospital services in each benefit period. The senior will still have deductible amounts for each benefit period.

Home Care Path LLC http://homecarepath can follow a senior through a hospitalization to provide support.