I Want To Enroll In Medicare Home Care Path

Seniors can enroll in Medicare during the enrollment period. The enrollment period is 3 months before your 65th birthday and 3 months after your 65th birthday. Seniors are encouraged to begin the enrollment process 3 months prior to your 65th birthday.

Enrollment in Medicare does not involve interaction with CMS The Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services. The first place of contact with the Medicare Program is through the local Social Security Office. Whether or not you already receive Social Security benefits at age 65 does determine when and how you enroll.

A senior already receiving Social Security benefits before age 65 will authomatically be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. The senior will automatically be sent a Medicare card approximately 3 months befire turning 65.

If the senior is not receiving Social Security benefits at age 65, they will need to contact the local Social Security Office to enroll in Medicare. The senior must contact the Social Security Office, the staff will not automatically contact the senior.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff encourage seniors to access and utilize their Medicare benefit.

Florida Judge Roger Vinson Ohio Wants To Attend Health Reform

Health Care Reform under the United States President Barack Obama administration is being challenged in the Florida Court Room of Judge Roger Vinson. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum brings the challenge to the court room of Judge Roger Vinson.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will be joining Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum to challenge Health Care Reform under the United States President Barack Obama administration. Ohio is one of about 20 individual States to challenge Health Care Reform in Florida.

On January 10, 2011 the law suit is scheduled to resume. Part of the law suit challenges United States Congressional authority to mandate that individual citizens participate in health insurance programs that guarantee access and proper treatment in community health care facililites (Clinics, Hospitals, Nursing Homes). Simply, should all U.S. citizens be required to have a pay source for community health care providers services.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to follow this issue through the legal process.

2011 Federal Estate Tax Threshold Lowered Home Care Path

Beginning January 1, 2011 The Federal Estate Tax threshold will be lowered. Financial planners estimate after January 1, 2011 the Federal Estate Tax could impose a levy up to 55 percent on estates valued at more than one million dollars.

Seniors who reside in areas of high property value are particularly at risk. Larger metrpolitan areas families in the 60's may have bought a home for under 50 thousand, that is now valued in excess of 1 million dollars. Seniors that possess a home, an IRA or 401k retirement account, and some other savings and you can get above one million fairly easily.

Historically seniors have distributed excess wealth to family members while alive. But a senior who requires the house to live in may find it difficult to gift a portion of the estate to family members. Taking withdrawls from retirement plans can trigger income tax.

Back in 2009 Estate Planners expected Congress to reinstate the tax. The Federal Estate Tax changes go back to 2001 when Congress voted to gradually raise the estate tax exemption and cut income tax rates. This ended in repeal of the tax in 2010. The reduction in the estate tax ends 2010.

Seniors and families are dependent upon an act of Congress to see a Federal Estate tax with a higher threshold in 2011. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages readers to watch the evolution of this issue in the news.

IHE Integrating The Health Care Enterprise Home Care Path

IHE Integrating the health care enterprise is an initiative by health care professionals and industry partners to improve the way computer systems in the health care industry share information. Managing the sending and storage of health care information.

Hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are looking to medical information storage companies to assist them with strategies to improve health care for the consumer at the point of service. Health care providers need information storage partners that can help with access, adequate storage, and security requirements.

InSite One is a well known provider of medical information archiving, storage, and disaster recovery solutions to the health care delivery system. InSite One was founded in 1999 and headquartered in Wallingford CT. InSite One offers financing through InSite One Financial Services, making the service affordable to health care facilities of any size without major capital expenditures.

The expansion behind InSite One is related to its easy to use medical records storage systems. InSite One is different from other medical record storage services in that it stores not just printed records, but is able to store large copies of medical images. Essential information for the medical provider making decisions of care at the point of service.

On Wednesday December 22, 2010 Dell announced plans to purchase InSite One. This is expected to greatly enhance Dell's current record archiving service. This is all related to Federal guidelines regarding enhanced patient information sharing.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Privacy Notices Coming Home Care Path

Starting to see some privacy notices arrive in the mailbox. Basically privacy notices assure the consumer that the commerical use of their personal information respects certain principles. Most companies draft a privacy policy from industry standard principles which include:

Security- Take steps to assure that information collected from consumers is accurate and secure from unauthorized use.

Access- Consumers have a way to view, and challenge the accuracy and completeness of data being used in their behalf.

Choice- Consumers can identify the type and amount of information that can be used beyond the immediate data collection point.

Notice- Consumers are able to view a copy of the companies information practices before submitting personal information.

Privacy notices are monitored by the FTC The Federal Trade Commission under authority granted by Section 5 of the FTC Act which prohibits unfair or deceptive marketing practices. The FTC frowns on deceptive statements within privacy notices.

The value, and importance of a persons personal information is becoming more evident with the increased availability of computer data storage. Privacy notices communicate the companies understood responsibility for proper utilization of an individual's personal information.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Social Security Huge Pile Of Collected Money Home Care Path

Try to think of Social Security as a huge pile of money that is continually being collected. Every worker pays about 6.2 percent of their wages up to a cap of 106,800.00, and employers pay the same. The money you contribute is a part of the total amount collected, and not set in an individual account.

The money collected over the lifetime of a worker who dies before receiving a social security check, stays with this huge pile of money. The contributed money stays in the fund from which benefits are distributed to workers and their families. Benefits may be distrinuted to a widower, a surviving divorced husband, dependent parents, disabled children, and children if they have not reached adulthood. No money collected is ever refunded because a contributing worker did not live to receive a redistribution.

The aging population has not snuck up on the Social Security Administration. To prepare for the baby boomers retirement, Social Security has collected more money than it pays out in benefits. Surplus collected money goes into a trust fund and are invested in United States guaranteed Treasury bonds. This trust fund contained about 2.5 trillion (2009 figures) in bonds and was earning about 4.9 percent in interest. These bonds are just as legitimate as U.S. Treasury bonds held by mutual funds, or foreign banks.

Looking at Social Security as a huge pile of money that is continually collected and slowly redistrbuted helps readers identify the interest in Social Security. Social Security is a huge pile of money, and political groups enjoy having control over money. Social Security has not contributed to the United States deficit. The huge pile of collected money is projected to be more than 4.3 trillion dollars by 2023.

Medicare Part B 2011 Home Care Path

In 2011 Medicare Part B beneficiaries can expect to pay about the same 96.40 or 110.50 premium amount. Seniors who currently have the Social Security Administration withhold their Medicare Part B premium and have annual incomes of 85 thousand dollars or less (or 170,000. or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Medicare Part B premium.

For all others the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be 115.40 per month starting 2011. This is estimated to be about a four percent increase from 2010 levels.

How Do I Join Medicare part d ? Home Care Path

Medicare Part D is a federal program that came out of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage began January 1, 2006. Enrollment in Medicare Part D is voluntary.

Every year from November 15th to December 31 is an annual open enrollment period. During this time, seniors can enroll or choose to enroll in a different Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). To enroll in a Medicare part D drug plan, you must have Medicare A&B and live in the service area of the drug plan you choose.

Seniors with a home computer can go to www.medicare.gov and choose the medicare prescription drug plan finder prompt, going in to Part D prescription drug plans. Seniors without computer access can go to the county health office and request the assistance of a benefit specialist for the purpose of enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan.

Once you choose a Medicare part D Plan, you may be able to join by completeing a paper application, calling the plan, enrolling on the plans web site, or on www.medicare.gov . When you are joining you will have to provide your Medicare number and the dates your part A and B coverage started. This information is on the seniors Medicare card.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Judge Henry Hudson Rules against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Home Care Path

On Monday December 13, 2010 U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson Of The Eastern District of Virginia ruled against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The case was brought to Judge Henry Hudson by Virgina Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli was questioning congressional authority regarding an individual amendment to the internal revenue code that would tax citizens who do not have a valid pay source (health insurance) for being treated by a doctor in a clinic, hospital or nursing home.

Under the change the citizen can buy health insurance or they can pay a tax roughly equal to the cost of health insurance, which is then used to subsidize the government's health care program and families who wish to purchase health insurance. It is suggested this is similar to industrial taxes placed on businesses that do not comply with pollution standards.

Those arguing for state everyone will need medical services at some point in their lives and therefore is either a current or future participant in the health care delivery system market and therefore subject to taxation. The citizens with no valid pay source cannot be left to die on the hospital entrance.

Those arguing against state the U.S. government cannot declare a citizen a user of health care delivery service (clinic, hospital, nursing home) just to regulate behavior through a commerce clause. A person should be able to purchase health care service only when needed.

Portion of Judge Henry Hudsons Ruling: The unchecked expansion of congressional power to the limits suggested by the Minimum Essential Coverage Provision would invite unbridled exercise of federal police powers. At its core, this dispute is not simply about regulating the business of insurance, or crafting a scheme of universal health coverage, it is about an individual's right to choose to participate.

Readers recall that The Constitution is perceived to give the United States Congress the power to tax (collect money) and spend (redistribute money) for the genral welfare.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to continue to follow this legal proceeding as it unfolds.

Stable? Long Term Care Insurance Home Care Path

The need to insure against long term care risk has not changed. An aging population with the ability to live longer means an increased need for in home supportive care. But, the long term care insurance industry is facing some financial instability itself.

Insurance companies invest collected money in portfolio funds to help meet plan benefit pay outs. A one percent drop in interest rates requires the insurance company to collect an additonal 12 percent through a premium increase to compensate for the loss. Interest rates are at an all time low, driving up long term plan premiums.

Long term care insurance plans were assembled with the notion that larger numbers of users would stop paying premiums. Long term care policies require that customers keep current on premium payments from the time of purchase up intil the point when a claim is made. The health plan believed more would stop paying, lapsing coverage, meaning less pay out for the long term care insurance company. Less than estimated numbers of users have walked away from in force long term care policies. Long term care insurance companies have sought premium rate hikes through state insurance commissions to compensate for the perceived loss.

The surprise premium hikes have got consumers questioning the stability of the long term care insurance industry. The message from Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is remember we are in a changing health climate. The premium increases are a lead indication of coming long term care insurance industry changes. Expect the long term care insurance industry to market less expensive policies with more limited benefits. The industry will package plans to create a new attraction for the offerings. Some will combine a form a life insurance with some long term care products to keep the high end market interested.

Home Care Path encourages all seniors to meet with a qualified unbiased financial consultant prior to purchasing a long term care policy. Fee only financial planners often do not receive sales commissions for steering individuals into a specific product line.

Medical Copayment A Coinsurance? Home Care Path

A copayment or copay is paid by the insured senior each time a medical service is received. The copayment is often present with the clinic visit and the trip to the pharmacy. This additional investment by the consumer is a form of coinsurance.

The Health Insurance Industry has defined copayments slightly different to avoid categorization as a coinsurance. Typically coinsurance is a percentage of payment, after the deductible, up to a certain monetary limit. The coinsurance must be paid before any health insurance plan pays for a medical service. So coinsurance will contribute to a health care plans out of pocket maximum , but copayments do not.

Health insurance company's describe copayments as a way to share medical costs. Copayments are typically small but assigned to help prevent the insured population from seeking medical care that may not be necessary. The copay is said to be high enough to deter un-needed expenses, but low enough not to render the health insurance useless. Too high copays can result in non- use by the consumer for essential medical treatments and needed drugs.

Copayments on newer prescription drugs are usually the highest. Health plans list generic medications with similar benefits to move populations of users into less expensive drug options. The consumer is consistently being educated on the cost associated with health care delivery. Seniors are encouraged to ask for a receipt when paying copays with cash.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Vitamin D Winter Home Care Path

Seniors can benefit from Vitamin D. Vitamin D is a substance that promotes absoption of calcium in the bones. Calcium strengthens bones to reduce risk of fracture. Humans receive some Vitamin D with exposure to sunlight. Winter months can bring decreased exposure to sunlight, so including sources of vitamin D in the diet can help.

Food sources of vitamin D include: eel, pilchard, fresh sardines, fresh herring, red salmon, pink salmon, mackerel, salmon chinook, herring canned, salmon chum, tuna, and milk. Adequate sources of Vitamin D in the diet help support the seniors digestive system with absorption of the needed vitamin D.

The best sources of Vitamin D are fatty fish such as the salmon, sardines, and tuna. The richest source of vitamin D is believed to be the eel, which is often served at sushi bars.

Consider supplementing morning meals with a multi-vitamin which contains vitamin D. Taking the vitamin pill with food often improves absorption by the body for use.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com assists seniors with preparing grocery lists, and cooking meals, in the home.

Dementia Plan Of Care Home Care Path

This is a senior care plan for an individual who has altered thought processes related to the effects of dementia. The senior has a cognitive deficit that makes completeing ( 6 ADL's) bathing, dressing, meals, walking, transferring, toileting, on their own impossible. Note the senior may be able to perform on some of the ADL's (acitivites of daily living) on their own with cueing of another and this is encouraged to help maintain independence.

Concern: Altered thought processes related to the effects of dementia

Cause: diagnosis of dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, or cognitive deficit

Evidence:
1. Poor hygeine secondary to no bathing (bathing)
2. Wears same, unlaundered clothing secondary to difficulty dressing self. (dressing)
3. Limited food consumption related to little or no cooking in home kitchen.(meals)
4. Does not exit residence due to poor stance, unsteady gait.(walk)
5. Sits only in familir chair due to difficulty getting up.(transfer)
6. Unable to apply adult briefs to prevent soiling, wetting clothing. (toileting)

Intervention: With a diagnosis of dementia, the disease process is progressive, indicating the person will not begin to do better. Repetitive teaching with an individual who has a diagnosis of dementia has not proven to be effective. The senior with a diagnosis of dementia typically needs the assist of another throughout the day.

Senior Care worker would assist the senior to complete:
Recommendation is bath or shower at least every other day(bathing).
Recommendation is to be fully dressed in freshly laundered street clothes daily(dressing).
Recommendation is to have access to 3 meals per day(meals).
Recommendation is to provide cueing with any adaptive aids (cane, walker, wheel chair) to reduce falls (walking).
Recommendation is to assist with lying to seated to standing (transfers).
Recomendation is to schedule toileting, and protective wear changes (toileting)

This is a simplistic plan of care that demonstrates how memory loss can adversely effect a seniors ability to remian living in their own home. www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors residing in south central Wisconsin.

Vit C to fight gingivitis Home Care Path

Gingivitis is a disease process that effects the gums. Sailors in the 1300's who took long voyages at sea would report rotting gums. Long ago this was referred to as scourge, or scurvy. Sailors discovered the consumption of fresh citrus fruit could ward off this gum disease.

Nutritionist's now know the active ingredient in the fresh citrus fruit was Vitamin C. Excellent food sources of vitamin C include broccli, bell peppers, kale, cauliflower, strawberries, lemons, mustard and turnip greens, brussel sprouts, orange, and tomato to name a few.

Gingivitis starts with bleeding , swollen gums, collagen degenerates and teeth can become loose. If the individual is Vitamin C deprived, and begins to include Vit C sources in the diet the health of the gums can improve. Vitamin C can biochemically pep up the gums, bleeding decreases, white blood cell formation increases, collagen producing fibroblasts increases, making the gums look and feel better.

The clear message for healthy gums is to eat fruit and vegetables rich in Vitamin C.

Health Reform Global Payments Home Care Path

A stage of health care reform is payment reform. Global payments is part of a performance based health care system. Global payment structure will facilitate provider strategies such as, patient education, environmental assessments, mitigation of adverse health risks, and purchase of necessary durable health equipment.

Health care planners explain that the current fee for service payments, results in continual over use and mis- use of health resources. In the fee for service model health care professionals are paid more for ordering additional tests and procedures.

Global payments would include quality measures that give the consumers more confidence that decisions made about their care are patient focused and not driven by the desire to save money. The mission is to ensure quality and deliver health care at a cost sustainable level.

Global payments act by rewarding efficiency and higher quality. This includes supporting health care providers as they invest in patient centered models of care. A reduction in emergency room visits and re admission to hospitals indicates improved health for the community.

Global payments will be replacing fee for service.

Roth Conversion Home Care Path

With a traditional (IRA) individual retirement account, contributions can be tax deductible but then withdrawls will be fully taxable. With a Roth (IRA) individual retirement account , contributions are never tax deductible, but withdrawls can be tax free.

Starting this year , anybody with a traditional IRA is allowed to convert part or all of it to a Roth IRA, regardless of income or filing status. This conversions seems to allow for future gains in the IRA to be tax free in exchange for being taxed on the converted amount.

Seniors considering this conversion are encouraged to consult with a tax professional prior to making the change. Adding money to other taxable income for 2010 can change your tax bracket status. This can have an adverse effect on deductions, exemptions, and potential credits.

If you have already converted but find it is not really to your financial benefit you can reverse the conversion. Switching back is called recharacterization, and is accomplished with paperwork.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Bravo PH Monitoring System Home Care Path

Chronic heartburn related to acid reflux can be quite uncomfortable to live with. The Bravo PH (potential hydrogen) Monitoring System is a new high tech diagnostic test for acid reflux.

Symptoms of acid refulx include coughing, heartburn, regurgitation with eating or lying down after eating. Normal PH (potential hydrogen) for the esophagus is about 7.0. Abnormal back flow (reflux) of stomach acid in to the esophagus can lower PH below 7.0 for prolonged periods of time.

The Bravo PH Monitoring System includes a small PH capsule about the size of a gel cap. The Bravo capsule measures the PH of the esophagus and transmits the information to an exterior receiver worn on the belt like a cell phone.

The Bravo capsule is spontaneously detached from the esophagus and naturally eliminated from the body, after sending its information. After the test seniors return the Bravo receiver to the doctor and the information is printed out for viewing.

Seniors taking the Bravo PH test will be given a diary as well. Seniors would write in the diary the time reflux symtpoms are felt. With entry include time, food, fluid consumed, etc. This is the new high tech strategy for monitoring symptoms of heart burn.

Understanding Health Coverage Is Difficult Home Care Path

Health insurance coverage in the United States is very complex. Some health care experts feel the intimate role employers play in providing access to health coverage has become obsolete, or out dated. Years ago an individual could work for the same employer their entire life. Today employment consultants estimate working individuals will be employed in approximately 10 different settings.

The difficulty arises when the employee transfers from one work setting to the next. How does the health insurance coverage work then? National news reported Andy Harris a Maryland representative experienced this first hand. Andy Harris was confronted with (Waiting Period) a time of no health insurance coverage between employers. Andy harris made it clear through complaints that he did not like the loss of health insurance.

Public watch groups have picked up on newly elected Maryland Representative Andy Harris's complaints . Hoping to ride this wave of the publics attention by asking congressional represenatives to not take the government sponsored health care coverage. This would require congressional representatives to shop for and purchase private health care insurance.

Public watch groups explain this is precisely what many members of congress have been asking families to do for themsleves. This would prove tough for newly elected Maryland Rep Andy Harris, who was totally surprised at the waiting period requirement.

Groups working with the current health care reform will hold this up as an example of just how difficult, and complex the delivery of health care is in the United States. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to keep informed on the evolution of health care delivery taking place.

ADL Eating and Dementia Home Care Path

This is a senior care plan for an individual with dementia as relates to the ability to feed themselves. The senior has a cognitive deficit that makes creating a grocery list, going in to the store and picking out the food items on the list, getting the food items in appropriate home storage, assembling food items for meal preparation, cooking the food properly, serving the food on clean dining dishes, consuming the food, storing extra food, doing the dishes in a sanitary manner, impossible. The senior needs the assist of another person to eat daily.

Concern : Altered nutrition, less than body requirements, related to inability to procure food.

Cause: Diagnosis of dementia, alzheimer's disease, cognitive deficit.

Evidence: Loss of body weight, reduced daily food and fluid intake, limited amount of food in refridgerator-freezer, presence of expired foods, senior does not leave residence, limited or no garbage refuse.

Intervention: With a diagnosis of dementia, alzheimer's disease,chronic cognitive deficit, the disease process is progressive indicating the person will not begin to do better. Teaching a person with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or chronic cognitive deficit is not proven to be effective. The senior typically needs the assist of another to meet their daily nutritional and hydration needs.

Senior care worker can assist the elder with meals in the home.
1. Create a grocery list from seniors likes, dislikes in food and fluid.
2. Go to the grocery store, choosing economically appropriate foods on shelves.
3. Transport the purchased food to the seniors home for storage in regridgeration, freezer, cupboard shelves.
4. Assemble the food's needed for preparing a meal.
5. Properly cook the meal.
6. Serving the food in clean dining dishes.
7. Assisting the senior with reminders, and cues to completely eat the served food.
8. Store any extra prepared food in the refridgerator in sanitary containers.
9. Cleanse the dishes, dry them thoroughly, and store them in cupboard.

This is a simple plan that focuses on the activity of daily living eating for person who has memory difficulty. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com assists seniors in South Central Wisconsin with non-medical in home custodial tasks.

Funds Performance Home Care Path

Many seniors look to funds that invest in stocks as a way to enhance the estate. The words in a funds prospectus can often mask returns. Past performance numbers can be used to indicate risk.

Try to view the funds historical figures in graph form. Determine average annual return over the last 10 years. Then observe year by year results for a ten year period. The fund may show an acceptable average return, but the year to year graph can show wild swings. This shows the funds volitility.

Over the ten year period compare the funds return to an appropriate index, or bench mark. Is the fund down, when the index is down. Or does the fund consistently trail behind the chosen index, bench marks.

Realize a fund can be losing money and claim to be beating the market in a defined time frame. The fund is just not losing as much money as the market in this defined time frame.

Evaluate returns during identified bear markets. Then look at returns in the worst 12 month period. Note the worst 12 month period does not have to run January to December. This can speak to potential losses.

Financial planners look at a funds worst draw down, the maximum cumulative loss. Reviewing loss from peak to trough is considered the ultimate measure of a funds risk.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to meet with a qualified financial planner when considering stock and mutual fund investing.

What Are ADL's Home Care Path

ADL's are activites of daily living. Activites of daily living are the things we can do on our own when younger throughout the day. ADL's help us live independently. Simply waking up, jumping out of bed, and getting dressed is performing activites of daily living. Belwo are some ADL's.

Eating is an ADL. Can the senior prepare a meal and eat it on their own.

Bathing is an ADL. Can the senior do their own shower completing oral, and hair care.

Dressing is an ADL. Can the senior dress themselves in freshly laundered street clothes approprate for the season.

Toileting is an ADL. Can the senior urinate and have a bowel movement in the toilet on their own, and clean self up after.

Transferring is an ADL. Can the senior get in and out of chairs, vehicles, etc. on their own.

Incontinnence is an ADL. Can the senior use the adult breifs, or pads on their own to reduce skin damage with incontinence.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff help seniors who experience a loss of the ability to perform activites of daily living on their own. This is a way of helping seniors maintain their independence.

Aligning Forces For Quality Hospital Quality Network Home Care Path

Aligning Forces For Quality Hospital Network (AF4Q) is a National Improvement Program funded through The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Aligning Forces For Quality (AF4Q) is The Robert Wood Johnsons authorized effort to lift the overall quality of health care in 17 targeted regions, as well as reduce racial and ethnic disparities and provide models for reform.

The AF4Q Hospital Quality Network includes three separate quality improvement initiatives aimed at helping hospitals improve care delivery. Hospitals throughout the United States (Mile Bluff Medical Center of Mauston Wisconsin is participating) will pilot health care delivery improvement strategies.

Reducing readmissions is one of the three quality improvement initiatives. This will help hospitals improve care for heart failure patients, ultimately reducing costly and avoidable readmissions.

Increasing Throughput will focus on emergency care. Increasing throughput will utilize real patient provider interactions to improve pace and efficiency of patients moving through the hospital emergency room setting. The flow of patient treatment and release, or admission and transfer to appropriate department will be examined.

Improved Language Services will help the hospital improve care for patients who speak or understand limited English. Trained medical interpreters are to be available with the admission and discharge process to improve patient - provider communication.

Participating hospitals will commit to 18 months, with collecting and submitting required data. Hospitals participating in the pilot demonstrate to the community a leadership role in improving patient care and overall health outcomes.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Dr. Donald M. Berwick Home Care Path

Dr. Donald M. Berwick is the chief of Medicare and Medicaid programs. President Barack Obama nominated Dr. Donald M. Berwick in April of 2010. President Barack Obama appointed Donald M. Berwick in July of 2010.

Dr. Donald M. Berwick presides over a budget that exceeds that of the United States Pentagon. The Medicare and Medicaid programs provides health care to nearly one third of all Americans , spending more than 800 billion per year.

Dr. Donald M. Berwick stated new health law explicitly protects the guaranteed Medicare benefits on which so many seniors and individuals with disabilites rely. The new health law will not cut the guaranteed benefits, nor will it ration care.

Medicare and Medicaid programs redistribute State and Federal collected dollars to health care providers in local communities throughout the United States. The competition to control the distribution of this large pot of money is enormous.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodail care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Change Available Phone Books Home Care Path

Technology has started to change the value of a phone book directory. Telephone companies have reduced the frequency of new issue releases, and are moving away from mass printed residential phone listings. Fewer people are using the phone book directories.

More and more households have been using cell phones as the primary phone line. Typically cell phone numbers are not included in the phone book directory. Cell phones are now capable of storing frequently called numbers.

More households have a computer with online access. Families will go on line to find a phone number, rather than thumb through the printed phone listings in a book. Computer providers boast families can find a phone number quicker by searching an online data base, than working through the white pages of a phone book.

Phone companies have been highlighting the environmental savings (less paper use) to encourage the public to shift from printed phone book directories, to online data bases. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com questions if the printed phone book directories will go like the pay phone booths that once adorned every street corner in America.

Holiday Gift Cards Home Care Path

Holiday gift giving is fast approaching. Gift cards are becoming popular because they are easy to grab and allow the person to choose an item they want. Gift cards are not quite the same as cash. August 2010 gift card regulations became effective.

A gift card will not expire for at least five years after the date of purchase. The money listed on the card should not expire for at least seven years.

If a purchased gift card expires but there is money left on it, a replacement card can be requested at no cost.

Fees can only be charged if they are clearly stated on the card packaging. Inactivity and other fees are banned in the first year.

After one full year there can only be one single monthly fee such as inactivity or usage fee.

The store will still charge a fee to buy the gift card, and for a replacement card if it is lost or stolen.

These regulations apply only to gift cards being sold now. Similar looking rebate cards or general purpose pre paid cards on not covered by these regulations. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff assist seniors with the purchase and wrapping of holiday gifts.

Long Term Care Premium Deductibility Limits 2011

Premiums for qualified long term care insurance policies are tax deductible. Qualified policies are issued after January 1, 1997 and adhere to certain requirements. There is a limit on how large a premium can be deducted, depending on the age of the tax payer. Below are 2011 listed limits:

Age 40 or less your maximum deduction for the year 2011 is 340.00

More than 40 but less than 50 your maximum 2011 deduction is 640.00

More than 50 but less than 60 your maximum 2011 deduction is 1,270.00

More than 60 but less than 70 your maximum 2011 deduction is 3,390.00

More than 70 years of age your maximum 2011 deduction is 4, 240.00

This is a simplified guide and Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages all seniors to consult with a qualified accountant during the tax preparation process.

Choosing Estate Executer Home Care Path

When choosing an executor for your estate you will want someone you can trust. Can they communicate with the family and understand the financial tasks. Can you explain some of the duties to them.

Probating the will, getting federal tax number for the estate, and hiring an attorney if need be.

Locating and listing all of the estate's assets. Where is the all property, life insurance policies, and bank accounts.

Valueing the assets. Appraisals for jewelry, art, real estate and business interests.

Identify which assets will pass through probate, and which can go directly to the beneficiaries.

Identifying and collecting assets owed to the estate before death occurred.

Identifying and paying any debts owed by the estate.

Arranging for living expenses for dependent survivors.

Paying all court and administrative fees.

Filing a final personal income tax return, the estate's federal and state income tax return,

Distributing remaining assets to the designated heirs.

Closing out the estate to the satisfaction of the court.

This is an over simplified list of critical estate executors tasks. This is shown to provide the viewer with an understanding of the complexity, and the time investment required in handling an estate. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to consult with a reputable lawyer during the process of selecting an estate executor.

COLA Social Security Home Care Path

COLA stands for cost of living adjustment. Annually seniors receiving social security benefits would be given a cost of living adjustment. This has been seen as a raise in the seniors social security monthly check.

The United States Congress enacted the COLA provision as part of the 1972 Social Security Amendements. Automatic annual COLA's began in 1975. Before this social security benefits increased only when Congress enacted special legislation.

Currently the U.S. Government has announced no cost of living raises for social security recipients in 2011. This will be the second year in a row that social security benefit checks have not been adjusted upward for inflation.

President Obama has called for a 250 dollar payment for social security recipients as part of an economic stimulus package. This would help off set the increased cost of medical expenses, which rise beyond figures that project inflationary levels.

Funeral Trust Home Care Path

Setting up a funeral trust is an asset retention strategy. A way to keep as much money with the members of the household as possible. This is a way for seniors to pre pay for funeral expenses.

You establish a funeral trust by depositing money in to an interest bearing trust account. Seniors can open an individual trust account with a bank and deposit their money in a savings account or certificate of deposit.

A funeral trust allows some flexibility for the family in picking a funeral home provider. A funeral trust is pre paying your funeral expenses with a tax benefit. Money left to family can be subject to estate taxes, which can be significantly higher than regular income tax. The senior invests money on funeral expenses while alive, this money is no longer subject to higher estate taxes upon death.

Consider purchasing cemetery property , choosing a stone, and having it set, prior to death. Getting these funeral items in place ahead of death can minimize stress and anxiety for surviving family. This greatly reduces the anticipated total funeral expenses at the time of the seniors death.

The funeral directors practice evolves and changes as time goes by. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com encourages seniors to make an informed choice that will result in the most benefit to the family's they love.

Customs Declaration CN 22 Home Care Path

With the gift giving season approaching many items will be shipped outside of the United States through the Postal System. Objects being sent beyond United States borders will require a custom's form. Customs forms are available through the local Post Office. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com advises seniors to keep an extra customs form in the home for gift mailing. Forms can be completed ahead, in the home setting, to reduce time in the post office.

The most used customs form is the Customs Declaration CN22. Often seen in racks at the Post Office waiting areas. Measures about 7.5 inches long and about 4 inches tall. Tan tone on the left side, white on the right. Corregated to allow the postal clerk to tear a portion free and apply to the package you are sending.

On the right side you fill in your name and address as the sender. Below you fill in the name and address of the receiver. Below this you sign and date the form.

On the left side you check ths box "Gift" at the top. Middle left you hand write a description of the object being sent, for example "Belt Buckle". To the right of the description you write an estimate of the value, say belt buckle "5.00". Down below you sign and date the form for a second time.

The postal clerk will weigh your package and write the weight in to the box between Description and Value on the tan tone left side. The postal clerk will seperate the tan paper from the white portion on the right. The tan side is applied directly on the package by the postal clerk.

The cost to mail the package will depend on the weight and the zone area the receiver's address falls in to. Home Care Path staff help the senior to wrap the package as small and safe as possible. More economical shipping for the holiday season.

Equity Indexed Annuities Home Care Path

Equity indexed annuities also known as fixed index insurance products, and indexed annuities, have been strongly marketed to Wisconsin consumers. An annuity is a contract between the senior and the insurance company , in which the company promises to make payments to the senior. If the senior must wait to receive payments, it is a defferred annuity. If the payments begin immediately the senior has an immediate annuity.

With a fixed annuity the insurance company pays a set amount to the senior regardless of the performance of the stock. So less risk. With a variable annuity the rate of return is not set but depends on the performance of the stock. So more risk. Equity indexed annuities fall in between these two.

Equity indexed annuities have characteristics of both fixed and varaible annuities. The return on an equity indexed annuity varies more than a fixed annuity, but not as much as a variable annuity. Equity indexed annuities give more risk than the fixed annuity but this include more potential for return. The equity indexed annuity gives you less risk than a variable annuity , but this includes less potential for return.

Equity indexed annuities provide a guaranteed interest rate combined with an interest rate linked to a market index. Market index is a value placed on the performance of a specific group of stocks. The return on market index linked interest is related to several defined features.

If the insurance company lowers the participation rate, or cap rate, of the equity indexed annuity this can contribute to a lower return. If the insurance company increases the spread, asset, margin fees, this can contribute to a lower return. So how the equity indexed annuities index linked interest rate is computed, can be complex.

Equity indexed annuities are considered long term investments. Getting out early can result in a loss. Many plans offer about 90 percent return on premiums you pay in, and about 3 percent interest. Seniors and families are encouraged to consult a financial advisor to best explain equity indexed annuities.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Patient Portals Home Care Path

Patient portals offer a senior access to health care providers through the computer. Patient portals are described as having the ability to save both the patient and the health care provider time. This increases efficiency and productivity. The patient is interacting with their own medical information through the home computer screen.

The patient portal offers a secure connection with the seniors health information over the computer. Portals are bound by HIPAA regulations. A patient portal could allow the senior to register and update required clinic forms on line before the doctor visit to save time in the waiting room. A patient portal would allow seniors to request prescription refills, or view recent lab reports through the internet.

Patient portals provide a safe connection to the one health care organization. A senior using the services of multiple health care organizations would be required to log in to each orgaization individually. This leaves the senior with a fragmented view of their health information.

The use of patient portals will eventually evolve to a complete conversion to a full blown electronic medical records system. Personal health records would become more commonly shared between organizations. The improved availability of information would include privacy and security. The senior would be able to access medical records in one spot on a home computer screen. Faster and more convenient for the senior.

Generic Medication Accepted? Home Care Path

In 2007 the FDA Launched the Generic Initiative For Value and Efficiency (GIVE) program. The program utilized existing resources helping the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modernize and streamline the generic drug approval process. The result of the program is a reduction in the huge back log of abbreviated new drug applications for generic drugs.

A generic drug is a copy of a medication approaching patent expiration. A generic drug must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. The FDA uses pharmokinetic and pharmodynamic properties to determine the bioequivalence a generic drug has to the brand name medication. Bioequivalent requirements improve consumer confidence when the drugs dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and intended use all match up.

The generic drug and the brand name drug are not identical twins. For example , the use of salt or ester as close variation of original chemical ingredient can be a visible label difference. Drug patents traditionally give twenty years of protection. The patent clock starts ticking during clinical drug trials so the market protection of a drug patent is about seven to twelve years. When the generic drug becomes available the market competition leads to lower prices for both generic and brand name.

Health insurance providers as well as consumers seem to want the lower priced generic medication. Drug manufacturers have adapted to the consumers increased acceptance of generic medications with preemptive processes. The processes have created generic products ready for FDA approval. Faster in store appearance results in a larger market share for the participating drug manufacturer.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

What's a Formulary Tier Home Care Path

A formulary is a list of drugs your plan will cover. Drugs on the formulary are grouped in to tiers. The co-payment you pay is determined by the tier that your medication falls under. Tier one will have the lowest co-payment and usually include generic medications.

Tier two has a higher co-payment than tier one and usually includes preferred brand name medications. The plan may have negotiated a lower purchase price with the pharmaceutical company for a preferred brand name drug. This lower price allows the drug to be placed in tier two rather than tier three.

Tier three has the highest co-payment and usually includes non-preferred brand name medications. The health plan will place medication on tier three because it is new, or not fully proven to be effective for the described use. The medication can be in tier three because there is a similar drug on a lower tier of the formulary, that may provide you with the same benefit, at a lower cost.

Some plans will provide the consumer with a list of medications not covered. Typical non- covered drugs include over the counter medications, and some weight loss drugs.

Chronic Nausea Home Care Path

Chronic nausea is an upset stomach that happens frequently over time. Often accompanied by gagging or vomiting. What you eat or drink is very important if you have nausea or vomiting. You do not want to contribute to stomach acid and the burning sensation.

Start by drinking clear liquids to settle your stomach. It is best to sip them slowly, two ounces at a time, no chugging. Two favorites are warm and salty bouillon and room temperature gatorade which also has some salt and sugar. Warm is easy on the stomach. The salt is good to restore electrolytes after vomiting so you do not get dehydrated.

Avoid juices, especially citrus juices. Lemon, lime, orange juice would be too irritating for an already upset stomach. Warm, not hot fluids seem to do the best. Avoid carbonation in beverages. If you must have coke or 7up open them and let them go flat before consuming. The gassiness can distend the stomach further irritating it. The fizz causes belching which contributes to heart burn and acid reflux. Coffee and plain tap water do not seem to provide comfort to the upset stomach. Warm tea has been known to soothe a stomach.

Once you find the fluid type, amount, and temperature that your stomach can tolerate you can use again as bit of a remedy. You can decide what makes you more comfortable.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Baraboo Wisconsin ADRC Living Well Expo Home Care Path

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com will be participating in The Living Well Expo scheduled for Thursday, October 28, 2010 at the Baraboo High School 1201 Draper Street Baraboo Wisconsin 53913 from 9am to 2pm. Organized by the Sauk County (ADRC) Aging and Disability Resource Center.

The theme is a baseball step up to the plate subject. The atmosphere is light, and fun. Intended to give participants a glimpse of the services available to all in the community. Did I mention the door prizes. The focus is on community education.

The booths will be organized to allow for wide, clear walk ways. Home Care Path will have a variety of hand outs available for the participants to take home. A desk size sheet that lists all the normal ranges for laboratory values. Star gazers can stop by and pick up a lamintated card with their sun sign horoscope information on it. Some Living Well Expo post cards with postage already on will allow participants to fill out a note and drop it in the mail for a friend.

Home Care Path will be in booth 43 near stage area with chairs for seating. Home Care Path provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin. Please check out the Senior Care Industry blog http://homecarepathseniorcare.blogspot.com

Home Care Path encourages participants to visit all the booths presenting at the Living Well Expo. Getting together at the Baraboo Wisconsin High School will be a fun, fall event.

Bigfoot Zipline 1550 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy Home Care Path

On Tuesday October 5, 2010 Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com participated in a corporate team building seminar. The seminar took place at Big Foot Zipline 1550 Wisconsin Dells Park Way. The focus was long term clarity about what Home Care Path as a corporation is trying to accomplish for seniors despite the seemingly hectec , urgent, activites of the moment staff can experience.

Home Care Path staff were instructed to envision themselves as having accomplished corporate goals while expecting personal ,professional growth. The BigFoot Zipline 1550 Wisconsin Dells Park Way was the perfect setting for this corporate event. Nestled in a very rustic, wilderness area. Cat tails reach up to meet mallard ducks, and gulls in flight. Visible fish swim the waters below.

Home Care Path staff commented repeatedly on how competent and happy the staff working on Big Foot Zipline appeared. The seminar was approximately 2.5 hours long. Home Care Path staff felt they were treated equally, yet with a magical touch of individualized attention. Big Foot Zipline staff were able to step beyond the memorized talks to actually connect with Home Care Path participants.

Standing on the zipline release platforms, Home Care Path staff were instructed to take in the larger picture. Look back at where you have been, and forward to where you are going. Recognize the achievement in simply getting to where you are now. Home Care Path staff were very pleased with the construction of the platforms. Release platforms had wide stair ways with deep steps. Secure railings with platform landings scattered throughout the incline to accomidate short rest periods. Up top was lot of standing room, with sturdy fencing, and benches for seated rest. The landing end of the zipline had a wide roofless garage like appearance. Home Care Path staff expressed a sense of safety with the large landing area where the Bigfoot Zipline guide catches incoming participants. Soft vertical thick pillow like pads adorn the rear of the landing. Both release and landing platforms appear to be anchored in cement pillar foundations like one would see on a high way bridge.

Home Care Path staff enjoyed the base camp experience, where participants are trained to use the Big Foot Zipline. Out in the field with each platform Big Foot guides provided more indepth training. Home Care Path staff were instucted to avert attention from how rocky the sea was to better concentrate on how they planned to bring the ship in. Envision on how you will land upon the next platform. Doing your own part but supporting the other participants along the way. The rustic trails between platforms were clear and easy to navigate. The setting was salted with eye catching attractions. A large crocodile statue, black bear mounts in the tree, turkey on the post, and a traditional native american in full head dress to name a few.

Big Foot Zipline guides apply the harness and double check the harness prior to each glide. Home Care Path staff were reminded while on the zipline of being a player in the game and experiencing all the relevant sensations. Once the glide is complete, participants remain on the landing platform observation area. The player has become the spectator like watching themselves in a home movie. Home Care Path staff are encouraged to recognize how both the role of the player and the spectator contribute to their growth.

Home Care Path staff whole heartedly agreed nothing can compare to the thrill received from completing the Big Foot Zipline course. Staff described over coming fears, improved team work, and a better understanding of the important service Home Care Path provides to the community. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com would like readers to consider this as a corporate reference for the BigFoot Zipline 1550 Wisconsin Dells Parkway. Home Care Path staff would encourage any organization considering a team building function to utilize the service of The BigFoot Zipline. We loved it, and will be back!!!

Preserving Social Security Home Care Path

Social Security provides a lifetime income annuity(recurring payments) with onset approximately 65 years of age. Social Security adjusted for inflation pays a set monthly amount for life. Legislator's continue to recognize the importance of maintaining the financial contract that provides payments (monthly distribution) for a person's life time. Social Security is peace of mind.

The Presidential Administration has used budgetary regulations to insure mandates to preserve Social Security can be met. The administration has increased the budget for The Social Security Administration for 1.1 billion dollars above 2009 levels. Mandates to support Social Security will be carried out by the administration if the budget assigns public money to fuel the change. The added budgetary funds require The Social Security Administration to increase 2010 (more jobs) staffing to better provide needed services.

The Social Security Administration will enhance services like processing initial retirement, disability claims, and disability appeals. Staff will need to verify hundreds of millions of Social Security numbers as well as ongoing issuing of 18 million Social Security cards. Systems will need to be advanced to insure Social Security benefits (public money) are paid only to eligible beneficiaries and in the correct amounts.

Baby Boomers have come to realize Social Security is an annuity that will provide a bigger return if you live a long life and keep collecting for many years. Social Security generates an income for your houshold upon retirement. Legislator's have stated Social Security is probobly the most important and most successful program that the United States has ever established.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a senior care industry site with free access

Health Reform Improved Information Sharing Home Care Path

Health care reform challenges health delivery systems to improve information sharing. Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) will be required to work together sharing information as a way to demonstrate improved quality and efficiency.

Accountable Care Organizations will interconnect network health care providers throughout the defined service area. The service area will be larger, regions. An integrated information system will provide each of the participating health network providers a means to accurately identify patients and quickly aggregate, consolidate key electronic portions of their medical records. Less time, less labor, more money available to serve patients.

An emergency room nurse could retrieve a presenting patients medical records (emergency department, clinical notes, discharge summaries, lab-pathology-radiology results, prescription, referral data, and more) immediately. The information on the nurses computer screen would be an accumulation of all past visits recorded by participating network providers. This reduces duplication. Patient satisfaction is improved as they are not sent home to try an earlier prescribed treatment that did not help.

This is a network of health care providers capable of sharing patient specific information. Critical data can be drawn from all providers serving the region in which the patient resides. Safer prescribing. Patients will begin to expect the benefits of expansion in data sharing. The focus is on improving the quality of health care across the region through enabling technology that links care givers through a common system , with key patient data. Better for patients and health care system delivery costs are reduced.

Cranberries in Garden Home Care Path

Cranberry (vaccinium) has strong antibiotic properities with unusual abilities to prevent infectious bacteria from sticking to cells lining the bladder and urinary tract. Thus, it helps prevent recurring urinary tract (bladder) infections. Cranberry also has antiviral activity.

Cranberries can be grown in a raised bed of sand and peat. Gardeners allow one foot between plants and sides of the bed, and two feet between plants. Take about one half foot of the top soil away. Now add a half and half mixture of peat and sand to fill in the six inches you removed. Gardeners recommend adding bone meal (1 cup), epsom salt (1cup), and rock phosphate (1cup) to the peat and sand mixture.

Set your cranberry plants slightly lower than the surface. Fertilize with high nitrogen emulsion in spring and again when the fruit sets. Cranberries do not adapt to a high ph (potential hydrogen) soil mix. The longer cranberries stay on the bush the sweeter they become. Try to hold off untill the first heavy frost.

Researchers no longer believe cranberries raise the urine to high acidic concentrations. Any acidic effect of cranberries is very mild, not likely to be harmful or irritating to the bladder.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides nonmedical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Medicare Gain Sharing Program Home Care Path

Section 1899 of the Social Security Act governs the new Medicare Gain Sharing Program. The law was created by section 3022 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The newly enacted health care reform law facilitates the option for health care providers to form Accountable Care Organizations (ACO's).

Accountable Care Organizations (ACO's) are networks of physicians and other health care providers that could work together to improve the quality of health care services and reduce costs for a defined patient population. Providers participating in an Accountable Care Organization network will take responsibility for quality and over all care of their Medicare patients. Medicare will then share with the Accountable Care Organization network providers the savings from improved quality, fewer hospitalizations, and elimination of unnecessary costs.

Guidelines will list the strategies for improving patient care quality. Strategies will include national quality measures, evidenced based medicine, patient centered care delivery, advanced care coordination, information sharing, and freedom to choose providers. These strategies are thought to reduce barriers and help providers better work together.

The health care reform law establishes a Medicare Gain Sharing Program for Accountable Care Organization's to take effect no later than January 2012. The law makes contracts with the Accountable Care Organizations a permanent option under Medicare. The Secretary of The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be the authority of Medicare Gain Sharing Program delivery ,design, and evolution. An Accountable Care Organization will be required to demonstrate an ability to serve the defined Medicare population for a period of at least three years.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin.

Hospital Discharge Planning Home Care Path

Hospital discharge planning is defined by Medicare as a process used to decide what a patient needs for a smooth transition from one level to another. Medicare requires that the hospital discharge plan be safe and adequate. The Patient Protection and Affordability Act H.R. 3590 was signed by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Section 2717 describes a process to monitor hospital readmissions and improve patient safety. Section 3025 describes financial incentives to encourage hospitals to reduce readmissions. House H.R. 3962 Section 1151 adjusts payments to hospitals to reduce potentially preventable readmissions.

The legislation will result in hospitals putting more emphasis on discharge planning. Discharge from a hospital does not mean the patient has fully recovered. Discharge from a hospital means an M.D. has decided that the patient has reached a stable condition and does not need to be hospitalized anymore. Hospital discharge planners will need to make sure patients are receiving more appropriate follow up care.

Families will have to be sure there are no inaccurate assumptions with the hospital discharge plan. Be clear about what the family will be required to do for the patient when they arrive home. If an agency is coming in to help the patient, make sure the workers are in place. If discharge is to a nursing home be sure the location is close enough to accomidate family visits.

Right Brain Thinker Home Care Path

Each half of the human brain has its own strengths and weaknesses. Right brain thinkers have their own way of processing information. Right brained thinkers (unconscious mind) can be very spontaneous and creative. Right brain thinkers experience rapid, complex, and spatial thoughts. Right brain thinkers have access to depth of mind and can be proficient with symbols. Characteristics attributed to the right brain thinker indlude:
1. playful in solving problems
2. respond to events with emotion
3. interpret body language easily
4. have a good sense of humor
5. process information subjectively
6. improvise
7. use metaphors and analogoies when describing something
8. deal with several problems at once
9. use hands a lot in conversation
10. notice patterns and think in pictures
11. see solutions as approximate and evolving
12. not realize all that you know

Aricept Alzheimer's Disease Home Care Path

Alzheimer's disease causes severe progressive deterioration in mental function with subtle , insidious onset. So the duration and rate of progression varies with each individual. Alzheimer's disease causes changes to the brain which results in a disruption to the flow of information. The physical changes to the brain are seen as loss of memory, slowed thinking, and inappropriate behaviors.

Aricept (Donepezil Hydrochloride) is frequently prescribed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The undesired symptoms (memory loss, slow thinking, inappropriate behaviors) do not take up residence as quick. The progression (frequency and intensity) of the symptoms is stalled, slowed down. Aricept is most effective when prescribed early in the Alzheimer's disease process.

The usual starting dose for Aricept is 5 milligrams once per day at bedtime for at least 4 to 6 weeks. The prescribing provider may increase the dose to 10 milligrams per day as after the 4 to 6 weeks. Aricept can be taken with or without food.

To maintain improvement Aricept must be taken regularly. If Aricept is stopped the benefits will soon be lost. To further complicate matters Aricept must be taken daily for at least 3 weeks before any desired benefits begin to show up. Be patient and keep taking Aricept as the provider has prescribed. So, if Aricept is not taken daily on a regular basis, it will not work.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non medical in home custodial care for seniors in South Central Wisconsin.

Flu Shots 2010 Home Care Path

It is that time of year again. This is the time the influenza virus, called the flu can start to spread. The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) will make the flu vaccine available nation wide.

Symptoms of the flu include aches, chills, fever, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Flu symptoms are tradtionally treated with over the counter (no Doctor prescription required) medications. Additonal strategies involve adequate fluid, extra rest, and small meals.

The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) recommend everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu shot during the 2010 flu season. Health providers encourage individuals with chronic health conditions, residents of nursing homes, health care professionals, pregnant woman, child care and day care workers to be sure and get their flu shot.

Who should not just go get a flu shot? The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) recommends you consult with your primary MD before getting a flu shot if you have ever had an allergic reaction to eggs, or a previous flu shot. People with a history of Guillain Barre( primarily affects the motor and autonomic peripheral nerves-symetric weakness) syndrome. Persons who have cold like symptoms should talk to the doctor or nurse about getting a flue shot at a later date (after symptoms have gone away).

Seniors can receive a flu shot by going in to the primary medical doctors office, attending a flu shot clinic conducted in a community setting, and many pharmacy's can inject the flu vaccine.

ER Doctor Home Care Path

Doctor's working in the emergency room of a hospital must be attentive to the needs of all patients. Whether the patient has a serious trauma or not , it is their emergency, and the doctor will need to acknowledge that. Emergency room doctors interact with a wide variety of people with every possible condition.

Emergency room doctors are skilled at managing the room. Managing the room involves ensuring that all patients receive the treatment they need in a timely manner. This includes identifying the prioritized situations that require immediate attention.

During busy periods patients with minor medical emergencies may need to wait while the emergency room doctors tend to the needs of those with life threatening conditions. Emergency room doctors have been trained to jump right in and do what needs to be done, to treat the patients promptly.

Emergency rooms are usually attached to community hospitals. Emergency rooms in rural settings can be busy serving area residents, summer employees, and visiting tourists. The emergency room doctor in a rural setting may be called to treat farming accidents, ski hill falls, factory mishaps, motor vehicle accidents, camping injuries, and more.

Communities have grown to expect the emergency room doctor to be on duty around the clock ready to treat the injuries and illnesses of patients from near and far. Doctors who stay in the practise of emergency room medicine typically like the busy pace and varied nature of care. Thank you emergency room doctors for the great service you provide to local communities.

Free Checking Home Care Path

Financial advisors have encouraged seniors to look to banks for free checking. With interest rates so low it has become better to choose a checking account that pays no interest, but also does not charge a monthly fee.

Banks consistently alter service to enhance revenue allowing them to continue to serve the community. Some banks have eliminated free checking accounts and raised minimum balance requirements as a way to increase revenue.

Start by asking your bank if they have a checking account that would be lower priced than your current checking account. Explain you are looking for free checking. This would be a checking account with no minimum balance requirement, no per check charge, and no monthly or annual maintenance fee.

Seniors searching for free checking are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit and electronic statements. With direct deposit money is routed from the payer electronically and listed to your checking account. The labor for this transaction is minimized. Electronic statements eliminate the labor and shipping cost of batching and delivering actual checks to the seniors residence. Both of these services save the bank money which could be passed on to the consumer.

Financial advisors prefer no maintenance fee checking accounts, that can be linked to savings accounts, or other accounts that can count toward any minimum balance requirement. All banks are looking to serve more consumers which has resulted in a healthy competition. Most banks would rather assist the senior to best meet their needs than lose them to a competing bank.

After The Funeral Home Care Path

After the funeral family will have to face the task of paying the deceased's final bills. taxes, and debts. This begins with applying for survivor's benefits. You will need a certified copy of the death certificate, insurance policy numbers, and proof that you are the beneficiary. You may need to file a claim to the following sources of income and savings.
cash on hand
checking accounts
savings accounts
employer paychecks
company pensions
life insurance policies
individual or group health insurance
accident insurance
disability income insurance
long term care insurance
private association and fraternal insurance
annuities
retirement accounts
tax refunds
trusts
money owed
security deposits
social security benefits
veterans administration benefits
railroad retirement benefits
teacher's retirement benefits
civil service benefits
union benefits
There may be less obvious sources like frequent flyer miles, or some credit card companies may provide certain entitlement upon death. To collect the funds, the legal heirs will need to contact each individual source directly. Having the accompanying paper documents available when you contact can make things go smoother. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com assists seniors with organizing important papers.

Vital Signs Home Care Path

Traditonal medical vital signs include temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. The normal range for oral temperature is 97.6 to 99.6 degrees.

Pulse counts the number of times the heart beats per minute. The normal range for pulse is 55-100 beats of the heart per minute.

Respiration counts the number of breaths taken per minute. The normal range for respiration is 12-20 breaths per minute.

The average blood pressure reading is 120/80. Medical providers like the top number to be below 140 and the bottom number to be below 90.

An additonal medical vital sign that has been talked about is pain. Patients are asked on a scale of one to ten, 1 being least and 10 being worst, what number value would you place on your pain today.

Senior care providers have a different type of vital signs for helping elders in their homes.

Does the senior have a primary doctor they are seeing on a regular basis.

Does the senior have a pharmacy that allows them to get the medication they need and is it being taken in the home setting.

Does the senior have a medicare part d plan that helps cover the cost of medications.

Does the senior have a grocery store that allows them to get food and are they eating three balanced meals per day.

Does the senior have connections to family and friends in the community that results in regular visits.

Does the senior wear freshly laundered clothing.

Has the seniors hygeine pattern remained consistent.

Does the seniors residence provide heat/ air conditioning, lights, and properly working communication devices like a phone and computer.

Does the senior have a plan for getting help nwhen they need it.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com provides non-medical in home custodial care for seniors in south central Wisconsin.

Senior Guest Auditor Home Care Path

The University of Wisconsin (UW) has hundreds of college credit courses available to senior state residents on an audit basis. Senior auditors can sit in on lecture courses and learn from UW faculty wihtout the obligation of tests or assignments. Senior guest auditors (60 years of age or older) do not have to pay tuition. Class participation is passive, but regular attendance is required.

The senior is eligible to audit UW courses if they are 60 or more years of age, can prove permanent residency in Wisconsin, and have an interest in learning. At least three weeks before classes start complete an application from The Adult and Student Services Center (ASSC 608-263-6960 assc@dcs.wisc.edu). Once accepted you will receive permission to enroll forms. The permission to enroll forms are submitted to the class instructor and expectations are reviewed.

Once accepted senior guest auditors are considered University of Wisconsin Madison students. Seniors then obtain a UW Madison photo ID, and can access the campus facilities and resources. Membership to the recreational sports facilities would be an additional cost.

The senior guest auditor can sit in on lecture only courses, with space available, and must have prior instructor approval. Seniors can attend more than one class per semester. Regular attendance results in a satisfactory (S) grade. Missing classes you may receive a no (NR) report grade.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff can assist seniors with the guest auditor application process.

Technology Means Pictures Home Care Path

What is the fascination with today's communication devices. The simple answer is pictures. Written words can be accompanied by visual images. Visual images and illustrations dominate avenues of communication.

Advances in technology have expanded the ability of users to customize their messages with pictures. The options can be still or motion pictures. Phone your picture to a friend, transmit your picture through an electronic (email) computer mailing service, or upload it to a computer community like facebook. Communicate with pictures.

The energy driving the mass communication with pictures is the ability of the person to accomplish this on their own. Senders can now make the message the way they want it. Creativity enhances the visual representation. Pictures provide the viewer with some known and some unknown (seeing things this way for the first time) information.

The persons thoughts (desires) can be translated through pictures (desires become things) and sent to a receiver. The receiver often responds (positive reinforcement) explaining how much joy was felt with viewing the message. This leaves the person with a satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

The individual with the use of today's technology has the ability through pictures to influence larger organizations. This is a form of control. Expressing your ideas in a visual form that large audiences can comprehend can be powerful. The world (viewers) is recognizing the gifts (ideas expressed in pictures) you (the individual) are contributing which adds to improve the over all quality of life. The individual's voice is now accompanied by an image. Get the picture.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff assist senior's with utilization of the computer.

Hypnosis Milton Erickson UW Wisconsin Home Care Path

Hypnosis has been sought out for a helpful therapy since the time of ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptian healers spoke and laid hands on persons who rested in the temple of sleep. Today we know helpful hypnosis does not involve sleep. When a person is in a hypnotic trance, the body is totally relaxed, but the mind is alert and highly focused.

Milton Erickson (1901-1980) a University of Wisconsin Psychology student became a popular leader of hypnosis therapy. Milton Erickson facilitated the therapist's technique which acted on the individual's character and needs. Milton Erickson established indirect, permissive techniques using language allowing the person to become part of a two way process. The person effectively put themselves in to a trance with the help of the therapist.

In hypnosis the conscious or critical mind is bypassed or distracted. This allows the ever present unconscious or subconscious mind to dominate in the state we call hypnotic trance. The unconscious mind is the residence of beliefs, imagination, fears, and associations. Influence the unconscious mind and you change the unconscious reactions to the world around you. During the trance state of hypnosis changes are suggested to the unconscious mind, which then acts upon these suggestions.

Hypnosis is successfully employed to overcome phobia's, reduce pain sensation, reduce anxiety with exams, and improve athletic performance. With a nervous hair pulling habit the hypno-therapist will explore the under lying tendency to worry and suggest a more positive outlook during the trance. To treat phobia's the person will be brought back (regressed) to the time the phobia first developed. Finding the original memory (now consciously forgotten) of the experience that triggered the phobia. Being consciously aware of the trigger can often be enough to remove the phobia. To treat addictions often the trance suggestions will focus on the benefits of say non smoking, like improved taste and more money.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994) participated in hypno-therapy to relive and let go of the tragic events in her life. The process of confronting past events that have contributed to fear during hypnotic trance can help the person come to terms with the experiences. This can bring the person to a more comfortable place in their life.

Source: Hypnosis Secrets of The Mind By Michael Streeter

Germs and Illness Home Care Path

Long ago it was believed life could take form from nonliving matter. People thought decaying meat produced maggots, plant (beer) and animal (milk) fluids produced microorganisims that could contribute to illness.

In the 1600's Francesco Redi demonstrated that the maggots were hatched from the larvae of flies that had access to the meat. Place the meat in a container to separate it from the flies and you will not have maggots.

Louis Pasteur discovered microorganisms (yeasts) acted on the sugars (beer) to convert them to alcohol. This is fermentation and used to make beer, and wine. Spoilage of beer and wine occurred later when bacteria (microorganisms) in the presence of air had access to the fluid. Pasteur prevented spoilage by heating the fluid (pasteurization) slowly, just enough to kill off the bacteria. Once heated to remove microorganisms the fluid needed to be sealed to prevent re-entry of the microorganisms. This linked the microorganisms activity to physical and chemical changes in matter derived from living organisms.

From this arose the notion that microorganisims may be able to cause illness in the body. Researchers now understood it was the work of microorganisms (bacteria) making it appear life was spontaneously generating from the non living matter (meat, beer, milk). This fostered research in to the germs ability to contribute to an illness.

Hand washing, covering (dressings) open sores, applying antibiotic ointments, helps reduce access of airborne (germs) microorganisms to the inner body. Properly cooking, sealing in containers, and refrigerating helps reduce microorganisms in the food we eat. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff assist seniors with meal preparation,

CCRC In Transition Home Care Path

CCRC is a Continuing Care Retirement Community usually located near a local hospital. CCRC's seemed like a way for seniors to live out their golden years. The senior sold the house and invested in a leased dwelling (one time fee good for life from about 200k and up) to have lodging, daily meal, housekeeping, help with care and transportation. Along with the large one time fee, seniors were charged a monthly fee (usually about 2500.00 and up). The senior was then served through independent living, assisted living, or a nursing home setting as needs progressed.

Longer lives and increased health care costs have required CCRC's to change. The traditional models of care, independent living, assisted living, and nursing home can no longer be sold as an all inclusive package. CCRC's have introduced a more pay as you go plan. The service is limited, and the senior pays extra as needs develop.

This change has required financial and health adviser's to invest more time understanding the CCRC transition taking place. No two CCRC's match up exactly in pricing, services, and amenities. Monthly fees are not fixed, and rise annually. Skilled nursing care (higher cost) may not be covered by the payment options offered. The CCRC may have a nursing service available for additional cost.

Where you are is not where you end up. Seniors served as independent living, assisted living, or nursing home will be located in separate wings of the building. When you need assisted living, you will be moved (change in residence) from the independent living wing, over to a dwelling that provides additional service. Managment and staff change as time goes by. The menu, daily prepared food can change. The available activities can change.

The best thing about the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is the additonal choices, options it affords the senior community. The simple package deal has been replaced with a variety of option plans. The senior and family are challenged to make an informaed decision as to the most beneficial long term choice.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a provider of nonmedical in home custodial care staffing serving south central Wisconsin. Staff provide companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and errands to help seniors remain safe in their own homes.

CIHM Dalai Lama Madison Wisconsin Home Care Path

CIHM is the Center For Investigating Healthy Minds located in Madison Wisconsin. CIHM investigates how the mind body connection facilitates an improved quality of life. CIHM utilizes state of the art neuro-scientific and biological tools in their work with the positive expression of thought.

The way in which an individual experiences life begins with thought. The thought forms a picture on the perception screen of the mind. The thought directed picture engages the emotions. The body begins to act in accordance with the picture on the perception screen of the mind.

The parts of the brain employed in one's thoughts can be identified with today's technology. From the thoughts come body feelings (emotion) which contributes to the release of biological chemicals. The body chemicals can contribute to the performance of cardiac, respiratory, muscle tissue, and larger systems in the physical body.

CIHM The Center For Investigating Healthy Minds recognizes the thoughts one holds in the mind can have a profound effect on the quality of their life. The thoughts a person has contribute to the experiences and events the person will have access to during their life. Comprehending and participating in advanced thinking techniques like contemplating compassion, purposeful patience, and reactionary kindness can produce long term benefits.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama has donated fifty thousand dollars to The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds. The fifty thousand dollars has been accepted by CIHM and will be used to support the continuation of this work.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com point and click free access to senior care site.

Autumn Warm Carob Shake Home Care Path

Carob (ceratonia siliqua) is a pod of an evergreen tree of the Mediterranean region. The long pod is ground into powder and consumed for its chocolate like taste. Carob powder is said to taste like the finest chocolate.

Historically carob is also known as Alagroba, Karoub, Caroubier, and St. John's bread. Carob with wild honey was believed to have nourished St. John in the wilderness. Carob is the husk which provided food for the Bible's prodigal son.

Carob shake recipe: Mix in your blender two cups of milk, 3 tablespoons of carob powder, two tablespoons of honey, or raw sugar with a little vanilla. You can now add anything to enhance nutrition, like a bit of brewer's yeast, or some finely ground sunflower seeds, or a couple of tablespoons of powdered milk. Drink this warm as an autumn treat.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com assists seniors with meal preparation.

GI Bleed Home Care Path

Bleeding in the gastro intestinal tract (GI Bleed) can be due to inflammation (gastritis) and breaks in the integrity (ulcers) of the lining of the GI tract. This bleeding is not visible to the naked eye. Medical staff of the hospital's GI department have been trained to assess the severity of a GI bleed.

The first signs of a GI bleed are weakness, anxiety, and excessive perspiration. With a GI bleed the senior is losing red blood cells (RBC). Red blood cells carry the oxygen and nutrients to feed the internal perimeter of the body. When red blood cells have been lost due to a GI bleed the senior will feel fatigued and may feel short of breath.

Blood loss can cause the body temperature to rise. The senior may spike a body temperature greater than 98.6 degrees. The bowel can become hyperactive due to sensitivity to the blood. The bowel will emit hyperactive bowel sounds which can be heard with a stethoscope.

The blood loss can cause a reduction in the blood pressure. The nervous system releases catecholamines, epinephrine, and nor epinephrine to increase the heart rate and constrict the vessels to keep blood pressure up. The heart beats faster to send more blood through the vessels. The vessels constrict, tighten making the body believe the amount of blood is staying the same. This compensates for the loss of blood.

GI bleeds can be chronic or acute. An acute GI bleed comes on and is over fairly quickly. A chronic GI bleed continues for a long time, has a long duration. An acute GI bleed means it has been corrected and is not continueing to show itself (leaking more blood). A chronic GI bleed indicates the blood loss has been slowed, but is continueing. With the chronic GI bleed ongoing monitoring with diagnostic testing is required. Every so often the senior would receive a blood transfusion to replace the loss.

Diagnositic testing for GI bleed involves monitoring the levels of hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and white blood cell (WBC) count. Normal hemoglogin values for a male are 13-18, for a female are 12-16, with a GI bleed values will read lower. Normal hematocrit values for a male are 45-52, for a female are 37-48, with a GI bleed the values will read lower. Normal white blood cell values are 4.3-10.8, with a GI bleed the values will read higher.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff can help seniors organize provider appointment schedules.

Altered Memory Home Care path

When a seniors memory has been altered the mind can compensate with emotion focused behaviors. Emotion focused behaviors can be most evident with a problem. Emotion is a strong feeling. Feelings are generated from the senses, touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. With memory loss the emotions can respond and catch the seniors attention quicker. Emotion focused behaviors can be described as purposeful but not always productive.

Minimization is an emotional response to a problem. Minmize is to reduce the problem to the smallest size possible, rendering it unimportant. This can appear useful as it provides the senior with needed time to assess the problem. Minimization is unproductive if the senior dismisses the problem and does not reach out for help.

Projection, displacement, and suppression of anger occur when the senior expresses anger toward a less threatening thing or person. The senior kicks the leg of a coffee table shouting I should saw you off for that. The senior satisfies the immediate (emotion) feeling by expressing the anger toward the toward the person or object near by. This lessens the threat to a point the senior is better able to deal with it. The difficulty is reality can be distorted as in the wood coffee table extended a leg to trip the senior. The disturbance of relationships can occur with the senior shouting out to persons in the room. Suppressing the anger can lead to stress related physical symptoms.

Anticipatory preparation is the mental rehearsal of possible consequences of behavior or outcomes of stressful situations. Many senior organizations use what to do lists for mock emergencies. The lists often involve placement of the phone and important numbers in the room the seniors spends most of the time. Preparation can help the senior to develop some perspective as well as prepare for the worst. When this anticipation creates unmanageable stress, as in the neighbor fell and broke a hip in their own home, I have a lot to do. Spending large periods of time (worry) dwelling on a problem that may occur is not productive.

Attribution is the finding of personal meaning in the problem. This is my luck, the will of the divine, or personal karma that this problem should reoccur in my life. This can provide a sense of comfort for the senior. Attribution is not productive when the senior no longer participates in the process to solve the problem.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff have been taught to recognize emotion focused behaviors. Home Care Path staff begin by discussing the problem and reviewing all information. Staff and the senior then form a written statement of the problem that all agree on. Staff and the senior then identify the individual that may be able to solve the problem. An appointment is made to meet with the person.

Small Incision Brain Surgery Home Care Path

When asked about brain surgery the fears develop around the increased medical cost, long recovery time, residual scarring, and body disfigurement. Traditional brain surgery involved shaving the hair, peeling back the scalp, sawing off the top half of the skull, and moving around sensitive brain tissue.

Brain surgery is performed to remove an abnormal (tumor) mass of tissue, not inflammatory, arising without obvious cause from the cells of brain tissue, possessing no physiological function.

Brain surgery has embraced methods that do things in a simpler way so patients recover more quickly and the cost is less. The methods are called minimally invasive brain surgery. Brain surgeons have been going through the nose, eye brow, and even the leg. The newest addition to minimally invasive brain surgery is entry through the eye lid.

Entering the brain through the eye lid poses no threat to vision. Under the minicraniotomy, the eye lid is cut at a crease, and a quarter size piece of bone is removed just above the eyebrow. A computer guided endoscope fitted with a camera leads surgical instruments to a tumor needing removal. Once surgery is done a few hours later, the bone is replaced, and a small metal plate is used to hold it in place. A few dissolvable sutures close the eye lid and leave no visible scar.

The use of the eye lid for brain surgery is called transpalpebral orbitofrontral craniotomy. On the average patients return home in two days after brain surgery with some discoloration near the eye lid. Patients describe a fast recovery with little or no visible scarring. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff accompany seniors to provider visits.

Garlic Allium Sativum Home Care Path

Garlic has long been a folk remedy to reduce the bodies symptoms to infection. Garlic (Allium Sativum) is a European bulbous herb of the lily family. The pungent, strong scented bulb, is composed of smaller bulbs called cloves. Garlic is used globally in cooking recipes.

Garlic was widely used in Russia and known as Russian penicillin. Researchers using garlic extract in a lab killed nearly one hundred percent of both human rhinovirus (colds) and para influenza three (flu) a respiratory virus. Hundreds of lab tests have shown garlic has strong antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Researchers have documented garlic's ability to augment immune function. Garlic stimulates the potency of T-lymphocytes and macrophages, key players in the bodies immune function. In the lab garlic extract prodded macrophages to generate more agents to kill unwanted microbes and tumor cells. Garlic has been categorized as a biological response modifier and is used as a pharmaceutical model for developing cancer treatments.

So when you feel a sore throat coming on eat some garlic. The home remedy for colds is to eat several cloves of raw garlic at the first on set of symptoms. Cut the garlic in chunks and swallow them like pills. If the garlic is giving you gas (flatulence) eat less of it. Persons who suffer from chronic infections (recurring yeast infection) try eating one to two cloves of garlic everday.

Source Jean Carper Food Your Miracle Medicine

Alzheimer's Study Dean Foundation Home Care Path

Dean Health Foundation of Madison Wisconsin is participating in an Alzheimer's study. The study is being conducted in approximately 70 sites throughout North America and Europe. Study is number 554.

A prodromal event is an early sign or warning of a developing disorder. The earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease are memory loss with spinal fluid abnormalities. Spinal fluid abnormalities provide the researchers with lead biological indicators of the disease process. Focus on the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease is to produce effective treatments for individual's newly diagnosed with the disease.

Phase II of study 554 is to assess the patients response to an investigational medication BMS 708163 Bristol Meyers Squibb. Volunteers will receive study related medical care, study medication, laboratory testing, and cognitive testing. Medical insurance is not necessary to participate in the study. Reimbursement for travel may be available. Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com staff accompany seniors to provider visits. Study participants must have a consistent person to attend the visits.

Contact JoAnn with Dean Foundation 608-827-2333 Madison Wisconsin.