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.

Stem Cell Dickey Wickered Home Care Path

Stem cells is a very controversial topic in the United States today. Madison Wisconsin is the residence of The Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center. Researchers in Madison Wisconsin working with cells receive millions of dollars in federal grant money.

Stem cells are considered a master cell to the human body. From a stem cell any tissue on the body can be generated. Health organizations believe stem cell research holds the solution to treatments for spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, and other functional physical deficits.

Stem cells are seperated from a human being in the embryonic stages of development. Separating the stem cells from the human being in the embryonic stages of development results in death. The Dickey- Wicker amendment (a 1996 law) prohibits the use of tax payer dollars in work that destroys a human embryo.

Following the Dickey- Wicker amendment stem cell researchers used private companies (no use of public money) to separate the stem cells from the human being in the embryonic stages of development. From the separated stem cells researchers started growing batches of stem cells in the laboratory.

Researchers were now using stem cells grown in labs. Growing the stem cells in a laboratory allowed the research facility to accept public money (federal grants) to fund the projects. In late August 2010 United States District Judge Royce Lamberth blocked goverment funding of embryonic stem cell research. Judge Royce Lamberth signed the restraining order after ruling that the argument in a pending lawsuit- that the research violates the intent of the 1996 law prohibiting use of tax payer dollars in work that destroys a human embryo- was likely to succeed.

Stem cell research using public money was stopped in health organizations across the United States.

Senior Care Employers Rescue Home Care Path

Throughout south central Wisconsin the business owners have become aware that employees need help coordinating in home care for senior parents and family. Business owners can equate absenteeism, replacement of employees, senior care crises, unpaid leave, work day interruptions, inattentiveness (called deer in headlights look), and staff transitioning from full to part time status, to the adverse effect on the bottom line.

One business owner describes an employee who was frequently having to run down to a parents home. The employee was leaving an average of 4 times per full time shift worked. At work the employee was consistently preoccupied and down right worried most of the time. The employee took unpaid leave for the whole day at least once per week to accompany the parent to a medical appointment, blood lab draw, or podiatrist visit.

The employee often feels alone in their efforts to provide care for a parent or senior family member. Most individuals caring for an older family member report their needs are over whelming. Some adult children recall watching their parents struggle to care for their parents. Working full time with children in the home and parents who need help.

Fortunately Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com a senior care provider for south central Wisconsin has staff trained to help the employer and the employee. Home Care Path comes to the seniors home and helps them with meal preperation, medication reminders, setting up bath, dressing, pet care, oral care, hair care, taking garbage out, accompany to appointments, organizing important papers, companionship, grocery shopping, bringing mail in, and more.

Employees describe the service Home Care Path provides as family friendly. Hours of staffing and in home cares are developed to meet the families unique needs. The service is individualized, and allows for variation of hours from week to week. Families like the choice and flexibility.

Employers like the boost in staff productivity and job satisfaction. Business owners are convinced the service Home Care Path provides is the solution to the senior care giving challenges that make it difficult for employees to keep up with work responsibilities.