Obama Care, or the Affordable Care Act healthcare law has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States.  The controversy around the healthcare law was the requirement for all Americans to have access to health insurance and be required to have health insurance.  Right now, it is very difficult for small businesses to access affordable health insurance plans as most health insurance companies only want to insure large corporations with 75% participation by workers.  This has meant senior home care agencies have not been able to provide health insurance for senior caregivers............which has always seemd a bit odd - for someone to be paid to take care of a senior but yet not be provided with health insurance benefits for themselves.

In addition, all American seniors do receive health insurance via Medicare or Medicaid at age 65.  A geriatric doctor once said to me:  "if only all of these seniors had health insurance their entire lives, the costs of providing health care at 65 and above would be much less."  He said you have no idea how many seniors have never had health insurance prior to Medicare or Medicaid.

At the same time, those of us who are individually insured may pay as much as $350 per month with a $5,000 deductible.  This is how it works for those working for small businesses or self-employed.

Senior caregivers should have access to affordable health care - the only option should not be an emergency room.  Certainly provisions will be tossed onto the truck and off the truck as we iron out a better healthcare system in the U.S.A. which includes preventive healthcare.

You may read all about the Supreme Court's decision on this live blog.  It will be exciting to see American health insurance companies roll out preventive health care plans that reward people for trying to live healthy lifestyles and to have the security of knowing everyone has access to health care - not just seniors at age 65.

HeatWave, seniorcare, CDC

Posted by: Renata Jasinski Laszuk, Content Manager

• Dietary care and nutrition
• Assistance with daily excercise
• Aiding with personal hygiene
• Administering medication and treatment per doctor’s recommendation
• Providing emotional support

CNATraining, caregivertraining, caregiverjobs

Posted by: Renata Jasinski Laszuk, Content Manager

Caregiverlist’s Nursing Home Directory enhances the data available from Medicare by applying the right labels on each nursing home and providing the daily costs of 18,000+ nursing homes nationwide.

Some nursing homes, for instance, only serve certain types of seniors or those with disabilities and some are divisions of a hospital and only accept hospital patients being transferred. Caregiverlist provides labels for nursing homes to make it easy to know if it can be a fit for a senior:

• Hospitals
• CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community)
• Veteran's Home (Only Accepts Veterans)
• Special (Only for Nuns, Seniors w/Hearing Loss, etc.)
• Medicare:  Accepts as Payment
• Medicaid:  Accepts as Payment

“Medicare will pay for short-term nursing home stays only,” says Caregiverlist.com CEO Julie Northcutt. As the former owner of a senior home care agency, she found that many seniors and their families do not realize this fact until a medical emergency happens.

“I have spent hours on the phone explaining to a senior’s family members what Medicare does and does not cover,” says Northcutt. As nursing homes have become an extension of a hospital stay, seniors many times are quickly discharged from a hospital to a nursing home. This is when panic sets in and a senior and their family wants to learn the specifics about which nursing home they will be transferred to when leaving the hospital.

“It is important to review the nursing home ratings and costs near you, before you will need one”, says Northcutt. “Remember that nursing homes are a rehabilitation center for seniors after a hip replacement, stroke or major surgery. Medicare will pay for the short-term as long as a medical doctor preapproves the need.”

Caregiverlist also allows users to compare nursing home costs and ratings from one state to another which is useful when it becomes necessary for a senior to relocate to be near a family member.

When evaluating senior care choices, the following options should be considered:

• Senior Home Care Agency (provides one-on-one caregiver)
• Nursing Home care (short-term care for rehab and long-term care for chronic needs)
• Assisted Living
• Hospice Care (at home or in hospice facility)

Medicare does provide Hospice care services when a senior has been diagnosed to have a terminal condition with less than 2 years to live. Seniors should also understand Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

•  Medicare pays for only short-term nursing home stays and for short-term skilled home health visits when one of the following skilled certifications or licenses are required: Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Certified Nursing Aide. A senior must demonstrate they are rehabilitating from a major medical condition to qualify for skilled home health care.
•   Medicaid is for very low-income seniors and will pay for an ongoing stay in a Medicaid-approved nursing home. Caregiverlist provides the “by-state” Medicaid financial qualifications.

The recent recession has resulted in lower tax revenues for state governments and some states have recently changed their financial qualifications for qualifying for Medicaid. However, the spousal anti-poverty law does allow married couples to allow one spouse to “spend-down” assets to qualify for Medicaid care while the other spouse maintains some savings and home and car ownership. This can be necessary, for example, if one spouse has Alzheimer’s disease and requires around-the-clock care which can cost $80,000 per year.

“Remember, former President Ronald Reagan had full time caregiving services for a decade,” says Northcutt.  This is why it is important to research senior care services ahead of time and evaluate quality standards to allow family members to be prepared. Caregiverlist’s nursing home directory shows the highest and lowest daily cost of a nursing home in each state along with the average nursing home daily rate.

Posted by: Renata Jasinski Laszuk, Caregiverlist Content Manager

Those contemplating a career change or new job opportunity may consider becoming a CNA or caregiver for a senior homecare agency.  Homecare agencies are in constant need of qualified caregivers as their client needs are consistently changing.  Caregiverlist’s Caregiver Career Center can be used as a tool to research training schools and required qualifications, as well as a resource to build a resume and apply for a caregiving job. 

The essential job functions of a caregiver are the following:

• Assist with walking and light exercise
• Plan and prepare meals, followed by clean-up
• Monitor food expiration dates, make future meals
• Make beds and change linens, as needed
• Light housekeeping to include dusting and vacuuming
• Assist with bathing, dressing and grooming
• Assist with safe transfers and bathroom visits
• Monitor medical conditions
• Laundry and ironing
• Take out garbage
• Run errands (pickup prescriptions, dry cleaning)
• Engage in physical and mental exercises
• Provide medication reminders
• Escort an appointments (hair salon, physical therapy, etc.)
• Escort to religious services and events
• Maintain calendar and organize mail
• Engage in activities (games, memory books)
• Companionship

If the essential job duties of a caregiver interest you and you wish to join the ever-growing healthcare industry, you may research training schools in your area.  You can learn more about the components of C.N.A. training here, as well as a comprehensive guide to becoming a C.N.A. here.

Additionally, you may take Caregiverlist’s Caregiver Training, which is a 10-hour online course that covers caregiving skills and includes exams to ensure understanding.  Caregiverlist further offers a CNA practice test, as well as background checks.

Once you understand the essentials of caregiving and have your resume ready, you can apply for a job and begin a new career in the healthcare industry!

CNATraining, caregivertraining, caregiverjobs

Posted by:  Angela Manhart, Caregiverlist Blogger

Alzheimer's disease impacts people around the world, yet research efforts have not easily been shared across country lines.  The World Alzheimer Report makes an effort to share information and research on the disease globally.

World Alzheimer Report 2012 will be launched on September 21, 2012, and as part of this launch, Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) is conducting a survey of people with dementia and family caregivers to learn about their experiences and opinions on stigma related to dementia. And if you live in Britain or Australia or New Zealand, the survey is for family "carers", as you call them.

The survey will be available for submissions through June 17, 2012. 

Click here to take the ADI Survey.  You may also learn about senior care solutions for those with memory loss on Caregiverlist.

Caregivers for seniors must possess many skills, including keeping an eye out for new senior fraud schemes.  Last week, criminal charges were filed against four men who operated a fraud scheme in Pennsylvania that stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from seniors in need of caregiving.  The men created a false homecare agency and sold hundreds of home care contracts – which were never fulfilled – to unsuspecting seniors. 

While the conspirators were eventually apprehended and charged, an occurrence such as this recalls the necessity of ensuring the quality and reputability of a homecare agency.  Caregiverlist’s Standards of Quality lists the criteria that should be continuously upheld by a senior care agency if it is a professional establishment. 

The following is a list of the basic standards for a quality care agency:

• Business license and necessary state licensure (if required by the state where the agency is located)
• Caregivers are "Employees" this means the Agency is responsible for paying all employee payroll taxes, as required by law:  Unemployment Insurance tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax and State and Federal with-holdings)
• Worker's Compensation Insurance
• Professional Liability Insurance
• Fidelity Bond Insurance (this is sometimes referred to as "theft" insurance)
• Active Management of the Caregiver through a direct Supervisor or Manager
• Plan of Care
• Criminal Background Check performed on all Employees
• Training for Caregivers
• 24-Hour On-Call Service
• Satisfactory Survey Results

The majority of the seniors who were targeted were those who lived alone and away from any family members who could have possibly prevented the fraud.  The lack of familial support that was common among the victims is a reminder that, ideally, others should be involved in the process of seeking home care services.  The fraud additionally reinforces Caregiverlist’s suggestion that those seeking care should speak to at least three home care agencies before making their decision.  It is important to compare senior care options.  Caregiving is an extremely personal service, and family should be involved in the process to ensure a comfortable fit between the senior and the caregiver.   

The fraudsters further offered their “services” at impossibly low rates – around $2 per hour.  It is vital to be educated about the realistic costs of home care , which is typically $15-$25 per hour. 

Seniors without adequate family support and assistance are particularly vulnerable to fraud.  Vigilance and involvement from others helps protect these seniors in the process of reaching out for care services.  For more information, Caregiverlist’s Senior Care Fraud Alert page has information on how to report suspected fraud.

Posted by:  Angela Manhart, Caregiverlist Blogger