Please read this carefully because the added costs at the pump is impacting an essential part of your healthcare system “the road warriors of mercy” - and this may soon result in a national emergency if something is not done to correct the problem - Helen Hopkinson 

A study released today by the Washington D.C.-based National Association for Home Care and Hospice shows that the nurses, therapists, home care aides and others who serve elderly and disabled patients in their homes drive, on average, more miles annually than many driving professionals including UPS drivers.

“Caring for over seven million patients annually with 428 million visits, these dedicated providers of home care and hospice are feeling the same pain at the pump as other consumers, but they carry the added burden of the Administration’s deep cuts into Medicare and Medicaid benefits, says Val J. Halamadaris, President of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC*).

“These draconian cuts ignored the cost of living increases, chief among these is the rising price of gasoline — a commodity most essential for these traveling ‘road warriors’ of mercy. Home care patients are homebound - they are so sick, so chronically ill, they cannot leave their homes without assistance. If nurses do not get in their cars to visit them, there is no way to reach them. What will be precipitated is a full-scale national emergency,” added Halamadaris.

The study shows that the number of miles driven by healthcare providers in the home care industry reached 4.8 billion miles in 2006. (Compared with 2 billion for UPS annually) With the expansion in the use of lower-cost home care services as the average age of the U.S. population rises, the need for these services will continue grow exponentially.

While health care costs, in general, continue to rise, increasing gasoline costs have led to accelerating transportation costs for those caregivers traveling to their homebound patients. The study reviewed the number of miles driven by home health agencies, hospices, and other providers of in-home health care services. Most of this care is funded through Medicare and Medicaid programs, where fixed payment rates have not been adjusted to accommodate the increase in the cost of gasoline.

The study also found that in all areas of the country, those home care providers have curtailed service areas to reduce driving, closed off care access in remote parts of a state, lost care giving staff that cannot afford commuting costs, and reduced face-to-face visits to patients to conserve limited resources. At the same time, these providers report that their patients cannot travel to physician offices or diagnostic testing sites for needed care beyond that provided in their homes. These changes in patient services make home care providers even more essential when they are the primary caregivers.

Increases in other expenses, such as insurance, salaries and supplies, have also been on the rise. Further, in January 2008, the Administration imposed a regulatory cut of 2.75 percent on Medicare home health payments — nearly negating the market-based inflation update for this year. Additionally, similar cuts to home health payments in 2009, 2010, and 2011 are planned. The findings underscore the need for a series of actions to address the growing crisis in home care.

Halamandaris recommends that Congress take action now through the following steps:

1. Recognize home telehealth interactions as bona fide Medicare home health services; if home care nurses can do more monitoring of patients over the Internet, it will cut back in the number of miles they need to travel each week to visit patients and save those visits for critical care situations rather than routine monitoring

2. Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise the method for calculating annual market-based inflation updates and establish a temporary fuel cost add-on to 5

3. Commit to preserve the annual inflation updates for home health and hospice as provided under the Medicare law

4. Reinstate the 5 percent rural add-on for home health services delivered to patients residing in rural areas

The National Association for Homecare and Hospice is the world’s largest trade association advocating for homecare and hospice care. The association, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Washington, DC, encourages development and delivery of the highest quality medical, social and supportive services to the nation’s frail, disabled and aged. Home health and hospice services range from high-tech skilled nursing and therapy to personal care management available by visit or around the clock.

  Helen C. Hopkinson, J.D., President and CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., writes articles regarding elder issues which appear in her blog and newsletters. She has appeared as an expert on TV and radio to discuss the problems facing employee caregivers, healthcare management needs, care plans and many other subjects involving the elderly or disabled. She is a graduate of John Marshall Law School, a certified Arbitrator and Mediator. She founded MLECA with Brenda M. Hanna, RNFA, BS, SP, CM  and they are dedicated to serving clients in the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties by providing their clients the best possible care necessary to reach their optimum goals.

MLECA is the recipient of Citibank Micro Enterprise Women Owned Business 2008 and 2007.

Member, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. 

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Helen C. Hopkinson, President and CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates agrees more couples today are finding more  and more advantages to living together instead of getting wed.
 
But, are they leaving themselves wide open for legal problems down the road?
 
Consult with a qualified attorney before taking this leap of faith because what happens when the relationship goes South or an adult children of a deceased lover starts claiming your property? 

Today, people are living longer.

They don’t want the stigma of being  married three, four or more times.

Some feel a piece of paper is not worth it and that living together is a better way to protect them from a nasty divorce and expensive legal fees. 

Also, there are those couples that just cannot get married because they have a spouse confined to a nursing home or they moved out of state to live with an adult child from a former marriage. 

Today, more and more couples are preferring to live together and it seems to be working.

Partner Agreements are a way to protect your property and we suggest that you discuss the living situtation with a qualified attorney specializing in this area because you have right to remain financial independent and your assets protected should there be a sudden death or an unexpected break up.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear … that more and more couples in their 50’s and 60’s are now considering living together as a mean to achieve their optimal goal for happiness.

Helen C. Hopkinson, J.D., President and CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., writes articles regarding elder issues which appear in her blog and newsletters. She has appeared as an expert on TV and radio to discuss the problems facing employee caregivers, healthcare management needs, care plans and many other subjects involving the elderly or disabled. She is a graduate of John Marshall Law School, a certified Arbitrator and Mediator. She founded MLECA with Brenda M. Hanna, RNFA, BS, SP, CM  and they are dedicated to serving clients in the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties by providing their clients the best possible care necessary to reach their optimum goals.

MLECA is the recipient of Citibank Micro Enterprise Women Owned Business 2008 and 2007.

Member, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. 

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Helen C. Hopkinson, President & CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates urges caregivers to know the state of their elderly parents legal matters.

Also, health and finances are two areas that require caregivers to have input and legal authority to make decisions on their behalf should they become bedridden or non-responsive.  

However, most times parents or elders are reluctant to speak about these topics.

Therefore, adult children of competent parents must initiate discussions about what legal arrangements may or not already be in place to avoid later complications should the elder become too frail or incompetent to provide them with this pertinent information.

Here are just a few of the topics which will need to be discussed:

                 Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, Asset Disbursement, Living Wills and Trusts 
                 Names of attorneys, investment companies and insurance companies

Sometimes a neutral third party may help to assist you with these discussion.

Main Line Elder Care Associates provides elder mediation
to assist you in this matter.

Contact us today at 610-688-2667.  

Oddly, the first set of Today’s Boomers are still out there pounding the grindstone, which gives a new definition to retirement.

Some experts are calling it ”worktirement.”

However, it’s the fear of not being able to provide that’s prompting these Americans to consider working until they can’t.

But, what’s causing the nationwide “chain” reaction? 

Traditionally, our grandparents handled life this exact same way before Social Security (the government retirement payment program) and pensions (the employer retirement payment program).

These older workers managed to provide pretty well and they did it without any help from assisted living facilities or government entitlements.

However, these programs made quitting work at 65 and jumping into full-time retirement the perfect option.
 
Today the price of oil and gas rising, the decline in economy and talks about Social Security and pensions on their way out, makes the first stage of Boomers feel that their only option is to continue working until they physically can’t.

Main Line Elder Care Associates invites you to comment on this subject and are interested in learning whether you’ve made the same decision to continue working or retire….are you presently on an “Encore Career path” and what other options you feel are out there for these Boomers to consider.

Helen C. Hopkinson, J.D., President and CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., writes articles regarding elder issues which appear in her blog and newsletters. She has appeared as an expert on TV and radio to discuss the problems facing employee caregivers, healthcare management needs, care plans and many other subjects involving the elderly or disabled. She is a graduate of John Marshall Law School, a certified Arbitrator and Mediator. She founded MLECA with Brenda M. Hanna, RNFA, BS, SP, CM  and they are dedicated to serving clients in the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties by providing their clients the best possible care necessary to reach their optimum goals.

MLECA is the recipient of Citibank Micro Enterprise Women Owned Business 2008 and 2007.

Member, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. 

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A friend told me that there will be three important topics this Fall - the war in Iraq, economics and healthcare.

Finally, the government is concerned about the stand of care and is prompting a website supported by the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and this came about from the efforts of states and private sectors expressing a need to rate medical providers.

Also the AARP and Consumers Union helped fuel this demand to have the government rate medical hospitals, doctors and their services. The Consumer Purchase Disclosure Project is a coalition of groups representing consumers, employers and unions have also developed a national set of standards to measure a doctor’s performance.
 
The 2005 government Hospital Company website www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov was expanded several months ago and has information pertaining to how well hospitals follow recommended care for heart attacks, pneumonia and surgery. Also, you can find out  how satisfied other patients were that received these services. 

Put in your zip code and three hospitals in that area appear for a comparison review but infection rates are not listed.

According to USA TODAY,  the state of Maryland ran an ad which listed 20 hospitals and  some scored between 78% or 95% and affirmed that patients had received antibiotics before surgery.

Main Line Elder Care urges you to visit the website and to become pro-active in your own care. Our Advocates help clients to find the best possible care and they will help you to navigate the healthcare system and find the best suitable care manager to assist you through your recovery. Call today 610-688-2667 and speak to an Associate. 

Helen C. Hopkinson, J.D., President and CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., writes articles regarding elder issues which appear in her blog and newsletters. She has appeared as an expert on TV and radio to discuss the problems facing employee caregivers, healthcare management needs, care plans and many other subjects involving the elderly or disabled. She is a graduate of John Marshall Law School, a certified Arbitrator and Mediator. She founded MLECA with Brenda M. Hanna, RNFA, BS, SP, CM  and they are dedicated to serving clients in the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties by providing their clients the best possible care necessary to reach their optimum goals.

MLECA is the recipient of Citibank Micro Enterprise Women Owned Business 2008 and 2007.

Member, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. 

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Pennsylvania does not tax retirement income compared to other states, Social security benefits, public and private pensions and IRA distributions are all exempt from state income tax, according to Melinda Scott, Vice President of Marketing at Willow Valley Retirement Communities in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Helen C. Hopkinson, J.D., President and CEO, Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc., writes articles regarding elder issues which appear in her blog and newsletters. She has appeared as an expert on TV and radio to discuss the problems facing employee caregivers, healthcare management needs, care plans and many other subjects involving the elderly or disabled. She is a graduate of John Marshall Law School, a certified Arbitrator and Mediator. She founded MLECA with Brenda M. Hanna, RNFA, BS, SP, CM  and they are dedicated to serving clients in the Greater Philadelphia area and surrounding counties by providing their clients the best possible care necessary to reach their optimum goals. Main Line Elder Care Associates, Inc. is the recipient of Citibank Micro Enterprise Women Owned Business 2008 and 2007.

Member, of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc. 

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Main Line Elder Care Associates is a Philadelphia based healthcare management company that specializes in providing diversified and innovative dependent care programs that are designed to benefit today’s workers.

Main Line Elder Care Associates helps corporations to solve some of the problems they face with  caregiver/employees having to leave their jobs because of stressful family obligations.
 
Before, employers owned the means of production.
Today - knowledgeable workers own the means of production.

The problem is that today most of the knowledge is “in their head” so corporations are losing not only the revenues but very important information when these individuals decide to leave. 

Our care managers and nurse advocates provide the technology necessary to retain these key people and will help to design care plans that will alleviate the employee’s burdens. This can become a win-win situtation.
 
Contact Main Line Elder Care Associates today to schedule an appointment for our managers to visit your staff - 610-688-2667. View us at www.mainlineeldercare.com or email info@mainlineeldercare.com.
 

• Generally, we tend to get over consumed by the medical issues and trying to follow the test results is difficult whenever a parent or spouse has been suddenly hospitalized. So, we  hope it’s way too early to find home care to help them once they get home. Unfortunately, waiting until the last minute to handle this task is not always the right solution. Today, the inability to walk is no longer a criterion to stay in the hospital so knowing about the exact amount of home care necessary is very important. Main Line Elder Care Associates suggests that you start interviewing immediately and try bringing that worker to the hospital to see if they are a good match.

  What’s your gut feeling about that person? There are fabulous home care workers out there so don’t settle for less because you are feeling the urgency to now complete this task.

  Instead of bringing a wrong person into the home, call Main Line Elder Care Associates and request a geriatric care manager assess the care needed for this task by providing you with a professional in-person assessment right in the hospital and let them do the interviewing of candidates to find the right solution.

  RN Geriatric Care Managers know how to properly introduce the aides and help with the initial transitions for the proper level of care for your parent.

  They also can recognize any problems and manage the situtation to make it more enjoyable for everyone.

  Remember, you may love the aide but limits still have to be set.

  Be clear about their job responsibilities and feel free to voice any complaints or concerns.

  Geriatric Care Managers will help you to make clear and common goals known to provide your loved one with quality care.

  Remember, never hire help solely because of cost. You could find a gem here but in reality the risk of getting someone of poor quality is a much higher risk.

  Do not give an aide or companion any control over assets.
  Do not allow an aide or companion to communicate to the doctors, bankers, lawyers, etc.
  Do not share with an aide or companion any financial information.
  Do not give them access to any accounts.
  Never let them hold your parent a hostage or make demands for money.

  Remember, good workers are honest and not defensive. They know how to identify a problem and will keep you in the loop. They follow a standard of practice that is monitored and managed by our care managers and the do not resist providing receipts for any monies that were considered a scheduled expenditure; food, gas, lunches, etc.

  We will not allow resistance, neglect or abuse. 

  Main Line Elder Care Associates does award for exceptional help but that does not mean that bonuses become a normal event - the word here is exceptional.  We also make lots of unannounced visits in the beginning to make sure everything is working properly and mutually enjoyable. We are the best means to accomplish your goals.

  We manage and monitor the care for a reason and aides in the industry know that when we are on a case that they must perform or they will be gone. However, hopefully the aide or companion that we select will remain gainfully employed to your satisfaction until the end of life because we know from experience that a good home care companion or aide will definitely help to make your parent enjoy their remaining days, months or years.  

  Many times, a good worker will take care of other elderly relatives in the same family because the necessary trust has been established and is highly valued.    

  Contact - MAIN LINE ELDER CARE ASSOCIATES, INC. 610-688-2667 WWW.MAINLINEELDERCARE.COM INFO@MAINLINEELDERCARE.COM