Of course, who does not know that!! However, how many of us are panned to face emergencies when it happens? "Great emergencies and crises show us how much greater our vital resources are than we had supposed." ... William James. Could not have said better. It is when we pass through emergencies, that we realize how deep our resources are and also who we can rely on. If it were not for emergencies in life one would not know their strength and weaknesses.
It was about 10:00 pm when I got the call from the Executive Director of a RCFE. "Sam, I need a caregiver like 1 hour back. Can you get me one?" To start with I really appreciate the fact that she called me, that shows her confidence in me. Now I am under pressure to perform. Sally's resident needed immediate care and she was on the phone just when I was ready to hit the bed. "Emergencies have always been necessary to progress. It was darkness which produced the lamp. It was fog that produced the compass. It was hunger that drove us to exploration. And it took a depression to teach us the real value of a job"......Victor Hugo.
Necessity is the mother of invention and for that same reason, I decided to make it happen. Within 30 minutes the situation was resolved and everyone was happy. The caregiver was fantastic, they asked us for more services.
Let us get back on track on our discussions. How many of us plan for emergencies? How many of us develop support systems? I am not talking about just insurance policies her, but the whole idea about planning for tomorrow. When communities develop plan on emergencies, very often the elderly and the disabled are not kept in perspective. I read a very nice article that I want to share here on Disaster Planning on Elderly and Disabled. http://ezinearticles.com/?Disaster-Planning-for-the-Elderly-and-Disabled&id=5212666
Good night every one. Today was a very good day for me and I hope it has been for all of you. I hope you all wake up bright and sparkling to carry through the rest of the day. God bless.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Home Care Services for Long Term Care Insurance in Arcadia-CA
"I felt like pulling my hair out " Molly said about her frustrations trying to get the claim processed with her LTCI company. "They won't pay" Molly has been trying for the last 6n years to get claims processed for her husband. Both Molly and her husband had excellent LTCI with no benefit cap, with inflation protection. "It is an excellent policy" her friend Jeff said. Jeff is also an insurance agent who also sells LTCI. "Is there anything you can do to hep Molly? They are such a wonderful family".
Molly husband suffered a stroke and unfortunately for him, his one side has been paralyzed for the last several years. For 6+ years, Molly tried everything she knew to get the insurance company to accept the claim and start paying benefits. Molly tried 3 different agencies and each time the insurance company rejected the claim. Molly ended up paying the agencies out of pocket and eventually she had to cancel their services. Molly became the principal and the only care giver.
When we got involved, we realized that the insurance companies were not being difficult. There were details to the process that needed to be taken care of. We were able to start the services within 15 days and has been servicing the client since then. Another client Maria had a different story to share. Her husband has advanced stages of Alzheimer's and she too was facing problems getting the claims processed. She had changed 5 agencies before they came to us. " No agency was willing to do the processing on our behalf", said Maria. "You can deal with your insurance company and our agreement is with you". I have come across several such cases whether there is benefit assignment or not. Maria was close to tears when we said we will do the insurance processing for her and the service is complimentary. "God bless you" is all she could manage to say.
I thought about putting this in my blog today as today was a very good day. I got the approval for claim for yet another client who thought they were not even eligible for the benefit. This was a particularly challenging case. However, we have been very fortunate that the insurance companies have always worked positively with our approach.
We we decided to structure our offerings, we kept the customer in mind. LTC insurance, unlike any other insurance, the benefits are needed when you not in the best physical health. It is a lot to expect of our seniors if we tell them that they have sort through the details of insurance claims process. We want to keep it simple for our seniors. Our seniors have given the best years for us. This is a small way of contributing back towards helping our seniors.With my background of 22 years in the corporate world, I could easily get to the details that the insurance companies wanted. The claims department loves us. "It is fun to process your files, it is so simple and all details are there for us to process it. You make our lives easier". Said Blake who is one of the claims processor.
If you or anyone that you know have long term care insurance and wants help getting the claims processed, please give us a call at 626-639-0226. We are a non-medical private duty home care agency located in Pasadena, CA.
Molly husband suffered a stroke and unfortunately for him, his one side has been paralyzed for the last several years. For 6+ years, Molly tried everything she knew to get the insurance company to accept the claim and start paying benefits. Molly tried 3 different agencies and each time the insurance company rejected the claim. Molly ended up paying the agencies out of pocket and eventually she had to cancel their services. Molly became the principal and the only care giver.
When we got involved, we realized that the insurance companies were not being difficult. There were details to the process that needed to be taken care of. We were able to start the services within 15 days and has been servicing the client since then. Another client Maria had a different story to share. Her husband has advanced stages of Alzheimer's and she too was facing problems getting the claims processed. She had changed 5 agencies before they came to us. " No agency was willing to do the processing on our behalf", said Maria. "You can deal with your insurance company and our agreement is with you". I have come across several such cases whether there is benefit assignment or not. Maria was close to tears when we said we will do the insurance processing for her and the service is complimentary. "God bless you" is all she could manage to say.
I thought about putting this in my blog today as today was a very good day. I got the approval for claim for yet another client who thought they were not even eligible for the benefit. This was a particularly challenging case. However, we have been very fortunate that the insurance companies have always worked positively with our approach.
We we decided to structure our offerings, we kept the customer in mind. LTC insurance, unlike any other insurance, the benefits are needed when you not in the best physical health. It is a lot to expect of our seniors if we tell them that they have sort through the details of insurance claims process. We want to keep it simple for our seniors. Our seniors have given the best years for us. This is a small way of contributing back towards helping our seniors.With my background of 22 years in the corporate world, I could easily get to the details that the insurance companies wanted. The claims department loves us. "It is fun to process your files, it is so simple and all details are there for us to process it. You make our lives easier". Said Blake who is one of the claims processor.
If you or anyone that you know have long term care insurance and wants help getting the claims processed, please give us a call at 626-639-0226. We are a non-medical private duty home care agency located in Pasadena, CA.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving From ComForcare in Pasadena!
Happy Thanksgiving From ComForcare!
Please remember to check on your elderly family members. It's the perfect time to establish a base line on behavior and make sure they are taking care of themselves. If not, please have discussions and don't be afraid to 'say what you see'. Let them know your concerns so that these discussions can continue without hard feelings. Let them know they are loved!
If you need answers to elder care questions or need help with home care in Pasadena or the surrounding area, please visit www.HomeCareConsultations.com or call 626-639-0226.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Choosing the Right In-Home Care Service For Seniors in Pasadena
Each November, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) celebrates National Home Care and National Hospice Month to honor the men and women who have dedicated their lives to caring for others. Below are some tips for families who may be looking into home care and what they can and should expect from the caregivers they choose. If you need more information about in home care for your loved one in the Pasadena area, the caring staff at ComForcare can help answer any questions. Visit www.HomeCareConsultations.com or call us at 626-639-0226.
A Guide to Choosing the Right In-Home Care Service and Care Giver for Seniors
By: Kori Irons
What Seniors Can Expect from In-home Care
It can be incredibly difficult for a senior to allow a stranger into his home to help with household tasks, personal care and/or transportation. There is a great deal of confusion and anxiety around what exactly "in-home care" and an "in-home caregiver" might involve and entail--not to mention how to go about hiring and supervising the help. Here are some suggestions for what seniors can expect from in-home care and some advice on how to search for the perfect assistant:
An in-home caregiver can have a variety of qualifications, depending on the depth and intensity of personal care they are able to provide. Some take care of household tasks and hep with errands and transportation, while others have medical credentials and are able to help with more medical details and nursing needs. The most popular services required of in-home caregivers for seniors include:
- assistance with mail and correspondence
- housekeeping
- laundry and ironing
- help with grocery shopping and other errands
- coordinating and reminding about medications
- cooking and meal planning
- transportation and mobility assistance
- and companionship and other personal assistance needs
Even seniors who may have special needs such as those who are recovering from an accident or illness, or those with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, or those with other more permanent disabilities can benefit from the services of an in-home care provider. A senior may need assistance on a daily or weekly basis, or something in between. It is not necessary to hire a caregiver to be present for every hour of every day if that is not what is needed or required.
Source: Associated Content
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
"DO YOU THINK I AM OLD?" Seniors allergic to help
It is very interesting observation, seniors are very allergic to the term "HELP". I was recently talking to a friend Dan who was recollecting the conversations he had with his 87 year old mom. She has been diagnosed with Dementia and uses a walker "What do you think I am, old & senile? I am just fine".
The seniors in their golden comes from a generation where they are self made. They have been extremely self reliant and never accepted help from anyone. True to their credit, they are very proud of their accomplishments and would be the first one to jump up to help anyone in need. To them taking help does not come easily.
I was researching for the upcoming seminar "New Concepts in Living Well". The topics we cover are designed to improve or maintain the lifestyles of the seniors. The inputs we received from many seniors we talked to are very revealing.
I know a 92 year old client who is very excited about the new book he is working on. They always look at what they can do and not how much time is left.
Dignity is very important to them and hence in dealing with seniors we need to keep in mind what the important attributes are . Seniors still have dreams about what they can do. So in dealing with seniors, it is important to steer away from compassion and kindness. Sounds strange right? They feel it makes them look weak. Compassion in your heart should be there and should be the platform to do the right thing in a timely basis. However, the communication should be built on the foundation of how we can enrich their lives, about how we can maintain their independence and dignity.
Respect them, they are achievers and they still have a lot more to offer. I am eagerly waiting for my 82 year old client to publish his book.
The seniors in their golden comes from a generation where they are self made. They have been extremely self reliant and never accepted help from anyone. True to their credit, they are very proud of their accomplishments and would be the first one to jump up to help anyone in need. To them taking help does not come easily.
I was researching for the upcoming seminar "New Concepts in Living Well". The topics we cover are designed to improve or maintain the lifestyles of the seniors. The inputs we received from many seniors we talked to are very revealing.
- We do not appreciate being perceived as weak and helpless.
- We don't need help, just because we are not able to manage ourselves.
- We like to enjoy the life to the fullest and what can you do to support that?
- How can you enrich our lives?
I know a 92 year old client who is very excited about the new book he is working on. They always look at what they can do and not how much time is left.
Dignity is very important to them and hence in dealing with seniors we need to keep in mind what the important attributes are . Seniors still have dreams about what they can do. So in dealing with seniors, it is important to steer away from compassion and kindness. Sounds strange right? They feel it makes them look weak. Compassion in your heart should be there and should be the platform to do the right thing in a timely basis. However, the communication should be built on the foundation of how we can enrich their lives, about how we can maintain their independence and dignity.
Respect them, they are achievers and they still have a lot more to offer. I am eagerly waiting for my 82 year old client to publish his book.
Alzheimer's Awareness Spotlights Treatment, Prevention in Pasadena CA
Alzheimer's Awareness Month Sheds Spotlight on Treatment, Prevention Efforts
November marks the beginning of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, a reminder that the number of people who will develop the disease is expected to skyrocket over the next few years.
Starting Jan. 1, 79 million baby boomers will turn 65 at a rate of one every eight seconds.
That is more than four million per year, according to a recent op-ed piece in The New York Times. If scientists could delay onset of the disease by five years, via better drugs, the United States could keep much fewer Alzheimer's patients from needing nursing homes, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and Alzheimer's experts Stanley Prusiner and Ken Dychtwald said in the piece.
Currently, for every penny the National Institutes of Health spends on Alzheimer's research, Americans spend $3.50 caring for individuals with the disease, for a total of $172 billion a year. At that rate, by 2020, the cumulative total will be $172 billion a year, or $20 trillion by 2050, according to the op-ed titled “The Age of Alzheimer's."
...read more from Mcknights.com
For information about how ComForcare can help your family with home care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's Disease in Pasadena and surrounding areas, visit www.HomeCareConsultations.com or call 626-639-0226.
San Gabriel Valley is invited to a FREE Seminar
"New Concepts in Living Well"
November 20th, 2010
Follow this LINK for details
November marks the beginning of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, a reminder that the number of people who will develop the disease is expected to skyrocket over the next few years.
Starting Jan. 1, 79 million baby boomers will turn 65 at a rate of one every eight seconds.
That is more than four million per year, according to a recent op-ed piece in The New York Times. If scientists could delay onset of the disease by five years, via better drugs, the United States could keep much fewer Alzheimer's patients from needing nursing homes, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and Alzheimer's experts Stanley Prusiner and Ken Dychtwald said in the piece.
Currently, for every penny the National Institutes of Health spends on Alzheimer's research, Americans spend $3.50 caring for individuals with the disease, for a total of $172 billion a year. At that rate, by 2020, the cumulative total will be $172 billion a year, or $20 trillion by 2050, according to the op-ed titled “The Age of Alzheimer's."
...read more from Mcknights.com
For information about how ComForcare can help your family with home care for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's Disease in Pasadena and surrounding areas, visit www.HomeCareConsultations.com or call 626-639-0226.
DON'T FORGET OUR UPCOMING FREE SEMINAR!
New Concepts in Living Well
San Gabriel Valley is invited to a FREE Seminar
"New Concepts in Living Well"
November 20th, 2010
Follow this LINK for details
Friday, November 5, 2010
Issues Seniors face in their Golden Years in Pasadena, CA
We are hosting a free seminar that addresses the issues seniors face in their golden years. The seminar is designed to help the seniors deal with some of these issues. This is a free seminar and the location, Lake Avenue Church, offers free parking. The seminar is part of our community service efforts to help seniors with their daily living.
New Concepts in Living Well
http://www.homecareconsultations.com
New Concepts in Living Well
http://www.homecareconsultations.com
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