Photos in top banner: Zöe, Regina's Grandniece and her parents in jazzersize outfits for Halloween; Kelly, Bonnie and their friend Christian; Scott (Regina's son), Marrissa, Ryan and Nora as the Bob The Builder family!
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Regina McNamara RN, MSN President &
Kelly McNamara, Chief Operating Officer
Here at Always There Home Care, we are grateful you are slowing down to read our newsletter full of items that relate to home care, home health care, aging and eldercare, as well as some useful tips for daily living. Please enjoy in the spirit of community and cooperation in which this newsletter was sent.
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Also, see our beautiful new video,
here
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Living with
Alzheimer's -
A Tale of Love, Loss and Learning
By Regina McNamara, RN MSN
This space is usually reserved for a piece on Alzheimer's by our friend Bob DeMarco, who generously shares his wisdom about the disease, gathered over 8 years by caring for his mother Dotty who died in May 2012. That was just two months prior to my own mother's death, Kelly's grandmother.
This month, National Alzheimer's month, we dedicate this space to a very special person loved and lost to this disease. With the benefit of hindsight, and the gift of perspective four years later, as well as the comfort in knowing we did our very best to give our mother / grandmother what she wanted so very much, a peaceful home death, we share with you, our wonderful and supportive readers, the following lessons, hard earned, well intentioned, easily adapted to all of you and your loved ones.
We learned that no one is adequately prepared for Alzheimer's in his or her own family. At least our clients have US. We only had each other.
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Long Term Care Insurance - Monthly Feature
Elimination Period - Beata Everett, Long-Term Care Insurance Advisor
One of the variables in a long-term care insurance policy is the elimination period. The elimination period works like a deductible and the most common elimination period is 90 days. It is also one of the items that people tend to forget about and are frustrated with at the time of claim. The insurance company does not reimburse for services rendered during the elimination period although there are times that
Medicare may help to pay for costs during that time. Certain policies also allow the client to purchase a home care elimination period waiver, which eliminates the elimination period for home care services. People should also know whether they have a service day (services need occur) or calendar day (days are counted even if no service occurs) elimination period. This can be an important differentiator.
One important aspect to bear in mind is this: the insurance company needs evidence that a person is receiving care that qualifies him for the benefit during the elimination period. So do not forget to send notes and invoices paid to the company during the elimination period. ■
Long-Term Planning Associates, LLC
Tel: (203) 331-1818 Ext. 2
Fax: (866) 297-7758
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KUDOS
from Kelly
By Kelly McNamara
Wendy Cooney: What is one to say when an applicant appears in our office, jaunty and enthusiastic and sporting a purple swath of hair and explains her business is an artist who is interested in being a caregiver to the elderly.
What else to say but "Welcome Wendy", then "We have the perfect client for you!"
At first they seemed an unlikely pair, this lovely mature woman, recently widowed, is quite proper, as is her daughter. Having lived in the same house all her life she had no intention of ever moving to a nursing home. She explained to her caregiver a few things she loved cruising around town (with her caregiver driving her) never missing any events at the senior center and never missing "Free Donut Day " at the local grocery store. Never a dull moment for these two.
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Weiss On Thinking Grandly of Yourself and Others
I'm a huge believer in positive psychology, positive self-talk, abundance thinking, and building self-esteem. I've seen people fail to enjoy life (and contribute to it) because they have a scarcity mentality. A great many actors, while posing with the Oscar they've just won, are wondering weather they'll ever work again, for example.
Having said that, the narcissism growing in our society is beginning to appall me. A guy on a bike yelled at me (the top was down) for not giving him enough room after he ignored a stop sign and tried to get around me. Everyone seems to be aggrieved, creating their own island of discontent, which they demand, be supplied and protected by everyone else. College campuses foster free speech-as long as you're supportive of the currently aggrieved bunch screaming the loudest.
I watched a couple take a seat in a diner having brought their own Starbuck's coffee with them. A woman in my church parks illegally and dangerously in the lot because "I've been coming here 47 years and I'll do what I want." A woman goes ballistic when the Acela first class car doesn't have any more of the meal she selected. (She's taking the train as a dining experience?) I saw a guy giving a TED talk explaining how to dry your hands on one paper towel. Now he can brag he gave his TED talk (along with eight million other boring people).
By all means, think well of yourself, but try also thinking well of others. Grand is good. Grandiosity ain't.
Alan is a colleague, friend and international business consultant. Also a self-described curmudgeon. ■
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5 Struggles Overly-Nice People
Would Understand
A wise friend, tired of me sitting on the sidelines of life, said that there's more to life than breathing.
That shook me to the core.
No one needs to be sold on how living better gives us more energy, helps us endure stress, whets our appetites and stuffs it, and keep our brains well oiled.
What are some ways we can think of to improve the lives of seniors? Here are some ways to help them indulge their wishes for many years to come.
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Providers We Love
We are privileged to have received referrals from and be able to coordinate care with many Assisted Living facilities, rehab facilities, and Medicare Home Care and Hospice agencies. Our growth is in large part due to the trust the staff in these organizations have put in our caregivers. We are likewise impressed with them and we are committed to referring to them on a regular basis
Kindred Care at Home / Formerly Gentiva Home Health Care Services Stratford, Old Saybrook,
Hamden, Farmington.
Their services include: Skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational and speech language therapy Neurorehabilitation, wound care, disease and pain management, medication management and education. They maintain a special expertise in dementia care.
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About Always There Home Care
Always There Home Care provides compassionate, dependable and professional one-on-one care for seniors who need assistance in the comfort of their homes or residential care communities. Services from highly qualified and trained caregivers range from companionship, meal preparation and incidental transportation to personal care, medication management and RN-directed case management. Available 7 days a week, services range from a few hours a day to 24-hour care.
Always There Home Care understands that every situation is unique and creates individualized care plans to help improve a client's quality of life.
Our Caregivers
Our caregivers are totally committed, highly qualified and carefully selected individuals who are personally and thoroughly screened, bonded and insured. Most are Certified Nurse Assistants or Home Health Aides. Most importantly our caregivers are dependable and extraordinarily caring of others. In addition to their previous experience, our caregivers receive continuous training that includes dementia, hospice care, home safety, nutrition and other topics related to seniors. These highly qualified and trained caregivers are ready to help you and your loved ones with a variety of daily activities such as:
Personal care
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Meal planning and preparation
Transportation to doctor appointments and other errands
Caring companionship
/ Light housekeeping
Medication reminders /
Information and referral services
Our personalized, nurse- supervised services are available 7 days a week and
can range from a few hours a day to 24 hours and live in care.
For more information or service needs, call 24 hours a day at:
800.348.0485 or visit www.AlwaysThereHomeCare-CT.com.
We are Always There!
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