Care Trends to Watch

Healthcare delivery continues to shift from the hospital to the home, as many elders are now sent directly home following hip or knee replacement. Some hospitals are striving to be Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly and some physician groups have gone back to the future scheduling home visits by physicians . Regardless, be mindful that if a family member is admitted to the hospital "for observation" their rehab in a facility will NOT be covered by Medicare. Ask about their admission status, even if they're in a hospital bed and are eating the jello. Here's a  link where you can learn more; scroll down the page for the video.

Helping Your Aging Parents

Kudos to geriatrician Dr. Leslie Kernisan, Founder of Better Health While Aging, for creating on-line courses and workshops along with a membership network for family members helping older parents. Consider joining this private network; you may register for the next cohort here. The network is moderated by professional care managers and twice each month Dr. Kernisan answers questions live. We've taken the course and joined the network to ask questions about our own family members. It's great to get help from the experts, on your own time, at your convenience. Her guidance is equally helpful for anyone aging themselves.

Attention, Working Daughters!

Consider buying Liz O'Donnell's latest book, Working Daughter, for anyone in your life who is supporting an aging parent. Irreverent, poignant and full of practical advice, Liz helps working women juggling aging parents, as author  Virginia Morris notes, "accept their fates, manage the mess, and find some joy in the moment." No time to read? No problem. Join the private Facebook group where you'll find emotional support and the practical tips that only a small army of like- minded women can provide.

CHECK YOUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.  

Last spring, Harvard Business School published The Caring Company, research that shows the economic importance of actively supporting employees caring for relatives, including children and elders. One third of all family caregivers report quitting a job because of their responsibilities, and more men than women (for eldercare). This report echos the article I wrote years ago entitled, The Silent Workplace Crisis. If your employer needs a nudge to improve employee benefits, give them a copy of this research and have them talk to Deloitte, who gives employees 16 weeks of paid family leave to support the old or the young.  

BE INSPIRED! by these WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS  

Thanks to Victoria Crittenden, author, researcher and head of Marketing at Babson College for publishing Go-to-Market Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs. This book includes the voices of some of the most talented female entrepreneurs from Lebanon to Texas, Trinidad & Tobago, California, India, South Africa, Mexico and more. Beautifully researched and inspirational, the book underscores the power of women entrepreneurs, with guidance from those running home businesses to women-led global businesses like the Body Shop and Ceja Vineyards. If you know a female entrepreneur or an aspiring one, this book is the perfect gift for them.

Are you tired of those spam calls and concerned about your parents' phone safety? Oomo  and nomorobo were recommended by some folks in the know as a way to block access. If you have experience with either, send us your insights.