Resources for Caring for Persons with Dementia

I believe that one of our best gifts as massage therapists is for people living with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Touch is a powerful means of communication and reaching through the “fog” that dementia creates. I have seen first hand the transformation resulting from massage and focused touch. I’m constantly searching for resources related to best practices for dementia care and want to pass these wonderful resources along to you.

Naomi Feil, founder of the Validation Institute. Naomi says “Validation is a method of communicating with and helping disoriented very old people. It is a practical way of working that helps reduce stress, enhance dignity and increase happiness. Validation is built on an empathetic attitude and a holistic view of individuals. When one can “step into the shoes” of another human being and “see through their eyes,” one can step into the world of disoriented very old people and understand the meaning of their sometimes bizarre behavior.”
Teepa Snow is a dementia expert who trains and consults for healthcare professionals and families privately. As a certified Occupational Therapist, Teepa has the unique medical perspective on how the brain controls our body and our behaviors giving her the perfect medical degree to explain how a brain disease like dementia affects a person. Teepa Snow is a dementia expert who trains and consults for healthcare professionals and families privately.

Memory Bridge states it’s purpose as creating programs that connect people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to family, friends, and other people in their local community. They also create programs that reveal to the general public the depths of memory that dementia does not erase. Their goal is to create a global community of people who, like us, are learning to listen to people with dementia for what they have to teach us about our own humanity.

I hope you find these resources as inspiring as I have. We all can learn from and support one another in the journey of caring for our elders living with dementia.

Contact us for homecare in Greenwich, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westchester or Westport Connecticutt.

The Latest On Hold Messaging Technology

Digital On-Hold Audio Systems from American On Hold are the latest technology in 'on-hold' messaging.

Use 'hold time' to advertise your product lines and services.  After all, are your callers familiar with everything you offer?  If the answer is "No!", then you are a candidate for on-hold messaging.

This is the perfect way to introduce new product lines.  Heighten customer awareness by announcing hours of operation, emergency numbers, different branch locations, all product lines and services.  Use 'on-hold' time as a viable alternative or compliment to marketing your company.

How much do you spend each year with ads in the "Yellow Pages", business directories, radio and television campaigns and newspapers ads to attract people to call?  And then, how do you treat them when you have to place them 'on-hold'? Provide fun-facts, information, education that they will not hear anywhere else.

While your callers are waiting on-hold (for just a moment) you will keep them feeling positive about your company as you tell them about your status in the business community.  Don't be shy about your bragging rights in telling about your awards, recognition in the industry and even your "mission statement".

Provide answers to the questions your receptionist and other telephone attendants spend the most time on; such as your address, business hours, fax number, web page address, directions on how to find you, etc.

Great Tips for Buying Additional Health Insurance Today

Group Health insurance in Portland, Oregon (or anywhere in the United States) is something that simply cannot be ignored. As health costs, hospital stays, and medical procedures rising sharply each year, it is very important to have some sort of health insurance. Going for a period of time without any type of health insurance can be financially disastrous.

It has been estimated that close to 50 million people in the U.S. alone do not have some sort of health insurance. Many of these are already facing large medical bills and are facing foreclosure on their homes and bankruptcy. Here are a few different tips to getting additional health insurance and still being able to afford it.
Look Into Group Rates

You can get much better health insurance through a group plan than you can on your own. This is true for both price and amount of coverage you can have. Many employers will allow you to be able to add onto the base plan that they have. For many people, having group based insurance from their place of employment keeps them working at a particular place for a long period of time. They would not be able to afford any insurance otherwise.
Only Buy What You Need

One way to lower the cost, but also add additional insurance onto your plan is to have it customized to fit your needs. Many people today are paying for insurance coverage they do not need and probably never will. You can contact many different organizations to help you choose the type of coverage that would best suit your needs. Organizations like National Association of Health Underwrites will work with you and point you in the right direction.
Research Different Plans

Another way to add on additional health insurance is to do some research into other insurance policy suppliers. You can do this through different areas.

    * Look online - Doing an online search for other supplemental health insurance carriers is one of the easiest ways to find additional insurance.

    * Ask current provider - Talk to your current health insurance provider and see what they can do about adding additional coverage while still keeping your insurance at an affordable rate.

    * Look into government programs - There are several programs that you can look into at the state and local level for additional health coverage. Medicare, Medicaid, and state programs are available.

Change Deductibles

You can add more insurance by making a change to your deductibles. This will only be a good deal if you know that you will not be using your health insurance a lot. If you have a healthy family, then this might be something to look into. Raising you deductible a few hundred dollars could allow you to add supplemental insurance or increase the coverage on your current insurance.

Health insurance in Oregon (or anywhere for that matter) is a must needed fact of life. You simply do not know when you will have an accident or be diagnosed with a life threatening illness. They can strike at any time. Not having adequate insurance can greatly affect the rest of your life. Look into adding new additional coverage to your policy with these simple tips.

Great Tips for Buying Additional Health Insurance Today

Group Health insurance in Portland, Oregon (or anywhere in the United States) is something that simply cannot be ignored. As health costs, hospital stays, and medical procedures rising sharply each year, it is very important to have some sort of health insurance. Going for a period of time without any type of health insurance can be financially disastrous.

It has been estimated that close to 50 million people in the U.S. alone do not have some sort of health insurance. Many of these are already facing large medical bills and are facing foreclosure on their homes and bankruptcy. Here are a few different tips to getting additional health insurance and still being able to afford it.
Look Into Group Rates

You can get much better health insurance through a group plan than you can on your own. This is true for both price and amount of coverage you can have. Many employers will allow you to be able to add onto the base plan that they have. For many people, having group based insurance from their place of employment keeps them working at a particular place for a long period of time. They would not be able to afford any insurance otherwise.
Only Buy What You Need

One way to lower the cost, but also add additional insurance onto your plan is to have it customized to fit your needs. Many people today are paying for insurance coverage they do not need and probably never will. You can contact many different organizations to help you choose the type of coverage that would best suit your needs. Organizations like National Association of Health Underwrites will work with you and point you in the right direction.
Research Different Plans

Another way to add on additional health insurance is to do some research into other insurance policy suppliers. You can do this through different areas.

    * Look online - Doing an online search for other supplemental health insurance carriers is one of the easiest ways to find additional insurance.

    * Ask current provider - Talk to your current health insurance provider and see what they can do about adding additional coverage while still keeping your insurance at an affordable rate.

    * Look into government programs - There are several programs that you can look into at the state and local level for additional health coverage. Medicare, Medicaid, and state programs are available.

Change Deductibles

You can add more insurance by making a change to your deductibles. This will only be a good deal if you know that you will not be using your health insurance a lot. If you have a healthy family, then this might be something to look into. Raising you deductible a few hundred dollars could allow you to add supplemental insurance or increase the coverage on your current insurance.

Health insurance in Oregon (or anywhere for that matter) is a must needed fact of life. You simply do not know when you will have an accident or be diagnosed with a life threatening illness. They can strike at any time. Not having adequate insurance can greatly affect the rest of your life. Look into adding new additional coverage to your policy with these simple tips.

Demystifying Medicare Insurance

Our company specializes in providing information for seniors that applies to Texas Medicare Insurance. We put together the following article to give seniors and families of elder loved ones a little more information on how Medicare insurance affects them regardless if you are in Texas or not.

 Understanding Medicare Insurance and How it Applies to you

Medicare is a federal insurance plan that provides basic coverage for medical care to seniors and people with certain physical disabilities.

There are different types of Medicare policies. Two are basic plans:

Part A: Coverage for hospital care, limited nursing home stays and some home health care. Most people who have been employed get Part A coverage without having to pay a monthly premium. Recipients, however, do have out-of-pocket expenses, such as co-pays.

Part B: Coverage many seniors purchase from Medicare for other physician and outpatient services, some home health care and some medical equipment. Enrollment typically is automatic once you qualify for Medicare. Recipients pay a monthly premium plus a typical 20% co-pay and other out-of-pocket costs.

In addition to the plans above, you can purchase the following policies from insurance companies on your own:

Part C: Also known as Medicare Advantage, these are plans that usually provide more comprehensive coverage for prescription and generic drugs and sometimes dental and vision care, contributions towards gym memberships and diet-related programs and other care. Medicare Advantage plans include all Part A and B coverage, so you don't need the two basic plans if you have a Medicare Advantage policy.

Part D: Also known as a stand-alone prescription drug plan, these policies pay for outpatient prescription and generic drug coverage. If you don't sign up immediately for one of these plans when you reach age 65, you face penalties ranging from a few dollars to more than a $100 a month.

Medigap: Also known as Supplemental Medicare, these plans pay for additional physician and outpatient care services, but often not prescription coverage, necessitating the purchase of a Part D plan. While these plans typically have not required a co-pay, new plans being offered in 2011 are introducing small co-pays such as $2 to $50 for a doctor's or emergency room visit, a trend likely to continue in the future.