Do you have a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease? Are you looking for a wonderful program that will provide them four hours of mental and social stimulation, and provide respite for the family as well? Well, do we have a program for you!
Let me introduce you to the UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's program called Out & About. This lively program provides outings for individuals who have beginning stage Alzheimer's disease or other related forms of dementia.
The program runs for a series of eight weeks, meeting every Tuesday from 11:00 am to 3:00pm. The event includes lunch, transport to and from the outing, docent tours, staff to drive and accompany the group and mileage.
Examples of some of the outings are the IMAX Theater, Museum of Man, Chula Vista Nature Preserve, Cuyamaca Water Conservancy Garden and many more. We've enjoyed lunches at Pizza Nova, Chicken Pie Shop, and Perry's, just to name a few. The outings are enjoyable not only because they are culturally enriching but because of the interaction the participants have with each other.
I have hosted the Point Loma group for three 8-week sessions and I can say from experience that friendships develop, good natured teasing and laughter are heard and most importantly, the participants have a wonderful time.
Participants need to be able to walk short distances, stay on their feet for periods of about 1 hour, use the restrooms independently, hear and see adequately (enough to enjoy the outing), and be willing and interested in the activity.
The Out & About Program is also brought to you by the Alzheimer's Association, Elder Care Guides and Senior Life Assistance. For more information regarding this program please contact Lisa Snyder, LCSW, Program Director at UCSD Shiley Marcos ADRC at 858-622-5800 or lsnyder@ucsd.edu.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
How to Save Money on Prescription Drugs
Everyone is looking for ways to economize, and the medicine cabinet is a great place to begin. According to Cigna Healthcare, people over 65 make up just 13 percent of the population of the United States, but they account for 30 percent of the prescriptions filled. That's a lot of money being spent on medications.
Below are some ways that Elder Care Guides helps our clients to evaluate their prescription drug costs and take action to save money.
1) Ask for generics - This may seem obvious, but it turns out that some physicians prescribe medications without discussing with the patient whether they would prefer generics. Not all prescriptions have a generic available, but there is usually a significant cost savings if you "go generic" so it is worth inquiring. Cigna estimates a cost savings of approximately $250 per year for those seniors who switch to generics. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medication list with you then ask your physician to re-write any prescriptions that have a generic option.
2) Check for over-the-counter options - There are many medications that used to be "prescription only" that are now available over-the-counter (OTC). Examples include ranitidine (brand name Zantac) and loratadine (Claritin). Check with your pharmacist to determine if the dose you need is available in non-prescription form. Don't rely on your doctor to tell you if your prescribed medication is also available over the counter. You are your own best advocate, so ask!
3) Look into retailer discounts - Major retailers including Wal-Mart and Target offer a host of generic prescriptions for as little as $4 per month, and $10 for a 3 month supply. These are the costs without insurance. Go to each retailer's websites where they publish current lists of the drugs available for lower prices.
4) Go postal! - Many insurance plans offer mail-order pharmacy options where you can purchase a 90-day supply of medications at a lower cost than if you were to pay a monthly co-payment at your local pharmacy. Call your insurance company to find out if they offer this.
5) Evaluate your Medicare D plan - Not all prescription drug plans under Part D are created equal. Do your homework to find out if you plan is the best one given your prescription needs. The Medicare website offers a "formula finder" feature where you can enter your medication list and it will produce a list of the plans that cover your specific prescriptions. You then need to call each plan to discuss the premiums and co-pays.
If you have not enrolled in a prescription drug plan under Medicare Part D, you can enroll during the Annual Election Period which begins each year on November 15 and ends on December 31. Coverage begins the following January 1. Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) has a great website and a toll-free hotline staffed with knowledgeable volunteers who can answer your questions about Medicare, including prescription drug plans. If you have a Part D plan and are trying to manage your out-of-pocket costs, AARP has a "doughnut hole" calculator that helps you to determine when and how much you might have to pay.
6) Reduce consumption - Ask your doctor what lifestyle or dietary changes might help you to reduce your need for certain medications. I have a client who was able to discontinue three of her blood pressure medications through daily monitoring of her blood pressure (the charts were given to her doctor for regular review); stress reduction techniques; exercise; and menu planning. The more medication you take, the more potential for side effects and drug interactions, so reducing the drugs you take may help your health as well as your wallet.
Below are some ways that Elder Care Guides helps our clients to evaluate their prescription drug costs and take action to save money.
1) Ask for generics - This may seem obvious, but it turns out that some physicians prescribe medications without discussing with the patient whether they would prefer generics. Not all prescriptions have a generic available, but there is usually a significant cost savings if you "go generic" so it is worth inquiring. Cigna estimates a cost savings of approximately $250 per year for those seniors who switch to generics. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medication list with you then ask your physician to re-write any prescriptions that have a generic option.
2) Check for over-the-counter options - There are many medications that used to be "prescription only" that are now available over-the-counter (OTC). Examples include ranitidine (brand name Zantac) and loratadine (Claritin). Check with your pharmacist to determine if the dose you need is available in non-prescription form. Don't rely on your doctor to tell you if your prescribed medication is also available over the counter. You are your own best advocate, so ask!
3) Look into retailer discounts - Major retailers including Wal-Mart and Target offer a host of generic prescriptions for as little as $4 per month, and $10 for a 3 month supply. These are the costs without insurance. Go to each retailer's websites where they publish current lists of the drugs available for lower prices.
4) Go postal! - Many insurance plans offer mail-order pharmacy options where you can purchase a 90-day supply of medications at a lower cost than if you were to pay a monthly co-payment at your local pharmacy. Call your insurance company to find out if they offer this.
5) Evaluate your Medicare D plan - Not all prescription drug plans under Part D are created equal. Do your homework to find out if you plan is the best one given your prescription needs. The Medicare website offers a "formula finder" feature where you can enter your medication list and it will produce a list of the plans that cover your specific prescriptions. You then need to call each plan to discuss the premiums and co-pays.
If you have not enrolled in a prescription drug plan under Medicare Part D, you can enroll during the Annual Election Period which begins each year on November 15 and ends on December 31. Coverage begins the following January 1. Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) has a great website and a toll-free hotline staffed with knowledgeable volunteers who can answer your questions about Medicare, including prescription drug plans. If you have a Part D plan and are trying to manage your out-of-pocket costs, AARP has a "doughnut hole" calculator that helps you to determine when and how much you might have to pay.
6) Reduce consumption - Ask your doctor what lifestyle or dietary changes might help you to reduce your need for certain medications. I have a client who was able to discontinue three of her blood pressure medications through daily monitoring of her blood pressure (the charts were given to her doctor for regular review); stress reduction techniques; exercise; and menu planning. The more medication you take, the more potential for side effects and drug interactions, so reducing the drugs you take may help your health as well as your wallet.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What Makes a Good Caregiver? - The Art of Thin-Slicing
Determining if a caregiver will be a valuable employee at the interview is no small feat. There are a multitude of factors to consider, including past experience, hands-on training, knowledge base, and personality. Of course we crave dependability and consistency in caregivers, but how can we tell at the initial meeting if a potential caregiver will be reliable? We can tell through the art of thin-slicing, says author Malcolm Gladwell, in his book "Blink."
Gladwell describes thin-slicing as the ability of or our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior, based on minimal "slices" of knowledge and experience. By using the thin-slicing technique, we find it is possible to gather enough necessary information to determine if a caregiver will be a valued employee for the long-term.
Therefore, instead of trying to consider all possible aspects of what makes a good caregiver, focusing on a few main essential traits and thin-slicing the potential employee is often more effective. Does the applicant have a calming personality? Are they sociable and helpful? Are they organized and have original ideas? Do you sense a strong desire to relate to and encourage an elderly individual? What are their emotions as they tell you a story of one of their past clients? Using this observational technique when conducting interviews takes practice, but will most likely bring your percentage of quality caregivers up dramatically. As Gladwell states in his book;
All humans thin-slice. We do it when we meet a new person, or have to analyze a situation quickly, and we rely on our ability to thin-slice to keep ourselves out of danger. Paying attention to a few key personality details can tell you a lot about a person, which is especially important in finding a long-term, valued caregiver.
Gladwell describes thin-slicing as the ability of or our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior, based on minimal "slices" of knowledge and experience. By using the thin-slicing technique, we find it is possible to gather enough necessary information to determine if a caregiver will be a valued employee for the long-term.
Therefore, instead of trying to consider all possible aspects of what makes a good caregiver, focusing on a few main essential traits and thin-slicing the potential employee is often more effective. Does the applicant have a calming personality? Are they sociable and helpful? Are they organized and have original ideas? Do you sense a strong desire to relate to and encourage an elderly individual? What are their emotions as they tell you a story of one of their past clients? Using this observational technique when conducting interviews takes practice, but will most likely bring your percentage of quality caregivers up dramatically. As Gladwell states in his book;
"...judging people's personalities is a really good example of how surprisingly effective thin-slicing can be."
All humans thin-slice. We do it when we meet a new person, or have to analyze a situation quickly, and we rely on our ability to thin-slice to keep ourselves out of danger. Paying attention to a few key personality details can tell you a lot about a person, which is especially important in finding a long-term, valued caregiver.
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