Admitting a Spouse to Nursing Homes or Senior Communities in Michigan

Senior Care Network is familiar with the hardships families go through when their aging loved one has to be sent to nursing home or senior communities in Michigan. It’s even harder when the individual that requires long term care away from the home is one’s own spouse. Aside from the emotional stress the change could bring, there may also be some legal and financial problems that could arise for the spouses of long-term care recipients. This is one of the areas SCN addresses to help to alleviate anxiety for family members.

Prolonged stays in nursing homes or senior apartments in Michigan is often costly, especially when paying for such services is out-of-pocket. However, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Services, Medicaid has certain measures in place to prevent the at-home spouse from enduring the devastation of paying hefty bills from nursing home care.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/admitting-spouse-nursing-homes-senior-communities-michigan/

Advocacy for Assisted Living Helps Families Deal with Caregiver Stress

As an advocate for assisted living in Michigan, Senior Care Network’s main focus is to alleviate the anxiety of people caring for their elderly loved ones, particularly those loved ones who have dementia-related diseases. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, people who care for seniors with Alzheimer’s experience high levels of stress due to the nature of care required for such patients. Often, family members who take on the role of caregivers report that they feel inadequate with the care they provide.

It’s important to notice signs that a caregiver is suffering from abnormal levels of stress and ensure that the patient is still in good hands. Perhaps the most noticeable symptoms of caregiver stress are those that manifest physically. For instance, exhaustion, loss of sleep, and health problems can arise due to stress.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/advocacy-assisted-living-helps-families-deal-caregiver-stress/

Senior Care of Michigan: Beware the Nursing Home Coverage Loophole

Recently, a new Medicare law has been passed for the benefit of patients that are under observation status in hospitals. As a senior care management company in Michigan, Senior Care Network wants to inform the public of this new development. The NOTICE Act, or the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility Act amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Hospitals are now required to notify patients who are on observation/ outpatient status rather than admitted status.

Prior to this new notification law, patients could be kept in the hospital on observation/outpatient status and not be notified of this. The law was changed after some seniors experienced the negative financial consequences of not being formally admitted.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/senior-care-michigan-beware-nursing-home-coverage-loophole/

Senior Care Network on When to Consider a Center for Assisted Living

As an advocacy organization for the aging population, Senior Care Network helps people make informed decisions regarding the special care needed for seniors. While children of aging parents can step into the role of caregiver, they are often ill-equipped to attend to their family member’s needs. Family members need to recognize the signs when the services of a center for assisted living in Michigan is needed, often despite the elderly individual’s insistent on remaining independent and maintaining the status quo.

According to AgingCare.com, caretakers should keep a close eye on their aging loved one’s diet and eating habits. Poor diet, spoiled food that is left out, and weight loss are all red flags. A decline in grooming habits, personal care, and home maintenance should be just as alarming. Watch for body odor, infrequent showering, the smell of urine in the house, clutter around the home and dirty laundry piling up.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/senior-care-network-consider-center-assisted-living/

Senior Care Management: Differentiating Dementia from Alzheimer’s

The terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have been used interchangeably though the two are widely different. In the medical field where accuracy is key, a common misconception like this can cause confusion for patients and their caregivers. While dementia and Alzheimer’s do have similarities, it is important to learn the distinction between the two before seeking out health services or senior care management in Michigan. Here are some facts that may help.

Dementia is an umbrella term

Contrary to popular thought dementia is not a disease. It’s a collective term that refers to a set of symptoms that affects an individual’s mental capacity. Symptoms may include impaired thinking and memory loss, largely affecting a person’s ability to live independently. Dementia can be caused by different medical conditions, and one of those is Alzheimer’s.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/senior-care-management-differentiating-dementia-alzheimers/

Transitioning to Retirement Communities Upon Discharge from Hospital

Not all people are aware of their right to challenge a hospital’s decision whether to discharge a patient or not. In the case of seniors needing long-term care, families are often concerned about more than just the patient’s comfort, but the expenses as well. Senior Care Network’s dedicated staff provides helpful referrals to families for seniors to Michigan retirement communities.

If a family member or friend, taking on the role of caregiver, feels that a longer hospital stay is necessary, Medicare provides an opportunity to appeal the hospital’s discharge decision. This is to protect a patient from being discharged too quickly. By filing an appeal before the patient is formally discharged. In addition, you can refuse a proposed discharge, by writing a letter addressed to the hospital staff explaining your reasons for contesting their decision.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/transitioning-retirement-communities-upon-discharge-hospital/

Michigan Assisted Living Facilities Pattern Care on “Dementia Village”

Without any known cure, dementia becomes worse over time. This makes it difficult for caregivers and the family members of individuals who have this condition. They have to constantly adapt and change their care approaches. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with dementia are usually cared for by family members or friends and about 80 percent are receiving care in their homes. However, advocacy referral centers for assisted living facilities across Michigan like Senior Care Network are providing new avenues when it comes to senior care.

It is common knowledge that one of the most notable characteristics of dementia is memory loss, impacting one’s ability to function independently. Most family’s preference for home care, for those with dementia, is more than just a convenience for families, it is often a necessity.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/michigan-assisted-living-facilities-pattern-care-dementia-village/

A Michigan Referral Center for Assisted Living Cares for Seniors with Dementia and other illnesses

Dementia refers to a group of cognitive disorders that affects a person’s ability to think and remember. It can also be characterized by difficulty in the areas of language, object recognition, motor activity, and the ability to plan or organize. This disorder generally affects individuals who are 60 years and older. The risk of developing the disease doubles once the person reaches the age of 65.

Fortunately, the dedicated staff at Senior Care Network will provide expert assistances for families when selecting a senior living facility in Michigan for loved ones suffering with dementia and other illnesses.
http://www.miseniorcare.com/michigan-referral-center-assisted-living-cares-seniors-dementia-illnesses/