Archives for Freedom Home Care

Avoiding preventable hospital readmissions

Avoiding preventable hospital readmissions

January 4, 2013 | No Comments

According to data provided by Medicare, nearly one in five patients who leave the hospital are readmitted within the next month. Additionally, it was revealed that 75 percent of readmissions are preventable. To try and avoid preventable readmissions, Medicare produced a checklist that patients can rely on when they are preparing to end their hospital stay. Therefore, it’s important to keep these items in mind during discharge: 1. Ask where you will get care after discharge. Do you have options (like home health care)? Be sure you tell the staff what you prefer. 2. If a caregiver will be helping
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Important information for taking generic pills

Important information for taking generic pills

January 3, 2013 | No Comments

Many Americans take more than one daily prescription and when doing so, they often rely on the color of the pills to know that they are sticking to their medication schedules. It can be as easy as knowing that every morning they must take one blue pill and one white pill, for example. When switching to generic drugs, however, using a color-coded rule of thumb isn’t always that easy. And that’s because often times, generic drugs are a different color than their brand-name counterparts. According to an article published by WRAL.com, a media outlet covering the Raleigh, Durham and Fayetteville
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Elderly Americans considered winners in fiscal cliff deal

Elderly Americans considered winners in fiscal cliff deal

January 2, 2013 | No Comments

In the 11th hour, Republicans and Democrats found common ground, keeping the U.S. economy from tumbling over the fiscal cliff. That doesn’t mean, however, that everyone is happy about the outcome. Many consider the deal a losing battle, although, according to the Huffington Post, America’s elderly aren’t part of that contingency. They can be considered among the winners of the fiscal cliff deal, which also includes rich individuals, the unemployed and doctors. “As recently as yesterday morning, it was taken for granted that one of the major provisions of an alternative to the fiscal cliff would be cuts in the
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Understanding the role of elder mediators

Understanding the role of elder mediators

December 31, 2012 | No Comments

“As society ages, it’s become more common for adult children to provide assistance to their elderly parents,” explained the editor of a Chicago Tribune article. “But making sure that everyone, including the parent, agrees on a care plan can often be a challenge. A new type of go-between, known as an elder mediator, can guide squabbling siblings and elderly parents to solutions before conflicts tear a family apart.” It’s not uncommon for tension to rise as parents or other aging loved ones show signs of needing help. It’s also not rare for family members to be at odds for how
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How to ease sibling tension when dealing with aging parents

How to ease sibling tension when dealing with aging parents

December 28, 2012 | No Comments

In the following video titled, “What To Do When You Fight With Your Siblings Over Your Aging Parents,” Dr. Mikol Davis from AgingParents.com provides professional legal and health care information to families in need. In addition to discussing the potential for conflict between siblings and family members dealing with their aging parent’s possessions, he suggests solutions to find resolution.
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21 classic movies to watch in 2013

21 classic movies to watch in 2013

December 27, 2012 | No Comments

As winter begins to settle in, there’s nothing better than curling up with an afghan and a movie on the living room couch. Because let’s face it, with a now-permanent blanket of snow on the ground and temperatures sticking below 32, no one wants to venture out into the cold. Therefore, to warm your heart and inspire a bit of nostalgia, the editors at AARP chose the following 21 movies that they consider must-sees: 1. Lawrence of Arabia, 1962 2. Casablanca, 1942 3. The Producers, 1968 4. The Longest Day, 1962 5. Grand Illusion, 1937 6. Spirited Away, 2001 7.
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Get assistance from Freedom Home Care before and after a colonoscopy

Get assistance from Freedom Home Care before and after a colonoscopy

December 26, 2012 | No Comments

Colorectal cancer, which includes cancer of both the colon and rectum, is the second-leading cancer killer of men and women in the United States. By undergoing an endoscopic examination of the bowels, individuals can receive a diagnosis for the potential of colon cancer or for the presence of ulcers or polyps. More commonly referred to as a colonoscopy, this examination has been a life saver for thousands of men and women. For anyone who makes the smart choice to undergo the out-patient procedure, Freedom Home Care can assist with the preparation involved. The Colonoscopy/Out-Patient Program is scheduled as a 24-hour
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Addressing the chained CPI proposal for Social Security beneficiaries

Addressing the chained CPI proposal for Social Security beneficiaries

December 20, 2012 | No Comments

In the following video, Christina Martin Firvida, the director of financial security and consumer affairs at AARP, addresses current threats to the U.S. budget that may cut into the benefits of those on Social Security. In it, she explains the math on how moving to a ‘chained CPI’ would hit current Social Security beneficiaries in the wallet.  She stresses that these cuts will especially hurt those who are already struggling financially. To find out how you can call or write your member of Congress to tell them not to cut your cost-of-living adjustment, go to http://www.AARP.org/governmentwatch. http://youtu.be/T_p2a4Re9ks
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Cleaning out the medicine cabinet – an essential New Year’s resolution

Cleaning out the medicine cabinet – an essential New Year’s resolution

December 19, 2012 | No Comments

How many times have you gone to your medicine cabinet only to be confronted with bottle upon bottle of unused or expired prescriptions? As time passes, medications quickly accumulate, making it more difficult to find space to store new prescriptions and equally hard to find what you’re looking for. According to an article posted on News-Medicine.net, “Because each season brings a host of new illnesses and conditions, it’s easy for medicine cabinets to become cluttered with unused or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbals that can potentially be harmful to one’s health. Hanging onto old, expired or unused medications
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10 methods for caring for someone with Sundowner’s Syndrome

10 methods for caring for someone with Sundowner’s Syndrome

December 18, 2012 | No Comments

For those unfamiliar with Sundowner’s Syndrome, according to AgingCare.com, it occurs in people with Alzheimer’s disease or severe dementia and typically happens at sundown or at sun-up. During these times, the elder is prone to agitation, confusion or fear. For those who have a loved one experiencing Sundowner’s Syndrome, here are 10 suggestions from Caring.com to help cope with the situation: 1. Establish a routine. As Alzheimer’s and dementia progresses, the patient’s ability to reason and perform normal daily activities diminishes. “Different functions and capabilities are lost, creating confusion and frustration. Establishing a routine of behavior management strategies will not only
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