Denial: Roadblock to better health and better care.

Living: the ultimate team sport

STATEMENT:  Carol’s having a little problem with her memory.
Initially this might be an accurate statement.  Two years later, it’s a euphemism that doesn’t benefit anyone, the least of which is Carol.

Imagine denying a person’s cancer diagnosis.  There’s no need to treat it.  I just have an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in my body.  It’s not that bad.  It’s early in the diagnosis anyway and I’m not even experiencing any major symptoms.  I’ll do something about it when it really gets bad.  Ill-advised, right?  Most people would not follow that path.  But Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementia, are no less serious.  As a matter of fact, cancer isn’t always fatal, but Alzheimer’s is.  There is no cure and no potential for one at this time.

Most people would spring into action upon receiving a cancer diagnosis: learning as much as possible about it; taking measures to…

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Fraud…Report it!

Report Fraud Online:

The OIG Hotline accepts tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in Department of Health & Human Services programs. Read More

Medical ID Theft/Fraud Information:

Use this information and tips to fight back against Medical ID theft, which occurs when someone steals your personal information and uses it to obtain medical care, buy drugs or submit fake billings to Medicare in your name. Read More

Medicaid Fraud Control Units:

Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCU or Unit) investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud as well as patient abuse and neglect in health care facilities. Read More

Enforcement Actions:

The Office of Inspector General and other State and Federal agencies collaborate to ensure civil, criminal and/or administrative action is taken against providers who break the laws governing Federal health care programs. Read More

State False Claims Act Reviews:

The OIG, in consultation with the Attorney General, determines whether States have false claims acts that qualify for a financial incentive. Read More

Most Wanted:

Check out OIG’s list of most-wanted health care fugitives. These individuals have allegedly defrauded taxpayers of millions of dollars.For OIG, tracking more than 170 health care fugitives is a challenge, but you can help. If you have a tip about a featured most-wanted fugitive, send the information our way. Read More

 

See more: Office of Inspector General: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: FRAUD

 

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10 Ways to Volunteer with Family Caregivers

This is a guest post by Heather Taylor. Taylor is a freelance writer, consultant and radio producer.  Since January 2011, she’s also happily served as a job coach in the AARP Foundation WorkSearch Program,  helping adults aged 50+ who are unemployed, underemployed or career-changers to find satisfying work.   You can follow her on twitter at @findingthejobs. 

10 Ways to Volunteer with Family Caregivers

Quick!  What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word November?  For lots of us, November means the Thanksgiving feast.  It’s also a month we associate with the sights, tastes and smells of delicious food and spending time with family and friends.  But there’s an “extra helping” of the Thanksgiving spirit that Suzanne Mintz would like us to consider.  And that’s in recognition of the more than 65 million unsung heroes of family life:  family caregivers.

Mintz is co-founder, President and CEO of the National Family Caregivers Association,  a nonprofit that focuses on supporting family caregiving.  NFCA coordinates National Family Caregivers Month, “a time to offer thanks, support, education and empowerment to family caregivers.”

How can you get started volunteering to help family caregivers?  Mintz and the NFCA offer these 10 simple ways to do it:

• 1. Offer a few hours of respite time to a family caregiver so they spend time with friends, or simply relax.
• 2. Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.
• 3. Encourage local businesses to offer a free service for family caregivers through the month of November.
• 4. Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
• 5. Offer comic relief! Purchase tickets to a local comedy club, give a family caregiver your favorite funny movie to view, or provide them an amusing audio book to listen to while doing their caregiving activities.
• 6. Find 12 different family photos and have a copy center create a monthly calendar that the family caregiver can use to keep track of appointments and events.
• 7. Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community, so they can just relax and enjoy the holiday.
• 8. A United States postage stamp honoring the more than 50 million family caregivers in America is officially “under consideration” by the U.S. Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee. Sign the petition atwww.thefamilycaregiver.org and ask others to sign the petition letter.
• 9. Help a family caregiver find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.
• 10. Ask your local elected official to issue a proclamation celebrating National Family Caregivers Month.

See original post at : AARP

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Court-Ordered Hell — how an errant judge and a controlling sibling stripped Nashville rocker Danny Tate of his money, his livelihood and his legal rights

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8 Rules for New Caregivers

1. Start with a candid conversation. Talk with your parents about how you will be helping them to meet their needs. Unless they are severely incapacitated, they should continue to make their own decisions and remain a central part of all discussions about their care. Encourage them to articulate their concerns: Most likely, your parents are worried about becoming a burden and losing control of their lives. Have an open conversation about what role your parents want you to play. Establish limits so they don’t form unrealistic expectations.

2. Set your priorities. Make a list of what needs to get done and how you plan to do it. An organized approach puts you in control, reduces stress and ensures that your parents get the assistance they need. Be sure to create backup plans, and ask others to serve as reinforcements if necessary. Write down your plans and schedules, and give a copy to all involved family members. Consider using an online scheduling tool such as Lotsa Helping Hands to organize and keep track of who’s doing what, when.

3. Build a support network.In most families, one person assumes the role of primary caregiver. But that doesn’t let others off the hook. Enlist the help of your siblings, of course, but also consider that cousins, nieces and nephews may be eager to help. Don’t forget to include your friends, distant relatives, neighbors and acquaintances, such as members of your parents’ civic or religious groups. Not all of these folks will volunteer to help, but many will get involved if you ask. Some, in fact, may feel hurt or left out if you don’t seek their assistance.

4. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Ask a friend to pick up groceries or get books from the library, a neighbor’s child to adopt your parent as a grandparent, or a local teenager to help with yard work for a manageable fee. Investigate whether a civic group can provide free home repair or transportation services. Ask the newspaper carrier, a barber or an apartment superintendent to keep an eye out for your parents and to call you if anything seems wrong.

5. Offer alternatives. With family members, don’t accept excuses for not helping without offering alternatives. A sibling who lives far away, for example, can help with paying bills, contacting doctors’ offices or seeking support from local agencies. Siblings who have young children can cook meals or bring kids along for visits and outings.

6. Hold family meetings. Schedule them regularly, and bring in distant family by phone. Choose a neutral party to moderate if necessary. Draw up a clear agenda for each meeting, and agree on rules of conduct — for instance, don’t interrupt, stick to time limits, avoid argument and focus the discussion on how to care for your parents. If meetings tend to be contentious, consider hiring a geriatric care manager to run the meeting.

7. Involve your children. When you have parents and children who need your time and attention, you may feel pulled from both sides. Be honest with your children about the situation, and listen to their concerns. Encourage their questions, and answer them thoroughly. Carve out time for fun activities, and request your children’s help. Teenagers can drive Grandma to the store, and even a toddler can make her feel loved.

8. Talk to your spouse. Have a discussion with your partner about your caregiving responsibilities.What role do you expect him or her to play? Suggest specific ways your spouse can help, and show appreciation for his or her efforts. Recognize that your responsibilities affect your spouse, and encourage him or her to talk about any frustrations. Your relationship is a priority — keep it that way.

Your To-Do List

Determine housing options and preferences: With your parents, discuss whether they want to continue to care for their home or whether they have considered living elsewhere. Depending on their health and well-being, they can either stay in their home with some changes and additional help or consider other options such as an assisted living residence or a continuing care retirement community.

Research helpful services: Consider home care, adult day services, meal delivery and help with everyday activities such as preparing meals and doing laundry.

Learn medical history: Ask your parents about any medical conditions or health problems and get a list of their doctors and medications. If your parents are unclear about the details, ask if you can go with them on their next visit to the doctor.

Assemble contact list: Gather names and contact information for those in your parents’ personal support system. This should include close relatives and friends, neighbors, friends from their place of worship, clergy, housing managers or apartment front-desk staff, and even the local pharmacist.

Create a financial profile: While this information may be difficult to obtain, it is critical to have. Make a list of income sources such as Social Security and pensions, monthly and yearly income and expenses, bank accounts and investments, and a statement of net worth.

Review legal needs: Work with your parents to determine what relevant legal documents they have or want to have (wills, advance directives such as living wills, health care proxy forms, trusts and powers of attorney). Locate important documents, including their birth certificates, deed to home and insurance policies, and find out if they are up to date and express their current wishes.

Make a list of important accounts: Include Social Security numbers, bank accounts, credit cards, health and life insurance policies, and driver’s licenses.

Repost from: AARP

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