When an older relative has surgery, theyre entering a vulnerable time. Theyll need extra support after coming home from the hospital, and its a big job to prepare meals, pick up prescriptions, help them move from room to room, and keep up with the housework. Thats especially true when you have your own kids, career, and extracurriculars to coordinate every day. Perhaps youre not in a position to take on all of your loved ones post-op care needs. Maybe you simply want help ensuring their discharge instructions are followed as closely and safely as possible. Either way, hiring transitional care can be a crucial part of your loved ones post-surgery planand ComForCare is here to support a healthy recovery!How Do I Make a Post-Surgery Plan for My Loved One?Making a post-surgery plan starts with talking to your loved ones doctor about what recovery will look like. Make sure to ask about what kind of support theyll need, including any dietary restrictions, mobility concerns (for example, whether or not theyll be able to climb stairs), and special equipment, like shower seats or canes/walkers.If you have a big family, you may have a lot of people around you who want to help take on some of the care in shifts. However, having consistent, clear, and high-quality care is crucialeveryone needs to be on the same page. And if youre solely responsible, it can be difficult to provide the level of care needed while also taking care of your obligations at home. Thats what makes transitional care such an appealing choice. With one person managing some or all of these aspects of care, you can rest assured that your loved ones health and recovery are in good hands. What is Transitional Care?Transitional care can apply to any situation when someone moves from one care setting to another, whether thats the hospital, a rehabilitation center, or a skilled nursing facility. Our caregivers help coordinate the care process between your loved ones doctor and getting settled safely at home. That can mean a one-time transition to home or a longer stay, depending on your familys unique circumstances.Why is Transitional Care Important?Coming home from the hospital may sound like a simple enough process, but unfortunately, that isnt always the case. Research shows that older adults are especially vulnerable to breakdowns of communication and care during these transitions. Without post-surgery support in place, older adults can experience higher hospital readmission rates, trip and fall injuries, longer recoveries, and other adverse effects. Post-surgery support is also important for family caregivers. While helping care for a loved one can be an incredibly rewarding experience, it can also be stressful. Some perfect examples of this include understanding the doctors orders, managing medications, and understanding the red flags for complications. Transitional care coordinates the logistics, allowing you to focus on providing the emotional support that your loved one will need following their procedure.What Transitional Home Care Services Does ComForCare Provide?ComForCares compassionate and highly trained caregivers can provide a number of home care services to help bolster your loved ones support system after surgery. Our services include:Obtaining, reviewing, and implementing hospital discharge instructionsPicking up prescriptions and providing medication remindersScheduling and providing transportation to follow-up appointmentsIdentifying trip hazards and making other home safety recommendationsHelping with meal preparation, laundry, and light housekeepingComForCare caregivers are communication partners, too, helping to make sure that you, your family, and all healthcare providers involved are in sync. Theyre fully prepared to be a resource, providing education and guidance about long-term care plans, key questions to ask, and warning signs of chronic conditions down the road.If youd like a caregiver to stay for a longer duration, they can also help with personal care services and companion care services. Should I Get Post-Operative Support for My Loved One?If your loved one has a procedure coming up, it is essential to take an honest and thorough assessment of the level of extra support theyll need. Dont forget to include yourself in this review! Transitional care services can benefit everyone: your loved one has the extra support they need to recover safely, and you have the extra bandwidth to be the best caregiver, family member, or support system you can be.Not sure if youll need extra help? As you prepare for your loved ones discharge, call ComForCare for a no-obligation consultation. We can provide a customized care plan to help the older adult in your life safely transition home, based on their needs and preferences. Our transitional care services are available 24/7, including holidays, so that everyone has access to a smooth road to recovery when they need it.ComForCare: Transitional Care & Post-Operative SupportComForCare provides in-home care services to a broad range of clients, from older adults to people with chronic illnesses. Whether you need temporary support or a more long-term solution, our skilled and compassionate caregivers are here to help your loved one live their best life. With over 200 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, ComForCare is here to serve your needs.

It can be difficult to know if your parent or loved one needs to visit a senior rehab center. However, when an aging loved one needs extra help with their recovery it is one of the options to consider. Senior rehab centers cater to your aging loved ones unique medical needs and will help to speed up their recovery. In turn, this saves you and them precious time and helps them have the best opportunity for regaining their health and independence.There are a variety of factors that can contribute to the decision for your senior parent to go to a senior rehab center, like the one at Grace Pointe. Below we will review common reasons for senior rehab center care, what it looks like, and the reasons why Grace Pointe Senior Rehab Center is a great choice for you and your family.What Is Senior Rehab Care?Senior rehab care must be ordered by a hospital physician or their primary care provider for a patient who requires extra support and supervision during their recovery. It can be an option for a  patient who has not returned to their baseline following an injury, illness, or surgical procedure. All rehab care services are designed to help seniors recovering from an injury or a variety of serious medical events. Some examples of care services provided in a senior rehab center include occupational therapy, wound care, intravenous (IV) therapies, and physical therapy. Physical therapy is a service often provided in a senior rehab center to help seniors gain back mobility, balance, and flexibility, or even to manage pain on the road to full or partial recovery. The important thing to remember about rehabilitation centers for seniors is that it is usually a type of temporary, short-term care for patients. The sole purpose in most cases of senior rehab care is to regain back as much strength to go back to where and how they were living prior to the accident or incident, if possible.Top Reasons for Senior RehabThere are a lot of reasons why your aging loved ones physician may recommend rehab services. The top conditions for a post-hospitalization stay include:Broken Hips or FracturesJoint Injuries or ReplacementAneurysmParkinsons DiseaseNeurological ConditionsStrokeHeart AttackArthritisOsteoporosisBrain InjuryTumor/CancerMultiple SclerosisLimited MobilityFrequent FallsAmputationSwallowing IssuesPneumoniaDoes My Parent Need A Senior Rehab Center?Choosing the proper care plan for your senior parent after an accident or medical happening can be challenging. A lot of times the same short-term care services, like senior rehab, are connected to the long-term care facilities they might need now or in the future, so choosing the right location is pivotal. What can help make this decision easier is understanding your senior parents day-to-day abilities and activities. This can help you and the hospital team determine if they do or do not need senior rehab services to help them return to their lives and speed up their recovery. If they cannot carry on with their daily activities and habits, a senior rehab center is a great option for recovery.The Grace Pointe Senior Rehab Center ExperienceAt Grace Pointe, we are committed to giving seniors somewhere to recover post-surgery or after having a major illness that is both comfortable, caring, and private. Grace Pointe has 26 studios dedicated to post-hospital, short-term rehab. Our Senior Rehab Center experience provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies provided in an elegant, home-like setting.Learn more about our Senior Rehab services by clicking here. And explore all of our Care Services and how they can help assist you and your aging parents in the Greeley area today!

Those who obtain a workers compensation settlement for future medical expenses must create a Medicare Set-Aside (MSA) Account to preserve their eligibility for Medicare. This separate, interest-bearing account pays for medical costs related to the workers injury. After the funds are exhausted, Medicare provides coverage for medical fees related to the injury.Why You Should Create an MSA AccountFailing to establish an MSA can have significant consequences for Medicare eligibility. Neglecting to create an MSA can result in losing Medicare, as well as means-tested government benefits like Medicaid. In certain cases, not using an MSA following a settlement can lead to liability.Keep Your Medicare CoverageIndividuals who receive settlements or judgments to cover future medical care must use these funds for that purpose to preserve Medicare coverage. For these expenses, Medicare is not the primary payer. Payments for the injury kick in only after the account is depleted and the beneficiary files a report with the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Recovery Contractor. (Learn more about the Medicare Secondary Payer Act.)Receiving a settlement for future medical expenses without setting up an MSA jeopardizes Medicare eligibility. Someone who ignores the requirement to create an MSA could forfeit Medicare coverage entirely. This could mean losing coverage for all medical expenses, including those unrelated to the injury.If Medicare acts as the primary payer meaning that Medicare pays first when funds should have come from workers compensation, Medicare has a right of action. It can take legal action against the primary payer responsible for the payment, as well as those who received Medicares funds.When beneficiaries are unaware of the rules and fail to create an MSA, they could lose coverage.Stay Eligible for Public Benefits Programs With Asset LimitsNot having an MSA, or setting one up that is ineffective, can also make individuals ineligible for means-tested benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.The Social Security Administration counts settlement funds as assets. Without a proper MSA, a person who acquires money to cover prospective medical costs following an accident could lose their public benefits.Increases in assets can also disqualify beneficiaries of the following programs:Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)People who obtain workers compensation settlements can continue to receive means-based benefits, along with Medicare, when they have a well-structured MSA. According to the Special Needs Alliance, embedding a special needs trust (SNT) within an MSA can allow a person to continue accessing government benefits. This is because the funds in an SNT are not countable assets.Avoid Liability After a Workers Compensation SettlementThe Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) requires that workers compensation settlements reasonably consider Medicares interests. A workers compensation settlement requires a person to create an MSA. If they fail to do so, they could face legal consequences for breaching their settlement agreement.CMS can also obtain restitution from anyone involved in the settlement, including the worker, workplace, insurance companies, and attorneys.Consult With a Special Needs Planning AttorneyCreating and maintaining an MSA can be complex. If you wish to keep your Medicare eligibility while receiving compensation for an injury, working with an attorney to help you set up and manage an MSA is critical.Consider consulting with a special needs planning attorney like Sharek Law Office. We can help you stay eligible for Medicare after acquiring a workers compensation settlement. Call our office at 412-347-1731 or click here to schedule a complimentary 15-Minute Call with our staff to discuss your needs today. Learn More About MSAsFor more information about Medicare Set-Asides, check out the following articles:What Is a Medicare Set-Aside and When Do You Need One?What Happens When You Have a Medicare Set-Aside and Don't Need Treatment?What Happens If My Medicare Set-Aside Runs Out? This article is a service of Sharek Law Office, LLC. We dont just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life and Legacy Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than youve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life and Legacy Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge. Please note this is educational content only and is not intended to act as legal advice.