Colorado - Boulder County

When it comes to correcting common bone and joint problems, todays leading-edge options can mean greater function, faster for patients.1. Knee and Hip:Partial or total joint replacement can make life more comfortable for people experiencing disability due to arthritis and other adult orthopedic problems. Hip and knee replacement surgeries may be performed traditionally or using minimally invasive procedures, given the individuals needs and preferences. In either case, a portion of the problem joint is removed and an artificial joint (prosthesis) attached using cement or a special material that permits the remaining bone to attach to the new joint. 2. SpineMajor advances have been made in treatment of lumbar (back) and cervical (neck) spine problems. One is the X-Stop spacer to relieve the pain of lumbar spinal stenosis. Implanted during a minimally invasive procedure, the X-Stop lifts the vertebra off the pinched nerve causing the pain. No screws or other hardware are required, and no fusion is needed. 3. ShoulderThe rotator cuff is the muscle-and-tendon network at the top of the upper arm bone that allows the arm to rotate. When it is torn either through a traumatic incident or decades of wear and tear surgery is often the best solution. Arthroscopic repair is performed through small incisions using a fiberoptic scope, instruments about the size of a pencil and a video monitor. Mini-open repair enables surgeons to perform a complete rotator cuff surgery through a tiny incision just 4 to 6 cm long. Open surgical repair may be necessary in complex tears or if reconstruction is necessary. 4. Wrist and handCarpal tunnel syndrome refers to a persistent numbness or tingling sensation in ones thumb, index and middle fingers, and half the ring finger. It starts when the median nerve becomes compressed where it transitions from the forearm into the hand. Treatment generally begins conservatively, with physical therapy, splinting, medications and cortisone injections. Should surgery be required, two outpatient procedures one an open incision through the palm, the other an endoscopic procedure very close to the wrist creases. In both, the objective is to release the transversal carpal ligament.Ed Note: by Deborah Rue, RN, BS, Avista Joint and Spine Care Center CoordinatorTO LEARN MOREFree, informational sessions on joint pain management, joint replacement and advanced spine procedures are held regularly at Avista Adventist Hospital. To learn more, call 303-673-1000 or visit avistahospital.org.

Home care assistance supports brain health in the elderly, reducing cognitive decline risk, promoting independence, and enhancing mental health for a better quality of life. Brain health is an important aspect of growing old. As your elderly loved one gets older, its important that he continues to practice good habits to keep his brain healthy so he can continue to enjoy these later years of his life. Home care assistance services can also help.  Three Great Benefits of a Healthy Brain A healthy brain has less risk of developing diseases such as dementia, Alzheimers, and other conditions that cause cognitive decline. A healthy brain can lead to a more independent life. If your loved one desires to stay in his home and age in place, keeping his brain healthy is a huge part of making that successful, along with help from home care assistance. A healthy brain is able to problem-solve, remember important facts, and manage day-to-day tasks, all important aspects of maintaining independence for your elderly loved one. A healthy brain improves mental health as well by reducing the risk of depression and anxiety. By being able to find the positive and feel good about himself, your loved one will enjoy his life more and the world around him.   Seven Steps to a Healthy Brain Just the way that physical health doesnt just happen, a healthy brain needs actions taken as well. Some actions can be taken on his own, but for others, your loved one may need support from a family member or a home care assistance team. Protect the head. Its important to protect his head to reduce the risk of brain injury. Simple steps like wearing a helmet while bicycling or putting on a seatbelt each time hes in a car are acts of protecting his brain from injury. Get a good nights sleep. Sleeping well is important for maintaining good brain health. Not sleeping well can make making decisions more difficult, making focus harder, and disrupting emotions. Exercise. Being active regularly is great for the brain. Physical activity raises the heart rate and gets the blood flowing to all areas of the body, including the brain. With the help of home care assistance, your loved one can start by planning daily walks of at least 30 minutes to keep in shape physically and mentally. Keep learning. Exercising the brain by playing games, doing research, or learning a new skill is an important part of brain health. Control blood pressure levels. High blood pressure can damage the brain, so keeping blood pressure levels under control through healthy living and/or medications is important to brain health. Manage diabetes. Diabetes is another health condition that can be detrimental to brain health. High blood sugar levels can damage brain vessels, resulting in memory and problem-solving abilities and possibly leading to dementia. Eat right. Eating foods rich in healthy nutrients and low in unhealthy ingredients can help the body provide the brain with what it needs to work at its best. Home care assistance providers can help seniors with nutritional support and meal prep.  Home Care Assistance Can Support Brain Health For some, making lifestyle changes to promote brain health is difficult to do on their own. Just like an athlete may need a trainer to help him stay motivated, your loved one may need help from others to stay on track. A home care assistance provider who helps him prepare healthy meals or encourages daily exercise is a great partner to have in brain health.      If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance in Arvada, CO, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services today. Call (720) 789-8529 At Talem Home Care of Broomfield, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Broomfield, Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Commerce City, Denver, Erie, Firestone, Lafayette, Lakewood, Longmont, Louisville, Northglenn, Sherrelwood, Thornton, Welby, Westminster, Wheat Ridge and surrounding areas in Colorado.  

For many, television is a big part of our day-to-day. For those with hearing loss, watching TV can be tough. Many are able to hear, but they cant understand, clarity being the biggest issue. Clarity is made worse the further you are from the TV, and by reverberation (how the sound bounces around the hard surfaces in the room before it reaches your ears).TIP #1Spend the extra money on a wireless transmitter. There are stand-alone systems that work without hearing aids that make watching TV with hearing loss less frustrating. Each brand of hearing aid has its own version of a TV transmitter, so you will need to use the one that is specific to your brand.TIP #2Todays flat-screen televisions often leave much to be desired when it comes to sound quality (speakers are sometimes on the back of the TV, so the sound does not project out to you). It may be helpful to buy a soundbar. Some hearing aids may also be programmed with a manual setting designed specifically for watching TV. However, the wireless TV Streamers that connect to most hearing aids provide the best sound quality.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Longmont Hearing & Tinnitus Center. They may be reached at 303-651-1178

What is Medicaid?Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage for nearly 70 million Americans. This includes low-income individuals, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.Medicaid is funded and administered through a state-federal partnership. There are broad federal requirements for Medicaid, but states have a wide degree of flexibility to design their own programs. Therefore, Medicaid may vary from state to state.When a client has other insurance or Medicare, Medicaid is the payer of last resort. Federal regulations require that all available resources be used before Medicaid considers payment.What is Long-Term Care Medicaid?Long-Term Care Medicaid is the Medicaid program that allows for the coverage of long-term care services through several avenues and over a continuum of settings. This includes:Nursing Facility/Institutional CareHome and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waiversEligibility Criteria for Long-Term Care MedicaidGeneral Eligibility CriteriaU.S. Citizen or Qualified Non-CitizenResident of ColoradoMust be 65 years or older, disabled, or blind.Financial RequirementsIncome is any item an individual receives in cash or in-kind that can be used to meet their need for food or shelter. Examples of income include Social Security Retirement, pensions, wages, alimony, Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Veterans benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and dividends.The 2023 income limit is $2,742.If over the monthly limit, an Income Trust is needed.*Most income sources count towards the income limit, but there are income sources that do not count.Resources are defined as cash and/or property that a person owns and has the right, authority, or power to convert to cash (if not already cash). Examples of resources include checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificate of deposit, IRAs, 401Ks, stocks, bonds, cash, property, vehicles, mineral and oil rights, life insurance, and pre-paid burial or cremation policies.The 2023 Medicaid Resource Limits are:$2,000 Individual$3,000 Couple (not living in same nursing facility room)$4,000 Couple (living in same nursing facility room)$148,620 Community Spouse Allowance*Some resources count towards the resource limit, but there are types of resources that do not count.Functional / Level of Care / 30-day InstitutionalizationA level of care assessment is completed to determine if an applicant functionally needs a long-term care service. The assessment is performed on site by a caseworker from the county Single-Entry Point (SEP).A person must have medical conditions requiring supervision. They must have been admitted to a nursing home, a hospital, or a combination of both for at least 30 consecutive days. There is no institutionalization time requirement if applying for HCBS-Medicaid/assisted living.Transfer of AssetsA transfer of assets occurs when an individual, or spouse of the individual, disposes of assets for less than fair market value within 5 years of the Medicaid application. Examples of transfer of assets include but are not limited to:Giving away property, money, cars, and boats.Uncompensated funds such as large checks or cash in which one cannot prove how the money was spent or closing an account with no paper trail of where the money was re-deposited.Waiving the right to an inheritance, not getting your fair share of a divorce, or not receiving your spousal share of an estate.Period of IneligibilityFor individuals who have transferred assets within 5 years of the Medicaid application, a Period of Ineligibility (POI) is generated. The POI is the amount of time during which the individual will be ineligible for Long-Term Care Medicaid.The length of the POI depends on the amount of assets transferred.The POI will begin when the person would have been otherwise eligible for Long-Term Care Medicaid benefits.Medicaid will begin paying for long-term care benefits once the penalty period expires.