Connecticut - Southern

Nothing challenges the family dynamic quite as much as a terminal illness and the prospective loss of a loved one. For families considering in-patient versus home end-of-life care, there are many considerations and dynamics to consider. The following situations are a few that are often cited as reasons to favor anin-patient hospice choice. Elderly patients living alone may choose hospice in-patient care if they lack the help of family members who can take on the responsibility as caregivers. Utilizing hospice care at home requires someone to take the lead role to follow the care plan of the hospice team for the absolute comfort and safety of the patient. Single middle-aged patients who live in cities far from family may want to be back in their hometowns near their aging parents, family and old friends. The patients elderly parents need the convenience of having their child nearby and understand that caring for them at home would be overwhelming and a difficult transition for their adult child. Any adult patient with a spouse who is unable to care for them at home because of their own physical or mental health issues. Both young and older couples often come to realize that caring for their loved one at home is simply too stressful and unsafe. Parents of pediatric patients often opt for in-patient care to ensure their memories of their child at home are good ones. A family-focused in-patient hospice care center should have pediatric and hospicecertified nursing and social work staff who understand how to support them. Patients with acute medical situations may choose a hospice facility that is designated as a specialty hospital so symptoms will be appropriately managed as in a hospital, but in a comfortable, home-like setting. This situation is considered general in-patient care and is 100% covered by Medicare. Patients may graduate out of the hospice facility, but many often opt to stay.So many personal, environmental, economic and lifestyle factors go into a patients or a familys choice of care. Regional Hospice and Home Care has been providing hospice care to the area for over 30 years, and now offers an in-patient option with their recently opened Center for Comfort Care and Healing in Danbury. To explore your choices or schedule a visit, find us at regionalhospicect.org or call: (203) 702-7400.

Welcome to Know How to Go, your one stop for information on all your travel needs in southwestern Connecticut. This program is designed to enhance peoples access to their communities by identifying the best transportation service to meet the unique needs of seniors, individuals with a disability, and veterans. Our purpose is to provide you with a host of valuable travel-related information about all transportation services in the southwestern region of Connecticut. From the public bus to accessible taxi service, we will let you know your transportation options along with special programs and discounts for each service. As the Regional Mobility Management team for southwest Connecticut, we are also tasked with gathering information about transportation challenges you face and helping to find solutions. Together with our community partners, the Regional Mobility Manager at The Kennedy Center will work with you to connect you with the best service available in your town and beyond.Funded by Federal Transit Administration and CT Department of Transportation dollars, the Regional Mobility Manager works closely with all local transportation providers including: Greater Bridgeport Transit; Norwalk Transit District; CTTRANSIT Stamford; Milford Transit District; Valley Transit District; CT rides; volunteer driver programs; taxi services; and rail transit providers to provide the most comprehensive service to meet your individual needs. We also collaborate closely with our network of human service agencies and other service providers in the region. The Regional Mobility Management programs service area includes the coastal towns between Greenwich and Milford and north to the Valley region. For a map of our service area, click on the Guidebook of Services on our website at www.knowhowtogoct.org, or contact the Regional Mobility Manager at the number below to request a hard copy of the Guidebook.The Kennedy Center, Inc., a non-profit agency that provides a wide array of services for people with disabilities, seniors and veterans, administers the Regional Mobility Management program. The program is guided by a Steering Committee whose members consist of a variety of stakeholders in the Bridgeport/Stamford Urbanized Area including representatives from the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, Greater Bridgeport Regional Council, Valley Council of Governments, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Greater Bridgeport Transit District, Norwalk Transit District, Valley Transit District, and others. Steering Committee membership is open and participation is welcomed and encouraged from all who are interested in improving transportation services and options for people with disabilities, seniors and veterans in southwest Connecticut.For more information about the Regional Mobility Management program or transportation services in your area, please contact Margaret Mixon at 203.365.8522 x. 263. Be sure to visit our website at www.knowhowtogoct.org, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/knowhowtogo, and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/knowhowtogo

For those individuals who will need home care services and are in the process of a Medicaid spend down, consider an agency that you are able to transition to once you meet your income limit?To maintain continuity, one may consider a non-medical home care agency that provides services for both private pay and Medicaid home care clients. When you contract with an agency consider the issues that may arise once the spend down is complete. If your agency has not been credentialed by the Department of Social Services, you will be required to move to a home care agency that participates in the Medicaid waiver funded home care program (Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE).This transition can prove to be very disruptive to your loved one receiving care. For example, a key problem is lack of continuity. The care that has been provided is disrupted and the care will now be delivered from a range of unfamiliar caregivers. From the perspective of an elderly who may have short-term memory impairment and fears change, this can be very confusing. Your loved one typically develops an emotional bond with the caregiver that has been providing services. A bond is developed and a communication style is created fostering a sense of calmness. In addition, a daily routine is developed. The routine may include anywhere from eating breakfast and getting dressed in the morning, to assisting your loved one with their evening schedule.As the elderly population continues to grow, and life expectancy increases, these decisions should factor into heavily to assure a seamless home care transition for your loved one.Editors Note: This article was written by Mary Ellen Leviness (Care Manager) and Joe Campano, Care (Managing Partner) of Compassionate Care at Home. They can be reached at 203-433-4325.

This is a question many older adults are asking themselves. Do I move into a senior living community? Some find an independent living community or Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) appealing, but many others would like to stay in their own homes. Some worry about their future health care needs or what will happen to their assets.Continuing Care at Home (CCAH) programs are expanding around the country for those wishing to stay in their own homes but wanting the assurance of health care coverage. In Fairfield and New Haven counties, Senior Choice at Home, a program of Jewish Senior Services, is a CCAH program licensed by the State of Connecticut.The program is the only one of its kind in Southern Connecticut. It is a comprehensive lifetime membership program that pays for, provides, and coordinates long-term care, as needed. The program offers 24-hour on-call services and communication with loved ones and support, navigation, and advocacy for members throughout a health event. In addition, personalized care plans are based on a members health needs and treatment preferences and implemented when needed. Concierge services, including referrals, are included.Care management and coordination, private duty (non-medical) home care, assisted living, and skilled nursing are covered, if needed. These services are coordinated in conjunction with existing Medicare benefits such as medical home care, short-term rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy, so there is a seamless care team in place for members. The program can stand alone or align with existing long-term care insurance policies as supplemental coverage. It can fill the long-term care insurance gap by supplementing the benefit amount, extending the benefit period, and lessening the elimination period, with no pre-approvals or claim forms.Members have found that care navigation support and home services are a vital resource for recovery following an illness or accident. They also enjoy the social and cultural events that support their desire for a full life of activities they enjoy.Because members stay in their own homes, the cost of the program is substantially less expensive than traditional CCRCs. Membership fees are considered prepaid medical expenses and therefore may have tax benefits.For a free no-obligation personalized consultation, please email [email protected] or call 203-365-6491